Chhatrasal Singh Hada of Bundi (1632 to 1658)

Introduction

Raja Chattrasal Hada who is referred in books often as Chattar Sal or Satr Sal was the crown prince of Bundi when his grandfather Rao Ratan Singh enjoyed the highest mansab under Jahangir’s reign. Rao Ratan Singh for his contribution in the wars and services to protect the interest of Emperor Jahangir was given the honorary title of “Sarbuland Rai”. He also actively helped Shah Jahan during his rebellion against the emperor because of Nur Jahan’s petticoat government. After his death, his second son Madho Singh was the rightful heir but he had nominated his grandson Chattarsal instead, because he was the grandson from his first son Gopinath who died in an imperial war. The Rao Raja ascended the throne of Bundi, at a ‘young’ age as mentioned in the Shahjahan Nama. His date of birth remains unknown. His uncles were granted the Jagirs of Kota and Palaita, while he was accepted as the king in the areas of Bundi, Khathar and adjoining areas. The areas of his jagir are mentioned in the Badshahnama cited in the Veer Vinod. His pedigree was a rich one being a descendent of both Prithviraj Chauhan from his father’s side as well as the valiant Pratap Singh Sisodia from his mother’s side.

Life

Various Literature sources, mainly the English and Persian ones, mention his name as one of the most trusted chiefs of Shah Jahan’s army and an aide of Prince Dara Shikoh. He is first mentioned in the Shah Jahan Nama on the fifth anniversary of Emperor Shah Jahan’s reign, whereupon the death of his grandfather Rao Ratan Singh, he arrives at court as a representative of Bundi and congratulates the emperor on his fifth successful year. He had brought with him about 40 elephants, 18 of which were accepted as war elephants and 15 of those kept for the Emperor’s personal harem. He had been given a respectful welcome with drum beats. Dara Shikoh who was known to be inclined towards the Hindu chiefs showed a special bond for the Rao of Bundi. It is mentioned in Rajput chronicles that he probably had two wives, of lesser significant clans, and from them had children. He was often respected for his chivalry, bravery and intelligence at the Mughal court. During his reign Bundi faced no major events or turmoil. The Hada chiefs of Bundi enjoyed a greater position in the Mughal court than the Kota ones. He was known to have fought fifty two successful wars in his lifetime before he died in the battle of Samugarh while fighting from Dara’s side. James Todd mentions him as an aid to Mughals who died childless which was not true. Some pages, and books mention his coronation in the year 1648, which seems wrong as well.

Children

Rao Raja had five known children namely, Bharat Singh, who died young at the Battle of Dhamat, Rao Bhao Singh, his youngest son, Bhagwant Singh who was granted the jagir of Mau, Ganga Kunwari who was also known as Jaswanti Bai who married Amar Singh II of Udaipur, and Rani Lakhman Kanwar who was the fourth wife of Bahadur Singh of Khandela. Some chronicles call Bhagwant Singh one of his grandchildren as well. Rao Bhao Singh was made the mansabdar of Aurangabad by Aurangzeb almost a decade after his father lost his life fighting against Aurangzeb. Jahanara’s diary mentions only Bharat Singh, who fought alongside his father, and Bhao Singh who was the next ruler of Bundi.

Major Wars

In the year 1632, at the seige of Daulatabad, Raja Chattar Sal was called upon to provide his service to the imperial army and prove his loyalty to the same. It was followed by the war at Parenda with the Khane Khana or Prime Minister, Mahabat Khan in 1634 where his bravery was praised by the senior officials and he was rewarded by the Emperor. In his next expedition towards Gujarat he was badly injured on 4th April 1636, and returned to Bundi for some time. He was on campaign with Aurangzeb and Murad over a long period of time and provided the details of their movements to Jahanara Begum as ordered by the Emperor who feared they were plotting against Dara. In the year 1647, he joined the important war at Balkh and was later shifted to Aurangzeb’s army between 1649 and 1652, to fight at Qandahar that remained one of the turning points in the career of both Dara and Aurangzeb. He fought in 52 odd wars, big and small, and had immense respect and cordial relationship with one of the Mughal enemies, Mewar which was also the bordering state of his own kingdom. His last and most important war was when he united the Rajputs of the Mughal court under his leadership to support Dara’s right to the throne. In 1657, he had visited Shah Jahan on his birthday and along with gifts, assured him of his loyalty towards Dara. Around March 1658 when the armies of Murad and Aurangzeb were closing in, and Shah Jahan sent Suleiman Shikoh, Dara’s son against his uncle Shuja, he was called at Agra with his troops to join the Imperial army. Alongside him, his nephew Ram Singh, Brother Kishor Singh and eldest son Bharat also joined the side.

Architecture

Rao Chhatrasal had a palace in the Taragarh Fort in Bundi. The palace was initially built by his Grandfather Rao Ratan Singh and he attributes it to the Phool Mahal, Hathi Mahal and the Chatra Kaksh in it. We can see the verses of Ganesh Vandana in Devagiri, Paintings of Radha and Krishna and the avatars of Vishnu still on the walls. The Hathi Mahal had pillars of Ivory that were stolen and later replaced by stone in the now abandoned fort. His grandson Rao Anirudh is famous for the Rani ki Baori.

Relationship with Mughals

Chattar Sal enjoyed a powerful and influential position in the court of Shah Jahan. In him the emperor found a loyal man with a lot of good values and political intelligence. Unlike most people of his time, he never misused his position and was there to advise prince Dara what would be best suited in all situations. Dara, who was too engrossed in religion and literature was kept away from warfare by his overprotective father and lacked a basic sense of leadership. In many of his successful and failed policies and campaigns, Chattar Sal backed him with his intelligence and experience. Dara in turn honoured and respected him. As for the other brothers, Murad and Aurangzeb were united against Dara and Hindus but on his expeditions with the Mughal army against common enemies, Chattar sal had guarded the princes as his duty. They never were on the same page but his position in the eyes of their father made them keep up cordially with the Rao Raja of Bundi.

Relationship with Jahanara Begum

Jahanara Begum, the Padishah Begum in the court of Shah Jahan, his eldest surviving daughter from Mumtaz, played a huge role in Chattarsal’s political impact on the court. In many references there is clear indication of her favouring him as her rakhi bound warrior brother and describes his intelligence and experience. It is believed that she had made her father and brother Dara use the Rao Raja in a manner most efficient in the war and strategy makings of the court. Under her influence, Shah Jahan sent him on all major wars as one of the leaders to help Dara Shikoh as a trusted aide.

The Battle of Samugarh

I will quote here the exact lines from Sir Jadunath Sarkar’s ‘ History of Aurangzeb’ about Chattar Sal’s role and death in the battle that took place 10 KMs away from Agra between Agra and Kota. His description states:

Bravest among so many brave men was Rao Chhatrasal Hada the chieftain of Bundi and the hero of fifty two fights. With his Hada clan in their saffron robes, the ensigns of death or victory, the Bundi Prince formed a van guard for Dara. Cheering on his men, he mounted on his elephant but whilst encouraging them by his voice, and example, a cannon ball hitting his elephant, the animal turned and fled. Chhatrasal leaped from its back and called for his steed exclaiming “My elephant may turn his back on the enemy, but never shall his master”

A terrible war was waged on Aurangzeb’s left. Rajputs of the imperial vanguard, under Chattrasal slipped through the interval between Zulfiqar’s artillery and Murad’s division and fell upon the prince with fierce valour. Murad was separated from Aurangzeb’s army. Aurangzeb entered to save his younger brother after the rider of his elephant was killed. The Rajput fought on.

…mounting on his horse and forming his men into a dense mass, he led them to the charge against Prince Murad whom he singled out and had his lance balanced for the issue when a ball pierced his forehead …”

Chattrasal was the first to fall. Dara was at the other end and he turned to the right wing to back the troops of Chattrasal against Aurangzeb. But this movement from one end to another was too late.

R.C.Majumder in his book ‘Mughal Empire’ describes that the Rajputs had adorned the Saffron attires of Saka and the Rao had a red turban with strings of pearl on his headdress and neck. He criticized Dara for mounting his elephant then leaving it to mount his horse and reach for back up late, on the advice of his general. If Dara arrived on time with a back up for the Rajputs there was a possibility of a turn of events. After his brave soldiers fell one by one, Dara had no choice but to run. He reached Agra around 9PM and left with his family in the odd hours of the night.

The news of Chattrasal’s death arrived for Shah Jahan at Agra, in the presence of Jahanara and she was understandably moved.

Character

If we check history books, they only mention how brave or valiant a warrior was, or how politically diplomatic a king was. Chattar Sal was both. Apart from that Princess Jahanara’s diary reflects how deeply he knew the history and geography of the land and foresaw things. He was in favour of uniting all forces against the common enemy and often provided rajput tales to prove his point. A worshipper of the Maharana against Akbar’s ways, he was very outspoken about the flaws the Mughals showed. He was saddened at how the Rajputs fought among themselves and even drew inspiration from Ashoka and Prithviraj Chauhan. Being a valiant warrior he fought each war like his last and was also a very religious man. In the conversations put forward by Jahanara, he appears very calm, composed and knowledgeable and  Jahanara also describes his writings as poetic. The only painting of his that is found has a Devnagiri inscription and shows a man of middle age, with a fair stout figure and twirled thin moustache. 

Parting words

I have been searching frantically for information about his life and relationships beyond politics and I came across very few sources mentioning his children and character. His wife’s names are not found, and neither is his age or birth year. Jahanara’s narration makes us assume he was a few years older to her, but that is all we know. No fiction on Jahanara mentions him anywhere and he is lost in history as one of the martyrs of Samugarh. All said and done thanks to Andrea Butenschon priceless ‘A Life of a Mogul Princess’ often regarded as a historical fiction though, I came across a character with such self esteem and bravery as the Rao Raja Chattrasal Singh Hada of Bundi.

Sources: Tuzk I Jehangir, ShahJahanNama, Padshah Nama, Rajput Polity, Hada Relations with Mughals by R.S. Sharma, Mughal chieftains under Shah Jahan, Mughal Empire by R c Majumder, History of Aurangzib by J N Sarkar