Man Singh I of Amber
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Raja Man Singh (Man Singh I) or "Kunwar Man Singh" was the Kacchwaha raja of Amber, later known as Jaipur. Born on May 9, 1540 to Rani Bhagawati at Amber, his father was Raja Bhagwant Das of Amber. Raja Bharmal was his grandfather. He was a mansabdar of 7000.In other words commander of 7000 cavlery, which was maximum possible to persons other than sons of Mughal emperer. He was a trusted general of Akbar, who included him among the Navratnas, or the nine gems of the royal court. In 1590 CE, Akbar conferred the title of "Mirza Raja" on him. Before this he was known as "Kunwar Man Singh". Akbar called him "Farzand" (son). He fought many battles for Akbar, including the well-known battle of Haldighati fought in 1576 between Maharana Pratap and Mughal Empire led by Kunwar Man Singh. According to Akbarnama, Man Singh was appointed to lead the Mughal Army. He started from Ajmer on 3rd April 1576.
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[edit] Conflict with Rana Pratap
He was sent by Akbar to persuade Rana Pratap to have treaty with Akbar and accept Mughal sovereignty. But Rana Pratap, who was a grandson of Rana Sanga considered Mughals invaders and intruders on Indian territory declined to accept Akbars sovereignty. Great grandfather of Man Singh, Raja Prithviraj was married to Rana Sanga's niece (Rana Raimal's daughter). Thus Rana Pratap was his relative also. On the day of meeting Rana Pratap invited Man Singh on dinner. Rana Pratap deliberately avoided attending dinner in person and sent his son "Kunwar" Amar Singh to dine with "Kunwar" Man Singh (as a custom Rajput men are called "Kunwar" in the life time of their father). The attitude of other Rajput nobles was also discouraging. They were secretly making mockery of Man Singh as his aunt Hira kunwar or Jodhabai was married to Akbar. Man Singh took this as an insult to Akbar and himself. He knew Rana was making an excuse to avoid him. He refused to dine with Amar Singh. He remarked I will come again and then will have a dinner. Understanding the hidden meaning a noble of Pratap remarked "well don't forget to bring your uncle Akbar". This laid the foundation of war between Mughals and Rana Pratap,who already had many decades of rivalry and enimity.
In 1576 CE Akbar sent an army lead by Kunwar Man Singh. Battle was fought at Haldi Ghati and known as Battle of Haldighati. Rana Pratap escaped from this battle. A noble, Jhala Man Singh pretending to be Rana Pratap was killed by army. Jhala Man Singh put the helmet of Rana Pratap on his head, though he knew he would be killed soon by doing this. Rana Pratap personally attacked Man Singh in this battle but he defended himself by ducking. The "Mahauot"(driver of elephant) of Man Singh was killed and Rana Pratap's horse "Chetak" was injured. Ultimately Mughal army won the battle. The battle was fought on June 18,1576. The next day Man Singh advanced and captured Gogunda, the seat of Pratap's coronation. But the geographical situation of Mewar was such that Rana Pratap could hide between hills. He exploited this and started Guerrilla warfare. Ultimately Pratap was able to liberate entire Mewar except the fort of Chittor. Despite his success Akbar was not happy with Man Singh, and stopped conversing with him for some time. Perhaps he thought Man Singh was responsible for Pratap's escape from the Battlefield.Conspirators also fed this to his ears.But doubts of emperer cleared upon his visit to Ajmer shrine of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti next year.
In the Battle of Haldighati despite exegerated figures it is estimated that Rana Pratap had 3000 horsemen, some elephants and the same number of Bhil warriors under Rao Poonja or Rana Poonja. A small artillery unit was also with him under Hakim Khan Sur. The force was divided in five wings. Advance wing was under Hakim Khan Sur, Bhim Singh Dodiya, and Ramdas Rathore. The right wing was under Bhamashah and Ramshah Tanwar. The left wing was under Jhala Man Singh. Rana Pratap was in the centre. Behind him was Rao Poonja with his Bhil warriors. The Mughal army had 10000 horsemen, some elephants and infantry. Among the horsemen 4000 were Kachwaha Rajput warriors. One thousand other Hindu warriors and rest were Uzbeks, Turks, Kazzakhs, Saiyads and other Muslims. This force divided in five wings. There were two advance wings. The first was under Sayyad Hashim Barah Jagganath Kachwaha and Asaf Ali Khan. The second advance troop was under Madho Singh Kachwaha. Behind this was Man Singh. To his right was Mulla Kazikhan Badkhsi and to left were Sayyads of Barah. At first Rana Pratap attacked and scattered the advance and left wings of the Mughal army. Jagnnath Kachwaha killed Ramshah Tanwar. Rajput warriors of both sides engaged in fierce battle. The Mughal army could not distinguish between friend and foe and killed Rajputs of both sides. The Mughal army surrounded Rana Pratap, so to save his life Jhala Man put the Rana's helmet on his head and died in his place. This provided Rana Pratap a chance to escape. After this Rana's army dispersed. The Mughal Army suspecting another attack remained cautious all night. Only in the morning were they able to judge their success. Almost half of Rana's army was finished.The battle was won but the Rana managed to hide behind hills.
[edit] Expedition to Kabul and Battle of Khyber Pass
In 1580 CE some prominent Muslim officers of Akbar displeased with his liberal religious policies started to conspire against him. One Qazi Muhammad Yazdi declared it the duty of every Muslim to rebel against Akbar. Particularly in Bihar and Bengal they declared Mirza Hakim, step-brother of Akbar and Governor of Kabul to be the emperor. Akbar sent armies to Bihar and Bengal to crush rebellion. While he himself started towards Kabul Man Singh was with him. On March 8, 1581 Akbar reached Macchiwara and soon arrived on the banks of river Indus. Here he sent a force in advance lead by Man Singh to Kabul. Akbar's army was hesitating to cross swelling Indus River but Man Singh crossed it first followed by troops. Hearing the news Mirza Hakim fled to Gurband. Following the army Akbar himself arrived at Kabul on August 10, 1581. However Hakim was pardoned by Akbar but his sister "Bakhtunissa Begum" was appointed Governor of Kabul. Akbar returned to Fatehpur Sikri. After return of Akbar Bakhtunissa remained nominal head and Hakim acted as real Governor. Hakim died in July, 1582. Kabul was annexed by the Mughal Empire and Man Singh was appointed Governor. He remained there for some years, and built a fortress their later used by Mughal Governors. Man Singh brought many talented men from Kabul. Some of their descendants still live in Jaipur.
Again in 1585 CE some Afghan tribes rose against the Mughal empire. The "Yusufzai" and "Mandar" tribes were the main ones among them. Akbar sent an army under Zain Khan, Hakim Abul Fateh and Raja Birbal to control these revolting tribes. However they failed to control the revolting Afghans and Raja Birbal, friend of Akbar and one of his Navratnas was also killed in the battle with Afghans. Akbar then sent Raja Todar Mal to crush the revolt and called Raja Man Singh to help Todar Mal. Todarmal was successful to control rebelling Afghan tribes up to an extent. But the real source of revolt was behind the Khyber Pass. It was hard to cross the pass dominated by Afghan "Kabailies". Man Singh was accompanied by "Rao Gopaldas" of Nindar in this expedition, who bravely made way for Mughal army in the pass. After crossing the pass Man Singh decisively defeated five Major tribes of Afghans including "Yusufzai" and "Mandar" tribes. The flag of Amber was changed from "Katchanar" (green climber in white base) to "Pachranga" (five coloured) to commemorate this victory. This flag continued till accession of Jaipur state in India. This permanently crushed the revolt and the area remained peaceful thereafter. In 1586 CE Akbar sent another army under Raja Bhagwant Das, father of Kunwar Man Singh to win Kashmir. Kashmir was included in Mughal Empire and made a Sarkar (district) of Kabul province. Man Singh and his father Raja Bhagwant Das are reputed to have brought technology of cannon production from Kabul and Lahore to Amber.
[edit] Winning of Orissa
In 1588 Man Singh was appointed Governor of Bihar. In 1590 CE, "Katlu Khan Lohani" of Orissa declared himself independent and assumed the name of "Katlu Shah". Raja Man Singh started an expedition against him. Before facing Man Singh "Katlu Shah" was killed by Rao Gopaldas of Nindar. Katlu Khan's son "Nisar Khan", after little resistance accepted Mughal sovereignty. Nisar Khan was then appointed Governor of Orissa. Nisar Khan remained faithful to Mughal empire for two years but after that he violated the conditions of treaty and attacked "Puri" and "Jagannath" which were Mughal territories and occupied them. Man Singh again attacked Orissa in 1592 and decisively defeated Nisar Khan and ousted him out of Orissa. Orissa then was annexed to Mughal Empire and included in Bengal "Subah" (Province).
[edit] As Governor of Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa
On March 17, 1594 Raja Man Singh was appointed Governor of Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa. He made Rohtas in Bihar as his head quarter. He built a Haveli (Palatial House) in Rohtas Fort. During his tenure as Governor Man Singh further expanded the Mughal Empire by defeating and subduing small kingdoms of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa. He defeated Raja of Jessore, now in Bangladesh and brought famous idol of "Shila Devi" to Amber. Temple of this goddess is still present in Amber fort. During Navratris lakhs of people gather here. Raja Man Singh served three successive terms as Governor of this area, in 1594-98, 1601-1605, 1605-1606.
[edit] Differences with Salim and lobbying for Khusro and death of Man Singh
Prince Salim was born after many prayers. But he soon became addict of alcohol and opium. He started disobeying royal orders and became infamous for torture. He had Abul Fazal murdered. Akbar tried hard to reform him. Salim had a son "Khusro". Two of Akbars sons Murad and Danial died in his lifetime. The royal court was divided in two lobbies one favouring Khusro and other Salim to be the next emperor. Raja Man Singh and Mirza Ajij Koka were in Khusro's favour. In 1605 Akbar fell ill and before his death he appointed Salim to be his heir. Though Man Singh opposed Salims accession to throne during life time of Akbar.But he never opposed Jahangir after his coronation. After Akbar, Jahangir (Salim) became emperor. Man Singh was removed from Bengal in 1606. Jahangir also ordered removal of some of modifications made by Raja Man Singh to his palace at Amber. But In 1611 CE southern provinces of Ahmad Nagar, Berar and Khandesh started defying Mughal sovereignty under Malik Ambar. Jahangir sent Raja Man Singh and others to crush the revolt where Man Singh died natural death on July 6, 1614 at Ellichpur.
[edit] Cultural Achievements
Raja Man Singh was a devotee of Shri Krishna. He had a seven-storey temple of Krishna constructed at Vrindavan. The cost of construction was one crore rupees at that time. Akbar is also believed to have donated red sand stones for this temple. Aurangzeb later demolished three storeys of this temple. The four-storey temple is still present at Vrindavan. He also constructed a temple of Krishna at his capital Amber, the place is now known as "Kanak Vrindavan" near Amber Ghati of Jaipur. He constructed the temple of Shila Devi at Amber Fort. He also constructed and repaired many temples at Benaras, Allahabad and various other places. He added much beautification to his palace at Amber. When Akbar called a meeting of his nobles at Fatehpur Sikri in 1582, about discussion on Din-i-Ilahi. Raja Bhagwant Das was the only man to oppose this religion. Later Man Singh also refused to convert to Din-i-Ilahi. It is believed his son Jagat Singh I received education from Goswami Tulsidas and he himself used to attend his religious lectures. Tulsidas was contemporary of Akbar and author of Ramcharit Manas known as Tulsi Ramayana and many other famous poetry devoted to Rama and Hanuman. He used to be accompanied by Charan poets. There are two occasions when these poets inspired Man Singh by their Poetry:
When Mughal army was hesitating to cross the Indus River at Attock, the poet said:
- Sabe bhumi Gopal ki, ya men Atak kahan
- Ja ke man men Atak hai, so hi Atak raha
(All land belongs to one deity, where is hindrance in that. But who have hindrance in their soul are hindered).
Hearing this Man Singh crossed the river first followed by the army. It is believed after winning Orissa Man Singh wanted to create a naval force and attack "Shri Lanka". But a poet said:
- Raghupati dino dan, vipra Vibhishan janike
- Man mahipat man, diyo dan kimi lijiye
(Lord Rama had given Lanka to Vibhishan as a Brahmin. O Raja Man Singh stop, how a donated thing can be taken back).(Shri Lanka as Indians believe was won by Shri Rama forefather of Man Singh.Rama appointed Vibhishana, brother of Rawana to rule it). It is believed that he dropped the idea of winning Lanka. However lack of naval force was weak point of Mughal empire.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
Akbarnama by Abul Fazal Part III chapter 31,32,34
Version Of Mewar.
Genealogy of Kachwaha kings
Kavita Kalptaru by Nanuram Sagar
