Ajabde

Ajabde Punwar (c. 1 March 1542 – 20 January 1591), popularly known as Maharani Ajabde, was the queen of Kingdom of Mewar. Ajabde is the chief consort and first wife of Maharana Pratap, and the mother of Amar Singh I. She was known for her beauty, intelligence and influence in Pratap's life.

Birth and family
Ajabde was born on 1 March 1542 in Bijolia, Bhilwara to Rao Mamrakh Punwar, the ruler of Bijolia and his queen Hansa Bai. Ajabde belonged to the family of Parmars and her father was a fiefdom under Mewar. HS Bhati, author of Yug Purush Maharana Pratap, describes her as the granddaughter of Rao Asarwan Punwar and daughter of Mamarkh.

Marriage and children
Ajabde's father Rao Mamrakh Punwar and Maharana Pratap's father Udai Singh II took the decision to get their children married. Ajabde and Pratap were married at a young age and she was his first wife. Pratap later had ten more marriages, as a result of political alliance. Throughout her life, Ajabde remained Pratap's favourite consort and had an impact on all his decisions.

Ajabde and Maharana Pratap had two sons. She first gave birth to Amar Singh I, who later became the 14th Rana of Mewar, post his father's death. Ajabde later gave birth to her younger son, Bhagwan Das. She is also the grandmother of Karan Singh II.

Religion
According to the Pushtimarg literature, Ajabde accepted Pushtimarg and became a devotee of Vitthalanatha. The Pushtimarg literature of Vallabha Sampradaya, recognizes her as an epitome of devotion.

Maharani of Mewar


After the death of Udai Singh in 1572, Rani Dheer Bai Bhatiyani wanted her son Jagmal to succeed him but senior courtiers preferred Pratap, as the eldest son, to be their king. The desire of the nobles prevailed and Pratap ascended the throne as the 54th ruler of Mewar in the line of the Sisodia Rajputs. He was crowned in Gogunda on the auspicious day of Holi. Alongside Pratap, Ajabde became the Maharani of Mewar, succeeding his mother, Jaiwanta Bai Songara.

Historian Chandrashekhar Sharma mentions about Pratap taking suggestions from Ajabde on various occasions, because of her deep knowledge about political issues. Ajabde would advise Pratap on all his administrative decision and also took important decision of the Mewar household.

Battle of Haldighati
Ajabde prominently maintained her position as the Maharani of Mewar, and managed the state affairs in the absence of Pratap during wartime. After the Battle of Haldighati, the Mughals under Akbar, captured Mewar's capital, Chittorgarh. Ajabde accompanied Pratap to the forest along with the other members of the family.

Later life and death
Maharana Pratap later established his capital at Chavand in 1585, and it became the new seat of the Kingdom of Mewar. He later recover much of his ancestral kingdom, which included all 36 outpost of Mewar apart from Chittor and Mandalgarh. Ajabde died in the year 1591. The cause of her death remains unknown. But according to many historians, she died at the palace in Chavand.

Influence and cultural depiction


Ajabde Punwar is considered among the most influential queens of Mewar, often being compared to Rani Karnavati, Meerabai and Jaiwanta Bai. Historian James Tod in his book, Annals and Antiquities of Rajasthan mentioned about her being a "respectable figure" in the Mewar Kingdom, who had "significant impact" on Maharana Pratap's life and decisions.

Maharana Pratap built the Sheesh Mahal at the City Palace, Udaipur for Ajabde. The complex also has various paintings depicting Pratap and Ajabde's life.

In popular culture
Ajabde has been portrayed in films and television adaptation of Maharana Pratap's life.


 * In the 2015 series, Bharat Ka Veer Putra – Maharana Pratap, Ajabde was portrayed by Roshni Walia and Rachana Parulkar.
 * In the upcoming series Maharana, Ajabde is portrayed by Ridhima Pandit.