The Battle of Pawankhind- The Thermoplae for Marathas
It was fought on this very same day, 360 years ago. On 13th July 1660, the name of Bajiprabhu Deshpande became immortalized.
It was fought on this very same day, 360 years ago. On 13th July 1660, the name of Bajiprabhu Deshpande became immortalized.
Shivaji Maharaj was at Panhala for some months, and the fort was laid under siege by Siddi Jauhar. The garrison inside was around 5000 to 6000 men
In the meanwhile, Shayista Khan seized the opportunity, and captured sizeable parts of Shivaji's territory.
Shivaji then wrote a letter to Jauhar, promising to treat Jauhar like a father etc. All of this was just a cover, to stall time and take the Siddi army off guard
The next day, Shivaji escaped from the fort in the middle of the night during the rains with 1000 infantry and 15 horses. However, the Shivbharat puts the number of infantry at 600
However, Jauhars spies got hold of this information and immediately reported to the Siddi commander.
The Siddi then lamented for a while about how the "Destroyer of the Yavanas" escaped from under his nose. He then dispatched Siddi Masud, his son-in-law with 2000 cavalry and a 1000 infantry
During the escape, Bajiprabhu Deshpande and his Maval troops took a stand at Ghor kind, to allow the passage of Shivaji into Vishalgad. They engaged in a fierce melee battle against Masud's army, and held them of for a long time, till Shivaji.
The Jedhe chronology tell us about this battle. A more accurate picture is given by the Jedhe Chronicle. It talks about how Bajiprabhu and his Bandals with a few hundred men fought valiantly and did not allow the enemy which greatly outnumbered them to ascend.
At the end, the remnants of the Bandal army went back to Vishalgad. The Siddi army which went to Vishalgad got routed by Shivaji, and they retreated and captured Panhala(which was then under the command of Trimbak Bhaskar)
Due to bravery displayed by the Maval deshmukhs led by Bajiprabhu, Shivaji Maharaj and the dream of Swarajya could live on. Due to their last stand, they effected pyrrhic victory on the Siddis and Adilshahis.
Sources- Shivaji the Great Vol 2,
Shri Shivbharat, New History of Marathas Vol 1, English Records on Shivaji
Shri Shivbharat, New History of Marathas Vol 1, English Records on Shivaji
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