Question

What do you know about the Rajput tradition of heroism? Write in brief.

Answer 1

Hint:
The Rajput rulers believed in the tradition of being heroes, who would fight valiantly and often choose death on the battlefield rather than being defeated.
The most famous Rajput ruler was Prithviraj III who was also known as Prithviraj Chauhan.


Complete answer:
In the 1800s, the present day Rajasthan was known as Rajputana by the British. As the name sounds it may seem that the region was inhabited by Rajputs. But this was not true at that time. There were indeed some Rajputs living there, and there still are, but most of Rajputana was also inhabited by other people who were not Rajputs.
The Rajputs who lived there were known to be brave, valiant and valorous. These rulers believed in the tradition of being heroes, who would fight valiantly and often choose death on the battlefield rather than being defeated. The stories of the heroic acts of these Rajputs were recorded in poems and songs. They were also recited by minstrels who were specially trained for it. The women in this community have also earned their heroic image by committing sati or self-immolation rather than surrendering to the rivals.
The most famous Rajput ruler was Prithviraj III who was also known as Prithviraj Chauhan. He belonged to the Chahamana or the Chauhan Dynasty. He controlled the present day Rajasthan, Delhi, Haryana, parts of Madhya Pradesh, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh. His capital was in Ajaymeru which is presently known as Ajmer. Through medieval folklore and legends, he has been described as the representative of the pre-Islamic power in India.


Note:
Prithviraj was eventually defeated by the Ghurids in 1192 at the second battle of Tarain. Later he was executed.
Prithviraj Chauhan’s defeat in Tarain is regarded as a landmark event in the conquest of Muslim rulers in India.
It is only today that we refer to these heroic rulers as Rajputs. Their Rajput identity did not exactly exist during that time period.