Kanhoji Jedhe
Encyclopedia
Kanhoji Jedhe was a 17-century Marathi
warrior, and a trusted follower of Shahaji
, and of Shahaji's son Shivaji who founded the Maratha Empire
in 1674. Kanhoji came from a village named Kari, in present day Bhor taluka, near Pune
. He was respected among the Deshmukhs, noblemen in the area. Kanhoji was some 20 years older than Shivaji. Shahaji sent Kanhoji along with the young Shivaji to Pune. Because of his high personal standing among the Jamindars, he helped Shivaji Maharaj in organising most of them under his banner.
His actual testing time came when Afzal Khan, a Sardar
sent by Bijapur
court, came to attack Shivaji. Adilshah had threatened all the Deshmukhs of the Maval
region to support Afzal or else perish. Kanhoji not only stood by Shivaji, but managed to keep nearly all the Deshmukhs on Shivaji Maharaj's side. After Afzal was defeated soundly at the Battle of Pratapgad, Shivaji Maharaj honored the loyalty and bravery of Kanhoji by awarding him talwarichya pahilya panache maankari.
Kanhoji demonstrated his own magnanimity
after the Battle of Pavan Khind
. Immediately after Afzul Khan's death during the encounter with Shivaji Maharaj, Siddi Jauhar, a great warrior, was sent to defeat Shivaji. To protect the citizens of the Maratha Empire
, Shivaji decided to stay at Panhala Fort
(near Kolhapur) which was at the boundary so that Siddi Jauhar's attack would not take him into the territory. Jauhar then surrounded Panhala with an army of forty thousand. When all other attempts to break Jauhar's siege failed, Shivaji decided to escape secretly. In the monsoon season, Shivaji and a small escort of soldiers crossed the siege line one night during heavy rain. However, Jauhar's army soon realized that he had escaped, and Jauhar sent soldiers under Siddi Masoud to catch Shivaji. After more than half a day's pursuit Siddi Masoud came very close to Shivaji and his escort. Then Baji Prabhu Deshpande
, a senior warrior with Shivaji, convinced Shivaji to continue his travel towards Vishalgad
while Baji Prabhu along with few warriors of Bandal clan held the narrow passage called Ghod-khind (Horse Pass). Baji Prabhu and his men fought with Jauhar's army and prevented them from crossing the pass. When Shivaji reached fort Vishalgad, defeating Surve Sawant's siege, he notified Baji Prabhu by firing three cannon shots. By now Baji Prabhu and his army were tired as they had been fighting for more than six hours, and Baji Prabhu had suffered many wounds. He died shortly after hearing the three cannon shots, realizing that Shivaji Maharaj had reached safety at Vishalgad. Shivaji was very sad to lose such a brave and loyal warrior. To honor Baji Prabhu, he wished to give the honor of talwarichya pahilya panache maankari – which had been held by Kanhoji after Afzal's defeat – to Baji Prabhu's Bandal clan. When Shivaji expressed this desire to Kanhoji, he agreed to it without hesitation. This was a great deed by Kanhoji, considering the fact that Kanhoji Jedhe and the Bandal clan had been great enemies until a few years before this incident.
Kanhoji Jedhe also played a pivotal part in bringing Shivaji back from Agra
where he was under house arrest.
; Samyukta Maharashtra Samiti
, founded by Keshavrao Jedhe
, led the demand for a the Marathi-speaking state. Maharashtra was formed as a direct result of this Samiti; the Hutatma Chowk
and Maharashtra Day
commemorate the relentless efforts of the Jedhe
s.
Marathi people
The Marathi people or Maharashtrians are an Indo-Aryan ethnic group, that inhabit the Maharashtra region and state of western India. Their language Marathi is part of the southern group of Indo-Aryan languages...
warrior, and a trusted follower of Shahaji
Shahaji
Shahaji Raje Bhosle was an early exponent of guerilla warfare. He was the eldest son of Maloji Bhosale of Verul . He brought the house of Bhosle into prominence. The princely states of Tanjore, Kolhapur and Satara are Bhosle legacies...
, and of Shahaji's son Shivaji who founded the Maratha Empire
Maratha Empire
The Maratha Empire or the Maratha Confederacy was an Indian imperial power that existed from 1674 to 1818. At its peak, the empire covered much of South Asia, encompassing a territory of over 2.8 million km²....
in 1674. Kanhoji came from a village named Kari, in present day Bhor taluka, near Pune
Pune
Pune , is the eighth largest metropolis in India, the second largest in the state of Maharashtra after Mumbai, and the largest city in the Western Ghats. Once the centre of power of the Maratha Empire, it is situated 560 metres above sea level on the Deccan plateau at the confluence of the Mula ...
. He was respected among the Deshmukhs, noblemen in the area. Kanhoji was some 20 years older than Shivaji. Shahaji sent Kanhoji along with the young Shivaji to Pune. Because of his high personal standing among the Jamindars, he helped Shivaji Maharaj in organising most of them under his banner.
His actual testing time came when Afzal Khan, a Sardar
Sardar
Sardar is a title of Indo-Aryan origin that was originally used to denote feudal princes, noblemen, and other aristocrats. It was later applied to indicate a Head of State, a Commander-in-chief, and an Army military rank...
sent by Bijapur
Bijapur, Karnataka
Bijapur Urdu:بیجاپور city is the district headquarters of Bijapur District of Karnataka state. Bijapur city is well known for its historical monuments of architectural importance built during the rule of Adil Shahi dynasty...
court, came to attack Shivaji. Adilshah had threatened all the Deshmukhs of the Maval
Maval
Maval or is a tehsil in Maval subdivision of Pune district in the Indian state of Maharashtra.-Description:The word Maval is derived from a Marathi word Mavalati, meaning the direction in which the sun sets. This region is towards the west of Pune area. It is hilly terrain and part of the Sahyadri...
region to support Afzal or else perish. Kanhoji not only stood by Shivaji, but managed to keep nearly all the Deshmukhs on Shivaji Maharaj's side. After Afzal was defeated soundly at the Battle of Pratapgad, Shivaji Maharaj honored the loyalty and bravery of Kanhoji by awarding him talwarichya pahilya panache maankari.
Kanhoji demonstrated his own magnanimity
Magnanimity
Magnanimity is the virtue of being great of mind and heart. It encompasses, usually, a refusal to be petty, a willingness to face danger, and actions for noble purposes. Its antithesis is pusillanimity...
after the Battle of Pavan Khind
Battle of Pavan Khind
Battle of Pävankhind was a rear guard battle and a Last Stand that took place on July 13, 1660 at a mountain pass in the vicinity of fort Vishalgad, near the city of Kolhapur, Maharashtra, India between the Maratha sardar Baji Prabhu Deshpande and Siddi Masud of Adilshah. The Marathas held the...
. Immediately after Afzul Khan's death during the encounter with Shivaji Maharaj, Siddi Jauhar, a great warrior, was sent to defeat Shivaji. To protect the citizens of the Maratha Empire
Maratha Empire
The Maratha Empire or the Maratha Confederacy was an Indian imperial power that existed from 1674 to 1818. At its peak, the empire covered much of South Asia, encompassing a territory of over 2.8 million km²....
, Shivaji decided to stay at Panhala Fort
Panhala fort
Panhala fort , also known as Panhalgad, Pahalla and Panalla , is located in Panhala, 20 kilometres northwest of Kolhapur in Maharashtra, India. It is strategically located looking over a pass in the Sahyadri mountain range which was a major trade route from Bijapur in the interior of Maharashtra to...
(near Kolhapur) which was at the boundary so that Siddi Jauhar's attack would not take him into the territory. Jauhar then surrounded Panhala with an army of forty thousand. When all other attempts to break Jauhar's siege failed, Shivaji decided to escape secretly. In the monsoon season, Shivaji and a small escort of soldiers crossed the siege line one night during heavy rain. However, Jauhar's army soon realized that he had escaped, and Jauhar sent soldiers under Siddi Masoud to catch Shivaji. After more than half a day's pursuit Siddi Masoud came very close to Shivaji and his escort. Then Baji Prabhu Deshpande
Baji Prabhu Deshpande
Baji Prabhu Deshpande was one of the lieutenants of Chattrapati Shivaji, founder of the Maratha empire...
, a senior warrior with Shivaji, convinced Shivaji to continue his travel towards Vishalgad
Vishalgad
Vishalgad was one of the important forts of Shivaji and Maratha Empire. The name ‘Vishalgad’ meaning grand fort in Marathi, was given by Shivaji after annexing it for the Maratha Empire in 1659.The fort is about 1130 meters that is 3630 feet.-Origin of the name Vishalgad:Khelna was in the control...
while Baji Prabhu along with few warriors of Bandal clan held the narrow passage called Ghod-khind (Horse Pass). Baji Prabhu and his men fought with Jauhar's army and prevented them from crossing the pass. When Shivaji reached fort Vishalgad, defeating Surve Sawant's siege, he notified Baji Prabhu by firing three cannon shots. By now Baji Prabhu and his army were tired as they had been fighting for more than six hours, and Baji Prabhu had suffered many wounds. He died shortly after hearing the three cannon shots, realizing that Shivaji Maharaj had reached safety at Vishalgad. Shivaji was very sad to lose such a brave and loyal warrior. To honor Baji Prabhu, he wished to give the honor of talwarichya pahilya panache maankari – which had been held by Kanhoji after Afzal's defeat – to Baji Prabhu's Bandal clan. When Shivaji expressed this desire to Kanhoji, he agreed to it without hesitation. This was a great deed by Kanhoji, considering the fact that Kanhoji Jedhe and the Bandal clan had been great enemies until a few years before this incident.
Kanhoji Jedhe also played a pivotal part in bringing Shivaji back from Agra
Agra
Agra a.k.a. Akbarabad is a city on the banks of the river Yamuna in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, India, west of state capital, Lucknow and south from national capital New Delhi. With a population of 1,686,976 , it is one of the most populous cities in Uttar Pradesh and the 19th most...
where he was under house arrest.
Descendants
In the 20th century, the descendants of Kanhoji Jedhe also played a leading role in the establishment of the State of MaharashtraMaharashtra
Maharashtra is a state located in India. It is the second most populous after Uttar Pradesh and third largest state by area in India...
; Samyukta Maharashtra Samiti
Samyukta Maharashtra Samiti
http://ekmarathimanoos.blogspot.com/2009/01/belgaum-border-dispute-bleeding-wound.htmlSanyukta Maharashtra Samiti , roughly translated as United Maharashtra Committee, was an organisation that spearheaded the demand in the 1950s for the creation of a separate Marathi-speaking state out of the ...
, founded by Keshavrao Jedhe
Keshavrao Jedhe
Keshavrao Marutrao Jedhe was a leading Freedom Fighter and Congress Leader from Pune at the time of Indian Independence and Chairman of Samyukta Maharashtra Movement in 1956...
, led the demand for a the Marathi-speaking state. Maharashtra was formed as a direct result of this Samiti; the Hutatma Chowk
Hutatma Chowk
Hutatma Chowk is the official name of a square in South Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.The square hosts Flora Fountain and was known by that name until 1960. It was officially renamed in 1960 in memory of the members of Samyukta Maharashtra Samiti, who lost their lives when police fired upon their...
and Maharashtra Day
Maharashtra Day
Maharashtra Day on May 1 is celebrated in Maharashtra, a state on western coast of India. Maharashtra attained statehood on 1st of May, 1960 when the then state Bombay state was divided into two states, Maharashtra and Gujarat on the basis of different languages, Marathi and Gujarati, under the...
commemorate the relentless efforts of the Jedhe
Jedhe
Jedhe is a Deshmukh sub clan of the Maratha caste in Maharashtra, India.The village Kari is the capital of Jedhe Deshmukh. Ambavade is also their village. The clan members were subjects of King Shivaji Bhosale's father, Shahaji...
s.