Akbar got a Princess of Amer married to a Rajput Prince & Paronkh Battle

Hi Friends,

I am back with a VERY interesting post as i got something worth reading for you , about an old track of Ekta Kapoor's show - Jodha Akbar. Today, i am posting some details regarding that same interesting track. Read ON.!

It was shown to us that Akbar got a Princess of Amer(Amber) married to a Rajput Prince. The Princess was shown as Sukanya, Akbar's sister-in-law & a younger sister of his wife, Mariam-Uz-Zamani, the eldest daughter of Raja BharMal. 

It was shown that Akbar took responsibility of her marriage after her fiance was killed in Battle of Paronkh. It further showed that in order to get her married, Akbar gave away his Fort of Ratanpur as a dowry for this princess. 

My present post is about that same old track of the show. In this regard, i know of 2 references - Rajputana docs and Mughal records. I am mentioning them below.


As per information which i have, at present:

I do not have references to prove that the Fort was given away by Akbar in reality. Though, i have been told that a Fort was given away. But, I will confirm this after i get a concrete reference personally. Rest of the details are true.

"A battle took place at Paronkh in reality also as shown to us in the serial. In that battle some rebels were killed. The battle happened in October 1562, just few months after marriage of Akbar and MUZ. Akbar took Raja Bhagwan Das, Pir Muhammed, etc. with him in this battle. As show in the serial, Raja Bhagwan offered his water to Akbar in this battle and also took an arrow shot at Akbar on himself. The connection between this battle and Sukanya's wedding could not be established, as of now. But, these events are completely true, individually. It was shown to us that Akbar proceeded on this battle after an old man named Hapa complained about some rebels who plundered his area and killed his son. 

Akbarnama gives the same details as it is. Some details are present in Rajputana sources. I am still digging and will inform you more in future posts about more details as and when i come across them, because getting all these records instantaneously is not an easy job."



Till then, i have mentioned  about :
i. The Battle of Paronkh.
ii. Akbar "personally" arranged the marriage of a Princess of Amer with a Rajput Prince.
 

I. - Battle of Paronkh in which Raja Bhagwan Das took part with Akbar..

The Akbarnama of Abu'l Fazl mentions the battle in fairly good details.

Here is the complete text from Akbarnama, Vol-2, Beveridge, Pg-251-256...The entire text may appear boring to some. So, i have highlighted the part which is worth focusing upon.


"The Almighty inflicts punishment on every evil-doer at certain times and occasions in accordance with His supreme wisdom. The wise become acquainted in some measure with this mystery and increase their wisdom. The foolish fall into the briny desert of error and having their heads turned by vain imaginings become more foolish. It is like the effect of world-illuminating day which to the sound eye is a cause of increased vision. First, it produces recogni­tion of the various Divine favours. Secondly, it inflames the spirit of thanksgiving and makes this more active and more searching. To owl-like natures which have defective vision it is a cause of increased blindness, and makes them ignoble and obscure. Night, which is day's defect, helps the vision of low, mean, owl-like natures and keeps them under the screen of imperfect sight. 

In brief, the inhabitants of the hamlets of the town of Sakit, which is about thirty kos from Agra, had not their equals for refractoriness and ingratitude. Especially eight villages of that pargana, which were known by the name of Athgarha were for insolence, robbery, manslaughter, boldness and turbulence such that the eye of the world had not seen their like. For they were both ruffians and occupiers of rough places, and they lived by audacity which the ignorant call manliness. The officers of the quarter were continually com­plaining of their wickedness. At last the Shahinshah went towards that village for the sake of hunting. At that time the pargana was in the fief of Ibrahim Badakshi. A brahman of the name of Hapa obtained an interview through the huntsmen and represented the oppression practised by those stubborn ones, stating they had killed his innocent son and plundered his property. The spiritual and temporal king, who made hunting a means of inquiring into such matters, became indignant on hearing the victim's com­plaint and announced that he would next morning proceed there and chastise the evil-doers. At dawn he went off to hunt, attended by a few men, and sent off a party ahead. He reached the village at morning. Those who had gone on ahead came and reported that the rebels had heard of the Shahinshah's coming and had fled. The flame of majestic justice rose higher, and an order was given that the jeopardisers of their lives should follow them up to whatever defiles the recalcitrants had gone, and that he himself was coming on in reliance upon God. 

His Majesty pro­ceeded to do so and put his horse at the gallop. His Majesty urged on his horse the faster, and after 1 1/2 watches of the day had passed he arrived at another village which was called Paronkh. The scouts reported that the men of the other village had fled and taken refuge here. When His Majesty approached this village, one of the inhabitants came out and paid his respects and denied that the recalcitrants had come there. His Majesty in his magnanimity sent again someone to guide those lost ones into the right path. As the life-cup of those who were drunken from the goblet of contumacy was full, and the wheel of retribution for their offences for so many years had revolved they fortified their village and stood prepared for turbulence and war. It is a fixed rule that the number of horse and foot which accompany His Majesty on hunting parties should not exceed one thousand men. On that night when the order had been passed for pursuing the fugitives the heroes and riskers of their lives had dispersed in all directions. Nearly two hundred men waited on the royal stirrup, and two hundred elephants had also followed and come up. The number of the rebels was more than four thousand. His Majesty the Shahinshah indicated to the brave sacrificers of their lives that they should gain the victory, spiritually and physically. A hot engagement followed, but as the enemy was numerous and the loyalists waiting on the royal stirrup possessed but a small share of his good fortune, the work did not advance. Suddenly his holy glance perceived that a number of his men had on account of the strong wind, and of the fire which had arisen in different sides of the village, taken shelter under the trees and were looking for a safe corner. The royal wrath blazed forth. Though it was a case for showing severity to those men, he from his innate graciousness winked at their misconduct and advanced on person on the elephant Dilsankar. As there was much fire in front of the village, and it was hard for the elephant to go forward, they took the mountain-form [elephant] round by the back of the village.

His Majesty told me the story with his own holy lips in this fashion: "When the elephant had been driven into the narrow places of the village I saw a yellow cuirass appearing on a roof. Dastam Khan had such a cuirass and I thought it was his. I urged on the elephant and got near the roof. Meanwhile there was a rain of sticks and stones and arrows. The Divine protection (which is the Shahinshah's coat of mail and which ever watches over him) became more and more marked. When I got close up I saw that the mail-clad man was Muqbil Khan, and that he had gone up and was wrestling with one of the stiff-necked ones, and trying to throw him off the roof. A number of unruly spirits had run to help, and to finish Muqbil Khan." Just then His Majesty the Shahinshah pushed on the elephant and at the same time he called to the men to get up on the roof.... The wretches fled. The opponent was quickly disposed of. At this time the elephant's forefoot went into a grain-pit and Jujhar Khan Faujdar who was on the elephant and behind His Majesty fell on the top of the latter. His Majesty by his divine strength brought the elephant out of that abyss and tried to get on to the house where the rebels had fortified themselves.

At this time none of the attendants was present except Rajah Bhagwant Das and Rajah Badicand. As His Majesty suffered from thirst, Rajah Bhagwant Das served him with his own supply. By chance in the same lane where his Majesty the Shahinshah was advancing towards victory, a Hindu drew his sword and struck with it. The blow fell upon the iron ring which is placed on elephants' tusks for strength and for show. The clash made sparks fly out, and the elephant in a rage doubled up the swordsman and trod him under foot. Just then a boy of fifteen, in his agitation, flung himself from a roof on to the elephant. Jujhar Khan wanted to kill him, but His Majesty in his mercifulness did not permit him to do so.

When they came near the house they saw that the special faujdars had come and were standing in astonishment at the amount of the work. His Majesty advanced and drove the elephant against the gate. A Rajput was shooting arrows. Seven hit the Shahinshah's shield. He used to say that five went through and through the shield to the extent of three and five fingers and that two stopped in the shield without traversing it. The Divine protection was another shield which protected him. 'Alawal Khan Faujdar did not recognise His Majesty and called out from a distance, commending him and saying, "Who are you, that I may praise you to His Majesty?" His Majesty showed his face and made that lucky one utter thanksgivings. At this time Tatar Khan cried out, "My king, where are you going in this rain of arrows?" Jujhar Khan rebuked him, saying, "What time is this for crying out and mentioning names?"

At last His Majesty the Shahinshah broke down the wall and entered the dwelling. Three or four other elephants joined in this work and a large number of the audacious rebels were killed. Many shut themselves up in the house. In accordance with orders, the roof of the house was broken and fire flung in. The breath of these ill-fated ones was converted into smoke. Nearly a thousand of them were sent to the abode of annihilation by the fire of the Divine anger.


Here are the You-Tube links of those Episodes related to Battle of Paronkh:

In the following episode - A villager named Hapa comes in Diwan-e-Aam(Hall of Public Audience) and tells Akbar that his son has been killed and his property plundered and looted....Jodha Akbar Episode 59 - September 6, 2013

The episode showing the Battle of Paronkh... Jodha Akbar Episode 61 - September 10, 2013

Note that the serials are dramatized version of real events. I am giving these links only for those readers who might have forgotten that track.

II. - Akbar arranged the marriage of Princess of Amer with a Rajput Prince

The Research Paper published by noted historian Prof. Badani of Aligarh Muslim University in 1990's (he specializes in Rajputana history)  mentions that Akbar got a princess of Kachawaha Clan of Amer married to another Rajput Prince. As per him, Akbar personally took the responsibility and arranged her marriage with another Rajput Prince. 

I am posting the scan from his research paper. 

1. See the top highlighted portion of this Research Paper...

It says > 

" Akbar arranged the marriage of a Princess of the Family of Kachwaha Rajputs of Amer to another Rajput Prince. Before this Akbar had himself married the Princess of Amer - Harka Bai/Mariam-Uz-Zamani. "

" This incident signifies the "emotional" , glaring and "intimate" relationship Akbar enjoyed with these families. He regarded that Princess as "His Own Daughter" .! This marriage is mentioned in Rajputana records. "


2. Now, See the End Portion of this Research Paper...

Akbar gave position in Mughal nobility to - 2 brothers of Maharana Pratap. One was Jagmaal(1572-73) and another was Sagar Singh(1583). Both were sons of Queen DheerBai Bhatiyani. This was done in order to pressurize the Rana to surrender himself and join Mughal suzerainty. Though, till his end the Rana continued his struggle lonely.

Remembering Maharana Pratap | A Tribute

 
3. The contrast is clear...

On one hand, Akbar was VERY CLOSE to the family of his first Rajput Wife - Harka Bai of Amer. His third surviving son Danial was sent to Amer to be present in the care of wife of his father in law, Raja BharMal. Rajputs of Amer were ranked among the highest in Akbar's nobility. Loyalty is one factor but surely not the ONLY factor. There is something unusual working here. Not all Rajput relatives of Akbar enjoyed such good relations with him.You all have read many posts on this blog till now. Try to think and decipher. 

On the other hand, Akbar tried every policy to make Maharana Pratap surrender to him. No doubt, the struggle of these two people -> "A Lone Warrior Prince of Mewar versus an Emperor of Hindustan" - is still regarded and remembered by posterity.

Understanding these relationships is quite complicated for some of us, but an interesting process. But those who want to read - can read between the lines, and clearly understand the relation of Akbar and Mariam-Uz-Zamani through the docs/posts.

Mariam-Uz-Zamani | The Forgotten Enigma - Part-2
Mariam-Uz-Zamani | The Forgotten Enigma - Part-1
Facts about Akbar and Mariam-Uz-Zamani Begum
Account of Akbar and his Rajput Wife
Relations of Akbar with Mariam-Uz-Zamani and Rajputs of Amer Clan
Akbar visited Ajmer for the First Time



Here are the You-Tube links of those Episodes related to marriage:

Akbar tells BharMal that he has fixed the match of his daughter with another Rajput Prince.

Jodha Akbar Episode 83 - October 10, 2013

Jodha Akbar Episode 84 - October 11, 2013

Links of the last few episodes of the Sukanya wedding track...

Jodha Akbar Episode 96 - October 29, 2013

Jodha Akbar Episode 97 - October 30, 2013

Jodha Akbar Episode 98 - October 31, 2013

Note that the serials are dramatized version of real events. I am giving these links only for those readers who might have forgotten that track.

 

 

Rajputana Sources

I tried to procure some scans from the Rajputana sources also regarding this marriage, though till now i am unable to understand the language completely..Anyways, i am posting it here. We have already seen the marriage details in the paper above..

The scans show the Clan Tree of Rajputs of Amer. In one of them, Akbar has been mentioned.

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^^^This scan mentions the Clan Tree of Amer Rajputs. From Raja Bharmal to Raja Bhagwan Das to Raja Man Singh to Jagat Singh , etc... The language is an old variant of Hindi. :-P

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^^^^This scan mentions that an ancestor of Kachawaha Rajputs of Amer - Raja Pujan Kachwaha was a general of the Rajput King Prithviraj Chauhan of Delhi/Ajmer, and participated in the battle against Muhammed Ghori n 1191 A.D. This was the First Battle of Tarain which was won, but he lost his life in this battle.

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^^^^This scan mentions that Akbar did a huge favor. Most probably, this refers to the marriage which he arranged. I do not have the scans of the annexure to this page. 

Further, it says, Raja Man Singh was made the Governor of North West Provinces(present day Pakistan, Sindh, Afghanistan, etc.) by Akbar. 

Also mentions that son of Man Singh - Raja Jagat Singh was made the Governor of Nagore(in Rajputana) by Akbar.

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Conclusion:

So, we saw two major events in this post. 

One was the Battle of Paronkh in which Raja Bhagwan Das took an arrow on himself, and another was offering his water to Akbar in this war. 

Second event was the marriage of a Princess of Amer which was arranged by Akbar himself, and he regarded that girl as "his own daughter". I do not think there can be any other incident to PROVE the close and beautiful relationship Akbar enjoyed with his Ameri Relatives. The Rajputana accounts of Amer fondly mention him in very high regard as we saw here. Remember that, Akbar also referred Man Singh as his son(Farzand). The identity of the prince and princess whom he got married are under search. So, i am waiting for further clarifications.

I would like to add that the show Jodha Akbar of Zee TV , initially started on a high note, with good regard to history. The research of their team was evident in the starting. But, slowly the show went downhill. The research skills suddenly disappeared.

Do think, what does this show about Akbar - MUZ relationship.! There are not one, but many incidents which make one think and ponder on this point. There was something special.

This article has been posted under the Jodha Akbar , Mughals(Akbar) & Rajputs section of this history Blog.