Babur defeated Ibrahim Lodhi in the first battle of Panipat (1526 CE) and laid the foundation of Mughal Empire in India. Soon after struggle started between Babur and Sanga.
Following were the main reasons for this :
1. Accusation of Sanga for not Keeping his Promise: Babur has written in his autobiography “Tuzk-e-Babri’ that sanga sent an ambassador to me in Kabul and asked to invade Delhi and at the same time Sanga had promised to himself invade Agra but he did not adhere to his promise.” So conflict arose between them.
2. Clash of Ambitions: After gaining victory over Ibrahim Lodhi, Babur wanted to occupy entire India. This was not possible without defeating ‘Hindupat (Hindu Chief) Sanga. Both of them being present in northern India was just like two swords present in a single sheath.
3. Rajput Afghan Friendship: Although the Afghans were defeated in the first battle of Panipat yet they were making efforts to oust Babur from India. Considering Sanga perfect for this task, leaders of the Afgans-Hasan Khan Mewati and Mahmud Lodhi the brother of dead Sultan Ibrahim Lodhi-reached his haven. The Rajput Afghan blockade became the reason of terror for Babur. Finally he decided to eliminate the power of Sanga.
4. Sanga Occupying the Regions of the Sultanate: Taking advantage of the maladministration resulting from the defeat of Ibrahim Lodhi in the battle of Panipat, Sanga occupied Khandar fort and the nearby 200 villages, due to which the Muslim families settled there were forced to. go away.’
Conflict between Babur and Maharana Sanga Realizing the possibility of future struggle, both the rulers started strengthening their respective position. In February 1527 CE, Sanga reached Bayana from Ranthambore, where at this time Mehndi Khwaja was appointed by Babur as the fort keeper. Sanga surrounded the fort due to which the condition of Mughal army present in the fort became miserable.
For the protection of Bayana, Babur sent an army under the leadership of Mohammad Sultan Mirza, but the Rajput army fought it out. Victory of Bayana was an important victory of Sanga against Babur. On one hand, Babur was busy in preparing for war, but he become concerned as he heard of the valour of Maharana, the Battle of Bayana and the stories of appreciation of the bravery of the Rajputs against Shah Mansoor Kismati and others who had returned from there.
Babur also sent a message of alliance through Salhadi Tanwar the Chieftain of Raisen. The Maharana talked to the Chieftains on this proposal, but the Chieftains did not accept the mediation of Salhadi. Therefore they expressed the strength of their army and the weakness of Babur and rejected the proposal of alliance. Taking advantage of the talks of alliance, Babur continued his preparations at war footing and reached the battlefield of Khanwa.
The battle started in the battlefield of Khanwa on 16th March 1527 CE. In the first fight, the Rajputs stood victorious but suddenly an arrow struck the head of Sanga and he was forced to leave the battlefield. For contination of the battle, the Chieftains now requested Rawat Ratan Singh Churawat of Salumbar to head the army.
Ratan Singh rejected this offer saying that his ancestors had left the state of Mewar, therefore he could can not assume the national symbol of the state for even a single moment, but he would fully support whoseover assume that national symbol and would fight against the enemy till he remained alive.
After this, Jhala Ajja was seated on an elephant and the battle was continued. The Rajputs decided to fight until their last breath but they could not sustain in front of Babur’s army and had to face defeat. After gaining victory, Babur attained the title of Gazi and as a symbol of victory, he built a minaret of the heads of Rajput soldiers.
Reasons for defeat of Sanga:
1. Postponing the battle for an extended time proved to be a big mistake of Maharana. Various chieftains of the Maharana did not participate in this battle due to the spirit of patriotism. Due to talks of alliance continuing for extended time period, they did not have the required spark and zeal in context to the battle which they earlier had at the time of proceeding for the battle.
2. The Rajput Soldiers were fighting with traditional weapons. They could not face the shells blowing out of Babur’s cannons with their bows and arrows, spears and swords.
3. Sanga made another big mistake by sitting on an elephant because due to this the enemy got opportunity to injure him by exactly pointing towards him. As he went away the injured from the battlefield, the morale of his army declined.
4. There was lack of unity and coordination in the Rajput army because the entire army was organised under the leadership of different chieftains.
5. Due to its momentum, the horse army of Babur dominated the elephant army of the Rajputs. As the elephants were terrified due to the blow of shells from Babur’s cannons, they provided great loss by crushing their own armymen.
Result of the battle of Khanwa:
1. The sovereignty of the Rajputs ended in India. The glorious sun of the Rajputs which was dazzling in the high sky above the people now started setting down.
2. The Rajpuț organisation which was built due to the prestige and power of Mewar ended with this defeat.
3. Mughal Empire was established in India and Babur became the permanent Emperor of India.
