Tag: Who Invited Babur to India

‘Babur Was Scared of Rana, Viewed Him as Chief Obstacle to Rule India’

By LokMarg

Prof R S Khangarot, an acclaimed academic and history scholar from Rajasthan, says the claim that Sanga invited Babur is a fabricated narrative. His views

The legacy of Rajput king Rana Sanga has often been distorted by half-baked historians and misinformed narratives circulated in contemporary discourse. Some claim that he invited Babur to India, a notion that is historically inaccurate and misleading. The facts, as supported by authentic sources, tell a different story—one of unwavering resistance and unparalleled valour against foreign invaders, particularly the Mughals.

Historical records indicate that Babur feared Rana Sanga more than any other Indian ruler of the time. The Rajput king of Mewar was a formidable warrior, having defeated the Delhi Sultan Ibrahim Lodi twice. By the early 16th century, Sanga had consolidated power in Rajputana and formed alliances with brave leaders like Raja Medini Rai and Hasan Khan Mewati. Together, they aimed to stop Babur’s expansion into India. Their efforts culminated in the Battle of Khanwa on March 16, 1527, a confrontation that significantly altered Indian history.

Despite losing one hand, one leg, one eye, and sustaining over 80 battle scars, Rana Sanga remained an indomitable force. His courage was evident when he nearly defeated Babur’s forces at Khanwa. Initially, the Rajput army pushed the Mughals to the brink of retreat, but a turning point came when a stray arrow struck Rana Sanga’s head, causing confusion among his troops.

Babur, seizing the opportunity, used his artillery and superior military strategy to regain control, securing a hard-fought victory. This was the only defeat Rana Sanga suffered in 25 years of rule, but it did not diminish his legacy as a warrior who never bowed to foreign aggression.

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A month before Khanwa, Sanga had already defeated the Mughal forces at the Battle of Bayana, proving his military acumen. His ability to unite the Rajputs under one banner was an extraordinary achievement, making it the only time in history when all Rajput rulers collectively fought against an external force. Notably, his army included not just Rajputs but warriors from various communities and religions, demonstrating a broader resistance movement against foreign rule.

The claim that Rana Sanga invited Babur to India is a fabrication propagated by historians like Rushbrook Williams, who lacked authentic sources. Nowhere in credible historical records does it state that Sanga extended an invitation to Babur. On the contrary, Sanga viewed Babur as an invader who needed to be repelled. If anything, it was Babur who saw Sanga as an obstacle to his ambitions and recognized the strategic necessity of eliminating him.

In conclusion, Rana Sanga did not need Babur; rather, Babur needed to eliminate Sanga to establish Mughal rule in India. Portraying Sanga as a collaborator is a gross misrepresentation of history. His name should be remembered not as a traitor, but as a defender of India, a warrior who fought against foreign invasions with unparalleled bravery and resilience.

As told to Deepti Sharma

‘Reckless Remarks Against Rajput King Rana Sanga Are Politically Motivated’

By LokMarg

Subodh Mishra, an Asst Professor of history, says people holding public office must refrain from making claims based on dubious knowledge repositories. His views:

Recently, some unwarranted comments about Rajput king Rana Sanga have sparked off a major controversy, resulting into violent protests on road and heated debates on pubic platforms. I believe one must have some basic knowledge about a historical subject or figure before making any superfluous claim or allegation – in this case, the revered Rajput warrior Rana Sanga. This self-restriction becomes all the more important if the speaker is holding a privileged office of power or a seat of influence.

If we search through documented historical facts, and not dubious repositories, with regards to the claim that Rana Sanga invited Babur to unseat Ibrahim Lodi, we find it a blatant fabrication of lies. It is amply clear that Sanga repeatedly defeated not only Lodi but also the armies of the Sultans of Gujarat and Malwa several times; on one occasion he defeated the combined army of the last two.

As per the historical records, Rana Sanga fought more than 100 battles in his lifetime and except the battle of Khanwa, he was defeated in none. Why would Sanga then need help from any outsider? Therefore, the irresponsible remarks made by a Samajwadi Party Elder are not only an insult to the Rajput braveheart but also to all the warriors and patriots who laid down their lives for their motherland.

To my limited knowledge, the disparaging comments against Sanga smack of political machinations of some kind, probably an attempt to appease a particular segment of the society. That is why instead of instead of admitting the truth, the claimant is trying to garner support within his party cadres and keeping their own supporters misinformed.

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Media houses have also jumped in to cash in on this controversy. Instead of playing the role of a fact-checker, they have encouraged conflicting, often half-baked, information on the subject to increase their viewership. Social media too is rife with ignorant people presenting romanticised poetry as historical facts to peddle their agenda and followership.

The easy and free-of-cost availability of information on the Internet has also fuelled this online misinformation war. Unverified and unauthentic claims are uploaded on dubious websites, which are then quoted out of context by social media handles, and a vested narrative is set. Lack of guidelines or laws to prevent such dubious data or misinformation further encourage such activities.

For these reasons, the media by and large has lost the trust of people. But those trying to dig out information from social media are no better placed. Unreliable data is fed through various platform based on your search algorithm and the vicious circle continues.

Some fresh amendments to common laws pertaining to the regulation of social media are the need of the hour. Besides, wilful dissemination of misinformation must be penalised with enhanced surveillance of social media. Strict guidelines should be set in place to check, verify and substantiate the data before being used and shared.

A disclaimer should be made necessary before propagating any kind of data or sensitive information which may affect the social harmony of a community or society. News channels and similar platforms should also adopt a practice of verifying all kind of data that they are going to use on their programmes or the data that their guests are going to share on the platform.

As told to Rajat Rai

‘Rana Sanga Didn’t Need Babur To Defeat Lodi; He Had Done It Twice On His Own’

By LokMarg

Randhir Singh Bhindar, Umrao of former Mewar state, says history is being distorted to legitimize Mughal invasion which suits a particular political narrative. His views:

In a recent statement in the Rajya Sabha, Samajwadi Party Member Ramji Lal Suman claimed that the legendary Rajput king Rana Sanga of Mewar had invited Babur to India. This assertion is not just misleading but a gross misrepresentation of Indian history. A careful examination of primary sources—Babur’s memoirs, contemporary chronicles, and Mewar’s records—reveals that the claim is entirely unfounded. The truth is that Babur was invited by disgruntled Afghan nobles, Daulat Khan Lodi and Alam Khan Lodi, not by Rana Sanga.

Rana Sanga, one of India’s greatest warrior-kings, had no reason to seek Babur’s help—he had already defeated Ibrahim Lodi twice and crushed the combined armies of Malwa and Gujarat.

Allow me to separate the chaff from the grain. The claim that Rana Sanga invited Babur stems from a single, dubious reference in the Baburnama, where Babur mentions, in passing, that the Rana had sent an envoy expressing goodwill. However, this reference lacks detail; no names of envoys, no terms of alliance, and no corroboration from other contemporary sources. Contrast this with Babur’s detailed description of Daulat Khan Lodi’s embassy, which included gifts and lengthy negotiations.

Historians like Jadunath Sarkar and Gopinath Sharma have long dismissed the idea that Rana Sanga sought Babur’s help. Sarkar notes: “A hundred and twenty-five years after Timur’s invasion, Babur began the Turki conquest of India… Daulat Khan, governor of Punjab, was faithless to his master Ibrahim Lodi and courted Babur in the hope of making himself independent.”

Babur himself admits that Daulat Khan and Alam Khan Lodi sought his assistance against Ibrahim Lodi. Rana Sanga, who had already humbled Lodi in battle, did not need Babur’s help. Rana Sanga was no ordinary ruler. By the time Babur entered India, Sanga had established himself as the most powerful Hindu king in North India, commanding a confederacy of Rajput clans. His military record speaks for itself: 1) Battle of Khatoli (1518): Defeated Ibrahim Lodi’s forces, capturing his commander; 2) Battle of Dholpur (1519) where he crushed a 40,000-strong Afghan army with just 15,000 men and; 3) Battle of Gagron (1519) when he destroyed the combined armies of Malwa and Gujarat, taking Sultan Mahmud Khilji II as prisoner. Babur himself acknowledged Sanga’s might thus: “Rana Sanga had grown great by his own valour and sword… He defeated Sultan Mahmud of Malwa and reduced his dynasty to feebleness.”

The narrative that Babur needed an “invitation” to invade India is also false. He had already launched four raids into India before the Battle of Panipat (1526): First in 1519, he attacked Bajaur and Bhera. In 1519, he marched through the Khyber Pass, then in 1520, he captured Sialkot and Sayyidpur. And finally in 1524 he was invited by Daulat Khan Lodi to attack Lahore though Babur was not waiting for an Indian king’s call.

Babus, a seasoned campaigner looking for an excuse to expand into India, reveal his ambition thus: “As it was always in my heart to possess Hindustan… I pictured these countries as my own, and was resolved to get them into my hands, whether peacefully or by force.”

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The royal diaries of Mewar contain a fascinating detail: Babur actually sent an envoy to Rana Sanga, seeking his support against Ibrahim Lodi. “When Emperor Babur was ruling in Kabul, he thought: ‘The Lodhis rule India. To destroy them and establish my own rule in Delhi, it is better to seek friendship with an ancient kingdom.’ So he sent an envoy to Chittor… Babur wrote: ‘I will come from this side and establish my rule in Delhi. You should come from your side and take Agra’.”

This directly contradicts the claim that Rana Sanga invited Babur. Instead, it shows that Babur sought an alliance with the Rajputs, which Sanga likely ignored, given his own strength.

So, why a false narrative persists? The myth that Rana Sanga invited Babur serves several political purposes: 1) To shift blame for the Mughal invasion onto Indians, as if they “welcomed” foreign conquerors. 2) To undermine Hindu resistance narratives, portraying Rajputs as collaborators rather than defenders. 3) To legitimize Babur’s invasion as a “response” rather than an act of aggression.

But history does not support this distortion. Rana Sanga was a fierce opponent of foreign rule, and his eventual clash with Babur at the Battle of Khanwa (1527)—where he fought to expel the Mughals—proves that he never saw Babur as an ally.

Rana Sanga remains one of India’s greatest heroes—a king who never bowed to invaders and whose military genius kept North India free from foreign domination for decades. History must be based on facts, not political convenience. The evidence is clear: Babur was invited by Afghan rebels, not Rana Sanga. Let us honor the truth and remember Rana Sanga as he truly was—a lion of India who stood unbroken against the storm of invasion.

(The narrator is a two-time MLA from Vallabhnagar (Udaipur). He has drawn references from Baburnama by Annette Beveridge (Translation), Military History of India by Jadunath Sarkar, Mewar and Mughal Emperors by Gopinath Sharma and Mewar Court Chronicles)

As told to Abhishek Anand