Uday Singh didn’t sit idle after winning back his kingdom. He was an ambitious king. Very soon he won the forts Mandalgarh, Kumbhalgarh etc. Entire Mewar region had come under his reign.
During this period, a son was born to Maharana Uday Singh on 9th May, 1540 who was christened Suraj Rana Pratap Singh. The royal family belonged to Sisodiya dynasty.
In his son Maharana began to pin his hopes to carry on the proud tradition of Sisodiya honour. Although two more sons followed Pratap Singh yet the father kept up his faith in the eldest born.
Accordingly Pratap Singh’s education in royal tradition began with heavy accent on weapon use and warfare training. The horse riding and controlling the elephants being the part of the basics of the education besides learning letters. He was being groomed to take on the mantle of warrior king of Chittaur who would win many battles to bring glory to the throne.
Pratap Singh did not disappoint his father. He was a natural warrior. Even as a child he liked playing war games with his mates. Pratap Singh took special liking to swordry, archery and spearing.
His younger brother Shakti Singh was also showing promise in the use of weapons. Another brother Jagmal Singh born by second queen of Maharana Uday Singh was also nicely coming up.
The brothers had their own bands of friends and followers. They also used to go on hunting expedition sometimes together and the other times with their own respective groups. The princes were fast progressing towards adulthood.
Pratap Singh excelled in leadership qualities and in intelligence. So, a great number of ministers courtiers, chieftains and commanders had become his admirers. Besides the Maharana they too saw the future King of Mewar in Pratap Singh.
Meanwhile Akbar had descended on the Mogul throne of Delhi and Agra. He had grand plans for turning Mogul rule in a great empire to bring entire Hindustan land under his thumb. To achieve this goal he had adopted an innovative strategy of secularism. He had married Hindu princesses and was getting Mogul Princes engaged to the girls of Hindu royalties. He was befriending the Hindu kings who accepted his patronage. Who did not yield or refused to cooperate were militarily won over.
Akbar had his eyes fixed on the land of Rajputs. He made a beginning by striking a pact of friendship with Kachhava kings of Amer region. Then, he sent a proposal to Maharana Uday Singh asking him to seek the protection of the Mogul Empire and become a part of it to rule Mewar as the Mogul component,
The proud Maharana Uday Singh would not accept any domination over him. He rejected the offer.
Battle of Chittaur
Emperor Akbar decided to retaliate with force. He set out with a large Mogul army towards Chittaur and reached there on the 20th Octorber, 1567. At that point of time Rana Pratap Singh was in his 18th year.
The fort of Chittaur was laid siege to by the Mogul army. Uday Singh’s army and the citizens were ready for do-or-die battle. The carnage continued for five months. Thousands of the soldiers of both sides died, the Rajput casualties were higher.
After a fierce final assault the Mogul forces were able to break the defence of the fort. When the defeat loomed large Rana Uday Singh, his family members and confidants left the fort city with a small force through a secret escape route.
The enemy mercilessly killed 30,000 Rajputs who were left in the fort city. The women embraced death by jumping into a great blazing fire pit to escape being dishonoured by the Mogul soldiers. Rajput women did this act in face of the defeat of the their own army. It was called ‘Johar’ which literally meant ‘brilliant performance’. Even before Maharana and party left the fort it was a known fact that the women would perform ‘Johar’ to defend their honour.
It is said that some 1500 women leapt into the leaping flames on that day of 23rd February, 1568.
The genocide of his 30,000 Rajput citizens and the Johar act of 1500 women, haunted Maharana Uday Singh all his remaining life. His son Suraj Pratap Singh’s soul was wounded by this tragedy which shaped his mindset and influenced his actions later on.
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