|
Home |
|
About Us |
|
Gangaji Naik |
|
Donations |
|
Site By |
|
Shree Siddhivinayak Anjur |
|
The Symbol of Hope |
|
Gangaji Naik |
|
Gangaji Naik was the eldest of the six children of Nimbaji Naik. Gangaji lead a truly multicultural workforce into a well-coordinated military offensive on to the then Portuguese fortifications of Vasai and its precincts. The attacks that lasted from 1737 to 1739 were per perhaps one of the earliest army-navy joint operations. The military offensive was meticulously planned and executed in perfect sync and teamwork. These military strikes from the land and from the sea are considered to be some of the best surprise attacks and amphibian operations in an estuarine terrain.
With the front-line leadership of Gangaji Naik and under the overall command of Chimaji Appa, the Marathas acquitted themselves creditably. The Battles of Vasai resulted in the retreat of the Portuguese, reestablishing Maratha supremacy in the coastal Maharashtra.
Some references on Gangaji Naik.
The Battle of Vasai (excerpted from Wikipedia)
The Battle of Vasai was fought between the Marathas and the Portuguese rulers of Vasai, a village lying near Bombay in the present-day state of Maharashtra, India. The Marathas were led by Chimaji Appa, brother of Peshwa Baji Rao I. Maratha victory in this war was a major achievement of the Baji Rao I reign.
1737 AD – 1738 AD – Marathas march towards Bacaim.
They seized Arnala to drive out the Portuguese. General Shankarji Pant informed Chimaji that Arnala fort was a strategic fort for the naval forces that were on route to attack the Portuguese. Chimaji approved the assault on the fort. Shankarji Pant consulted and sought assistance of the local people to attack Arnala fort; among them were Govindji Kasar and Gavraji Patil from Bolinj. Shankarji sent Gangaji Naik, Bajirao Belose and Rayajirao Surve to lead a battalion of 400 soldiers to lead the attack on Arnala fort. This attack was coordinated along with naval force commanded by Manaji Agre.
On March 28, 1737 Maratha forces attacked the fort and surprised the Portuguese who were caught with their guard down. The Portuguese retreated and gave up the fort. The Maratha victory was commemorated with a plaque installed on the northern wall of the fort and is still visible today. Soon after the Maratha victory, Shankarji Pant began reconstruction of the fort. By January of 1738 three bastions were completed. The three bastions were named Bhairav, Bhavani and Bava. The construction was completed by March of 1738. Later Marathas occupied Versova and Dharavi.
1739 A.D. – Seize of Bacaim begins on 17 February 1739 under able leadership of Bajirao’s brother Chimnaji Appa. Marathas exhibit besieging force, skill, courage and perseverance and thus Portuguese lose their commander Silveira de Menezes. But Portuguese Garrison defends with highest courage and constancy with hand grenades, musketry and mortars, using their technically advanced weapons and artillery, the Portuguese inflicted high casualties on the Marathas. Angre’s fleet plays brave role and on 16 May 1739 Marathas defeated Portuguese with might. Naro Shankar Abhyankar's artillery also played important role with Chimaji Appa himself igniting first shot from cannon on fort. Naro Shankar's Lieutenant in Command Girmaji Kanitkar played havoc with continuous bombardment of the fort. That with Manaji Angre's seaborne musketeers and accurate shooting forced the Portuguese to surrender.
The Portuguese offered to capitulate, but requested to allow marching out with honours which Marathas accepted, as a mark of humane protocol to the defeated army. Bacaim fell from Portuguese as a stately tree never to rise again.
Excerpted from Wikipedia, The Battle of Vasai, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Vasai, accessed on 13 September 2010.
Ganagji Naik Anjurkar
Who took the initiative in inducing the Marathas to undertake military operations against the Portuguese rule at Bassein and who should be held responsible for the ultimate victory, are some of the issues often discussed in connection with the Bassein campaign of 1737-39. The parties involved in it are Gangaji Naik, Antaji Kavale, Brahmendra Swami and finally the Peshwa.
The editor of the Marathi chronicle called Sashtichi Bakhar maintains that the chief figure in the Bassein campaign was Gangaji Naik, whose role cannot be ignored by historians. Gangaji considered the liberation of Bassein as his life’s mission and his tenacity coupled with the determination of Chimaji Appa made the Bassein campaign successful. The chronicle was, therefore, described as the Epic of Gangaji Naik.
Source: Sardesai, HS, Shivaji the Great Maratha, Cosmo Publishers, 2002 Ed, 1193p, 4 vols, ISBN 81-7755-284-8
A leader is a dealer in hope. Napoleon Bonaparte
|
