Kavi Kalash was a poet, a close friend and helper to Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj of the Maratha Empire who reigned from 1680 to 1689.[1]
Chandogamatya Kavi Kalash | |
|---|---|
 Royal Poet of the Maratha Empire | |
| In office 1680–1689 | |
| Monarch | Sambhaji |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Unnao, Mughal Empire (present day Uttar Pradesh, India) |
| Died | 11 March 1689 Tulapur, Maratha Empire (present day Maharashtra, India) |
| Cause of death | Execution |
| Occupation | Royal poet, advisor, warrior |
| Known for | Confidant of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | Maratha Empire |
| Battles/wars | Sack of Burhanpur Mughal invasions of Konkan |
Early life
editA Kanyakubja Brahmin by birth, Kalash dev was an able administrator as well as a skilled warrior, who accompanied Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj in many of his campaigns. He is known to have defeated Shahabuddin Khan in a fierce battle near Raigad fort in 1684. Such was the ferocity of the Marathas in the battle that Shahabuddin khan pleaded and begged for his life and was even ready to convert to Hinduism. Kavi Kalash was given the title of Chandogamatya (Pinnacle of Poets) by Sambhaji. He was born in Unnao district and was instrumental in Agra escape plan .
Death
editIn March 1689, Kavi Kalash was captured, along with King Sambhaji, by the Mughal army under Aurangzeb in Sangameshwar, and was tortured to convert to Islam and to influence Sambhaji maharaj to do the same. It is said that Aurangzeb got down from the throne to pray and thank Allah for the victory on seeing captured Sambhaji maharaj. Taking that opportunity Kavi Kalash, who was also captured, made an instant poetry:[2]
यावन रावन की सभा संभू बंन्ध्यो बजरंग।
लहू लसत सिंदूर सम खूब खेल्यो रनरंग॥
ज्यो रबि छबि लखतही नथीत होत बदरंग।
त्यो तव तेज निहारके तखत त्यजो अवरंग॥
which translates to:
Sambhaji (maharaj) has been tied like Hanuman in the court of Islami ravan (i.e., Aurangzeb)
Maharaj looking red because of wounds and blood from the great war he fought
The way fireflies lose their glow after sunrise,
Seeing your effulgence, Aurangzeb (also lost his glow and) gave up his throne.
Listening to the poem, enraged Aurangzeb, well known for his brutality ordered Kavi Kalash's tongue be cut/plucked.[2] Eventually Sambhaji Maharaj and Kavi Kalash were paraded between the moghul clowns and, according to some accounts, killed using tiger claws for a slow death. They never converted to Islam despite unspeakable brutality by the cruel Aurangzeb.[3]
References
edit- ^ Jaswant Lal Mehta (1 January 2005). Advanced Study in the History of Modern India 1707-1813. Sterling Publishers Pvt. Ltd. p. 49. ISBN 978-1-932705-54-6.
- ^ a b "अखेरच्या श्वासापर्यंत शंभू महाराजांची साथ न सोडणारे 'कवी कलश' कोण होते?". 29 February 2020. Retrieved 12 November 2022.
- ^ Sawant, Indrajit. Marathyanche Swatantrayuddha bhag - 1. Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj.
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