What are some clever strategies used by kings to defeat their opponents in a war?
Answers
The pic above shows a monitor lizard, which is native to South Asia. It is called Goshaap in Bengal, Goh in Punjab and Bihar and Ghorpad in Maharashtra. Monitors are among the most intelligent of reptiles, and can be domesticated and trained to a limited extent, though they are not the most docile of pets. They have strong claws they use for climbing.
In the 1670's, the Mughal - Maratha wars in India were at their extreme. On one hand, was the then most powerful man on earth, the Mughal Emperor, Aurangzeb. On the other hand, was the leader of the Marathas, Shivaji, and a handful of brave men from the Maval region in Maharashtra, determined to break free from the oppression of Aurangzeb. The Marathas had decided to capture the fort of Kondhana, from the clutches of the Mughals.
It was the month of February, in 1670. The fort was controlled by Mirza Raja Jai Singh, a Rajput king and a distinguished general in the army of Aurangzeb, and was strategically located amidst other forts in the region. The Mughals maintained an army of roughly 5000 men led by Udaybhan Rathod, a relative of Jai Singh.
The Marathas were led by Tanaji Malusare, a general in the army of Shivaji, and one of his closest friends since childhood.
The fort itself was defended by cannons at each turret. Only one turret was left unguarded as it was at the top of a steep cliff, which was thought impossible to scale.
Tanaji applied a trick. He used a monitor lizard named Yeshwanti, with a rope tied around its waist for climbing up the steep vertical rock face. After 342 Marathas reached on the top with him, the rope gave away due to abrasion against the rocks and 60 Marathas who were climbing on the rope fell down and died.
Tanaji then instructed his brother Suryaji to continue the attack with other Marathas from the main gate with the assurance that a section of his army, the Koli soldiers, would help him get through.
Once inside, they set upon Mughals. A fierce combat took place between Tanaji and Udaybhan. Both died due to heavy wounds inflicted on each other, but the Marathas managed to capture the fort. Tanaji's surprise attack in the dead of the night caught the defenders offguard. Nearly 1500 Mughal infantry fled after the battle taking advantage of darkness of midnight.
Upon hearing the news of the capture of the fort at the cost of Tanaji's life, Shivaji was greatly aggrieved and is said to have remarked, "Gad aala, pan sinha gela" - "We captured the fort but lost the lion".
The fort was renamed Sinhagad, in the honor of Tanaji.