Rana Sanga, also known as Sangram Singh (circa 1484–1527), was a prominent Rajput king of Mewar and one of the most formidable warriors of his time. While there is no detailed historical record that explicitly lists the exact number of languages he knew, it is generally believed that Rana Sanga was multilingual, owing to his royal upbringing and the nature of his rule.
The historical details regarding the languages known by Rana Sanga are not explicitly documented in primary sources. However, we can infer his linguistic proficiency based on the socio-political context of his time, his role as a ruler, and his interactions with various regional and foreign powers. Here is a more structured approach to understanding the languages Rana Sanga likely knew, based on historical sources and the socio-political environment:
1. Mewari (Rajasthani)
- Context: As the king of Mewar, Mewari was his native language. Mewar is a region in Rajasthan, and Mewari is a dialect of the Rajasthani language. It is highly probable that Rana Sanga, being born into the Sisodia Rajput dynasty, would have been fluent in Mewari as his mother tongue.
- Supporting Evidence: His personal and administrative affairs would have primarily been conducted in Mewari, the local language of his kingdom.
2. Sanskrit
- Context: Sanskrit was the classical language of India and widely used for religious texts, royal inscriptions, and scholarly discourse. As a Rajput king, Rana Sanga would have been well-versed in Sanskrit for ceremonial, religious, and administrative purposes.
- Supporting Evidence: Rajput kings, especially those who followed Hindu traditions, were often educated in Sanskrit to engage in religious practices and maintain the cultural and literary traditions of their society. Rajput inscriptions and Hindu religious texts of the period were primarily written in Sanskrit. Rana Sanga is believed to have been familiar with these, as his reign saw the promotion of Hinduism in his kingdom.
3. Persian
- Context: Persian was the language of administration and diplomacy during the period of the Delhi Sultanate and Mughal Empire, both of which were contemporaneous with Rana Sanga's rule. Persian was also the court language of many Indian kingdoms and an essential language for interaction with the Mughal emperor, Babur.
- Supporting Evidence: Rana Sanga's interactions with Babur (the Mughal emperor) and the Mughal Empire are well-documented, especially during the Battle of Khanwa (1527), where Rana Sanga fought against Babur. Diplomatic and military correspondence, especially in the context of the Mughal invasion, would likely have involved Persian as the common language. Babur's memoirs, the Baburnama, mention Rana Sanga, and their communication would have been facilitated through Persian, which was widely used in diplomatic contexts during the period.
4. Hindi
- Context: Hindi, or its dialects (such as Braj Bhasha), was the vernacular language of much of northern and western India during the period. Hindi would have been used by the general populace and for local administration.
- Supporting Evidence: Though not as formalized as Sanskrit or Persian, Hindi was spoken widely in the region and would have been essential for everyday communication and local governance. As a Rajput ruler, Rana Sanga would likely have been familiar with this language for dealings with his subjects.
5. Other Regional Languages (Possibly):
- Context: As a powerful ruler with territorial ambitions, Rana Sanga had interactions with various regional powers across northern India. These interactions could have included languages such as Gujarati or Bengali, depending on the geographical scope of his influence and military campaigns.
- Supporting Evidence: There is no direct evidence to suggest that Rana Sanga was fluent in languages like Gujarati or Bengali, but it is possible that he could have had basic communication skills in these languages, particularly for military alliances or campaigns.
Sources and Evidence:
- Baburnama (Memoirs of Babur): Babur, the Mughal Emperor, mentions Rana Sanga in his memoirs, which provide insight into their diplomatic and military interactions. Although the Baburnama is in Persian, the fact that Rana Sanga had interactions with Babur supports the idea that Persian was a common language for diplomacy during this period.
- Rajput Historical Texts and Chronicles:
- Rajputana Chronicles and historical accounts by later historians (such as K.K. Aziz in "The Indian Rajputs") suggest that Rajput kings were often educated in multiple languages, including Sanskrit for religious and administrative functions and Persian for diplomatic and military purposes.
- Inscriptions and Royal Edicts: The use of Sanskrit and Persian in royal inscriptions and documents from the period further supports the idea that Rana Sanga would have been fluent in these languages.
- Historians and Researchers: Scholars like C. V. Vaidya and R.K. Gupta in their historical analyses of Rajput rulers discuss the cultural and linguistic environment of Rajputana, where Persian and Sanskrit were commonly used.
Conclusion:
While there is no single primary source definitively listing the exact languages spoken by Rana Sanga, it is highly likely that he knew Mewari, Sanskrit, Persian, and Hindi based on the context of his rule, his interactions with other regional and Mughal rulers, and the language traditions of the time.
