Friday, September 30, 2011

 

SHIVAJI MAHARAJ KILLS THE CUNNING GENERAL AFZAL KHAN OF BIJAPUR ARMY AT PRATAPGARH IN SELF DEFENSE ( Drawn in water colors by Dr K Prabhakar Rao)
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1 comment:

Dr K Prabhakar Rao said...

Afzal khan the General of Bijapur was sent to capture or kill themaraha leader at any cost and Shivaji accepted to meet him at Pratapgad forest inhis tent. They have to be unarmed during the meeting and noone should be present. But shivaji maharaj located his army at srategic points with clear instructions.Shivaji met Afzal khan alone . duringthe meeting Shivaji maharaj was held under the left arm by the treacherous Afzal Khan of bijapur who planned to kill him under the pretext of embracing. Shivaji never trusted Khan and made preparations for such eventuality. He had a steel skull cap under his turban and wore armour under his dress. He wore steel claws that could not be seen when fist was closed.He hid a bichwa, a small dagger under his dress, Khanwas a very strong man with gigantic personality and he after grabbing Shivaji under his arm afte embracing stabbed him with his hidden long dagger but the armour saved Shivaji raje. Shivaji Raje did not loose cool and with his bagh nakh clawed khans belly and split it open. With Bichwa he stabbed Khan very grievously.Khan loosened the grip and shouted for help profusely bleeding. Khan grabbed a sword from a soldier and hit Shiavaji on the head but Shivaji was saved by the steel cap. In the mean time, Syed Banda an ace swords man dashed in and engaged shivaji in a sword fight.One of the assistants of Shavaji came in and cut off hand of Syed Banda and killed him. Shivaji came out safely. Khan was beheaded and the head was carried to Pratapghad to be presented to Rajmata Jijabai. His head was suspended to the fort entrance of Pratapgad.