Mokal Singh

Mokal or Mokal Singh (15th century), was the Maharana of Mewar Kingdom. Henry Soszynski dates his reign to r. 1421 – 1433, and his lifespan to c. 1409 – c. 1433. S. Devadas Pillai dates his reign to 1397-1433.

He was a son of Mahanara Lakha Singh. Maharana Mokal was a great builder and he inherited this trait from his father, Maharana Lakha. He created various buildings along with completing those commenced by his father. The duty to transform their motherland thus flowed down the veins of the Sisodiyas.

Maharana Lakha, the 45th Maharana of Mewar died in war leaving young Mokal as his successor. Being a minor, his eldest brother Choonda began to look after the state of affairs as promised to Rana Lakha. But Mokal’s mother Hansa Bai did not like the influence that Choonda had over the nobles of Mewar. She questioned his integrity and doubted his intentions. Her resentment made Choonda leave Chittor and retire to Mandu, capital of Malwa. Rani Hansa Bai attained help from her brother Ranmal of Marwar to administer the state of affairs on behalf of Mokal until he was a minor.

Maharana Mokal had a brief stint as the ruler of Mewar but rose to fame as the most celebrated warrior of his race. He defeated Nagour, Gujarat and repelled an invasion by the Delhi Sulatanate (Sayyid dynasty). But most importantly, he completed palaces that were commenced by his father Maharan Lakha and conspired to build more aesthetic structures. But his sad demise at a young age of 24 put a stop to this emerging illustration of Mewar. His assassination by his paternal uncles, Chacha and Mera brought an end to a great Maharana in the making at age 24. He died in 1433.

Rana Kumbha who was only 13 years old at the time of Mokal’s death, ascended the throne at a crucial juncture in the history of Mewar. The young Kumbha may have had the most unfavourable situation after his father’s untimed death but the valour and vision of his father, Maharana Mokal inspired him to emerge as one of the greatest rulers Mewar ever knew.