It was a chaotic time everywhere. Army campaigns, battles, and everything else was on. Shahajiraje had attempted an extraordinarily courageous act amidst all this. He had one big worry. That was concern about Jijabai. It was risky to keep her in open towns. Where to keep her safe in all this chaos of the campaigns, was a big question. A strong shelter ideal to keep her safe would be some hilly fort on the shoulders of Sahyadri. And Shahajiraje suddenly remembered one such a lofty fort. Shivneri!
Shivneri! Really top-notch fort. The officer-in-charge was also powerful. Besides, he was a relative. Durgabai from his family was Jijabai’s sister-in-law. She was married to Sharifjiraje Bhosale (Shahajiraje’s brother). The officer-in-charge was named Vijayrao Sidhoji Vishwasrao. Real gem of a person. Close relative. Shahajiraje decided, Jijabai would be kept under the care of Vishwasrao. Only that family could take care of Jijabai, even more than her own family. They will take care of the delivery like she was their own beloved daughter.
Raje immediately prepared for Jijabai’s travel. He took with him some armed cavalry. It was a chaotic time. There was no guarantee that the convoy would not face any attacks while travelling. So Raje decided to drop her to Shivneri himself. Along with experienced, aged stewards, who were extremely trusted, wise and bore immense affection towards the Bhosale family, like Naropant Mujumdar, Malharbhat Upadhye, Balkrishnapant, Gomaji Naik Pansambal etc., Shahajiraje started the journey towards Shivneri with Jijabai. Her own female retinue was also in the tow. Closed palanquins and dolis were hurrying towards their destination. Dense forests and mountains. It was important to take utmost precaution on the way.
Shivneri fort was a very special fort. There was no other fort like it in the whole Junnar basin. Twenty-six kos towards the north of Pune, this fort sat pretty in the matted dreadlocks of the Bhimashankar range, and right in the mouth of Naneghat (old Satavahana trade route). It was bounded on all sides by straight hewn cliffs, strong ramparts, gigantic turrets and powerful doorways. As one entered through the Elephant Darwaja (doorway), Bhavani Shivai Goddess in her temple on the right-hand side watched over the fort.
Shahajiraje reached the fort-base slowly but surely with the whole convoy. Vishwasrao himself came to the fore to receive him. Raje and Jijabai went up to the fort. The Elephant Darwaja of the fort opened up. The whole convoy with horses and palanquins went inside. All paid tributes to the Shivai Bhavani. A cool breeze of Sahyadri’s winds patted Jijabai’s back affectionately.
Raje entrusted Jijabai’s responsibility to Vishwasrao. He also accepted the risk very affectionately.
At the same time, Pune started burning! All the houses in Pune had been set afire! Adilshah was beside himself with anger, when he came to know that Shahajiraje had started a rebellion in Pune, and had won over the surrounding Adilshahi region. Vazir Khawas Khan sent a big army on a campaign to break the back of this rebellion. It was under the command of another Maratha Sardar named Rayarao. Adilshahi armies entered Pune. Royal forces started playing havoc with arson and massacres. Shahajiraje’s mansion was burnt down. Such big mansions. The wooden beams treated with anti-termite oil for years together, took to fire quickly. The flames of fire and clouds of smoke started reaching the sky. The poor had to bear the brunt. They started running helter-skelter, shouting and screaming to avoid the flames of fire and attacks by swords. Those who came under the sword died! Actually, escaped. But those who somehow managed to run away under the shadows of night, forests, where would they run away? What should they eat? Rayarao completely demolished the ramparts around Pune. Royal cavalry was overseeing the rout they had wrought with extreme vanity. All of Pune’s graceful Veshis (gateways), were blown to the skies with mines. Kumbharves, Mavalves, Kedarves, started looking like human skulls from which the flesh had melted away. Numerous funeral pyres were lit all over. Mohammed Adilshah and Vazir Khawas Khan completely destroyed Shahajiraje’s ‘Swarajya’ in this manner. And that too at the hands of another Maratha Sardar! This was the punishment of rebellion! You want Swarajya? Take this! Rayarao literally routed Shahajiraje’s Swarajya to dust. This Rayarao proudly attached an epithet ‘Pratapvanta’ to his name! He actually brought a pair of donkeys, attached them to a plough and paraded them through the whole Pune region (an erstwhile symbolic gesture that this region was now uninhabitable)! Such terror! He also drew into the ground an iron crowbar, and hung a broken skull and piece of torn sandal! What did this mean? It meant as a warning to the people, that rebel Shahaji Bhosale’s Pune had been destroyed! There won’t be any light here anymore! This has become a cemetery, a place where death reigns! This is the outcome of revolting against the Sultanate!
To be continued…
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