The Rajputs regard themselves as descendants or members of the Kshatriya or the Warrior class. Their ethos includes an intense pride in ancestry and a mettlesome regard for personal honour. The Rajput origins seem to date from a great breakup of Indian society in the northern and northwestern Indian subcontinent associated tribes from the mid-5th century onward.
Agnikula- “Family of the Fire God”, is the group from which the Rajputs derive their claim to be Kshatriyas. India has heard and seen many of these Rajputs bravely fought for kingdom and country. One among those fierce warriors is whom we talk about today..
Maharana Sangram Singh, a fierce Rajput King commonly known as “Rana Sanga”, was the ruler of Mewar and one of the most prominent Rajput leaders in the 16th century India. He belonged to Sisodiya clan of Rajput and ruled between 1508 and 1528.
He is known for his valour and the courage with which he fought against the Mughal invader “Babur”. The son of Rana Raimal, he succeeded to the throne after his father’s death following a prolonged power struggle against his brothers. He reigned during a very tumultuous period in Indian history.
The Rajputs emerged into political importance as early as the 7th century. From about 800, Rajput Dynasty dominated northern India, and the many petty Rajput kingdoms there were among the main obstacles to the complete Muslim domination of Hindu India. Among all kingdoms of Mewar and Gujarat, “Rana Sanga” was head of a powerful confederacy threatening the whole Muslim position in northern India.
Babur and Rana Sangha…
During the 16th century, the Rajput dynasty challenged all the non-Indian Muslim dynasties of India. After ascending to the throne Rana Sanga strengthened his position in Mewar, and began his struggles against the invading Muslims.
With his growing stature as a powerful ruler in India, he gained much recognition. Now counted as a principal player in the power struggle to rule the northern territories of India, he set his ambitions high and planned to capture Delhi and bring the whole of India under his control.
He proceeded to wage a war against the Mughal invader, Babur. He solicited the support of others like Raja Hasan Khan Mewati and the Afghan, Mehmud Lodi and Raja Medini Rai of Alwar. This combined troop met Babur’s army at Khanwa near Fatehpur Sikri in 1527.
The battle was a brutal one and bitterly contested. At a crucial moment in the battle, one of Sanga’s allies, Silhadi, betrayed the maharana. While Rana Sanga struggled to rebuild his army, he was wounded and fell down unconscious from his horse. The Rajput army thought that Sanga was dead, and they fled in panic. This enabled the Mughals to claim victory.The loyal followers of Sanga took him to safety and saved his life. On regaining his health, the maharana vowed to reclaim his kingdom from Babur.
Accompanied by Rajput rebels, Sanga defeated invading armies and obtained control of Malwa. He then turned his attention towards north-eastern Rajasthan, which was then under the control of Ibrahim Lodi. Sanga was badly injured in the wars between the Rajputs and Lodi’s troops but he repeatedly defeated Lodi. As he grew in power, war with the Mughals became inevitable and Sanga was defeated by Babur in the Battle of Khanwa, and died shortly after.His plans for another battle with the powerful Mughals was not supported by his nobles and is it suggested that they poisoned Sanga due to their disapproval.
Source: Haribhakt.com
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