Match list-I with list-II and choose the correct answer from the code given below - List–I (A) The Battle of Gagron (B) The Battle of Sarangpur (C) The Battle of Summel (D) The Battle of Saheba List–II (i) 1519 AD (ii) 1544 AD (iii) 1437 AD (iv) 1541- 42 AD Code -
- (1)A-(i), B-(ii), C-(iii), D-(iv)
- (2)A-(i), B-(iii), C-(ii), D-(iv)
- (3)A-(ii), B-(iii), C-(iv), D-(i)
- (4)A-(iv), B-(iii), C-(ii), D-(i)
Answer
Why
Correct — option (2), A-(i), B-(iii), C-(ii), D-(iv).
A-(i): Gagron, 1519. Ram Vallabh Somani's History of Mewar (1976) describes the battle of Gagron, in which Mahmud Khalji II of Malwa was wounded and taken captive by Rana Sanga's Rajputs. The History and Culture of the Indian People, Vol. VI (1960) dates that defeat and capture to A.D. 1519.
B-(iii): Sarangpur, 1437. Har Bilas Sarda's Maharana Kumbha (second edition, 1932) says the armies of Kumbha and Sultan Mahmud Khilji met near Sarangpur in A.D. 1437, and the Sultan's army was routed.
C-(ii): Summel, 1544. The Jodhpur District Gazetteer (1979) says a Marwar contingent under Jaita and Kumpa fought Sher Shah at Samel in 1544 and was routed.
D-(iv): Saheba, 1541–42. The Churu District Gazetteer (1970) says Maldeo of Jodhpur attacked Bikaner in 1541 and killed Jait Singh. James M. Hastings (2002) dates Rao Jaitsi's death in the Battle of Saheba to 1542.
The code with all four pairs is option (2), A-(i), B-(iii), C-(ii), D-(iv).
The idea to remember: Sarangpur 1437 (Kumbha), Gagron 1519 (Sanga), Saheba 1541–42 (Maldeo vs Bikaner), Summel 1544 (Sher Shah vs Marwar).
Why the others are wrong
- (1)A-(i), B-(ii), C-(iii), D-(iv) — This code gets Gagron (1519) and Saheba (1541–42) right but swaps the other two.
It gives Sarangpur 1544 and Summel 1437. Sarda dates Kumbha's victory near Sarangpur to A.D. 1437, while the Jodhpur District Gazetteer places the fight at Samel against Sher Shah in 1544.
- (3)A-(ii), B-(iii), C-(iv), D-(i) — Only Sarangpur–1437 is right here. Gagron is given 1544, Summel 1541–42 and Saheba 1519.
1519 is the year of Sanga's victory over Mahmud Khalji II, which Somani calls the battle of Gagron. 1544 belongs to Summel, and 1541–42 to Maldeo's war against Rao Jaitsi of Bikaner at Saheba.
- (4)A-(iv), B-(iii), C-(ii), D-(i) — This code gets Sarangpur (1437) and Summel (1544) right but swaps Gagron and Saheba.
It gives Gagron 1541–42 and Saheba 1519. Gagron's 1519 battle was Sanga's against Malwa, while 1541–42 is the span given for Maldeo's attack on Bikaner and Jaitsi's death at Saheba.
Concept
Two of these battles belong to the long contest between Mewar and the Malwa Sultanate. Sarda describes Kumbha's victory near Sarangpur in 1437 over Mahmud Khilji, who fled to Mandu and was later brought captive to Chitor.
More than eighty years later, Sanga fought Mahmud Khalji II. The History and Culture of the Indian People says Sanga had granted Medini Rai, whose followers had taken control of Malwa's administration, several parganas including Gagron.
Somani says the Sultan moved against Gagron to curb Medini Rai's power; the Sultan was wounded, captured and nursed in Sanga's tent.
The other two belong to Marwar under Maldeo. The Churu District Gazetteer says he attacked Bikaner in 1541, killed Jait Singh and annexed about half his territory; Kalyan Singh's brother Bhim Raj then appealed to Sher Shah.
Sher Shah marched on Marwar. The Jodhpur District Gazetteer says Maldeo withdrew after forged letters raised doubts about his nobles, and Jaita and Kumpa fought on at Samel in 1544.
RPSC's syllabus lists, under History, Art, Culture, Literature, Tradition & Heritage of Rajasthan, "Political and Cultural achievements of prominent rulers of major dynasties - Guhila, Pratihar, Chauhan, Parmar, Rathore, Sisodiya and Kachchawa."
Kumbha and Sanga were Sisodiya rulers of Mewar; Maldeo was the Rathore ruler of Marwar, and Jaitsi ruled the Rathore state of Bikaner.
The same wars touch the Indian History head, "Mughal Period: Political challenges and reconciliation- Afghan, Rajput, Deccan States & Maratha." Sher Shah Sur, the Afghan emperor, fought Marwar's army at Samel.
Gagron itself changed hands more than once. Rima Hooja's A History of Rajasthan says Hushang Shah of Malwa took it in 1423 and Mahmud Khalji took it from the Khinchis in 1444.
Key facts
- Har Bilas Sarda: the armies of Kumbha and Mahmud Khilji met near Sarangpur in A.D. 1437, and the Sultan's army was routed.
- The History and Culture of the Indian People, Vol. VI: in A.D. 1519 Sanga defeated Mahmud II of Malwa and took him captive.
- Churu District Gazetteer (1970): in 1541 Maldeo of Jodhpur attacked Bikaner, killed Jait Singh and annexed about half his territory.
- James M. Hastings (2002) dates Rao Jaitsi's death in the Battle of Saheba to 1542 CE.
- Jodhpur District Gazetteer (1979): Jaita and Kumpa fought Sher Shah at Samel in 1544; the Rajput nobles were killed and Marwar's army routed.
Code: A-(i), B-(iii), C-(ii), D-(iv), option (2). Sources: Sarda; Somani; HCIP Vol. VI; Churu (1970) and Jodhpur (1979) gazetteers; Hastings (2002).
Study next
Common traps
- Crossing the two Mewar–Malwa battles. Sarangpur (1437) was Kumbha's against Mahmud Khilji; Gagron (1519) was Sanga's against Mahmud Khalji II.
- Placing Saheba after Summel. Maldeo's attack on Bikaner came in 1541–42, and Bikaner's appeal to Sher Shah preceded the fight at Samel in 1544.
- Treating every Gagron date as the 1519 battle. Hooja records Gagron taken by Hushang Shah in 1423 and by Mahmud Khalji in 1444.
A question can match battles to years, as here, or to the rulers who fought them.
A question can also give battles in a list and ask for their chronological order, or name a battle and ask which ruler of Mewar or Marwar fought it.
Related PYQs
Consider the following statements about Rao Chunda of Marwar and choose the correct option from below : A. Rao Chunda obtained Mandore in dowry. B. Rao Ranmal ascended the throne immediately after Rao Chunda’s death.
- (1) Only A is true.
- (2) Only B is true.
- (3) A and B both are true.
- (4) A and B both are false.
Answer(1)
Same Rathore house of Marwar, earlier: that question asks whether Rao Chunda obtained Mandore in dowry and whether Rao Ranmal succeeded him immediately (RPSC key: option (1), Only A is true). This question dates battles, two of them from Maldeo's reign.
Which of the following fort of Rajasthan is not a Giri Fort ?
- (1) Gagron Fort
- (2) Jalore Fort
- (3) Chittorgarh Fort
- (4) Siwana Fort
Answer(1)
Same place, different angle: that question asks which of Gagron, Jalore, Chittorgarh and Siwana forts is not a Giri Fort (RPSC key: option (1), Gagron Fort). This question dates the battle of Gagron.
Practice
- practice — not a real PYQ
Which ruler of Mewar defeated Sultan Mahmud Khalji II of Malwa and took him captive in 1519?
- (a)Rana Kumbha
- (b)Rana Sanga
- (c)Rana Mokal
- (d)Rana Raimal
Answer(2) — The History and Culture of the Indian People (Vol. VI) records Rana Sanga's defeat of Mahmud II of Malwa in 1519 and the Sultan's capture. Rana Kumbha (1) fought Mahmud Khilji near Sarangpur in 1437. Rana Mokal (3) was Kumbha's father, and Rana Raimal (4), Sanga's father, ruled from 1473 to 1508 by Hooja's dating. - practice — not a real PYQ
Arrange the following battles in chronological order: A. Summel B. Sarangpur C. Saheba D. Gagron (Rana Sanga)
- (a)B, D, C, A
- (b)B, C, D, A
- (c)D, B, A, C
- (d)B, D, A, C
Answer(1) — Sarangpur 1437, Gagron 1519, Saheba 1541–42, Summel 1544. Option (2) puts Saheba before Gagron; option (3) puts Gagron before Sarangpur; option (4) puts Summel (1544) before Saheba (1541–42).