Tanaji Malusare

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Bust of Tanaji on top of Simhagad Fort

Tanaji Malusare, also known as Simha (Lion), was a renowned warrior and military leader in the army of Chatrapati Shivaji Raje Bhonslé, founder of the Maratha Empire in 17th century India.

Tanaji was one of Shivaji's closest friends; the two had known each other since childhood. In 1670, at Shivaji's request, he pledged to recapture the fortress of Kondana near Pune. According to many accounts, he received the summons at his son's wedding, and immediately left the festivities.

[edit] Capture of Kondana

Kondana was a well-defended stronghold located atop steep cliffs. It was strategically placed in the middle of three forts, Rajgad, Purandar, and Torana. It was considered nearly impossible to capture it by force. Shivaji had earlier controlled Kondana between c.1650 and 1660. After strengthening its defences, Shivaji had been forced to cede it to the Mughals as part of the treaty of Purandar signed with Raja Jai Singh of Jaipur, an important officer in the mughal army. At that time, Kondana was garrisoned by over a thousand Rajput soldiers in the service of the mughals, led by Udai Bhan, a relative of Mirza Raja Jai Singh. Capturing this fort was necessary for reestablish de facto control over the surrounding region.

With almost all his troops, Udai Bhan had a roaring party on top of the overhanging cliff. Tanaji mounted a surprise attack. With a band of about three hundred men, he approached the fort at night from the base of its highest and sheerest cliff -- this part of the fort was considered so impregnable that it was lightly guarded. He then sent Ghorpads (also called Bengal monitors or hill iguanas) up the cliff wall, with ropes tied to their shoulders. Ghorpads are famous for their ability to cling to smooth surfaces, and were traditionally trained for this purpose by herders in the area.

Using the lizard-ropes, an advance guard climbed to the fort and lowered rope ladders. Tanaji and some of his men scaled the walls. Tanaji was in the vanguard, and his hand was cut off. The Marathas suffered heavy casualties initially and Tanaji was himself killed in the initial part of the battle. After a pitched fight, the Marathas managed to open the gates of the fort from inside, allowing the remainder of their attacking force to enter the fort.

Tanaji's uncle, Shelar Mama and his brother Suryaji had moved close to the gates of the fort with another 300 Mavalas (Maratha Soldiers). Once inside, all his comrades mercilessly fell upon their enemies. They started slaughtering the surprised and ill-prepared and drunken Muslim soldiers.

When Shivaji learned of his friend's death, he remarked "Gad ala pan Sinha gela", meaning "We have gained the fort, but lost the lion."

Today, Sinhagad is a major tourist spot, and a historical attraction. The fort itself is in bad shape but the cliffs are as imposing as they ever were. A memorial to Tanaji's hand may be seen at the site of his attack, and the sheer cliff has become known as the Ghorpad Wall.