Chittorgarh : Chittor’s Maharaja Rana Udaybhan was informed by spies that the Mughal army was approaching the fort. Rana Udaybhan wanted to avoid war. Udaybhan knew that this war would not be between Chittor and the Mughal army but between the Mughal Sultanate’s emperor Jalaluddin and Rana Udaybhan. He thought it best to stay inside the fort.
Jalaluddin did not know how strong the fort was. The Mughal fleet also had cannons. Therefore, the Mughal army considered a direct attack necessary. The army kept trying for many days, but could not penetrate the fort. Now Jalaluddin had only one option, either he should return or wait for the right time. Akbar decided to siege. On 20 October 1567, the Mughal army sieged Chittor.
When patience started giving the answer…
Jalaluddin was seething inside. The soldiers were getting tired in the cold, their patience was failing. Five months had passed. The supplies that had come with the army were getting over, but the purpose of the siege did not seem to be achieved. Jalaluddin had deliberately laid this five-month long siege. He thought that when the rations in the fort would run out, Rana’s strength would automatically end, but his guess was proving wrong.
A fallen star that became hope
On 23 February 1568, Jalaluddin was roaming outside the tent in anger. He had a gun in his hand. Jalaluddin went near the fort wall while walking, then he saw Chittor’s commander Jaimal. Akbar immediately picked up the gun and killed him with a single shot. It is said that Jalaluddin saw Jaimal’s face in the light of a fallen star. This scene has also been shown in the recently aired web series ‘Taj: Divided by Blood’.
The blood of 30 thousand innocents was shed
The soldiers who had been besieging the fort for five months were bored, so Jalaluddin infused enthusiasm in the Mughal army by killing Jaimal with a single shot. The Rajput camp could not bear the death of their commander. The Rajput army attacked the Mughal army, but in no time the Mughal army entered the fort. Whoever was found was killed. More than 30 thousand innocent people were killed. Even women and children were not spared. The Rajput women who survived the attack of the Mughal army jumped into the fire of Jauhar.
One teaching of Chishti made Akbar
It is said that after conquering Chittor fort, Akbar stayed there for three days and when he returned, he went to Sufi saint Sheikh Salim Chishti in Fatehpur Sikri. It is said that despite being the emperor of Hindustan, he was very worried about his heir. Despite having three marriages, he had no children.
When he reached Chishti, he reprimanded Jalaluddin. According to historians, Chishti said that the one who made thousands of mothers childless has come to ask for a child for himself. Chishti taught that consider your subjects as your children. Then this dream of yours will also be fulfilled. After this, Akbar fought wars, but avoided shedding the blood of innocents. He ruled with Hindus and Muslims together. The prosperous people under his rule gave Jalaluddin the title Akbar. Akbar means great in Arabic.
