January 27, 1556 – “Death of Humayun”
Mughal emperor Humayun died by falling down the stairs of the library. Lenpool writes “Emperor Humayun stumbled throughout his life and eventually died after stumbling”
This Mughal emperor proved to be quite soft as compared to other emperors. He divided his kingdom among his brothers and sat on Delhi himself. Humayun was defeated in the battles of Chausa and Bilgram by Sher Shah Suri, the owner of an army 4 times smaller than himself. Humayun was defeated and jumped into the river Ganges with a horse, where a sailor saved his life.
After defeating Sher Shah Suri, not a single brother of Humayun gave him shelter. Humayun wandered for 15 years and Delhi came to power again, but Humayun died after ruling only one year.

1556 – “Mewar-Marwar conflict”
Swaroopde, the daughter of Feudal lord, Jait Singh Jhala of Kherwa and Delwara, was the wife of Maldev. (Jait Singh Jhala’s father was Rajrana Jhala Sajja, who got martyred while fighting the army of Bahadur Shah in Chittorgarh fort. Jait Singh Jhala went to Marwar, where he was given the estate of Kherwa)
Rao Maldev went to his in-laws’ Kherwa, including Rani Swaroopde, where he saw Jaitra Singh’s second daughter, Veerabai Jhali, and told Jaitra Singh to “get her married with me too” But Jaitra Singh Jhala refused, saying that “I cannot make my second daughter my first daughter’s co wife”
Rao Maldev at first said softly, but after Jaitra Singh refused, Rao Maldev tried forcefully, so Rani Swaroopade Jhali told her father that “It is not possible for Kherwa to get enmity with Rao Maldev, he will ruin you, So, you can agree for this marriage now, then after a few days, do as you wish.”
Jaitra Singh Jhala liked this thing, yet he made an excuse and told Rao Maldev that “We do not have much wedding expenses”. Rao Maldev at the same time gave the money of 15 thousand rupees for the expenses of marriage and confirmed the marriage.
Rao Maldev left his queen Swaroopde in Kherwa and went to Jodhpur. Jaitra Singh considered sitting with all the feudal lords, then they suggested that no one else except Maharana Udai
I Singh could dare to marry your daughter against Rao Maldev.
Jaitra Singh wrote a letter to Maharana Udai Singh that “Under pressure from Rao Maldev, I have signed my daughter’s marriage with him, but I have thought of having a relationship with you. On my behalf, my daughter Veerbai is your queen.”
Maharana Udai Singh accepted the marriage proposal and got married at a place called Guda near Kumbhalgarh. On the occasion of marriage, Swarupade, sister of Rani Veerbai Jhali, gifted her a box full of jewels, but accidentally gave the idol of their Kuldevi Maa (family diety who is goddess) – Naganechaji in the box.
After marriage, Maharana Udai Singh reached Kumbhalgarh and kept the court, then it was discovered that there was a statue of Naganechaji in the box. Maharana Udai Singh was very happy to see this and worshipped Naganechaji. Maharana Udai Singh used to hold special court in honor of Nagnechaji 2 times a year. In Mewar, this worship continued for these two days every year for about 350 years.

“Godwad War”
When Rao Maldev heard the news of the marriage of Maharana Udai Singh and Rani Veerabai, he left for Mewar in anger. Both the forces faced each other in Godwad, in which Maharana’s army got defeated. Rao Maldev took possession of Godwad and posted a cantonment there and then came to Jodhpur.
“Maharana’s way of teasing”
Maharana Udai Singh built a palace ‘Jhali Rani ka Maliya’ on the top of Kumbhalgarh fort to tease Rao Maldev, which still exists in the fort. Maharana Udai Singh got a lamp prepared, which required to 2 mann of cotton and oil to light. (Mann was a unit of measurement. 1 mann = 40 kgs)
From the fort of Kumbhalgarh, the ponds of Pali etc. areas of Marwar are visible. So, when they saw this lamp burning on Kumbhalgarh from there, they informed Rao Maldev.
“Battle of Kumbhalgarh”
Seeing this, Rao Maldev of Marwar decided to attack Kumbhalgarh. Suja Balecha, who was included in Rao Maldev’s army, spoiled his terms with Rao Maldev by not participating in the war against Maharana Udai Singh ji.
Suja Balecha looted Rao Maldev’s kingdom and reached Maharana Udai Singh. Maharana gave the estate of Nadol to Suja Balecha. Rao Maldev sent Naga Rathore Bharamlot with 500 soldiers to attack Nadol.
Suja Balecha emerged victorious and Rathore Bala, Dhanna, Bija got martyred on the behalf of Rao Maldev. Rao Maldev attacked the Kumbhalgarh fort, but he got defeated by Maharana Udai Singh and so he returned. While returning, Rao Maldev looted some area of Mewar.

* In the next part, the dispute between Maharana Udai Singh and Pathan Haji Khan will be written.
Post Author :- Tanveer Singh Sarangdevot (Laxmanpura – Mewar)
Translated by :- Tanisha Gupta
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