Another Conflict against Bijapur Sultanate

Battles against the Bijapur Sultanate

Shivaji Maharaja

Fort of Panhala

Battle of Kolhapur

Having defeated the Bijapuri forces sent against him, Shivaji's army marched towards the Konkan and Kolhapur, seizing Panhala fort, and defeating Bijapuri forces sent against them under Rustam Zaman and Fazl Khan in 1659. In 1660, Adilshah sent his general Siddi Jauharto attack Shivaji's southern border, in alliance with the Mughals who planned to attack from the north. 

 Composition of Adilshahi's 10,000 forces

Rustam Zaman was assisted by other chieftains Fazal Khan, Malik Itbar, Sadat Khan, Yakub Khan, Aankush Khan, Hasan Khan, Mulla Yahya, Santaji Ghatage. It consists of selected cavalry of Adilshahi which was well known. In addition elephants were deployed as first line of defense. The centre was commanded by Rustam Zaman himself, left flank by Fazal Khan, right flank by Malik Itbar. Fateh Khan and Mullah Yahya were on the rear guard.

         

Composition of Maratha's 3,500 forces

Shivaji was assisted by Maratha Cavalry leader Netaji Palkar, Sardar Godaji Jagtap, Hiroji Ingale, Bhimaji Wagh, Sidhoji Pawar Jadhavrao, Hanmantrao Kharate, Pandhare, Siddi Hllal, and Mahadik. Center was commanded by Shivaji himself. Siddi Hilal and Jadhavrao were on left flank. Ingale and Sidhoji Pawar on right flank. Mahadik and Wagh on the rear guard. Netaji Palkar was off the centre.

Netaji Palkar

    

Movement and clash of forces

Godaji Jagpat

Rustam Zaman was planning to move towards Panhala fort. Shivaji anticipated this movement and in a quick dash appeared before Adilshahi forces in the early morning of 28 December 1659. And attacked the enemy. Shivaji charged the center. Other Maratha commanders attacked respective flanks. In a hard battle, Adilshahi forces were scuttled. By afternoon Rustam Zaman had fled the field.

                                                      Outcome

Shivaji gained a large territory and secured front of his emerging empire. Adilshahi forces lost about 2000 horses and 12 elephants to the Marathas. The Marathas under Shivaji continued to harass and conquer more Adilshahi territory. In one of the incidences, Shivaji tried to conquer an Adilshahi fort named Khelna but the terrain of the fort was difficult; conquering the fort was easier said than done. The Adilshahi garrison at the fort was also defending the fort valiantly. Then, Shivaji came up with a plan. Accordingly, a group of Marathas went up to the fort and convinced the Adilshahi chief (killedar) at the fort that they were not content with the rule of Shivaji and thus, had come to serve the Adilshah. The Marathas were successful and the next day, they revolted and caused total chaos inside the fort. Simultaneously, Shivaji attacked the fort from outside and in no time captured the fort. Shivaji renamed the fort as Vishalgad.

Battle of Kolhapur
Bravery of the Marathas
Date 28 December 1659 Location Kolhapur, Maharashtra, India Result Decisive victory for Maratha Empire
Belligerents
Maratha Empire	Adilshahi forces
Commanders and leaders
Shivaji Netaji Palkar Godaji Jadhavroa Siddhi Hilal Ingale Sidhoji Pawar Mahadik Wagh	Rustam Zaman Fazal Khan Fateh Khan Sarjerao Ghadge Baji Ghorpadhe Malik Itbar Sadat Khan Yakun Khan Ankush Khan Santaji Ghatage
Strength
3,500	10,000
Casualties and losses
1000+	7000+

Battle of Pavan Khind

Mohammad Adil Shah II

 Battle of Pävankhind was a rearguard last stand that took place on   July  13, 1660 at a mountain pass in the vicinity of fort Vishalgad, near   the city of Kolhapur, Maharashtra, India between   the Marathi sardar Baji Prabhu Deshpande, and Siddi   Masud of Adilshah Sultanate. The engagement ending with the   destruction of the Maratha forces, and a tactical victory for the Bijapur   Sultanate, but failing to achieve a strategic victory.

Reason

In 1660, the Maratha King Shivaji Maharaj was trapped in the fort of Panhala, under siege and vastly outnumbered by an Adilshahi army led by an Abyssinian named Siddi Masud. The Adilshahis were the dynasty which ruled Bijapur for many centuries. The ruler at the time was Ali Adil Shah II.

Shivaji had inflicted embarrassing defeats upon the Adilshahis, and they were determined to crush him. The Adilshahis were often at odds with Mughals, but in this case, they were aligned with the Mughals with the joint purpose of crushing the overly audacious and crafty Shivaji.

The story of the Battle

Baji Prabhu Deshpande ji

Shivaji planned to escape to the fort of Vishalgadh, which was administered by a Maratha chieftain named Range Narayan Orpe. Who was under allegiance to the Adilshahis, but had come to a clandestine arrangement to switch sides and join Shivaji at an opportune moment. There was also a Moghul garrison stationed at Vishalgadh which Shivaji would have to engage in order to achieve his aims. Shivaji waited for months, planning and depleting the Adilshah's food source. He waited until he reckoned that they needed to gather more food, and then started his plan.

Shivaji, Baji Prabhu and around 600 of their best troops, hardened mountaineers of the Maval region, would dash through the Adilshahi force at night. A man named Shiva Kashid, who resembled Shivaji in appearance, had volunteered to dress like the king and get captured. It was envisaged that this would buy some additional time due to the confusion over identity, before Siddi Masud realised the error and gave chase.

Siddi Masud

Shivaji made his escape on the dark night of July 13th, with his contingent of troops. Baji Prabhu was second in command of this contingent. The Adilshahis gave hot and rapid pursuit, with an army of 10,000. It was clear that there was no way to shake of the enemy, and that the Marathas would not simultaneously prevail over both the Moghul garrison at , Vishagadh and the chasing Adilshahi army from behind.

The only option was for a section of the Marathas to stay back and fight the larger Adilshahi forces in a rearguard action, while the rest of the Marathas would carry on to their destination. Shivaji decided that this was inevitable choice and split his forces. Baji Prabhu Deshpande agreed to face the troops of Bijapur with half of the contingent. Shivaji said that Baji Prabhu would hear the cannon fire from Vishalgadh (the destination fort), as a signal of Shivaji’s safety. The strategic position of Ghod Khind (Horse Pass) was chosen for the defence. It was very narrow and only a few soldiers could pass at any one time.

Pavan Khind 

The beginning of the Battle

Deshpande occupied Ghod Khind, blocking the path of the pursuers, and made a determined defence against them. Baji Prabhu was severely wounded but carried on fighting at his station. The Adilshahi army repeatedly tried to break through the defenses of the pass, but were repeatedly repulsed. The unequal battle raged for hours, with the defenders maintaining their positions, but with rapidly depleting numbers. Only a handful of Marathas survived, and around over a thousand soldiers of the Adilshahi army became casualties in attempting to take the pass. Five hours after the battle started, the cannon fire announcing Shivaji’s return to Vishalgadh was heard. Hundreds of Marathas been killed. Baji Prabhu, now fatally wounded, died at some point after this.

Shivaji’s plan was successful. Having made his way to Vishalgadh, Range Narayan Orpe switched sides and the combined Maratha forces easily surprised and routed the ill-prepared Moghul garrison situated there. Baji Prabhu had successfully fought the rearguard action and slowed the Adilshahis forces before they arrived at the fort having carried on pursuing Shivaji to Vishalgadh. The Marathas repulsed the Adilshahis inflicting heavy losses upon the latter when they arrived at the fort.

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaja - The forgotten Hero

Shivaji later personally visited the house of the slain Baji Prabhu, which was in the village of Kasabe Sindh in the Raigad district and honoured his family, including giving his eldest son a position of leadership and honour in the forces.

The defence of the pass of Ghor Khind by about 300 Marathas led by the Baji Prabhu Deshpande was renamed “The Battle of Pavan Khind” which in Marathi means “The Battle of the Sacred Pass”.The bad thing is that India is forgetting these heroes and these real life heroes are not given in any of the Indian History text books . Share this blog to everyone so that everyone should know about these heroes .

Battle of Päwan Khind
Brave Baji Prabhu Despande ji
Shivaji and Baji Prabhu at Pawan Khind
Date July 13, 1660 Location Pävan Khind, Vishalgad, Maharashtra, India Result Decisive Maratha victory
Belligerents
Maratha Empire	Bijapur Sultanate
Commanders and leaders
Baji Prabhu Deshpande	Siddi Masud Siddi Jauhar
Strength
300	10,000
Casualties and losses
200+	1,400+

Maratha Empire under Peshwa Bajirao I

           

Maratha Empire under Shivaji Maharaja