Rima
Hooja’s The Emperor’s General: The Life and Times of Raja Man Singh of Amber
is a carefully sketched portrait of an extraordinary statesman. Writing about
towering personas who shaped the course of history without deifying or caricaturing
them is a tricky business, but the author manages this balancing feat. Born
into a Rajput ruling family, the Kachhwahas of the Dhoondhar kingdom with their
capital, Amber in present-day Rajasthan, Man Singh would become one of the most
important players in 16th century India. Counted among the nine
jewels of Akbar’s court, he would go on to win fame in battle, establish
himself as a capable administrator, demonstrate uncanny political acumen, build
temples, mosques, forts, palaces, and cities, patronise art, literature and
leave behind a shining legacy.
Hooja
skilfully guides the reader across the terrain of Man Singh’s life and times,
adroitly providing the historical and complex geo – political context of a
bygone age, so that scholars as well as laymen can enjoy the journey. An
alliance with Akbar, forged by Man Singh’s grandfather – Raja Bharmal who gave
his daughter, incorrectly (according to the author) known as Jodha Bai in
marriage to the emperor propelled this branch of the Kachhwahas to prominence
in the imperial court. Over the next few generations, the alliance proved
mutually beneficial - “Kachhwaha martial prowess, administrative skill and
loyalty served the Mughal Empire well, just as the recognition, high honours,
territorial stability and economic prosperity that followed sustained the kingdom
of Amber.”
Man Singh
grew to manhood, assimilating the best of two worlds embodying both his native
Rajput culture as well as the influences of the Mughal court. While shedding
light on evidence supporting Akbar’s tolerant approach towards other religions,
stating unequivocally, that he “…respected the religious beliefs and sentiments
of all communities, particularly those of his Rajput allies and vassals”, Hooja
does not romanticise the emperor or shy away from depicting the harsh realities
of the heavy toll exacted in exchange for building and keeping an empire
together. This is particularly true of her narration of the events leading up
to the battle of Haldighati and beyond which entwined the lives of Akbar,
Maharana Pratap of Mewar and the emperor’s commander Prince Man Singh.
As the
grandson of Rana Sangha who had defied Babur, Akbar’s grandfather, Maharana
Pratap emerged as a fierce and resilient symbol of Rajput resistance. Chittoor,
the ancient capital of Mewar had fallen during the reign of Udai Singh,
Pratap’s father, who following the advice of his nobles entrusted its defence
to a garrison led by Jaimal and then, Patta who fought valiantly to their last
breath. Akbar ordered the erection of two memorials in memory of these two
valiant heroes but was less generous when it came to the survivors. “The fall
was followed by a massacre of some 30,000 surviving non – combatants – many of
them peasants from surrounding villages who had sought refuge within the fort.
The slaughter remains an indelible stain on Akbar’s reign.”
Following
the undecisive battle of Haldighati, Man Singh’s loyalty to Akbar was called
into question as he had given the order not to pursue the Maharana or the
troops but the emperor himself continued to use him in other parts of his
empire having chastised him by debarring Man Singh from presenting himself at
court. As for Pratap, he continued his guerrilla warfare resistance as well as
employed a scorched earth policy, imposing the death penalty on those who
cultivated their fields to remain a thorn in the side of the Mughals till his
passing. One can’t help but feel sympathetic towards his followers who must
have sacrificed much and more in the cause of their hero in contrast to Man
Singh’s subjects who prospered thanks to their ruler’s pragmatism.
Man Singh
served Akbar loyally in military as well as administrative matters in Punjab,
Kabul, Bihar and Bengal till the emperor breathed his last. Jahangir was less
trusting of him owing to the general throwing his support behind a rival
claimant for the throne but there appears to have been no lasting ill will
towards the veteran, who continued to serve the Mughals to the end of his life.
Hooja’s book would have pleased him!
An edited version of this book review originally appeared in TNIE magazine.
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