At a short distance from Haldighati lies the grave of Hakim Khan Suri, a forgotten hero of an epic battle, which remains a source of controversy over who was the victor, Maharana Pratap Singh or Emperor Akbar.

In the summer heat of 1576, Emperor Akbar (1542-1605), who, having subdued most Afghan rebellions against the incipient Mughal rule, rode out with his ally and relative Raja Man Singh of Jaipur and others towards Gogunda near present day Udaipur. In a tradition replicated by his descendants, to cement alliances and allegiance, Akbar had married Man Singh’s bua or father’s sister in 1562. Akbar further strengthened the bond by marrying his son Salim (later emperor Jahangir) to Man Singh’s sister Manbhawati Bai in 1582.

Maharana Pratap (1540-1597), the scion of Mewar, had established a new capital at Udaipur after the ancient citadel of Chittor was lost to the Mughals in 1568. Pratap was ensconced in the fort at nearby Gogunda when his forces clashed with Akbar’s in June 1576.

Pratap remains unparalleled among the cast of Rajput kings. While most Rajput houses formed alliances with the rising Mughal kingdom, he remained defiant till his death. It is this stubbornness rooted in regional autonomy and martial pride that gained him the respect of even his adversaries – fellow Rajputs like the Kachwaha chief Man Singh, or Akbar.

The Mewar forces numbering around 3,000 were composed of 800-900 Pathan troops led by Hakim Khan Suri, who traced his lineage to Sher Shah Suri, the legendary Afghan, who rose from being the de facto ruler of Bihar (1530-1540) to the emperor of India. Sher Shah Suri may........

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