Thread by @varadadya

#storytime

The #BattleOfUmberKhind.

First the Prayer,

आई भवानी आणि वीरमाता जिजाऊ यांचा स्मरण करून,
हिंदवी स्वराज्य साठी जगलेल्या सर्व ज्ञात अज्ञात मावळ्यांना मानाचा मुजरा करतोय !
आणि उंबरखिंडीच्या अमर गाथे ला प्रारंभ करतोय !

Meaning, Remembering Lord Bhavani and Mother Jijau along with thousands of known and known Maavle (Maratha Soldiers) who Lived & Died to protect the honour of Hindavi Swarajya.

I bow in respect to all of them and begin to narrate the Epic the Tale of Umberkhind.

Picture this, There are THREE main Kingdoms in the foray. Marathas, Adilshahi and Mughals.

Year 1659 : Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj (Marathas) finishes Afzal Khan (Adlishahi)

Year 1660 : Baji Prabhu Deshpande aides a Historic victory for Marathas against the (Adilshahi)

Irked, Adilshahi now approach Mughals (at Delhi). They want Aurangzeb`s help to destroy Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in the West.

Aurangzebs long-standing enemy was Chattrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Such is the hate that Mughal History documents him as SHIVA, they exclude the JI.

13th July 1660 : Shahisti Khan (Uncle of Aurangzeb) attacks Chakkan Sangram Durga and wins "BHuikot Killa" from Marathas. Mind you this was only 28 days after #Pawankhind.

Yes, Marathas were an unstoppable force back then.

As a part of Diplomacy i.e Adilshahi and Mughal Alliance, Mughals easily got "Parinda Fort", which was under Adilshahi Rule.

The mastermind of this was KARTALAB KHAN (an Uzbeki General) working under Shahisti Khan of the Mughals.

Aurangzeb, smells an opportunity. With "Bhuikot Killa" in the Bag and with Adilshahis full support. He now wants to attack Marathas and finish them for once.

Eventually, Aurangzeb wants to finish Adilshahi and rule all over "Hindustan". That was his long-standing wish.

Happy with Kartalab Khan's performance, he is assigned a new Task.

Kartalab khan is asked to finish Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. On his command are 30000 Mughal soldiers and the entire Paraphernalia.

Now, coming to the Geography of Sahyadri Mountains Its stretched approx 940 kms. Out of which, 750 kms is in Maharashtra, which divides MH into two, One is Coastal Konkan & the other is Plateau (Pune/Satara/Kharad etc) in the Middle lies the entire stretch of Mountain Range.

Mind you, Kartalab Khan was a Nepotism candidate.

His father was Aurangzeb loyal, so was he. He knew war strategies, he had captured many forts, but the one knowledge he lacked was Mountain Warfare.

Reiterating the dates, it is August 1660. Marathas have won Pawankhind, but they have lost Sangramdurga.

Mughals have won Sangramdurga and Parinda Fort. Mughals with Adilshahi want Maratha to be finished and with it the end of "Hindavi Swarajya"

Post-August is Post Monsoon era. Good time to move your troops on attack mode. Rivers are full, fields are nice and green. No shortage of Food and Water for an entire Army.

Plus every other requirement is always carried along.

Kartalab Khan route was to come via Talegaon > Malawli > Lohgad to Malwan (Pune) & from there descend the mountain via Umberkhind Range (quiet narrow).

Once you cross Umberkhind, another valley overlooks you & after that is the Konkan.

"Hindavi Swarajya" is a huge dream and that has to be achieved in the Lifetime of "Aai Jijau".

That’s Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's promise to her.

Hence even he has no time to rest.

To build, Hindavi Samrajya, one needs money and resources and time & again, we have found out Maharaj (the strategist) has bought his resources from Enemies only. Now when he found out, Kartalab Khan was walking with his troop towards Umberkhind, his brain cells started ringing.

His Generals Tanhaaji Malusaare, Netaaji "Nana" Palkar were with him and we already know both of these men excel at Mountain Warfare.

The Team, after a major brainstorming session in the Darabar, comes with a Plan.

Umberkhind is a tough descend. But once, anybody descends there is no going back. It's Locked by the Hills on one side and Valley on the other.

Plan is simple. Let's trap this Kartalab Khan in this Umberkhind region.

But how? He has 30000 men while Maharaj only has 1000 of his men. Marathas were not the ones to give up.

They decided to use the Mountains, Bushes, Jungles as their main aid.

NANA PALKAR was asked to encircle the area with his men, TANHAJI MALUSARE took a Point along with his men, while MAHARAJ took another Point.

Here a point to be noted. Maharaj is right there, with his Mawla.

That's where the motivation of Mawlas comes from. MY KING IS WITH ME.

Coming to the Moheem (war). At one side is Kartalab Khan (the Uzbek General) who has so many resources that victory is his for sure.

On the other hand, his army has been moving from Aurangabad to Mawla (Pune) region. A Long Journey, the troops are tired.

While Maharaj's troops are nice and fresh.

Maharaj knew this Uzbeki is walking into my trap.

As explained, Kartalab Khans troops manoeuvred the tough terrains of Sahyadri and now they have reached Umberkhind.

The idea was to let the entire Army enter Umberkhind so that no troops can be used as a backup by Mughals.

Marathas hidden in the bushes waited till the last man entered Umberkhind.

Mughals plan was to camp here and move ahead at later time.

And it happened, the last Mughal soldier entered and with a signal. The entire force of Marathas attacked Mughals. Though the ratio was 1:30, but mother nature guarded the Veer Marathas.

Marathas from their Vantage hill-tops ambushed with Boulders and Arrows.

Mughals did put up a fight, but the Maratha Warriors soon showed them, who is the boss of SAHYADRIS.

History says, 3 hours and Kartalab Khan Surrendered.

But, this was not the end of it.

To go back, alive, Kartalab Khan, has to beg for Mercy from Chattrapati Shivaji Maharaji.

An advisor tells Khan "Chatrapati is not of the cruel ones, go surrender, ask for your life, he may give you a DHARMAVAAT"

DHARMAVAAT means a way of Mercy on the grounds of religion because Hindu Religion does not allow killings of Enemy Kings.

Khan approaches Maharaj.

Maharaj is all dressed in White. His metal helmet guarding his head and his metal chest guard was shining in the sun.

Maharaj looked menacing in that avatar. Khan begged for his mercy.

Maharaj granted him Mercy, but on one condition.

Khan has to leave everything back. The Weapons, The Canons, The Elephants, The Horses, The Jewelry & all The war Paraphernalia.

Maharaj, even gives the Mughal Soldiers a choice. You can stay back and join the Maratha Kingdom.

Thus, a Battered, Bruised, Defeated & Humiliated Kartalab Khan leaves UMBERKHIND.

Handling Mughals one more Defeat in the Hands of Marathas.

JAI BHAWAANI. JAI SHIVAAJI.