Baji Prabhu Deshpande

Baji Prabhu Deshpande
Posthumous sketch of Baji Prabhu Deshpande
Bornc. 1615
Shind, Ahmadnagar Sultanate
(modern day Pune district, Maharashtra, India)
Died1660(1660-00-00) (aged 44–45)
Ghod Khind, Bijapur, Mughal Empire
(modern day Pavan Khind, Kolhapur district, Maharashtra, India)
Known forBattle of Pavan Khind

Baji Prabhu Deshpande (c. 1615 – 1660) was a general of the Maratha army. He is known for his role in the Battle of Pavan Khind, where he sacrificed his life defending Shivaji from Siddi Jauhar's Bijapur forces. He also was a landlord or Vatandar in the Maval region.

Early life

Baji Prabhu was born around 1615 in a Chandraseniya Kayastha Prabhu family. Earlier he worked under Krishnaji Bandal of Rohida near Bhor. After Shivaji defeated Krishnaji at Rohida and captured the Rohida fort, many commanders including Baji Prabhu joined Shivaji.

Battle of Pavan Khind

A 20th century depiction of Baji Prabhu with Shivaji at Pavan Khind by M. V. Dhurandhar.

After defeating Afzal Khan and routing the Sultanate of Bijapur army at Pratapgad, Shivaji continued to push into the Bijapur territory. Within a few days, the Marathas captured Panhala. Meanwhile, another Maratha force, led by Netaji Palkar, pushed towards Bijapur. Bijapur forces repulsed this attack, forcing Shivaji, some of his commanders and soldiers to retreat to Panhala fort.

The Bijapur troops were led by Siddi Jauhar, an Abyssinian general. Discovering Shivaji's location, Jauhar laid Siege of Panhala. Netaji Palkar made repeated attempts to break the siege from outside, but these failed.

A risky plan was then put into action: Shivaji, Baji Prabhu Deshpande with a select band of troops would attempt to break through the siege at the night, and make for Vishalgad. In order to deceive the Bijapur forces, to avoid a chase if they found out that Shivaji had broken the siege, Shiva Kashid a barber by profession, had physical resemblance to Shivaji, volunteered to dress like the king and let himself be captured.

At night, Shivaji, broke through the siege. They were pursued by the Bijapur force. As planned, Shiva Kashid allowed himself to be captured and taken back to the Bijapur camp, guessing that he would be put to death once the charade was discovered. This gave the fleeing Maratha force some breathing space.

As soon as the Bijapur force realized their mistake, the chase was on again, led by Siddi Masud, the son-in-law of Siddi Jauhar. Near the pass of Ghodkhind (Horse's Pass), the Marathas made a final stand. Shivaji and half of the Maratha force pushed for Vishalgad, while Baji Prabhu, his brother Phulaji and the remaining Bandal Sena of a few hundred men blocked the pass and fought off the pursuing Bijapur soldiers for more than 18 hours.

Through the battle, Baji Prabhu, continued fighting though grievously injured, inspiring his men to fight on until Shivaji's safe journey to Vishalgad was signaled by the firing cannons.

The Ghod Khind pass was subsequently named Pavan Khind ("Holy Pass") by Shivaji, in honor of the sacrifice of Baji Prabhu and his troops.

Descendants

Baji Prabhu Deshpande was born in Bhor, Maharashtra.

Vishnu Narayan Deshpande, the 10th descendant and former Sarapanch of Parhar Budruk, was a freedom fighter. His wife Latika Deshpande was a relative of the author Ram Ganesh Gadkari. The family has a relationship with the family of Rango Bapuji Gupte. Vishnu Narayan Deshpande had four sons and four daughters. His son Dilip Deshpande helped people displaced by dam building, and farming is their family business. The family conducts social work and is aware of the legacy of Baji Prabhu.

One of Baji Prabhu Despande's descendants, Ramchandra Kashinath Deshpande, was an Indian freedom fighter against the British Raj, an educationalist and a social activist who worked in Dhule and Jalgaon. He participated in the Quit India Movement during the British Raj and was imprisoned for 19 months in the Kolhapur Central Jail. He was congratulated after Independence by the then Prime Minister of India Indira Gandhi. For his social work, he was given the title of 'Special Executive Magistrate' by Government of Maharashtra in 1989.

Baji Prabhu Statue, Panhala Fort.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Baji Prabhu Deshpande Death Anniversary: What transpired at Pawankhind". July 12, 2022.
  2. ↑ Tripathi, Anuj (ed.). "Baji Prabhu Deshpande Death Anniversary". The Free Press Journal.
  3. ↑ Sawant, Indrajit. Parnalparvat Panhalgad.
  4. ↑ Gokhale, Balkrishna Govind (1988). Poona in the eighteenth century: an urban history. Oxford University Press. p. 112. The early great hero of the CKP community was Baji Prabhu Deshpande, who sacrificed his own life in 1660 to enable Shivaji Maharaj to escape the Mughals at Vishalgad.
  5. ↑ Pagdi, Setumadhava Rao (1974). Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Continental Prakashan. p. 72.
  6. ↑ Kantak, M. R. (1978). "The Political Role of Different Hindu Castes and Communities in Maharashtra in the Foundation of the Shivaji Maharaj's Swarajya". Bulletin of the Deccan College Research Institute. 38 (1): 46. JSTOR 42931051. Among Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's [chandraseniya] kayastha prabhu officers, the names of Baji Prabhu Deshpande, Murarbaji Deshpande, Babaji Prabhu and Yeshwantrao Buvaji Prabhu have become famous in Maratha history. Baji Prabhu fell fighting against the forces of the Bijapur government near Vishalgad in 1660. Murarbaji died a hero's death while defending the fort of Purandar against the Mughal forces of Jaisingh in 1665
  7. 1 2 "Shivaji, Baji Prabhu & the Battle of Pavan Khind | Sanskriti - Hinduism and Indian Culture Website". 2015-08-15. Retrieved 2023-11-11.
  8. ↑ Duff, James Grant (1826). A History of the Mahrattas. London: Longman, Rees, Orme, Brown, and Green. pp. 151–153.
  9. ↑ Kincaid, Dennis (1936). The Grand Rebel: An Impression of Shivaji, Founder of the Maratha Empire. Collins. pp. 127–128.
  10. ↑ Sarkar, Jadunath (1920). Shivaji and his times. University of California Libraries (2nd ed.). London, New York: Longmans, Green and co. pp. 83–85.
  11. ↑ "Shivaji lieutenant's heir files plea against Maharashtra government". The Hindu. January 17, 2015 – via www.thehindu.com.
  12. ↑ "Freedom fighter's land used as cremation ground, daughter moves Bombay High Court". DNA India.
  13. ↑ Mapping the Nation: An Anthology of Indian Poetry in English, 1870–1920. Anthem Press. June 25, 2012. ISBN 9781783080755.
  14. ↑ Rajadhyaksha, Ashish; Willemen, Paul (1999). Encyclopaedia of Indian cinema. British Film Institute. ISBN 9780851706696. Retrieved 12 August 2012.
  15. ↑ Jones, Derek, ed. (December 1, 2001). Censorship: A World Encyclopedia. Routledge. ISBN 9781136798634.
  16. ↑ "Marathi Tv Serial Swarajya Janani Jijamata - Full Cast and Crew". nettv4u. Retrieved 2026-10-09.
  17. ↑ "'Har Har Mahadev' becomes first Marathi film to release in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada". Deccan Herald. 2022-10-07. Retrieved 2022-10-09.