Maharaja Chhatrasal was born in c. 1649 A.D. in the forest of Maur hill near Kakar Kachnaye villege to Champatrai Bundela nad his wife, Lal Kunwar. Having lost his ancestral estate of Mahoba, Champatrai was living a rebel's nomadic life, as a result of his conflict deprived with Sahajahan. Chhatrasal was thereof deprived of formal education. But he learnt skill at arms and developed an abiding interest in religious books at Sahra under the mentor, Sahabrai Ghanghere. His parents were killed when Chhatrasal was only 12 years old. The grief-stricken boy left Sahra and, ironically, along with his brother Angaraj, joined the Mughal troops of Raja Jai Singh. The young Chhatrasal exhibited great courage during the attacks on Bijapur and Purandar.

Later, influenced by Shivaji, he left the Mughal camp to meet Shivaji. Shivaji welcomed and encouraged him, presenting him a sword. From him Chhatrasal learnt military organisation. At 22, Chhatrasal mobilsed an army and took command of it. Establishing his military headquarters at Mhow (Sahania) he pledged to uproot the Mughal power from Bundelkhand. He defeated various Mughal Generals to capture Sironj, Dhamoni, Sagar, Damoh, Garhakotha. Mahoba, Kalpi etc. As the Mughal Empire disintegrated, te Bundelas established an independant & powerful kingdom between the rivers Narmada and Yamuna. When the combined forces of the Nawab of Farrukhabad and Subedar of Allahabad, Mohammed Shah Bangash beseiged Chhatrasal in the Jaitpurnfort in 1728-29, he sought the help of Peshwa Baji Rao. Togather they defeated their enemies. After a peaceful independent rule of two years, Chhatrasal died in c. 1731 A.D.

A distinguished warrior, he has also a patron of men of letters and himself a man of literary talents. He is considered the author of 'Krishna Charit', Radhakrishna Pachisi and Hanuman Pachisi. He was known to be a just ruler who served his people, nor merely ruled them.

Source : Information Folder issued by Indian Posts & Telegraph Department, Government of India