Rawal Ratan Singh

Rawal Ratan Singh was the 42nd ruler of Mewar, a state that then covered part of the present-day Indian state of Rajasthan. He ruled from 1302-03 AD. Singh was a rajput belonging to the Guhilote clan.

Wars

In the 12th and 13th centuries, the Delhi Sultanate - the kingdom set up by the invaders was nevertheless growing in power. The Sultans made repeated attacks on Mewar on one pretext or the other. Rani Padmini who was the pretext for Ala-ud-din Khilji's attack on Chittor in 1303 AD [1] . In those days Chittor was under the Rule of King Ratansen, a brave and noble warrior-king. Apart from being a loving husband and a just ruler, Ratansen was also a patron of the arts. In his court were many talented people two of whom were Bards brothers named Raghav and Chetan. But the duo Raghav Chetan were also informer of Sultan Khilji who was running a police state based on inputs provided by his agents. They used their evil talents to demand a part of Queen Padmini's dowry as a means to keep them from giving their intelligence to the Sultan.

Rana Ratan Sen was not only furious on their extortion but he banished both Raghav & Chetan from his kingdom. This harsh treatment earned Ratansen an uncompromising enmity. Sulking after their humiliation, Raghav & Chetan made their way towards Delhi with the aim to incite the Sultan of Delhi Ala-ud-din Khilji to attack Chittor and also obtain the legendary beauty Padmini as a booty.

The Sultan Ala-ud-din Khilji asked them to explain everything to him. Upon being told of Rani Padmini's beauty, Ala-ud-din's lust was aroused and immediately on returning to his capital he gave orders to his army to march on Chittor.

But to his dismay, on reaching Chittor, Ala-ud-din found the fort to be heavily defended. Desperate to have a look at the legendary beauty of Padmini, he sent word to King Ratansen that he looked upon Padmini as his sister and wanted to meet her. On hearing this, the unsuspecting Ratansen asked Padmini to see the 'brother'. But Padmini was more worldly-wise and she refused to meet the lustful Sultan personally.

But on being persuaded she consented to allow Ala-ud-din to see only her reflection in water. On the word being sent to Ala-ud-din that Padmini would see him he came to the fort with his selected his best warriors who secretly made a careful examination of the fort's defences on their way to the palace. On seeing Padmini, the lustful 'brother' decided that he should secure Padmini for himself. While returning to his camp, Ala-ud-din was accompanied for some way by King Ratansen. Taking this opportunity, the wily Sultan treacherously kidnapped Ratansen and took him as a prisoner into his camp. Khilji sent a message to the fort that Ratan Singh can be spared by exchanging Rani Padmini.

Padmini discussed this incident with her maternal uncle Gora, who was a Chauhan Rajput. Gora told her not to worry and that he would go and bring back Rawal Ratan Singh and that the Sultan would not be brave enough to stop him. Padmini's nephew Badal who was just sixteen also assured her. A message was sent from the fort to Khilji that Padmini would come with 50 of her servants in palanquins and that no muslim soldier should peek inside the palki to outrage the modesty of the women. The message also stated that before Padmini meets Khilji she would like to talk to Rawal Ratan Singh. Khilji agreed.

The palki's werearmed with the best Rajput warriors with two swords each. When Padmini's palki reached Ratan's tent, which was occupied by Gora, he asked Rawal to mount the horse and go back to the fort. Then Gora gave a signal and every Rajput came out of the palki and attacked the muslims who were cut to pieces. Gora reached Khilji's tent and was about to kill the sultan when khilji moved his concubine in front of himself. Gora, being a Rajput, could not kill an innocent women and these few seconds were enough for Khilji's guards to kill Gora from behind.

Padmavat

Padmavat is a poem based on the historic siege of Chittor by Alauddin Khilji in 1303 AD, who attacks Chittor after hearing of the beauty of queen Rani Padmini, the wife of King Rawal Ratan Singh. [http://dsal.uchicago.edu/reference/gazetteer/pager.html?objectid=DS405.1.I34_V02_465.gifPadmavat] The Imperial Gazetteer of India, 1909, v. 2, p. 430.]

References