Dewair and The Marathon of Mewar
Tucked away in the folds of the Aravalli hills, Dewair is an unassumingly quiet mountain pass that once reverberated with clashing swords and the thundering hooves of cavalry. The valley is quiet, surrounded by scrub-covered hills, dotted with villages. But within the annals of Mewar history, it is a place of the highest significance, as it is where Maharana Pratap scored one of his most significant triumphs over the Mughal empire of Akbar. As a result Mewar now stands as an ancient empire located in the southern region of Rajasthan, historically one of the last places to welcome any invasion.
Dewair valley is located in the hilly northern part of Mewar, encircled by the Aravalli range. These mountains constitute one of the oldest geological systems in the world, and since time immemorial they were a natural fortress for the rulers of Mewar.
The notable Kumbhalgarh Fort just around the corner is massive and was one of the strongholds raised by Rana Kumbha in the fifteenth century. The massive defensive wall of the fort stretches over thirty kilometres across the mountains, and it was within this fortificated land that the rulers of Mewar preserved their independence for centuries.
Dewair’s history tells us how critical these geographical features were in war. Mountains were also not easy for armies that are unfamiliar with the area to traverse through. However, for the Rajput warriors of Mewar, who had been born and raised on these slopes, the landscape itself became their ally. As we drove through Dewair, the deserted villages and stony hills barely speak of the turmoil that once ravaged through this place. But all this part of the valley was once the major strategic corridor between Mewar and Marwar.
History
The sixteenth century was a period of major political change in northern India. Mughal rule was expanding very rapidly, and many of the Rajput kingdoms were forced into alliances with the imperial court under Akbar. However, the kings of Mewar chose otherwise.
Mewar’s Sisodia dynasty always fancied itself as the custodian of Rajput freedom. Rajasthan had to accept the Mughal expansion, but Mewar did not. Such resistance eventually culminated into one of the greatest face-offs in Indian history – the famed Battle of Haldighati. In 1576, the Mughal army led by Man Singh I clashed with the forces of Maharana Pratap at Haldighati. Despite the fierce competition during the battle, the Mughals seized much of Mewar’s territory following that. But the fight was far from over.
From there, Maharana Pratap fell back into the Aravalli Mountains and set about a long-term war of attrition. He started reclaiming lost territories through the hills, forests and secret passes. That continued for some years; A network of Mughal military outposts soon spread across the valleys of Mewar to consolidate imperial control, assimilating the land into the Mughal empire in all but name. One such outpost, the most critical of those, was in the valley of Dewair.
Following the Battle of Haldighati, the Mughal rulers established several military posts in Mewar to secure their hold over the kingdom. One of these has become one of the most essential, Dewair.
It was strategically convenient. The valley connected the land of Mewar with the adjacent areas of Marwar and Godwar. The one who had control over Dewair could deny the movement through the mountain passes and could hinder the operations of Maharana Pratap. Sultan Khan, a general responsible for upholding imperial power in the region, commanded the Mughal garrison here.
Maharana Pratap Vijay Smarak
Maharana Pratap Vijay Smarak is the monument where the forces of Maharana Pratap defeated the Mughal garrison. Around the battle ground, sculptures and memorial plaques tell the story of the battle and commemorate the warriors who fought here. One can visualize the valley steeped in cavalry, banners and the sounds of battle echoing off the hills. The place he conquered after the battle is now known as ‘Meva Ka Mathara’ and has a monument of Maharana Pratap erected to commemorate his victory.
This win by Maharana Pratap is so rooted in the story of the region. The relentless effort he made to protect the independence of Mewar against all odds is still sung, narrated and celebrated in songs, epics and local traditions. It is in this silent valley of the Aravalli range, a king and his warriors decided to alter the history and future of his kingdom.
The Battle of Dewair is often described by historians as the turning point in Maharana Pratap’s fight against the Mughal empire, which marked the collapse of the Mughal military network across much of Mewar.