Chapter 24: The Rajput Revenge

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1. The Aftermath of Chittorgarh

The fires of Chittorgarh still burned. Smoke filled the air. The once-proud fortress, the heart of Rajputana, had fallen to the Mughals.

✔ Thousands of Rajput warriors had perished.

✔ Avantibai and thousands of women had committed Jauhar.

✔ Akbar claimed victory—but it was empty.

The Mughals expected Rajput resistance to end.

But in the Aravalli Hills, Maharana Pratap was still alive. And he was preparing for war.

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2. The Rajput Strategy – Adapting to a New War

Maharana Pratap gathered his remaining generals. The Rajput army was wounded but not defeated.

✔ Rana Poonja of the Bhil tribe joined him with 10,000 warriors.

✔ Malhar Rao Holkar swore loyalty, bringing skilled Maratha fighters.

✔ Tribal leaders from Bundelkhand, Gujarat, and the Deccan pledged support.

Maharana Pratap knew they couldn't face the Mughals in direct battle anymore.

✔ Akbar's army was too big, too well-equipped.

✔ Rajputana was under siege.

✔ Chittorgarh, Udaipur, and Kumbhalgarh were in Mughal hands.

A new strategy was needed—one that played to Rajput strengths.

✔ Guerilla Warfare.

✔ Hit-and-run tactics.

✔ Surprise attacks on Mughal supply lines.

Maharana Pratap: "We do not need to defeat them in open battle. We need to make Mughal rule unbearable."

And so, the Great Rajput Resistance began.

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3. The First Strike – Raiding Mughal Camps

Akbar had stationed thousands of soldiers in Rajput forts to maintain control.

Maharana Pratap planned to strike fear into their hearts.

✔ A massive Mughal supply caravan was heading from Agra to Udaipur.

✔ It carried food, weapons, gold, and gunpowder—the lifeline of Mughal forces.

✔ It was heavily guarded by 5,000 Mughal soldiers.

But the Rajputs were waiting.

The Battle of the Jungle began at midnight.

✔ Rajput warriors ambushed from the trees, cutting down Mughal soldiers in the dark.

✔ Flaming arrows rained on Mughal elephants, throwing them into chaos.

✔ Bhil warriors used poison-tipped arrows, killing Mughals silently.

In just three hours, the entire caravan was destroyed.

✔ The Mughals lost thousands of soldiers.

✔ The Rajputs seized weapons, gold, and supplies.

✔ Maharana Pratap used Mughal gold to fund his army.

Akbar was enraged.

✔ More Mughal reinforcements were sent to Rajasthan.

✔ But they, too, were ambushed in the mountains.

The Mughal stronghold was weakening.

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4. Rajput Guerrilla Warfare Spreads

For the next six months, the Rajputs launched continuous attacks.

✔ Mughal tax collectors were killed, and their gold was taken.

✔ Rajput warriors disguised as traders infiltrated Mughal camps and poisoned water supplies.

✔ Every Mughal caravan sent to Rajasthan was burned before reaching its destination.

The Mughal soldiers began to fear the mountains of Mewar.

✔ They couldn't sleep at night, knowing an attack could come anytime.

✔ They couldn't travel safely, because the roads were controlled by Rajput scouts.

✔ They were forced to hide inside forts, but even then, Rajput spies spread false rumors, causing chaos.

Akbar's empire was bleeding from a thousand cuts.

✔ He had won Chittorgarh but lost control of Rajasthan.

✔ His generals begged for reinforcements, but none were safe from Rajput attacks.

Maharana Pratap's war was turning the tide.

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5. The Battle of Udaipur – Retaking Lost Ground

Maharana Pratap now set his eyes on Udaipur.

✔ It was a key Mughal base, controlling Rajasthan.

✔ 5,000 Mughal troops guarded it, led by Akbar's best general, Asaf Khan.

✔ Rajput spies had gathered intelligence—the Mughals were vulnerable.

Maharana Pratap gathered his warriors.

✔ 20,000 Rajputs and Bhils were ready for war.

✔ They knew the fort's secret tunnels, giving them an advantage.

✔ The night before the battle, Rajput infiltrators entered the fort.

At midnight, the Rajput attack began.

✔ Gates burst open as Rajput cavalry stormed in.

✔ Mughal cannons were disabled by Rajput saboteurs.

✔ Malhar Rao Holkar led the charge, slaying hundreds.

By morning, the Mughal forces had collapsed.

✔ Asaf Khan was captured, his army annihilated.

✔ Udaipur was back in Rajput hands.

The Rajputs were winning back their land.

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6. Akbar's Response – The Largest Mughal Invasion Yet

Akbar was furious.

✔ His generals had failed him.

✔ The Rajputs were taking back their kingdom.

✔ His empire was bleeding resources.

He ordered his largest invasion yet.

✔ 60,000 soldiers marched toward Mewar.

✔ Elephants, cannons, and Persian warriors joined them.

✔ Akbar's own generals led the charge, vowing to destroy Maharana Pratap forever.

The Rajputs prepared for the ultimate battle.

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7. The Battle of Haldighati – The Ultimate Showdown

On a scorching summer morning, the two armies met at Haldighati.

✔ Maharana Pratap commanded 20,000 warriors.

✔ The Mughals had 60,000 soldiers.

✔ But the Rajputs had one advantage—the terrain.

Maharana Pratap: "We are outnumbered. But today, we fight not for land. We fight for our honor."

The battle began.

✔ Rajput archers rained arrows on Mughal ranks.

✔ Mughal cannons fired, but the Rajput cavalry was too fast.

✔ Maharana Pratap, on his warhorse Chetak, charged straight into the Mughal lines.

The clash was brutal.

✔ Blood soaked the battlefield.

✔ War elephants trampled Mughal and Rajput alike.

✔ Swords clashed, spears broke, and warriors fought till their last breath.

But despite their bravery, the Rajputs were overwhelmed.

✔ Thousands of Rajputs fell.

✔ Chetak, Maharana Pratap's beloved horse, was wounded.

✔ The Mughals surrounded the Rajput king.

But before they could strike him down, Rajput warriors rushed in.

✔ Maharana Pratap was rescued by his men.

✔ The Rajputs retreated into the mountains, refusing to surrender.

Akbar claimed victory, but he had won nothing.

✔ Maharana Pratap was still alive.

✔ The Rajput resistance was still strong.

✔ Akbar had spent thousands of soldiers and gold, only to be left with an empty battlefield.

The Mughal Empire had won a battle—but lost the war.