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Recent studies have proved that Adil Shah's general, Afzal Khan was assigned the
specific task of killing Shivaji by adopting any means, but the plot boomeranged
with the assailant himself falling Prey to the "tiger nails" of the Founder of
"hindvi swarajya."
This controversial episode, which gave rise to many disputes as well as
acrimonious exchanges between scholars, has been described with minute details,
supported by documentary evidence, in the recently released first volume of
Shivaji's grand history, "Shri Raja Shiv Chatrapati," whose 367th birth
anniversary was celebrated on Thursday.
So far several volumes and monographs on Shivaji were published but this one
provides an in-depth study supported by historical records including documents,
correspondence, grants and letters. The monumental work has been undertaken by a
history researcher, Mr Gajanan Bhaskar Mehendale of Pune.
In his work, Mr Mehendale has proved with documentary evidence that Adil Shah of
Vijapur, whose sultanate was threatened by Shivaji's exploits, "specifically
ordered Afzal Khan to kill Shivaji." Afzal Khan, accompanied by a large force, met
Shivaji at the base of Pratapgad fort in Satara district after assuring Shivaji of
his safety, but stabbed him in his back while embracing him. Shivaji, who seemed
to have an inkling of things to come, had come prepared by wearing an armour,
which luckily saved him from being stabbed to death.
The intelligent leader of the Marathas immediately pierced the tiger nails, which
he had worn over his fingers, into the abdomen of the assailant, according to the
work.
The scope of the work could be gauged from the face that the first volume soon to
be published, also runs into an equal number of pages. Mr Mehendale, who gave up
his job to plunge into the project, has so far not sought special grants,
scholarships or id for his study.
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