There are times when the future of an entire dream of independence of an oppressed people rested on the mettle and sacrifice of few people. Few are fortunate to offer themselves as Ahuti (sacrificial offering) in these rare auspicious times in the yajna (sacrificial fire). One such momentous Ahuti was Baji Prabhu Deshpande (1615–1660) and his group of 300 Mavle soldiers.
In the 17th century, then-contemporary India was ruled by foreign Muslim rulers who subjected the local Hindu populace to great atrocities and coerced conversion practices using brutal force and money. .Massive destruction of Hindu temples took place during these times, and mass conversion occurred of Hindus to Islam. Like a beam of light piercing these dark times was born King Shivaji, a son of local Chieftain whose intellect, cunning, and noble character inspired men of all faiths and varied strata of society to come together under the swallow-tailed Bhagwa flag (saffron flag) which represented the flames of sidewards turned sacrificial fire, and successfully resist the onslaught of foreign subjugation. His inspiration attracted extraordinary men or maybe turned ordinary men into extraordinary, who sacrificed everything for the noble cause.
One of these extraordinary men was Baji Prabhu Deshpande. Baji was initially employed by a small-time enemy chieftain, who King Shivaji defeated. Shivaji was greatly impressed by this man’s valor and explained to him his life’s mission of freedom for the people from the oppressive foreign rulers, persuading Baji Prabhu to join his army. Baji Prabhu devoted himself to the common cause of Swarajya (self-rule). In 1660, Shivaji was trapped in the mountain Fort of Panhala by the Abyssinian general, Siddi Johar, who worked for Adil Shahi, the ruler of Persian origin in southern India. Multiple attempts by Shivaji’s men were made to break the four-month-long siege of the fort but did not succeed. As rations were getting exhausted, a daring plan was hatched to leave the fort from a hidden exit at night, breach the encirclement and escape from Fort Panhala to Fort Vishalgad, at a distance of 65 km. Fort Vishalgad was also surrounded by the enemy’s army but was the closest secure stronghold. The journey took 20 hours by foot over mountains and valleys. Shivaji’s look-alike servant Shiva Kashid dressed up as Shivaji and got down from the Fort with few soldiers, and fled in the direction opposite of Fort Vishalgad, knowing very well that they will be captured and put to death after being recognized. However, this sacrifice and the resultant distraction and disarray allowed Shivaji, Baji Prabhu, and 600 of their men to escape in the opposite direction towards Vishalgad, after fighting and breaking through the ring of encirclement.
It was a full moon night of July 13th, 1660, with torrential rain, as Shivaji and the soldiers hurried on the mountainous rock-striven path, crossing flooded streams. The party hurried, knowing that they were only a few hours ahead of the enemy. Siddhi Johar realized that he had been fooled by the look-alike decoy and sent his son-in-law Siddi Masud with a vast army of close to ten-thousand soldiers chasing after Shivaji in the direction of Vishalgad. Baji Prabhu saw the flickering light of the torches of Siddi Masud’s army following them, who were gaining on them, being freshly rested while Shivaji’s men were tired from fighting while breaking the encirclement. As they approached Ghodkhind (Ghod-horse, Khind-mountainous pass) a very narrow pass through the mountains about 10 km from their destination, which was the only way to Fort Vishalgad, Baji Prabhu said to Shivaji, “Please take half of the people with you and continue towards Vishalgad, while myself and 300 others will hold back the enemy till you reach safety”. The 300 men with Shivaji were needed to attempt and break the siege of Fort Vishalgad and enter it. Shivaji could see from the number of flickering torches that the chasing army was in thousands and refused to let Baji stay behind. Baji realizing that if Shivaji was killed or captured, the dream of independence would be shattered. He uttered the famous sentence, “Even if hundred thousand die, the savior of a hundred thousand should be saved.” He begged Shivaji to go to Fort Vishalgad and continue with the dream of establishing Swarajya (self-rule) for all the people of the land. Baji requested Shivaji to fire 5 cannon shots, indicating that he had reached the safety of Vishalgad. With a heavy heart, Shivaji departed knowing the fate of these soldiers. Baji Prabhu arranged his soldiers along the extremely narrow path, which was the only way through which the enemy could follow Shivaji. With 50 people flanking the pass and multiple rows of men extending from the wider entrance leading to the narrowest portion, he positioned himself with dand pattas (gauntlet swords) in each hand. Shivaji’s soldiers were the Mavles, who were mostly agriculturists, many of them part-time farmers/soldiers, having families back in the villages. I cannot imagine what must be going through their mind as they faced the onslaught of professional soldiers from the Adil Shahi army, fully aware that they will not be returning to their families and farms. The Siddhis were Abyssinian soldiers. Many brought as slaves but given military ranks after proving their skills. The fact that they rose to such prominence in Adil Shah’s army indicated the fearsomeness of the Siddhis. With the huge mismatch in numbers, facing such an enemy gives us a glimpse of dedication to the cause of freedom. Baji Prabhu and his men held the pass for 11–12 hours. By the time the next afternoon arrived, only 40–50 of the original 300 were left. Baji Prabhu was grievously injured, but no enemy soldier could pass him and his fearsome skill at dand patta. Siddhi Masud observed Baji from the nearby hillock and summoned an Englishman accompanying his troops with a long musket gun. He ordered the Englishman to shoot Baji, as that was the only way anybody could get past him. It is said that the Englishman was looking for an area on his body to shoot so that he would know he hit his target, but Baji’s body was so covered in wounds that there was no clear area on his chest or head.
The long gun musket shot Baji in the chest, and he collapsed. As the surrounding soldiers tried to drag him to safety and cover, Baji said, “I cannot let a single enemy pass through, till I hear Shivaji has reached safety. Death has to wait till the king has reached safety.” Baji knew that Shivaji had to fight the encirclement surrounding Vishalgad, before entering the fort and reaching safety. Baji stood up and again walked to the narrow pass and continued fighting. Suddenly, the cannon fires started in the distance. As the fifth cannon shot was heard, Baji collapsed and closed his eyes, smiling. The blood of Baji and 300 heroes consecrated the soil of Ghodkhind, which from that day onwards has been renamed as Paavan Khind (Sacred Pass).
A forty-five-year-old man fighting for 11–12 hours after walking overnight indicates the strength, stamina, and devotion of Baji Prabhu to the cause of freedom and self-rule. . The sacrifice of the other 300 unknown soldiers most likely unknown to even their own descendants is profound. These ordinary soldiers surrounded and supported great heroes and individually did not get accolades or glory just like the particles of mortar holding together great rocks that form the citadel of freedom that protects us.
