Among the galaxy of Rajput sovereigns, Maharana Kumbha occupies a pre-eminent position. His natural abilities and achievements place him in the forefront of the great rulers not only of Mewar, but of the whole of India. The material for the Chitra Katha on Kumbha has been drawn from the book on his life by Harbilas Sarda. Kumbha never lost a battle even when confronted with the toughest of adversaries. He built a number of formidable fortresses all over Rajasthan which proved to be of great strategic importance to later rulers of Mewar. The Tower of Victory he built in Chittor is one of the landmarks of Rajasthan. Early in the 16th century, when a vast area of India was under the domination of foreign rulers, Rana Sanga made a valiant attempt to defeat them. He fought a decisive battle against Babar in March 1527 at Khanwa and might have won it, but he was unfortunately betrayed by his trusted commander, Shiladitya, Defeated in the battle, he made a solemn vow never to re-enter Mewar until he had avenged his humiliation. Had his life been spared, he would have redeemed the pledge; but he did not live to fulfil it. His tenacity of purpose, however, inspired many of his successors including Rana Pratap. During the reign of Akbar, when almost everyone in Northern India had bowed down before him, only the lone, unbending figure of Rana Pratap stood against him, only the lone, unbending figure of Rana Pratap stood against him. Greatly outnumbered by Akbar's huge forces, the Rana lived a hunted life in the jungles and suffered grave hardships. But these sufferings only spurred him on in his struggle for freedom.
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