`GopinaathPant Bokil`

By Madhukar Joshi

This is the story of a Diplomat who was key to Shivaji's victory over AfzulKhan – a brave but cunning and cruel general of the Vijapur darbaar. This victory was crucial to the very survival of Shivaji and his budding nation (Hindavi Swaraj). Indeed, the nation at that stage was militarily quite weak and could have been wiped out if Shivaji were to confront AfzulKhan in an open battlefield. That is why, despite the repeated provocations by AfzulKhan, Shivaji did not engage in such a battle and patiently maneuvered Khan to meet him at Prataapgad – a fort situated well inside the rather inaccessible Jawali forest. AfzulKhan was a seasoned general and understood the dangers of entering that forest. Hence he tried to entice Shivaji away from PrataapGad. It is to GopinaathPant Bokil’s credit that ultimately Khan came to PrataapGad despite his better judgment.

We have already seen that AfzulKhan was a religious fanatic who used to win against his opponents through deceptions. AfzulKhan had betrayed Shivaji's father, Shahaaji. He was also responsible for getting Shivaji's brother, Sambhaji, killed in a battle.

AfzulKhan came equipped with a large army to capture and kill Shivaji and had established his military camp in Waai, a city that was separated from PrataapGad by Mahabaleshwar mountain. PrataapGad was surrounded on all sides by difficult mountain passes. Khan had been reluctant to meet Shivaji there and had attempted to draw Shivaji in the open plains by engaging in barbarous acts against the local populace. GopinaathPant Bokil, a diplomat sent to Shivaji by his father, Shahaaji, accepted the challenge of bringing AfzulKhan to the meeting place of Shivaji’s choice.

Pantaaji, as Bokil was affectionately known, was a man of vision, wit and skilled observations. He was entrusted to entice AfzulKhan to meet Shivaji at PrataapGad. Good diplomats are also good spies. Through a number of visits to Waai, Pantaaji satisfied himself that Khan intends to kill Shivaji. Pantaaji therefore worked on Khan’s ego and convinced him that Shivaji was extremely scared of meeting Khan in Waai. If Khan wished to meet Shivaji, he would have to come to PrataapGad and that due to his tremendous martial skills, Khan would have no difficulty subduing Shivaji to his will.

Pantaaji convinced Khan that, to ensure his victory, Khan should bring his entire battle force (army, horses, elephants and cannons) to PrataapGad. Pantaaji argued successfully that Shivaji would be happy to buy jewelry from the merchants accompanying Khan and offer it to Khan as an atonement for Shivaji’s past sins (?). Because of Pantaaji’s advice, Khan asked the jewelry merchants to accompany him!

Pantaaji was in charge of ensuring Shivaji’s safety against possible treachery by Khan. He was therefore present in the tent where the meeting took place. That tent was located on top of a tall platform and was accessible only with a narrow staircase. This reduced the potential for multiple warriors entering the tent simultaneously. Pantaaji planned the entire meeting, including who should and should not be present in the vicinity of the tent. Shivaji wore a metal hat underneath his ceremonial headgear. He also had a chain-link armor (ChilKhat) underneath his shirt. Both of these precautions were useful in saving Shivaji’s life though he did suffer a head injury brought on by his “beloved uncle” AfzulKhan’s dagger. Shivaji also wore a special tool made from tiger nails (WaaghNakhi) that helped kill Khan after his attack on Shivaji.

As per pre-established signals, Shivaji’s army then attacked and utterly defeated Khan’s confused army – because the battle took place in the Jawali forest. If Pantaaji were not successful in enticing AfzulKhan to bring the horses, elephants, cannons and jewelry to PrataapGad, the rest of the Marathi history would have been entirely different. These “gifts” to the Marathi nation from Khan after his death in the tent were instrumental in Shivaji’s successful war of independence.

Shivaji understood very well Pantaaji’s crucial role in the defeat of AfzulKhan and rewarded him with the largest cash prize awarded anyone in the battle of PrataapGad.

Part 7

Instead of taking the direct route from Vijapur to RajGad where Shivaji was, AfzulKhan went out of his way to Tulajaapur and destroyed much of the town and the Bhavaani temple. It was well known that this was Bhosale family’s chief deity. Khan was expecting that Shivaji will “lose his head” over this insult and hence attack Khan’s army. If Shivaji were to do that, his army would have been wiped out or at least severely hurt. Swaraj would have remained only a dream. Khan then went to Pandharpur and destroyed that town and Vithoba temple as well. Much to Khan’s chagrin, Shivaji did not take this bait either. Instead, Shivaji left RajGad and went to PrataapGad with the intention of fighting with AfzulKhan on this difficult terrain.
Khan then went to Malawadi and captured Shivaji’s brother-in-law, Bajaaji Naik Nimbalkar. Khan forcibly converted Bajaaji to Moslem religion and was then going to kill him. Why? Because Bajaaji was Shivaji’s wife’s brother even though Bajaaji had never supported Shivaji’s cause! Shivaji did not take this bait either. Instead, he negotiated release of Bajaaji through a Marathi captain in Khan’s army. Shivaji himself remained on PrataapGad.
Khan therefore proceeded to Waai, the city that was nearest to PrataapGad. (In those days, Mahabaleshwar was only a small town with no tourist attractions.)

During 1940’s and 50’s, there was much debate in Maharashtra as to whether Shivaji attacked AfzulKhan first or the other way around. In reality, this was immaterial. After all, despite Khan’s proclamation that Shivaji was like Khan’s nephew, Khan had not come to surprise Shivaji in his birthday celebrations! He was there to capture and kill Shivaji anyway he could. Shivaji simply outsmarted him.

Recall that Shivaji actively discouraged hereditary titles and instead always gave cash prizes in recognition of important contributions.