A SOARING STORM – SENAPATI SANTAJI GHORPADE

It was on the dark night on 5th of April 1689 (Julian Date) that Raigad witnessed an escape which was both a direful as well as a benign escape. It had probably witnessed the most shrilling rescue operation in its history. Rajaram Maharaj on the night of 5th April 1689 (Julian Date) along with a few trusted men escaped Raigad, in the midst of the huge Mughal army surrounding the fort. The men accompanying him were Pralhad Niraji, Rupaji Bhonsle, Dhanaji Jadhav, Khandoballal Chitnis and Santaji Ghorpade. These men were the real heroes behind this impeccable escape. They borne a great responsibility and executed it flawlessly. One of the pioneers of this mission was Santaji Ghorpade.

Santaji Mhaloji Ghorpade:

Santaji Ghorpade was the son to Mhaloji Ghorpade. Besides Santaji, Mhaloji had 2 sons namely Bahirji and Maloji. Santaji, Bahirji and Maloji along with Mhaloji Ghorpade took part in Shivaji Maharaj’s work of Hindavi Swarajya. Santaji at the time worked under Commander In Chief Hambirrao Mohite, who himself was an excellent warrior. Santaji can be forenamed as a warrior with courage, an able commander, having great administrative abilities, one who displayed great strength and skills on the war field and who was extremely loyal to his master. History takes into notice this great warrior from his beneficence in Rajaram Maharaj’s escape operation.

Shivaji Maharaj and Santaji: The Bijapur- Karnataka Campaign 

In the year 1677 Shivaji Maharaj launched a campaign to ‘Koppal’ to conquer the regions of Bijapur and Karnataka. The region was under the brothers named Hussainkhan Miyan and Kasimkhan. Under the leadership of Hambirrao Mohite the Marathas attacked the region. A ferocious battle took place and Hussainkhan was imprisoned. The Marathas had done a commendable job. And Hambirrao Mohite took a notice of the performance displayed by Santaji on the war field, which seemed to stand out from the rest of the army. There is a mention of Hambirrao Mohite to have recommended to Shivaji Maharaj that Santaji be promoted as a “Jumledar” (a post from the cavalry).

Sambhaji Maharaj and Santaji: 

Shivaji Maharaj’s death in 1680 gave a leeway for all the conspiracies against Sambhaji Maharaj. Mhaloji as well as Santaji were among the few men who had built up the trust and on whom Sambhaji Maharaj could lay his credence. After being coronated as a new king, Sambhaji Maharaj in the year 1682 (Julian Date) launched a campaign to Karnataka to bring under control the Pathans of the region. Santaji was given a handful of army and ordered to attack the Pathans. After 3 months the Pathans were defeated. Sambhaji Maharaj fascinated by Santaji’s work bestowed him with a hefty prize. 

On 1st of February 1689 (Julian Date) Mukkarabkhan’s army attacked the Marathas when at Sangameshwar. Santaji was with Sambhaji Maharaj at the time and fought with Mukkarabkhan’s army. Unfortunately Sambhaji Maharaj and Kavi Kalash were taken into custody by the Mughals. After their arrest just around eight days later, on 9th of February 1689(Julian Date) Rajaram Maharaj on Raigad was coronated as a king. Just a month passed by and on 11th March 1689 (Julian Date) while in the custody of the Mughals, Sambhaji Maharaj was brutally assassinated on the orders of Aurangzeb. On 25th March 1689 (Julian Date) that is within a month from assassination, Zulfikarkhan marched towards Raigad with a mighty force and besieged it. All these incidences were very thoughtfully planned such that the Marathas would not get enough time to conspire against the Mughals. However the courageous and agile servers of the Hindavi Swarajya, viz. Ramchandrapant Amatya, Shankaraji Narayan Sachiv, Rahuji Somnath, Nilopant Peshwe, Khandoballal Chitnis, Pralhad Niraji , Bahirji ,Maloji ,Santaji Ghorpade , Dhanaji Jadhav with the counsel from Yesubai (Sambhaji Maharaj’s wife) had already come down to a dicey but equally marvellous plan. The plan had two major constituents - 

a) Yesubai would surrender the fort and along with Shivaij (Shahu Maharaj) go into the Mughal custody.

b) Rajaram Maharaj would escape Raigad and move to Pratapgad .

It is from this very incident that the reign of Rajaram Maharaj begins and we see Santaji Ghorpade as a lead character and his magnificent role towards safeguarding the new Chhatrapati and the Hindavi Swarajya. 

Rajaram Maharaj with all his men left Raigad on 5th April 1689 (Julian Date) and was always on the move. He and his men never reprieved for a long time on any of the fort for they knew it was dangerous, as the enemy was always on their trace. 

Attack On Alamgir’s Camp: 

It was during the time when Rajaram Maharaj was at Panhalgad that Santaji and Dhanaji (Jadhav) outlined a courageous and an equally critical operation. Aurangzeb’s camp at the time was stationed at Vadu-Tulapur. The plan was to attack the camp and assassinate Alamgir Aurangzeb. Santaji gathered all the details of the camp and the strategy was put up. As decided Santaji set off with his army. After reaching their destination, Santaji’s army waited for his orders. It was now midnight. With the rains and thunderstorms, darkness spread over the entire camp. Silence grew graver as the night settled in. When the time was right, Santaji gave out the trace to his people and they started moving towards the camp. With great mockery skills they passed through the security and entered the camp. After searching for a while they finally came up to Aurangzeb’s tent (named as Gulalbar it was known to be situated in the midst of the camp). Swords were unloaded and Santaji entered the tent just to discover Aurangzeb not being in the tent! Santaji was disappointed! However he wished to leave a sign of the Marathas being here and cut-off the ropes of Aurangzeb’s tent. The huge cloth edifice came down in a crash. Santaji cut-off the two golden summits from atop the tent. By now the guards in the tent were awaken. A huge skirmish took place in the camp. Santaji with his army fled from the camp (while many of the Marathas were killed in this operation) and reached Sinhgad. A few days later he launched a Guerrilla attack on Zulfikarkhan’s army surrounding Raigad and stole away 5 elephants from his camp. With two golden summits straight from Aurangzeb’s tent and five elephants from Zulfikarkhan’s camp Santaji presented himself before Rajaram Maharaj. Extremely impressed with his remarkable work, Santaji was given the designation of Mamalakatmadar (ममलकतमदार) which literally means ‘the (strongest) pillar of the king’. 

JINJI- The New Maratha Capital:

When Rajaram Maharaj’s position at Panhala was found untenable it was decided that he move to Jinji, a strong hold about 60 miles south-east of Madras and about 40 miles inside from the coast of Pondicherry. Thus leaving Panhala at the end of September 1689 (Julian Date) and concealing their identities from the Mughal troops, the men with their king made their way outskirts the boundary of Maharastra and towards city of Bednur. The Bednur city lay on the banks of river Tugabhadra. The region was under the queen, popularly known as “Rani Chennamma”. As soon as the news was revealed to Aurangzeb, he sent a huge army under Jananisarkhan, Matlabkhan and Sarjakhan . Santaji was however watchful and alert. He attacked the army of Jananisarkhan before he could enter into the city of Bednur. Janaisarkhan fled away with his army but the Maratha troops lead by Santaji chased and defeated him. Santaji then marched towards the Mughal army that chased Rajaram Maharaj and defeated them. His agile and accurate movements, loyalty towards his master and the valour he displayed not only aided Rajaram Maharaj to successfully escape Bednur and reach Jinji but also saved Rani Chennamma’s city of Bednur from the Mughal destruction. It was Santaji who saved the history from repeating itself. Maharastra, a five months ago had suffered an incurable brunt when its king Sambhaji Maharaj was brutally assassinated and this time it was Rajaram Maharaj who was close to being caught up in the Mughal clutches, but for this time it was Santaji who saved his king and the Hindavi Swarajya from deluging into the Mughal claws. Rajaram Maharaj with his men arrived at Jinji on 15th November 1689(Julian Date) and Jinji soon became the new Maratha Capital and the centre of Maratha activity. Santaji and Dhanaji were supplying the necessary convoy guarding the front and the rear. “Indeed Rajaram owed his life to these watchful Generals and the men serving them” writes Riyasatkar Sardesai. 

The Satara Attack: 

In the month of January of 1690 (Julian Date) Aurangzeb sent Rustumkhan to attack and win over the fort of Satara. Santaji upon knowing the move divided his army into many minor sections and sent them for Guerrilla attacks on Rustumkhan’s army. In one such skirmish Rustumkhan sent his son Galibkhan with 5,000 army and 5 elephants to lead from the front. Galibkhan stationed the elephants on the front as shields. Before the skirmish could commence the Marathas began firing on the Mughal army and the elephants losing their serene state turned violent. The result was many of the Mughal troops being killed under the stampede. The Marathas upon seeing this turmoil take place in the Mughal army, launched an ‘elephant attack’ on the Mughal troops resulting in their horses being bewildered. It was difficult to control the entire situation with animals being rebellious and the army running away leaving the battle field. Rustumkhan suffered heavy a loss. He was hit by the bullets and fell on the ground unconscious. The Mughals lost around 2,500 soldiers in this skirmish.

New Capital Yet A Persistent War:

After capturing Raigad, Aurangzeb lavishly awarded Zulfhikarkhan and immediately sent him on his next conquest – The Conquest of Jinji! 

Zulfhikarkhan on 29th August 1689 began his march to Jinji. Santaji along with Dhanaji Jadhav, Budhaji Pawar and rest of the Marathas launched Guerrilla attacks on Zulfhikarkhan’s army. Zulfhikarkhan however was equally tenacious and determined. He kept his move forward and consistent even in the hardest of circumstances and on 25th August 1690 stood forth the mighty Fortress of Jinji with his mighty army. The Marathas under the able leadership of Santaji Ghorpade and Dhanaji Jadhav commenced their Guerrilla attacks on the camp and it soon became no less a challenge for Zulfhikarkhan to stay there any longer. Aurangzeb thus sent Asadkhan and his son Kambaksh with a huge force as an aid to Zulfhikarkhan. 

Senapati Santaji Ghorpade: 

Meanwhile Rajaram Maharaj was caught in quite an intricate conflict. The conflict was about granting a new post; the post for a Senapati of the Hindavi Swarajya.This post held an immense value. It was one of the top positions to be granted in the infantry. It demanded a lot of responsibility, determination and hard work. Rajaram Maharaj had before his eyes two able warriors, equal in strength, loyalty, determination and who possessed equal reverence for their motherland; for the Hindavi Swarajya. They were Santaji and Dhanaji. Both had fought the Mughals with great strength and valour. However they varied distinctively under one forum that was the thought process they carried. 

Santaji was highly disciplined. He had a strong hold and also possessed an aggressive personality that helped him to maintain law and order in his army. His inclination was always to gain success in the mission. 

On the other hand Dhanaji was of a complaisant personality. He always thought about his army and his inclination was towards safeguarding as many men in the battle as possible. The army therefore held a trust in him. 

Finally thinking from all these perspectives, Rajaram Maharaj declared Santaji as the new Senapati of the Hindavi Swarajya. Santaji now came to be known as Senapati Santaji Ghorpade. Santaji was overwhelmed but equally aware of his increased responsibility. This new post reinforced Santaji to work better and give his best service to his master and his motherland. He was all the more determined to display his skills and valour. Little did he know his joy was short lived! 

SENAPATI SANTAJI GHORPADE 

TIMELINE :

· Battle of Bijapur-Karnataka (under Shivaji), 1677

· Battle of Karnataka (under Sambhaji), 1682

· Battle with Mukkarabkhan’s army, 1689 (February)

· Escape from Raigad, 1689 (April)

· Attack on the Mughal camp, 1689 

· Guerrilla war with Zulfikarkhan’s army (near Raigad), 1689

· Escape from Panhala, 1689 (September) 

· Battle of Bednur, 1689

· Battle of Satara, 1690 (January)

· Santaji v/s Zulfikar Khan (Jinji), 1690 

-JANHAVI DATAR

REFERENCES: 

Ranazunjar Senapati Santaji Ghorpade – Mahesh Tendulkar 

Marathyanche Swatantrasamar (Part II) – Shri Puranik

Shivputra Chhatrapati Rajaram- Dr. Jaysinghrao Pawar

Maharani Yesubai – Dr. Sadashiv Shivde 

*Image in this article is Maratha Warriors imaginary  Image