Life and Conditions of the People of Hindustan (1200–1550 A.D.) c7.s1.146

c7.s1.146

The rite of Jauhar sometimes assumed an even more desperate and tragic form. We have a very graphic account from the pen of Emperor Babur of the defeat and the Jauhar of Medni Rai of Chanderi. After their defeat the warriors of Medni Rai killed all their women and children in obedience to the custom and issued forth with naked sword to fight to the bitter end. Soon, however, they realized that it was not possible to fight and became apprehensive of being captured alive. To avoid such a humiliating fate they decided to commit suicide. It was arranged to put one of their men on an elevated spot with a sharp drawn sword. All others then advanced below him one by one, their heads falling at regular intervals until all of them perished.¹ There is reason to believe that the course these proud warriors adopted was not altogether rash or ill-chosen. In warfare of those days there were no agreements on humane treatment or covenants to regulate the treatment of the captives of war and the wounded. Everything depended on the will of the victorious conqueror. Proud Rajputs would not submit to such a humiliating position even in their own inter-tribal wars, which were not infrequent. When they were opposed to the Muslim invaders they frankly expected the worst from their enemies. There are historic examples to illustrate that in quite a number of cases the brutality of the Muslim warriors was quite exceptional even in the records of barbarity and brutality of that age.²