Rango Narayan Orpe
Encyclopedia
Rangnath Narayan Orpe, historically mentioned as ‘Rango Narayan’, was a warrior and administrative officer on Fort Vishalgad
in the regimes of Shivaji, founder of the Maratha Empire
and his son Sambhaji
in the 17th century in India
.
He is mainly known for defeating the Bijapur army in the battle of Vishalgad in July, 1660.
family settled at Vishalgad since late 16th century. His father Naropant was the chief of Kothi and Ambarkhana i.e. Food Stocks & Treasure in the regimes of Mohammed Adil Shah
.
as Adilshahi General Afzalkhan sent a letter to him asking him to join his hands in the campaign against Shivaji. He also had given certain promises. However, Rango Narayan did not respond. Probably, he had already conspired with Shivaji because immediately after Afzalkhan's death and defeat Shivaji attached the fort to the proposed Maratha Empire
in November, 1659. In the same year, Shivaji wrote a letter to Udhaji Ahir Rao, the then Killedar of the fort Vishalgad, ordering him to handover the charge of Karkhanisi to Rango Narayan. The sequence of incidences proves that Rango Narayan helped Shivaji for capturing the fort.
and reached Vishalgad
after the Battle of Pavan Khind
, he ordered Rango Narayan to attack the Adilshahi troops camping around the fort. Rango Narayan did the job up to complete satisfaction of Shivaji.
Adilshahi troops headed by Siddhi Masood, Suryarao Surve and Jaswantrao Dalavi were attacked from a hill called Gonimooth, fiercely beaten and turned back to fort Panhala
by the Marathas headed by Rango Narayan. He was handsomely rewarded by Shivaji for his great performance. Later, during his coronation
ceremony in June 1674, Shivaji conferred on him the honor of ‘Palkhi’ and doubled his remuneration.
as his officer in confidence on Vishalgad
. References indicate that he was rewarded by Sambhaji
for discharging his responsibilities successfully while constructing the fortresses of fort Vishalgad
during 1683–1684. There is no mention as to the year of his death, however, several sources are available about the battles fought and diplomacy shown from time to time by his sons Kashi Rangnath and Shamji Rangnath in the regimes of Chhatrapati Rajaram and Tarabai
.
His heirs include the eminent historian Datto Vaman Potdar
.
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...
in the regimes of Shivaji, founder 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....
and his son Sambhaji
Sambhaji
Sambhaji Raje Bhosle was the eldest son and successor to Emporer Shivaji, the founder of the Maratha empire.- Early life :...
in the 17th century in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
.
He is mainly known for defeating the Bijapur army in the battle of Vishalgad in July, 1660.
Background
Rango Narayan was born in the historical SarpotdarSarpotdar
Sarpotdar is a family name found mainly among the Maharashtrian people in India. It is derived from the Mughal title Sarpotdar. The Persian word "pota" which means "treasure": the treasurer in Mughal times was called "Potdar" and the chief treasurer would be "Sarpotdar"...
family settled at Vishalgad since late 16th century. His father Naropant was the chief of Kothi and Ambarkhana i.e. Food Stocks & Treasure in the regimes of Mohammed Adil Shah
Mohammed Adil Shah
Muhammad Adil Shah was the ruler of Bijapur, ascending the throne in 1627 at the comparatively young age of sixteen years. This was accomplished with the help of two Bijapuri nobles – Daulat Khan and Mirza Muhammad Amin Lari .Muhammad’s glorious reign of thirty years witnessed some momentous...
.
Early life
It seems during 1659 Rango Narayan was the 'In charge' of the fort VishalgadVishalgad
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...
as Adilshahi General Afzalkhan sent a letter to him asking him to join his hands in the campaign against Shivaji. He also had given certain promises. However, Rango Narayan did not respond. Probably, he had already conspired with Shivaji because immediately after Afzalkhan's death and defeat Shivaji attached the fort to the proposed 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 November, 1659. In the same year, Shivaji wrote a letter to Udhaji Ahir Rao, the then Killedar of the fort Vishalgad, ordering him to handover the charge of Karkhanisi to Rango Narayan. The sequence of incidences proves that Rango Narayan helped Shivaji for capturing the fort.
Battle of Vishalgad
In July 1660 when Shivaji escaped from Panhala fortPanhala 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...
and reached 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...
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...
, he ordered Rango Narayan to attack the Adilshahi troops camping around the fort. Rango Narayan did the job up to complete satisfaction of Shivaji.
Adilshahi troops headed by Siddhi Masood, Suryarao Surve and Jaswantrao Dalavi were attacked from a hill called Gonimooth, fiercely beaten and turned back to fort Panhala
Panhala
Panhala is a city and a Hill station Municipal Council 18 km northwest of Kolhapur, in Kolhapur district in the Indian state of Maharashtra. Panhala is the smallest city in Maharastra and being a Municipal Council the city is developing rapidly. The city sprawls in the Panhala fort commands...
by the Marathas headed by Rango Narayan. He was handsomely rewarded by Shivaji for his great performance. Later, during his coronation
Coronation
A coronation is a ceremony marking the formal investiture of a monarch and/or their consort with regal power, usually involving the placement of a crown upon their head and the presentation of other items of regalia...
ceremony in June 1674, Shivaji conferred on him the honor of ‘Palkhi’ and doubled his remuneration.
Later Life & Inheritance
After Shivaji’s death in 1680, he continued working for Chhatrapati SambhajiSambhaji
Sambhaji Raje Bhosle was the eldest son and successor to Emporer Shivaji, the founder of the Maratha empire.- Early life :...
as his officer in confidence on 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...
. References indicate that he was rewarded by Sambhaji
Sambhaji
Sambhaji Raje Bhosle was the eldest son and successor to Emporer Shivaji, the founder of the Maratha empire.- Early life :...
for discharging his responsibilities successfully while constructing the fortresses of fort 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...
during 1683–1684. There is no mention as to the year of his death, however, several sources are available about the battles fought and diplomacy shown from time to time by his sons Kashi Rangnath and Shamji Rangnath in the regimes of Chhatrapati Rajaram and 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...
.
His heirs include the eminent historian Datto Vaman Potdar
Datto Vaman Potdar
Dattatray Vaman Potdar , better known as Datto Vaman Potdar, was an eminent Indian historian, writer, and orator. He was the Vice-Chancellor of University of Pune during 1961 - 1964....
.