The Cambridge History of India, Vol. III: Turks and Afghans v3.c20.303

v3.c20.303

The Rānā had been imprisoned at Delhi ever since the fall of Chitor, two years before this time, and was so weary of his confinement that when ‘Alā-ud-dīn demanded of him the surrender of his beautiful wife Padmani as the price of his liberty he was disposed to comply. His *thākurs*, or nobles, who were wandering as outlaws in the hills and jungles of Mewār, heard of his intention and sent him messages beseeching him not to disgrace the name of Rājput. They offered to send him poison, which would enable him to avert dishonour, but the fertile brain of his daughter devised a scheme for restoring him to liberty without the sacrifice of his honour or his life. He and his nobles were to feign compliance with the demand, and a train of litters, ostensibly containing the Rānā’s wife and her retinue, but filled with armed men, was to be sent to Delhi, escorted by a large force of horse and foot. The cavalcade reached Ratan Singh’s prison in safety, the armed men sprang from their litters, slew the guards, and carried off their master. Bodies of Rājputs had been posted at intervals along the road to cover his flight, and though they were defeated one by one they so delayed the pursuers that Ratan Singh reached his country in safety and assembled in the hills a force which enabled him to raid even the environs of Chitor. ‘Alā-ud-dīn avenged his discomfiture by removing from the government of Chitor his own son, Khizr Khān, an indolent and self-indulgent youth, and appointing in his place Ratan Singh’s sister’s son Arsī, who had entered his service, and thus sowed the seeds of dissension among the Rājputs. Many of the *thākurs* transferred their allegiance from Ratan Singh who had forfeited their respect, to Arsī, who remained loyal to ‘Alā-ud-dīn and until his death attended regularly at court to present his tribute.