• Source: Prataprao Gujar

Prataprao Gujar (also Kudtoji Gujar, Marathi pronunciation: [pɾət̪aːpɾaːʋ ɡud͡ʒəɾ]; c. 1615 – 24 February 1674) was a Maratha general who served as the 3rd Senapati of the Maratha Empire during the reign of Chhatrapati Shivaji. He commanded the Maratha army until 1674.




Military career


Prataprao Gujar raided Khandesh in 1670 and captured some forts from the Mughals in Baglan. He plundered Bahadurpur and riding into Berar, looted the city of Karanja. From this time, Shivaji began levying chauth from the Mughal territories through which he passed.




= Victory at Salher

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At the Battle of Salher, Prataprao Gujar routed a sizable Mughal army. The Maratha victory at Salher is seen as a watershed in their military campaigns against the formidable Mughal army.




= Confrontation with the Adil Shahis

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Prataprao Gujar was later dispatched to confront the Adil Shah's invading army under the command of Bahlol Khan. During the battle, Bahlol Khan was besieged by the Maratha army and taken as a prisoner. However, upon Khan’s promise not to invade Maratha territory again, Prataprao released Bahlol Khan (around 15 April 1673).
However, Bahalol Khan returned again with a larger army which enraged Prataprao Gujar and he decided to attack Bahalol Khan on 24 February 1674. According to the description given by Krishnaji Ananta and the letter of the English interpreter Narayan Shenvi, dated 4 April 1674, “Prataprao attacked Bahalol Khan’s camp in Nesari with only six of his trusted battle-hardened commanders. It was a daring surgical strike which killed many in the enemy camp and demoralised the Bahlol's army. During this daring raid, Prataprao and his six lieutenants also got martyred but only after inflicting huge damage to the enemy camp”.




Popular culture



The song "Vedat Marathe Veer Daudle Saat" written by marathi poet Kusumagraj and sung by Lata Mangeshkar and the commercial drama "Vedat Marathe Veer Daudle Saat" written by Bashir Momin (Kavathekar) are based on this heroic battle. The inaugural performance of the play 'Vedat Marathe Veer Daudle Saat' was staged by Malganga Natya Niketan on 19th May 1977. Seeing the encouraging response to the play, Bashir Momin (Kavathekar) converted the play into a shorter version called Vaganatya, which was then performed & popularized by various Tamasha Troupes in rural Maharashtra.




References

Kata Kunci Pencarian:

• Prataprao Gujar
• Gujar
• Prataprao
• Jankibai
• Anandrao
• Vedat Marathe Veer Daudle Saat
• Battle of Umrani
• Powada
• Battle of Salher
• Netaji Palkar