Rajput Legends

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Maharana Pratap the 13th Ruler of Mewar in Rajasthan shown in a painting by Raja Ravi Verma. आगे नादिया पड़ी अपार, घोड़ा कैसे उतरे पार राणा ने सोचा इस पार, तब तक चेतक था उस पार .
Prithvi Raj Chauhan, King of Ajmer . He ruled Ajmer and Delhi during later half of 12th Century.
Chatrapati Shivaji was the son of Shahaji and Jijabai. He was warrior-king and a member of the Bhonsle Maratha clan. Shivaji carved out an enclave from the declining Adil Shahi Sultanate of Bijapur that formed the genesis of the Maratha Empire. He reigned from 1674-1680.
Zorawar Singh Kahluria (1784-1841) was an army general. He was subordinate to the Dogra Ruler of Jammu & Kashmir Maharaja Gulab Singh. Gen Zorawar Singh conquered Himalaya Mountains including Ladakh, Tibet, Baltistan and Iskardu. He is referred to as the "Napoleon of India”.
Rawal Jaisal (reign. c. 1153–1168 CE ), a Yaduvanshi Bhati ruler of Jaisalmer, lived during the 12th century and founded the city of Jaisalmer and Jaisalmer state. Sixth in descent from Rawal Deoraj Bhati, he was the eldest son of Rawal Dusaj of Deoraj (Deorawul), which had its capital at Laudrava
Rawal Ratan Singh was a ruler of the Medapata (Mewar) kingdom in present-day Rajasthan, India. He belonged to the Rawal branch of the Guhila dynasty, which ruled from the Chitrakuta fort (modern Chittorgarh). The last ruler of this branch, he was defeated by Alauddin Khalji in 1303 CE.
Bappa Rawal (born Prince Kalbhoj, c. 713-810), eighth ruler of the Guhilot Rajput Dynasty and founder of the Mewar Dynasty (r. 734-753) in present-day Rajasthan, India. He also founded the city of Rawal PIndi now in Pakistan.
Sangram Singh Sisodia (12 April 1472 – 30 January 1528) commonly known as Rana Sanga, Died‎: ‎30 January 1528 (aged 55); ‎Kalpi Successor‎: ‎Ratan Singh II Father‎: ‎Rana Raimal Reign‎: ‎1508–1528
Jam Rawal Lakh (1480-1562), was Jadeja Rajput ruler, who ruled Kutch State from 1524-1548 and later was founder-ruler of Nawanagar State from 1540 to 1562
Maharana Amar Singh I, the Maharana of Mewar (16 March 1559 – 26 January 1620), was the eldest son and successor of Maharana Pratap of Mewar. He continue his fight against Mughals after his father Maharana Pratap died..
Kunwar Singh (1777 – 26 April 1858) was a notable leader during the Indian War of Independence 1857. He belonged to a royal Ujjainiya Rajput house of Jagdispur Bihar, India. At the age of 80, he led a select band of soldiers against troops of the British East India Company. He is popularly known as Veer Kunwar Singh
Chhatrasal Bundela (4 May 1649 – 20 December 1731) was an Indian warrior and ruler from the Bundela Rajput clan, who fought against the Mughal Empire, and established his own kingdom in Bundelkhand during the 17th-18th centuries.
Rana Kumbha was the son of Rana Mokal Singh. He ruled Mewar from 1433-1668. He belonged to Sisodia Rajputs
Maharajadhiraj Maharawal BRIJRAJ SINGH is the Maharawal of Jaisalmer since 1982 Born 13th November 1968, succeeded to the gaddi on 13th March 1982..
Manikarnika Tambe (19.11.1835 – 17.6.1858) better known as Jhansi Ki Rani Lakshmi Bai was one of the leading figures of Indian war of Independence of 1857. She became symbol of resistance against British Raj. She died fighting British on 16th June 1858 at Kotah-ki-Sarai near Gwalior.
Subhadra Kumari Chauhan (16.8.1904 – 15.2.1948) was a freedom fighter/ Poet. She went to jail many times during independence movement. She was married to Thakur Laxman Singh Chauhan of Khandwa. Her poem “Khoob Ladi Mardani Voh Toh Jhansi Wali Rani Thee” under the caption Jhansi Ki Rani made her immortal.
Chandrashekhar Singh (17.41927 – 8.7.2007) was the Prime Minister of India from 10.11.1990 to 21.6.1991. He remained Member of Parliament for many terms. He was awarded Best Parliamentarian award in 1995.
Vishwanath Pratap Singh (25.6.1931-27.11.2008). He was the seventh Prime Minister of India from 2.12.1989-10.11.1990). He was also the 12th Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh from 9th June 1980 to 19th July 1982.
Bhairon Singh Shekhawat (23.10.1925 to 15.5.2010) was the 11th Vice President of India. He served in that position from August 2002 to 21st July 2007. He was also the three time Chief Minister of Rajasthan 1977-80, 1990-92 and 1993-98.
Rajnath Singh (Born 10.7.1951) is the present Defence Minister of India. He was President of Bharatiya Janata Party. He has previously served as the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh and as a Cabinet Minister in the Vajpayee Government. He was the Home Minister in the First Modi Ministry.
General Maharaj Shri Rajendrasinhji Jadeja, DSO (15 June 1899 – 1 January 1964 was the first Chief of Army Staff of the Indian army. He was the second Indian, after Field Marshal K. M. Cariappa, to become Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army.
General Bipin Rawat (Born 16.3.1958) , PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, YSM, SM, VSM, ADC is a four star general and the current Chief of Defence Staff of India. On 30 December 2019, he was appointed as the first Chief of Defence Staff of India with effect from 1 January 2020.
General Vijay Kumar Singh (Born 10.5.1951), PVSM, AVSM, YSM, ADC, MP is an Indian politician and a former four-star General Chief of Indian Army. Since May 30, 2019, he is serving as the Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways. He was Union Minister of State External Affairs from 1914-19. He belongs to Village Bapora in Haryana.
Shivraj Singh Chouhan (Born 5.3.1959) is an Indian politician and member of the Bharatiya Janata Party. He is the 17th Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, having been elected to the same position 3 times in the past and a Member of Legislative Assembly in Madhya Pradesh from Budhni.
Lt General Anil Chauhan PVSM, SM, AVSM, UYSM and VSM hails from the Garhwal division of Uttarakhand. Born on 18 May 1961, he got commission as a second Lieutenant in the Gorkha Rifles in 1981. After retirement from the Army in 2021, Gen. Chauhan was appointed to the highest designation of the armed forces on 28 September 2022.
Major Shaitan Singh Bhati (1 December 1924 – 18 November 1962) was a recipient of the Param Vir Chakra, India's highest military decoration. Singh was born in Rajasthan. He joined the Jodhpur State Forces. He was the hero of Battle of Rezang La in Chushul Sector during 1962 Sino-Indian war. He fought ferociously without any cover and succumbed to his injuries and earned PVC.
Colonel Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore (Born 29.1.1070) Padma Shri, AVSM, is an Indian politician, Olympic medallist. In November 2014, was made the Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting. He was appointed as a Cabinet minister with independent charge for Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports in 2017.
Lieutenant General Sagat Singh, PVSM (14 July 1918 – 26 September 2001)[3][1] was a General Officer in the Indian Army notable for his participation in invasion of Goa and later in Bangladesh. He is decorated with Padma Bhushan and PVSM awards..
Captain Gurbachan Singh Salaria (29.11.1935-5.12.1961) PVC was an Indian Army officer and member of a UN peacekeeping force. He was the first NDA alumnus and is the only UN Peacekeeper to be awarded a Param Vir Chakra
Lieutenant General Hanut Singh Rathore PVSM, MVC (6 July 1933 – 10 April 2015) was a General Officer in the Indian Army. He was decorated with the Maha Vir Chakra for his role in the Battle of Basantar in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971
Company Havaldar Major Piru Singh Shekhawat, PVC(20 May 1918 - 18 July 1948) was a soldier in the British Indian Army. He died in service during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947. He was posthumously awarded the Param Vir Chakra, India's highest award for valour in the face of the enemy.
Jadunath Singh (21.11.1916 – 6.2.1948) was an Indian Army soldier who was posthumously awarded the Param Vir Chakra, India's highest military decoration for his actions in an engagement during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947
Sir Ranjitsinhji Vibhaji Jadeja (10.9.1872 - 2.4.1933) known as Ranji was the ruler of Nawanagar from 1907 to 1933. He was a right handed batsman. Ranji Trophy tournament is played in his memory. He played 15 Tests, made 989 runs at an average of 45.00 with two hundreds and six fifties.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni (Born: 7.7.1981) captained Indian national team in limited-overs formats from 2007 to 2016 and in Test cricket from 2008 to 2014. He is the only captain in the history of Cricket to win all ICC trophies. He has made more than 10000 runs in one day cricket.
Preity G Zinta ( Born on 31 January 1975) is a film Actress, Producer and Entrepreneur. After graduating with degrees in English honours and criminal psychology, Zinta made her acting debut in Dil Se in 1998 followed by a role in Soldier in the same year. ‎She has won many cinema awards. She also owns Kings XI Punjab, IPL cricket team.
Kangana Ranaut (Born on 23.3.1987) is actress and filmmaker. She is the recipient of several awards including three National Film Awards and four Film fare Awards. She has been featured six times in Forbes India's Celebrity 100 list. She is also a recipient of Padma Shri award. She belongs to Himanchal Pradesh.
Major Dhyan Chand (29.8.1905 to 3.12.1979) nicknamed wizard was one of the greatest hockey players in the history of the sport. He was known for his extraordinary goal-scoring feats, in addition to earning three Olympic gold medals, in 1928, 1932 and 1936, during an era when India dominated the field of hockey. He was also the recipient of Padma Bhushan award.
Kunwar Digvijay Singh (2.2.1922 to 27.3.1978) popularly known as "Babu" was a hockey player. He is regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of the sport. He played in 1948 and 1952 Olympics as Vice Captain and Captain respectively and won gold medal in both games. KD Singh Babu Stadium has been constructed in Lucknow in his memory.
Major Shaitan Singh Bhati, Param Vir Chakra
Captain Divya Singh Bhati and Lt. Dimple Singh Bhati Grand Daughters of Major Shaitan Singh Bhati

Battle Of Rezang La – 18th November 1962

In 1962, during the Sino-Indian War, the ‘C’ Company of the 13th Kumaon battalion, commanded by Maj Shaitan Singh, held a crucial position at Rezang La, a pass to the south-east of Chushul Valley in Ladakh (Jammu and Kashmir) at an altitude of a towering 5,000 metres. The area was defended by five platoons, however, the mountainous terrain isolated it from the rest of the battalion. They expected a Chinese attack on the Rezang La, which came on the 18th of November.

The climate was treacherous with a cold and biting wind, and the terrain was unfavourable. Another drawback of this area was that it was crested to Indian artillery because of an intervening feature, which meant that they had to make do without the protective cover of the big guns. The Chinese advanced to attack the platoons No.7 and No.8. Both of them opened fire on the enemy with rifles, light machine guns, grenades and mortars, however, the artillery could not be used. The enemy soldiers suffered heavy casualties and only the boulders offered cover to some of the survivors.

Soon after, about 350 Chinese troops commenced advancing to the position of platoon No.9 which then opened fire. Within minutes, the Chinese lost most of their men, resulting in an unsuccessful frontal attack. Following this, the Chinese engaged in a rear attack with 400 troops. They employed intense machine gun fire along with heavy artillery and mortar shelling. About 120 Chinese troops charged No.7 Platoon position, yet many of them were killed by Indian Army 3-inch mortar. The troops that did survive were met by an assault of a dozen Kumaoni soldiers.

Maj Shaitan Singh displayed exemplary leadership and bravery in the battle of Rezang La. He led his troops admirably and did not fear for his personal safety, moving from one platoon post to another and encouraging his men. While moving among the posts he was seriously wounded by a Chinese MMG, but that did not deter him. As two of his comrades were trying to evacuate him, the Chinese opened heavy machine gun fire on them. Maj Singh did not want to endanger their lives and ordered them to leave him. They placed him behind a boulder on the slopes of a hill, where he breathed his last, still gripping his weapon.

The body of Maj Shaitan Singh was found in the same place behind the boulder, after three months in that snow clad region. It was flown to Jodhpur and cremated with full military honours. Maj Shaitan Singh was awarded Param Vir Chakra, the highest wartime gallantry medal, for his unfaltering courage, leadership and exemplary devotion to duty

Memorial Site

A memorial was constructed near Dharuhera Chowk in Rewari city, Rezang La Park in Rewari City by Rezangla Shaurya Samiti. Every year, memorial functions are held by the Samiti in collaboration with district administration and the Kumaon Regiment, and family members of those who died at Rezangla also take part.    

GRAND DAUGHTERS OF MAJOR SHAITAN SINGH BHATI, PVC

The granddaughters of Param Vir Chakra Shaitan Singh Bhati, Divya and Dimple Singh Bhati both serve in the Indian Army.
Lt Dimple Bhati from Jodhpur, after 11 months of rigorous physical and military training , was awarded the Silver Medal at the Passing Out Parade of Officers Training Academy (OTA) , Chennai. She finished second among 180 men and women during the course.
Inspired by her elder sister, Captain Divya Singh, who was posted in the Indian Army, Dimple Bhati was commissioned into the Signal Corps, after which she was given her first posting in Jammu and Kashmir.