Another Baji - Page 2

Originally posted by: RadhikaS0

Hi Maddy

I am acutely embarrassed by the gaffe yesterday 😳 Really sorry.

I sneaked a peek at the post from my mob and as you guessed, i missed out the main post. i just read from where you started describing Panhala and hence, the idiotic queries. 😕

I just read the post carefully from the computer and simply LOVED it. It's so vivid in its graphic, moment-by-moment description of what happened 350 years back! I could (still can) imagine every moment from your account - brilliantly narrated. The story just tugs at the heart strings. I had tears in my eyes when Baji PD got up to fight and stop the enemy at Ghodkhind , despite being fatally shot in the chest. Such devotion to Shivaji Maharaj - this is what makes me wonder what kind of a person Shivaji Maharaj must have been like to have captured the hearts of his people in this manner that they didn't mind laying down their lives for him in the least bit. What unflinching loyalty they showed down to the last man standing! My salute to Jiva, Baji and each of the 600 soldiers who acted like a human shield for Shivaji Maharaj so that he could escape to safety and first, free Pune and then the Maratha homeland.

Jiva's impersonation reminds me of Jhala Man Singh who impersonated Maharana Pratap so that the latter could reach safety and continue his fight for Mewar.

Such noble men are not to be found in our times. I completely agree with you that Shivaji Maharaj's dream continued to flourish long after he passed away, purely because he was the sole object of devotion of every Maratha and had kindled the flame of Swarajya in each of their souls.

The fort of Panhala is magnificent. I can imagine how tough it would have been to conquer.

Thanks so much for this stunning tale of courage and sacrifice. 👏

Originally posted by: The.Lannister

Ah, this post! 😭 I am not the sort to tear up at the slightest thing but when I read such accounts from our history I cannot stop my tears. I started crying at the first mention of Shiva Nhavi Such loyalty, patriotism, valour, courage. I will come to Baji Prabhu Deshpande in a minute but Shiva Nhavi deserves a first & special mention because he was just a common man, unlike BPD & the Bandal Sena who were soldiers & hence had received training. But for a common man to face the wrath of the Mughals for his Maharaj & their common dream of Hindavi Swarajya 👏 👏 Also, that part where he meets BPD & says he isnt worried about his family because he knows Shivaji Maharaj will take care of them...such faith in the King is unheard of!! 👏 and the best part is that he isn't a lone example. There are so many of them...dying for Shivaji w/o a second thought, assured that their families will be taken care of, their women will not meet dishonour.

Now coming to BPD. What a man! And your description did complete justice to this brave warrior. I could easily picture him standing there like a lion, daring his foes to cross him. What a sight it must have been In such cases even the enemies are fortunate to have a chance to go against the very best, for if they win, against whom did they win & if they lose, against WHOM did the lose! 👏

These brave men remind me of two quotes which I read a few days back:

"Cattle die and kinsmen die, thyself too soon must die, but one thing never, I ween, will die, fair fame of one who has earned" "Hvaml: 75

A question: Was BPD Shivaji's childhood friend? Like was he among those young men who took an oath of Hindavi Swarajya with Shivaji or did he join him later?

Originally posted by: The.Lannister

Making a separate post to talk about the Surves🤢 & their likes...

Our Baji in the show yesterday asked a question as to how could our own people go against us? A question which continues to haunt generations. I loved the answer Shivaji gave: Desh ke shatru hamesha desh ke bahar nahi hote, kabhi kabhi wo desh ke andar bhi hote hai. Aakhir agar kulhaadi ko lakde ka danda nahi hota toh kya wo kabhi ped kaat paati

IDK if this curse of treachery will ever be lifted from India. The above dialogue stunned me because yesterday afternoon I was reading an article about the traitors we have within even today. (The article in case you are interested: http://www.opindia.com/2017/03/pakistan-has-started-a-war-and-it-is-winning-it-but-you-can-fight-back/)

It hurts to know that these traitors survive, like a virus which is difficult to kill, always outliving the truly worthy men.

And since you have mentioned Afzalkhan in this post sharing a little story of the saath kabar (sixty graves) which I read a few days back:

Saath Kabar is located on Torvi Road, 7 km from Bijapur. Afzal Khan volunteered to kill Shivaji for AdilShah. Before setting out on his mission he met a Sufi saint who told him that Shivaji would kill him. Afzal spent a lot of time pondering over this prophecy & ordered a secret garden be made in Bijapur where he ordered 63 graves be dug up. When these graves were ready Afzal Khan personally took his 63 wives to a lonely spot in Bijapur & pushed them in a well, one after another, murdering them all. 2 of his wives tried to escape but were caught & killed by his soldiers. The bodies of his 63 wives were then removed from the well & buried in the graves in the garden. He had also had a cenotaph for himself constructed in that garden after which he set out on his mission against Shivaji. This incident could be a rumour or could very well be the truth...

Btw Maddy, do you have a blog where you write down all these things like Abhay? If yes, link please. If not, why not??? Please make one immediately. You have that rare gift of making History sound interesting. It is so easy to picture everything when you write it down.

Originally posted by: The.Lannister

There is a lot of truth here in what you have written. Shivaji is more alive today than any other national Hindu hero of that era. Most have been forgotten. but not him. The politicians have used him shamelessly but even that didn't sour his memories for the common man.

I am not much well versed in History but I wonder if the Britishers too recognized this latent fire burning in the hearts of the people of this region & hence we find all his forts pulled down. All Maratha places of historic importance like the Shanivar Vada for example have been razed down while the palaces in other parts of the country are still intact. Were these palaces reconstructed by the state governments or were they left unharmed because their rulers sided with the British? Our government has finally woken up & would be reconstructing 18 forts of Shivaji at least