Fall of Mevar or Mevar Patan is probably the greatest of all Dwijendra Lal Roy’s dramas. The theme is historical and takes us back to the beginning of the 17 century, to the reign of Jehangir, son of the renowned Emperor Akbar. The action centres round the small independent Hindu state of Mevar in the province of Rajputana. This province was divided up into a number of lesser states, ruled over by as many independent, chivalrous and war-like chiefs who were constantly warring among themselves. At the beginning of the sixteenth century, Babar the first Moghul invader, found them too weak and divided to oppose him. One by one, the independent states of Rajputana fell, until, at the time of Akbar’s death, every ruler except the Rana of Mevar was compelled to acknowledge the sovereignty of the Moghul Emperor at Delhi, and pay tribute to his court. But Mevar was to fall at last. Already the capital, Chittore, had been lost during the reign of Akbar. But the rulers of Mevar still refused to bow down to the Moghuls; on the beautiful hills of the Aravalli, they founded a new capital, at Udaipur. It is the epic of the downfall of Mevar, conceived in all its solemnity and grandeur, which forms the subject of this drama. Last but one of the rulers of Mevar was the great Rana Pratap, whose name is referred to constantly in successive scenes. This almost legendary figure has bequeathed to his countrymen a heroic tradition of bravery, of untold hardships suffered in the name of patriotism and liberty. His proverbial courage is a living memory in the minds of his countrymen; it inspires them in their last desperate struggles and presides over every phase of the tragedy.
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