Rani Karnavati Biography 
Rani Karnavati was a princess who ruled Bundi for a short time when her husband died and the new ruler Rana Vikramaditya was weak. But her name is mentioned most during rakshabandan. The queen Chittor sent a Rakhi to the Mughal Emperor Humayun when she was threatened by Bahadur Shah of Mewar. Humayun abandoned an ongoing military campaign to ride to her rescue but couldn’t reach on time. Unfortunately before Humayun reached there, Rani has already committed Jauhar inside Chittor Fort. However Humayun defeated Bahadur Shah of Gujarat and reinstated Karnavati's son Vikramaditya Singh as the ruler of Mewar. She was married to Rana Sanga of Chittorgarh, had two brave sons - Ratan Singh II and Rana Uday Singh, and Karnavati is also known as the grandmother of great Maha Rana Pratap.
She was married to Rana Sanga of Chittorgarh. Rana was known for his battles with Mughal Kingdom, which was later followed by his son, grandson and great grandson. When Babur captured Delhi to form a kingdom in 1526 AD, Rana formed a group with Hindu Rajputs to fight against him. However Rana faced a defeat by the hands of Mughals and he died. Ratan Singh II was corronated as the new king. But following his assassination, the rule was handed over to the weak prince – Vikramaditya. So Rani Karnavati took up the regency to rule the kingdom.
Bahadur Shah of Gujarat attacked the kingdom and Vikramaditya was not able to lead the battle. She asked both her sons - Vikramaditya and Uday Singh to go to Bundi, while she stayed there. She ordered her trusted maid Panna Dai to accompany them. Rani also sent a Rakhi to Mughal Emperor Humayun asking his help. Deeply moved by the call, Humayun left the battle he was fighting on to reach Chittor. In between he changed his mind, as he was to fight with a Muslim ruler. As per Islam traditions it was not allowed.
Bahadur Shah entered Chittorgarh and seeing defeat face to face, Rani along with the other noble ladies committed jauhar on March 8, 1535 A.D. while noble men donned saffron clothes to fight till death. When Humayun reached there, it was already late. But he was able to defeat Bahadur Shah and reinstated Vikramaditya Singh as the ruler of Mewar.
Published: N/A
Updated: November 29, 2015
