JUMP

When you speak of a jump there is one unrivalled jump in history which is a poignant story that dampens your eyes 

It was 1576 AD and it was a jump of 22 feet over a canal.

It was a jump in full injury but it was a jump of grit.

It is all now part of history.

My name is Ram Prasad and I speak about my good friend Chetak

Remember that day very clearly when in the bloody battle on Haldighati my mahout was killed and my gigantic strength tamed, I was unfortunately overcome and I was put in chains and was made captive by Mansingh.

I have been transported from the hills of Mewar to Delhi.

Yes you guessed right I am an Elephant in the royal court of Akbar and I have been rechristened to Peer Prasad.

As I stand in all magnificence in the Darbar bedecked and ornamented my mind is far away. 

To far away lands. 

My land -- The lands of Mewar.

It is said that Chetak along with his siblings Atak and Natak were brought by horse traders to Pratap Singh.

Atak was put on trial in the hilly and river terrain test. He passed brilliantly though he was injured in his foot.

Pratap Singh was so impressed that he brought all three of them.

It may have been love at first sight for Chetak, a Blue Roan with his bluish hue, that Pratap kept him for himself.

Natak was given to his younger brother Shakti Singh and Atak was sent to be taken care of in an animal care centre.

The friendship of Pratap and Chetak developed and both complimented each other in vigour and techniques of warfare.

With the guidance of Pratap, Chetak’s development of the 5S -- Strength, Stamina, Swiftness, Saddle-trained and Sure-footed was calibrated to perfection. 

His galloping was fine-tuned to it reaching a comparison to the speed of the wind.

Similarly, Pratap’s agility on horseback in combat sharpened.

D day was years later in 1576 AD on June 18 when Emperor Akbar’s Moghul army headed by Mansingh along with Jahangir surrounded Mewar with their massive forces.

Four years earlier when Pratap Singh was made a Rana (king) Akbar was already in the process of getting a road and provide a safe passage for his people traders and troops to Gujrat through Mewar which would be under his control.

The Emperor tried to get this new Rana under his thumb. 

He sent out feelers and messages through intermediaries.

Unlike other region kings and leaders in the region who had become vassals, Pratap Singh refused to entertain them and be a puppet to Akbar.

Akbar decided to retaliate. 

War was inevitable

It was the battle of Haldighati.

The name came from the rocks strewn around which when crushed produced bright yellow sand resembling haldi (turmeric powder)

Haldighati is located about 43.2 km northwest of Rajasthan and about 11.2 km west of Nathdwara from the Udaipur district of Rajasthan. It is a terrain laced with lakes, canals, forests and mountains.

It is a very inaccessible tight and narrow route towards the capital.

It was a chocoblock and a fierce attack and counter-attack were in progress.

The battle progressed and initially, the Mewari army had an upper hand. 

Unfortunately, due to the difference in sheer army size strength, the Moghul army started getting an upper hand.

Pratap Singh was fighting voraciously, gallantly leading his selfless soldiers.

He was wounded but fought on.

As time got by he realised he had to take a tactical decision and call a retreat of his troops.

Before that he wanted to try a final personal surge.

Seated on his high mount, a massive elephant, Mansingh directed and fought the bloody battle for the enemy.

Pratap had to somehow end Mansingh’s direction and render the enemy leaderless.

Keeping this in mind he galloped towards Mansinghs elephant. As the riders clashed it was a simultaneous battle between their animals.

Elephant and horse were also in combat. 

In this process, Chetak sustained a deep cut on his feet. The elephant's tusk had torn through one of his rear legs and crippled him.

He was badly injured. However, he had to take his saddled wounded king to safety.

The run of his life began.

In the same instance, another Pratap’s loyal soldier created a deception.

Grabbing Pratap’s crown he wore it and rode off as the enemy army advanced on the Rajputs. The trick worked like magic. They fell for the deception. He was given a chase and the “king” was killed.

This camouflage gave time for wounded Pratap and Chetak to escape.

Crippled but filled with love and responsibility for the safekeeping of his master and friend, Chetak galloped away.

Taking his safely saddled injured master he realised he had to get him alive away from danger.

Crisscrossing through the terrine he realised he had to use all the training he had acquired over the years to good use of saving Pratap.

He galloped along.

Injured, fatigued and bleeding he sped on.

Keeping aside his physical and mental state delivering his friend away from the enemy to an area of safety was now his ultimate goal. He had to draw energy from the pores of his deep inner self. 

Dust particles blew around the two of them as they got blurred in the landscape of the sweltering desert.

Glistening with sweat, tears welling his bloodshot red eyes due to the pain he galloped along drowning his sorrows in the bigger picture of saving his friend Pratap.

Steaming nostrils, frothing mouth and strained taut muscles could be seen as the gallant horse fleeted away his master to safety.

After covering about 5 km in his injured state he reached the canal. 

He knew if he crossed it he would be in a safe land.

But it was 22 feet.

It would be a personal leap of death.

He had to jump.

He jumped.

Maharana Pratap Singh was saved and survived but unfortunately, Chetak collapsed and breathed his last.

It was his heroic last JUMP. 

Image credit -- Internet