Jaimal Meratia (1507–1568) was the ruler of Merta. He was the half-brother of Meera[1] and became the ruler of Merta after the death of his father, Rao Veeram Dev. His father was perceived as the strongest king of the east in his time.[1] The Amar Kavya records that Udai Singh II granted Badnor along with 210 villages to Rao Jaimal.[2] In 1553, Jaimal resisted falling under the chakri (service relationship) of Maldeo of Marwar.[3]
The Siege of Chittorgarh
In 1567, when Akbar encamped outside Chittorgarh, in hopes of conquering the fortress, the ruler of Mewar, Udai Singh II, fled to the Aravali hills alongside his family, and left the fortress in charge of 8,000 soldiers and 1,000 musketeers, who were in command of Jaimal and Patta. Jaimal died in Chittorgarh on 22 February 1568 by a musket shot fired by Akbar himself.[4] This turned the tide of battle in the Siege of Chittorgarh and the Rajputs' morale decreased.[5] Jaimal's name is commonly mentioned with his partner leader of chittor, Patta. These two were given the command of the army when Udai Singh, along with the royal family, had to leave the fort and go to the hills. Their attempts to repulse the Mughal Emperor himself was such that Akbar himself ordered the construction of their statues outside his fort in Agra to honour their courage.
His son, Ramdas Rathore went on to fight against the Mughals in the Battle of Haldighati, where he was slain and killed by Jagannath Kachhwa of Amer.[6],
Legend in Folklore
Jaimal was shot in his thigh and it became difficult for him to walk. His injuries caused havoc in the fort, so at the suggestion of fellow warlords, Johar and Shaka were decided, after the Jauhar action was completed, the injured Jaimal sat down on Kalla Rathore's shoulder for the call of Ranchandi (warfare). Akbar was also surprised to see his valor as Jaimal's swords of both hands glowed like lightning and killed enemies. In this way, while protecting the heroic Chittor, it gained the heroic momentum while fighting between Hanuman Pol and Bhairav Pol of the fort, where a memorial is built in his memory.[7]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Language of Love{{#if:Sharma|, Sharma}. Sarup & Sons(2001). ISBN 9788176252461
- ↑ Some Aspects of the Mewar Polity at the Time of Maharana Pratap's Accession. Proceedings of the Indian History Congress({Template:Year).
- ↑ Nomadic Narratives: A History of Mobility and Identity in the Great Indian Desert{{#if:|, {{{last}}}}. Cambridge University Press(2016). ISBN 9781107080317
- ↑ Akbarnama by Abu'l Fazl. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
- ↑ The Indian Portrait - 5: Colonial influence on Raja Ravi Varma and his Contemporaries{{#if:|, {{{last}}}}. Archer Art Gallery(18 November 2014)
- ↑ < Akbarnama by Abu'l Fazl "Rām Dās, son of Jaimal, went to the sorry abode of annihilation from a stroke by the hand of Jagannāth."
- ↑ https://www.gyandarpan.com/veer-jaimal-mertiya/