Rani Durgavati

With Akbar coming to the throne of the Mughal Empire in early 1556, the Mughals had become a part of India. As a conqueror, Akbar triumphed all over North India. He added Gujrat, Bengal, Orissa, Kashmir and Sindh to his empire. He was victorious in Central and South India too. In his efforts to consolidate his empire, Akbar appointed Rajput nobles to the highest posts in his empire. Thus he succeeded in winning the goodwill of the Hindus. The Rajputs flocked to serve him and do him honor. During this period when almost everyone in Northern India had bowed down before Akbar, only the lone, unbending figure of Rana Pratap stood against him. He refused to accept Akbar's supremacy. Had he agreed to surrender, Rana Pratap could have led an easy and comfortable life at the court of Akbar. But for this brave Rajput warrior king, his freedom was his honor, which he cherished even more than his own life. Greatly outnumbered by Akbar's huge forces, Rana lived a hunted life in the jungles and suffered grave hardships. But these sufferings only spurred him on his struggle for freedom. This Chitra Katha presents the tale of Rana Pratap's heroic struggle against the might of the Mughals.