Kavi Kalash
Chandogamatya Kavi Kalash | |
|---|---|
 Royal Poet of the Maratha Empire | |
| In office 1680–1889 | |
| Monarch | Sambhaji I |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Unnao, Mughal Empire (present day Uttar Pradesh, India) |
| Died | 11 March 1689 Tulapur, Maratha Empire (present day Maharashtra, India) |
| Cause of death | Execution |
| Occupation | Royal poet, advisor, warrior |
| Known for | Confidant of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | Maratha Empire |
| Battles/wars | Sack of Burhanpur Mughal invasions of Konkan Capture of Sambhaji Deccan Wars |
Kavi Kalash was initially a poet later became a close friend of Sambhaji I . He was killed along with Sambahji in 1689.[1]
Early Life
[change | change source]Kalash Dev, a Kanyakubja Brahmin from Unnao, was a skilled administrator, warrior, and poet. He defeated Shahabuddin Khan near Raigad in 1684 and played a crucial role in the Agra escape plan. Sambhaji Maharaj honored him with the title Chandogamatya (Pinnacle of Poets).
Death
[change | change source]In March 1689, Kavi Kalash was captured alongside King Sambhaji by the Mughal army under Aurangzeb in Sangameshwar. While Aurangzeb prayed in thanks for his victory, Kalash composed a defiant poem, comparing Sambhaji’s capture to Hanuman’s restraint in Ravan’s court and mocking Aurangzeb’s loss of power. Enraged, Aurangzeb ordered Kalash’s tongue to be cut out. Both were then paraded and allegedly killed in a gruesome manner using tiger claws.[2][3]
यावन रावन की सभा संभू बंन्ध्यो बजरंग।
लहू लसत सिंदूर सम खूब खेल्यो रनरंग॥
ज्यो रबि छबि लखतही नथीत होत बदरंग।
त्यो तव तेज निहारके तखत त्यजो अवरंग॥
— Kavi Kalash
Sambhaji (maharaj) has been tied like Hanuman in the court of Islami ravan (i.e., Aurangzeb).Maharaj looking red because of wounds and blood from the great war he fought.The way fireflies lose their glow after sunrise,Seeing your effulgence, Aurangzeb (also lost his glow and) gave up his thrown.
— Translation of the above Poem
References
[change | change source]- ↑ Mehta, Jaswant Lal (2005-01-01). Advanced Study in the History of Modern India 1707-1813. Sterling Publishers Pvt. Ltd. ISBN 978-1-932705-54-6.
- ↑ "अखेरच्या श्वासापर्यंत शंभू महाराजांची साथ न सोडणारे 'कवी कलश' कोण होते?". 2020-02-29. Retrieved 2024-11-09.
- ↑ Sawant, Indrajit. Marathyanche Swatantrayuddha bhag - 1. Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj.