Chapter 22: The Rajput Rebellion Begins
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1. The Aftermath of Panipat
The dust had settled over the battlefield, but Hindustan was far from peaceful. The Mughals had won the Second Battle of Panipat, and Akbar now ruled from Delhi, but the cost had been immense.
✔ 40,000 Mughal soldiers lay dead, and thousands more were injured.
✔ Hemu was executed, but his legacy had ignited a flame of rebellion.
✔ The Rajput warriors had escaped, regrouping in the mountains.
Despite his victory, Akbar could not rest. The Rajput rulers of Mewar, Malwa, and Bundelkhand had refused to acknowledge his rule. Rebellion was growing.
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2. The Gathering in Mewar
Far away from Delhi, in the hills of Chittorgarh, a secret meeting took place.
Maharana Pratap, Queen Avantibai, and the surviving Rajput leaders gathered in a hidden fortress.
✔ Chhatrasal of Bundelkhand had brought his finest warriors.
✔ Malhar Rao Holkar promised supplies and cavalry.
✔ Rajput Chieftains from Marwar and Jaisalmer swore to fight.
Maharana Pratap stood before them. His face was grim but determined.
Maharana Pratap: "The Mughals believe Hindustan belongs to them. But we are not defeated. We will not let our ancestors' blood be spilled in vain."
Avantibai: "We fight not just for Rajputs, but for all of Hindustan."
The Rajput leaders roared in agreement.
A new war was beginning—this time, it would be fought in the shadows.
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3. The Strategy of Rebellion
Maharana Pratap and Avantibai outlined their plan:
✔ Guerrilla Warfare – Hit-and-run attacks to weaken the Mughal forces.
✔ Destroy Mughal Supply Lines – Starve Akbar's army by cutting food routes.
✔ Use the Terrain – Hide in the mountains and forests, striking from the shadows.
✔ Unite the Rajputs and Marathas – Bring all warriors together against the Mughals.
Maharana Pratap: "Akbar has an army of 80,000, but they do not know our land. We will make Hindustan a nightmare for them."
The plan was set. The Rajput Rebellion had begun.
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4. First Attacks – Mughal Outposts Burn
Within weeks, Mughal outposts across Hindustan began to fall.
✔ Rajput horsemen attacked Mughal caravans, stealing weapons and food.
✔ Avantibai's warriors raided enemy forts, freeing prisoners.
✔ Malhar Rao's forces ambushed Mughal tax collectors, cutting off Akbar's revenue.
The Mughals struggled to respond.
Mughal General Abdul Rahim: "These Rajputs do not fight like men. They strike from the shadows!"
Akbar was furious. He ordered his generals to hunt down the rebels.
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5. The Battle of Kumbhalgarh
The Mughals marched to Mewar, determined to crush the rebellion.
✔ 20,000 Mughal soldiers marched towards Kumbhalgarh Fort.
✔ They were led by General Asaf Khan, one of Akbar's finest commanders.
But Maharana Pratap was waiting.
✔ He had only 5,000 Rajput warriors, but they were ready to die for their land.
✔ He set traps along the mountain roads, forcing the Mughals into narrow paths.
As the Mughals climbed the hills, Rajput archers unleashed a deadly rain of arrows.
✔ The Mughals fell by the hundreds, unable to move in the tight spaces.
✔ Rajput war elephants charged, crushing entire battalions.
✔ Swords clashed, and the night echoed with the cries of dying soldiers.
By dawn, the Mughal army was in chaos.
Asaf Khan, wounded, ordered a retreat.
The Rajputs had won the first battle of the rebellion.
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6. Akbar's Response – The Rajput Purge
News of the defeat infuriated Akbar.
✔ He ordered brutal retaliation.
✔ Mughal forces burned Rajput villages suspected of helping Maharana Pratap.
✔ Thousands were executed—men, women, and even children.
But instead of breaking the Rajputs, it made them more determined.
Avantibai stood before her warriors.
Avantibai: "Akbar believes fear will break us. But we are Rajputs. We do not fear death."
The warriors roared in agreement.
The Rajput rebellion spread like wildfire.
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7. The Rajput-Maratha Alliance
Maharana Pratap knew they could not fight alone.
✔ He sent emissaries to Shivaji's ancestors, seeking an alliance with the Marathas.
✔ The Marathas, eager to resist the Mughals, agreed.
✔ New forces joined the rebellion, adding 10,000 warriors to the Rajput army.
Together, the Rajput-Maratha alliance launched a series of attacks:
✔ Malhar Rao Holkar led cavalry raids deep into Mughal territory.
✔ Maratha archers ambushed Mughal patrols, cutting off reinforcements.
✔ Chhatrasal's forces attacked Mughal forts, capturing weapons and supplies.
The Mughals were losing control.
Akbar was forced to pull troops from Delhi to defend his empire.
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8. The Battle of Udaipur – A Rajput Victory
With their forces growing, Maharana Pratap planned his biggest attack yet.
✔ The target: Udaipur, a strategic city under Mughal control.
✔ Rajput spies had infiltrated the city, weakening defenses from within.
✔ At midnight, the Rajputs launched a surprise attack.
✔ Mughal guards were caught off guard, and Rajput swords cut through their ranks.
✔ The city gates were set on fire, blocking reinforcements.
✔ Avantibai led a direct assault, personally slaying the Mughal commander.
By dawn, Udaipur had fallen.
The Rajput flag flew over the city once more.
The rebellion was no longer just an uprising—it was a full-scale war.
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9. Akbar's Desperation – Calling for Reinforcements
Akbar could not ignore the rebellion any longer.
✔ He summoned 50,000 reinforcements from Kabul, Persia, and Central Asia.
✔ He personally marched towards Mewar, determined to crush the Rajputs.
But Maharana Pratap was ready.
✔ He had fortified Chittorgarh, Udaipur, and Bundelkhand.
✔ His spies watched every Mughal movement.
✔ His warriors were ready to fight to the death.
The war was about to reach its peak.
Akbar vs. Maharana Pratap.
The future of Hindustan hung in the balance.
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