On 5th April 1663, Shivaji delivered a masterly blow to the Mughals – a blow whose cleverness of design, neatness of execution and completeness of success created in the Mughal Court and camp as much terror as the battle of Pratpgad had done among the Bijapuris. He attacked Shaista Khan, the Mughal viceroy of the Deccan, in the heart of his camp, in his very bed-chamber, within the inner ring of his bodyguards and female slaves. The attack was highly successful leaving Shaista Khan injured and very low casualties on the Maratha side.
Background
After seizing Pune and Chakan in 1660, Shaista Khan, the Mughal viceroy of Deccan had retired in Pune. The next two years were periods of inactivity or minor operations from Mughals. Shaista Khan had taken up residence at the best house in Pune. His harem was also part of this mansion. The quarters of his guards and attendants, band-room and offices lay around his mansion. Further off, across the road leading southwards towards Singhgarh lay the camp of his lieutenant, Maharaja Jaswant Singh and his contingent of 10,000 men. In April 1663, Shivaji planned an attack on Saista Khan in his camp, an attack that required no less agility and cunningness than bravery.
Shivaji picked out a thousand of his bravest and most expert soldiers and took them with him. At a mile from the outer side of the large Mughal camp, two supporting divisions of one thousand men each were directed to take post on the two flanks. Babaji Bapuji and Chimnaji Bapuji were picked to accompany Shivaji as his bodyguards and right-hand men in this attack.
Shivaji and the Maratha force begin the attack
The Maratha force started from Sinhagad, 11 miles from Pune, during the day and arrived in Pune after nightfall. Shiva picked 400 men and entered the limits of the camp. On being questioned by Mughal guards he replied that they were Deccani soldiers of the Moghul army going to take up their appointed posts. After resting for a few hours in some unseen corner of the camp, Shivaji and his men arrived near the Khans quarters at midnight. It was Ramzan, the month of fasting for Muslims. The servants had fallen asleep after the heavy meal at night. Some cooks who had risen from bed to prepare the meal (which was to be taken before dawn) were dispatched by the Marathas with minimum noise.
Shaista Khan is attacked and injured
Shivaji had passed his boyhood and youth at this place and knew every nook and corner of the house. The wall dividing this outer kitchen from the personal servants’ room within the harem once had a small door in it. However, that door had been closed with brick and mud to maintain privacy of the harem. The Marathas targeted that door and started to make an opening using pick-axes. Some of the servants woke up hearing the noise of their pick-axes and reported the suspicious noise to the Khan. However, Khan didn’t pay any heed to the servants. The Maratha continued breaching the wall and soon the opening in the wall was large enough for a man to get through.
At first, Shivaji and his trusty lieutenant Chimnaji Bapuji entered the harem and were followed by 200 of his men. The place was a maze of canvas, screen-wall after screen-wall and enclosure within enclosure. Making a way, Shivaji reached the bed-room of the Khan. The frightened women in the bedroom roused Khan from his sleep. But before he could use his weapons, Shiavji severed his thumb with one stroke of his sword.
At this time, some wise woman in the room turned off the lamps. In the darkness two of the Marathas tumbled into a cistern of water. Some of the slave-girls took advantage of this and confusion following it and carried Shaista Khan to a place of safety.
Shivaji and Marathas continue the slaughter
The Marathas continued their work of slaughter in the darkness for some time. They killed and wounded eight of the Khan’s women (probably without knowing their sex). Meanwhile the other half of Shivaji’s force, who had been left outside the harem, attacked the main guard and slayed others who were sleeping and awake.
They next entered the band-room and ordered the bandsmen to play. The loud noise of the kettle-drums suppressed all voices, and the yelling of the enemy increased the confusion. The noise and the confusion in the harem increased so much that the Mughal troops now became aware that their general was being attacked. They began to take up their arms.
Abul Fath, a son of Shaista Khan, was the first to come to his father’s rescue. He successfully struck down two or three Marathas, but was slain thereafter. Another Mughal captain who was lodged just behind the harem enclosure found the gates of the harem closed from within by the Marathas. He let himself down inside by means of a rope-ladder, but he was at once attacked and killed by Marathas.
Finding his enemies fully awakened and army, Shivaji left the harem, called his men together, and withdrew from the camp. The Mughals continued searching the Marathas fruitlessly in their camp.
Success of the attack
This night-attack was a complete success and no pursuit was made. During this attack, only six Maratha men were killed and forty wounded. On the Mughal side, the son and a captain of Shaista Khan’s, 40 of his attendants and six of his wives and slavegirls were slayed. Two other sons, eight other women and Shaista Khan himself were wounded.
The daring and cunning of Shivaji was rewarded by an immense increase of his prestige. He was taken to be an incarnation of Satan. No place was believed to be proof against his entrance and no feat was impossible for him. The whole country talked with astonishment and terror of the almost superhuman deed done by him. There was bitter humiliation and sorrow in Aurangzeb’s court. Shaista Khan, covered with shame and grief, retired to Aurangabad for greater safety. As a mark of his displeasure, Aurangzeb transferred Shaista Khan to the government of Bengal, which was regarded as a penal province.
Reference: Shivaji and his times – Jadunath Sarkar
