Shivaji

by Ranjit Desai

  Raje could not stop his tears.

  The wounded soldier continued, ‘At that moment, the cannon was heard. Hearing that Baji shouted, “Raje has reached the fort. We have won! Raje, my salute!” and then he collapsed. Everyone had lost the will to fight and it was a massacre. I somehow managed to reach here but Raje, we did win!’

  The wounded soldier’s neck twisted to one side as he fell down. He was dead. Raje sobbed uncontrollably as he laid the soldier on the ground. He used his shawl to cover the soldier’s body and said, ‘Baji, you are no more! You have made Godhkhind a pure place. It is paavan now. We shall call it Paavankhind from today!’

  The next day, Raje watched the scene below from the ramparts. Masood and Surve were busy trying to organize another attack. Raje realized that they were planning to surround the fort. He came into the palace with his fort-keeper and gave the orders. That night, his soldiers went down from two sides of the fort. Surve and Masood had never imagined that the Maratha soldiers would come down and fight. The Maratha soldiers took the opportunity of the stormy weather, when the enemy troops lay huddled, to attack. There was confusion everywhere and a bloodbath ensued. The Maratha soldiers retreated after the damage was done and Masood and Surve were scared to death.

  The next morning, Masood’s and Surve’s troops looked at the fort with fear in their eyes. They had been at the base of the fort for many days now and the fort now seemed unduly silent.

  Raje asked, ‘Fort-keeper, have you sent away the cannons?’

  ‘No, sir. You were stuck at Panhala and we felt that it made no sense to use up our ammunition here.’

  ‘Good thinking. Now let us begin the shelling.’

  Raje inspected the cannons and ordered the fuses to be lit. The cannons on all four sides of the fort exploded at the same instant. The troops surrounding the fort ran in all directions and after the surprise attack at night, the shelling in the morning created further chaos. Raje watched from the fort as Masood’s and Surve’s troops ran for their lives. He smiled.

  Masood had had enough of the fort. He decided to return to Siddi Johar’s camp leaving Surve behind. Surve had no plans to remain there alone and he too marched away towards Siddi’s camp. Raje’s way had been cleared now.

  Raje diverted his thoughts to Shaista Khan and moved towards Rajgad.

  #

  Jijabai got news of Shivaji’s arrival at the base of Rajgad. He was returning to Rajgad after a gap of many months, having faced many battles and difficult situations. The fort was awash with joy. Ever since the killing of Afzal Khan, Jijabai had been worn down by anxiety for nearly a year.

  As Shivaji entered Jijabai’s quarters, he bent down to touch her feet. She hugged him affectionately and murmured, ‘Shivba!’

  ‘Maa saheb, I have come back thanks only to your blessings.’

  ‘Raje, we have suffered each night. Come inside—we have a lot to talk about.’

  That evening Jijabai and Shivaji sat talking while Mahadev was sitting a little away.

  Raje said, ‘Maa saheb, had your spy not reached in time, we would have been in trouble.’

  ‘Raje, except for this man no one else was able to penetrate the security ring.’

  ‘Mahadev, I am certain that you will be able to find me wherever I am. I am removing you from the group of royal spies from today.’

  Shivaji smiled when he saw Mahadev confused.

  ‘Mahadev, I have bigger responsibilities for you now. I need intelligent and resourceful people like you. One never knows the situation one may have to face. You are no longer a spy but my personal bodyguard from now onwards.’

  At that moment, Netaji Palkar and Kanhoji Jedhe arrived.

  Netaji was hesitant to face Raje as he had not been able to penetrate the enemy flanks at Panhala. They both saluted and stood in one corner. Netaji was avoiding Raje’s gaze.

  ‘Maa saheb,’ Shivaji said, ‘it seems our Senapati is hesitant to face me alone. I wonder why Netaji Kaka has brought Kanhoji along with him.’

  Kanhoji tried to save the situation and said, ‘I was on my way here when I met Netaji.’

  ‘Kanhoji, I did not know you could meet people on the way so easily! Netaji, had you obeyed my orders and reached Panhala on time, I would not have suffered there for two months. I would not have had the misfortune of hearing about the way your troops were routed. In war, timing is critical. A moment can determine the difference between victory and defeat and one cannot afford to be so careless. However, I am aware of your victory at Shahapur. You deserve praise for the bold attack.’

  Netaji was a little relieved hearing Raje’s words and smiled.

  Shivaji continued, ‘But you have performed one task which will wipe away a hundred sins. You managed to hold Maa saheb back from leading the attack. You managed to protect our honour. Kanhoji, in the presence of Maa saheb, I would like to make one request.’

  ‘As you command, Maharaj!’

  ‘Kanhoji, you remember I presented you a gift symbolic of the first honour of this court after Afzal Khan’s death?’

  ‘Yes, I do.’

  ‘While I was stuck at Panhala, we had lost any hope of escape when Mahadev reached the fort one night. We worked out an escape plan. Baji Prabhu Deshpande—the very memory breaks my heart— took charge of the escape. We left on a stormy night, and the troops crossed a distance of more than forty-eight kilometres, travelling for hours without a care for food, water, mud or whatever. We were attacked by the Muslim troops at Godhkhind. It was a difficult time and we had no idea that we would encounter Surve and his men. The enemy was on both sides and Baji volunteered to stay back. He and his men had been running for more than twenty hours but they did not care. He said, “Raje, when you reach the fort, sound the cannon. I will then know you are safe. I will hold these Muslims back until then.” I reached the fort with a few men but Baji and his men were sacrificed—no one survived.’

  Everyone had tears in their eyes and Shivaji took a deep breath and continued, ‘Kanhoji, Baji is no more but his valour … how does one recognize that? I would like that the first role of honour given to you be passed on to his family, but only if you are in agreement!’

  Kanhoji smiled and said, ‘Raje, why are you hesitating? Thanks to Baji’s valour, we have the fortune of touching your feet today. I would most readily give the honour to his family.’

  Shivaji got up and hugged Kanhoji affectionately. He said, ‘We Marathas are usually willing to sell our souls for the sake of false honours. Your selflessness has at least washed away this black spot.’

  Netaji said, ‘Maharaj, Shaista Khan has surrounded Sangram Durg at Chakan. Firangoji has been holding the fort for the past one and a half months and we need to send him help without any further delay.’

  ‘I know and we will make a decision tomorrow. I would like to spend at least this day in Maa saheb’s company!’

  Soyarabai came in then and said, ‘Shall we serve lunch?’

  ‘Yes. Today is a day of celebration and I would like Netaji and Kanhoji to join us.’

  The meal was served and Jijabai personally supervised it. Raje recounted the tales of the past few months and everyone listened to him awestruck.

  #

  ‘Aba saheb, please wake up!’

  Shivaji was having his siesta the next afternoon when he woke up to find the young Sambhaji Raje standing near the bed. He had dozed off and he lifted the young boy gently and put him on his stomach. He asked, ‘Bal Raje, who asked you to wake me up?’

  ‘Aai saheb. She is outside,’ Sambhaji said, pointing at the door.

  Putlabai came in, adjusting her pallu.

  Shivaji said, ‘Rani saheb?’

  ‘Please don’t call me Rani saheb—that title does not belong to me.’ Putlabai said.

  She said, looking at the door, ‘Firangoji has arrived. Maa saheb said that you were sleeping but I thought I would inform you.’

  Since Firangoji was supposed to be in Chakan, Shivaji was surprised by the unann
ounced visit. He said, ‘It’s good that you woke me up. I will go see him now.’

  Putlabai turned to go back when Shivaji said, ‘Putla!’

  Putlabai stopped and turned slowly. She was tall and slender. Sai had been of a dark complexion but Putla was fair. Sai’s eyes had had a smile while Putla’s eyes spoke of love and affection and she smiled at him.

  Raje said, ‘Will you take Shambhu Raje with you? I will change my clothes and go down.’

  Sambhaji ran towards Putlabai and they both left Raje’s quarters.

  Shivaji came down to see Firangoji in conference with Jijabai. He heard Firangoji say, ‘Maa saheb, I don’t know how to face Raje—I had no choice but to hand the fort over to Shaista Khan. But I was helpless. He dug a tunnel to the gate and then blew it up with explosives. We managed to hold them back for fifty days but everyone was exhausted. I didn’t have the courage to face Raje and wanted to kill myself but then I thought I would rather face punishment than commit suicide. That is why …’

  ‘You did the right thing!’ said Raje, as he entered the hall.

  Jijabai sat on her seat while Firangoji and Moropant stood in one corner. Firangoji stepped forward seeing Raje and touched his feet.

  Shivaji pulled him up and said, ‘Firangoji, tears don’t become you. Wipe them away.’

  ‘Raje!’

  ‘I am the one who should be ashamed. I was unable to send you reinforcements while you were fighting there alone. And you managed to hold off Khan’s mighty army for such a long time! I don’t have the words to praise you. Maa saheb, we need to honour Firangoji!’

  ‘For running away from the fort?’ Firangoji asked sarcastically. His lips were shivering as he spoke.

  ‘Firangoji, I am not counting the victories and defeats here. I care for valour and determination.’

  Moropant said, ‘Maharaj, Khan himself invited Firangoji to join him seeing his valour.’

  ‘What is surprising about that? Khan may call him but Firangoji would not go, would he? He is indebted to us from a previous birth. He has to pay back the debt before he can go anywhere. Pant, we need to honour him.’

  Moropant stepped out and returned with a tray covered with a shawl. Jijabai uncovered the tray to reveal a sword.

  Jijabai said, ‘Firangoji, please come here.’

  Firangoji’s hand shook while accepting the shawl and the sword. He heard Raje say, ‘Firangoji, this is not just an honour. It is the responsibility to manage the Bhupalgad from now.’

  ‘Bhupalgad?’ Firangoji asked, surprised.

  ‘Bhupalgad is one of our finest forts. It is on the border of Adil Shah’s kingdom, and I have built a strong and resilient fort there. I was searching for the right person to manage the fort. Khan has now found one for me!’

  All Firangoji could do was smile while tears flowed down his cheeks.

  #

  Tanaji, Yesaji, Kanhoji, Firangoji, Netaji and the other sardars had assembled at Rajgad. The rains were almost over and they had no doubt Shaista Khan would make his move soon. Adil Shah himself was expected to march on Shivaji.

  Jijabai said, with a worried look on her face, ‘Raje, if the Adil Shahi and Mughal troops join hands …’

  ‘Maa saheb, that possibility is quite remote. Had Aurangzeb decided to help Adil Shah, Shaista Khan would not have wasted his time looting our territories. He would have rushed to Panhala the moment he found out that Adil Shah’s troops have surrounded the fort.’

  ‘But do you think Adil Shah and Shaista Khan are going to sit quietly?’

  ‘But they will not move either!’ Shivaji said. ‘If we start a reconciliation dialogue with Adil Shah, he may be pacified.’

  ‘How do you plan to do that?’

  ‘Bijapur’s affairs are not in good health. Afzal’s death, Fazal and Rustam Zaman’s defeat, the revenue we collected from their territories—all these incidents have made them quite weak. They were unhappy with Siddi Johar when I escaped and have now nominated Rustam Zaman as the Senapati. Rustam is a friend and I can use that friendship to start a dialogue. We can make Adil Shah happy by returning Panhala to him.’

  ‘You want to give back Panhala?’ Jijabai asked.

  ‘We can always take it back, Maa saheb. Adil Shah has reached Miraj and if we return one of the key forts, it would please him. Vishalgad will remain with us.’

  Shivaji worked out a plan and then sent a messenger to Rustam Zaman for negotiations. In the meanwhile, Shivaji focused on pending work. He visited Kalyan and was pleased to see his ship anchored in the ocean. Abaji Mahadev was standing next to him. Shivaji said, ‘We need to spread our wings wider and need more ports in our control. I want to see a hundred such ships roaming the seven seas just the way the firangis do.’

  ‘To be frank, Maharaj, it was because you never showed any indifference to our work and we never fell short of cash, luckily.’

  ‘It is Bhawani’s grace! We have the Kalyan treasury at hand.’

  Trayambakrao Bhaskar came in one day, upset over the plans of handing back Panhala. He said, ‘Raje, I left the fort only because you ordered. Else, I would have held out Siddi Johar’s forces for many more months.’

  ‘I know, Trayambakrao, but it is not possible to fight two formidable enemies at the same time. You are aware that in a battle, retreating is as important as moving forward. I am equally sad about giving up Panhala but we will get it back. We still have time for that. I hope you did not have any problems leaving the fort?’

  ‘No, Siddi Johar was very accommodating. He allowed all of us to leave without creating any trouble for us. This act has made Ali Adil Shah, Rustam Zaman and Siddi Johar very happy.’

  ‘They don’t know that their happiness is not going to last long!’

  The pact with Adil Shah reduced Raje’s burden by half and he could now focus on Shaista Khan, and his spies were constantly updating Shivaji of Khan’s movements.

  #

  The monsoon had ended and, as predicted, Shaista Khan moved his camp to Pune and settled in the Lal Mahal Palace. Shivaji was angry but in his heart of hearts, he smiled on hearing the news.

  The moment Shaista Khan arrived in Pune, Shivaji sent Vishwanath Dabir to him with a letter. He called Kanhoji Jedhe and said, ‘Shaista Khan has come to Pune and is actually occupying our Lal Mahal. He is not going to leave now that the rains have stopped. We cannot afford to confront him.’

  ‘I agree, Maharaj.’

  ‘I have sent our messenger to Khan, but I am sure he is not going to be convinced with sweet talk. It is difficult to guess his intentions. I want you and your Deshmukhs to find out what Khan has in mind. Khan would be reassured if he sees the Deshmukhs near Pune joining him and may take them into confidence.’

  Jedhe left to put the plan into action. Soon, Jedhe would come to the fort often to meet Raje. In one such meeting, Shivaji sensed that Jedhe was restless but was unable to fathom the reason. He said, ‘Kanhoji, if something is troubling you, why don’t you tell me what it is?’

  Kanhoji hesitated for a moment. He cleared his throat nervously and said, ‘Raje, your loyal sardar Haibatrao Shirmalkar’s father-in-law Khandoji Khopade has been in hiding for the past year—since Afzal Khan’s death. He is scared to death and has taken refuge in Haibatrao’s house. He came to me …’

  ‘And what …’ Shivaji asked.

  ‘Raje, he has suffered enough. Let him find shelter at your feet.’

  Khandoji Khopade, for whom Raje had done many favours, and who had gone and joined forces with Khan. He had fought against Raje. The same Khandoji had guided Khan!

  Shivaji erupted with anger. ‘Kanhoji, you are siding with that traitor? With that haramkhor Khandoji? He did not know where his loyalty lay! He turned against us and joined the enemy. He deserves to be cut into four pieces. How can you plead his case?’

  ‘Raje, I have given my word to Haibatrao. You may punish me instead of Khandoji and pardon him.’

  Raje was overcome with emotions and said, ‘Kanhoji, don’t
take responsibility for Khandoji’s crimes. How can you compare yourself to that traitor who was willing to barter his motherland? For your sake alone, I will pardon his life. Go and bring him here.’

  Kanhoji left the fort delighted. When he returned, Shivaji was not keen to meet him but Khandoji was persistent. Raje had given his word to Kanhoji and suffered Khandoji without saying anything, and Kanhoji misinterpreted Raje’s silence as a tacit approval.

  One day, seeing Raje alone in his quarters, Khandoji came in.

  Shivaji asked, ‘Khopade, how have you come here without any warning?’

  Khandoji smiled and in an embarrassed voice said, ‘Raje, there was something urgent I wanted to discuss with you. I asked Pant where you were and he said I would find you here.’

  Khandoji continued, ‘I made the mistake of joining Khan. You pardoned me and allowed me to serve you here and I am grateful. After all, ordinary men do make mistakes.’

  ‘Who are you referring to?’

  ‘Who else? I am talking of our own Kanhoji Jedhe!’

  Raje got up and fixed his gaze on Khandoji and said, ‘Khandoji, what are you saying? Speak openly!’

  ‘Well, I wish you were a little careful about trusting him.’

  ‘Khandoji, please be clear. I don’t like these riddles.’

  ‘Raje, have you checked where Kanhoji is these days? Who does he meet and what does he do?’

  Shivaji was losing his patience. He stared at Khandoji.

  ‘Let me explain,’ Khandoji hurried. ‘He hobnobs with Shaista Khan. I may have gone and joined forces with Afzal Khan but not in this fashion. I was open about it. But this Kanhoji! He is your friend in the day and spends his nights at Lal Mahal!’

  ‘Khandoji!’ shouted Raje. Shivaji was shaking with anger. He called for the guards and screamed, ‘Arrest this haramkhor!’

  Khandoji Khopade was taken by surprise. ‘Raje!’

  ‘Silence! I pardoned you. And now you are speaking against the person who begged on your behalf?’