Dadoji Kondadeo

Dadoji Konddeo (Marathi: दादोजी कोंडदेव) (also known as Dadaji Konddev and Dadoji Kondadev) was a 16th century martial arts expert from India, particularly known for his loyalty towards his master Shahaji,He was also a "Subhedar" (Military and Administrative head)of Kondana Fort, thus Pune Region, currently known as Sinhagad (Marathi: सिंहगड)”

Personal life

Dadoji Konddeo was from a Marathi Deshastha Brahmin family from the Daund area in Maharashtra. He used to stay at Phaltan in the Pune region.

Early career under Shahaji

Dadoji Konddeo was in the services of Shahaji Raje Bhonsalé, a nobleman and a commander in the Nizamshahi military of Ahmednagar. Due to the constant warfare between the three powers, Mughals, Adilshah and Nizam, Shahaji proved himself as a brilliant commander. He was given independent land near the Pune region, where he set up his own military base and appointed Dadoji Konddeo as the instructor. Dadoji Konddeo, despite being a Brahmin, was an expert in warfare, and particularly skilled in swordsmanship.

However, due to the constant warfare among the three powers, Shahaji had to be constantly engaged in diplomatic and political manouvres. Tired of the endless battles, Shahaji declared independence and set up a swarajya . However, he couldn't defeat the combined might of the Mughal forces and Adilshah. Eventually, he was sent to Bangalore as a commander of Adilshah. It was then that Shahaji sent Dadoji Konddeo along with council of ministers to look after Shahaji's wife Jijamata and son Shivaji and to look after the jahagir as well from1637 till his death 1649 at the age of 72.

Tutor of Shivaji

After Shahaji sent him to look after Jijabai and baby Shivaji, Dadoji Konddeo ran the administration of the small jahagir of Shahaji, while Shahji himself was in Bangalore as the commander of Adilshah. As per order of his master,Dadoji Kondadev also built the "Lal Mahal" in Pune, which served as the royal palace of the Maratha empire in its early years before the capital was shifted to Rajgad. There is quite controversy regarding his exact role in making of Shivaji- right from his guru to none. To be fair,he can be credited specially with certain aspects of revenue administration and overall supervision of shivaji's later education. For the reason Shivaji had completed 8 years of age when he was put under his supervision. Shivaji was tutored in Sanskrit and war tactics none else than by his own father who was a scholar of Sanskrit and a veteran of wars this happened between 1641-1642; when he had visited Banglore along with his mother. after returning to Pune in 1642, Shivaji tranied in Law and justice by his mother,Maharaj and Jijabai did a role of Sub-Justice of Pune Subha, at the age of 14, Maharaj Punished Ranga Patil-Ranzekar of Ranja village related to rape case. This is one evidence describes that Maharaj was doing work of Law officer in Pune.

In Jedhe Shakawali

Jedhe Shakawali written by Kanhoji and his son Baji Jedhe mentions about Dadoji Konddev as "He developed city Shivapur as per order by Shahajiraje in 1636 and Lal Mahal in Pune in next year.He was tutor of Shivaji and took care of Maharaj's education from 1636 to 1646"

Misconcpetion

One of the popular Misconcpetion about Dadoji Konddev that he ate mango in Shivapur’s Baug so Shivaji Maharaj punished him and cut his one hand.

The actual story behind this is, after capturing Torna fort, Shivaji Maharaj wanted to capture Sinhgad (Kondana) fort. This was very easy task since Adilshah had given “Subhedari” Of Kondhana to Dadoji Konddev in 1639. and he was in favor of Maharaj. In 1645, he captured Kondhana and removed the people of Adilshah like Ghorpade and Shaik Mirad, He appointed Sardar Balkawade, Mrudangal Deshpande and Netaji Palkar for this fort.

When Ghorpade made complaint about this, Adilshah announced punishment to Dadoji Konddev without hearing. Sardar Ghorpade then came near Kondhana fort , at that time Shivaji Maharaj convinced Ghorpade that we are doing all this for administration purpose and we do not have any intention of soldier mutinee etc However Sardar Ghorpade considered Dadoji Konddev responsible for this happening, and he cut the one hand of Dadoji Konddev and spared him from death as “killing to any Brahmin” consider as sin (Brahman-hatya) at that time.

Remembering Dadoji Konddeo

Dadoji Kondadev is remembered today as a brilliant tutor, a selfless man and an expert in swordsmanship. An award has been instituted in his name in Maharashtra. A sports stadium in Thane has also been named after him. Apart from that, many other public places, roads and buildings have been named after him. His name is still revered in countryside as a loyal, honest old man with wisdom.

Sambhaji Brigade and Maratha organisations against Dadoji Kondadev

The Historical fact that Dadoji Kondadev was the mentor and teacher of Chatrapati Shivaji is being disputed by politically motivated organisations. Maratha activists and organisations like Sambhaji Brigade in a mere politically motivated campaign have disputed this historical fact for peity political reasons. Entire bone of contention seems to be the fact of a Maratha King whose mentor was a Brahmin, and Maratha activists namely the Sambhaji Brigade and Martha Seva Sangh want to change history on the basis of their population numbers. Surprisingly, secular parties of Maharashtra like the Congress and Nationalist congress have supported this caste discrimination of the Sambhaji Brigade.

The Maharashtra government has recently abolished the Dadoji Konddev Puraskar due to unavailability of proofs that Dadoji Konddev was the Guru(teacher) of Shivaji. The Puraskar used to be awarded to coaches for excellence in the field.

References

Inline

General

• Duff, Grant - History of the Marhattas, Oxford University Press, London.
• Apte, B.K. (editor), Chhatrapati Shivaji: Coronation Tercentenary Commemoration Volume, Bombay: University of Bombay (1974-75)

See also

Gomaji Naik

External links

• A Note on the 'Twelve Mavals' of Poona District - Modern Asian Studies, Vol. 12, No. 3 (1978), pp. 393–417