To The Memory Of A Lion

Tanaji Malusare was Shivaji's childhood friend
and companion at arms. He was very brave and
daring. Shivaji proudly called him his Sivnha or
Lion. Tanaji had planned and fought many a battle
by the side of his leader. They were determined
to free their land from Mughal domination.
Tanaji lived in the small town of Umratha. One
morning, Umratha wore a festive look. Colourful
bunting fluttered in the streets. There was a
Mangal Kolas* at every door. Tanaji's son was
to be married that day. People went in and out
of his house, busy running errands.
Just then a messenger came galloping down the
street. "Look!" cried a man who had noticed him
in the distance. "What news can he be bringing?"
he asked Tanaji's servant who was near him. Before
the servant could reply, the rider came to a
stop in front of them. He leapt off his horse and
said, "Where is Tanaji? I must see him at once."
"In the house Sir," answered the servant. He
had recognised the rider. "I'll take you to him."
"Sire," the servant called out.
"Pots decorated with mango leaves and a coconut.

Tanaji and his wife were busy selecting and
packing clothes and ornaments for the bride and
the groom.
"Who is there?" he asked.
"Suryaji," replied the servant.
Tanaji put aside the jewel-case he was holding
and stepped forward. "Come in, Suryaji".
Suryaji entered and bowed to Tanaji and his
wife.
"Welcome, my friend. What brings you
here?" he asked. His wife, too, stopped inspecting
the sari she had in her hand.
"Ka/e* wants you at Raigarh immediately," replied
Suryaji.
Tanaji knew at once that it was something
serious. He turned swiftly to his wife and put his
hand affectionately on her shoulder. "My dear,"
he said, "you know I have to go. Postpone the
wedding. My first duty is to my leader and my
land. Come, smile and bid me farewell. Do not
wony. Suryaji and my men will be with me."
Tanaji's wife was stunned. She held back her
tears.
"Please wait," she said and went in to prepare
the ' t i l a k a n d 'arti'*** for the farewell.
"His Majesty.
s 3Vermillion mark on forehead.
co "moving a lighted lamp round a soldier before he goes to
battle.
Tanaji buckled his sword and stepped out of
the room. He ordered his men to be ready to accompany
him. The news spread and soon the
soldiers assembled outside his house.
After his wife had applied 'tilak' on his forehead
and performed the 'arti\ Tanaji took leave
of her.
Leading an army of horsemen, he rode fast to
reach Raigarh fort. Tanaji walked straight into
Shivaji's room and found him sitting in a pensive
mood.

"Raje, I'm here at your service," said Tanaji
bowing.
"Oh! my Sivnha has come!" exclaimed Shivaji.
He embraced Tanaji and said, "Come, sit down.
We have a difficult assignment. Ma Sahib* feels
that the other forts are not safe so long as we
do not recapture Kondana fort.
"Udai Singh Rathor is in command of the
Mughal forces. His men are guarding the three
gates. His sons are also with him. All of them are
brave fighters. There is also the killer elephant
Chandrawati. She is a force by herself. I have
thought and thought, but can't find a way of capturing
the fort. You are the only one who may
be able to find a way."
The lines deepened on Tanaji's brow. Then
he spoke. "I have a plan. The fort is guarded only
on three sides. We will try to enter from the west."
"What?" Shivaji sprang up. "Enter from the
west? You're not planning to climb that precipice?
It is unassailable."
Tanaji said coolly — "No, Raje, it is not the
way I intend doing it." He then explained his plan
to Shivaji in detail.
"It is a daring plan," said Shivaji anxiously.
"Very difficult to execute. Everything depends on
just one thing."
"Yes, it is difficult, Raje, but not impossible.
4 Queen Mother.
We will prepare well and we will succeed."
Tanaji sounded confident.
"Very well, go ahead with your preparations.
May Goddess Bhawani* bless you."
Tanaji bowed to Shivaji and left. He called
Suryaji and some of his personal friends who were
waiting in the adjoining room. He swore them to
secrecy and then told them of the plan.
"We begin preparing at once. Drill the soldiers,
perfect them in the use of arms, but do not tell
them for what. We have to take the enemy by
surprise.'
Soon everything was ready. Tanaji called his
friends, and announced, "Tonight we attack. It
is a moonless night and nothing will be visible.
All of you must be absolutely silent as you approach
Kondana fort. I will take the iguana Yashwanti.
With her help, we will scale the rock."
Then he turned to Suryaji. "You are to take the
rest of the men and wait at Kalyan Gate. We will
throw it open for you."
Last minute preparations over, they marched
to the fort quietly as shadows. In a short while
they reached the foot of the precipice. Tanaji tied
a rope to Yashwanti's neck. Then he threw her
up hard, so she could clutch the wall. But the
iguana lost her grip and slithered down.
"Shivaji's family diety.
"Oh, it is a sign of bad luck!" exclaimed one of
the soldiers.
Tanaji whirled round, "Who said that? There
is no place for superstition in a soldier's life. He
must only have faith, in himself and in God."
Tanaji once again hurled the iguana up with
greater force. This time Yashwanti gripped the
top of the fort wall. Tanaji breathed a sigh of
relief.
"Hand me the bag containing the ropes," said
Tanaji. A soldier gave it to him and he slung it
on his back.
"I go up first. I will tie the ropes to the projections
on the wall and let them down. With their
help you can all climb up. Remember not a
sound."
Tanaji held the rOpe tight and climbed up and
up till he reached the ramparts. The soldiers
followed him. Within minutes they were at the top.
Tanaji whispered, "There must be a number
of guards posted on the ramparts. Take them
unawares and silence them. They should not be
allowed to sound the alarm. We'll get down and
attack the soldiers inside the fort. Let's go."
The men stonned the fort and overpowered
the guards in no time. Shouting 'Jai Bhatoani',
they rushed into the fort. The Mughal soldiers
offered stiff resistance and a fierce hand to hand
fight ensued.
One of the Mughal soldiers quietly slipped
out and rushed to inform Udai Singh.
"The Marathas have entered my fort? But
how?" cried Udai Singh.
He sprang from his bed and hurried to the next
apartment. "Wake up, my sons. Tell the
mahout* to get Chandrawati. She'll crush the
Marathas in no time."
Udai Singh's sons joined in the battle and the
mahout sent Chandrawati charging into the
fray. The Marathas fought bravely. The casualties
were heavy. Among the first to perish were
Udai Singh's three sons and Chandrawati, the
elephant. Tanaji went looking for Udai Singh.
Udai Singh had by then heard of his sons
deaths. He rushed into the melee. "Tanaji,
you have a lot to answer for. You can't escape
me."
"That we'll see," cried Tanaji. With drawn
swords, they closed in.
Both were brilliant swordsmen. The battle
raged fiercely round them. The attackers had got
the better of the defenders. In a strategic move,
a section of the Maratha soldiers had thrown
open Kalyan Gate.
Tanaji and Udai Singh were locked in a life
and death struggle.
Both were tired and bleeding profusely. Udai
"Elephant-driver.
Singh made a gallant effort and plunged his
sword into Tanaji's chest. Tanaji stumbled and
fell. Quite unexpectedly he sprang up and inflicted
a mortal wound on a triumphant Udai Singh.
He fell dead. Tanaji, too collapsed and died.
All was quiet when Suryaji entered the fort.
He rushed around, looking for Tanaji. He found
him lying in a pool of blood. He knelt to feel his
pulse.
He looked aghast at his dead friend. His grief
soon turned into anger. "We must complete your
task", he muttered, drawing his sword.
The Marathas, infuriated by Tanaji's death,
fell on their foes like tigers. Udai Singh's death
had taken the fight out of the Mughals. After a
brief struggle, the Marathas won the battle.
Kondana fort was once again in their hands.
Suryaji returned to Raigarh fort to inform
Shivaji of their victory. He was anxiously waiting
for them.
"Raje, the fort is taken," said Suryaji.
"Good. But where is Tanaji?"
Suryaji hung his head and remained silent.
"Speak, Suryaji!" cried Shivaji shaking him by
his shoulders. "What has happened to him?"
"He is dead!" Suryaji said in a broken voice.
Shivaji's face went pale as he mumbled, "The
fort is won, but my lion is gone." He turned and
walked to the window.
He stood there looking out.
A memorial to Tanaji stands on the spot where
he fell. It is called 'Sivnha Garh
"The lion's fort.