History of Aurangzib, Based on Original Sources v3.c53.6

v3.c53.6

In Falgun (February 1680) Rana with Rathor allies in full force defeats Aurangzib in the Deobari Pass, and drives him back to Chitor. Samaldas cuts off communication between Chitor and Ajmir. Emperor hurriedly retreats to Ajmir to save himself. Thence he sends Ruhullah Khan with 12,000 men to convoy food to his sons at Chitor, but the Khan is defeated at Pur-Mandal by the Rathors and forced back to Ajmir. [Crit.—This is diametrically opposed to the Persian accounts which represent Aurangzib's visit to Chitor on 22 Feb., his return to Udaipur immediately after, and march from Udaipur to Ajmir, 6-22 March, 1680, as triumphant movements. Mandal was sacked by the Rajputs a year later, 15 Jan, 1681. It is clear that the Udaipur valley was evacuated by the Mughals in March, 1680: if this was the result of a disaster, the Persian accounts are absolutely silent about it. Akbar's army was, no doubt, defeated and his communication with Ajmir occasionally cut off; but that was in April-June, after the Emperor's return to Ajmir. I suspect the Rajput bards have made a confusion of dates and persons. Any disastrous defeat of Aurangzib or Akbar seems to me unlikely, as it would certainly have been mentioned in the *M.A.* which does not conceal other imperial reverses.]