A recent statement by Samajwadi Party MP Ramji Lal Suman labeling Maharana Sangram Singh (Rana Sanga) a “traitor” has ignited controversy. The claim that Rana Sanga invited Babur to India is not just historically inaccurate but a deliberate attempt to distort facts. Rana Sanga, the ruler of Mewar, was one of the most powerful and fearless warriors of his time. By the time Babur invaded India, Sanga had already defeated Ibrahim Lodi in multiple battles, weakening the Delhi Sultanate. He had no reason to seek foreign assistance. A warrior who fought over 100 battles and suffered severe injuries, including the loss of an eye, a hand, and multiple wounds, Sanga was a true patriot who fought to protect his land.
The myth that he invited Babur is shattered by historical records. The real culprits behind Babur’s invasion were Daulat Khan Lodi (Punjab Governor), Alam Khan Lodi (Sikandar Lodi’s brother), and Alauddin Lodi (Ibrahim Lodi’s uncle). These men, desperate to overthrow Ibrahim Lodi, invited Babur to attack India in 1523. Babur himself admitted in his autobiography Baburnama that he saw Rana Sanga as a fierce enemy, not an ally.
After Babur’s victory over Ibrahim Lodi at Panipat in 1526, he faced his greatest challenge from Rana Sanga. The Rajput king inflicted a humiliating defeat on Babur’s forces at Bayana, forcing the Mughal army to retreat. Alarmed by Sanga’s strength, Babur resorted to deceit, using religious propaganda to rally his demoralized troops.
The decisive Battle of Khanwa (1527) saw Babur employing gunpowder and advanced artillery, a tactic unknown to Indian armies. Despite being outgunned, Rana Sanga fought bravely but was ultimately betrayed by some of his allies. This loss marked the beginning of Mughal dominance in India.
The historical evidence overwhelmingly proves that Rana Sanga was a patriot, not a traitor. His resistance against foreign invaders and his commitment to protecting Indian sovereignty cement his legacy as one of India’s greatest warriors, not as a conspirator against him.
