The Unsung Hero ---- Kanoji Angre

It was sheer coincidence that I found myself travelling towards Alibaug. Visiting friends was the Agenda but then the History buff in me took over and I found myself in the Kulaba Sea Fort. Disappointment, though hit me like a ton of bricks at the utter neglect of the fort. Except for a sign at the entrance saying that the place is under the jurisdiction of the ASI there is no mention of the Great Commander Kanoji Angre. All there is, is a half complete statue of the great General. Wanting to know more I delved into the literature of the time, and came up with this Post, as a befitting tribute to him.

Kulaba Fort

The naval base and the Armada were established by Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Slowly and steadily he laid a stronghold on the sea forts of Vijaydurg, Sindhudurgand Kulaba. Thirteen forts were built during Shivaji's rule and because of this, the English, French, Portugese and at the time Abyssinians (Habshi's), found it difficult to enter the Konkan coast by the sea route.
After Shivaji, once again the coast was under the constant threat of capture from the Dutch, Portugese and British.

Sindhu durg fort

Vijaydurg fortThe Dawn of a superior fleet of ships, the strengthening of the sea forts and the complete ascendancy of the Marathas can be ascribed to one person and that is " Kanoji Angre".
Even though the foreign news makers described him as a Brigand and a Pirate, the fact is that Angre was the Commander in Chief and the General who rejuvenated the Naval Force which ruled and protected the Konkan Coast from all outside advances.

The sea fleet during Shivaji's reign was huge but he had to look after both seawards and landwards to strength his kingdom. In contrast Angre had only the coastal region to put his energy and expertise into, and this he did handsomely.

He placed the whole of the Konkan under his jurisdiction.From 1690 up until his death in 1756, he rebuilt his fleet and strengthened his sea forts making Vijaydurg his Capital.
There wasn't a single bay, cove, port or the mouth of a river which wasn't under his control
On the might of the Navy, the British Historians have commented that the fleet was huge with ships with 3 and 2 sails. These could carry anywhere between 300 to 200 tons of weight. The guns and cannons on these ships varied between 32 and 10 depending on the size of the ship. It has been recorded that every time the foreign invaders tried to combat with Angre's fleet they had to lose and surrender their ships.

The Navy became very powerful under the guidance and able command of Kanoji Angre and up until his death, no outside force dared to invade the shores of the Maratha Empire.

The Gemmologist In Me Awakens

Its been a long time since I last wrote but with Diwali and its aftermath, this post was long in the making.

Turning the pages of History, I came across these Gems quite literally!

Ornaments and Jewellery have always been on the forefront ever since the times when humans found a marvel way of adorning themselves with shells. Over the time it became an art and a form of status to wear different pieces of jewellery.
During the Peshwa Era,a lot of stress was laid on various Ornaments and Men, Women,Boys, Girls and even infants wore these on a daily basis. The higher the status, the more use of precious metals and Gem Stones.In fact even the idols in the temples were adorned with the the jewellery worn at that period of time.

If there really was a Time Machine, I would gladly have travelled to the 1700's where Men, Women and children bedecked themselves with Jewellery from head to toe. To be able to witness people of that period wearing the ornaments like we change clothes is simply enthralling.

A line from a classic period,"Sahib Bibi Aur Gulam" film comes to mind. "बाकि औरतों की तरह, गहने तुदवाओ, गहने बनवाओ,और तुम्हे क्या करने की जरूरत है।" This wasn't truly the all that the women did of course., but that will be in my next post.

On a more serious note, a woman wore:
a बाल पास्य - a chain of pearls around her head,
a बिंदी - on her forehead
Gold Flowers in her hair
बुगडी- in her top ear
डूल, झुमका, कुड्या- in her ear
मोहन माल, बकुल माल, पोहे हार, चपला हार, मंगल सूत्र - in her neck
then there was कम्बर्पट्टा- on her waist, तोर्द्याः -अन्क्लेट्स।
On her arms were वाकी, गोठ, पाटली, जवा, बांगड्या।
The list is endless, and it would take so much more to write about each and every piece. The metal used was mostly gold with Gemstones like Rubies, Emeralds and Pearls used extensively.

The Men were not far behind though and had there own set of Ornaments:
शिरपेच - worn in the पगड़ी, बिग्बाली on the top ear, बाली for the ear, कडा, पवित्रक - finger ring,
कर्दोत्ता- for the waist, etc.
As the men most of the time on battle fields it was customary to take their jewellery with them. This was to ensure that in times of need the jewellery could be used to trade for essentials needed for the upkeep of troops. and also as the means to receive information about their rivals.

Today however the form of ornaments has changed considerably, although it still signifies wealth, it has also become a sign of showmanship than in the period when wearing jewellery was a normal part of daily life.

In my next post I will try to present a picture gallery of the various forms of Jewellery worn in the Maratha Era.

RAVERKHEDI

THERE IN LIE HIS ASHES.....

Raverkhedi, a small hamlet on the shores of the Narmada river in MadhyaPradesh, is the place where Baji Rao1 breathed his last.
Infallible in battle, but hounded by the Brahmins of Maharashtra, over his love for Mastani, he was in the end a tortured soul. His never say die attitude and enormous strength finally came to an end a long way away from his beloved Shaniwar Wada.

There was a check post in Raverkhedi which was used by the Marathas as a base camp before crossing the Narmada River, on their way to the Northern Territories. Today the only sign of this Check post is a Stone Arch as shown in the picture. A square foundation remains inside this Arch which is believed to be where Baji Rao resided when in Raverkhedi.

Outside flows the Narmada and on its banks lies the Shrine of Baji Rao.

The ASI has put up a plaque which reads "This Chatri is believed to contain the ashes of the Peshwa Baji Rao who died in 1740A.D".
Nana Saheb Peshwa with the help of the Gwalior state is assumed to have built this monument.


Today the monument is at peril as it could be submerged by the dams of Omkareshwar and Maheshwar dams built on the Narmada river. The ASI has so far said that a huge retaining wall would be built around the shrine to safe guard it from the waters but neither the ASI nor the Project officials are giving any guarantees about whether it would really save the shrine. Baji Rao who strived to make a name for Maharashtra, and succeeded, today finds no recognition from the Govt. of Maharashtra.

It is indeed a grave issue that we, who pride ourselves with our glorious history and the Government who reaches out to the world inviting them to savour our heritage, can be so lackadaisical, when it comes to actually saving the same heritage.

BajiRao and so many such great warriors have conceptualised a free India, but it is a sad reflection, to see the remains of what was a glorious era, to simply vanish from our sight.
Acknowledgements: Dr. Pr. K Ghanekar, Mr. Parag Patil, Mr. Shripad Kulkarni.