Remembering Tanaji Malusare

The Kondhana fort was a strongly fortified, heavily guarded fort, commanded by the valiant warrior, Udaybhan. For the sake of Swarajya and to fulfil the wishes of Jijabai, Tanaji vowed to capture the Kondhana fort.

Only a man with such immense fortitude could undertake such a courageous mission. Lest the opportunity - to be part of this campaign - slip away from his hands, he decided solely to put Swarajya before family matters.

Not a word of his son's marriage, scheduled during the campaign, reached Chhatrapati Shivaji. His courage, valour and leadership challenged the enemy and inspired his army.

To reach Kondhana, he chose Dronagiri cliff, the sheerest cliff, which the enemy left least guarded considering it impregnable. With a small army of 500 soldiers he attacked the fort at night and caught the enemy unawares. In a sword fight with Udaybhan, he lost his shield. But completely disregarding the fatal wounds that Udaybhan's sword caused him, and using his left hand as a shield, he continued his battle with Udaybhan. Only after ensuring that Udaybhan was indeed killed did he fall down dead. This was the fateful day of 4th February 1670.

Though it was a joyous occasion as the fort was captured, Chhatrapati Shivaji was sad in losing his friend. He remarked "Gadh aala pan Sinha gela" (We have gained the fort, but lost a lion). The Kondana fort was subsequently renamed after him and came to be called Sinhagarh. (Sinha = lion, garh=fort)

The ballad

Shoor amhi Saradar, amhala kaya kunachi bhiti,
...ladhun marava, marun jagava, hech amahala thav

(We are brave soldiers, we fear no one,
Dying in battle, surviving as legends is all we know)

aptly fits Tanaji Malusare and his Mavale.

In remembrance of his conquest, Tanaji Malusare has a memorial in the form of his bust installed atop Sinhagarh.