| C. Reading |
This is a story from Maharashtra. A very inspiring story of a brave warrior. Tanaji Malusare was the name of the warrior.
Perhaps no episode in Maratha history has moved the hearts of people as deeply as the death of Tanaji Malusare-the conqueror of Sinhagad (the Lion's Fort).
This story is known to every Maratha child through the ballad of Sinhagadh. The Sinhagadh fort was one of the 23 forts surrendered to the Mughals as per the Purandar treaty.This act of surrender hurt the feelings of Marathas. There was fire in the hearts of Marathas. That fire would never subside till they take revenge.
One morning, says the ballad of Sinhagad, Jijabai, Shivaji's mother was looking out of the window of Pratapgadh. She saw in the distance the majestic monument-Sinhagadh,the Lion Fort. She wanted Shivaji to win back the fort from the Mughals.But shivaji thought that it was an impossible task. He knew that there was one man who can do this. And, that was none other than Tanaji. He sent for Tanaji. But when Tanaji came, Shivaji did not have the heart to tell his dear comrade why he had been summoned. His mother Jijabai told him the nature of his mission.
The lion-hearted Tanaji promised either to accomplish it or die in the process. He set out at night and marched towards the fortress with his men. He reached the fortress secretly on a cold, clear and moonless night - in February 1670.
He had taken with him Shivaji's favourite ghorpad (Udumu) or lizard to assist in scaling the fort wall. A rope was tied to the waist of the lizard. The lizard refused to follow the order and climb the fort as it noticed a danger in climbing the fort. Tanaji expressed his anger. The lizard obeyed his order. It was terrified and scaled the hill top which helped the Marathas to go up the cliff.
Some soldiers reached the top. The guards in the fort detected their arrival. The sentries were swiftly killed by the Marathas. But the clash of arms thoroughly roused the garrison. Tanaji faced a serious problem. Many soldiers of his troops were still at the bottom of the fort. Even then, he had to challenge the enemy that greatly outnumbered his troops. He has