Raja Man Singh went to Sholapur and he was able to crush the rebellion. The success filled him with a great confidence and his stature had gone up several notches. A hero, he considered himself.
On his way back, Man Singh passed by Mewar region and remembered his promise to meet Rana Pratap. He decided to meet Rana Pratap and win him over. Man Singh sent his messenger to Rana Pratap. The messenger went to Kumbhalgarh fort gave the message to Rana.
Pratap remarked, “It would my good fortune and pleasure to have Amber king Man Singh as my guest. I will be sending a welcoming party to escort the Raja to our place.”
A team of commanders of Mewar went to where Man Singh was camping. Raja was escorted to the Kumbhalgarh fort where he was put up in the royal guest house and served sherbet.
Then, Rana Pratap arrived there to greet the guest. The two rulers talked formally about health and the weather. It was conveyed to the guest that the formal talks could be held after the meals.
During those days Rana Pratap was living like a common man. He would eat food on leaves. For Man Singh the gold and the silver ware were dug out of the royal store. Rana Pratap’s son, Amar Singh was looking after the arrangements of the food being cooked for the guest. Rana was eagerly enquiring from his son the progress in the cooking of the food every now and then.
It struck very odd to Man Singh because such things meant for a guest are rarely mentioned before him. The menu is not even revealed to the guest generally.
Rana Pratap departed when he got the signal that the food was ready.
Amar Singh laid out the meal in front of Man Singh. It was a single lay out. The space infront of the seat where Rana earlier sat was empty.
No plates or tumbler was set there.
Amar Singh requested, “Respected Raja, kindly accept our humble fare.”
Man Singh looked towards the door and asked, “Won’t Rana be coming to dine with me? Where has he gone…”
Amar Singh sheepishly stared at the floor and stammered, “Please don’t mind about my father. You can take your meals. I got a message from him for me to treat the dinner to you as he is unable to give you the company in eating for some reason?”
“For some reason!” exclaimed Man Singh and added suspiciously, “What could be so great a reason worth showing discourtesy to a guest who was naturally hoping to have the honour of sharing the food with his host? Can you explain, dear young man?”
Amar Singh begged with folded hands, “Sir, there is no wilful attempt to slight an honourable guest like you. The reason is that due to a vow my father does not eat food in gold or silver ware. He eats on leaves like a common man. So, to save you the embarrassment he decided to…”
Man Singh shook his head, “I would’ve preferred to share food on leaves like him instead of being made to eat alone. Please take these gold and silver ware away and lay out leaves for us to eat on. Tell him…”
Amar Singh intervened, “Sir, besides that he…was not feeling well. May be, he has gone to bed. You can eat without bothering about him, sir.”
Amar Singh was stammering greatly embarrassed. Man Singh looked sharply at him and asked, “Is he deliberately trying to avoid eating with me? Why??”
Amar Sing prayed, “Please uncle sir, he is not…” Before he could complete the sentence Rana Pratap appeared in the frame of the door.
He spoke, “Raja Man Singh, why are you getting angry?”
Man Singh said, “Rana Pratap, a guest expects to share food with his host. Have you forgotten the principles of common civility and courtesy?”
“It is strange that you still remember the word ‘principle’,” Pratap sarcastically said.
“What do you mean?” Man Singh stared.
“Where were your principles when your father got his sister married to Mogul Emperor Akbar to escape his wrath? That was the price you paid for your peace. Being a king you should have remembered the principles of a sovereign king instead of becoming a servant of a bigger king. I know that you are a mighty commander of the Mogul empire who can make a lot of trouble for me.”
“And still you dare to insult me?”
“It is not an insult, Raja. I am only reminding you that you are betraying your own country by mortgaging this land to the aliens. Rajputs are known for their pride and honour which they defend with their lives. Where is your Rajput principle, commander of Mogul army? Had you stuck to Rajput tradition I could have felt it my honour to eat food sitting at your feet,” Rana Pratap declared.
Raja Man Singh, hissed, “Your talk smells of communalism and foolhardy patriotism. Such patriotism is another name of self ego which is based on irrationalism and the ignorance of the practical realities. Your are too ego blown to understand that the very survival of Rajputs today depends on the good will of the Mogul Empire. The trees that don’t know how to bend with the power of storm get uprooted and destroyed. The trees that bend survive the storm. I had come to you to teach you the same lesson in the brotherly spirit. I was not here as an agent of the Mogul Emperor. I had come to you as a brother Rajput. But I see that you are determined to remain under the impression that your ego is patriotism and Rajput pride. This false pride can spell a doom on the Rajput fraternity.”
“No, Raja Man Singh,” Rana Pratap protested. “Only those survive who are ready to die for the sake of the self respect and the principles. Those who don’t they die a living death. They pawn their sisters and daughters to the enemy to stay alive. Such people are a blot in the fair name of the Rajputs and the history will write their names in black letters.”
“Pratap Singh!” Man Singh screamed. “You have lost your head. You are going to pay a heavy price of that. A war will teach you a lesson.”
“Now you are talking of war. That is the language I like. Tell your master that Rana Pratap is not for sale. You may come with your army and we will meet in the battle field.”
“The power has gone to your head, Pratap Singh. But your small force will be no match for us. Now I can understand why your brothers left you. I will myself come with Mogul army to see you bite the dust. Your pride will be buried in the ground.”
“We will see if you can still wield your sword.”
Thus, fuming in anger Raja Man Singh left with his entire body burning for revenge. Rana Pratap watched at the receding figure of horse borne Man Singh.
When Man Singh disappeared beyond the hills he turned to face his commanders.
He spoke, “So, now we won’t be blamed for starting the war. The enemy will attack. We are not only to defend our land but write a new chapter in the history of wars. Our sons and daughters must feel proud of our deeds.”
Man Singh reached Delhi and reported his humiliation at the hands of Rana Pratap to Emperor Akabr. Deep down Akbar was pleased.
Overtly he remarked, “Man Singh, the insult meted out to you is infact my insult. I didn’t want any bloodshed, but now…”
“Your Majesty! Rana Pratap has lost his head. There are some people who only understand the language of sword. And I have taken a vow to settle scores with the ego blown Rana.”
Akbar smiled before speaking, “You used to have a high opinion of him as a wise and mature ruler. That is why I never thought of attacking Mewar out of respect for your assessment. But now the situation is very different…”
The cunning emperor looked deep into the eyes of Man Singh. “He shall be punished for insulting you. You were representing me. Go prepare for war. I want Rana Pratap brought to my presence in chains. Get him live or dead.”
Man Singh paid respect and departed.
Akbar wondered over the peculiar nature of Rajputs, persons of great pride and honour. Brave men but fickle minded. Picking up quarrels with one another being their pass time. That gave chance to others to destroy or defeat them. It took Akbar six months to take over Chittaur at a heavy price but now the desire of Shakti Singh and Man Singh to take revenge against Rana Pratap would make it easy to defeat him. The revengeful attitude of Rajputs was their own downfall.
Akbar summoned Shakti Singh who was looking very restless.
After paying obeisance to Akbar he spoke, “Your Majesty! When shall I be getting a chance to take my revenge on Rana Pratap. I am very impatient.”
Akbar reassured him, “No more waiting, Shakti Singh. The time was come. By insulting Man Singh your egoistic brother has invited our wrath. The army is getting ready. Let us see how fast your sword moves.”
Shakti’s eyes brightened up. “That is fantastic news. My sword will not disappoint you, Your Majesty. You will be proud of it.”
“Sure. Brave warriors like you are what makes Mogul army invincible. Pratap must realise what blunder he has committed in ignoring your talent. Make sure of it. Now we need information from you to plan the war.”
Shakti Singh revealed that Pratap’s army consisted of 20-22 thousand soldiers, most of them Bheel tribals who were basically guerillas and good archers. He also drew a rough picture of the Kumbhalgarh fort and the terrain around.
On the order of the Emperor Shakti Singh met other Mogul commanders also who drew more information out of him. The war planners worked out strategies to ensure easy victory. The task was not very challenging for the mighty Mogul army.
Akbar mulled over the question of the commander. Who should lead the army into the war? Akbar would have preferred Raja Man Singh to command the army. He was an experienced and very able commander.
But that could antagonise Shakti Singh who was hoping to get the command. To strike a balance Akbar decided to give the command to his son Saleem. The Commander-in-chief was to be assisted by other commanders.
For long Akbar had been thinking over the problem of Rana Pratap who was emerging as a rallying point of Rajputs against in Mogul empire. Taming him had become a matter of great urgency. Akbar had in the meanwhile sent several secret messages and offers to Rana Pratap to bring him to terms with the empire but Rana had rejected all the offers. The insult to Raja Man Singh was the last straw on the back of the camel.
