Maharana Kumbha

by Harbilas Sarda

This book, first published in 1917, recounts the life and times of the ruler of Mewar and some of his immediate predecessors. Based on old inscriptions, coins and records, it is an authoritative commentary on the multifaceted Maharana Kumbha.

Rajputana is celebrated as the land of outstanding warriors - of remarkable men who changed the destiny of their land by virtue of their bravery, strength of character and achievements. One such distinguished hero is Maharana Kumbhakaran, better known as Kumbha, who ascended the throne of Mewar in 1433.

Of Surya Vamsha lineage, Maharana Kumbha came from the glorious Guhilot clan, which ruled Mewar continuously for fourteen centuries. Apart from being an accomplished ruler and soldier, he was also an illustrious scholar. He was well-versed in the Vedas, wrote poems, dramas, treatises on music and commentaries on classic poetry.

Table of Contents:

• The Guhilot Family of Mewar
• Rana Khshetra Singh and Lakhsh Singh
• Maharana Mokal
• Kumbha Ascends the Throne
• Rise and Fall of the Kingdoms of Gujarat and Malwa
• Maharana’s Conquest of Malwa and Capture of Sultan Mahmud Khilji
• Assassination of Rao Ran Mal and Maharana’s Occupation of Marwar
• Rao Jodha Recovers Marwar
• Conquest of Abu and Haravati
• Wars with the Sultans of Malwa and Gujarat
• Death of Maharana Kumbha
• Kumbha’s Achievements
• Kumbha’s Monuments
• Kumbha as a Scholar
• Inscriptions and Coins
• Kumbha as a Sovereign
• Appendix
• Bibliography.

About the Author:

A well-known social reformer and scholar, Har Bilas Sarda was born in Ajmer, in 1867. After his Matriculation and Intermediate from Ajmer, he completed BA with Honours in English from Agra College in 1888. After a few teaching and translation assignments, he worked with the Maharaja of Jaisalmer. In 1902, he reverted to Government service as Vernacular Superintendent of the Commissioner’s Office, Ajmer. He was later appointed to the judicial service. He retired in 1924 as officiating District and Sessions Judge, Ajmer-Mewar. He was elected to the Central legislative Assembly in 1922, 1927 and 1930. Sarda sponsored the Child Marriage Restraint Bill, passed in 1929 and known as the Sarda Act. The titles of Rai Bahadur and Dewan Bahadur were bestowed on him in 1921 and 1929 respectively. He died in 1952.

Sarda’s other works include Hindu Superiority, Ajmer: Historical and Descriptive, Maharaja Sanga, Shankaracharya and Dayanand and Life of Swami Dayanand Saraswati.