With a chivalrous and gallant landscape as a backdrop, various Rajput/Kshatriya clans built numerous forts and cities that served as the cradle for Vedic Heritage and protected the very essence of Sanatana Dharma. Amongst all, the brave resistance offered by the Sisodias’ sacrificial deeds has received the most adoration. And there, Maharana Pratap’s kingdom of Mewar has become the holiest of all holy places. Maharana Pratap is a name to rouse the disheartened. In the collective memory of the Hindus, he has got a foremost place as a Hero and proved that not even centuries of foreign domination could kill the indomitable spirit out of proud Hindus.
Recently, it has been discovered that some vested interests on social media have been deliberately misusing the title of Sisodiya Rajputs. The title of Sisodiyas, i.e., Rana (राणा) has been erroneously conflated with the Arabic word Ra’nā (رعناء) used by a Muslim woman. The Arabic Ra’nā means “beautiful, delicate, lovely, admirable” (Refer: Comprehensive Persian-English dictionary, by Francis Joseph Steingass).
On the other hand, Rana (राणा) is a completely different Indic word which is derived from Prakrit language words रायाण or राण that are equivalent to राजन् of Sanskrit. The derivation follows like this: राजन् > रायाण or राण > राणा. The ending “अन्” of the masculine word ‘राजन्’ is changed to “आण” by the Prakrit Vyakaran sutra “पुंस्यन आणो राजवच्च”, and when this happens राजन् changes to रायाण. The word रायाण was further transformed into राणा or राण or राणक in the regional languages of Rajasthan.
Prakrit texts like Kumārapāla Charitam mentions रण्णो, रण्णा, राइणो; all signifying the varying cases of the Sanskrit word राजन् in Prakrit language. For example, take the following verse from Kumarapala Charitam mentioning all such forms:
रण्णा अराइणा वि हु उच्छालिज्जन्ति नीर-लहरीओ।
मगहाण राइणो कोसलाण रण्णो अ सविहम्मि॥
According to the Mewari inscriptions and traditions, the title of Maharana/Rana was first used by Rana Rahap of Sisodiya Rajvansh. Rana Rahab is said to have defeated the Mandore ruler Mokal Singh and assumed the title of Rana from Mokal.
Also, “Rana Kika, ruler of kumalmair & Kokandah” – is used by Abdul Qadir Badayuni in his work Muntakhab-ut Tawarikh. Kika was a name of Rana Pratap given by Bhils in whose associations his early days were spent.
The continuous usage of Rana/Maharana title by Sisodiyas is evident from various inscriptions like the Kumbhalgarh inscription of Mewar, which used the title of “Mahārājādhirāja Rāyarāyā Rāṇerāya Mahārāṇā Kumbha-karṇadeva” for Rana Kumbha (one of the ancestors of Rana Pratap). Also, राणा (Rana) as a title was held by several Rajput rulers in medieval Rajasthan, including the Sisodiyas of Mewar, the Rathores of Sivana, the Sankhla Parmars of Roon, the Pratiharas of Mandor, the Sodha Parmars of Amarkot & others.
Thus, it is evident from this discussion that Indic title Rana (राणा) is significantly different from Arabic Ra’nā. Bringing the false equivalence of Indic and Arabic words, particularly by anti-national and radical elements, is a disrespect to the legacy of Maharana Pratap and Mewari traditions. Such mischievous narratives are offensive to the collective consciousness of Hindus in general and Kshatriyas in particular. Kshatriyas always have and will always stand in defense of the nation, and in opposition to those who are against the nation.
(This is an opinion piece and the views expressed are the author’s own. NEO POLITICO neither endorses nor is responsible for them.)
(This opinion piece has been jointly written by Vikrant Parmar and Yadu Singh)
