Indian Antiquary Vol 62

Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple, Charles E A W Oldham, S Krishnaswami Aiyangar, Devadatta Ramkrishna Bhandarka
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 35

FEBRUARY, 1933 ]
RÅO CHANDRASEN, A FORGOTTEN HERO OF RAJPUTANA
RẢO CHANDRASEN, A FORGOTTEN HERO OF RAJPUTANA.
BY PANDIT BISHESHWAR NATH REU. The name of the heroic Mahârând Pratâp of Mewar, and the memory of his noble deeds thrill with emotion the heart of every true Indian-young or old-even to this day. But the deeds of Rào Chandrasen, the first hero of Rajasthan, who in defending his independence against the covetousness of the great Mughal emperor Akbar, sacrificed his ancestral throno and took every kind of calamity upon himself, and whose path was followed by Mahârâna Pratâpt after an interval of about ten years, are comparatively unknown to history. Further, it has been said that the latter, being much distressed by the miseries of his children, once harboured the idea of acknowledging the supremacy of the emperor, but no such idea ever entered the head of our hero. Owing to the vicissitudes of fortune, however, his name is forgotten even in his own domains.
The Story of Rao Chandrasen. Rao Chandrasen, the hero of this biographical sketch, was born on the 8th day of the dark half of Sravana, 1598 v.s. (16th July 1541 A.D.). He was the fourth son of Rao Mâldev, the well known and powerful ruler of Marwar, who, by the force of his arms, had acquired supremacy among all the contemporary rulers of Rajputâna, and whose shelter was sought by Humâyûn, the emperor of India, in his days of adversity, and by whose might the pride of Sher Shāh, the Pathân emperor of India, was humbled. Towards the close of Maldov's reign a large part of his dominions had gone out of his possession owing to family discord.
On the demise of Rao Maldov, Rao Chandrasen, in accordance with the wishes of his father, was installed upon the throne of Mârwâr on the first day of the dark half of Mårgasirşa, 1619 v.s. (11th November 1562 A.D.), shortly after which some of his noblos, being displeased with him as a result of an insignificant incident, began to intrigue with his three elder brothers. The latter were persuaded to raise trouble in different quarters. His eldest brother, Ram, rebolled in Sojat, the second, Rayamal, towards Dundara, while the third, Udaisingh, having made a surprise attack, took the two villagos Baori and Gangani. At this Rao Chandrasen immediately marched against Udaisingh, who, relinquishing the possession of his newly acquired villages, retreated towards Phalodi. At Lohawat, however, he was overtaken and wounded by the Rao in a battle which resulted in a victory for the latter. After sometime Reo Chandrasen again prepared to invade Phalodi at the time when the
I Mahârând Pratap died on the 11th day of the bright half of Mâgha, 1653 v.9. (15th January 1597 A.D.)
: When only a child of three, i.e., in 1600 V.8. (1543 A.D.), he was granted the big fiof of Siwana and Bigalpur, where he used to live when of age. A day after his father's death he hastened to Jodhpur to try his luck in taking the reins of government into his hands according to the wish of his father. When a king, ho granted the fief of Siw&na to his elder brother, Rao Rayamal (the second son of the deceased Rio).
3 In the preface to the Taue-s-Jahdngirl it is stated; "Rio Maldev was a very great and powerful Raja, whoop army consisted of 80,000 cavalry. Although Rana Sanga, who had fought with Babur, pos. sessed equal wealth and ammunition, yet in respect of dominions and arms, Rao MÅldev surpassed him. Whenever Rao Maldev fought with Rana Sange the former we victorious." (Persian text, published by Nawal Kishor Press, Lucknow, p.7.)
In the Tabaqdi-i-Akbart it is stated :-"The Emperor Humayun, obliged by ciroumstanceh, started towards Maldov, who was at that time among the big Raja of Hindustan and to whom no other Raja was equal in respect of power and army." (Persian text, published by Nawal Kishor Press, Lucknow, p. 205.)
5 "Thank God, at any cost victory has been attained, otherwise I would have lost the empiry of Hindsten for a handful of millet." (Tarikh-1-Firishta text, published by Nawal Kishor Prome, Lucknow. Part I, p. 228, and Muntakhabu 'l-lubdb text, published by the Bengal Asiatio Society, Part I, p. 101.)
6 An offender having deserted the court of the Kao, took shelter with one of the nobles named Jaitamal (son of Jaisa). When he was arrested and brought back, the said noble requested the Rao to punish him in any way other than death. Incensed at this uncalled for interference, the Rao ordered the unfortunato wretch to be instantly put to death, Jaitamal and his colleagues did not like this.
7 At this time the three elder brothers of the Rio were in their respective jagirs. The eldest, Rám, was at Sojat; the second, Rayomal, at Siw Ans; and the third, Udaisingh, at Phalodi.