Background

Maharana Sanga died of wounds sustained at the Battle of Khanwa(1527) against Mughal emperor Babur. Rana Sanga’s eldest son Bhoj Raj had been killed in the battle in 1521. Three of his other sons died during his lifetime. Then his eldest son succeeded to the throne as Maharana Ratan Singh II (1527-1531).

However, when he died after ruling only four years, Vikramaditya succeeded to the throne at age 14. He was a very insolent and an arrogant king. Many nobles left his kingdom never to return again till he was on the throne.

Bahadur Shah of Gujarat attacked Chittor in 1535. Rani Karnavati had called upon the neighboring rulers for help. Vikramaditya took a small force of nobles and their armies into the hills to provide a second attack force. The few loyal soldier spirited away young Udai Singh  with a small party that included Panna and her son to safety in Bundi.

The chiefs that were defending Chittor lost the battle. The Bahadur Shah sacked Chittor was sacked and  returned to Gujarat.

Rana Banbir rise to power

When the situation was stable, Udai Singh returned to the capital and Vikramaditya came back to continue his reign. Unfortunately, Vikramaditya’s temperament had not improved even after the defeat in 1535.

One day in 1536, he physically abused a respected old chieftain at the Court. This led the Mewar nobles to place Vikramaditya under palace arrest, leaving the object of Panna Dhai’s love and loyalty, Udai Singh(father of Maharana Pratap) as heir-elect to the throne. The Court appointed a distant cousin, Banvir to act as his Regent.

Rana Banbir had the cunning to resist the solicitation, and it was only when the nobles painted the dangers which threatened their country if their chief at such a period had not their confidence, that he gave his consent.

The nobles of Chittor gave Rana Banbir limited executive authority during the minority of Udai Singh. Rana Banbir, however, only awaited the approach of night to remove with his own hands the obstacle to his ambition.

Sacrifice of Panna Dhai 

Udai Singh was not yet six years of age. One evening that same year, he had gone to sleep after his rice and milk. The commotion outside the palace thoroughly alarmed Udai Singh Nurse Panna Dhai.

Rana Banbir assassinated the imprisoned Vikramaditya, then hurried towards the raula to kill of the only remaining barrier to his ambition, the 6-year-old Maharana-elect, Udai Singh.

Panna got wind of Rana Banbir plan of killing Udai Singh. The faithful nurse Panna Dhai put Udai Singh into a fruit basket, and, covering it with leaves. She delivered it to the Barbar and ordered him to escape with it from the fort.

Quickly, she substitute her own son in the room of the prince. Soon Rana Banbir, entering, enquired about Udai Singh. She pointed to the bed, and watched Rana Banbir buried steel sword in the heart of her child.

Panna Dhai saves Udai Singh

The nurse Panna Dhai, a Rajputni of the Khichi tribe, having consecrated with her tears the ashes of her child, hastened towards the side of Udai Singh.

The faithful barber was awaiting the nurse in the bed of the Beris river, some miles west of Chittor, and fortunately the child had remained asleep until he had descended from the city.

Pursuing a difficult route through the intricate valleys of the Aravalli, and aided by the protection of the wild but hospitable Bhils, they went to Kumbhalgarh. The resolution which the nurse had formed was as bold as it was judicious.

Soon she demanded an interview with the Governor, Asa Shah. Soon Asa Shah granted her the interview. She placed the child in his lap, and asked him to guard the life of his sovereign. This event perplexed and alarmed Asa Shah but his mother said. “Fidelity never looks at dangers and difficulties.

She also said that Udai Singh is son of Maharan Sanga, and with God’s blessing the result will be glorious. So Udai Singh found a refuge at Kumbhalgarh, where he was given out to be the nephew of Asa Shah.

Rise of Udai Singh

The fact of Udai Singh’s existence remained hidden for seven years. Udai Singh aristocratic appearance and bearing  exposed his the secret. Soon rumour spread the tale, and brought not only the nobles of Mewar, but many adjacent chiefs, to hail the son of Rana Sanga.

Nurse, and her helper the barber testimony removed all the doubt of the nobles of Mewar. A Mewar nobles formed the and the faithful Asa Shah told the truth and placed the prince in the lap of the Kotario Chohan. As the “great ancient” among the nobles of Mewar he was well acquainted with the secret.

Udai received the tika of Chitor in the castle of Khumbho, and the homage of nearly all the chiefs of Mewar. Meanwhile, things had been progressing but indifferently well with Banbir. Having seized on the dignity of the legitimate monarchs of Chittor, he wished to ape all their customs.

Fall of Banbir

Rana Banbir even had the courage to punish as an insult of refusal of one of the proud sons of Chonda to take the dunah from his bastard hand. The duna is a portion of the dish of which the prince partakes, sent by his own hand to whomsoever he honours at the banquet.

The haughty nobility of Chittor received the honour from the hand of this “fifth son of Mewar” with contempt.

The Chondawat chief had the boldness to add to his refusal that “an honour from the hand of a true son of Bappa Rawal becomes a disgrace when proffered by the offspring of the handmaid, Situlsini.” The defection soon became general, and all repaired to the valley of Komulmi’r to hail the legitimate son of Mewar.

Rana Banbir sent 1000 horsemen to protect his daughter dowry to Kutch laden with Merchandise. Supporter of Udai Singh plundered the caravan of 500 horses and 10,000 oxen in the mountain passes.

A signal intimation of the decay of the chief’s authority, and affording a welcome supply for the celebration of the nuptials of Udai Singh with the daughter of the Rao of Jhalawar.

Deserted by all, Rana Banbir held out in the capital ; but his minister admitted, under the garb of a reinforcement with supplies, a thousand resolute adherents of the prince.

The keepers of the gates were surprised and slain, and the reign of Udai Singh was proclaimed. Rana Banbir was permitted to retire with his family and his wealth. He sought refuge in the Dekhan, and the Bhonsla’s of Nagpurare said to derive their origin from this spurious branch of Chittor.