Shivaji

by Ranjit Desai

  All the sardars were completely focused on what Shivaji was saying.

  Shivaji asked, ‘I am allowed to take two bodyguards with me. Whom shall I take?’

  Everyone looked at Raje with expectant eyes.

  ‘I understand that each one of you is eager to accompany me, but I have selected my team.’

  ‘Who are they?’ Mankoji asked eagerly.

  ‘Sambhaji Kavji—he is the only one who can match Khan’s strength.’

  Sambhaji’s chest swelled with pride and Raje looked at him and said, ‘Sambhaji, please don’t get carried away. We need both intelligence and strength—they are equally important.’

  Raje’s eyes scanned the group and he asked, ‘I don’t see Jiva here?’

  Jiva Mahala was immediately summoned and Shivaji asked, ‘Jiva, will you come with me tomorrow?’

  Jiva was as surprised as the rest of the group and he said happily, ‘I would consider it my good fortune, Raje!’

  ‘Good! Jiva, I shall brief you in the morning.’

  The men left soon after and by the time Manohari had come to put out the lamps, Shivaji was fast asleep.

  #

  Shivaji woke up to find the room bathed in a mild glow. Two lamps flickered in one corner of the room and the cool breeze of the morning wafted across the room. He stepped out of his room after his morning prayers. The fort was still in darkness and the eastern sky had not yet lit up. He summoned ten specific men and gave them detailed instructions. They all looked at Raje with respect, knowing full well the kind of risk he was going to undertake. They saluted and disappeared in the darkness.

  The Jawali gorge woke up to the morning slowly. The chirping of the birds filled the valley and the eastern sky turned light. At the break of dawn, Shivaji, along with his men, went for darshan at Kedareshwar. He came back after the puja with a bright tilak on his forehead. His long hair covered his neck and earrings shone in his ears. The sound of trumpeting elephants could be heard in the distance. The meandering Koyna River was still covered in a faint mist and wisps of clouds covered the peaks, enhancing their beauty. Mahabaleshwar shone in the rays of the morning sun and Raje bent low in namaskar to the Lord at Mahabaleshwar and then turned back to his palace.

  Raje inspected the arrangements at the fort personally. As instructed, each cannon was supplied with adequate ammunition. The men were waiting to make their move, their faces glowing with excitement. They knew the risk they all were taking.

  Shivaji said, ‘I have no doubt that I shall return victorious. But in case I don’t return, I don’t want you to lose hope. I am telling you what I have told the others—our army is spread across the entire jungle right from the base of Pratapgad to Supe. I want you to wipe out Khan and his entire army and capture Rajgad after defeating him. Mankoji, I need you to take charge if I do not return. Ensure Sambhaji Raje is on the throne and continue to work towards my dream.’

  All the soldiers and the sardars became emotional after hearing this and Yesaji said, wiping his eyes, ‘Raje, we derive all our strength from you.’

  ‘Yesaji, you have to stop thinking like this. You must be loyal to the kingdom. The question is not whether Shivaji survives or not. If the kingdom survives, then ten such Shivajis can be created.’

  It was nearly noon when Shivaji dispatched Pantaji Gopinath to escort Khan to the meeting. He said, ‘Pantaji, ensure that Khan follows all the rules that have been agreed to for the meeting. And don’t leave him out of your sight till I meet him.’

  ‘Raje, don’t worry. I will ensure that he is alone. He is a cunning rascal and will not hesitate to betray his promises. This meeting is the only chance you will have and so do what you can, that is my only advice. I will take your leave now and see you when I return with Khan. Take care.’

  Shivaji hugged Pantaji tightly before he left.

  Shivaji left for his quarters along with Jiva Mahala and Sambhaji Kavji.

  ‘Jiva, I have a small job for you. Do you have your scissors with you?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘Bring them.’

  Jiva got the scissors and Raje sat on a stool. He casually said, ‘Jiva, trim my beard. Make it so small that it cannot be pulled by hand.’

  Jiva trimmed Raje’s beard and Raje said, caressing his beard, ‘Now listen to me carefully. Sambhaji, Jiva—both of you will be standing at the entrance of the shamiana. Keep an eye on Syed Banda. Don’t bother about me. Is that understood?

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘And Sambhaji, you keep an eye on Khan. Follow me like a shadow and never allow me out of your sight.’

  ‘Yes.’

  After a light meal, Shivaji went into his room to get dressed and his clothes were laid out for him on the bed. He first put on a brocaded armour on top of which he put on his shirt. He wore his head gear which he covered with his turban. He wrapped a shawl around him and tucked a scorpion-shaped dagger into his right palm. He removed his earrings and, handing over the Bhawani sword to Jiva, said, ‘If there is need, don’t hesitate to use it.’

  He then picked up the weapon specifically made for the meeting; it was a tight-fitting glove with four sharp and pointed nails. It was called ‘wagh nakh’ or the tiger claws and was capable of inflicting as much damage on the human body as a tiger could. The glove had a golden border with diamonds shining on it. On curling the fist, all one could see were the lovely rings on the fingers. The sharp claws would snugly fit into the palm.

  The trumpets were sounded. Khan began to move towards the rendezvous.

  Shivaji was about to step out of the room when Manohari came in and, without saying a word, put her head at his feet. Shivaji said, patting her head gently, ‘Silly girl! I will return. I promise.’

  Shivaji left the palace acknowledging the mujras he encountered at each step. He reached Kedareshwar as the sun rose high in the sky. He prayed to the Lord and then stepped out to have a look at the cantonment below. Khan had left the cantonment and was on his way to the meeting.

  Khan was in a happy mood and the cantonment was rejoicing his victory in advance. They were enjoying a feast. Khan stepped into a royal palanquin, while a contingent of fifteen hundred soldiers waiting in attendance moved ahead. Seeing the horsemen move, Pantaji ran forward to make a request of Khan.

  ‘Sir, we need to abide by the terms of the meeting. The moment Raje sees your fifteen hundred cavalry, he may run back into the fort. It would then be impossible for the meeting to take place.’

  Khan laughed. He knew he was taking a risk but responded immediately by saying, ‘You are absolutely right.’

  He ordered Krishnaji Bhaskar to ask the soldiers to stop and his palanquin moved forward alone towards the meeting place. Khan reached the meeting point and stepped out of the palanquin as it was lowered in front of the shamiana.

  Khan observed the shamiana as he stood outside with his hands on his hips. The golden crescent-shaped dome shone brightly in the hot sun, and slender, elaborately decorated pillars supported the shamiana. The ropes were of fine but strong silk while rich and heavy curtains swayed in the wind. Khan looked at the beautiful shamiana in wonder. His feet sunk into the soft and thick carpet on the ground. The curtains had pearls dangling on the border and was embroidered all over. The seats were decorated with dark green silk and the chandeliers reflected the light inside the tent. A faint smell of camphor wafted inside as it burned in a brass container. A Muradabadi spittoon and a Burhanpuri hookah complemented the decor.

  Pantaji Gopinath requested Khan to take his seat. Khan came to his senses on hearing his words and said, ‘What does Shivaji think of himself? Is he trying to outdo the Badshah? Look at the pearls and the decor!’

  Pantaji replied, ‘I had told Shivaji Raje that it is not his property. It belongs to the Badshah and shall be returned.’

  Khan laughed out loud and said, taking his seat, ‘Bring your Raje here as soon as possible.’

  Pantaji sent an urgent message to the fort. Shivaji looked at Mankoji for a brief moment. Now
old and weak with age, Mankoji had taken care of Shivaji since he was six years old and had loved him as a father would. His body shivered at the sight of Raje and tears welled up in his eyes.

  Shivaji touched his feet and said, ‘Mankoji, you are like my Maharaj saheb. Please give me your blessings.’

  ‘Shivba!’ Mankoji exclaimed, hugging him. ‘Raje, may you be victorious today!’

  ‘Don’t worry; Bhawani will take care of me. If something happens today, take care of the kingdom.’

  Shivaji glanced at the cannon which would signal the attack. He took the tiger claws from Jiva and touched the glove to his forehead before slipping it on to his left hand. He curled his fist tightly and walked down to the horse waiting at the door. He asked Jiva and Sambhaji to get their horses to the shamiana and decided to walk down the steps with his bodyguards and ten chosen men.

  The shamiana was visible now and Khan’s ten men stood in one corner as per the rules— an arrow’s flight away. Shivaji’s ten men stood at the appropriate distance and took their positions. Shivaji then moved towards the shamiana with Jiva and Sambhaji. Krishnaji Bhaskar stepped forward and saluted Raje. Shivaji reached the door and peeped through the curtains and stepped back immediately.

  Pantaji Gopinath quickly came to him when Shivaji asked, ‘Pant, who is inside with Khan?’

  ‘Banda Syed.’

  ‘Ask him to step outside and take his place as per the rules.’

  Khan was both eager and impatient by then. He had a twisted smile on his face when he heard Gopinath’s request and ordered Banda Syed to stand outside. Shivaji asked Jiva and Sambhaji to wait at the door and stepped inside with Krishnaji.

  Shivaji observed Khan minutely the moment he stepped in. Khan wore a lovely turban with diamonds encrusted in it. He had a faint smile on his lips as he stared at Shivaji. He stood up to his full height, accentuating the difference between the two men. Shivaji looked puny in front of the giant.

  Pantaji Gopinath made the introductions. ‘Vizarmatab Huzoor Afzal Khan Madamshahi!’

  Krishnaji Bhaskar said, ‘Maharaj Shivaji Raje Bhosale.’

  Khan smiled and said, pointing a finger, ‘Is this who everyone calls Shivaji?’

  Both the messengers nodded, not knowing how to react.

  Shivaji looked at Khan without a hint of fear in his eyes and retorted, ‘Is this the person whom everyone calls Khan?’

  The messengers nodded involuntarily and without further ado, they stepped out of the shamiana.

  There were just two of them in the shamiana now. Khan spread out his huge arms and welcoming him said, ‘Aao, Raje.’

  Raje walked towards Khan with slow and deliberate steps. He remembered Jagdamba once as Afzal Khan embraced him. Shivaji placed his head on the right side of Khan’s chest as Khan continued to hug him. Khan, quickly mustering all his strength and laughing rudely, pressed Shivaji’s head to the left of his chest while he tried to crush it into his armpit. He had a victorious smile on his lips. At that moment the smile vanished and his face turned harsh with anger, as he pulled out his dagger to stab Raje in the back.

  The armour below Shivaji’s kurta prevented the dagger from piercing him and it slipped down. At the same time, Shivaji opened his ‘tiger claws’ and plunged it deep into Khan’s right side and pulled it sideways with all his strength. Khan stepped back in pain, allowing Shivaji to slip out of his embrace. He jumped to one side but Khan managed to hit him on the side of his head. The blow was so strong that it broke open the head gear armour Shivaji was wearing and left a wound on Shivaji’s head.

  Startled by the narrow escape, Shivaji took a moment to recover when Khan shouted, ‘Treachery … treachery!’

  Sambhaji Kavji and Jiva, standing at attention at the door, leapt into the tent immediately to find Raje standing on one side, stunned by the attack. Banda Syed entered at the same time from the other door, adjusting his sword. Jiva did not waste a moment and took his position crouching near Shivaji’s legs. Banda Syed was distracted by Jiva’s movements and Jiva took this opportunity to severe Syed’s hand with one stroke of his sword. His scream echoed in the tent and before Syed realized what was happening, the next blow from Jiva was fatal.

  Sambhaji was watching Khan closely as he stumbled out of the tent, bleeding from the stomach. He stumbled and managed to reach his palanquin but, before the bearers could lift the palanquin, Sambhaji’s sword had pierced Khan’s chest.

  The soldiers hiding in the bushes came out instantly and a fierce battle ensued. Shivaji, in the meanwhile, stepped out of the tent. Jiva handed over the Bhawani sword to Shivaji and the other horsemen were ready and mounted.

  Krishnaji Bhaskar ran towards Shivaji shouting, ‘Raje, you have betrayed us!’

  Shivaji, thwarting Krishnaji’s attack, shouted, ‘Pantaji, please go away.’

  Krishnaji Bhaskar could not control his anger and attacked again. Shivaji had no choice—his blow was fatal as Krishnaji fell to the ground.

  Shivaji saw that Jiva had mounted his horse but Sambhaji Kavji was nowhere to be seen. At that moment, Sambhaji Kavji emerged, holding Khan’s severed head in his hand. The moment Sambhaji had mounted, Shivaji spurred his horse and the three horses galloped towards the fort.

  Everyone in the fort was watching the action below with bated breath. Shivaji dismounted at the first gate and ran up the steps. The cannons were waiting for his signal and everyone was watching him wide-eyed. His white kurta was torn at the back and was blowing in the wind. The front was drenched in blood and his hair was dishevelled.

  He shouted, ‘What are you staring at? Fire the cannons!’

  The door of the fort closed in an instant as the cannons were fired. Shivaji could hear the cries of ‘Har Har Mahadev!’ echo in the gorge below. Mankoji stood in the courtyard shivering like a dry leaf in the wind. He had been tormented with wild and ill omens and he had seen Shivaji climb the stairs, his chest drenched with blood.

  Shivaji said, allaying his fears, ‘Mankoji, nothing has happened to me. We have won. Khan has been killed.’

  Manohari rushed out hearing the cannons and then glancing at Raje’s head, covered her mouth and turned away.

  As a sob escaped Manohari’s mouth, Shivaji said, ‘Manu, this is not my blood. It is the blood of the enemy—I am absolutely fine.’

  Manohari turned around hearing these words, joy filling her heart and her eyes filling with tears.

  Shivaji returned to the fort after darshan at Kedareshwar. The cannons at the other forts were active and one could hear their fire. The news of Khan’s death had spread all over Jawali.

  Mankoji observed the chaos which had erupted in the cantonment below. Khan’s men had not yet eaten and the sardars were contemplating a little siesta in the afternoon when they heard the loud noise of the cannons. They assumed it to be a welcome signal for the meeting. They were relaxing, going about their chores when shouts of ‘Har Har Mahadev!’ filled the air in the jungles around.

  Only a few moments ago, the jungles were quiet and serene with the occasional chirping of the birds. Now they were buzzing with the brave Maratha soldiers pouring out of every corner. It was chaos everywhere. Bajirao and Sarjerao had taken charge of the attack, eliminating nearly fifteen hundred soldiers stationed near the meeting camp. Jedhe and Bandal took care of the army near the Parghat with Moropant’s support.

  The Bijapur cantonment was being systematically massacred and Afzal Khan’s son Fazal Khan managed to escape but his two other sons were captured. The cantonment, which was enjoying the luxuries of life only a few hours ago, was now littered with dead bodies and shouts of agony and despair. By late afternoon, the rampage was over. A Maratha horseman galloped towards the fort to reach the news as soon as possible.

  Having changed his clothes, Shivaji was at the ramparts observing the massacre below when he saw a horseman gallop towards him. He asked, before the man dismounted, ‘What news do you bring?’

  The messenger bent in mujra, his face beaming with joy,
and said, ‘The enemy has been routed, Maharaj. You have won!’

  Filled with joy, Shivaji turned. The fort was overflowing with revelry. On the other side, the Maratha soldiers were busy attacking and taking charge of Wai, Supe, Shirval and Saswad.

  That evening Khan’s decapitated head lay in the courtyard. Everyone had assembled around. Shivaji instructed Sambhaji Kavji, ‘Sambhaji, I asked you to use your brains more than your brawn. Look at Jiva! He did what I told him. I was a little shaken with Khan’s blow but Jiva did not bother to look at me. He kept his eyes on Syed Banda. Had Jiva gotten distracted even for a moment, you would not have found me alive despite our victory. But you ran after Khan, leaving me alone. You beheaded him despite no such orders from me. Sambhaji, in such times, each moment is important. Khan wasn’t going to run away anywhere, was he?’

  Pantaji Gopinath came in and said, ‘Raje, we have captured a few of their men. Would you like to meet them?’

  Afzal Khan’s two sons were scared for their lives, and the captured sardars were also sure that their fate was death.

  Shivaji patted Yesaji’s back and said, ‘Yesaji, the battle is over and so is our enmity. Release all the prisoners and send them off with the respect that is due to them.’

  The mashaals were burning brightly when Raje reached the base of the fort. He inspected the injured troops and the dead were cremated with honours. Shivaji let out a deep sigh at the loss of his men and then returned to the fort.

  Khan’s dead body was kept for inspection. Shivaji said, ‘This mlechcha, this barbarian, despoiled our family deity. Send his head to Maa saheb and then bury his head there in the royal courtyard. In the place where he fell, give him a burial fit for a commander of the Bijapur kingdom.’

  There was no time to rest now. The Mavals in the region would stream in to offer their congratulations. The gates, normally closed after sunset, were thrown open in welcome and the fort was filled with visitors and devotees. The sky was lit with the seventh day of the moon while rows of mashaals could be seen right from the village at Par to the base of the fort. It was as if the Jawali gorge were celebrating a festival of lights, and soon, news of the capture of Wai reached the fort.