Breathes there the man, with soul so dead,
Who never to himself have said,
This is my own, my native land !
मेवाड़ राणा हम्मीर सिंह सिसोदिया वह राजपूत योद्धा जिसने समूचे राजपुताना के गौरव को पुनर्स्थापित किया.....
एक महान राजपूत योद्दा था जो बहुत बहादुर भी था और चतुर भी। उसने ना केवल मेवाड़ और उसकी राजधानी चित्तौड़ के सम्मान की रक्षा की, बल्कि वह पहला ऐसा योद्दा था जिसने दिल्ली में शासन करते हुए तुर्की सल्तनत का खात्मा किया।
आज के स्वार्थी बुद्धिजीवी, जो स्वंय को भारत के प्रबुद्ध इतिहासकार होने का दावा करते हैं, उन्होंने इस महान योद्धा द्वारा किए गए कार्यों, सफलताओं और सम्मान को कभी भी भारतीय इतिहास में उल्लेखित नहीं किया। इसका कारण यह है कि उन्होंने अपने व्यक्तिगत स्वार्थ और अपने दुर्भावनापूर्ण एजेंडा को अत्यधिक महत्व देने के लिए भारतीय इतिहास के कुछ सुनहरे पन्नों के साथ छेड़-छाड़ की, जिसके परिणाम स्वरुप हमारा इतिहास आज नष्ट होने की कगार पर पहुँच गया। इन बुद्धिजीवियों ने जिस महान योद्धा को इतिहास के पन्नों से नष्ट करने का प्रयास किया, उस योद्धा ने भारत के दक्षिणी क्षेत्र की दो अन्य प्रतिष्ठित शक्तियों के साथ मिलकर तुर्की सल्तनत के पतन में अपनी एक महत्वपूर्ण भूमिका निभाई थी, जिस तुर्की सल्तनत का उद्देश्य भारत को तुर्की सल्तनत में शामिल करना और भारतीयों को इस्लाम के अधीन लाना था।
यह योद्धा अपने समय का एक महान समाज सुधारक भी था। आज के समय में कोई भी वामपंथी व्यक्ति ये नहीं चाहेगा कि देश को इस योद्धा के बारे में पता चले। इस पुरुष सिंह का नाम हम्मीर सिंह सिसोदिया था, जो सिसोदिया वंश के संस्थापक थे, उन्होंने मेवाड़ राज्य पर शासन करने के साथ-साथ राजपूताना राज्य की खोई हुई प्रतिष्ठा को पुन: प्राप्त करने में भी अपना महत्वपूर्ण योगदान दिया, जिसे वर्तमान समय में राजस्थान राज्य के नाम से जाना जाता है।
हम्मीर सिंह सिसोदिया का जन्म १३०३ में हुआ था,वही वर्ष जब अलाउद्दीन खिलजी ने चित्तौड़ पर आक्रमण करके उसे अपने कब्जे में कर लिया। जैसा कि हम जानते हैं कि राजपूत ज्यादातर रक्षात्मक प्रवित्ति वाले और इस्लामिक आक्रमणकारी आक्रान्ता होते थे। परन्तु हम्मीर सिंह सिसोदिया अलग मिटटी के बने थे।
रावल रतन सिंह, जिन्हें रत्नासिम्ह के नाम से भी जाना जाता है, वे राजपूतों के प्रसिद्ध गहलोत वंश के अंतिम शासक थे, जिन्होंने मेवाड़ राज्य की स्थापना की और अपनी राजधानी के रूप में चित्तौड़ के किले का चुनाव किया। जैसा कि इतिहास में बताया गया है कि रावल रतन सिंह के एक दूर के रिश्तेदार थे, जो कि कैडेट सेना के एक सेनापति (कमांडर) थे, यदि आधुनिक सैन्य शब्दों में कहें तो वे एक जूनियर कमीशन ऑफिसर थे। इनका नाम लक्ष्मण या लक्षा सिंह था, जिनके सात पुत्र थे और जोकि प्रसिद्ध योद्धा बप्पा रावल के वंशज भी थे, वही बप्पा रावल जिन्होंने ७१२ ईसवी में इस्लामिक शासकों को एक करारी मात देने के साथ-साथ भारतीय उपमहाद्वीप को तीन शताब्दियों तक बाहरी आक्रमणों से बचाए रखा।
लक्षा सिंह सिसोद गांव से थे, इसलिए उनके उत्तराधिकारियों ने अपना उपनाम सिसोदिया रखा। उनके बड़े बेटे का नाम अरि था, जिसने उन्नाव के निकटवर्ती गांव की एक महिला उर्मिला से शादी की, जो कि चन्दन राजपूतों के एक गरीब कबीले की रहने वाली थी। उनके केवल एक ही पुत्र हुआ, जिनका जन्म शायद १३०३ से १३१३ के मध्य [सटीक जन्म वर्ष अभी भी विवादित है] हुआ था। उनके पुत्र का नाम हम्मीर हुआ, जिन्होंने जल्द ही पूरे देश का मानचित्र बदलकर रख दिया।
इस युगल को एक पुत्र के रुप में मिले आशीर्वाद के कुछ महीने बाद ही लक्षा और उसके पुत्र को, उन दंगाईयों की भीड़ से अंतिम युद्ध लड़ने के लिए तलब किया गया, जिसने तानाशाह सुल्तान अल्लाउद्दीन खिलजी के नेतृत्व में चित्तौड़ पर आक्रमण किया था। रावल रतन सिंह के नेतृत्व में लक्ष्मण सिंह और उनके सातों बेटों ने अन्त तक बड़ी बहादुरी के साथ युद्ध किया और एक-एक करके, अपनी मातृभूमि को दुष्ट आक्रमणकारियों के हाथों से बचाते हुए, शहीद हो गए। हार को निकट देख महारानी पद्मिनी के नेतृत्व में हजारों राजपूत महिलाओं ने आग में कूद कर सामूहिक आत्मदाह किया। यह घटना बाद में चित्तौड़ के प्रथम जौहर के रूप में प्रसिद्ध हुई जिसमें हजारों राजपूत महिलाओं ने, सुल्तान खिलजी और उसके हवशी कातिलों के हाथो में न आते हुए अपने सम्मान की रक्षा की।
दस्तावेजों में इसका वर्णन उचित तरीके से नहीं किया गया है लेकिन अन्य स्रोतों और मेवाड़ में प्रसिद्द लोककथाओं से यह अनुमान लगाया जा सकता है कि जिन स्त्रियों ने जौहर किया था, उर्मिला भी उन्हीं में से एक थीं। इस जौहर ने हम्मीर को अनाथ कर दिया था, हालाँकि ये बाद में पता चला कि अरि के छोटे भाई और सात भाइयों में दूसरे अजय सिंह गंभीर चोटों के साथ युद्ध में जीवित बच गये थे। अगले कुछ वर्षों तक अजय सिंह के नेतृत्व में युवा हम्मीर को ढूँढा गया और जल्द ही उनकी मेहनत रंग लायी।
वहीं, जब से अलाउद्दीन खिलजी ने चित्तौड़ पर विजय प्राप्त की थी तबसे ही मेवाड़ दंगाइओं और आक्रमणकारीओं की दया पर पल रहा था। डाकू अपनी मर्ज़ी से घरों को लूटते थे, लुटेरे इच्छानुसार मंदिरों और अन्य महत्वपूर्ण स्थानों पर हमले करके पवित्र मूर्तियों को तोड़ते और सच्चे सनातनियों को बलपूर्वक अपने अधीन कर लेते थे। पुरे मेवाड़ राज्य में अराजकता फ़ैल चुकी थी। यहाँ एक ऐसे रक्षक की अत्यंत आवश्यकता थी जो उन्हें कभी महान रहे राज्य की खोई हुई शान को वापस लाने के लिए आगे बढ़कर लड़ने के लिए प्रेरित कर सके। इसी अराजकता के बीच में कंटालिया के कुख्यात डकैत राजा मुंजा बलेचा ने कदम रखा।
मुंजा सुल्तान खिलजी का तुच्छ सा चापलूस था, जो कि अपनी ख़ुशी के लिए मेवाड़ के लोगों को आतंकित करता था। मात्र दस वर्ष की आयु में जब उन्होंने पाया की मुंजा दुखिया लोगों को आतंकित कर अपना आतंक का साम्राज्य फैला रहा है तो हम्मीर ने सामने से हमला करके अपने तेज और निपुण धनुषकौशल से उसे मौत के घाट उतार दिया। ये वो समय था जब अजय सिंह ने पहली बार हम्मीर को चिन्हित किया उनकी वंशावली के बारे में पता लगाया।
हम्मीर को अपने सरंक्षण में लेते हुए अजय सिंह, जो कि प्राचीन शस्त्र-शास्त्रों से अच्छी तरह से वाक़िफ़ थे, ने रणनीतिक द्रष्टिकोण से चित्तौड़ और दिल्ली की सड़कों के बीच स्थित छोटे लेकिन अच्छे से किलाबन्द एकांत स्थान पर हम्मीर को युद्ध कला के साथ साथ कई अन्य विषयों की शिक्षा दी। अन्य राजपूत राजाओं के विपरीत, जो दुश्मन को आमने सामने टक्कर देने में दूसरी बार नहीं सोचते थे, उन्होंने इस पर विचार किया कि ऐसा क्या है जो हमें इस्लामिक सुल्तानों को सबक सिखाने में सफल नहीं होने देता। अजय ने हम्मीर को ये सिखाया कि हर युद्ध सिर्फ ताकत से ही नहीं जीता जा सकता बल्कि कुछ युद्ध बुद्दि के सही इस्तेमाल से जीते जाते हैं।
पाठकों के लिए एक छोटी सी प्रश्नोत्तरी:- किसने भारत में विधवा पुनर्विवाह प्रथा को पुनः प्रारंभ किया? तुरंत एक उत्तर आयेगा:- इश्वर चन्द्र विद्यासागर। लेकिन अगर आप ऐसा सोचते हैं तो मुझे माफ़ कीजिये क्यूंकि आप गलत हैं। विधवा पुनर्विवाह प्रथा को चित्तौड़ में राणा हम्मीर के संरक्षण में १४वीं शताब्दी में पुनः शुरू किया गया था। इससे कोई भी वामपंथी उदारवादी सहमत नहीं होगा। हालाँकि इस सच्चाई को कोई भी झुठला नहीं सकता है कि राणा हम्मीर ने विधवा पुनर्विवाह प्रथा को पुनः शुरू करवाया था जैसा कि वे भविष्य में मेवाड़ का राणा बनने के पद को अपने लिए सुनिश्चित कर रहे थे। इसके पीछे एक बहुत ही मजेदार और छोटी सी कहानी है।
चित्तौड के पतन के बाद अलाउद्दीन खिलजी ने जालोर के शासक, राजा मालदेव को कब्ज़ा किये हुए किलों और राजपूताना में जीते हुए प्रदेशों के साथ चित्तौड़ का नायक नियुक्त कर दिया। मालदेव, जो की चित्तौड़ पर एक मालिक की तरह राज करने की इच्छा रखता था, उसने हम्मीर को अपने रास्ते में उभरते हुए अवरोध की तरह पाया। हम्मीर को अधीन करने के लिए उसने अपनी खुद की बेटी, एक विधवा राजकुमारी जिसका नाम सोंगरी था, को हम्मीर से विवाह करवा के एक मोहरे के रूप में इस्तेमाल करने का निर्णय लिया।
उन दिनों विधवा से विवाह करवाना राजपूतों में बेईज्जती करने का सबसे बुरा रूप माना जाता था। हालांकि, हम्मीर ने न केवल एक युवा विधवा को खुले मन से अपनी पत्नी के रूप में स्वीकार किया, बल्कि राजा मालदेव के खिलाफ तख्तापलट करने की योजना भी बनाई, और अपनी खोई हुई मातृभूमि चित्तौड़ पर दावा करने के लिए उन्होंने उनकी ही रणनीति का प्रयोग किया। विश्वास करना मुश्किल है पर अगर कोई गहराई से इस पर चर्चा करता है, तो यह तथ्य एक अन्य तथ्य का भी समर्थन करता है कि सती प्रथा ऊंची जाति के हिंदुओं द्वारा थोपी गई कोई बुरी प्रथा नही थी। यह अपनी इच्छा से किया जाने वाला एक कृत्य था, हालांकि १९वीं शताब्दी की शुरुआत में इसका दुरुपयोग भी किया गया था। यदि सती प्रथा और जौहर करना मजबूरी थी, तो हम्मीर ने एक विधवा जो एक बच्चे की माँ थी, को अपनी पत्नी के रूप में कैसे स्वीकार किया?
एक तरह से वो सिसोदिया राजपूत राणा हम्मीर था, न कि ईश्वर चंद्र विद्यासागर, जिन्होंने विधवा पुनर्विवाह की प्रक्रिया शुरू की।
१३२६ में, २२-२३ की एक छोटी उम्र में, हम्मीर सिंह सिसोदिया अपनी पत्नी सोंगरी के साथ मेवाड़ के सिंहासन पर बैठे, और खुद को मेवाड़ के प्रथम महाराणा हम्मीर के रूप में घोषित किया। हालांकि हम्मीर के चाचा अजय उस दिन को देखने के लिए जीवित नहीं रह सके, वह निश्चित रूप से इस पर गर्व महसूस करते कि उनके शिष्य उनकी शिक्षाओं का पालन इतनी अच्छी तरह से कर रहे हैं।
लेकिन यह अंत नहीं था। सालों के प्राचीन शास्त्र सीखने और अभिनव युद्ध के प्रशिक्षण से अप्रत्याशित परिणाम भी सामने आए। चूंकि हम्मीर अब मेवाड़ का शासक था, इसीलिए उसने दिल्ली के सुल्तान मोहम्मद बिन तुगलक के आधिपत्य को स्वीकार करने से इनकार कर दिया। मुहम्मद बिन तुगलक यथार्थ रूप से सुल्तान अल्लाउद्दीन खिलजी का एक सटीक प्रतिरूप था, जिसने अपने ही पिता गयासुद्दीन तुगलक को मार डाला और दिल्ली के सिंहासन पर चढ़ बैठा। मुहम्मद बिन तुगलक और सुल्तान खिलजी के बीच फर्क केवल इतना था कि वह तुगलक स्वभावतः धैर्यवीहीन पुरुष था। हां, सुल्तान मुहम्मद बिन तुगलक बहुत अधीर था, इसी अधीरता ने उसे पतन की ओर आगे बढ़ाया और बाद में राणा हम्मीर के हाथों उसकी हार हुई।
हम्मीर और सुल्तान तुगलक के बीच की लड़ाई के बारे में बहुत ज्यादा जानकारी उपलब्ध नहीं है। हालांकि इतिहास यह कहता है कि राजा मालदेव कारागार से भाग गए और शरणागत बन मुहम्मद बिन तुगलक से मदद मांगी। सुल्तान पहले से ही हम्मीर की अवज्ञा से कुपित था, उसने दोनों तरफ से इस अवसर का लाभ उठाया।
जबकि यह अनिश्चित है कि किस वर्ष में हम्मीर ने मोहम्मद बिन तुगलक को गुमनामी में ढकेला, लेकिन यह निश्चित है कि यह लड़ाई १३३३ और १३३६ के बीच में हुई थी। यहीं पर अलाउद्दीन खिलजी और तुगलक के बीच का अंतर निहित है, जबकि खिलजी चतुर, बर्बर और निर्लज्ज था जिसने अंतिम कदम उठाने से पहले अच्छे से सोचता समझता था, उसके बाद के शासक निर्दयी और महत्वाकांक्षी तो थे परन्तु उनमे शान्ति और बुध्दिमत्ता से लड़ने का कौशल नहीं था। विश्व का शासक बनने के उद्देश्य से तुगलक ने हिमालय होते चीन तक पर आक्रमण करने का फैसला कर लिया था। चीन तो खैर दूर था, भरतखंड में कटोच ने उसे भरपूर मज़ा चखाया, जहाँ तुगलक कटोच सेना से परस्त हुआ वह क्षेत्र वर्त्तमान का हिमाचल प्रदेश है।
मेवाड़ और दिल्ली की सेनाओं के बीच का युद्ध राणा हम्मीर के प्रभुत्व की आखिरी परीक्षा थी चाहे वो मैदान के अंदर या मैदान के बाहर हो। हम्मीर गुरिल्ला युद्ध में काफी कुशल थे। हालांकि उनकी सेना काफी छोटी थी परन्तु गुरिल्ला युद्ध के रणकौशल के कारण वे दुश्मनों के दांत खट्टे करने में माहिर थे, पृथ्वीराज चौहान या रावल रतन सिंह जैसे वीरो ने कभी भी इस कौशल को जानने की परवाह नहीं की थी।
राणा हम्मीर को मौत का डर नहीं था, लेकिन वह जानते थे कि अगर वह मेवाड़ और राजपुताना, दोनों की प्रतिष्ठा को वापस पाना चाहते हैं, तो उन्हें दुश्मन को मारने और जीत हासिल करने की जरूरत थी।
स्थानीय कहावतों से हमें पता चला कि राणा हम्मीर ने अपनी सेना के केवल एक सैन्य-दल के साथ आधी रात को दुश्मन शिविर पर अचानक हमले किये। दुश्मनों को अचानक गाजर की तरह काट दिया गया। कोई भी राजा मालदेव के बारे में नहीं जानता, लेकिन यह अनुमान लगाया जा सकता है कि जालौर के विश्वासघाती राजा मालदेव को मेवाड़ सेना के हाथों एक मौत मिली थी। शीघ्र ही राणा हमीर ने न केवल युद्ध जीता, बल्कि असंभव को संभव कर दिया और उन्होंने दिल्ली के सुल्तान मोहम्मद बिन तुगलक को अपना कैदी बना लिया।
हां केवल 30-32 वर्ष की उम्र का राजपूत राजा दिल्ली के सुल्तान के घमण्ड को धूल में मिलाकर अपने चित्तौड़ को अपमानित करने का बदला लेने में कामयाब रहा था।
सुल्तान को बंधक रखा गया, और तभी छोड़ा गया जब उसने मेवाड़ सहित राजपूताना के पूरे क्षेत्र की आजादी के लिए लिखित रूप में सहमति दी। यद्यपि वह जीवित बच गया लेकिन मुहम्मद बिन तुगलक को ऐसा आघात पंहुचा कि वह फिर से मेवाड़ पर हमला करने की हिम्मत नहीं कर सका। यद्यपि हम्मीर ने 1364 में मेवाड़ के सिंहासन को छोड़ दिया, पर राजपूताना में कई राजपूतों को उनकी महिमा के दिनों ने आने वाले सैकड़ों वर्ष तक प्रेरित किया।
छद्म बुद्धिजीवियों का उद्देश्य इस तरह के गौरवशाली योद्धाओं की कहानियों को कमतर बताना भर है, यह आवश्यक है कि हम जितना संभव हो उतने अधिक लोगों तक पहुँचाकर इस इतिहास को जीवित रखें।
स्रोत: –
शैलेंद्र सेन की मध्यकालीन भारतीय इतिहास की एक पाठ्यपुस्तक
रोमेश चंदर मजूमदार द्वारा भारत का एक उन्नत इतिहास
रोमेश चंद्र मजूमदार द्वारा भारत के क्लासिकल अकाउंट्स
सर जादुनाथ सरकार द्वारा भारत का सैन्य इतिहास
जेम्स टोड द्वारा राजस्थान का इतिहास और प्राचीन वस्तुएं [ हालांकि यह पूर्ण स्रोत नहीं है ]
विनायक दामोदर सावरकर द्वारा हिंदू पद पदशाही
THE Afghans were in possession of Chitor. "This
repository of all that was precious, yet untouched, of
the arts of India, was stormed, sacked and treated with remorseless barbarity 2 by Alla-ud-din, the Khilji
Sultan of Desert hordes occupied Delhi. This was the first occasion that this far-famed fortress passed out of the hands of the "Children of the Sun."
The llth of Muharrum A.H. 703 (25th August, 1303 A. D.) 3 was the day of the first
SaKa of Chitor. Rana Ratan Singh, before meeting his glorious death while defending the ancient heritage of his forefathers, had laid on the survivors, the sacred duty of recovering Chitor and not resting till it was in the possession of its rightful sovereigns. No lineal descendant of Ratan Singh surviving his death, Lakshman Singh the head of the Rana branch of the Gehlots succeeded him. But he also with his eldest son, Ari Singh, died bravely defending the Capital of his race. His younger son, Ajai Singh, was severely wounded and was carried away to the hills of Kailwara, where the Jati of Sanderao treated his wounds 4 and saved his life.
The descendants of the Jati have ever since been
treated with distinction and respect by the Maharanas of Chitor. Ajai Singh thus became the Rana of Mewar, but he was Rana only in name ; for, the whole of the country except small portions of it situated near the hills of Kailwara had passed out of his hands. Kailwara is at the highest part of one of the most extensive valleys of the Aravalli, termed the Sher Nallo, the richest district of this Alpine region. Surrounded by his faithful adherents, Ajai Singh cherished for future occasion the wrecks of Mewar. Nay, he issued from the hills with his followers, ravaged the country neat Chitor, delivered attacks on the fortress whenever occasions offered themselves and made the lives of the Sultan's officers in the fortress, unused to this guerrilla warfare, a burden to them.
Sultan Alla-ud-din Khilji had on the reduction of
Chitor conferred it on his eldest son, Prince Khizr Khan, whom he publicly proclaimed his successor to the throne. The Sultan, however, soon found that he could not long keep Chitor; and seeing that it could only be kept by a Rajput chieftain, ordered Khizr Khan to evacuate it, and entrusted it to the care of Sonigraha Maldeva 1 brother
of the famous Chauhan king, Rao Kanhardeva of Jalor.
Ajai Singh had two sons, Sajjan Singh and Kshem
Singh. While Ajai Singh was devising means to
recover his patrimony, the well-known Munja Balecha $ chieftain of God war began to plunder the small tract of Mewar that had remained with the Maharana. The Maharana was ill : he ordered his two sons to punish the Balecha, but they could do nothing and the Balecha continued his depredations. The Rana was confined to his bed and was very sore at the incapacity of his sons. His anxieties helped his illness and he became weaker and weaker when one day a follower of Ari Singh reminded
1 Ferishta, Vol. I, p. 363. Duff's Chronology, p. 211.
the Rana o Ari Singh's young son, who was living in
the village of Unwa) saying that, that valiant son o a
valiant father would ; probably minister to the aching
heart of the chief. Hammir was the son, destined to
redeem the promise of the genius of Chitor and the lost honours of his race. His birth and early history fill many a page of the history of Mewar. Ajai Singh
summoned Hammir, who answered the call and presented himself before the Rana. The Rana was greatly gratified at seeing in Hammir, though a boy of 13 or 14, a young man of great physical strength and high courage whose dignified bearing gave promise of a spirit that could deal successfully with the foes that had surrounded Mewar. He was ordered to punish Munja. Hammir accepted the commission. Promising to give Munja his deserts, he departed with the faithful adherents of the Maharana. "Hearing that Munja was present in the Semari village of Godwar in an assembly of his caste, Hammir lost no time in attacking him there. In a few days, Hammir was seen entering the Kailwara pass with Munja's head at his saddle bow.
Modestly placing the trophy at his uncle's feet, he exclaimed " Recognize the head of your foe! " Ajaisi, overjoyed, kissed the future hero. Remembering the
last behest of his father, Rana Lakshman Singh, that
when he attained ''one hundred years/' (figuratively
death) the son of his elder brother Ari Singh should
succeed him, and clearly observing that Hammir alone possessed the qualities requisite for the redemption of the land of his fathers, the Rana handed his own sword to him and drew the raj tilak on Hammir's forehead with the blood from the head of Munja, saying that he alone was fit to wrest Chitor back from its foes.
Sajjan Singh and Kshem Singh, sons of Ajai Singh,
who were thus superseded left Kailwara and migrated towards the Deccan, where there descendants founded the kingdoms of Satara, Kolhapur, Sawantbadi, Tatijare and Nagpur, and "avenged some of the wrongs the
parent country had sustained, and eventually over-
turned the monarchy of Hindustan; for Sajansi (Sajjan Singh,) was the ancestor of Sivaji, the founder of the Satara throne."
Such was the advent of Hammir in the public arena
of Me war. He had inherited from his father the love
of independence and the reckless bravery of the Gehlot, and from his mother, the chivalry, the high spirit and the fearlessness of a Chauhan, His mother was a woman of remarkable character and courage and was married to the heir-apparent of Rana Lakshinan Singh under circumstances that call to mind the marriage, in later times, of the mother of the renowned Kathor leader Durgadas, son of Askaran.
Ari Singh, the eldest son of Rana Lakshman Singh,
was on a hunting expedition towards the western hills in the Kailwara district with gome young chiefs of the court, and in the hunt, wounded a wild boar which had entered for refuge a field of maize. Ari Singh came in pursuit and, with his horse, was about to plunge into the field, when a young girl, who was looking after the field on behalf of her father, asked him not to spoil the cultivation, herself offering to drive out the game. Pulling a stout stalk of maize, which grew to the height of ten or twelve feet, she pointed it and mounting the platform made to watch the corn, impaled the hog and dragged him before the hunters and departed.
Though accustomed to feats of strength and heroism from the nervous arms of their countrywomen, the act surprised them. They descended to the stream at hand under the shade of an ample mango tree and prepared the repast, as is usual, on the spot. The feast was field and comments were passing on the fair arm which
transfixed the boar, when a ball of clay from a sling
fractured a limb of the prince's steed. Looking in the direction whence it came, they observed the same
damsel, from her elevated stand preserving her field
from aerial depradators ; but seeing the mischief she had occasioned, she descended to express her regret and then returned to her pursuit. As they were
proceeding homewards, after the sport of the day, they again encountered the damsel, with a vessel of milk on her head and leading in either hand a young buffalo. It was proposed in frolic to overturn her milk, and one of the companions of the prince dashed rudely by her; but, without being disconcerted, she entangled one of her charges with the horse's limb and brought the rider to the ground. On enquiry, the prince learnt that she was the daughter of a poor Rajput of the Chandano tribe. He returned the next day to the same quarter and sent for her father, who came and took his seat with perfect independence close to the prince, to the merriment of his companions, which was checked by Ari Singh asking his daughter to wife. They were more surprised by the demand being refused. The Rajput, on going home told the more prudent mother, who made him recall the refusal and seek the prince. They were married and Hammir was the son of the Chandano Rajputni."
When the Maharana (Lakshman Singh) and Ari
Singh were killed in battle, the Chandano Rani began
to pass her days with her little son like humble village people for fear of revealing Hammir's royal birth, until at the age of thirteen, he was suddenly called upon to leave his village and take up the burden of a kingdom- a kingdom to be won back on his shoulders.
The day on which he assumed the ensigns of rule,
he gave in the Tika dower the earnest of his future
energy. He signalized the occasion by a rapid inroad
into the heart of the country of the Balecha and cap*
tured his stronghold, Passalio.
Rana Ajai Singh was, saon assured that the fortunes of Mewar were in worthy hands and the anxiety for
the future of his country that was keeping his soul a
prisoner in the emaciated and worn-out frame, dis-
appeared. In a few days, Ajaisi went to the abode of
Indra and the son of Ari Singh unsheathed the sword, thence never a stranger to his hand.
Unable by force of arms to expel the invaders from
Mewar owing to their superiority in numbers and
resources, Hammir made the whole country desolate and useless to them. Hammir made Kailwara his head- quarters and constructed a lake there still called after him the Hammir talao. Mewar being thus deserted, the people also migrated to the territory round Kailwara. Kailwara can be reached after passing over several ranges and intricate defiles. Just behind it is a pass which leads to a most difficult and inaccessible retreat where Maharana Kumbha, the grandson of Maharana Lakha, who was Hammir's grandson later built in the fifteenth century the f arfamed fortress of Kumbhalgarh. The tract of Kailwara is well watered arid has abundance of pastures and excellent fruits and roots.
It is three thousand feet above sea level and is about
50 miles in breadth. Supplies can be obtained from
Grujrat and Marwar and the Bhils through the passes in the Western declivity. The Bhils have ever been
the friends and allies of the Rulers of Mewar, and
guarded the safety of their families while they fought
the enemy in the plains. They furnished a contingent
of five thousand bowmen whenever required. Hammir devastated the plains and left to his enemies only the fortified towns in which alone they could live with any safety. He commanded all who loved Mewar to retire with their families to hills on pain of sharing the fate of the public enemy. He closed all mountain passes, made all roads impassible and turned the country into
a veritable desert. Thus though the Sultan of Delhi
Jhad given the whole of Mewar as Jagir to Maldeva Padhihar, yet all that remained to the Padhihar was
the citadel of Chitor with his own and the Musalman
garrison in it. The entire resources of the country
having been laid waste by the ever vigilant arm of the Maharana, and the land being a constant prey to his
parties who issued from the hill fastnesses carrying
destruction with them, Maldeva, unable to carry on
the administration of the country with the resources of the fortress, left Chitor in the charge of his officers and took up his residence at Jalor, his ancestral abode.
Hammir attacked Chitor several times, but with all
his brave efforts, failed to take it. The destructive
policy adopted by Hammir was not without its effect
on his own army. His resources also dwindled and
many of his followers, unable to maintain themselves, left him. Hammir, Avishing to give rest to his supporters, and collect sinews of war ceased his attacks, and later started with a handful of his faithful Rajputs, on a pilgrimage to Dwarka. Reaching the borders of Gujrat, he encamped at the village Khod, which belonged to the Charans. Hearing that in that village there resided a Charan lady by name Barudi, who could read the future and who was regarded by the whole village as an incarnation of Devi, the Rana went to visit her. Barudi, seeing the Maharana anxious and distressed, advised him to return to Mewar, sayinghero, go back to Kailwara ; you will get back Chitor. Refuse not the offer of betrothal you will get, for, it will be the means of your getting back your country."
The Rana said : "Bai (sister) how can we take Chitor,
we, who have no horses to mount, no soldiers to fight with, and no money to provide food for us." Barudi
said : "Hero, my son, Baru, will come with a caravan
of horses to Kailwara: take the horses from him, think not of paying their price that you may do when you have money."
The prophetic words of the Charan lady made a deep impression on the Maharana who immediately
returned to Kailwara. The Barudi ordered his son to
take a caravan of five hundred horses to Hammir at
Kailwara, Baru was a rich dealer in horses and had a
large number of them in his stables. He purchased
some more and making up the number came to Kail-
wara. Hammir was waiting for the caravan and at
once took the horses and treated Baru with respect,
and gave him the confidential post of " Keeper of the
gate." He made him his Bdrhet and bestowed on him
the village of Antri with several other villages, which
are still enjoyed by his descendants. *
In the meantime the ministers of Rao Maldeva
submitted to him that his daughter had grown up and if they were permitted to do so, they would take leave to suggest to him the adoption of a policy which would be very useful. The Rao permitted them to speak freely. They said that though the Sultan of Delhi had given him the whole of Mewar, it was a country only in name ; for so long as Hammir Singh and his descendants lived, the land would yield to him not a shell. To keep Chitor under these conditions was to keep up unremunerative expenditure, without earning any credit for bravery. Their advice was that the Rao's daughter be married to Hammir, and the western part of Mewar which was hilly, barren, unproductive and difficult of access be given to him in dower for his maintenance and the rest of the country which was rich and fertile be kept to yield good profit. The Rao approved of this counsel and sent Mehta Juhad and Purohit Jaipal with Tika and large presents to Kailwara, These men went to the Aravalli Hills and delivered the Rao's message to the Maharana, submitting with great respect that his father and grandfather had been killed by the Muslims, not by Maldeva; that no doubt his country was in the Rao's possession, but he was willing to give his daughter and some land to him and that he should accept the offer. Hammir's advisers regarded this as a snare to entrap him. Hammir, however, scouted every danger which gave a chance to recover Chitor. He cooly remarked on dangers pointed out. "My feet shall atleast tread in the rocky steps in tvhich my ancestors have moved. A Rajput should always be prepared for reverses; one day to abandon his
abode covered with wounds, and the next to re-ascend with Mor (Crown) on his head." And, remembering the prophesy of Barudi he accepted the coconut. The Purohit and the Mehta requested the Rana to go with them to Jalor and celebrate the nuptials. The Rana mounted his followers on the horses of Baru Barhet and left for Jalor. The marriage was celebrated with the usual ceremonies; and Maldeva gave the Maharana the following eight pargannas in dower : Magra, Shernallah, Girwa, Godwar, Barath, Shyalpatti, Merwara and the Grhatta District. When the Rana returned to his residence with the bride, the Maharani Songiri who was a very sensible and wise lady declared to the Rana that her future was thenceforth bound up with him, not with her father, and that she would advise the Rana if he still desired to take Chitor to ask for the services of his minister Mehta Moji Ram, who was a very honest
and wise man. Acting on her advice, the next
morning, Maharana Hammir broached the subject to
Maldeva saying that he had given him a large
tract of country in dower, larger than he (Rana)
ever expected, but that in his adverse circumstances
he had not got a capable officer who could properly
carry on the administration of the country. The
Maharana added that he would be obliged if the Rao
could give him Mehta Moji Ram. Maldeva was glad
to hear this and liked the affectionate tone of the. Maharana. Thinking that if one of his own men
was at the head of Rana's affairs, the chances of
friction between them would be minimized, he sent
fof Moji Ram and entrusting him to the Maharana
told the Mehta that till that day he had been his
(Rao's) servant, but that from that day he would be
the Mahararia'a servant and that he should thence-
forth consider his profit in the Rana's profit and
his loss in the Maharana's loss. The Rao took the
Mehta's hands and placing them in the Rana's said
" from this day forth he is your servant/' The
Harm returned with Moji Ram to his camp. As
soon as they arrived, Moji Ram said ; " if you wish
to accomplish the purpose for which you have asked
me of the Rao, this is the time." The Rana assured
him that he had his complete confidence and that the Rana was willing to do whatever he advised him to do. On hearing this, Moji Ram said that he had received Khabbar of a lion at a certain place and that they should immediately start. The Maharana with his Rajputs took to their horses and started ostensibly on a hunting expedition. The next day at midnight, they arrived at the gates of the fortress of Chitor. Moji Ram advanced and calling out the gatekeepers said;
"I am Moji Ram, open the gates."
As Moji Ram used often to go into the fort to disburse the pay of the garrison, the gatekeepers recognising his voice opened the gates. The Rana and his Rajputs rushed into the fortress as soon as the gates opened, slew those who showed opposition and turning out the others, he raised his standard on the fort. The Muhammadan officers were tied hand and foot and thrown over the walls of the fortress. The PacAraftga once more flew over the ramparts of Chitor.
At Jalor, Rao Maldeva awaited the return of the
Rana from hunting; bat when twenty-four hours
passed his suspicions were aroused, which were deepened when he heard that the Maharana had gone towards Chitor. He started for Chitor with his army arid his five sons Jaisa. Kirtipal, Banbir, Randhir and Kailan. The Rajputs flocked to Chitor on
hearing that it was again in the Rana's possession.
They received Maldeva with musket balls. Maldeva
was defeated and returned to Jalor, After making
suitable preparations he twice invaded Chitor, but
was each time defeated.
"The standard of the Sun once more shone
refulgent from the walls of Chitor, and was the
signal for return to their ancient abodes from their
hills and hiding places to the adherents of Hammir.
The valleys of Kumbhalmer and the western highlands poured forth their streams of men, while every chief of true Hindu blood rejoiced at the prospect of throwing off the barbarian yoke.' 3 Finding that he himself could not cope with the Maharana, Maldeva carried his complaint to Delhi where Muhammad Tughlak was on the throne The king listened to him and determined to recover the lost provinces. He left Delhi with a large army to conquer Chitor. He, however, unwisely took the eastern route to Mewar where numbers were rendered useless by the intricacies of the country. The king encamped at Singholi on the central of the three steppes which mark the physiognomy of the eastern plateau of Mewar. So powerful was the feeling in Rajputana in favour of the valiant Rana, and with such activity and skill did Hammir follow up this favour of fortune that he advanced quite confident of success against the Sultan. The Maharana attacked the Sultan who was defeated and made prisoner. His army was annihilated and he suffered a confinement of three months in Chitor. ,(5) He purchased, his freedom by surrendering Ajmer, Ranthambhor, Nagor
and Sawai Sheopur besides paying fifty lakhs of
rupees and one hundred elephants. Hammir would
exact no promise of cessation from further inroads,
but contented himself with assuring the king that
from such he should be prepared to defend Chitor,
not within, but without the walls.
Maldeva's grandson Hari Singh (Haridas) was
killed by the Maharana himself in this battle, but
Banbir, Maldeva's son offered henceforth to serve the Rana who assigned the districts of Neemuch,
Ratanpur and Kairar to maintain the family of his
wife in becoming dignity: while giving the grant, he
remarked: "Prosper, render service and be faithful.
You were once the servant of a Turk, but now of a
Hindu of your own faith ; for I have but taken back
my own the rock moistened by the blood of my
ancestors, the gift of the deity I adore, and who
will maintain me in it." Banbir proved worthy of
the Maharana's confidence and in a few days, carried Bhainsror by assault, thus adding again to Mewar
this ancient possession guarding the Chambal. The
chiefs of Rajputana rejoiced once more to see a
Hindu take the lead, paid willing homage and aided
him with service, when required.
The Rana had not forgotten the prophetic Barudi
of Khod. As soon as he was firmly established at
Chitor, he invited her there and kept her in the fortress shewing her great respect and consideration. On her death, the Rana built in her memory a temple, which stands to this day and is known as the Anna Poorna temple. 6 Rao Maldeva died soon after this, and the Maharana on receiving a request from Maldeva's queen and his own queen Songiri, sent for the -latter to Chitor. She brought with her, sent by her mother, three things which were regarded as magical by the people, having been given to Maldeva by the deaf yogini a skull, a garland's and a sword, which latter is still annually worshipped at Udaipur with great ceremony, during the Aswin Navratri festival.
Hammir furnished Devi Singh, a Hara (Chauhan)
Sardar of his, who lived in Bhainsror (Mewar) with
sufficient force to attack the Dod King of Bundi and wrest that kingdom from the Dod's. Mehta Nninsi
says in his Chronicles that Ari Singh, father of Rana
Hammir, is said to have married Devi Singh's daughter. 1 Bundi was taken by Devi Singh in 1341 A. D. and its rulers remained feudatories of the Maharanas till Emperor Akbar separated them from Mewar.
The Shringirishi inscription of 1428 A. D. says
that Hammir attacked and took Cholakyapur,
(Jilwara) from the Bhils and destroyed Pahalanpur
(present Palanpur). 2 The EUinci Mahatamya also
mentions these conquests and gives the name of the king of Palanpur as Raghava. The Eklingji inscrip-
tion of A. D. 1488 (Sam vat 1545) also mentions the
wresting of Jilwara from the Bhils. The Shringirishi
inscription mentions that Hammir conquered Idar,
killing its ruler, Raja Jaitra.
The Chitor Mahavir temple inscription of A.D. 1438
(Samvat 1495) of Maharana Kumbha's time says that Hammir achieved victories and earned fame by putting to the sword innumerable Musalmans. This probably refers to the defeat of the Sultan of desert hordes occupied Delhi.
The Mokalji temple inscription of A. D. 1429
(Samvat 1485) says that Hammir built a temple with a gold Kulus on it, and excavated a tank in Chitor.
This is the Anna Poorna temple mentioned above.
1 Chronicles, Vol. I, p. 136. M ^
2 Palanpur was founded by Pahalandeva, younger brother of Dharavarsh, the Parmar King of Abu.
The fame of Hammir spread far and wide in the
land, and the kings of Mar war, Dundhar (Jaipur)
Gwalior, Chanderi, Kaysen, Sikri, Kalpi, Abu and
other places were ready to render willing service to
the Mabarana, " Extensive as was the power of
Me war before the Tatar occupation of Delhi, it
oould scarcely have surpassed the solidity of sway
which she enjoyed during the two centuries following Hammir's recovery of the capital. From this event
to the next invasion from the Cimmerian abode led
by Babar, we have a succession of splendid names
recorded in her annals, and though destined soon to
be surrounded by new Muhammadan dynasties in
Malwa and Gujrat as well as Delhi, yet successfully
opposing them all. Her power was now so consoli-
dated that she not only repelled armies from her
territory, but carried war abroad leaving tokens of
victory at Nagor, in Surashtra, and up to the walls
of Delhi."
Hammir died full of years, leaving a name still
honored in Mewar as one of the wisest and most gallant of her princes, and bequeathing a well-established and extensive power to his son, Khaitra Singh, who ascended the throne in Samvat 1421 A. D. 1364).
Source:- 1 Reprinted from The Hindustan Review for April, 1917.
Q Tod 1 s Annals and Antiquities of Rajaathan, p, 262. (First Edition).
8 Duff's Chronology, p. 211.
4 Kaviraj Shyamaldas' Ftr Vinod, p. 289.1 Reprinted from The Hindustan Review for April, 1917.
Q Tod 1 s Annals and Antiquities of Rajaathan, p, 262. (First Edition).
8 Duff's Chronology, p. 211.
4 Kaviraj Shyamaldas' Ftr Vinod, p. 289.
5 Tod's Majasthan, Vol. I, p. 272.
6 Kaviraj Shyamaldas Vir Vinod, p. 298
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