Mother's Day 2023: Who Is Panna Dai? A Sacrifice Of Motherhood To Save Mewar

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Panna Dai was a Rajput nursemaid to Maharana Udai Singh II, the fourth son of Rana Sanga. She was the epitome of sacrifice and guts. She sacrificed her son for the good of Mewar.

Panna was the reason why Rana Sanga's son, Uday Singh was rightfully able to rule Mewar. Panna's life is history and she does not require to be introduced to the world by her name. Her deeds gave her an identity that can be rubbed off from the History of Mewar.

Uday Singh, during his younger years lost his father, in battle against Babur. Uday singhs brother who took over the throne after Sangas death, was also killed after four years of ruling Mewar. He had a brother Maharana Vikramaditya Singh who succeeded the king and had allowed Panna Dai to look after Uday, breast feed him, and give him the maternal love which he needed at that time. She had a son of her own namely Chandan who was of the same age and Uday's friend.

Things took a strange turn one day as Vikramaditya in a fit of rage, abused an elderly chieftain which irked the nobles so much that they put him under house arrest and decided that Uday Singh would be the king in future.

But they had to appoint a regent to the empire until Udai singh came of age and hence they decided to hand over the kingdom temporarily to one Banbir, who was the illegitimate son of Snagas brother Prithvi Raj. Banbir had his designs over Mewar and very soon he usurped the throne of Mewar and assassinated Vikramaditya one day.

On the same day evening, as he thought about the next step to be taken, he remembered there was an enemy who would challenge him to the throne. He rushed towards the Rawala to get rid of the only obstacle to the throne, the 14-year-old Maharana Udai Singh.

Banbirs Plan: Panna Dai, totally unaware of all this conspiracy, as usual put Udai to bed but was disturbed by a maid who carried this piece of information to her. Panna realised that Udays life was in danger and thought of a pragmatic but very painful idea to escape the peril.

She knew Banbirs plan and immediately instructed the maid to carry the sleeping prince in a basket and take him out of the fort safely and wait for her near the bank of the nearby river.

Panna Takes The Impossible Step: Now she was left with an impossible situation, the most difficult moment of her life, that would leave her with painful scars for ever, as a mother. She summoned all her will and Rajput guts, and lifted her son Chandan and placed him on the royal bed, covering him with a blanket.

Within a split second, Banbir barged into the room, with sword thirsty to devour the royal blood. Panna pointed out meekly at her son, when she was asked where she had hidden Uday.

In front of her shocked and weeping eyes, Banbir slaughtered her kid into pieces and it was a worst and a living nightmare that she could ever digest. Banbir left the place and announced quickly the next day that he was to be proclaimed as King of Mewar as Uday and Vikramaditya had died. The son of Panna was cremated carelessly in a hurry.

Panna Escapes Finally: At this point, the numb and listless Panna, as if possessed by a zombie, walked her way out along with a bag and some meagre supplies. She also alerted the maid not to reveal anything about this to the King and left without a word. She walked miles along with the young king and reached Kumbalgarh and sought refuge of the governer Asha Shah.

Here they lived as Asha's Nephews for two years. Uday the braveheart that he was, collected an army and marched to Mewar, and announced war there. He was just 18 years of age but he was so determined that he killed Banbir in the battle and usurped his home land back to himself.

From this point somehow in the pages of history Pannas name does not get mentioned but her feats and the extraordinary grace that she showed in receiving what came to her platter was amazing. She might have been cruel to her own son but she was a mother to the citizens of her homeland who rescued the long suffering people of Mewar and let them the taste the sweetness of freedom and good governance.

Panna's Greatness: She let Mewars history continue in a grand fashion and in a way that made legend of Rajputs. ALthough immersed in the depth of grief, she put on the stoic smile of a seasoned warrior or saint, and used her presence of mind to save the situation.

Her priorities were not family or kids but it was of the highest order. Mewar was her mother and she offered herself at the balipeeth or sacrificial altar to save the life and fulfil her duties to Vikramaditya who was her master. She showed loyalty and veer swarg to her son.

It needs a heart of a butcher and intention of a saint to be the great soul what Panna proved herself to be. She showed mothery love to another mothers son, with such selflessness which was in itself a difficult proposition, and continued to be a mother to Uday, who owed a life time of gratitude to Panna.