Desert Chronicles (Book 5): Mehrangarh under Siege

By Harpreet Kaur Kapoor

This book is based on that chapter in the history of the Mehrangarh Fort or Jodhpurgarh as it was known in the 18th century when it came under siege. Mehrangarh is the largest fort in Rajasthan and was built in 1459 and is situated on a rock formation that is over two million years old and over 400 feet above the city. The siege was the result of a marriage proposal that never materialized but led to a battle between the states of Jaipur and Marwar both the rulers wanted to marry the same princess of Mewar. Both sides dragged in the various royal states of Rajputana, Marathas, British, and the Pindaris.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Harpreet Kaur Kapoor
• Release date: Mar 29, 2021
• ISBN: 9781005279561

Harpreet Kaur Kapoor

Hi as a writer I know I can improve, I would like it very much if you read my books and tell me what is missing and how it will improve my work. Your opinions matter to me. Please send them to my email id [e-mail],. My writing for sometime has come to standstill and your words may add some fire to it.Thank you all.I am a writer and writing has been my passion from my college days, but I have given it complete free reign over everything else, only in the last few years. As a journalist, I have worked in many newspapers and magazines and gathered over 13 years of experience. But I am still gathering experience for my writing. Every day is a learning experience and adds to my profile.

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Mehrangarh Under Siege

-An era between 1803-1820 AD

By Harpreet Kaur Kapoor

Smashwords Edition

Copyright 2021 Harpreet Kaur Kapoor

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© All rights are reserved.

Dedication

This book is dedicated to the people I loved and lost, my Dad who was my first critic and first fan who always enjoyed reading my work and always encouraged me to write; my mom, Jack, my beloved dog and my pet parrot Ladoo, all of whom I miss very much.

Introduction

This is that period in history when the invincible Mehrangarh fort or Jodhpur Garh as it was known then came under siege. Not by the British, not by the Mughals, but the combined forces of Rajput states and a few internal rebels who wanted to take over the throne of Rao Jodha’s descendants.

It was the year 1804, when Mehrangarh fort came under siege. The Maharaja of Jodhpur was worried and hurriedly called his council; with those ministers who had once been jailed for treason. These ministers would help him rewrite the history of Mehrangarh, which would have been otherwise.

It all began with a marriage proposal…

Mehrangarh (Jodhpur Garh)

Chapter 1

It all started when the Maharaja of Mewar (Udaipur) Maharaj Bhim Singh offered his daughter’s hand in marriage to the then Maharaja of Marwar (Jodhpur) also named Maharaja Bhim Singh who accepted this proposal. Princess Krishna Kumari was just 16 years old when she was engaged to the Maharaja of Marwar. It was a political alliance.

Maharaja of Marwar died suddenly during a battle in 1803 leaving the Princess and her father distraught and their dreams of alliance shattered.

Princess Krishna Kumari was very beautiful and a dream for every bachelor prince and ruling maharaja’s as a prized catch as a bride. The un-timely death of the ruler of Marwar left her open to proposals from rulers of other Rajputana states.

In Jan 1804 Maharaja Man Singh, the younger brother of deceased Maharaja Bhim Singh was requested by Maharaja Bhim Singh of Udaipur that he should marry Princess Krishna Kumari, as the successor to the throne of Marwar and who had taken over the responsibilities of the previous ruler. Man Singh sent the message that he was not interested and her father could fix the princess’s marriage elsewhere without hesitation.

However, as a princess she had been betrothed to be a bride of the House of Marwar, her father requested again to the enthroned Prince Man Singh to take princess Krishna Kumari as his wife. On persuasion from his ministers, he agreed but after some time he fought a battle against Ghanerao. The Thakur of Ghanerao was a distant relative of the Maharana of Mewar. This attack angered the Maharana of Mewar and in 1805, he began his search in ernest for a new groom for Princess Krishna Kumari and agreed on her being married to Maharaja Jagat Singh of Jaipur.

Maharaja Jagat Singh was very much attracted to the beauty of the Princess and was ready to marry her. He accepted the marriage proposal and sent his army along with Daroga Kushal Singh alongwith the tika (tilak) to complete the marriage arrangements.

Maharaja Man Singh was provoked into taking unprecedented action. Many close to him, family and ministers pushed him for the alliance. He now desperately wanted Princess Krishna Kumari as his wife. He sent his army to stop the tika from reaching Mewar. Maharaja of Jaipur reacted violently to this information and Thakur Sawai Singh of Pokharan who had taken the message to Jaipur parked himself outside Jodhpur, ready for battle. He supported Dhokal Singh the pretender to the throne of Mewar and required Maharaja of Jaipur’s support to seize the throne for the pretender

Chapter 2

The new marriage [proposal and acceptance was a major relief for the Maharaja of Mewar and joy for his family, as it had been a