| Yashwantrao Baji Pasalkar | |
|---|---|
| Veer Baji Pasalkar | |
 Statue of Baji Pasalkar in Maharashtra | |
| Died | 24 May 1649 Saswad, Maharashtra |
Baji Pasalkar (unknown - 24 May 1649), was a generational Deshmukh of Mose Khore, one of the watan in Bara Maval. Baji Pasalkar was the first Chief Commander of the Maratha Empire in the army of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. He was the first to sacrifice his life for the cause of Swarajya.
When Chattrapati Shivaji was 12, Shahaji offered him his Pune Jagir and with a small council of ministers, Shivaji began managing his estate. His ministers included Shamrao Nilkanth as Peshwa, Balkrishna Pant as Muzumdar, Raghunath Ballal as Sabnis and Sonopant as Dabir. At the same time, Kanhoji Jedhe and Baji Pasalkar were appointed to look after Shivaji's training.
Battle of Belsar
When Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj started capturing forts like Torna, Subhanmangal, Rohida for the establishment of Swaraj, the news of Shivajiraj's establishment of Swaraj started coming to the Adilshahi court of bijapur. To tramp down on shivaji's champaign, Adilshah sent his top general, Fateh Khan in the year 1648 AD.
Fateh Khan put his base on Jejuri near Belsar . Fateh Khan attacked the poorly guarded shubhanmangal fort first and moved his camp to it. The Marathas would have been defeated the first time. Shivaji asked Kavji Malhar to attack the shubanmangal fort. The fort was again under control of marathas within one night. Then Baji Pasalkar, Kanhoji Jedhe, Baji Jedhe, Godaji Jagtap went to Belasar camp to create a ruckus in Fateh Khan's base. By suddenly creating a ruckus, they disrupted Fateh Khan's army and reached purandar Fort.
Death
Fateh Khan's Sardar Musekhana attacked Purandara, Purandara was besieged by Khan's army. Fateh Khan's army and the Marathas fought a pitched battle near the fort. Baji Pasalkar, Kanhoji Jedhe, Godaji Jagtap slaughtered the enemies using guerrilla warfare. Muse Khan and Godaji Jagtap faced each other. Finally, Godaji attacked Musekhana and Khan collapsed.
During the fight, a wound was inflicted on Baji Pasalkar's back on his right arm. Baji, writhing in pain, turned in the same situation to resist the assailant, and at the same moment. Enemy's sword landed on his chest. 65 years of Pasalkar fell down, realizing that his work was done, Fateh Khan turned back and fled with his army.
As soon as Kavji Malhar realized this, he ran like an arrow back to the base. On entering the Purandar Fort, Baji left his body alive only to look at his King Shivaji and speak his last words. Baji Pasalkar died by resting his head on Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's lap. Baji Pasalkar was killed while chasing the Adilshahi army.
Varasgaon Dam
The Varasgaon Dam reservoir near Pune is named after Veer Baji Pasalkar. Baji Pasalkar's Samadhi is at Saswad. Veer Baji Pasalkar's memorial is located on Tanaji Malusare Road in Dattawadi, Pune.
References
- http://shivchatrapati.rf.gd/single_blog.php?id=142&i=1
- Sorokhaibam, Jeneet (2013-01-01). Chhatrapati Shivaji: The Maratha Warrior and His Campaign. Vij Books India Pvt Ltd. ISBN 978-93-82573-49-4.
- Bhosle, Prince Pratap Sinh Serfoji Raje (2017-12-20). Contributions of Thanjavur Maratha Kings: 2nd Edition (with a Brief History of Chatrapathi Shivaji Maharaj,Dharmaveer Sambhaji Maharajah,Swami Samartha Ramdas, Cholas,Nayakas and Indian Classical Art-Bharatanatyam). Notion Press. ISBN 978-1-948230-95-7.
- Bhaskaran, Medha Deshmukh (2018-07-01). Frontiers: The Relentless Battle between Aurangzeb and Shivaji. Penguin Random House India Private Limited. ISBN 978-93-5305-111-2.
- Bandyopadhyay, Saradindu (2005-08-10). Band Of Soldiers. Random House Publishers India Pvt. Limited. ISBN 978-93-86495-28-0.
- "स्वराज्याचे पहिले धारातीर्थी : सरसेनापती बाजी पासलकर". Retrieved 2024-12-18.
- Bhaskaran, Medha Deshmukh (2018-07-01). Frontiers: The Relentless Battle between Aurangzeb and Shivaji. Penguin Random House India Private Limited. ISBN 978-93-5305-111-2.
- Khan, Amina (2017-04-18). Adapt: How Humans Are Tapping into Nature's Secrets to Design and Build a Better Future. Macmillan + ORM. ISBN 978-1-4668-6563-1.
