Tanaji Malusare Story And Battle Of Sinhagad Fort

Tanaji Malusare was a brave and loyal general in Chhatrapati Shivaji’s Maratha army. He was also Shivaji’s faithful friend. Tanaji is known mainly for winning the Battle of Sinhagad Fort with a small group of men.

Subedar Tanaji Malusare was one of the bravest Maratha generals and was known mainly for his bravery, strategic skills, and quick thinking. While he fought many battles beside Shivaji Maharaj, most information about Tanaji has been recorded in history for his bravery in the Battle of Sinhagad in 1670. It was only because of Tanaji that Shivaji could win back the fort of Kondhana and thus claim his title of king over the Deccan plateau. Tanaji Malusare’s death was a blow for the entire Maratha army. He died in the battle of Sinhagad fort. The story of Tanaji has been passed down the ages through powerful ballads, poems, patriotic novels, films, and songs to uphold his bravery and sacrifice for the Maratha kingdom.

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A statue carved from Tanaji Malusare’s Real Photo

What Is The History Of Tanaji With The Battle Of Sinhagad Fort?

The Sinhagad Fort Battle is known for the sheer bravery and strategic warfare of the Marathas that helped them claim back their fort. In the year 1670, the battle took place when Shivaji had already handed over many forts and territories as per the Purandar Treaty with the Mughals. He, however, wished to assert his dominance in the Deccan region and decided to win back the fort at Kondhana. However, it was a near-impossible feat due to the location of the fort.

The fort of Kondhana was placed in the middle of the city, on a remote cliff surrounded by steep hills with thin ridges. It had only two points of entry, the Kalyan Darwaza and the Pune Darwaza. Due to its strategic positioning, the fort of Kondhana had encountered very few conquests, and mostly it was handed over to one or another ruler through bribes and treaties.

But Shivaji decided that the conquest of this fort could help him gain his power back in his kingdom and vowed to go on with his plan. He chose his friend and general Tanaji Malusare to lead this near-impossible battle.

The Battle Of Sinhagad Fort 

The Sinhagad Fort was well-protected by the Rajput commander Uday Bhan Singh Rathore and his troop of 1400 men. This well-trained troop and the fort’s strategic location facilitated the near-impossible win for the Marathas. Moreover, Tanaji didn’t even have enough men with him, a mere 1,000 Mawalas, but this did not deter the determination of the brave general.

The attack on the Sinhagad fort was planned for the night of 4th February 1670. Subedar Tanaji Malusare planned to attack the fort with two groups of soldiers- one led by Tanaji and the other led by Suryaji Malusare, his brother, and another Maratha commander. Tanaji would climb up the fort with his group while the others were to wait and attack when called upon.

Tanaji and his men decided to enter the fort by the most challenging path to avoid detection by the opponent’s army. They did so with the help of a monitor lizard or “ghorpad”. Tanaji Malusare ghorpad name was Yashwanti. These men tied a rope around the neck of Yashwanti and scaled on the fort’s nearly perpendicular walls. These steep walls cost Tanaji a great price- he lost nearly half his men and reached the Kalyan Darwaza with only 300 men.

The Mughal army was alerted almost at once with the arrival of the Marathas, resulting in a fierce battle between the two forces. However, the Marathas could enter the fort despite being severely outnumbered and exhausted from the steep climb.

It was at this point that the Rajput commander Uday Bhan entered the battle. Tanaji Malusare engaged with Uday Bhan despite losing his shield. According to stories, Tanaji tied a mere cloth on his hand and still fought the Rajput commander bravely. Tanaji even managed to wound the Rajput commander badly and fatally wounded himself during the process.

Tanaji Malusare’s death shocked the Marathas and yet gave them new purpose and zeal. The battle was soon joined by Suryaji’s forces, who inspired his men to keep fighting in the name of the brave general Tanaji Malusare and Shivaji Maharaj. Suryaji’s forces took the Mughal troops by surprise and forced them to surrender after a fierce battle.

The victory of the battle was conveyed to Shivaji with the help of burning a thatched house. However, the Maharaja broke down on receiving the news of Tanaji Malusare’s death. Legends say he uttered the famous lines while crying for his lost friend - “Gad aala, pan Sinha gela”. The line translates to ‘The fort is won, but the lion is lost”.

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A bust of Subedar Tanaji Malusare has been placed at the fort of Sinhagad to honour the general’s bravery and sacrifice.

The Aftermath of The Battle 

The battle of Sinhagad fort has the desired results that Shivaji wanted. Due to the strategic location, it posed an impressive victory for the Maratha army. It also lent to their formidable image.

After the victory at Sinhagad, the Maratha forces could win back the majority of the territories and forts that were given up in the Purandar treaty. Thus, Shivaji's hold over Maratha territories was re-established. He was also crowned king of the Maratha Raaj or kingdom and took up the title “Chhatrapati”. Even amidst all the glory of the Marathas, the Tanaji History was not forgotten. His legacy and act of bravery are still spoken of in poems, films, ballads, and patriotic novels.

The Tanaji Malusare story was made into a ballad by the great Veer Savarkar to inspire patriots during the freedom struggle. However, the British banned this ballad. The Fort of Kondhana was renamed Sinhagad Fort by Shivaji to honour Tanaji Malusare. Apart from history books, you can learn about Tanaji in various poems, patriotic novels, ballads, and songs that speak of his immense bravery and sacrifice. The original memorial of the great Tanaji was discovered in 2019, during the restoration work at the Sinhagad fort. Tanaji Malusare ghorpad name was “Yashwanti”. The word “Ghorpad” in Marathi refers to a lizard. This Ghorpad or monitor lizard helped Tanaji and his men to ascend the walls of the Sinhagad fort.