Thread by @_ankahi

On the birth anniversary of Maharana Pratap, one of the greatest patriots ever born in Bharat, presenting an epic poem detailing the events of his life; with a prime focus on the battle of Haldighati. Please read and share the 26-stanzas of historic verse.

#MaharanaPratap

The ramparts of fort Kumbhalgarh
Shone extra bright that morn
On the 3rd of the ascending moon
When its Prince was born
Warm summer month of Jyeshtha
Warm sands on Rajasthan
Gave a warm welcome that day to
Celebrated son of Hindustan

1/26

#MaharanaPratap
#Ankahi

Rana Uday Singh n Jaiwanta Bai,
Royal parents standing proud
Presenting their infant Prince Pratap
To kingdom’s waiting crowd
Little they knew that this little boy
This descedent of their tree
Would soon make an indelible mark
In the volumes of history

#MaharanaPratap
#Ankahi

Standing like a mountain mighty tall
Against the Mughal Empire
Shining like the glorious Sun itself
Atop Chittor’s spotless spire
Battling like a warrior valiant true
To his very last drop of blood
Starving struggling scavenging
But never ever giving up

#MaharanaPratap
#Ankahi

Eighty kilo was his spear they say
And another eighty his armor
And fifty kilo his sword did weigh
Such was his matchless valor
He rode across deserts like a storm
On back of his beloved steed
Chetak by name his loyal horse
Tht vied with the wind in speed

#MaharanaPratap
#Ankahi

When all Rajputs meekly laid down
Their dignity in exchange for life
Solitary he stood to challenge Akbar
No matter how tough the strife
Battle after battle he fought alone
For honor of his dynasty old
Winning some losing some yet
Incessantly brave n bold

#MaharanaPratap
#Ankahi

Sole commander of Hindu soldiers
Protecting Sanatan heritage
Bappa Rawal Rana Sanga & Kumbha
Among his illustrious lineage
For centuries the keeper of Mevar
His Suryavanshi Sisodiya clan
The desert bards have traced him back
To the Ayodhya of ShriRam

#MaharanaPratap
#Ankahi

An expert in sporadic warfare was he
Attacking when expected least
Regaining his lost territories n forts
His efforts he never ceased
Wounded many a time was Maharana
Defeated, driven away too
Each time he raised another army
And returned with fervor new

#MaharanaPratap
#Ankahi

Bards have sung his glory in verse
They've written volumes on him
They've told the tales of battles brave
And the years in exile grim
How destitute he lived in forests deep
With his children n wife
Drinking water from creeks n ponds
Eating grasscakes to survive

#MaharanaPratap

Tear soaked pages tell of his daughter
Dropping dead for lack of food
And yet his mission uncompromised
Yet for honor he stood
Betrayed by his own Rajput neighbors
By traders n tribals backed
The epic of Maharana an example for all
His tales with valor stacked

#MaharanaPratap

The Battle of Haldighati is famed
For armies grossly mismatched
20,000 were on the side of Pratap
80,000 by Mughals dispatched
Mughals laced with Muskets new
With weapons of sturdy metal
Canons elephants horses aplenty
And soldeirs trained for battle

#MaharanaPratap
#Ankahi

And a ragtag army of tribal bhils
Untrained unfiled unranked
Armed with blunt spears & swords
The sides of Maharana flanked
Outmatched in all aspects were they
Except fr their patriotic zeal
Ready to put precious lives on line
With destiny a deal to seal

#MaharanaPratap
#Ankahi

The yellow hills to this day reverbrate
With their shouts n cries
The valley clay still red deep down
Colored with their blood lies
Those who witnessed the battle wrote
Nothing like it ever seen
Both armies intent on victory were
To kill n be killed both keen

#MaharanaPratap

Maan Singh The Prince of Amer
Commanding the Mughal Miltary
Rajput in name but vassal of Akbar
A traitor in Pratap’s dictionary
Rajputana charge led by Maharana
From the entrance of the vale
Atop his stallion he rode in a rage
Maan Singh’s betrayal to nail

#MaharanaPratap

Show me where tht coward stands
Behind which batallion he hides?
Oh! Lead me to that bane on Rajputs
What beast he today rides?
I shall teach him how a warrior fights
For the honor of his land
I'll slice his shameless body into two
And bury him down in sand

#MaharanaPratap

Saying thus he roamed the battlefield
Seeking his enemy arch
Swinging his sword to slay the Mughals
A trail of death in its path
Like lightning his blade shone in sun
Coming down on opponents
Thousands in the lapse of a noon slain
Soldeirs! Horses! Elephants!

#MaharanaPratap

Both Pratap & his faithful Chetak
Were stars of tht battlefield
No canon blocked their deadly march
No spear! No sword! No shield!
Here, there, everywhere they were
Inflicting extinction and pain
Following their zeal tribals too fought
With fury of a hurricane

#MaharanaPratap

Har Har Mahadev! they roared to the sky
Invoking the Destroyer's strength
Jai Ekling! resounding thru the hills
Across the valley’s length
They fought like Shiva’s army of ghouls
Uncaring of the consequence
No matter what parts of body they lost
They fought with valor immense

Half a summer day tht battle went on
And half their army lay dead
But death was no deterent to these men
Bathed head to toe in red
Their leader in attack was the Maharana
Now the carnage too he led
Strewn on ground limbs torn asunder
Rolled many a sliced head

#MaharanaPratap

Chetak untiring in his quest to serve
His master n his friend
With a mere touch of Pratap’s heels
Speeding swiftly to other end
Ever attentive, ever wary of rivals
Illuding every possible attack
Darting dashing galloping like a bolt
With Maharana on his back

#MaharanaPratap

Mounting on the tusks of pachyderms
Racing up each coiled trunk
Bringing them down on their knees
Hoofs on their heads to thump
Landing on chests of warriors knocked
With forelegs skywards raised
Chetak helped Pratap slay his foes
He stomped he charged he chased

#MaharanaPratap

Dance of death undetered continued
On that hot summer afternoon
Rivulets of sweat mingling with blood
Sending many in a dizzy swoon
Dry sand rising with the beat of hoofs
Settling on the lid of each eye
Irking irritating the sons of desert two
Across the Arabian Sea that lie

Each side straining with all its might
Towards victory to progress
Each side wanting to win yet unable
As the enemy was no less
Both Maan Singh and Maharana Pratap
Still unconquered stood
One by the sheer numbers of his force
The other by his warriorhooh

#MaharanaPratap
#Ankahi

Ah! Then a rogue arrow fierce and fast
Found its way to Pratap!
Puncturing his armor it wounded deep
Alas! It’s blow swift sharp!
Knowing him injured the valiant Bheels
Insisted that he withraw from field
They provided a cover by shifting his flag
To another lionheart to wield

300 of them held the ground, while Pratap
Escaped to forest deep
300 against thousands fighting like lions
Attackimg a crowd of sheep
300 finally fell, to Mughal gun-powder
Shot from muskets new
300 bravehearts that day courted death
So Maharana didn’t have to

#MaharanaPratap

Empty were efforts of Mughals in end
As Pratap they couldn't catch
No matter they killed thousands of men
No matter if armies didnt match
Because later in years following this battle
Pratap recouped his strength
And returned to reclaim territory lost
With a defiance persistent

Following his era many more fought
The Mughals in manner same
Marathas in South with Shivaji at helm
Guru Gobind in northern frame
Showing how lions never bow to dogs
Living always with head high
Honor n pride sustained at all cost
How like eagles to fly

#MaharanaPratap

@smritiirani @SushmaSwaraj @rajnathsingh @PiyushGoyalOffc

Another great thread that details more events from the Maharana's life.

unroll please