When Aurangzeb's armies killed Sambhaji Bhonsle in 1689, most observers assumed Maratha resistance was finished. What followed proved them catastrophically wrong. Rajaram Bhonsle's flight to the fortress of Jinji in the far south, and the subsequent guerrilla campaigns conducted by Santaji Ghorpade and Dhanaji Jadhav across the Deccan, kept the Mughal war machine occupied for nearly two decades — and accelerated the empire's eventual disintegration.
Abhas Verma reconstructs this campaign using sources that rarely appear in mainstream accounts: Mughal court newsletters, Persian memoirs, and rare regional texts that record battles like Dodderi (1696) and Wagingera (1706-07) in operational detail. The roster of figures the book recovers is significant — civil administrator Pralhad Niraji, the Nayak and Berad communities whose local networks sustained the resistance, and Tara Bai, who stepped into command after Rajaram's death and held the confederacy together under conditions that would have broken most rulers.
-:ABOUT THE BOOK:- This book provides a definitive account of the Maratha struggle against the Mughal Empire, spotlighting a transformative era in Indian history. It details Rajaram Bhonsle's escape to Jinji, the defense of Jinji, guerrilla campaigns by Santaji Ghorpade and Dhanaji Jadhav, and the resurgence under Tara Bai, offering a panoramic view of the Maratha War of Independence. Lesser-known figures like Santaji and Dhanaji, civil officers such as Pralhad Niraji, and local groups like the Nayaks and Berads are celebrated for their roles in uniting diverse communities in the Maratha cause. Drawing on rare historical texts, Mughal court newsletters, and memoirs, the book ensures an authoritative narrative. It explores key battles like Dodderi (1696) and Wagingera (1706-07), the decline of the Mughal Empire, and the Marathas' cultural identity rooted in Shivaji's legacy. Leadership by Rajaram and Tara Bai underscores their adaptability and resilience amidst challenges.
