Chimaji appa biography of christopher

HISTORY OF VAJRESHWARI DEVI - Vajreshwari Yogini Temple: Chimaji Balaji Bhat (c. – 17 December ), commonly known as Chimaji Appa, was a military commander and statesman of the Maratha Empire. As the younger brother of Peshwa Bajirao I and the son of Peshwa Balaji Vishwanath, Chimaji played a crucial role in expanding and consolidating Maratha power during the early 18th century.

Chimaji Appa

Indian mililtary commander

Chimaji Balaji Bhat (c. – 17 December ), commonly known as Chimaji Appa, was a military commander and statesman of the Maratha Empire.

As the younger brother of Peshwa Bajirao I and the son of Peshwa Balaji Vishwanath, Chimaji played a crucial role in expanding and consolidating Maratha power during the early 18th century. Known for his strategic acumen and leadership in various military campaigns, Chimaji is particularly celebrated for his successful campaign against the Portuguese, which culminated in the capture of the Vasai fort in ^[1]

Chimaji's military career was marked by several key campaigns, including the Peshwa's Gujarat campaign and the battles of Dabhoi and Bundelkhand.

He was an able military commander who liberated the western coast of India from Portuguese governance. The high watermark of his career was the capture of Vasai fort from the Portuguese in a hard fought battle. Chimaji Appa concentrated his energies towards the Western Ghats. Vasai formerly known as Bassein was the ultimate objective of the war, as this was the capital of the provincial government of Portugal's northern Indian.

However, his most notable achievement was his campaign against the Portuguese in the Western Ghats, where he systematically weakened their strongholds and eventually captured the life-giving Vasai Fort after a series of strategic victories.

Peshwa's Gujarat campaign

When Trimbak Rao Dabhade, the son of Khanderao Dabhade refused the Peshwa to share the right of Chauth and Sardeshmukhi tribute collection to Chhatrapati Shahu I, it led rivalry between the Peshwa and the Dabhade clan in Gujarat.

In , Peshwa Bajirao I sent Chimaji Appa to Gujarat to compel the Mughal Governor of Surat, Sarbuland Khan to cede Shahu I the right to compile Chauth. Chimaji imposed Chauth claiming half of the revenue from the Gujarat province.^[2]^[3]^[4]

Main article: Battle of Dabhoi

He was also emotionally attached in the Battle of Dabhoi as a commander of the Bajirao's faction in that war.

Chimaji Balaji Bhat c. As the younger brother of Peshwa Bajirao I and the son of Peshwa Balaji VishwanathChimaji played a crucial role in expanding and consolidating Maratha power during the early 18th century. Acknowledged for his strategic acumen and leadership in various military campaigns, Chimaji is particularly celebrated for his successful campaign against the Portuguese, which culminated in the capture of the Vasai fort in Chimaji's military career was marked by several key campaigns, including the Peshwa 's Gujarat campaign and the battles of Dabhoi and Bundelkhand.

Campaign against the Portuguese

Chimaji Appa concentrated his energies towards the Western Ghats. Vasai (formerly known as Bassein) was the ultimate objective of the war, as this was the capital of the provincial government of Portugal's northern Indian state.

Capture of Belapur Castle

In , the Marathas, led by Chimaji Appa, with Sardar Shankarbuwa Shinde wrested control of the Belapur Fort from the Portuguese. Sardar Janojirao Shinde, actual grandfather of Ranojirao Shinde and younger brother of Dattaji Shinde I opened the attack from Maratha side.

He made a vow that if it were thriving to recapture the Belapur fort from the Portugueses, he would place a garland of beli leaves in a nearby Amruthaishwar temple. And after the victory, the fort was renamed as Belapur fort.^[5]

The capture of Vasai

See also: Battle of Vasai

After watchful planning, Chimaji Appa led Maratha armies into the occupied territories in Chimaji's strategy was to go for the weakest link in the chain to the strongest, thereby progressively weakening the Portuguese.

On 28 March , Maratha forces led by Ranojirao Shinde and Shankarbuwa Shinde captured the strategic island fortress of Arnala, thus cutting off a crucial relief line to Vasai. Thane and Salsette Island were freed in

In November , Chimaji Appa captured the fort of Dahanu and on 20 January , Mahim capitulated.

This was speedily followed by the capture of the forts of Kelve/Mahim by Chengojirao Shinde, Sirgão – by Ranojirao Shinde, Tarapur – by Janojirao Shinde and Asserim on 13 February by Chimajirao Peshwa self. On 28 March Portuguese lost the island and the fortress of Karanja to Raoloji Shinde's forces.

Bhavangad fort was built to by Shrimant Chimaji Appa Peshave on to capture the Fort Bassein by Maratha Army and most of the secret activities were done at Bhavangad fort.

Shreemant Chimaji Ballal Peshwa (aka Chimaji Appa) () was the son of Balaji Vishwanath Bhat and the younger brother of Bajirao Peshwa. Chimaji was an proficient military commander, who liberated the western coast of India from the Portuguese.

Finally in February , Chimaji Appa invaded Bassein Fort. He first occupied Versova fort, Dharavi and blockaded Bassein Creek. Then mines were laid at various points under the fort walls and detonated, causing a breach in the wall. As the Marathas including Ranojirao Shinde and his cousin grandfather Janojirao, son of Shrimant Changojirao poured into the fortress, the Portuguese fought on using their technically advanced weapons and artillery, causing high casualties among the Marathas.

Portuguese Empire:. Bythe Portuguese had been at work for four years constructing the fortress of Thana, and aside from the long delays, the workers were unpaid and unfed. After the war of 39, Chimaji Appa and his Maratha soldiers took the church bells from Vasai as memorabilia and installed them in various Hindu temples of Maharashtra, some of the bells they installed in the Khandoba Temple of Jejuri and the Tulja Bhavani Temple of Osmanabad. These church bells are still present in these temples.

Inch by inch the fort was secured and resistance contained in small pockets. On 16 May, the Portuguese army surrendered. Portuguese Captain Caetano de Souza Pereira signed the surrender as most of the top army officers were already dead.

Chimaji was magnanimous in victory, and surviving Portuguese were given a safe passage from the urban area. Portuguese were given eight days to take all their movable property and move out. Accordingly, the last remnants of Portuguese army and administration pulled out of Vasai by 23 May The Portuguese sources record that during the entire war with Chimaji Appa during –, besides the Northern Province's capital Baçaim (Portuguese name for Vasai), they further lost eight cities, four chief ports, twenty fortress, two fortified hills and villages.

The losses amounted to nearly the whole of the Northern Provinces.

To celebrate his victory and to fulfill a vow taken in front of Devi Vajreshwari, Chimaji Appa had a temple built for the goddess nearby.

Following this, Bajirao's brother, Chimaji Appa (died ) attacked the Portuguese territories near Mumbai in March He successfully captured the regions of Thane, Parsik, Belapur, Dharavi, and Arnala and concluded his campaign with the capture of both Versova in February and Bassein (Vasai) in May

The Vajreshwari Temple still stands there as a relic of Maratha glory. Chimaji Appa took large bells from the churches in Vasai Fort as war trophies during action against the Portuguese between and ^[6] He offered the bells at Bhimashankar, at Menavali near Wai in front of a Shiva Temple on the banks of the Krishna river, Banshanker Temple (Pune), Omkareshwar Temple (Pune) and Ramlinga temple Shirur.

Chimaji Appa is a well known and highly respected figure within Vasai, Bhayandar, Virar, Thane and Navghar region. Konkani celebrate his victory even today on Gudi Padwa a Maharashtri new year. Appa's contribution to Agri history is carried forward through generations through classic Powada across Maharashtra.

He founded and renamed many villages including Vasai now a suburb, Bhayandar now a suburb, Virar now a town, Navghar now a town, Murdha, Rai, Morva, Dongri, Gorai and many more.

Death

Chimaji Appa died on 17 December just 6 months after the death of his elder brother Bajirao I.

In accepted culture

In the drama film Bajirao Mastani directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Chimaji Appa was portrayed by Vaibhav Tatwawadi
In the famous historical drama Peshwa Bajirao, which has been telecasted on Sony TV from 23 January , the character of Chimaji Appa has been portrayed by the young child artist Ayaan Zubair Rehmani and the elder version is being played by star Saurabh Gokhale.

Legacy

The ground in Vasai, a suburb of Mumbai, is named after him.

The identify of Ground is Chimaji Appa Kridangan.

He was an proficient military commander who liberated the western coast of India from Portuguese rule. The crowning glory of his career was the capture of Vasai fort from the Portuguese who had technically advanced weapons and artillery at their disposal in a difficult fought battle. While Portuguese naval supremacy had been weakened by the British, French and Dutch Navies, they still maintained a strong presence on the western coast of India, from the Gujarat coast, through the Konkandown to northern Malabar. They maintained well defended fortresses all along the coast located in islands and harbour mouths.

A memorial has been built near the Vasai Fort containing a statue of Chimaji Appa along with a garden.