LEGEND OF BAJIPRABHU DESHPANDE :- WHO WANT TO DEDICATE THEIR WHOLE LIFE SERVING "BHARAT MATA"

WHO WANT TO DEDICATE

THEIR WHOLE LIFE SERVING "BHARAT MATA"

Legend of Baji Prabhu Deshpande
   [Devanahi heva vatava asa itihas ithe ghadala]

The world recognize us through your deeds. Stories are written on those who are extraordinary.
   This story is regarding a Maratha Sardar Baji Prabhu Deshpande who is known for his valor. A loyal soldier to his king [Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj]. In the year 1660 after killing Afzal khan Maratha conquered Pratapgad and increase their empire till Kolhapur. After losing one of its best sardar Adilshah started losing its power. Adilshah want to recover back his province. Adilshah keeping faith on this Sardar Sidi Masud sent him Panhala to defeat Shivaji. Sidi surrounded the fort Panhala for six month. All the people living on fort were unable to survive because of lack of food supply. Shivaji Maharaj took the decision to leave the fort and decide to go Vishalgad on a stormy full moon's night (night of Guru Pournima, Ashadh Paurnima).

Initial Stage
Shiva Kashid a barber of shivaji also plays important role in this story. Shiva Kashid use to look similar to shivaji maharaj. As per shivaji plan they will leave the fort on 13th of July 1660 at the midnight with 600 hundred soldiers. So to deviate the attention of Sidi Masud, Shivaji decided to do a fake agreement of compromise with him. So that the soldiers of Sidi  thus relaxed a bit, foreseeing that their siege going on for months together was going to end. They will able to feel through the surrounded army of 10000. So Shivaji choose Shiva Kashid to become shivaji and meet Sidi. At that time shivaji will leave the fort and will march towards Vishalgad. Shiva Kashid as per the plan was successful in deviating the attention by acting as shivaji. Till shivaji along with fellow members left the fort by breaching the Sidi army, as Sidi Masud came to know shivaji escape. Sidi understood the plan of shivaji and he also understood that the person standing in front of him is Shiva Kashid not shivaji. He became angry and kills Shiva Kashid on the spot. This sacrifice, however gave the fleeing Maratha force some breathing space. Soon Sidi along with his army of 15000 started chasing shivaji army.

 Geographical situation

The distance between Panhala and Vishalgad is 75 km. Pawankhind lies at a distance of 65 Km from Fort Panhala. The place receives abundant rainfall from June to September due to its proximity to the Western Ghats. The heavy rains often lead to severe flooding in these months.

     Actually it was strategy to flee in midnight in heavy rains. The rain in this region is high so the mud is till keen .So you can understand in which situation they were.

Climax
Shivaji reach at Ghodkhind at 4 am in morning the enemy was one hour late so they got time to make their strategy. Baji Prabhu sardar of shivaji maharaj get into talk when they reach location.
Baji:   Raje [King], you go ahead I will stay here and will keep enemy at par.
Shivaji: Baji while I am there you will have to fight people will laugh at me.
Baji:     Raje, when I am there you will have to fight then people will criticize me. Raje if I will die you are there to take care of my family. If something will happen to you then who will took care of family of the people who stay in swaraj. Raje I am elder than you take this thing as an order. Otherwise I will kill myself right now.
Shivaji:   Wait Baji. It is my bad faith that I have to leave you now, but Baji I want you on Vishalgad.
Baji:       Raje you leave now and when you will reach the fort just fire a 5 cannon .Then I will come to know that you are safe and reach the fort.

So shivaji with 300 soldiers went ahead and Baji left with 300 soldiers to fight with enemy of 15000.

Baji Sacrifice
Baji Prabhu Deshpande 6ft height his moustache was like two swords. Baji can fight ten people at a time. He uses to practice with sword 12 hours a day. When he uses to stand it was like a wall standing to defend any force. He was such a pro that if he will decide then he can win over death. Fighting with Baji is like accepting enmity with Tiger in forest.  I want to make one thing clear here itself that the fight was started in morning 5am shivaji reach Vishalgad at evening 6pm .This shows that Baji has defended the enemy for 12 hours nonstop.
Baji made strategy along with 300 soldiers made a plan how to defend them. As the Ghodkhind structure was such that at a time only few people can pass through it. They decide to collect all the stone from nearby area so that they can use them against their enemy. The strategy was that 100 people will lead the Khind after that one more layer so people will be there after that if some leave front first layer second layer will take care of it, third layer will just kill the enemy by javelin and stones. It is not agitations that come when you want and stand wherever you want. From morning 5am to 10 am total 5000 men of Sidi were killed & 40-45 were killed of Baji force .The ratio was for their 5000 our 50 should die, below that no one should die. At 10 am Sidi Masud team breakfast time was there so the first group will come back and another group will take their place. I want to make a note that there was no breakfast time as well as lunch for Maratha. Sidi Masud was fed up regarding his failure in breaching the Khind. So Sidi brought gunman. The gunman was standing 1 mile far from Baji. Sidi told him to climb up on stone and from there gave him direction to fire .The gunman ask Sidi, whom to fire. Sidi said the person who has not left a single part of body covered with blood fire on him [All this thing has been described as stated in “Bakhar” [old writings]. You can understand that from such a long distance Sidi can make out who is Baji it shows that how Baji fought bravely for his king. The gunmen fire the bullet and Baji got shot. Brave Baji collapsed suddenly other soldiers took behind the Khind and gave him water. His fellow mates were asking Baji are you all right? .In that state Baji says to his fellow mates ,” till king doesn’t reach the fort we will fight if then god will come in between my work I will defeat him also .Baji was knowing he lost the battle but he don’t lose the faith. He again standup took his javelin and started fighting. At that time Shivaji reach the fort by killing the enemy at fort and quickly send his soldiers running to fire the cannon. As they fire first cannon was fire a men came running towards Baji and said,” Raje reach the fort”. Baji said, “What are you saying my friend our king reach fort we won battle my friend now our dream of swaraj, will come true. Go my friend run save your life till that I will stop the enemy here saying this Baji took his last breath and rest in peace . In end only 50 soldiers were left then they took shelter in the nearby forest

At last
 Shivaji also gave "manachi palkhi" ("Honor of the Court") to Baji Prabhu's family. Shivaji also gave "manache pahile paan" ("Honor of the Court") to Bandal Dehsmukh. Baji sacrifice dint go in vain .Baji became an example of sacrifice, loyalty & braveness. Baji must have died but for us he is alive .He will remain in our heart forever and inspire the youth to make stand a movement against all odds. This story is studied by the army all over the world as war strategy and motivating the people. This place of war has now become a tourist place for people from all over the country. People come here to see the holy pass. Baji Prabhu as well as Shiva Kashid became legend in battle of Ghodkhind .The Ghodkhind name was change to Pavankhind [holy pass] after this battle.   

  Lakh mele tari chaltil pan lakhancha poshinda ha jaglach pahije…

Jai Bhavani... Jai Shivaji 🕉️🚩🙏

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