The Reclamation Project

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In a twist of fate, his grandchildren would be brought up in the Mewari royal household instead. The fall of the Mughal Empire had thus begun…

They were certain that Aurangzeb would be pursuing them there, and he did, only to be defeated by the combined Marwari and Mewari armies, starved, humiliated and abandoned by his own family and forced to flee to Ajmer without any honor to save.

The survivors who had cut their way through nigh impossible opposition, now marched to Mewar, for Ajit Singh’s mother was also Mewar’s Maharana Raj Singh’s sister.

Ajit Singh was smuggled with the help of a Muslim sweet seller, who religiously executed his trust and handed Ajit over to Durgadas at the appointed spot.

The determination of the Rajputs defeated the Mughal Imperial Forces and they were forced to retreat. This gave the required opening that they needed to escape the imperial capital before another organized pursuit was to ensue.

Wave followed wave, blood was spilled on the streets, Delhi turned into a battlefield. Many Rajput warriors attained martyrdom, and their women who now took it upon themselves to complete the ritual of Jauhar, gathered in an apartment, filled it with gunpowder, and set it ablaze.

The men now with their lances in hand faced the imperial forces descending on them. The bards equated their faces to that of Yama, the God of Death, an appropriate expression for those who come from Marwar, the name, often interpreted as the land of death.

As the Rajputs gathered and readied themselves for battle, women of Jaswant Singh’s household embraced martyrdom to prevent capture. 250 Rajputs made their stand on the Barahpula (The Bridge with 12 Arches) against the might of the Imperial forces adamant on capturing the prince.

And then spoke Durgadas, “The teeth of the Turks are whetted, but by the lighting emitted from our swords, Delhi shall witness our deeds, and the flames of our anger shall consume the troops of the Shah”

“Let us swim, in the ocean of battle. Let us root up these demons and be carried by the angels to the mansions of the Sun.”

Ajit Singh was smuggled away in a basket of sweetmeats as the Rajput contingent prepared to make a stand for their honor. They made oblations to the Gods, took double the portion of opium and mounted on their steeds.

With eyes red with rage they left the Diwan-e-Aam, and it was not long before that they realized they were surrounded with the Emperor’s men in his capital, and they had to rescue both the queen and prince Ajit, come what may.

He further offered to divide Marwar between them if they agreed to the terms, much to their infuriation. It was then that a voice pierced through the silence of Diwan-e-Aam… “Our Country is with our sinews, and these can defend both it and our Lord”

Aurangzeb not only refused their request but also commanded that the infant should be surrendered in his custody, he insulted them further by asking the Queen to be handed over as a captive and that Ajit Singh be brought up in the Muslim faith in Delhi.

Durgadas and the Rajput contingent reached Delhi, the capital of Aurangzeb. That the Emperor was a zealot was known to each of them, but what dwarfed his zealotry was his cunning, and as far as his cunning was concerned, every assumed overestimation turned out an underestimation.

Her Honor - In unblemished beauty shall forever bloom... In grace abandon Promise! Promise! Promise! It is a solemn Promise Firm and Final…

Bewail not! My beloved Master Shed aside thy pain Abandon thy sorrows For the blossoms of Maroo - None dare to outrage... Her Modesty - None dare to violate...

He was then promised by Durgadas that he will protect his family and his line, best described in the bardic couplet as…

He was there with Jaswant Singh in Jamrud, and as his lord grew weak from the poison he saw in his eyes the dread and perturbation he had for the continuation of his race, now that he anticipated the Turk’s next moves.