Santaji Ghorpade

Santaji Mhaloji ghorpade, popularly known as ‘Santaji’ or ‘Santaji Ghorpade’, the Chief General. His guerrilla technique of war is supposed to be the best. His name became inseparable from the name of Dhanaji Jadhav with whom he made terrifying campaigns against Mughal Army continuously from 1670 to 1696.

Early life

Santaji belonged to the historical Ghorpade family which is a branch of the Bhosale clan. His year of birth is not known, however, it is estimated to be circa 1660. He along with his younger brother Bahirji accompanied Shivaji in his Karnataka campaign in 1678.

Contribution to the Maratha War of Independence 

Santaji had attained the rank of Pancha Hajari officer i.e. commander, So all incidents Along with Santaji attacked mughal camp at Tulapur with the help of his brothers, Bahirji Ghorpade and Maloji Ghorpade, nephew Vithoji Chavan and 2000 soldiers from Dhanaji's troops. In a daring feat, They cut the ropes of Aurangzeb’s tents where Aurangzeb stayed there but Aurangzeb somehow managed to escape.The Maratha troops took the imperial golden pinnacles and fled. This incidence helped to boost the Maratha morale and restored their self-confidence to resist and attack the Mughal  occupation of Maharashtra.For  this brave attack ; Santaji was given title of Mamalakatt Madaar, Bahirji was given title as Hindurao and younger brother Maloji as Ameer-ul-Umrao and Vithoji Chavan was given title as Himmat Bahadur .Along with Dhanaji,  he attacked Aurangzeb’s General Shiekh Nizam who had placed a siege around the fort Panhala. Nizam's army was severely beaten and his treasure, horses and elephants were captured. Then during period, Santaji and Dhanaji were directed to prevent Mughal army in Maharashtra from chasing and entering Karnataka. They succeeded in this task and were able to slow down and engage the Mughals in harassing skirmishes. In December  Santaji and Dhanaji were promoted as leading Marathaely under the supervision of Ramchandra Pant Amatya and Shankraji Narayan Sacheev.

, Sarzakhan alias Rustamkhan, a Mughal nobleman and commander, was soundly defeated and captured and killed near Satara jointly by Ramchandra Pant Amatya, Shankraji Narayan Santaji and Dhanaji and this proved to be a major setback to emperor Aurangzeb.Chathrapathy Shivaji and Santaji and Dhanaji were sent south to alleviate the Mughal pressure on Jinjee. And on the way there they managed to capture Dharwad on , Dharwad with an army consisting of 7000 Maratha foot soldiers under the duo's command,they all defeated Aurangzeb’s General Alimardan Khan, captured him and brought him back to fort Jinjee and killed him. In December 1672, the Mughal army under Zulfiquar Ali Khan around fort Jinjee was blocked and beaten by Santaji and Dhanaji as a result of which Zulfiquar Ali khan had to sue Santaji And Dhanaji for peace and was forced to compromise. Then , santaji attacked the Mughal camp at Desur and looted their treasure, weapons and livestock.

, Mughal General Himmat Khan beat back Santaji near Vikramhalli in Karnataka. Soon thereafter Santaji regrouped his troops and reengaged Himmat Khan again on 21 November 1673 and avenged his earlier defeat.

In July 1675, Chathrapathy Shivaji and ShivajiSantaji trapped the Mughal army camping near Khatav and harassed it with lightning strikes. Italian visitor to the Mughal court, Minnucci, has listed details of the lightning-fast and devastating Maratha attacks on the Mughal camps. High level of tension, stress and apprehension among the troops and camp followers, about the ever present Maratha threat were recorded. On 20 November 1675, Kasim bahadur, Aurangzeb’s powerful General in Karnataka, was attacked, defeated and killed by Chathrapathy Shivaji and Santaji at Doderi near Chitradurga. On 20 January 1676 near Baswapattan, along with Chathrapathy Shivaji,Santaji attacked, defeated and personally killed the Mughal General Himmat Khan and Zulfiquar Ali Khan.So Thereby They Killed all Aurangzeb's powerful Generals and Commanders and their men and army troops and thereby paved the way for decline of the Mughal empire.The Mughal empire declined with other weak and poor rulers

References

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