Khando Ballal
Encyclopedia
Khanderao Ballal Chitnis, popularaly known as ‘Khando Ballal’, was a diplomat in Maharashtra
during the late 17th century and the early 18th century. He was also the Personal Assistant
of Chhatrapati Sambhaji
, Rajaram and Shahu. He is remembered for his splendid contribution in strengthening the Maratha Empire
by way of loyalty, diplomacy and exceptional sacrifice.
family in or around 1660. His father Ballal Avaji Chitnis, popularly known as ‘Balaji Avaji’, was the Chitnis (Personal Assistant) of Chhatrapati Shivaji from 1658 to 1680. Balaji Avaji's original surname was Chitre. However, after being appointed as the personal assistant of Chhatrapati Shivaji the family started using Chitnis as the surname. In the regime of Chhatrapati Sambhaji
, however, Balaji Avaji was executed by Sambhaji
for conspiring and attempting to kill him by poisoning. Thereafter, on advice by Queen Yesubai
, Khando Ballal was appointed to take up the vacant post of his father in 1681.
’s Personal Assistant
for about 8 years until Sambhaji
was captured and put to death by Aurangzeb
in 1689. It is believed that once while Sambhaji
was crossing a flooded river, he along with his horse was caught in the speedy currents of water and was about to drown. Khando Ballal, however, was extremely attentive and fast enough to move at once to him, pull him back to the shore and thus to save his life.
After Sambhaji
’s execution, Ramchandra Pant Amatya
secretly sent Chhatrapati Rajaram to fort Gingee
to divert attention of the Mughal
army. Khando Ballal was one of the few who accompanied Rajaram in this hazardous journey.
After reaching Gingee
, with the help of Pralhad Niraji, Khando Ballal made tremendous efforts in finding out the diplomats and warriors those were vanished in the way and gathering them back.
He also conspired with Ramchandra Pant Amatya
to secretly move Queens of Rajaram from Maharashtra
to Gingee
with the help of his maternal uncles Lingoji Shankar and Visaji Shankar Tungare.
For the performance shown during the tough times at Gingee
, Rajaram gifted him the vatan of Dabhol in the konkan
area of Maharashtra
.
and was prepared for the final blow, Khando Ballal designed a plot for the escape of Rajaram. He secretly met Ganoji Shirke, one of the Maratha Generals in the Mughal camp who was also the brother-in-law of Sambhaji
, and begged him to help for Rajaram’s escape from the Mughal blockade. Ganoji dictated certain terms which were negotiated and accepted in writing. Thereafter, Ganoji put forth his major demand of the vatan of Dabhol which was then owned by Khando Ballal himself. Thereupon, within no time Khando Ballal pulled a piece of paper and wrote Gift Deed of the vatan in favor of Ganoji and put his signature and stamp. Ganoji was impressed and also embarrassed with the site of this great sacrifice but he could not control his greed. He, however, kept his word and helped Khando Ballal to escape Rajaram from the blockade and to hand him over to the troops under Maratha General Dhanaji Jadhav
.
but also as an Adviser in confidence.
After Rajaram’s death, Khando Ballal was continued on his post by Queen Tarabai
until 1707.
On release of Shahu after the death of Aurangzeb
in 1707, Khando Ballal was invited by Shahu to join his hands. Having sincerely felt that Shahu was the rightful and eligible heir of the throne of Maratha Empire
rather than Shivaji II, he accepted Shahu’s invitation. Until his death, he worked as Personal Assistant
and Senior Member of the Advisory Committee of Shahu and attained great respect and honor.
When Shahu became wild on the so-called betrayal by Parshuram Pant Pratinidhi
, one of the great diplomats and warriors of the Maratha Empire
, he ordered to arrest him at once and smash his eyes. When came to know about this, Khando Ballal ran to Shahu’s court and requested him to stop this nonsense. He then reprimanded Shahu for such unfair deal with the great contributor of the Maratha Empire
like Parshuram Pant. Shahu realized his mistake. He immediately released Parshuram Pant, apologized to him and bestowed his honor back.
Soon after this episode, Khando Ballal died probably in 1712.
of Shahu. After Shahu’s death in 1749, Govind Khanderao played leading role along with Nanasaheb Peshwa
in restoring Ramraja on Shahu’s throne.
Malhar Ramrao Chitnis, the first Indian to write History of Marathas, was the grandson of Govind Khanderao and great grandson of Khando Ballal.
Balvantrao Chitnis, son of Malhar Ramrao, was a minister in the court of Chhatrapati Pratapsinh since 1818. He remained loyal to Pratapsinh until his death in the prison of the British Government.
Maharashtra
Maharashtra is a state located in India. It is the second most populous after Uttar Pradesh and third largest state by area in India...
during the late 17th century and the early 18th century. He was also the Personal Assistant
Personal assistant
A personal assistant or personal aide is someone who assists in daily business or personal tasks. It is common in design to have a PDA, or personal design assistant....
of Chhatrapati Sambhaji
Sambhaji
Sambhaji Raje Bhosle was the eldest son and successor to Emporer Shivaji, the founder of the Maratha empire.- Early life :...
, Rajaram and Shahu. He is remembered for his splendid contribution in strengthening 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....
by way of loyalty, diplomacy and exceptional sacrifice.
Early life
Khando Ballal was born in a Chandraseniya Kayastha PrabhuChandraseniya Kayastha Prabhu
Chandraseniya Kayastha Prabhu or , abbreviated CKP, is an ethno-religious community which is part of Kayastha. The mother tongue of this community is Marathi...
family in or around 1660. His father Ballal Avaji Chitnis, popularly known as ‘Balaji Avaji’, was the Chitnis (Personal Assistant) of Chhatrapati Shivaji from 1658 to 1680. Balaji Avaji's original surname was Chitre. However, after being appointed as the personal assistant of Chhatrapati Shivaji the family started using Chitnis as the surname. In the regime of Chhatrapati Sambhaji
Sambhaji
Sambhaji Raje Bhosle was the eldest son and successor to Emporer Shivaji, the founder of the Maratha empire.- Early life :...
, however, Balaji Avaji was executed by Sambhaji
Sambhaji
Sambhaji Raje Bhosle was the eldest son and successor to Emporer Shivaji, the founder of the Maratha empire.- Early life :...
for conspiring and attempting to kill him by poisoning. Thereafter, on advice by Queen Yesubai
Yesubai
Yesubai was the wife of the Maratha emperor Sambhaji.Yesubai was the daughter of Pilajirao Shirke, an illustrious Maratha sardar , who was in the services of Chhatrapati Shivaji. Yesubai was by various accounts extremely beautiful, wise and prudent. She was fiercely loyal to the goals of her...
, Khando Ballal was appointed to take up the vacant post of his father in 1681.
Contribution
Khando Ballal worked as SambhajiSambhaji
Sambhaji Raje Bhosle was the eldest son and successor to Emporer Shivaji, the founder of the Maratha empire.- Early life :...
’s Personal Assistant
Personal assistant
A personal assistant or personal aide is someone who assists in daily business or personal tasks. It is common in design to have a PDA, or personal design assistant....
for about 8 years until Sambhaji
Sambhaji
Sambhaji Raje Bhosle was the eldest son and successor to Emporer Shivaji, the founder of the Maratha empire.- Early life :...
was captured and put to death by Aurangzeb
Aurangzeb
Abul Muzaffar Muhy-ud-Din Muhammad Aurangzeb Alamgir , more commonly known as Aurangzeb or by his chosen imperial title Alamgir , was the sixth Mughal Emperor of India, whose reign lasted from 1658 until his death in 1707.Badshah Aurangzeb, having ruled most of the Indian subcontinent for nearly...
in 1689. It is believed that once while Sambhaji
Sambhaji
Sambhaji Raje Bhosle was the eldest son and successor to Emporer Shivaji, the founder of the Maratha empire.- Early life :...
was crossing a flooded river, he along with his horse was caught in the speedy currents of water and was about to drown. Khando Ballal, however, was extremely attentive and fast enough to move at once to him, pull him back to the shore and thus to save his life.
After Sambhaji
Sambhaji
Sambhaji Raje Bhosle was the eldest son and successor to Emporer Shivaji, the founder of the Maratha empire.- Early life :...
’s execution, Ramchandra Pant Amatya
Ramchandra Pant Amatya
Ramchandra Neelkanth Bahutkar , also known as Ramchandra Pant Amatya, was the youngest member of the Council of Ministers to Emperor Shivaji dating from 1674 to 1680. He also served as the Imperial Regent to Chhatrapati Sambhaji, Rajaram, Shivaji II and Sambhaji II...
secretly sent Chhatrapati Rajaram to fort Gingee
Gingee
Gingee is a panchayat town in Viluppuram district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. The nearest town with a railway station is Tindivanam, 28 km away....
to divert attention of the Mughal
Mughal Empire
The Mughal Empire , or Mogul Empire in traditional English usage, was an imperial power from the Indian Subcontinent. The Mughal emperors were descendants of the Timurids...
army. Khando Ballal was one of the few who accompanied Rajaram in this hazardous journey.
After reaching Gingee
Gingee
Gingee is a panchayat town in Viluppuram district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. The nearest town with a railway station is Tindivanam, 28 km away....
, with the help of Pralhad Niraji, Khando Ballal made tremendous efforts in finding out the diplomats and warriors those were vanished in the way and gathering them back.
He also conspired with Ramchandra Pant Amatya
Ramchandra Pant Amatya
Ramchandra Neelkanth Bahutkar , also known as Ramchandra Pant Amatya, was the youngest member of the Council of Ministers to Emperor Shivaji dating from 1674 to 1680. He also served as the Imperial Regent to Chhatrapati Sambhaji, Rajaram, Shivaji II and Sambhaji II...
to secretly move Queens of Rajaram from Maharashtra
Maharashtra
Maharashtra is a state located in India. It is the second most populous after Uttar Pradesh and third largest state by area in India...
to Gingee
Gingee
Gingee is a panchayat town in Viluppuram district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. The nearest town with a railway station is Tindivanam, 28 km away....
with the help of his maternal uncles Lingoji Shankar and Visaji Shankar Tungare.
For the performance shown during the tough times at Gingee
Gingee
Gingee is a panchayat town in Viluppuram district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. The nearest town with a railway station is Tindivanam, 28 km away....
, Rajaram gifted him the vatan of Dabhol in the konkan
Konkan
The Konkan also called the Konkan Coast or Karavali is a rugged section of the western coastline of India from Raigad to Mangalore...
area of Maharashtra
Maharashtra
Maharashtra is a state located in India. It is the second most populous after Uttar Pradesh and third largest state by area in India...
.
Conspiracy for Rajaram’s Escape
In the early 1698, when the Mughal army had surrounded fort GingeeGingee
Gingee is a panchayat town in Viluppuram district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. The nearest town with a railway station is Tindivanam, 28 km away....
and was prepared for the final blow, Khando Ballal designed a plot for the escape of Rajaram. He secretly met Ganoji Shirke, one of the Maratha Generals in the Mughal camp who was also the brother-in-law of Sambhaji
Sambhaji
Sambhaji Raje Bhosle was the eldest son and successor to Emporer Shivaji, the founder of the Maratha empire.- Early life :...
, and begged him to help for Rajaram’s escape from the Mughal blockade. Ganoji dictated certain terms which were negotiated and accepted in writing. Thereafter, Ganoji put forth his major demand of the vatan of Dabhol which was then owned by Khando Ballal himself. Thereupon, within no time Khando Ballal pulled a piece of paper and wrote Gift Deed of the vatan in favor of Ganoji and put his signature and stamp. Ganoji was impressed and also embarrassed with the site of this great sacrifice but he could not control his greed. He, however, kept his word and helped Khando Ballal to escape Rajaram from the blockade and to hand him over to the troops under Maratha General Dhanaji Jadhav
Dhanaji Jadhav
Dhanaji Shambhusinha Jadhav , popularly known as Dhanaji Jadhav, was one of the great warriors of the Maratha Empire. His name became inseparable from the name of Santaji Ghorpade with whom he made terrifying campaigns against Mughal Army continuously from 1689 to 1696...
.
Later Life & Death
Until the death of Chhatrapati Rajaram in 1700, Khando Ballal worked with him not only as his Personal AssistantPersonal assistant
A personal assistant or personal aide is someone who assists in daily business or personal tasks. It is common in design to have a PDA, or personal design assistant....
but also as an Adviser in confidence.
After Rajaram’s death, Khando Ballal was continued on his post by Queen Tarabai
Tarabai
Tarabai was a queen of the Maratha Empire in India. Her husband was Chhatrapati Rajaram, son of Shivaji. Tarabai was the daughter of the famed Maratha general Hambirao Mohite...
until 1707.
On release of Shahu after the death of Aurangzeb
Aurangzeb
Abul Muzaffar Muhy-ud-Din Muhammad Aurangzeb Alamgir , more commonly known as Aurangzeb or by his chosen imperial title Alamgir , was the sixth Mughal Emperor of India, whose reign lasted from 1658 until his death in 1707.Badshah Aurangzeb, having ruled most of the Indian subcontinent for nearly...
in 1707, Khando Ballal was invited by Shahu to join his hands. Having sincerely felt that Shahu was the rightful and eligible heir of the throne of 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....
rather than Shivaji II, he accepted Shahu’s invitation. Until his death, he worked as Personal Assistant
Personal assistant
A personal assistant or personal aide is someone who assists in daily business or personal tasks. It is common in design to have a PDA, or personal design assistant....
and Senior Member of the Advisory Committee of Shahu and attained great respect and honor.
When Shahu became wild on the so-called betrayal by Parshuram Pant Pratinidhi
Parshuram Pant Pratinidhi
Parshuram Tryambak Kinhaikar , popularly known as Parshuram Pant Pratinidhi, was a diplomat and warrior of Maratha Empire during Rajaram and Tarabai’s regime. His contribution to the Maratha war of Independence is considered to be of vital importance...
, one of the great diplomats and warriors 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....
, he ordered to arrest him at once and smash his eyes. When came to know about this, Khando Ballal ran to Shahu’s court and requested him to stop this nonsense. He then reprimanded Shahu for such unfair deal with the great contributor 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....
like Parshuram Pant. Shahu realized his mistake. He immediately released Parshuram Pant, apologized to him and bestowed his honor back.
Soon after this episode, Khando Ballal died probably in 1712.
Legacy
Khando Ballal’s son Govind Khanderao Chitnis worked as the Personal AssistantPersonal assistant
A personal assistant or personal aide is someone who assists in daily business or personal tasks. It is common in design to have a PDA, or personal design assistant....
of Shahu. After Shahu’s death in 1749, Govind Khanderao played leading role along with Nanasaheb Peshwa
Nanasaheb Peshwa
Nanasaheb Peshwa , also known as Balaji Bajirao, was the son of Bajirao from his marriage with Kashibai and one of the Peshwas of the Maratha Empire. He contributed heavily to the development of the city of Pune, India. He was appointed as Peshwa by Chattrapati Shahu himself...
in restoring Ramraja on Shahu’s throne.
Malhar Ramrao Chitnis, the first Indian to write History of Marathas, was the grandson of Govind Khanderao and great grandson of Khando Ballal.
Balvantrao Chitnis, son of Malhar Ramrao, was a minister in the court of Chhatrapati Pratapsinh since 1818. He remained loyal to Pratapsinh until his death in the prison of the British Government.