A Proud Maratha

 जातीवादामुळे आपण हे विसरतो की छत्रपती शिवराय यांनी ज्या हिंदवी स्वराज्याची स्थापना केली त्यामध्ये प्रत्येक जातीच्या लोकांचे योगदान होते. कित्येक युद्ध, मोहीम झाल्या ज्यामध्ये ब्राम्हण, मराठा, कुणबी, महार, चांभार, धनगर - सगळे खांद्याला खांदा लावून लढले! पण सध्याच्या राजकर्त्यांमुळे आपण आपल्यामधील ही एकता विसरून, स्वतःच्या जातीला महान सिद्ध करण्याची मूर्ख प्रक्रिया आरंभली आहे ती संपवणे फार गरजेचे आहे. छत्रपती शाहू महाराज यांच्या हयातीत आणि निधनानंतर पेशव्यांनी मराठा साम्राज्याला जी स्थिरता प्रदान केली त्यासाठी त्यांची जेवढी प्रशंसा करावी तितकी कमीच! जय भवानी, जय शिवराय जय शंभूराजे, जय पेशवे बाजीराव 🙏🚩

  आठवा... आठवा उपाशी पोटी प्रवास करणारे ते मराठे, आठवा दिवस रात्र चकमकी लढणारे ते शूरवीर, आठवा बुराडी वर वीरमरण स्वीकारणारे दत्ताजीराव... आठवा पानिपतावर गोळी लागून पडणारे कोवळे विश्वासराव... आठवा आपल्या तोफांच्या बळावर अफगाण सैनिकांना भाजून काढणारा इब्राहिमखान... आठवा त्या यशवंतराव पवारांना ज्यांनी हत्तीवर चढून अताई खान यास मारले... आठवा बाजीराव आणि मस्तानीचा पुत्र समशेर... आठवा ते गुळाचे पाणी पिऊन लढणारे मराठा... आठवा गोविंदपंत बुंदेले यांना, ज्यांनी चारा धान्य पुरवता पुरवता वीरमरण स्वीकारले... आठवा पानिपतावर धारातीर्थी पडणारे पहिले सरदार बळवंतराव मेहेंदळे... आठवा मल्हारबाबांना ज्यांनी अनुभव आणि वयाच्या आधारावर सर्वांना सांभाळून घेतले... आठवा ते सदाशिवराव भाऊसाहेब, जे शेवटपर्यंत लढत लढत हुतात्मा झाले... आठवा तो १४ जानेवारी १७६१ चा दिवस... आठवा ती पानिपतची लढाई... आठवा मराठा दौलतीचा सर्वात पराक्रमी दिवास... पानिपत लेखन - सुमेधराव मालंडकर

 मुघल आणि आदिलशाह च्या नाकी नऊ आणणारे स्वराज्यसंकल्पक शहाजी राजे,  शुरांमध्ये सगळ्यात शूर सरदार लखुजीराव जाधवराव, राजमाता, स्वराज्य जननी, मातोश्री जिजामबाई साहेब, स्वराज्यासाठी पहिलं बलिदान देणारे वीर बाजी पासलकर, पुण्याची घडी बसविणारे दादोजीपंत कोंडदेव, अनेक अडचण आणि शत्रूंवर विजय प्राप्त करणारे स्वराज्यसंस्थापक श्री छत्रपती शिवाजी महाराज,  आपल्या सर्वस्वावर पाणी सोडणारे सरदार कान्होजी जेधे,  पोराचं लगीन सोडून कोंढाणा जिंकायला निघालेले सुभेदार तानाजी मालुसरे, खिंडीत छातीचा कोट करणारे बाजीप्रभू देशपांडे, वेडात दौडले वीर मराठे सात, त्या सात मराठ्यांचे प्रमुख प्रतापराव गुजर, धर्म आणि स्वराज्यासाठी प्राणाची आहुती देणारे धर्मवीर छत्रपती शंभूराजे,  साल्हेर मध्ये वीरगतीला प्राप्त झालेले सूर्यराव काकडे, मित्रासाठी जगणारे आणि मित्रासाठी मरणारे कविराज कलश, स्त्रीशक्तीची धगधगती मशाल भद्रकाली महाराणी ताराबाई,  दर्यावर राज करणारे सरखेल कान्होजी आंग्रे, निष्ठेचे मूर्तिमंत उदाहरण सरसेनापती हंबीरमामा मोहिते,  औरंग्याच्या तंबूचा कळस कापणारे कालभैरव सेनापती संताजी घोरप...

 With the vacations fast approaching, I can't help but think of what I'll be missing this year. This crisis has left me thinking, And has brought in my mind a bit of fear. Perhaps it's for my own safety, That I won't be going back to our country. But even though I justify it, It won't decrease my misery. I won't be boarding the flight this time, Nor will I enjoy the sights of Singapore this year. No longer will I be excited for these vacations, When I won't even be going to the ones I hold dear. Sitting in this small room abroad, I can't help but recall, The smile spread broad, On the face of my paa, When he would turn up at the airport, To take me home to maa. How I used to feel so loved, Travelling through our car all the way to our abode. And there in my home, With a nice plate of lunch, Maa would bid me welcome, With a sweet smile nd a warm hug. I miss the grandeur of our temples, Which would welcome me in all their majesty. And would give me some le...

 Swamiya Saranam Ayyappa 🙏🚩 First thing, this isn't a matter of Women empowerment or Feminism. The Sabarimala Temple is dedicated to Swami Shree Ayyappa. I would like to bring it to everyone's notice that Swami Ayyappa is a Brahmachari {Bachelor}. It's clearly mentioned in the Shastras that women are not allowed to go near a Brahmachari, leave alone touching Him. This practice has been in existence since the construction of the temple. The fundamental question on the Sabarimala issue is this: Should the judiciary or the government be indulging in a matter that is predominantly a matter of faith and tradition? In my view, they shouldn’t. Why? Sabarimala was never a case of caste or colour-based oppression or ostracising of any particular community. There was no social injustice against which to fight. It is also not an institution that has upheld any social evil like Sati or child marriage. Behind the reason why for centuries the temple has not encouraged women in the age ...

 A Man's World... We have heard people say that what we are living in is a Man's World. But what exactly is this man's world? I have seen a different world for a man in these times.  Many have felt the pressure of being successful and being a topper and if he ever lost his rank to a girl, it would be a great disappointment to a lot of people. And then he would be bombarded with taunts like "Ladki se har gaya - Yahi teri mardaangi hai kya?" (You lost to a girl. Is this your manhood?) We tried to put it out of our minds and are successful in doing it for a while but this isn't something that you forget easily. We have learned that in our society, it is expected that a guy should be at the top of his trade, should be the best and should succeed everytime at anything he does. But why? Why should a guy always be succesful? He isn't a perfect person who can be the epitome of success for this society! And God forbid if he fails in something! Failure by a guy is n...

We all have heard of the military exploits of Shrimant Peshwa Bajirao Ballal Bhat. Bajirao Peshwa was supported by a multitude of generals and captains like Pilaji Jadhavrao, Malharrao Holkar, Ranoji Shinde and Khanderao Dabhade among others. But his greatest supporter was his younger brother - Chimaji Appa.  Chimaji Appa was the second son of Balaji Vishwanath Bhat, a simple Karbhari from Konkan. He was a Chitpavan Brahman by birth. The Chitpavans were known for their exceptional intelligence and talents while dealing with administrative and military affairs. When Chimaji was still a baby, his family had already migrated out of Konkan and settled in Saswad. Balaji Vishwanath Bhat had brought numerous Maratha sardars to support Shahu Maharaj against Maharani Tarabai. On 12 January, 1708, Shahu Maharaj was crowned as the Chhatrapati of the Maratha Samrajya at Satara. Balaji Vishwanath Bhat was the Senakarte and was promoted to the post of the Peshwa (Prime Minister) of the Maratha S...

Maharani Lakshmibai The British East India company had arrived as traders and transformed into an aggressive military organization in India, aimed at dominating and conquering the nation. They defeated Siraj ud Daulah at Plassey in 1757 ane established a stronghold in Bengal. This was followed by the defeat of the Indian coalition of Shuja ud Daulah and Shah Alam II at the Battle of Buxar. The only power left to resist the British were the Marathas. After 3 Anglo Maratha wars, the Peshwa, Bajirao II was finally deposed and exiled to rule over a small town called Bithoor. This marked the end of the Maratha dominance in India and the British emerged as the masters of the Indian subcontinent. The other Maratha chiefs like Shinde and Holkars remained subservient to the British and retained a high standard among their foreign Overlords. Peshwa Bajirao II The Peshwa had a trusted subordinate named Moropant Tambe. Moropant Tambe had been the Peshwa's civil minister dur...