Shivaji

  The armada stayed close to the land. The Portuguese ships coming in from Goa were worried about such a large armada and dared not challenge them.

  The port of Basrur awoke from their slumber to see a flotilla of saffron flags in the ocean and chaos was created to the cries of ‘Shivaji has come!’ The Marathas entered Basrur while the people were still coping with the news. They offered no resistance and Shivaji collected the loot and loaded it on to the ships. Then, having loaded the booty into the ships, he moved to Gokarn Mahabaleshwar for a darshan. Keeping only a dozen boats for crossing the rivers on the way, he sent all the ships back and moved towards Karwar along the sea coast.

  Holi was approaching and so was Raje’s thirty-fifth birthday. He was now stepping from an age of youth and dreams, enthusiasm and courage to a more mature age and wanted to celebrate the same with an appropriate victory. The Karwar harbour had English ships anchored there, and it was Shivaji’s plan to loot them.

  One of Adil Shah’s sardars, Sher Khan, who happened to be at Karwar, heard of Shivaji’s impending arrival. He had no troops and was worried about the confrontation. But he was a shrewd politician. He gathered all the rich merchants together and collected a huge amount of money to send Shivaji as a token of welcome. Shivaji acknowledged this cunning strategy and sent a message to Sher Khan: ‘You have managed to secure the safety of the town. Now please help me to capture the English ships.’

  Sher Khan relayed the message to the English sailors, who were scared for their lives. He managed to collect a huge ransom from them. Shivaji, in turn, decided not to attack the ships and accepted the ransom money.

  #

  One day, Kudtoji Gujar and Raghunathpant came to Raigad to see Raje. He asked, ‘Did you meet Jai Singh?’

  ‘Yes, Huzoor. He seems to be a gentleman, his grey hair matching his maturity.’

  ‘Did you give him my letter? Was he wild with anger while reading it?’

  Raghunathpant shook his head. ‘In fact, he smiled and said, “Tell your Raja that the Mughal army has the capacity to destroy the might of any enemy. The earlier you surrender, the better will be for you.”’

  Shivaji was lost in thought for a moment. He looked up and said, ‘Would he be ready for a negotiation?’

  ‘I don’t think so,’ Raghunathpant said.

  Shivaji smiled. ‘Pant, he may not be ready now but may be in a few days. Shaista Khan too had come here with the same idea, but by the time he captured Chakan, he had changed his mind. Jai Singh too will undergo the same experience. How large is his cantonment, by the way?’

  Kudtoji Gujar said, ‘It is massive, spread over a few villages. The cannon and ammunition depot is enormous. I saw one of the cannons being pulled by eighty oxen! A firangi called Manucci is supervising the cannons. His son Kirat Singh is with him along with able sardars like Diler Khan, Daud Khan, Sisodiya, Itimad Khan, Raja Subhan Singh Bundela and many others.’

  ‘He has come fully prepared it seems! Alert all the forts. I will reach Purandar the day after tomorrow as that is the nearest and most likely to be surrounded first. Kudtoji, what is the situation at Kondana?’

  ‘Maharaj, Kondana is strong and fully capable of defending itself. You need not worry.’

  Shivaji was in a hurry now. After issuing the necessary instructions, he reached Purandar and the fort erupted with joy on seeing him. Murarbaji Deshpande, the fort-keeper, was one of the few men that Raje trusted implicitly. Murarbaji was a tough soldier with thick whiskers, a deeply tanned face with bright eyes staring angrily at the enemy—he was a sight to behold. He was eager to serve Raje and waited for his instructions.

  ‘Murarbaji, we expect the enemy to attack us and in all likelihood, Purandar will be the first in line. The enemy is strong, and it is your responsibility to defend the fort.’

  ‘Maharaj, till I hold the fort, you may rest assured the enemy will not be able to step in.’

  ‘I know. Keep them engaged for months. They need to know that it is not easy to enter Shivaji’s domain. Do you need anything from me?’ Raje continued.

  ‘Not at the moment, but we may run short of ammunition if we continue to hold them for a long time.’

  ‘Don’t worry on that count. I will send across adequate ammunition the moment I reach Rajgad.’

  ‘Maharaj, we have enough grain, and the fort walls are strong. They will not be able to make a dent here,’ Murarbaji said, a little overwhelmed with emotion.

  Raje hugged Murarbaji and this was enough to make the man’s chest swell with pride and increase his confidence. Raje returned to Rajgad immediately.

  #

  The rays of the evening sun shone brightly on Raja Jai Singh’s golden tent with the Siddi soldiers standing guard outside. He sat on a well-appointed baithak. His hair shone with the bright red tint of mehendi. He was in his sixties but his face reflected the handsomeness of a man who had aged well. His huge whiskers added to the fullness of his face. His sharp nose accentuated his red cheeks while his bright eyes expressed themselves clearly without a word being spoken. He was a true Rajput in looks. A few maids stood on the side gently waving fans. Kirat Singh stood respectfully on one side, his hands behind his back. Raja Jai Singh was lost in thought, his eyes closed, when the sound of a trumpet disturbed his reverie. He looked at Kirat Singh who said, ‘Diler Khan is on his way.’

  Jai Singh looked towards a corner of the tent where a set of turbans were kept ready. Kirat Singh quickly handed one to Jai Singh, who put his turban on and stepped out of the tent. They could see Diler Khan and his men marching towards them.

  Diler Khan dismounted the moment he saw Raja Jai Singh. He was wearing an embroidered coat with pathani trousers and shoes and a matching embroidered pathani cap. He walked with the confidence of a well-trained Pathan sardar. His curly beard only added to his imposing persona. Raja Jai Singh acknowledged his salute and said, ‘Come in, Diler Khan! I have been waiting for you to arrive.’

  Diler Khan eased himself on to a diwan inside the tent and accepted a glass of wine from one of the maids. Kirat Singh and some others stood in attendance nearby. After the courtesies were exchanged, Diler Khan said, coming straight to the point, ‘Raja saheb, what are your intentions?’

  ‘I have been waiting for you, in fact, to discuss that.’

  ‘My spies have reported that Shivaji’s strength lies in his forts. Without them, he is nothing.’

  ‘Is capturing him that easy?’

  Diler Khan stared at Jai Singh. He was calm and continued to return his stare.

  ‘The enemy can never be more powerful than our emperor’s army.’

  ‘I know that. But we should not repeat the mistakes made earlier.’

  ‘If I may say so, the previous campaign was fought with a timid heart. That is why we lost.’

  ‘That is not true.’ Jai Singh said. ‘Shaista Khan had a large number of soldiers with him. Capturing the fort at Chakan was a simple affair and yet it cost us a lot. Jaswant Singh had surrounded the Kondana Fort but it drained our resources quite a bit. The Mughal army was in this region for more than three years and it cost us crores of hons. And we got nothing in return.’

  ‘Raja saheb, let us forget the past. I have decided that we will attack Purandar. If we manage to get it, the rest will follow without much trouble.’

  Jai Singh nodded and said, ‘Diler Khan, I admire your eagerness but that alone is not enough in politics. Let us not go after the forts. If we fail to capture them, we will lose our honour.’

  ‘What great idea do you have in mind then?’ Diler Khan asked, a little agitatedly.

  Jai Singh continued, ignoring the barb, ‘Shivaji has invested all his resources in the forts. We will expend a lot of energy while capturing them. You see, a rat has fifty holes to hide in. If we close one, he would escape from the others. But if we fill the holes with water, he will eventually have to come out. We need to find a suitable rat trap.’

  ‘I don’t understand.’

  ‘We need to attac
k his villages, his people, stop the resources which support the forts. He will be forced to come out in the open.’

  ‘But how long can we fight this way?’

  Jai Singh’s face turned hard. His smile vanished as he spoke, ‘Diler Khan, I have seen many seasons more than you. I am not used to prolonging any battle for years on end. We can gain control of Shivaji’s territories in a mere eight days. Spread your men all around and ask them not to show any mercy. Let us start today. Is that understood?’

  ‘I don’t agree with you!’

  ‘I hear you but let us go ahead with this plan for the moment.’

  Diler Khan returned a little disappointed. Jai Singh had ordered his troops in groups of five and ten thousand to attack Supe, Junnar, Loni, Pune, Shirval and other places. The sardars were instructed that in case they found Shivaji leaving the fort, he should be chased back into the fort and not allowed to come to the rescue of his men.

  From the next day, the entire Maval region was in turmoil. The men feared the sound of horse hooves. Villages were turning into bonfires and the screams of the women abducted from the villages were heartrending. The cattle were herded and driven away. Within days, the entire region was in ruins.

  Raje’s troops attacked the Mughal army whenever they got the opportunity, looting the camp and running away before the entire cantonment could assemble itself. Raje had given his men strict instructions not to engage in a battle.

  Diler Khan, however, was becoming increasingly restless by the day and was eager to attack Purandar. He was not in favour of Mirza Raja Jai Singh’s plan. Jai Singh recognized his anxiety and allowed him to march towards Purandar. Within fifteen days, Diler Khan reached the base of the fort with his huge army. The cannons at the fort welcomed Diler Khan with a shower of ammunition and Diler Khan had to return fire from a safe distance. His men were moving forward through trenches and inching closer to the fort base. Jai Singh was happy with the progress.

  One evening Diler Khan returned to Jai Singh’s camp, tired and dusty. It had been eight days since they had surrounded the fort but the progress had been minimal. The only thing being spent was the ammunition and all they had achieved was raising huge columns of dust. Raja Jai Singh asked, ‘Diler Khan, how are you progressing?’

  ‘Well equipped as we are, we have tightened the siege.’

  ‘Diler Khan, if you believe that you have surrounded the fort so well, how did one contingent of Shivaji’s troops find its way up the fort?’

  Diler Khan erupted, ‘That was because of Daud Khan’s treachery.’

  ‘Diler Khan, capturing a fort, and especially one that belongs to Shivaji, is not an easy task. You lay mines but the enemy finds a way to douse them. They have also found a way to enter your trenches and destroy three of your cannons. We cannot fight such daredevils with the sheer strength of our numbers.’

  ‘I have ensured such loopholes will not exist in the future. I am confident of that.’

  ‘But how long will it be before we capture the fort?’

  Diler Khan had no answer. He answered in a complaining tone, ‘Raja saheb, you are seeing for yourself—I am trying my best but these Maratha rats are adamant on holding out.’

  ‘Now do you believe me? This is what I have been saying all along, but you were eager to teach them a lesson. The rains are likely to start any day and once it starts pouring, I will be blamed for getting our army stuck in the mud. And, if that is not enough, I will also get a sound scolding from Alijah!’

  Diler Khan looked at Mirza Raja Jai Singh and erupted, ‘Impossible! I shall burn the fort of Purandar to ashes.’

  ‘By when?’ Raja Jai Singh asked coolly.

  Diler Khan retorted, ‘Raja saheb, do you not trust me?’

  ‘Silence!’ Jai Singh said, his fists curling in frustration. ‘Shut up! Don’t you know you are talking to Mirza Raja?’

  He continued, ‘Diler Khan, it is not enough to hate the enemy. We need to find the right strategy.’

  Diler Khan stood up and said in a beseeching tone, holding his cap in his hand, ‘Mirza saheb, give me one last chance. I will now return only after I capture Purandar. I take your leave now.’

  Diler Khan stepped out of the shamiana. Mirza Raja Jai Singh smiled—he knew Diler Khan would not lose now!

  #

  The atmosphere at Rajgad was tense. Everyone’s faces were creased with worry. Many sardars, having managed to escape the Mughals, were returning with the latest updates. Each piece of news added to the fraught atmosphere. Raje conferred with Moropant, Raghunathpant, Annaji Datto, Tanaji, Yesaji, Kudtoji Gujar, Anandarao and Jijabai.

  Raje looked at the assembly and said, ‘We are in a dire situation now. Mirza Raja is a cunning man. He has started looting our territories while he continues to hold Purandar. Our womenfolk are being carried away, our villages burnt, and innocent farmers murdered. And here I am—sitting in the comfort of a fort!’

  ‘But what will Jai Singh gain from the plunder?’ Annaji asked.

  Raje turned towards Annaji and said, ‘It is a strategy to make our men lose faith in us.’

  Raghunathpant said, ‘Maharaj, we may have managed to kill Afzal and fool Shaista Khan but this Rajput king is a shrewd man. My advice would be to start negotiations.’

  ‘I am not against it, but he is looking for complete surrender and not a peace treaty. He is bent on capturing Purandar.’

  Yesaji said confidently, ‘Purandar has the capacity to keep the enemy at bay for a year at the least.’

  ‘If we have a year, we will be able to think of a better plan. It is the Lord’s kingdom and His responsibility. He will take care of us but at this moment, I feel helpless.’

  Jijabai was listening to this exchange silently. She let out a deep sigh and said, ‘There is no reason to be so hard on yourself, Raje. Did you not donate gold to ensure that we get the Lord’s blessings? Was that all in vain?’

  Raje smiled. ‘Maa saheb, Mirza Raja performed the koti chandi homam, the most powerful of the fire rituals dedicated to the goddess Chandika, and donated crores of coins. He seems to be ahead of us.’

  Jijabai asked, ‘How do we make him change his mind?’

  ‘It is difficult. He is a true Rajput. He will not go against the hand that feeds him. Had he been chasing our forts, I would not have been worried because he would spend a lifetime trying to capture all of them. But he is not one to give up so easily.’

  Jijabai retorted, ‘Raje, I have never seen you so defeatist.’

  Raje replied, his voice steady, ‘Maa saheb, I am not saying this out of frustration. I believe that it is better to be realistic than live with false pride. Mirza Raja’s confidence is not because of his troops. He did not become arrogant when Aurangzeb took off his knee long robe and offered it to him. Aurangzeb also placed a diamond medal in his turban. ’

  ‘What is your plan then?’ Jijabai asked.

  ‘I have not planned anything. I am trying to observe the enemy’s movements but have not been able to understand their tactics. However, I trust in Jagdamba, Who has always helped me out of the clutches of defeat. I will not lose my faith in Her in these troubled times.’

  The conference was over, and everyone left without saying a word. Raje stood alone in his room. He turned at the sound of footsteps to see Kudtoji Gujar standing at the door. Raje asked, ‘Kudtoji, what brings you back?’

  ‘Maharaj, Mirza Raja is trying to entice our people. On receiving the news that something has gone wrong in the Javali camp, Netaji Palkar urgently left for it.’

  ‘Without informing me?’

  ‘I am told Mirza Raja has been successful in wining him over to his side. He also managed to get the two Koli brothers, Atmaji and Kahar Koli, to join him with three thousand of their troops from Purandar.’

  Raje was stunned hearing the news. He let out a deep sigh. ‘One must admire Mirza Raja. He managed to bring Kulab Shah, the Adil Shahi sardar, and the rajas of Ramnagar Peth and Chotiya over to his side even before he ev
en got to Pune. He managed to rouse Shivappa Nayak and the Nayaks of Basavapattan against us. He cajoled the firangis to send their ships against ours. He challenged Afzal Khan’s son’s pride, asking him to avenge his father’s death. And now he is planning to take my own men.’

  Kudtoji stepped forward and touched Raje’s feet. Raje looked at the tears streaming down his cheeks and said, ‘Kudtoji! You are my best commander. It does not suit an army commander to cry like this.’

  ‘Maharaj, I will be blessed to see these feet again but if I don’t come back alive, consider this my last mujra. Don’t worry about Mirza Raja.’

  Raje’s body stiffened. He asked, ‘Kudtoji, what exactly do you have in mind?’

  ‘Rest assured, Maharaj,’ Kudtoji said. ‘I beg you, in the name of Bhawani, not to say another word to me.’

  ‘You ask too much of me, Kudtoji!’ Raje said, shutting his eyes in anguish. When he opened them, Kudtoji had left.

  Raje spent that whole day in great anxiety. When he returned to his quarters late in the evening, he saw a lamp burning near the puja room. The lovely rhinestone Shiva linga shone in the light of the oil lamp. Raje bent down praying, and remained there for a long time. Later, he moved to his bed and lay awake, his mind in turmoil. He drifted into sleep late in the night.

  All of a sudden, Raje woke up with a start to find his body drenched in sweat. The window panes shook as the wind blew hard. Streaks of lightning illuminated the room intermittently. The puja room shone in the lightning while the wicks of the lamp swayed in the wind. The idol of Jagdamba played hide-and-seek as the flashes of lightning lit her up. The clouds rumbled with the deep sound of thunder. Raje stepped out into the balcony to see dark clouds covering the sky. The winds were hot but there was no sign of rain. He turned to look at the idol. He stepped forward and bent down in obeisance, his forehead on the ground. The thunder seemed to be echoing in his room.

  Raje stepped out of his quarters and moved towards Jijabai’s room. He seemed to be in a trance. He shouted, as he reached Jijabai’s quarters, ‘Maa saheb! Maa saheb!’