Bot at 17:16, 24 November 2022

2022-11-24T17:16:24Z

New page

{{Short description|Bundela ruler (c. 1675–1731)}}
{{more citations needed|date=October 2021}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=April 2019}}
{{Infobox royalty
| title = [[Maharaja]] of [[Panna State|Bundelkhand]] Bundela Kesari
| name = Chhatrasal
| image = Maharaja Chhatrasal 1.jpg
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption = Chhatrasal Bundela
| succession = Ruler of [[Bundelkhand]]
| predecessor = Post established
| successor = Hriday Shah([[Panna State]]) Jagat Rai ([[Jaitpur State]]) Bharti Chand ([[Jaso State]])
| reign = 1675–1731
| birth_date = {{birth date|df=y|1649|05|04}}
| birth_place = Kachar Kachnai, Mughal Empire (Present day: Kachar Kachnai, [[Tikamgarh District]], [[Madhya Pradesh]], [[India]])
| full name =
| house = [[Bundela]]
| father = Champat Rai
| mother = Sarandha
| spouse = Dev Kunwari 
Sushila Bai Ruhaani Begum
| issue = Harde Sah Jagat Rai Bharti Chand [[Mastani]]
| death_date = {{death date and age|df=y|1731|12|20|1649|05|04}}
| religion = [[Hinduism]]
}}

'''Chhatrasal Bundela''' (4 May 1649 – 20 December 1731) was an Indian warrior and ruler from the [[Bundela|Bundela Rajput]] clan, who fought against the [[Mughal Empire]], and established his own kingdom in [[Bundelkhand]] during the 17th-18th centuries.<ref name="sen2">{{Cite book |last=Sen |first=Sailendra |title=A Textbook of Medieval Indian History |publisher=Primus Books |year=2013 |isbn=978-9-38060-734-4 |pages=187–188}}</ref>

== Early life ==

Chhatrasal was born at Kachar Kachnai in [[Tikamgarh]], on 4 May 1649, to Champat Rai and Sarandha. He was a descendant of [[Rudra Pratap Singh]] of [[Orchha State|Orchha]].{{citation needed|date=October 2021}}

== Power Struggle against the Mughals ==
Chhatrasal was 12 when his father Champat Rai of [[Mahoba]] was killed by the Mughals during the reign of [[Aurangzeb]]. Inspired by [[Chhatrapati]] [[Shivaji]]'s ideals he travelled to Maharashtra and sought guidance from him. Chhatrasal raised the banner of revolt against the Mughals in Bundelkhand at the age of 22, with an army of 5 horsemen and 25 swordsmen, in 1671.<ref>Advanced Study in the History of Modern India 1707-1813 pg.106</ref>

Chhatrasal declared independence from Mughals in the 1720s and was able to resist the Mughals until he was attacked by [[Muhammad Khan Bangash]] in December 1728. Chhatrasal was 79 years old when he led his army against Bangash, after a severe battle Chhatrasal was defeated and was forced to retreat to his fort at [[Jaitpur (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Jaitpur]]. The Mughals besieged him and conquered most of his territories. Chhatrasal made several attempts to ask the [[Baji Rao I]], the [[Peshwa]] of [[Maratha Empire]], for help. However, the Peshwa was busy and could not help Chhatrasal until March 1729. In a letter sent to Baji rao, Chhatrasal wrote: ''"Know you Bajirao! That I am in the same plight in which the famous elephant was when caught by the crocodile. My valiant race is on the point of extinction. Come and save my honour"''.<ref>Srinivasan, Bajirao I, pg77</ref> Peshwa Baji rao I personally led his army towards Bundelkhand and attacked several Mughal outposts, the Mughal supplies were completely cut off by the swift cavalry of the Peshwa in the [[Battle of Malwa]]. Bangash, who was surprised by the sudden involvement of the Marathas, sent several letters to the Mughal emperor for aid, however upon being denied any help he started negotiations with Chhatrasal and Bajirao. Bangash was allowed to retreat on the condition that he never returns or shows aggression towards Bundelkhand. Chhatrasal rewarded the peshwa with large tracts of lands and diamond mines in Bundelkhand which helped the Marathas to gain access to [[Central India|Central]] and [[North India]].<ref>Advanced Study in the History of Modern India 1707-1813 pg.106</ref><ref>Advance Study in the History of Modern India (Volume-1: 1707-1803) By G.S.Chhabra pg.24</ref>

== Relations with Bajirao I ==
[[File:Mastani 28tt13.jpg|150px|thumb|right|[[Mastani]], the wife of the Peshwa [[Baji Rao I]] was Chhatrasal's daughter]]
Peshwa [[Baji Rao I|Baji Rao]]'s second wife [[Mastani]] was Chhatrasal's daughter born from his [[concubine]] Ruhani Begum.<ref>{{Cite book|author=Jaswant Lal Mehta|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=d1wUgKKzawoC|title=Advanced Study in the History of Modern India 1707-1813|date=2005-01-01|page=108|publisher=Sterling Publishers Pvt. Ltd|isbn=978-1-932705-54-6|language=en|quote=Of his own sweet will The Rajput king bestowed a large number of Personal Jagir to Bajirao near Jhansi and further offer hand of her daughter Mastani born from his Concubine}} In his book ''Mastani'', the historian [[D. G. Godse]] states that the relationship between Chhatrasal and Baji Rao I was like that of father and son.</ref>

== Patron of literature ==

Chhatrasal was a patron of literature, and his court housed several noted poets. His eulogies written by [[Kavi Bhushan]], Lal Kavi, Bakhshi Hansaraj and other court poets helped him gain lasting fame.<ref name="KKKusuman1990">{{cite book | author=K. K. Kusuman | title=A Panorama of Indian Culture: Professor A. Sreedhara Menon Felicitation Volume | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=z4JqgSUSXDsC&pg=PA157 | access-date=10 December 2012 | year=1990 | publisher=Mittal Publications | isbn=978-81-7099-214-1 | page=157 }}</ref>
He also contributed in construction of temples of Kundalpur, a jain pilgrim centre in Madhya Pradesh.

==Legacy==
[[File:Chhatrasal Samadhi.jpg|thumb|250px|[[Chhatri]] of Maharaja Chhatrasal, at Dhubela (near [[Chhatarpur]])]]
The [[Chhatarpur]] town and its [[Chhatarpur district|eponymous district]] in [[Madhya Pradesh]] are named after Chhatrasal. Several places in Chhatarpur, including the [[Maharaja Chhatrasal Museum]], [[Maharaja Chhatrasal Station Chhatarpur railway station]] (a railway station in [[Chhatarpur]]), are named after him. The [[Chhatrasal Stadium]] in Delhi is also named after the Maharaja Chhatrasal.

==In popular culture==
*''Veer Chhatrasal'' is a 1971 Indian historical film about the king by [[Harsukh Jagneshwar Bhatt]], starring [[Ajit Khan|Ajit]] in the titular role.
*''[[Chhatrasal (web series)|Chhatrasal]]'', a 2021 web series released on [[MX Player]] starring Jitin Gulati in the titular role of Maharaja Chhatrasal.<ref name="RajadhyakshaWillemen1999">{{cite book|last1=Rajadhyaksha|first1=Ashish|last2=Willemen|first2=Paul|title=Encyclopaedia of Indian cinema|url=https://archive.org/details/encyclopaediaofi0000raja|url-access=registration|accessdate=12 August 2012|year=1999|publisher=British Film Institute}}</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== Further reading ==
* Bhagavānadāsa Gupta, ''Life and times of Maharaja Chhatrasal Bundela,'' New Delhi, Radiant (1980). {{ISBN|1-135-47177-0}}
* Bhagavānadāsa Gupta, ''Contemporary Sources of the Mediaeval and Modern History of Bundelkhand (1531-1857),'' vol. 1 (1999). {{ISBN|81-85396-23-X}}.
* "Mastani" by [[D. G. Godse]]
* ''Dharmika Teja'', a [[Kannada language]] historical novel; the story revolves around Maharaja Chhatrasal's youth

==External links==
*{{commons category-inline}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Chhatrasal}}
[[Category:History of Uttar Pradesh]]
[[Category:1649 births]]
[[Category:1731 deaths]]
[[Category:Maharajas of Madhya Pradesh]]
[[Category:Rajput rulers]]
[[Category:Indian warriors]]

Chhatrasal - Revision history

Bot at 17:16, 24 November 2022