The Story Of Great Sacrifice

Mewar was a land of great incomparable sacrifices. One such was the sacrifice of this great lady.

Mewar and especially the Sisodian clan were rich in respectability and its valor. In spite of this Vikramaditya, brother of Uday Singh succeeded the throne after the official king, Bhojraj’s death.

Mother of the trio, Bhojraj, Vikramaditya and Udai Singh, leaves her two sons to her personal maid, Panna Dhai. Both the sons were minor and were quite small to ascend the throne after Bhojraj’s death. But the throne could not be kept empty so the elder son of two ascends the throne.

Banbir, cousin of the minor was invited by the nobles to be a regent to the king. Banbir used this opportunity to fulfill his ambitions. Banbir was hungry for power and conspired to kill the two obstacles, the king and the direct successor of the throne.

After he had assassinated the king by betrayal, he headed for the successor, Udai Singh.  A maid servant of the palace spotted Banbir with his sword crimson and she immediately informed Panna Dhai about the mishap and that Banbir was coming for Udai Singh.

Panna Dhai’s heart was racing. She was responsible for Udai Singh and she had to somehow saw the only heir to the throne of Mewar. She cleverly concealed the heir into a basket of fruits and smuggled it with trusted chieftains to the forests, out of reach of Banbir.

She quickly put her own son Chandan in place of Udai Singh on his bed and covered him. Banbir came into the room and soon without knowledge whether the person was Udai Singh or not slayed him with his crimson sword.

Panna Dhai sacrificed her son for her motherland. She was a true patriot.  Her sacrifice upheld one of the strongest dynasties of Rajputana.