 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Commemorative Coins on Maharana Pratap |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
No history book on India will be complete without his description. He was the grandson of none other than the great RanaSanga.RanaPratap (1540-1597), as he is popularly called in India, was born in the kingdom of Mewar, in modern-day Rajasthan, which was ruled by his father. In 1568, Mughal Emperor Akbar conquered Chittaur, Mewar's capital. In 1572, Pratap became Rana (king) of Mewar with the support of the elder nobles. He then began a life-long war against Akbar. |
|
|
|
Akbar had wisely managed to convince Rajput Rulers and Princes to lead his campaign against other Rajputs who didnt fall under his sway. At that time RanaPratap was the only bulwark against the mughal dominance of Rajputana territories (Land of the Rajputs, today's Rajasthan). Living a life on run away from Chittaur due to Akbar's onslaught, the dream of retaking and riding into Chittaur (and thus reclaiming the glory of Mewar) was a cherished one. He lived a life of a fugitive drawn away from Chittaur by Akbars'sonslaught, he cherished a dream of regaining the lost glory of Mewar. Many a times Akbar tried to win him over by his friendly gestures but Maharana was unrelenting, he refused to surrender and even returned Akbar's special emissary Raja Man Singh, of Amber. Man Singh's sister was then the empress of the Mughals (being married to Akbar). This was distasteful to RanaPratap as he saw this as a sell out on part of her brother Raja Man Singh. |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
However RanaPratap's Sense of indignation insulted Raja Man Singh who came back at the head of a huge Mughal army. Later a gruesome and bloody battle followed between RanaPratap's forces and Mughal forces, who were lead by fellow Rajput rulers who had joined hands with Akbar, in Haldi-Ghati, the year was 1576. What ensued was a bloody carnage where many soldiers of Mewar were killed or captured but Pratap wasn't. He escaped to the hills in his legendary horse Chetak. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Later on, he organized a small army of Bheels (a tribe of India) and started a Guerrilla war against Akbar. In the later stages of his life he re-conquered some parts of Mewar but due to failing health and an untimely death his long cherished goal of winning back Chittaur, remained unaccomplished. Nevertheless he remains and shall remain a great hero in the eyes of all Indians and is common to see his likeness in form of statues at many a important location in India in today. |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Commemorative Coins on Maharana Pratap |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
Front |
|
Reverse |
|
|
|
Special Coins were issued in 2003 in Honour of Maharana Pratap |
|
|
|
100 Rupee Coin, 35.0 gm, Circular, 44 mm Dia |
|
|
|
10 Rupee Coin, 12.5 gm, Circular, 31 mm Dia |
|
|
|
1 Rupee Coin, 4.85gm, Circular, 25 mm Dia |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
Back to Main Page |
|
