While there are many legends around The Battle of Haldighati, we will touch upon one of the most fearsome episodes today of that 4 hour long bloody battle which created a pool of Blood by the name of Rakhat Talai. But before that the readers should very clearly understand that the Battle of Haldighati ended in stalemate & not where Pratap was defeated as glorified by many historians. The fact that Maharana had won back as many as 56 forts within the next one decade from the Mughals & fell short of Chittorgarh only is a testimony to this fact.
Behlol Khan Pathan 7 ft 8 inches tall, 150 kgs weight fierce some Mughal Commander of Emperor Akbar, undefeated till the Battle of Haldighati. Master Swordsman, savage human used to kill 3 days old children, behead civilians wherever he used to conquer, worse than Taimurlang. Akbar used to gift him Women from his Harem as gift in recognition of his victories. The best of the Arabic horses used to look like a puppet in front of him.
Emperor Akbar fearful of the Rana, gave marching orders to Behlol Khan to get him the Rana's head from Mewar along with Raja Man Singh in 1576 AD. A huge army was dispatched for capturing the Rana, a force of 80,000 strong Mughals assisted by the Rajputs under Raja Man Singh.
On the fateful day of the Battle of Haldighati, as the Rana set his eyes on Raja Man Singh who was on his elephant & charged towards Man Singh,the Rana atop His trusted horse Chetak, in came Behlol Khan in front of the Rana. The Mughal Vanguard managed to attached Rana Pratap with Behlol Khan leading the charge.But Rana was in a savage mood that day.... his eyes in flames when he confronted Behlol Khan & with one strike of his sword cut open Behlol Khan through his helmet from the head along with his Khans horse into two pieces. Seeing this fate of Behlol Khan the Mughal soldiers started fleeing. All this happened at the centre of Haldighati in a place called Rakht Talai. This scene is depicted in many old art works & has been made immortal by bards & poets & till today is sung as a part of various folklores & dance drama's in Mewar & Rajasthan.
Below are Maharana's battle gear which weighs a total of 235 kgs & is preserved in Udaipur palace. The Bhala ( Spear) alone weighs 35 kgs. Such was the strength of the Rana & his valour. The day when he passed away, even Emperor Akbar had also shed his tears.
The article covers the pictures of the Maharana Pratap's complete armory which was 235kgs in weight & his Spear as mentioned above was only 35kgs. Rana Sa strength was unmatched & un parallel & continues to be a legend & constitutes parts of various folklores that are sung today in Mewar & Rajputana. However one interesting fact that I had stumbled upon is the 500 year old rivalry that arose from Haldighati amongst the Rajputs. The Mewari Rajputs from 1576 onward started considering the Rajputs of Jaipur & surronding area's as traitors since they colluded with Mughal Emperor Akbar & continued to do so even after Akbar's death. Till today a Mewari Rajput will never give his daughters hand to someone from Jaipur or even have a meal at their place. Keep astounding.
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