कान्हीजी आंग्रे यांच्यावर दूरदर्शन मालिका काढावी

"कान्हीजी आंग्रे यांच्यावर दूरदर्शन मालिका काढावी" या आशयाचे पत्र ९३ साली चुनाभट्टीचे दत्ताराम गायकर यांनी दैनिक सामनाला पाठवले होते.

सदर पत्र सोबत देत आहे.

दैनिक सामना
दिनांक २ सप्टेंबर १९९३

1st Siege of Janjira

1st Siege of Janjira - जंजिऱ्याचा पहिला वेढा

After the capture of Jawali, the western borders of Swarajya met the eastern borders of Habsan (Land of the Abyssinians of Janjira). These Abyssinians or Habshis were the nominal Admiral's of Adilshahi kingdom. Although they acted like local princes, they were more renowned for their acts of piracy on the seas & slave trade.
They ruled from their capital of Janjira, an island fort commanding the harbour of Rajpuri (or Danda-Rajpuri).
On 31 July 1657, Shivaji sent Raghunath Ballal Sabnis with 5000-7000 infantry on an expedition to capture Habsan. Raghunath Ballal had lately distinguished himself in the Campaign of Jawali. He had lead his cavalry against Hambirrao More, defeated him and Captured Jor. This was the first victory of Jawali campaign and the distinction of taking the first blood was earned by Raghunath Ballal.
Campaigning in Konkan is difficult due to its broken geography, which hinders mobility. The Janjira campaign of 1657 was taken up in the middle of the Monsoons. Which is very audacious, to say the least. To campaign in such a weather is nigh impossible. And yet, the Marathas captured the great forts of Tala and Ghosala. They defeated the Siddis in at least two land battles. Captured Danda-rajpuri, and forced Siddi to be locked up in his own capital, Janjira. And yet, Marathas could not assail Janjira, as they did not have a navy.
Upon Siddi's asking for peace and cessation of hostilities, an agreement was reached between Marathas and Siddis. Neither of the parties were to disturb others territories, and maintain peaceful ties.
This campaign must have made Shivaji realise the importance of having a Regular Navy. His next campaign was the capture of North Konkan, after which he established his Navy.

जंजिऱ्याचा पहिला वेढा

जावळी काबीज केल्यानंतर स्वराज्याच्या पश्चिम सीमा हबसानाच्या पूर्व सीमेला भिडल्या. हबसान म्हणजे हबशींचा / सिद्दींचा प्रदेश, आजचा दक्षिण रायगड जिल्हा. हे हबशी नावापुरते आदिलशहाचे सरखेल आणी मांडलिक होते. जरी हे स्वतंत्र राजांसारखे वागत होते, तरी ह्यांची ख्याती समुद्रावर चांचेगिरी आणी गुलाम व्यापारानेच वाढली होती.

जंजिरा येथील आपल्या राजधानीवरून हे आपले राज्य करत. जंजिरा हे राजपुरीच्या खाडीत होते, आणी याचमुळे त्याचे महत्व होते.

३१ जुलै १६५७, म्हणजेच श्रावण शुद्ध प्रतिपदा शके १५७९ रोजी महाराजांनी रघुनाथ बल्लाळ सबनीस यांना ५००० ते ७००० पायदळ देऊन हबसानात मोहिमेसाठी पाठवले. आदल्याच वर्षी, जावली मोहिमेत रघुनाथ बल्लाळ यांनी आपली शमशेर गाजवली होती. यांनी आपल्या घोड्स्वारांना घेऊन 'जोर' वर हल्ला चढवला, आणी 'जोर' येथे असलेल्या हंबीरराव मोरे यांना हरवून तो प्रांत स्वराज्यात आणला. जावली मोहिमेतील हा पहिला विजय यांनीच पटकावला.

एरवी कोंकणात मोहीम काढणे अवघड जात असे, कारण हा मुलुख तुटक असून जलद हालचालींना वाव येथे नाही. १६५७ची ही जंजिरा मोहीम भर पावसाळ्यात सुरु झाली होती. ही खरोखरच आश्चर्यचकित करण्यासारखी गोष्ट आहे, कारण पावसाळ्यात कोंकणात मोहीम काढणे हे आज पर्यंत अशक्यच मानले जात होते. आणी तरीही मराठ्यांनी तळे आणी घोसाळे सारखे बेलाग किल्ले जेर केले. सिद्दीला कमीत कमी दोन लढायांमध्ये धूळ चारली. दंडा-राजपुरी कबज्यात आणले, आणी सिद्दीला त्याच्याच जंजीऱ्यात अडकवून ठेवले. पण मराठ्यांना जंजिरा घेता आला नाही, कारण आरमारच नव्हते!!!

सिद्दीने तहसाठी तकादा केला, आणी तहाची कलमे ठरली. दोन्ही पक्षांनी एकमेकांच्या मुलुखास त्रास न द्यावा, आणी सलोख्याने रहावे.

या मोहिमेचे महत्व असे की महाराजांना स्थायी स्वरूपाच्या आरमाराचे महत्व कळून आले. त्यांची पुढची मोहीम ही उत्तर कोंकण मध्ये झाली आणी तिथेच त्यांनी आरमार उभारले.

शिवछत्रपतींचे आरमार Book Review [ShivChhatrapatinche Aarmar]

शिवछत्रपतींचे आरमार

Book Name : शिवछत्रपतींचे आरमार [Armada of Chhatrapati Shivaji]
Author : Gajanan Mahendale; Santosh Shintre
Subject : Maratha Naval History
Publishers : Parammitra Publication
Language : Marathi
Pages : 218
Price : Rs 225 (From BookGanga.com)
Overall Rating : 
Writing & Research : 
Illustrations & Maps : 


Detailed Review

I have been researching about Maratha Navy since '07, and I have read a fair amount of books. However, I must say, very few books have earned my respect when it goes to painstaking research. Few authors respect the concept of cross references, footnotes, appendices and bibliography.

But this book is different. And I am not surprised, as it is written by one of Maharashtra's most respected Historian and Scholar - Gajanan Mahendale and his personal friend and fellow scholar Santosh Shintre. Who else will give you a nearly 40-page bibliography and references for a 218page book? That's genuine "Scholarship" my friends.

The book covers the Maratha Naval period from circa 1650s to 1680 i.e. the demise of Shivaji Maharaj. The book itself is divided into 4 sections, viz :

1. Beginnings of Shivaji's Armada
2. Shivaji & Siddi
3. Khanderi Campaign of 1679
4. Afterthoughts

Afterthoughts is the shortest of the four [barely 3 pages]. Beginnings...is really well written, and throws light upon not only the beginning of Maratha Navy, but also the organisation of the Portuguese Navy in Indian Ocean. Shivaji & Siddi has some great action in it, more than the remaining three sections combined. Lastly, the Khanderi Campaign is wonderfully explained, both politically and militarily. Also the only section to have a well-printed map.

Appendices have a bad habit of leaving you unsatisfied. The same is true here. Appendices here are organised thus :

1. Shivaji Maharaj's Sea-Forts
2. Shivaji Maharaj's Naval Officers
3. Shivaji Maharaj's Battleships

Battleships is the shortest one. It has two illustrations of Maratha Ships, poorly reproduced. Naval Officers is fairly decent, although painfully short. Sea-Forts is accompanied by two photographs. There are five more photographs also in earlier sections.

History buffs will love this book.

As I said earlier, the book is a scholar's dream come true. If you are seriously studying Naval History of India and/or Marathas, you should seriously consider buying this one.

PROS :

• Well written AND researched sections.
• Great References & Bibliography
• Worth its Money

CONS :

• Bad Maps. Except the one in Khanderi Campaign, I loved that one.
• Poorly printed illustration of the two ships.
• If only the appendices were chapter-length...this book would have been 5star.

Final Word : Should you buy it? & Is it worth your Money? YES & YES.