Rattibha

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10 Tweets 471 reads Nov 30, 2021

The Battle of Pawankhind: 300 Marathas vs 10,000+ Adilshahi Army
This is his story of Bajiprabhu Deshpande who led just 300 maratha warriors against an army of 10,000+ Adil Shahi forces in the narrow Ghod Kind pass.
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After killing Afzhal Khan in the battle of Pratapgarh, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and his men had based themselves at the Panhala fort near Kohlapur. The army of Adilshah came to know of this and immediately laid siege to the fort under the command of Siddi Johar.

The siege lasted for many months and Siddi Johar was cutting off vital supplies to the Panhala fort and thereby forcing Marathas to come out of the fort. Then a grand escape was planned by Bajiprabhu. According to the plan Shiva Nhavi (who resembled Shivaji Maharaj very closely)

to disguise as Shivaji & help him to escape safely towards Vishalgadh fort in Kohlapur. It was decided that Bajiprabhu & Shivaji Maharaj along with 600 Marathas will break the siege when Shiva will engage adilshahi forces.
On the full moon night, 600 marathas broke the siege.

Shiva bought some precious time for escape but They promptly beheaded him & then immediately sent an army of 10000+ men to capture Shivaji Maharaj. When the Maratha army reaced near the Ghodkhind Pass Bajiprabhu decided to make a heroic last stand to save their King.

Bajiprabhu & 300 Marathas blocked the Ghodkind pass, & fought with 10k+ army with war cry: HAR HAR MAHADEV. It was a bloody battle by all accounts. The brave Marathas fought for almost 15 hrs. despite being seriously wounded untill he heard the 3 cannon shots from the fort.

When Shivaji Maharaj reached Vishalgad with 300 Maratha soldiers the fort was already under seige by another Surve. Shivaji Maharaj with his 300 men had to defeat Surve to enter in the fort. Maharaj’s safety was signaled by the firing of three cannon shots.

Hearing the sound of the cannon, proud and brave Bajiprabhu attained martyrdom.
To honor Bajiprabhu Deshpande & other 299 Maratha soldiers who laid down their life for Swarajya, Chattrapati Shivaji Maharaj named the Ghodkhind pass as Pavan Kind (Holy Pass).

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