Choha. Battle of Haldighati. 1822/Wikimedia Commons
It is quite common for monuments to be dedicated to renowned military leaders and rulers. However, irrespective of his owner’s prowess, Chetak, a horse from Mewar i
Mewar: A historical region in southern Rajasthan, was honored by having several monuments built in his memory. This comes as no surprise, given that Chetak is one of the most iconic figures in local folklore.
According to legend, Chetak belonged to one of India's national heroes, Maharana Pratap (1540–97) of the Rajput kingdom of Mewar. Maharana Pratap's biography intricately weaves together historical facts and semi-legendary narratives, and much like his father and later his son, he is primarily remembered as a stalwart against the expansion of the Mughal Empire. The zenith of this struggle aligns precisely with Maharana Pratap's reign.
Historical records remain silent on the name of the royal horse and refrain from attributing any heroic exploits to it. Nevertheless, local folklore endows the horse with a name and a detailed life story. It's widely believed that the most renowned account of Chetak's tale was penned by an officer of the British East India Company, James Tod (1772–1835), who, in turn, drew inspiration from ancient tales and songs. Tod had a scholarly interest in the region he served in, ultimately leading to his seminal work Annals and Antiquities of Rajasthan, or the Central and Western States of Rajputana in India.
Memorial plaque with the image of Maharana Pratap/Shutterstock
Detailing Maharana Pratap's era, Tod attests that the stallion was bestowed upon the ruler by traders from Kathiawar, a region celebrated for its distinct breed of horses. He also recounts that the maharana deliberately selected Chetak, subjecting the horse to tests of speed and responsiveness. This version of the narrative consistently refers to the stallion as ‘the blue horse’, likely owing to its combat attire. Similarly, certain texts even designate the ruler as ‘the blue rider’.
The most celebrated episode associated with Chetak dates back to 1576, when Maharana Pratap was commanding the forces of the Mewar kingdom in the Battle of Haldighati. During this period, his realm was the final bastion in Rajasthan, unyielding to the authority of the Mughal Empire. Both historical accounts and folk traditions concur that the numerical advantage favored the Mughals, but in popular legends, the size of their army is evidently magnified.
Nevertheless, historical sources depict the events of that day as an intense battle, where the initiative frequently shifted between the opposing sides. It's widely believed that one of the pivotal factors contributing to the ultimate victory of the Mughals was the injury and subsequent retreat of the Rajput leader from the battlefield . It's this retreat that forms the backdrop for the narrative involving the horse Chetak.
The ballad ‘Khumanna-Raso’, which serves as the foundation for James Tod's retelling, recounts that during the height of the battle, Pratap engaged in an uneven duel with the leader of the Mughal forces, Man Singh, who was mounted on an elephant during this encounter. Legend has it that Chetak raised his hooves and struck the elephant on the head, securing invaluable time and an advantage for his master. Despite being wounded by the elephant's tusk, Chetak heroically carried the maharana away from the battlefield.
Sculpture of Chetaka/Alamy
Although the battle was formally conceded, the Rajput leader survived and went on to defy Mughal expansion. Hence, it's unsurprising that Maharana Pratap chose to immortalize the image of his savior through a monument in the city of Rajasmand. This sculpture marked merely the first installment in a series of such commemorations, etching the memory of Chetak indelibly into the folklore of northern India.
Significantly, the events of the Battle of Haldighati were subsequently reinterpreted by Indian nationalists. In later renditions, the clash was depicted as a stalemate or even a triumph for Maharana Pratap, who, with time, transformed into a paramount emblem of the national independence movement during both the colonial and post-colonial eras.
As anticipated, much like its owner, Chetak’s legacy was revitalized. In modern-day India, there are several memorial complexes dedicated both to the horse himself and the battle where he showcased his unwavering courage. There's even one at the place believed to be where Chetak met his end. Today, the name of the horse is also borne by an Indian-manufactured licensed iteration of the French Alouette III helicopter and an express train.
Statue of Maharana Pratap/Wikimedia Commons
What to read
1. Uspenskaya, E. Rajputs. Knights of Medieval India. St. Petersburg: 2000.