Propaganda Against Rana Sanga
Rana Sanga, the ruler of Mewar and a symbol of Rajput valor, has also been subjected to similar misrepresentation. A recurring claim suggests that Sanga invited Babur to India to fight Ibrahim Lodi, a notion that lacks both logic and historical evidence.
The main source cited for this claim is the Baburnama, the memoir of Babur. However, the version available today is a Persian translation created nearly six decades after Babur’s death. The original Chagatai Turkic manuscript no longer exists. Furthermore, Babur’s memoir has been shown to include false claims, including repeated statements that he had only 12,000 men at the Battle of Panipat—modern research disproves this.
Crucially, no contemporary Hindu or Muslim source supports the idea that Rana Sanga sent emissaries to Kabul. Despite this, modern scholars often accept Babur’s translated account without critical examination. Ironically, the same Baburnama attributes Babur’s invitation to Daulat Khan Lodi and Alam Khan (Alauddin Khan), not Rana Sanga.
Historical Records Refuting the Claim
Several key historical events and sources contradict the idea that Rana Sanga ever sought Babur’s help:
Victories Against Lodi:
- Battle of Khatoli (1517) – Rana Sanga defeated Ibrahim Lodi and captured Chanderi, Ranthambore, and Narasimha.
- Battle of Dholpur (1518) – Rana Sanga again defeated Lodi’s forces, further establishing Mewar’s dominance.
Given these two successive victories, it is illogical to suggest that Rana Sanga would later need Babur’s assistance to capture Agra.
Timeline and Logic Flaws:
Babur had already invaded India five times prior to 1526. By then, Bayana, located only 80 km from Delhi, was under Rana Sanga’s control. He had already defeated the combined forces of three sultanates and taken major territories like Idar, Chanderi, and Gwalior. Therefore, the claim that he sought Babur’s help to rule Agra lacks any strategic or historical sense.
Inconsistencies in Babur’s Account
Although Babur’s memoir provides extensive details—even about minor generals and his desire for mangoes—it fails to offer any meaningful mention of an invitation from Rana Sanga. He refers to Sanga as the "most potent King of Hindustan", yet doesn’t describe the alleged meeting or correspondence in detail.
Such a glaring omission raises serious doubts about the authenticity of Babur’s claim and underscores the likelihood of self-aggrandizing fabrication.
Indian and Mewari Sources
Indian records and Mewari accounts strongly refute Babur’s version of events:
- Mewar Pandulipi (Royal Chronicles): Maintained by Rana Sanga’s purohit, this handwritten record states that Babur sought Sanga’s help, not the other way around. (Source: Mewar Rajya Ri Pandulipi, National Archives of India)
- Amarkavya Vanshavali by Ranchod Bhatt (16th century): Documents the Rajput lineage and confirms Sanga’s victories over Lodi. No mention of any appeal to Babur is made.
- Professor Rushbrook Williams, in An Empire Builder of the Sixteenth Century, confirms that Babur was invited by:
- Alam Khan (Alauddin Khan) – Ibrahim Lodi’s uncle
- Daulat Khan Lodi – Governor of Punjab Both had personal ambitions and opposed Lodi’s rule.
Legacy of Rana Sanga
Rana Sanga was a warrior of exceptional courage and resilience. He united nearly 100,000 Rajput soldiers, bore over 80 battle scars, and fought despite losing an eye, a hand, and a leg. Under his leadership, Mewar reached its zenith in terms of military power and territorial expansion.
To suggest that such a formidable and victorious leader would invite a foreign invader like Babur is not only historically flawed but also a grave insult to his legacy and the sacrifices he made for the land.