The Mad Rush
वेडात मराठे वीर दौडले सात !
By : Vijay Rawoot
Alert as usual, Maharaj got the news of Bahalol on Panhala. His Sar-Senapati Prataprao Gurjar too was on some mission nearby. Prataprao the mighty brave general was earlier a spy, boxer and most importantly a great combat warrior. He was mainly instrumental in keeping Maratha empire intact, when Maharaj was stuck up Agra. After his great escape Maharaj awarded post of the General to Prataprao.
This was the great motivation for Sar-Senapati Prataprao Gurjar who went on spree to destroy Adilshahi empire at Balghat, Paranda, Haveli, Kalburge, Kalyan, Aawase, Udgiri, Bhaganagar ( Hyderabad). In 1670 he defeated Dawood Khan and Ikhlas Khan at Nasik. Same year he looted Karanje and in Surat took on 20,000 strong Army of Mahkub Singh Rajput and destroyed him in fears battle. Historians termed this battle as Karn Arjun War. Then in ultimate battle he trounced Diler Khan. Sir Dennis Kinked said "This is the first victory of Marathas in a pitched ( face to face ) battle".
Though Prataprao had bravery and number of triumphs, Maharaj alongwith all these things had few more things under his sleeves - intuition, instinct and meticulous planning. He called Prataprao and Anandrao to Panhala for very secret meeting and informed about Bahalol. He asked both of them to cut off immediately and and walk on Bahalol camp before he could get aid from various friends of Vijapur. It was April 1673 and Bahalol was at Umrani. Prataprao quickly assembled his army and rushed to Umrani and attacked Pathan's army. It was a shock to Bahlol whose hundreds of soldiers were killed in a sharp attack. At the same time, as per Maharaj's instructions Prataprao encircled the water tank that was supplying water to Vijapur Army. This was the perfect plan and Bahalol's water supply was cut off. He was unable to fight with thirsty soldiers and animals against Marathas, in that hot summer. He sent secrete message to Prataprao and requested him for safe passage. "I will not come to Maratha territory again but leave us now". he pleaded. Brave but soft hearted Sar-Senapati Prataprao melted and after taking grant and Elephants from Bahalol he left him and his Army.
Maharaj came to know this incidence on Panhala and became furious for Prataprao's act. When the Pathan like Bahalol had surrendered Prataprao had let him free. Maharaj was sure, Bahalol was not going to live up to his promise. Just after few days Bahalol started attacking Maratha territory. He destroyed Miraj and Kolhapur and fear of Maharaj came true.
Furious Maharaj send a strongly worded letter to Prataprao in January 1674... " What you thought and let Bahalol set free when he had surrendered ? You are a General but behaved like an ordinary soldier. Now he has started attacking our land. Go again, destroy him and win decisive victory. Otherwise never show your face to me again......".
.... Not to show face ???? Deeply hearted and insulted Prataprao desperately started tracking Bahlol's movements. And one fine day he came to know that Pathan is near Nesari and going to set his camp on the bank of the Ghataprabha river. Prataprao lost his cool and the anger filled in head and eyes rushed towards Nesari. No one knew what the General is upto, only six soldiers followed him. These seven bravehearts saw Bahalol's Army passing through Nesari's Kanadewadi Khind (Pass). Without any second thought seven crazy Marathas rushed into Pathan's Army and slayed number of of Vijapuri soldiers. But Bahlol was in no mood to recall Prataprao's favor on him at Umrani. It was just a matter of just a few moments. These seven Marathas were attacked from all sides...... stream of blood began to flow as Sar-Senapati Prataprao and six soldiers were killed mercilessly by Pathans.
One mistake was repaid by committing other grave mistake ! Prataprao Gurjar and his six brave soldiers offered their blood to motherland on Mahashivratri ... 24th Feb 1674. If you visit Nesari ....
Though Prataprao had bravery and number of triumphs, Maharaj alongwith all these things had few more things under his sleeves - intuition, instinct and meticulous planning. He called Prataprao and Anandrao to Panhala for very secret meeting and informed about Bahalol. He asked both of them to cut off immediately and and walk on Bahalol camp before he could get aid from various friends of Vijapur. It was April 1673 and Bahalol was at Umrani. Prataprao quickly assembled his army and rushed to Umrani and attacked Pathan's army. It was a shock to Bahlol whose hundreds of soldiers were killed in a sharp attack. At the same time, as per Maharaj's instructions Prataprao encircled the water tank that was supplying water to Vijapur Army. This was the perfect plan and Bahalol's water supply was cut off. He was unable to fight with thirsty soldiers and animals against Marathas, in that hot summer. He sent secrete message to Prataprao and requested him for safe passage. "I will not come to Maratha territory again but leave us now". he pleaded. Brave but soft hearted Sar-Senapati Prataprao melted and after taking grant and Elephants from Bahalol he left him and his Army.
Maharaj came to know this incidence on Panhala and became furious for Prataprao's act. When the Pathan like Bahalol had surrendered Prataprao had let him free. Maharaj was sure, Bahalol was not going to live up to his promise. Just after few days Bahalol started attacking Maratha territory. He destroyed Miraj and Kolhapur and fear of Maharaj came true.
Furious Maharaj send a strongly worded letter to Prataprao in January 1674... " What you thought and let Bahalol set free when he had surrendered ? You are a General but behaved like an ordinary soldier. Now he has started attacking our land. Go again, destroy him and win decisive victory. Otherwise never show your face to me again......".
.... Not to show face ???? Deeply hearted and insulted Prataprao desperately started tracking Bahlol's movements. And one fine day he came to know that Pathan is near Nesari and going to set his camp on the bank of the Ghataprabha river. Prataprao lost his cool and the anger filled in head and eyes rushed towards Nesari. No one knew what the General is upto, only six soldiers followed him. These seven bravehearts saw Bahalol's Army passing through Nesari's Kanadewadi Khind (Pass). Without any second thought seven crazy Marathas rushed into Pathan's Army and slayed number of of Vijapuri soldiers. But Bahlol was in no mood to recall Prataprao's favor on him at Umrani. It was just a matter of just a few moments. These seven Marathas were attacked from all sides...... stream of blood began to flow as Sar-Senapati Prataprao and six soldiers were killed mercilessly by Pathans.
One mistake was repaid by committing other grave mistake ! Prataprao Gurjar and his six brave soldiers offered their blood to motherland on Mahashivratri ... 24th Feb 1674. If you visit Nesari ....
दगडावर दिसतील अजुनी तेथल्या टाचा
ओढ्यात तरंगे अजुनी रंग रक्ताचा
क्षितीजावर उठतो आजुनी मेघ मातीचा
अध्याप विराणी कुणी वाऱ्यावर गात
वेडात मराठे वीर दौडले सात !
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