To pass the Midnight watching pale,

Yet tremble when the day appears:

I shall come again-a stranger,

To all that once I knew;

From the hurried steps of manhood,

From life's flower have dashed the dew.

I yet may ask their welcome,

And return from whence I came;

But a change is wrought within me,

They will not seem the same.

For my spirits are grown weary,

And my days of youth are over;

And the mirth of that glad season,

Is what I can feel no more...

BATTLE OF GANGWANA - A SARTORIAL REMINISCENCE OF THE GREATEST CAVALRY CHARGE

For World which known The Greatest Cavalry charge in war against largest army which was by the the polish winged hussars led by Jan sobieski where a strength of 18,000 winged hussars cavalry going downhill swinging there savers cutting through everything in there path and rip through Massive force 1,00,000 ottoman jannisaries.

That World Should also need to read also about this Greatest Cavalry charge in war by Ranbanka Rathores of Jodhpur (Marwar) under Maharaja Bakht Singh Rathore, where a group of 1,000 Ranbanka Rathores Cavalry going downhill swinging their Swords Smothered the Jaipur frontline which is a combined army of a 100,000 men consisting of Mughals and other Allies.

It is the Indian CHARGE OF THE LIGHT BRIGADE that has never been highlighted properly. Even though It was an unbelievable feat of arms.

In which one side was led by Greaest Sovereign of its Era Sawai Maharaja Jai Singh and other by Valiant Maharaja Bakht Singh. Of which there are no words to describe the legacy of Sawai Jai Singh II (3 November 1681 – 21 September 1743), He was the most celebrated Rajput King of his time , No any other Rajput and Indian Ruler in Indian History (except some) can achieve what he achieved.

Sawai Jai Singh was the First Hindu Ruler who completely abolished Jaziya tax in India in 1720 , In 1728 the pilgrimage tax on Hindus at Gaya and on many Places was abolished only because of Jai Singh II.

Sawai Jai Singh broke free from the Mughal hegemony, and to assert his sovereignty over every king, Sawai Jai Singh was the first Hindu ruler in centuries to perform the ancient Vedic ceremonies like the Ashwamedha (1716) sacrifices — and the Vajapeya (1734) on both occasions vast amounts were distributed in charity , The Ancient Ashvamegh Yajna was abandoned for Centuries but it was now performed by Jai Singh II.

He got "Sawai" title which means one and a quarter times superior to his contemporaries , Mughal Emperor called him “ Saramad E Raja E Hind “ , He was also known as “ Raj Rajeshwar “ and “ Shri Shantanu Jii “

He joined Rajput Rebellion ( 1708–1710) and became major part of Rebellions against Mughals , which lead to complete decline of Mughal Empire

Sawai Jai Singh was the greatest Philosoper of his time, he had a great interest in mathematics, architecture and astronomy. He commissioned the Jantar Mantar observatories at multiple places in India, including his capital Jaipur. He had Euclid's "Elements of Geometry" translated into Sanskrit. There are many works of Jai Singh II.

These days Sawai Jai Singh's observatories at Jaipur, Varanasi, and Ujjain are functional. Only the one at Delhi is not functional and the one at Mathura disappeared a long time ago.

After continuous raids of Maratha's in North , he decided to wage war , The “ Battle of Pilsud “ also known as Battle of Kampel was fought between Rajputs under Sawai Jai Singh and Maratha Empire in which Jai Singh decisively defeated Maratha's and forced them to retreat across Narmada river , he further chased them to Narmada , Jai Singh conflicted with Maratha's many times

He build the “ Jay Baan “ canon which still consider as the “ The Largest Canon on wheels “ in World , The cannon was fired only once, with a charge of 100 kilograms (220 lb) of gunpowder, and when fired was claimed to have covered a distance of about 35 kilometres (22 mi). It is said that the projectile fired from it made a small lake in Chaksu.

He promoted Sanskrit learning and initiated reforms in Hindu society like the abolition of Sati and curbing the wasteful expenditures in Rajput weddings. He also tried to make reforms of remarriage of widow's

He founded the fortified city of Jaipur, which was the most planned city of that time in world.

The turning point of Sawai Jai Singh's life came in destructive Battle of Gangwana, as seen according to his side. have seen many vlogger's in their post sympathizes more with Rathore Rajputs but the main reason of this battle were Rathore's itself, Sawai Jai Singh was never wished to fight against their own Rajput brothers but due to internal dispute's of Rathore's was forced to fight Battle of Gangwana, Though He along with his allies defeated Rathore's and emerged victorious but the shock of destructive outcomes of this war was stayed with him for his rest of his life,  The bravery of Marwar Ranbanka Rathore was praised as they fought against 1,00,000 combined Armies of Sawai Jai Singh 2 and his allies with their 1000 small army, of which only few men's survived.

Jodhpur style painting depicting Bhakt Singh practicing archery, circa 1750

On the other side Raja Bakht Singh Rathore of Marwar (16 August 1706 – 21 September 1752) ruled over various domains in the Jodhpur and Marwar states and was a major political force during his life.

Raja Bakht Singh was born on 16 August 1706 as the second son of Maharaja Ajit Singh, ruler of Marwar. At the time of Bakht's birth, his family was in open revolt against the Mughal Empire due to an ongoing territorial dispute over Gujarat. His father was pardoned by Muhammad Azam Shah in 1708, granting the Rathore clan control over the Kingdom of Marwar and the city of Jodhpur.

In 1724, Bakht Singh and his elder brother Abhai Singh plotted to kill their father and usurp his position as Raja. They succeeded, and Abhai Singh became the Maharaja of the Kingdom of Marwar and Jodhpur. This abrupt change of leadership sparked a brief civil war among the Rathore in Marwar, during which the brothers employed Maratha soldiers to fight their enemies. At this time Marwar was a vassal of the Mughal Empire, which was in constant conflict with the Maratha Empire. The allowing of Maratha soldiers onto Mughal territory to solve a domestic dispute effectively estranged the Rathores from the Mughal government.

Siege of Ahmedabad

In 1730 a taxation depute against Sarbuland Khan (Nawab of Gujarat) resulted in Abhai Singh laying siege to the city of Ahmedabad. Bakht Singh personally led the storming of the city, the Marwar army lost 120 soldiers and 700 were injured while Sarbuland Khan lost his son in the cannonade and most of his men were slaughtered along with high ranking Mughal Mansabdars (nobles), some ranking as high as 3,000. Sarbuland Khan surrendered after three days of fighting, after which the Mughal emperor was forced to make Abhai Singh the lord of Ahmedabad and the governor of Gujarat. Bakht Singh was commended for his bravery during the battle.

Maharaja Bakht Singh at the Jharokha window of the Bakhat Singh Mahal, Nagaur

By 1739, Bakht Singh had been appointed lord of Nagaur. Seeking to expand his influence, he attempted to force concessions from the Bikaner State, calling on his brother for support. The Raja of Bikaner sent a letter to Jai Singh II, the powerful Maharaja of the Kingdom of Jaipur, requesting assistance. Jai Singh sent a letter to Abhai Singh asking for leniency to be shown to Bikaner, a request Abhai sharply refuted. Seeking to end the conflict, Jai Singh dispatched his minister Vidyadhar to Bakht Singh. Bakht agreed to withdraw his men from the conflict if he were paid by Jaipur and given the town of Merta. This was done, and with Bakht Singh now removed as a threat, Jai Singh was able to force Abhai to make peace. 

Jai Singh then stationed his army close to Jodhpur and threatened to burn it to the ground unless the siege was lifted. Abhai was forced to relent, and signed a treaty according to which:- 

The state of Marwar would pay 1,00,000 Rupees in gold, 25,000 in Jewels and give 3 Elephants as Nazarana (Submission) to the Mughal Emperor.

Marwar would pay 20,00,000 Rupees to Jai Singh as war reparations.

The payment would be done in 4 days. Five barons and Raghunath Bhandari were to remain hostages for it.

Merta will be handed over to Bhakt Singh.

Marwar would not obstruct Jai Singh in his possessions of the Ajmer subah.

No prince or baron of Marwar would be allowed to seek private audience with the Mughal emperor without Jai Singh's permission.

Marwar cannot keep foreign relations with the Marathas without the mediation of the Jaipur Raja.

Abhai Singh's Councillors must be men selected by the Jaipur court.

Unable to face Jaipur alone, Abhai Singh was forced to sign a treaty with Jai Singh. The Kingdom of Marwar was forced to pay 1 lakh (100000) rupees to the Mughals, 20 lakh (2000000) to Jaipur, give up hostages, and was prohibited from sending emissaries to the Mughal court without the express approval of Jai Singh. The latter condition effectively made Marwar a vassal of Jaipur, as Abhai could no longer request aid from the Mughal government. 

The peace treaty angered many of the Rathors, with the Rathor nobility claiming, "Our noses have been cut off by the Kachhawas."

Battle of Gangwana

In 1741, Maharaja Abhai Singh began to gather his forces at Jodhpur in preparation for a war of revenge/ against Jaipur. Jai Singh detected these movements and marshaled his army, allies, vassals, and every nearby Mughal garrison to invade Marwar. As the Jaipur army advanced, Bakht Singh arrived at Merta, the forward camp for the Rathor and Marwar army. He entered the Raja's durbar, where he was chastised by his fellow Rathors for betraying them. Bhakt accepted his wrongdoing, and promised to lead his personal cavalry contingent against the oncoming Jaipur. As described in A Comprehensive History of India (1712-1772),

"Bhakt singh now found that his selfish plot had kindled a national warfare which threatened the honour of his clan. So he temporarily set aside his personal ambition and saved the honour of the Rathors by conspicuous gallantry."

Sawai Jai Singh and the Jaipur army made camp at Kunchgaon, 11 miles east of Pushkar Lake. Jai positioned a long line of guns in the direction of the Marwar to defend the encampment. The combined army totaled 40000-100000 men from Jaipur and the various states allied with Jai Singh. Bakht's army consisted of 1000 Rathor horsemen under his personal command. Bakht Singh at first waited for reinforcements. As, however, no reinforcements arrived, Bakht Singh became determined to attack Jai Singh with his small force.

Bakht Singh and his men charged the Jaipur defenses and quickly punched through Jai Singh's gun line. The Rathors rode through the Jaipur army, cutting down thousands of men. The cavalry penetration was so deep that the Rathors burst through the rear of the Jaipur army and began to raid the baggage train. Tents and supplies were burned, and Bakht seized Sitaramji, Jai Singh's personal family idol. The Rathors galloped from one end to the other causing havoc in the large masses of confused men and horses, the Jaipur army fled in panic, and within 4 hours the Rathors held the field.

Sir Jadunath Sarkar quotes that - "the battle front was like tigers upon a flock of sheep".

By this point Bakht's force had been severely depleted, with only 70 horsemen still left alive. Bakht himself was wounded by both a bullet and an arrow. The Mughal contingent of Jai's battered army began firing rockets onto the battlefield, since Bhakt Singh could not see any enemies on the field and the direction of the artillery was covered by smoke and dust, he signalled a retreat, forcing the withdraw of the remaining Rathors.

Sawai Jai Singh's army lost several thousands of its soldiers in the battle. Historian Jadunath Sarkar states that according to Chahar Gulzar-i-Shujai of Harcharan Das, who was an eye-witness to the battle, exaggerated the casualties with 12,000 of Jai Singh's men killed and another 12,000 wounded.

The Mughal Emperor had sent 10,000 men with three of his generals to help Jai Singh in keeping the Marathas in check, however the battle caused great panic amongst the Mughal troops leading to a mass desertion. After the battle the Mughal generals were left with just a hundred men.

Narendra Singh in his book "Thirty decisive battles of Jaipur" has given a fantasized account of the battle. According to him, :-

Bhakt Singh after losing most of his men started shouting for a duel with Jai Singh II, this enraged the nobles of Jaipur who insulted Bakht Singh and told him to leave the battle in an honourable manner, the Raja of Shahpura upon seeing Bhakt Singh bleeding profusely, accepted the duel on behalf of the Jaipur Raja and was defeated. Bhakt Singh finally gave up after seeing that Jai Singh II would not come out of his defensive position and retreated with his men.

The battle resulted in a peace treaty favorable to Marwar and ended a period of Jaipur domination in Rajputana. The Jaipur army held the field after the battle at Gangwana, but had been severely demoralized by the attack. "Even Jaipur bards, could not refrain from awarding the meed of valour to their foes". Jai Singh had no choice but to retreat. One month later (8 July) both sides exchanged captured war loot with each other. The Maharana of Udaipur mediated a peace between Marwar and Jaipur later that year. Gangwana was the last battle fought by Jai Singh, as he could never recover from the shock he received from the outcome of the war and died two years later.

Later life

On 29 June 1741, Bakht Singh was offered Gujarat by the Mughal Emperor. The Mughals hoped that Bakht Singh could become its subedar and counter the rising power of the Marathas. Before accepting, Singh sent his spies to Gujarat and upon learning of the hopeless situation, declined the offer.

On 17 June 1749, Abhai Singh died, with his eldest son Ram Singh succeeding him. Bakht Singh (his uncle) disagreed with this primogeniture and rose up in revolt. Bakht Singh emerged triumphant in the battle of Luniawas, becoming the Maharaja of Marwar and Jodhpur in July 1751. Bakht Singh's first step as a ruler was to raise an army in Ajmer and to start fortifying his holdings to protect Marwar from external threats like the Mughals, Marathas and Afghans. On May 1752 Jayapa Sindhia and Ram Singh attacked Ajmer, sacked it and massacred the populace. Upon learning of the invasion, Bakht Singh marched with his army and camped 8 miles away from Ajmer. He waited till July and then attacked Jayapa. Bakht Singh blocked the surrounding paths and placed his guns on a hill, he then bombarded the Marathas, upon receiving heavy casualties, the Marathas fled along with the army of Ram Singh. Bakht Singh died a sudden death on 21 September 1752. According to Persian historians, he died by cholera while Vir Vinod claims that he was poisoned by Madho Singh I.

TOWER OF FAME - THE JAIN KIRTI STAMBH OF CHITTORGARH

जैन कीर्तिस्तंभ से संबंधीत शिलालेख -डा गोपीनाथ शर्मा की पुस्तक राजस्थान के इतिहास के स्रोत में जैन कीर्ति स्तम्भ से संबंधीत कुछ शिला लेखो का वर्णन दिया गया है जो निम्नानुसार है |

जैन कीर्तिस्तंभ से संबंधीत तीन लेख-(१३ वी सदी )

इन तीनो लेखो का सम्बन्ध चित्तोड़ के जैन कीर्ति स्तम्भ से है , क्योकि तीनो में स्तम्भ के स्थापनकर्ता शाह जीजा तथा उनके वंश का विवरण उपलब्ध होता है |वैसे तो इनमे कही भी समय अंकित नहीं मिलता है परन्तु चित्तोड़ की स.१३५७ की एक प्रशस्ति में, जिसका वर्णन ऊपर दिया गया है, जिस गुरु परंपरा का वर्णनमिलता है,उसी का वर्णन प्रथम प्रशस्ति में मिलता है | इससे ये स्पष्ट है की ये प्रशस्तिया भी १३ वि शताब्दी की है |प्रथम लेख में ४५ श्लोक है | इसके प्रारम्भ में दीनाक तथा उसकी पत्नी वाछी के पुत्र नाया के द्वारा एक मंदिर के निर्माण का वर्णन है|नाय की पत्नी नागश्री और उसका पुत्र जीजा थे |इनके सम्बन्ध में उल्लेखित है की इन्होने चित्तोड़ में चंद्रप्रभु मंदिर और खोखर नगर में भी एक मंदिर बनवाया | इनके पुत्र पूण्यसिंह ने अपने धन का उपयोग दान के द्वारा किया | इनके गुरु विशालकीर्ति के शिष्य शुभकीर्ति के शिष्य धर्मचन्द्र थे| महाराणा हम्मीर ने इनका खूब सम्मान किया था | इनके द्वारा कीर्तिस्तंभ की स्थापना करवाई गई थी | चित्तोड़ के वर्णन में वहा वृक्षावली के कारण शीतल वायु का उल्लेख से वहा की जलवायु पर अच्छा प्रकाश पड़ता है |

दुसरे लेख का मुख्य भाग श्याद्वाद के सम्बन्ध में है |इस लेख का नतीम पंक्ति में बघेरवाल जाती के नाय के पुत्र जीजा द्वारा स्तम्भ निर्माण का उल्लेख है |

तीसरे लेख के प्रारम्भ में निर्वाण भक्ति का विवेचन दिया गया है और अन्तिम भाग में जीजा के युक्त संघ की मंगलकामना की गई है |

जैन कीर्तिस्तंभ से संबंधीत खंडित लेख

ये लेख दो खंडो में मिले है जिनके द्वारा जैन कीर्ति स्तम्भ के सम्बन्ध में कुछ अपूर्ण सूचना मिलती है| इनमे किसी में भी तिथियाँ नहीं है |प्रथम खंड में कैलाश शैल शिखर स्थित देवता की तथा अरिस्ठनेमी की स्तुतिया है और पावापुरी का वर्णन है | इसमें कुल १२ श्लोक है | इसके अंत के भाग में 'संघजिजान्वित सहा ' का पाठ मिलता है - 'बघेरवाल जातीय सा.नाय सूत जिजकेन स्तम्भ कारापित '

चित्तोड़ का एक अन्य लेख

यह लेख चित्तोड़ के जैन स्तम्भ के पास किसी मंदिर में लग रहा था , जहा से संभवत किसी तरह इसे हटाया गया हो| अब इसकी तीन चार शिलाओं में से एक ही शिला उपलब्ध है जिसे गोसाईं जी के चबूतरे के पास लगा दिया गया है| इस शिलालेख में २१ से ४५ श्लोक है | श्लोक ४४ में हम्मीर का और श्लोक ४५ में पुण्यसिंह द्वारा मानस्तंभ की प्रतिष्ठा का वर्णन है |अन्य कई श्लोको में श्रेष्ठी पुण्यसिंह का विस्तार से वर्णन है | प्रस्तुत लेख से हम पूर्वमध्यकालीन युग के चित्तोड़ में विधा की प्रगति का अध्ययन कर सकते है |उस काल में जैन साधू विशाल कीर्ति ,शुभकीर्ति आदि साहित्य और दर्शन के प्रकांड विद्वान थे | जैसा की इस लेख से स्पष्ट है , इस लेख से हमें तिथि ,संवत आदि की सुचना उपलब्ध नहीं होती |

प्रसिद्द इतिहासकार श्री रामवल्लभ सोमानी जी की पुस्तक (History of Mewar-from earliest times to 1751 CE.) पृष्ट क्रमांक ९२ के अनुसार।

चितौड़ दुर्ग की राम पोल में प्रवेश करने के बाद उत्तर ( बायीं ) की तरफ जाने पर कुकड़ेश्वर तालाब और रावल रत्नसेन के महल वाले रास्ते में आगे गोलाई में घूमते हुवे लाखोटा बारी से आगे जाने पर दक्षिण दिशा में जाती सड़क के बाई तरफ सात मंजिला कीर्ति स्तम्भ दूर से ही दिखाई दे जाता है | कीर्ति स्तम्भ के पास ही समकालीन महावीर स्वामी को समर्पित जैन मंदिर बना हुवा है | दोनों का निर्माण लगभग साथ साथ चौदहवी शताब्दी के प्रारम्भ का है |

गौरीशंकर हीराचंद ओझा के अनुसार सात मंजिल वाले इस कीर्ति स्तम्भ का निर्माण दिगंबर जैन सम्प्रदाय के बघेरवाल महाजन सेठ नाया के पुत्र जीजा ने (विक्रम संवत १३५७ तदनुसार इसवी संवत १३०१ मे) करवाया था | यह स्मारक जैन सम्प्रदाय के प्रथम तीर्थंकर आदिनाथ को समर्पित है | स्तम्भ की चारो दिशाओं में पार्श्व में आदिनाथ जी की चार दिगंबर (नग्न) खड़ी प्रतिमाये लगाईं गई है | कहते है की बिजली गिरने से ये स्तम्भ क्षतिग्रस्त हो गया था और इसकी शीर्ष की छत्री गिर गई थी जिसे तत्कालीन महाराणा फ़तेह सिंह जी ने ठीक करवाया था | स्तम्भ के ऊपर वाली मंजिल में जैन धर्म से सम्बंधित सेकड़ो अद्भुत मानवीय आकृतियों उकेरी गई है| आदिनाथ जी की चारो प्रतिमाओं के नीचे की तरफ भी मूर्ति शिल्पकला को देख कर आप दंग रह जाते है | मूर्तियों में तत्कालीन सामाजिक जीवन का शायद ही कोई विषय अछुता रहा हो| स्तम्भ के चारो और लगी छोटी छोटी नृत्यांगनाओ की मुर्तिया बड़ी सुन्दर तरीके से उकेरी गई है|

जैन मंदिर-

कीर्ति स्तम्भ के पास ही महावीर स्वामी का जैन मंदिर स्थित है जिसके महाराणा कुम्भा के शासनकाल में १४३८ में ओसवाल महाजन गुणराज द्वारा जीर्णोधार करवाने का उल्लेख आता है ऊँची जगती पर बने इस मदिर के पार्श्व की और पीछे की दीवारों में लगी मूर्तियों में कमनीय नायिकाओ का तक्षांकन अद्भुत है।

The Kirti Stambh stands as another famous attraction that was built in the 13th century. Kirti Stambha is located inside the Chittorgarh Fort Complex. Kirti Stambha is dedicated to Sri Adinath, the first Tirthankara in Jain Faith. Figures of Tirthankaras indicate that it belongs to the Digambara sects. Many Jain followers consider Kirti Stambha as a major pilgrimage center. Visiting the Kirti Stambha not only gives you a chance to know about history but also makes you a spectator of a great view.

The temple was built around 1167 Vikram era and the Kirti Stambh was constructed in 12th CE by the Bagherwal Jain merchant Jijaji Rathod during the reign of Rawal Kumar Singh (1179 – 1191 CE). Kirti Stambha is older than another tower in the magnificent Chittorgarh fort, which is Vijay Stambha it is also known as the Tower of Victory. The Kirti Stambha personifies Solanki Style of Architecture at its best. 

An albumen photograph of the Jain temple tower, the Kirti Stambh, by Bourne and Shepherd, 1870's

After becoming ruin , kirti stambh was again renovated by MahaRana Fateh Singhji of Udaipur. The short way near fateh prakash museum leads to a great jain architecture Kirti Stambh or Tower of Fame at chittorgarh fort.

This tower is 22 meter high and have beautiful figures made on it. The ground portion of tower have 30 ft of area and upper part have 15 ft of area. Lot of small images are carved on all sides of the tower.

Kirti stambh have 7 floors and each floor have remarkable structure. Top most floor gives great view of other parts of fort like victory tower, Fateh prakash.

Jain Saint’s figures are neatly carved on the Stambha, adding to more charm are columned balconies and latticed arches, there is an observation hall, which can be reached through a narrow flight of stairs; visitors are awarded a splendid view of the vicinity.

Just near to kirti stambh (tower of fame), a beautiful jain temple is made with unique carving made on it.

The Jain Kirtistambh of chittor is a fine piece of jain art. Numerous inscriptions and casual literary references are known about it. Two fragmentary inscription of 13th century A.D.,collected by G.S. Ojha from the heaps of stones lying at the foot of this edifice, mention the name of one Jija Bagherwal as the constructor of this Kirtistambh. However, these inscriptions are very much damaged and do not throw any light on the history of his family. One of these inscriptions contains 12 verses from the Nirvana-Kand and other some text from jain scriptures.The family of Jija subsequently migrated to central india,where one of his descendants installed an image at Nandganva in V.E.1541 (1484A.D.) and engraved an inscription on its pedestal, which has also a reference that this kirtistambh was completed by Punyasingh son of Jija Bagherwal, one of his ancestors.

There is another group of inscriptions which mention that this pillar was originally get constructed by one kumarpal, while the renovation was done by Gunraj in V.E. 1494( 1438 A.D). In new inscription which has got verses from 21 to 45. A perusal of it proves that the construction was got done by the family of Jija. His father was Naya, who got the Chandraprabha Tample completed at Chittor. He spent lavishly in constructing other numerous jain temples at Chittor,Khohar,Sanchor etc. But his most momentous work was the construction of the jain Kirtistambh. However, he could not see it completed during his own life time and his son Punysingh did it. The consecration ceremony was done by Jain acharya Dharmachandra of Mulasangh. on the basis of another unpublished inscription of V.E. 1357 (1300 A.D.), now lying in the Office of the Central Archaeological Deptt. Chittor, it may be proved that it had been completed by them.

RANKA RAJ - JHARKHAND

Ranka Raj, Jharkhand Founded by Raja Dusashan Shah in around 1560 AD. He belonged to chamar-gaur branch of Gaur rajputs, settled at Sheopur & served as commander in the imperial army.

Descendants of this family are called Surwar taking name from their settlement of Sausonpur.

He made several conquests and obtained from the Emperor some Khilat as a mark of honour and a grant of the talukas of Bagaha, Adulpura, and Pathalgarh, in the District of Mirzapur, and

also the whole of Kirat Pargana and of the Talukas of Dhandand and Tilothu in Sasseram Pargana.

His son, Rajah Sarangdhar, had a castle erected at Dhandand and was also in possession of the royal fortress of Rohtas.

He was succeeded by his son, Rajah Deo Sahi. It was during this time that the Chero Chief, Bhagwant Rai, sustained a defeat by a force despatched by Jahangir at Morang, Tirhut, and Bhojpur respectively, and then took refuge with the Rajput Chief, Deo Sahi, at fort of Dhandand.

Thakurai Puranmal, the younger brother of Rajah Deo Sahi, took Bhagwant Rai with himself and marched to Palamau, which was then ruled by the Raksels, the ancestor of the present Maharajah of Sirguja in the Contral Provinces.

Puranmal conquered Palamau and got Bhagwant Rai installed on the gadi in 1613. An agreement was entered between them, that henceforward it would rest only with the Thakurais to manage the country and to select a future Rajah of Palamau from among the descendants of Bhagwant Rai.

Accordingly the Thakurais of Ranka state continued to exercise the power of virtual king-makers until the British conquest. Ranka Royal family also made a huge donation in the bhoodan initiative of Vinoba bhave.

Courtesy His grandson Govardhan Singh

Raja Bahadur Giriwar Narayan Singh , C.B.E., Raja of Ranka(Garhwa Jharkhand) donated 111,101 acres of land to the Vinoba Bhave Bhoodan initiative which became the highest acreage of land given by any landlord or estate-owner in India .

Source: The Ruling Chiefs Nobles & Zamindars of India

MARATHON OF MEWAR - THE UNSUNG BATTLE OF MAHARANA PRATAP THE GREAT - IMMORTAL RAJPUTS

विजयादशमी शुभा भवतु।
श्रीमहाकाली महालक्ष्मी महासरस्वती च सर्वदा तुष्टा वरदाश्च सन्तु,
अविद्याया अधर्मस्य असत्यस्य अन्यायस्य नाशञ्च कुर्वन्तु ॥

          

विजयदशमी पर्व के दिन ही १५८२ ही महाराणा प्रताप और उनकी सेना ने दिवेर में लुटेरे मुग़ल सेना पर भयंकर आक्रमण कर उन्हें परास्त किया था। युद्ध में लुटेरे मुग़ल सेनापति और बहुत से लुटेरे मुग़ल मारे गए, जो बचे वो भाग गए।

नवरात्रि में महाराणा प्रताप अपनी सेना सहित कुलदेवी और हमीर के खड़ग की पूजा करते हुए।

हल्दीघाटी के बाद अक्टूबर १५८२ में दिवेर का युद्ध हुआ। इस युद्ध में मुगल सेना की अगुवाई अकबर का चाचा सुल्तान खां कर रहा था । इस दिन विजयादशमी थी और महाराणा ने अपनी नई संगठित सेना को दो हिस्सों में विभाजित करके युद्ध का बिगुल बजा दिया। एक टुकड़ी की कमान खुद महाराणा संभाल रहे थे , तो दूसरी टुकड़ी का नेतृत्व उनके पुत्र महाराज कुमार अमर सिंह कर रहे थे। तय रणनीति के तहत महाराणा प्रताप की सेना ने महाराज कुमार अमर सिंह के नेतृत्व में दिवेर के शाही थाने पर हमला किया। यह युद्ध इतना भीषण तरीके से लड़ा गया था कि महाराणा प्रताप के पुत्र महाराज कुमार अमर सिंह अमर सिंह ने मुगल सेनापति पर भाले का ऐसा वार किया कि भाला उसके शरीर और घोड़े को चीरता हुआ जमीन में जा धंसा और मुगल सेनापति मूर्ति की तरह एक जगह गड़ गया।

राज प्रशस्ति में दिवेर का युद्ध:

" गज पर बैठा सुल्तान खान, राणा ने गज पर प्रहार किया ।

चूर हुआ खुरसाणी अभिमान, जब गज कुम्भ का विध्वंस किया ।।

राणा प्रताप ने दिवेर के घाटे में हाथी पर बैठे बादशाह के काका सुल्तान  सेरिम का सामना किया। राणा के सोलंकी वीर ने हाथी के दोनों पाँव काट दिए और राणा ने पक्षी की भाँति झपट कर हाथी का मस्तक फोड़ दिया।

तब सेरिम घोड़े पर सवार हुआ, अमर सिंह ने भाले से ऐसा वार किया कि  भाला सेरिम के कवच और अश्व को भेद धरती में जा गड़ा।

अमरसिंह ने हाथ से भाले को खींचा, पर वह निकला नहीं। तब राणा प्रताप ने कहा लात देकर खींचो, तब अमरसिंह ने सेरिम पर लात रख क्रोध से भाला खींचा, तब जाकर भाला निकला।

दिवेर के बाद कोशीथल समेत 84 मुग़ल चौकियों से मुग़ल खदेड़ दिए गये।

राजस्थान के इतिहास १५८२ में दिवेर का युद्ध एक महत्वपूर्ण युद्ध माना जाता है, क्योंकि इस युद्ध में राणा प्रताप के खोये हुए राज्यों की पुनः प्राप्ती हुई, इसके पश्चात राणा प्रताप व मुगलो के बीच एक लम्बा संघर्ष युद्ध के रुप में घटित हुआ, जिसके कारण कर्नल जेम्स टाॅड ने इस युद्ध को "मेवाड़ का मैराथन" कहा है।

दिवेर के युद्ध ने मुगलों के मनोबल को बुरी तरह तोड़ दिया। दिवेर के युद्ध के बाद प्रताप ने गोगुंदा, कुम्भलगढ़, बस्सी, चावंड, जावर, मदारिया, मोही, माण्डलगढ़ जैसे महत्वपूर्ण ठिकानों पर कब्ज़ा कर लिया।

 Unsung Battle of Dewair MahaRana Pratap

Maharana Pratap was Hindu king of Mewar. He was titled as "Mewari Rana" and was notable for his military resistance against the expansionism of the Mughal Empire and was known for his participation in many Battles including the famous Battle of Haldighati and Battle of Dewair.

Maharana Pratap’s army of 22,000 soldiers met 2,00,000 soldiers of Akbar at Haldighat. Maharana Pratap and his soldiers exhibited great valour in this battle although he had to retreat but Akbar’s army was also not successful in defeating MahaRana Pratap and Haldi Ghati was not The End!

Akbar wanted to capture Pratap Alive. He kept pouring in Men and Money to Invade the Hilly parts of mewar and Capture pratap Alive, but to No avail. 

Maharana kept Fighting using Guerilla tactics and Inflicted Heavy losses on Mughal Forces.

After this historic battle of Haldighati that ended in a stalemate, Akbar changed his strategy and started sending his soldiers through Mewar's North-Western borders namely, Mandal, Madaria, Mohi and most importantly Dewair. Several garrisons were established in this region for exercising a better control.

Towards the South East of the small town of Pali in Rajasthan, lies Dewair, a village enclosed in the hills of Aravali and between the pages of history, the latter often of an untold nature. This however was not so till about four and a half centuries ago. Dewair was the gateway (read strategic) to the kingdom of Mewar and hence provided access to the supercluster of fortresses spread across the hills, valleys and ravines of the region and why just Mewar, Dewair due to its geographical location was an important access point to Marwar, Gujarat, and Malwa as well. The region's control was incomplete, and ineffective without the control over Dewair. About 2 kilometers south west of the village of Dewair, lies the topic of this buildup - the Battlefield called "Dewair ki Naal", loosely translated as the Horseshoe of Dewair, a local name of the Dewair Valley.

Dewair (दिवेर की नाळ) was important strategic hold which connects Mewar and Marwar, it was also used to check the northern route to Kumbhalgarh and Gogunda. It was then under Mughal control. The forces of Maharana and Mughals contended against each other, through both symmetric and asymmetrical warfare. Several Generals and Commanders of the Mughal forces were deployed in trying to control Maharana's rise but these efforts turned out to be futile. Maharana was utilizing this period to organize his forces, collecting rations, and getting the support of the rulers of Sirohi, Idar, Jalore among others.

It was Vijaya Dashmi of the year 1582, when it all came to its climactic conclusion. Under the ruse of a planted rumor that he had left Mewar, the Maharana with his army marched unnoticed through secret paths to Dewair and attacked the Mughal Garrisons unexpectedly with his son Amar Singh commanding a separate flank fighting beside him bravely.

Mughal army was led by sultan khan. He was sitting on an elephant. Pratap throw his spear towards the elephant. About the same time another warrior brithya solanki cut the legs of sultan Khan's elephant Sultan khan however was saved. He then quickly sat on the horse and resume his fight.

But kuwar amar singh thrust his spear with such a force that the  weapon stuck in the ground after piercing the coat. This battle was as we would say today a surgical strike led by Kunwar Amar Singh. Thus the battle ended with the victory of mewar's army. 

After the battle maharana asked his son amar singh to take out the spear from the sultan khan's body. He also offered him water. 

Maharana Pratap and his son Kunwar Amar Singh faced the Mughals with great valor at Dewair, Kunwar Amar Singh commanding a separate flank fighting beside him bravely. Mughal Commander sultan Sultan Khan was killed by a single stroke of spear by Kunwar Amar Singh in Devair Yuddh.

This the battle ended with the victory of maharana pratap. It resulted in the closing of 32 other mughal check points and a surrender of about 36000 soldiers of the mughal army. Such was the feat that when Colonel James Tod realised the bravery of the soldiers of Mewar, he  compared it to the Greece's Marathon and named it as "Marathon of Mewar". Such was the importance of this battle. After a number of failed attempts at conquest after their defeat at Dewair, including one that Akbar himself commanded, the Mughals never returned to Mewar in Maharana Pratap's lifetime.

MahaRana Ji after Dewair, allied with Rao Chandrasen Rathore of Jodhpur/Marwar to annex Dongarpur and Banswara states in December of 1578AD and regularly harassed Mughals in their own stronghold in Ajmer. He sent his subordiante Rai Singh Rathore to help the Chauhan ruler of Sirohi state, Surtan Singh in thrashing mughals in the Battle of Dattani in 1583 AD. He would have influence well outside of Mewar allying with Chauhans of Sirohi & Ranthambore, princes of Dongarpur, Rathores of Idar in Gujarat and Hadas of Bundi starting fresh revolts and attacks on Mughals.

Jalaluddin Akbar kept Pouring Men and Money till 1587.

But, all of that Was Useless Now. 

After 1587, Akbar decided to Give up his dream of Capturing Mewar, and Moved to Lahore in Order to concentrate on North West India.

Salute to Maharana Pratap, India's most fearless Rajput warrior, a master strategist and the one, who never compromised with his determination to defend his motherland & his self-respect.

A war memorial at Meva Ka Mathara, was erected later to commemorate the Historic victory of the Hindu Rajput king of Mewar.

The old memorial commemorating this victory of Mewar over the Mughals was built just above the road in Dewair ki Naal.

The new Victory Memorial with statue of Maharana Pratap is built near Chapli, north of Dewair ki Naal road. It is approachable from different road from Dewair village on NH-58 (old NH-8).

THOUGH THIS VALLEY BE FILLED

Teis coloured by the common air,

Its atmosphere with death is rife;

A moral pestilence is there,

Fevered-Exacting-False and vain;

Like a Disease, it lingers on,

To all that blest its first sweet reign,

And desperate with the long decay,

It's morning dew & light, are gone;

To be within itself entombed,

One treasured and unbroken dream;

A yet more desperate despair,

Seems ever what it once could seem,

And its Better far alone to dwell,

Dreaming above the Dearest Past,

And keeping in the silent cell,

Life's best illusions to the last.