-By Raju Mansukhani
When the first Mewar Infantry was being formed in 1932 in the State of Udaipur-Mewar, it emblazoned the name of Maharana Bhupal Singh, the 74th Custodian of Mewar: the Mewar Bhupal Infantry came into being as a State Force.
In the tumultuous years that followed with World War II, independence of India and integration of Princely States into the Republic of India, the Mewar Bhupal Infantry was merged into the Indian Army in May 1948; its first affiliation was with the Rajputana Rifles.
On 22 May 1948, Maharana Bhupal Singh sent his heartfelt farewell message to Col Daleep Singh, officers and men of the Mewar Bhupal Infantry. From the archives of Maharana Mewar Research Institute housed in The City Palace, Udaipur, a letter reveals the emotions of His Highness Maharana Bhupal Singh, now the Raj Pramukh of the United State of Rajasthan.
It stated: “I have come to bid you good-bye this evening on the occasion of your leaving Udaipur for services with the Government of India. There have been occasions in the years before when I have had to bid you good-bye for similar service. This is a unique occasion when as Raj Pramukh of the United State of Rajasthan, I am placing your services at the disposal of a Government of India which is yours and mine. The future of India needs the willing and whole-hearted service of all her sons in whatever capacity they can serve her. I have no doubt that you officers and men of Bhupal Infantry who are going out on a new mission will perform it with the same devotedness, the same steadfastness and the same loyalty to your State and country that has marked your efforts in the past. May God bless you in the work that you now undertake. I look forward to the time when once more, having done your task, you will rejoin me at Udaipur.” The farewell message, it is noted, was to be read out during the parade at 6 pm.
On 26 June 1954, the Bhupal Infantry was transferred to The Grenadiers and re-designated as 9 Grenadiers (Mewar).
The military history of Mewar Bhupal Infantry, through the 1940s, is filled with chapters of glory on the battlefields. In 1940, during World War II, the Battalion moved out of the state to serve in Kamptee, Nagpur. It actively participated in key theatres of World War II. After the war years, the Battalion was deputed in the North-West Frontier Province; in 1948, it was allied in the Hyderabad Police Operation and was awarded with Aaland and Usmanabad War titles.
When questioned about military legacies of the State of Udaipur-Mewar, the grandson of His late Highness Maharana Bhupal Singh, Shriji Arvind Singh Mewar said, “it is a matter of singular honour for us. We have maintained our association with both Rajputana Rifles and 9 Grenadiers (Mewar) over years.” He shared his experiences of participating with the 9 Grenadiers (Mewar), when Chittor Day was celebrated from 25 to 27 August 2004. Shriji, as chairman and managing trustee of Maharana of Mewar Charitable Foundation, presented a silver trophy, and a statue of Maharana Pratap to Col. Jai Singh, Commanding Officer.
In 2016, the age-old ties between the Indian Army Regiments and the House of Mewar were further strengthened when the painting titled, ‘The Battle of Haldighati’, came to grace the
Officers’ Mess of the 22nd Battalion The Rajputana Rifles. “Gifting this painting is a small but symbolic gesture from the Maharana Mewar Charitable Foundation. It strengthens the bond between our two institutions,” said Shriji Arvind Singh Mewar.
“Rana Pratap and the Battle of Haldighati have become unique landmarks in the history of India. The uniqueness is derived from the historical fact that Rana Pratap engaged in decades-long battles to uphold honour and cherished values of the House of Mewar. His was not a battle for acquisition of material wealth or expansion of territories. He was truly a fighter for freedom, independence and self-respect, centuries before these words became part of our Nation’s Freedom Movement,” noted Shriji, in the letter to Colonel Aditya Singh, SM, commemorating the occasion.
Speaking for the new generation, and lauding efforts of his great-grandfather Maharana Bhupal Singh, said Dr Lakshyaraj Singh Mewar, “Innumerable books and stories recount the Battle of Haldighati. It has become a saga, a legend that finds its way into the hearts of people through poetry, music, drama, literature and history. There are very few battles in world history that would be as memorably recounted as the Battle of Haldighati. It is remembered with astonishing accuracy for its strategies, sense of sacrifice, brotherhood and incomparable leadership demonstrated by Rana Pratap and his battle commanders. In many ways the Battle of Haldighati belongs to the world now and not just to Rajasthan or India.”
On the occasion of the 484th Jayanti of Maharana Pratap of Mewar on 9 June 2024, the memory of the Battle of Haldighati is being kept alive for both the military and civilians to learn from its lessons.
“This is our ‘living heritage’ and we should proudly preserve it and share it with others. Such exercises go a long way in strengthening our identity and our continuing resolve to be the best that we can be for our communities, Armed Forces, and the nation,” said Dr Lakshyaraj Singh Mewar, who heads the Maharana Pratap Smarak Samiti in Udaipur and remains committed to perpetuating the values of Maharana Pratap in the 21st century.
Author is a researcher-writer on history and heritage issues, and former deputy curator of Pradhanmantri Sangrahalaya.
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