Thread by @Dharmapla119633

𝐀 𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐨𝐧 𝐊𝐨𝐥𝐡𝐚𝐭𝐤𝐚𝐫 𝐟𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐥 𝐁𝐡𝐚𝐬𝐤𝐚𝐫 𝐑𝐚𝐦 𝐊𝐨𝐥𝐡𝐚𝐭𝐤𝐚𝐫 𝐚𝐥𝐬𝐨 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐚𝐬 𝐁𝐡𝐚𝐬𝐤𝐚𝐫 𝐏ā𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐭 -

Most of us have heard the name of Bhaskar Pandit a Maratha-era nobleman bore the surname ‘Kolhatkar.’ Among the warrior Brahmin commanders during the Nagpurkar Bhosale period, Bhaskarram Kolhatkar held the highest rank. Bhaskarram, also known as Bhaskarpant Kolhatkar, descended

from Ramaji Narayan, a Deshmukh (local chieftain) and hereditary landlord from Pandav Nagar in the Wai province. The original ancestor of the Nagpur Bhosales, Mudhoji Bhosale, had three sons — Bapuji, Parsoji, and Sabaji — who lived at Bhairavgad, on the banks of the Koyna River.

Ramaji and the Bhosale family shared a strong bond of friendship. Ramaji was a deeply religious man. With his blessings, Bapuji’s son Bimbaji had a son — Raghuji Bhosale I, who later became the founder of the Nagpur Maratha State. Following Ramaji’s directive, Raghuji initiated

the worship of Lord Ram in the royal family. In recognition of this bond, the Bhosales bestowed the priestly title (Upadhyayki) on the Kolhatkars. In 1730, Raghuji received the formal grant of rule over Varhad-Gondwana and was bestowed the title Senasaheb Subha. At this time,

Konheram and Bhaskarram, two brothers, accompanied Raghuji to Nagpur. Raghuji appointed Konheram as Diwan (chief administrator) and Mujumdar (finance officer), while recognizing Bhaskarram’s natural military talent, he appointed him to the highest military post — Senapati (C-I-C)

Shahu Maharaj tasked Raghuji with dealing with Dost Mohammad, the Nawab of Arcot, and his son-in-law Chanda Sahib. Bhaskarram successfully captured Chanda Sahib and brought him to Varhad. Thereafter, Raghuji gradually turned his attention toward the Bengal region of that era,

which today encompasses West Bengal, Bihar, Odisha, and all of Bangladesh. During this campaign into Bengal, Raghuji appointed Bhaskarram as his Commander-in-Chief. To protect themselves and their wealth from Maratha raids, the British dug a massive trench in North Calcutta

(Bagh Bazar) in 1740, which became known as the "Maratha Ditch." The first Maratha raid into Bengal occurred in 1742, during which they defeated the then Subedar of Bengal, Alivardi Khan, at several places. They looted ₹2.5 crores from the treasury of Jagat Seth Alamchand in

Murshidabad. Bhaskarram’s fearsome reputation spread throughout Bengal after this raid. In 1744, during the third campaign, he entered Bengal via Odisha, causing widespread havoc. Alivardi Khan, realizing that it was impossible to defeat Bhaskarram by military means, invited him

under the pretense of peace talks and negotiation, intending betrayal. On 30 March 1744, Bhaskarram Kolhatkar, along with 21 Maratha chiefs, somewhat unsuspectingly entered Alivardi Khan’s camp for negotiations. However, Alivardi treacherously massacred Bhaskarram and all 21

accompanying Maratha chiefs. To avenge this brutal act, Raghuji Bhosale sent his sons, Janoji and Mudhoji, on another campaign to Bengal in 1748. The Marathas conquered all of Odisha and advanced toward Patna.

Bhaskarram’s elder brother Konheram,heartbroken by the events,returned to the Konkan region. Raghuji granted Bhaskarram’s widow a jagir (land grant) worth ₹15,000 in Varhad. Until 1757, Konheram’s son Baburao and Bhaskarram’s grandson Ramchandra continued to serve the Bhosale's.