क्यों गद्दी छोड़ना चाहते थे Rana Sanga? कहानी Mewar राजा राणा सांगा की || Alif Laila E16

Summary

The episode recounts the rise, military career, and death of Maharana Sangram Singh—known as Rana Sanga—and explains why, according to the story, he once offered to give up the throne.

The offer to abdicate

The episode opens in 1508 at the Chittorgarh court. Rather than follow royal greeting customs or sit on the throne, Rana Sanga greets the courtiers like an ordinary person and sits on the floor. He says that, just as a damaged idol is replaced, a ruler who has become physically damaged may no longer be fit to rule. The courtiers reject his offer and urge him to remain king. The episode connects his gesture to the many wounds and disabilities he suffered in battle.

Mewar’s earlier history and Sanga’s path to the throne

The story traces Mewar’s strength to Maharana Kumbha, who was murdered by his son Uda in 1468. Rana Raimal later ruled Mewar. During Raimal’s reign, his brother Surajmal challenged him with support from Malwa. Raimal’s sons—Prithviraj, Jaimal, and Sangram Singh—were all regarded as possible heirs.

• In one account, an omen at a shrine suggested that the person seated on a tiger skin would become king. Prithviraj attacked Sangram, injuring and blinding him in one eye. Sangram escaped and took refuge with Rao Karamchand in Ajmer.
• A second account, attributed to an astrologer’s prediction, also says that Prithviraj struck Sangram and destroyed his eye.
• After Prithviraj and Jaimal died, Sangram was recalled and placed on Mewar’s throne.

Battles with Delhi and the story of Sanga’s wounds

Rana Sanga fought Sultan Ibrahim Lodi of Delhi, including at Khatauli and Dholpur. The episode says he lost his left hand, injured a leg, and received around 80 wounds. Despite his injuries, he retained the strength and bearing expected of a ruler, and his chiefs unanimously supported him when he considered abdication.

Conflict with Malwa

The episode describes Sultan Mahmud Khilji II as a nominal ruler whose minister, Medini Rai, held real power. After Khilji turned against Medini Rai and sought help from Gujarat, Rana Sanga intervened because Gagron was under Mewar’s influence. Sanga defeated the combined forces and took Khilji prisoner. After six months, he released him and restored his territory. A story about Sanga offering Khilji flowers illustrates Sanga’s willingness to treat a defeated rival with dignity.

Conflict with Gujarat

Disputes over the small state of Idar drew Mewar and Gujarat into conflict. Sanga backed Raimal, while Gujarat’s Muzaffar Shah supported Bharmal. During the 1520 campaign, the episode recounts how Kan Singh sacrificed his life by using his body to shield an elephant as it broke through a fortified gate. Mewar’s forces then advanced into Gujarat.

At the height of Sanga’s power, the episode lists his forces and allies as including thousands of jagirdars, tens of thousands of horsemen, 500 war elephants, and a number of regional rulers.

The episode also tells of Bahadur Khan, a Gujarat prince who had been given refuge in Mewar. After learning that a dancer at a feast was the daughter of a man killed by Mewar’s forces, Bahadur killed Sanga’s nephew. Rana Sanga’s mother intervened to save Bahadur, who later became Sultan Bahadur Shah of Gujarat.

The Mughal challenge and the Battle of Khanwa

After Babur defeated Ibrahim Lodi at Panipat in 1526, the Mughal advance brought him into conflict with Mewar. The episode describes a clash around Bayana in which Mewar’s forces defeated the Mughals and Babur’s troops lost morale. Babur then reportedly gave up alcohol and asked his soldiers to swear to fight to victory or death.

At Khanwa in 1527, Babur used chained carts, artillery, and archers to defend against the Rajput attack. The Rajputs repeatedly tried to break through, but Mughal guns caused heavy losses.

The episode recounts a disputed claim that Silhadi, also called Shiladitya, changed sides with 30,000 men during the battle. It also presents historian R. C. Majumdar’s counterview that Silhadi remained loyal to Rana Sanga and that the defection story may have been added later to explain the defeat.

Rana Sanga was struck by an arrow and fell unconscious. Jhala Ajja reportedly disguised himself as the Rana to rally the troops. The Rajput forces were ultimately defeated, and Sanga was carried from the battlefield.

Sanga’s death and Mewar afterward

The episode says Sanga planned to resume the war but was poisoned by some of his own ministers and died on 30 January 1528. His son Ratan Singh succeeded him but died four months later. Mewar then weakened, allowing Gujarat to capture Chittor in 1533.

Vikramaditya Singh was later murdered, and Udai Singh became ruler in 1540. During Udai Singh’s reign, Akbar attacked Chittor; Udai Singh withdrew to the hills and established Udaipur. The episode closes by linking Mewar’s later history to Maharana Pratap and the Battle of Haldighati.

Speakers and sources featured

• Nikhil Wath — Episode narrator and host.
• Kamal Bhatt — Credited as the writer; the closing credit refers to the writer as “Kamal.”
• Sarvesh — Credited with recording the episode.
• Colonel James Tod — Cited on the conflict involving Rana Raimal, Surajmal, and Prithviraj.
• Gauri Shankar Ojha — Cited for an account of the astrologer’s prediction and Sangram Singh’s eye injury.
• Harvilas Sharda — Cited for details about Rana Sanga’s appearance, the story of Bahadur Khan, and the claim that Sanga was poisoned.
• Abul Fazl, Akbarnama — Cited in connection with Rajput treatment of defeated enemies.
• William Erskine — Cited on the Mughal view of the Rajputs after the fighting at Bayana.
• R. C. Majumdar — Cited as disputing the claim that Silhadi betrayed Rana Sanga at Khanwa.
• Babur, Baburnama — Cited for Babur’s account of the fighting and its effect on Mughal morale.
• A Rajasthani bardic song — Quoted in praise of Rana Sanga’s victories over the sultans.