Baji Prabhu Deshpande

Baji Prabhu was likely born in 1615. He was born in the Prabhu caste(CKP).[7][8] Earlier he worked under Krishnaji Bandal of Rohida near Bhor. After Shivaji defeated Krishnaji at Rohida and captured the fort and many commanders along with Bajiprabhu joined Shivaji. [9]

A 20th century depiction of Baji Prabhu with Shivaji at Pavan Khind by M.V. Dhurandhar.

After defeating Afzal Khan and the rout of the Bijapuri army at Pratapgad, Shivaji continued to push deep into Bijapuri territory. Within a few days, the Marathas captured Panhala fort (near the city of Kolhapur). Meanwhile, another Maratha force, led by Netaji Palkar, pushed straight on towards Bijapur. Bijapur repulsed this attack, forcing Shivaji, some of his commanders and soldiers to retreat to Panhala fort.

The Bijapuri force was led by Siddhi Johar, an Abyssinian general. Discovering Shivaji's location, Johar laid siege to Panhala. Netaji Palkar made repeated attempts to break the Bijapuri siege from outside, but these failed.

Finally, a risky plan was put into action: Shivaji , Baji Prabhu Deshpande with a select band of troops would attempt to break through the siege at the night, and make for Vishalgad. In order to deceive the Bijapuri forces, to avoid a chase if they found out that Shivaji had broken the siege, Shiva Kashid a barber by profession, who had an uncanny physical resemblance to Shivaji , volunteered to dress like the king and let himself be captured.

On a stormy full moon's night (night of Guru Pournima, Ashadh Paurnima) 600 men led by Baji Prabhu and Shivaji , broke through the siege. They were pursued by the Bijapuri force. As planned, Shiva Kashid allowed himself to be captured and taken back to the Bijapuri camp, guessing that he would be put to death once the charade was discovered. This gave the fleeing Maratha force some breathing space.

As soon as the Bijapuri force realized their mistake, the chase was on again, led by Siddhi Masood, the son-in-law of Siddhi Johar. Near the pass of Ghodkhind (Horse's Pass), the Marathas made a final stand. Shivaji and half of the Maratha force pushed for Vishalgadh, while Baji Prabhu, his brother Phulaji and the remaining Bandal Sena of a few hundred men blocked the pass and fought against 10000 Bijapuri soldiers in the Ghodkhind Pass for more than 18 hours.

Tradition and myth, describe feats of bravery shown by the Marathas during this rear-guard action. Baji Prabhu used a weapon called "Dand Patta". Through the battle, Baji Prabhu, though apparently heavily injured, continued fighting, inspiring his men to fight on until Shivaji's safe journey to Vishalgadh was signaled by the firing of three cannon volleys. It should be mentioned that when Shivaji approached Vishalgad with 300 men, the fort was already under siege by Bijapuri sardars named Suryarao Surve and Jaswantrao Dalvi. Shivaji with his 300 men had to defeat Surve to reach the fort.

The Ghodkhind pass was subsequently named Pavan Khind ("Holy Pass") by Shivaji, in honor of the sacrifice of Baji Prabhu and his troops.

Baji Prabhu's vatan was situated around Parhar budruk village in Haridas maval region in western Maharashtra, his descendants still live in the area. Another branch of his family live in Bhor village. They have been continuing the glorious heritage of their great ancestors. Vishnu Narayan Deshpande, 10th descendant and former Sarapanch of Parhar bk, was a great freedom fighter. His wife Latika Deshpande was relative of the author Ram Ganesh Gadkari. The family has relationship with the family of Rango Bapuji Gupte. Vishnu Deshpande had four sons and four daughters. His son Dilip Deshpande champions the cause of dam affected displaced people and their rehabilitation. Farming is their family business. The whole family does social work and is aware of the great legacy handed down by previous generations.

One of Baji Prabhu's descendant, Ramchandra Kashinath Deshpande, was an Indian freedom fighter against the British rule, educationalist and social activist who worked in Dhule, Jalgaon, and Pune for encouraging education. He participated in the Quit India Movement during the British rule and was imprisoned for 19 months in the Kolhapur Central Jail. He was felicitated after Independence by the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. For his social work he was given the title of ‘Special Executive Magistrate’ by the Maharashtra government in 1989. [10][11]

Baji Prabhu Statue, Panhala Fort

• In 1909, Sri Aurobindo composed an English poem titled Baji Prabhou, describing his heroic sacrifice at the battle at the Panhala Fort.[12]
• Baji Prabhu Deshpande, an Indian silent film on the warrior was made by Baburao Painter in 1929. Another silent film, Veer Baji, released in the same year and was produced by Omkar Films.[13]
• Indian independence activist and politician Vinayak Damodar Savarkar wrote a Ballad on Baji Prabhu but it was banned by the colonial British government. This ban was lifted on May 24, 1946.[14]
• Baji Prabhu's character featured Raja Shivchatrapati tv series of Star Pravah in 2000s.
• Ajinkya Deo portrayed Baji Prabhu in 2021 series Jai Bhawani Jai Shivaji aired on Star Pravah.
• A Marathi-language film, Pawankhind, directed by Digpal Lanjekar and starring Ajay Purkar as Baji Prabhu Deshpande, was released on 18 February 2022.
• Har Har Mahadev, a film directed by Abhijit Deshpande, starring Sharad Kelkar as Baji Prabhu Deshpande and produced by Zee Studios released 25 October 2022 in 5 language (Hindi, Tamil, Telugu and Kannada, along with Marathi).[15]

• Tanaji Malusare, another Sardar known for his bravery at Battle of Kondhana (1670).
• Netaji Palkar, Sardar Senapati (Commander-in-Chief) of Shivaji .

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Baji Prabhu Deshpande.

• A history of the Maratha people p.168-171
• Full text of "Ethnographical notes on Chandraseniya Kayastha Prabhu"