by Ranjit Desai
Fulaad Khan left and Shivaji shot out immediate instructions to Madari, Farzand, Joshi and the others. Sambhaji was sent over to Ram Singh’s place with Joshi. Raje told him, ‘Sambhaji, go over to Ram Singh Kaka’s place. And don’t go to the court with him. Listen to whatever Hiroji or Kalash Kaka say. Take care of yourself.’
Sambhaji left and Raje asked Arjun Singh, ‘Are the baskets ready?’
‘Yes.’
‘I hope all the men are trustworthy.’
‘Yes.’
‘All right then. Arjun Singh, you will accompany us till the borders of the town. We will then find our way from there. Call the men in.’
Arjun Singh called a man inside. He was one of the workers. Arjun Singh said, ‘He is deaf and dumb.’
Raje sat on his chair. While his beard was being shaved, Hiroji got into Raje’s clothes. No one from a distance would have doubted it was not Shivaji, who quickly changed into a workman’s clothes with a red turban on his head. Shivaji’s bearing changed completely. All instructions were clear. He patted Madari’s back. Madari started pressing Hiroji’s legs as he would do for Raje every day.
Hiroji said, ‘Raje, take care!’
Raje pressed Hiroji’s hand lightly. He sat in the room where the other workmen would come to fill up the sweet baskets.
The sun had set now. There was a clamour outside as the guard duty was being changed. Arjun Singh indicated to Raje and he joined the third row of workmen carrying out the sweet baskets. The baskets were being sent out one by one. Raje joined the queue and was out in a few minutes. The baskets were checked at the gate. The guards allowed them to go once they were sure that the baskets were okay. The men moved with rapid steps and soon were out of the camp.
Arjun Singh led the way and soon, they reached a narrow road leading to the bazaar where a fakir sat singing. Raje dropped a coin into his bowl. Another worker quietly joined the crowd and squeezed in behind Raje to share his load. Raje gently stepped out of the crowd and watched as the baskets moved out of sight within minutes. He heard a voice say, ‘Come on, we need to move fast.’ It was the fakir.
Raje joined the fakir as they meandered through the streets. They entered a house after negotiating a few turns. The house belonged to a potter. Raje said, seeing Kalash, ‘Bal Raje?’
‘He is fine. He will be out of Agra city by now,’ Kalash said. ‘The moment they hear of your escape there will be enquiries everywhere. They will stop anyone with a small lad. Mahadev is accompanying Bal Raje and they are on their way to Mathura.’
‘But what if someone recognizes them?’
‘He is bald and dressed like a poor Brahmin boy—no one will give him a second glance.’
#
Hiroji Farzand slept with his face towards the wall. Madari sat near his legs, massaging them. The lamps burnt brightly when Arjun Singh came for guard duty. Joshi too joined the guards while Fulaad Khan’s men peeped inside. They saw Raje sleeping as usual. Raje’s turban and sword were visible near his bedside. It was late at night now, and Raje had refused food. They could hear Raje’s whimpering. Madari continued to massage the legs when he whispered, ‘Hiroji, will you ask me to stop now? I am tired!’
‘No, continue massaging. I don’t want anyone to have any doubts,’ Hiroji replied.
Madari continued the massage. It was midnight when the guard duties changed. Madari had dozed off by then. Hiroji woke him up early in the morning and said, ‘Get up now.’
Hiroji stepped off the bed and changed back into his clothes. He put up a fat pillow on the bed and arranged the same to look like Raje sleeping there. That morning, when the guard peeped in, Hiroji signalled with his fingers on his lips to request silence because Raje was in a deep sleep.
They got up after a while and stepped out of the tent. While leaving, he told the guard outside, ‘Raje did not sleep the whole night. He is sleeping now. I will get some medicines for him. Don’t disturb him till then.’ They both stepped out of the camp.
It was daylight now but the tent seemed to be silent. Anyone approaching the tent was told that Raje had been not able to sleep the whole night, and that they should let him sleep now.
The sun was high in the sky. There was no noise from inside. The guards were suspicious and worried. The men who had gone to get the medicines had not returned yet. They could not take the silence anymore and called for Fulaad Khan. He came in immediately to find Raje sleeping. His turban and sword were at the bedside. He seemed to be sleeping peacefully and Fulaad Khan was reluctant to disturb him. He called out gently, ‘Raja saheb!’
There was no response.
‘Raja saheb!’
The silence was complete.
He came near the bed and lifted the bedsheet covering Raje. It was as if the heavens had come falling down. Fulaad Khan could not believe his eyes. He shouted, ‘Ya Allah! The devil has escaped!’
Fulaad Khan could not hold back his anger and kicked and insulted the soldiers around. He then went to Ram Singh’s house, who could not believe what he was hearing. They knew they were both in trouble. Ram Singh went to the durbar to report without any delay.
Aurangzeb was in the Diwan-i-Khas with the Wazir and maulvi in attendance. He was pleased to see Ram Singh and remembered the plan he had for Shivaji that day. He was going to move Shivaji that evening to the haveli and that would be the end of him. He said warmly, ‘Come in, Ram Singh.’
Ram Singh stood there with his head bent low. He was normally in good spirits, and Aurangzeb was surprised to see him like this. He asked, ‘Ram Singh, why are you so glum?’
Ram Singh looked up, his eyes moist. He said, ‘Jahanpanah, there is bad news. Shivaji has escaped.’
Aurangzeb could not understand the meaning of Ram Singh’s words for a moment. He threw the chain of beads from his hands and screamed, ‘How did he escape?’
‘He was being guarded as always but this morning, we found that he was not in his room.’
Aurangzeb’s temper knew no bounds. He called Fulaad Khan, who took the oath in the name of the Holy Quran that Shivaji had just disappeared into thin air—he had vanished! Aurangzeb knew Fulaad Khan’s loyalty and immediately blamed Ram Singh, ‘Ram Singh, this is all your fault!’
‘I ask for mercy, Jahanpanah. I wish to point out that my men were guarding inside while it was Fulaad Khan’s men who were guarding the camp outside.’
Aurangzeb dispatched his men in all directions to search for Shivaji and Sambhaji. He was confident that they both would be found soon. They searched in all the houses including the potter’s where Raje had camped earlier. But they could not find them.
Ram Singh’s men were caught and punished but they could not shed any light on what had happened. Unfortunately, Tryambakpant and Raghunathpant were caught in the search. Fulaad Khan vent his anger on them and tortured them to no avail. They caught Parmanand who was on his way home with the elephants gifted by Raje. He too was captured and taken back to Agra.
Aurangzeb behaved like a man possessed. He was unable to believe what he had just seen and heard. Had Shivaji really vanished as described by Fulaad Khan? He wondered whether Shivaji could walk through walls and materialize elsewhere. He was not willing to take chances with his own life and ordered strict security around himself. A maulvi accompanied him all the time. Ram Singh’s mansabdari was removed and Mirza Raja was ordered to capture Netaji.
#
The news from Aurangzeb’s durbar reached Raje regularly while in hiding. It had been nearly three weeks since their escape when Raje decided to step out in the garb of a mendicant. Others followed suit but their hearts melted seeing Raje. Shivaji said, sensing their trauma, ‘Niraji, my wish has been fulfilled. I have wished to be a mendicant for a long time. At least I am now wearing his garb. By the time I really become worthy, it might be too late!’
He continued, ‘You know the language of these people, don’t you?’
‘Yes.’
‘That is why I selected you to accompany me. Now you
are our leader. You are “Kalyan” and I am “Anand”. We all are your disciples.’
Raje gave each one a new name. They left in pairs. Raje made them leave in different groups, and go in different directions. They all left Agra within a few days. They knew that there would be strict vigilance towards the south; and hence, they moved northwards.
Raje halted at a dharamshala for the night. They lit a bonfire for warmth and to cook food. A man sat in one corner wearing a silk shirt and trousers. He had a small cloth tied to his head. He seemed to be keenly observing them.
The next morning, they were preparing to leave when the man came towards them, ‘Maharaj, pardon me but I need your help.’
Nirajipant looked at him and asked, ‘What do you want?’
‘I am a perfume seller. I have expensive perfume from Kanauj,’ he said, opening a box of perfumes.
Everyone laughed. Nirajipant said, ‘We are mendicants. Even ash is a burden for us. What use is perfume to us?’
Raje was listening to the conversation intently. He interrupted, ‘I have been looking for kewda perfume for a while now.’
Everyone was stunned into silence.
The perfume seller asked, ‘You want kewda?’
‘Yes.’ Raje looked into his eyes and exclaimed, ‘Kalash?’
‘Ji, Maharaj!’
‘Wait for us near Mathura. We will reach there shortly.’
Kalash got up to leave. Raje dipped into his bag and gave him a few coins. Everyone present was wondering what the exchange was about. Raje explained, ‘That was Kalash. “Kewda” was the password!’
They all reached Mathura soon. Moropant Pingle’s brother-in-law Krishnajipant and his brothers, Kashirao and Visajipant, took the responsibility of taking care of Sambhaji. They had got the news of Raje’s arrival in advance through Kalash. Sambhaji, in his Brahmin attire, was unable to recognize Raje and his men, much to Raje’s relief. The plan was to let Sambhaji stay in Mathura and send him to Pune only after the others had reached. The group now moved to Kashi.
Raje’s mind was not at ease despite reaching Kashi. Kalash took care of their stay but Raje was restless. He was desperate to reach his Kashi—Rajgad—and the one who had bought him to this world, Maa saheb!
#
The Padmavati gate at Rajgad was silent. There was no one in the courtyard. Moropant, Balaji and others were busy with their work. Jijabai was in her puja room as usual. She would spend most of her time there, often fasting. She was getting weaker by the day. Her forlorn look was unbearable to others yet they had no words to console her. The men tried their best to prevent rumours from reaching her.
Moropant sat in his office. It was noon when he was told that a rider had come to meet him. Moropant got up to receive the rider and could not believe his eyes. It was Mahadev! He ran to hug him tightly. He asked eagerly, ‘How is Raje?’
‘He is safe!’ Mahadev replied.
‘Where is he?’
‘I don’t know.’
‘What do you mean?’
Mahadev recounted the events in Agra and how they had escaped from the camp. He said, ‘As instructed by Raje, I crossed Narwar Ghati and waited for orders. As soon as I got the news of his escape, I came here.’
‘What are his orders?’
Mahadev said, ‘Raje had told me, “Mahadev, the moment you hear of my escape, go to Rajgad. They will search everywhere for me. I will have to find a way to reach there. When you reach Rajgad, tell Moropant that Raje has escaped and that he has reached the fort. They should fire cannons in celebration of my arrival. Give this message and he will understand the rest.”’
Moropant had tears of joy in his eyes. He said, ‘I am blessed to be able to serve him. You are his spy, Mahadev! Did you not understand his message? It is so simple. The moment we celebrate Raje’s arrival, the news will reach Aurangzeb and they will stop searching for him. Raje will then be able to find his way back home without much trouble. You wait here! I will inform Maa saheb and then you can meet her.’
Moropant stepped into Maa saheb’s quarters. Jijabai sat in the puja room with Putlabai in attendance. ‘Maa saheb, I have some news for you.’
‘Don’t tell me your troubles now. Whatever it is, tell Soyara.
Ignoring protocol, Moropant sat next to Jijabai and said, ‘Maa saheb, Raje managed to escape and is on his way here now.’
‘Who told you all this? Have you been dreaming?’
‘Maa saheb, Mahadev is here.’
As soon as Mahadev entered, Jijabai fired a barrage of questions. He tried his best to answer as well as he could. Jijabai paid obeisance in the puja room. Moropant asked, ‘Shall I give the signal for the cannons to fire?’
‘Wait for the night. Send a palanquin down the fort and let them come back with some riders. Get the guards in place, and the next morning announce his arrival with the cannons.’
That night, Moropant went down with the royal palanquin and returned a few hours later. The curtains were drawn. The news spread—Raje had arrived! The cannons boomed, announcing the good news. Raje was ill but had managed to reach home! Mirza Raja got the news and immediately informed Aurangzeb. The fort was being strictly guarded under the supervision of Moropant. No one could leave the fort and each visitor was to be screened carefully.
#
Shivaji Raje negotiated his way through various states like Chanda, Indore and other parganas in the garb of a mendicant. The landscape was now getting familiar, giving him hope. It was nearly a month since they had escaped from Agra. The aches and pains of the journey were soon forgotten. A small village was nestled between dense vegetation. Smoke was coming out of some of the houses, possibly from the kitchen. Niraji said, ‘Raje, let us rest here.’
The four mendicants moved towards the village. The villagers welcomed them while curiously looking at them. There was no dharamshala in the village but one of the villagers welcomed them into his house. Raje was overwhelmed at their hospitality and said, ‘Maharaj, these people are so welcoming.’
‘Anand, it is a Hindu tradition to welcome a guest at the door. It is thanks to such hospitable people that mendicants like us are able to survive,’ Niraji replied.
The farmer’s wife came out and after placing a few dry beans for the visitors, she went inside. The farmer pointed towards the beans and said, ‘Please eat them, Maharaj.’
They asked, ‘What is your name?’
‘I am Ravji Patil.’
‘So are you the Patil?’ Niraji asked.
He laughed, ‘Maharaj, we were Patils but lost everything to the Mughals. Now we just carry the title!’
‘This would not be your state for long, don’t worry,’ Raje said.
‘What?’
Niraji said, ‘Patil, Anand can predict the future and his predictions are always correct.’
Patil got up and touching Raje’s feet and said, ‘Anandji, I hope what you say comes true for this poor farmer. May God bless you!’
That night, the Patil’s wife served a simple hot meal of bhakri and some vegetables. Seeing the hot food Raje said, ‘Aai, may the Lord bless you!’
She looked at Raje and said, her anger rising, ‘Eat what you get. If we had been better off, we would have served some sweets too, but Shivaji has taken away everything from us!’
Everyone was taken aback but they kept their cool. Raje asked, ‘What has Shivaji done?’
‘We are the ones stuck under the Mughals. What is our fault? Shivaji Raje’s sardars—Prataprao, Anandrao and Telengrao—they are creating havoc everywhere, looting villages after villages. The Badshah had captured Shivaji, I believe. He should have died there, but I am told he has escaped.’
‘Has he?’
‘Haven’t you heard?’
‘How are we to know? We are simple folk,’ Niraji said.
‘Not only has he escaped, but he has reached the fort too. They sounded the cannons on his arrival.’
‘I see,’ Raje said. ‘But is it true what Aai is saying?’
Raje finished his meal and then spread out a mat to sleep. They left early the next morning. Within a few days, Raje realized that he had reached his territory—the familiar landscape, the mountains, the orchards and the distant forts!
Niraji said, ‘Raje, we have reached our territory now. It is okay if we let our identity be known.’
‘No, Niraji! Not till we reach the fort.’
Niraji was silent. The sun was high in the sky as the four mendicants walked along their way. Niraji signalled them to stop. They could hear horses galloping towards them. Soon, a group of soldiers on horseback emerged, led by a sardar. The mendicants stood on one side of the road. The soldiers stopped while the sardar dismounted and looked closely at the mendicants. Raje immediately recognized his commander Prataprao, who looked at them and said, ‘Sirs, where are you from?’
‘We are from Kashi.’
‘Then why are you headed south?’
Niraji fiddled with his stick and replied, ‘Beta, we are simple souls. We have nothing to own or possess. Wherever the feet takes us we go there.’
‘Maharaj, we are facing one problem. Can you tell us whether we will be able to overcome that?’
He pointed at Raje and said, ‘Beta, Anand can predict the future very well. Ask him whatever you wish to.’
Raje was stunned but did not say anything.
Prataprao came forward and said, ‘Maharaj, please bless me.’ Prataprao looked at the mendicant. Raje looked every inch a bairagi with his saffron turban, body covered with ash and a chain of rudraksha beads on his chest.
‘Beta, what is your problem?’
Prataprao glanced in the direction of his soldiers and asked, ‘Maharaj, is it true that you know of the past and future?’
The mendicant was enraged. He looked angry and said, ‘Are you testing me? I know you very well. You are Kudtoji, isn’t it? Raje gave you title of “Prataprao” and I can see a thousand men under you. You are the commander. Listen! Raje has not yet reached the fort. It is untrue that he has reached. I believe you want to know when Raje would reach the fort.’