Who were Ganoji and Kanhoji Shirke, whose descendants protest against the movie Sambhaji Maharaj? – Firstpost

The historical drama Chhava It is a success among fans. The film, based on the life of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, has crossed the 350 million break in the box office.

While the film is creating rumors, its creators have been criticized for the representation of the historic Shirke family of Maharashtra. The descendants of the Marathha Ganoji and Kanhoji Shirke commanders have opposed the representation of their ancestors.

Let’s take a look at the line.

Chhava Land in hot water

Chhava The manufacturers face Flak for portraying Ganoji Shrke and his brother Kanhoji Shirke with poor light. The Shirke family is upset with the film directed by Laxman Utekar for showing that Ganoji and Kanhoji Shirke betrayed
Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharajwhich resulted in his capture by Commander Mogol Muqarrab Khan.

The film shows that the Shirke brothers demanded the land of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj to fulfill the alleged promise of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj to their father, Pilaji Shirke, for the same. After Sambhaji does not pay attention to their demand, the defect brothers to the Mogol side and reveal their location. The film shows that the brothers are present when Sambhaji Maharaj is captured by Comandante Mogol Murb Khan in a battle in Sangameshwar in 1689.

“Our reputation has been deeply affected. All of India think of us as Gaddar (Traitors). If the filmmakers continue to ignore us, we will go to the streets in protest. Shirke family numbers are in Lakhs in Maharashtra, ”said Deepak Raje Shirke, a family member Indian Express.

“Chhava It was, otherwise, a good movie and the story of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj should come before the public. Only the few controversial parts must be eliminated, ”he added.

The reports say that the descendants of the Shirke family are reflecting by presenting a demand for defamation of 100 million rupees against manufacturers of Chhaava.

The family has already sent a legal notice to the director, the editor of the novel, Chhavaand its rights holders. Vicky Kaushal-Starer’s film is based on the 1979 novel of the same name by writer Marathi Shivaji Sawant.

“Previously, historical literature was limited to a niche of readers. But with the emergence of social networks, erroneous information spreads rapidly. People consume these stories without a doubt, which leads to a suspicion out of place to us, ”said Shirke Raje Hindustan Times (HT).

Shrike family alleges that Chhava The film distorts the story and violates its ancestors.

According to him Indian Express Report, many members of the Shirke family visited their ancestral town in Shirkoli on Monday, gathering at the family’s deity temple to plan their protest against the film.

Deepak Raje Shirke, descendant of the 13th generation of the Shirke family, told the newspaper that the family had approached the offices of the main minister, the deputy chief ministers and others before the release of the film on February 14.

“We also informed the director of the film and others associated with him that what they were showing was wrong and that they should not do it. They did not take any measure and ignored us and released the film, ”he said.

Who were Ganoji and Kanhoji Shirke?

The history of the Shirkes dates back to 750 years. According to the reports, parts of Pune, Goa, Mumbai and Konkan ruled, and so on. Pilaji Raje Shirke, the Sardar del Clan, and his children, Ganoji and Maharani Yesubai Bhosale played key roles in the history of Marathha, said Indian Express.

In 1664, Maharani Yesubai Bhonsale married Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj. His brother, Ganoji Shirke, was married to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Rajkunwar.

“Many small rulers had joined under a flag to fight for Swaraj under Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and the Shirkes were among them. By the way, Raigad’s fort was with the Shirke family for 350 years, ”said Deepak Shirke Raje to the newspaper.

The contentious history

It is complicated. Historians have different points of view when it comes to whether the Shirke brothers betrayed Sambhaji.

According to the biography Shivputra Sambhaji By Kamal Gokhale, Ganoji and other family members could have allied with the Mogoles already in 1682-83. However, Rahul Magar, an assistant professor at the Department of History of the University of Savitribai Phule Pune, said Indian Express“On the other hand, the historians of the Mogol side like Niccolao Manucci and Ishwar Das Nagar say that Kavi Kalash was a Mogol spy. In conclusion, Sambhaji Raje was betrayed, but we obtain two different versions of who did. ”

Kavi Kalash was a close friend of Chhatrapati Sambhaji.

The historian Indrajit Sawant is being threatened after saying in several interviews that it was not the Shirke brothers who betrayed Sambhaji, but some Brahmins who helped the Mogoles, citing the correspondence between the officials of the French company of the Eastern Indies.

“There was a commercial office of French officials near Sangameshwar, and used to transmit information on events in the Kingdom of Marath to its headquarters in Pondicherry,” said the historian in the interviews. “Francis Martin’s newspaper, a French officer, says that Brahman employees working in the Marathha kingdom helped the Mogoles arrest Sambhaji Maharaj.”

Past stalks on the Shirke family

For the Shirke family, the narrative recorded in the memory of the people that their ancestors betrayed Sambhaji and joined the Mogoles to chase them even today.

Talking with HtLaxmikant Raje Shirke, Deepak’s younger brother, said the family’s history is exploited by political parties. “Many of our relatives are in active politics, and during the elections, the opposition parties explode our last name against us. My brother Devida Raje, a former deputy Sarpanch de Pedgaon in the district of Ahilyanagar, was frequently attacked on our so -called “betrayal legacy” during his campaigns. “

The Shirke family states that there is no documentary evidence to prove that their ancestors betrayed Sambhaji Maharaj.

In 2009, the family submitted a request from RTI to the file address, which replied that there was no “proof” of documentary evidence that linked Ganoji and Kanhoji Shirke with the capture of Sambhaji Maharaj for the Mughals.

Now, with the movie ChhavaThe Shirke family is back in the center of attention. While the director repeatedly approached Bhushan Shirke, another descendant, to apologize, the family does not flinch.

They plan to go out to protest against the film if their concerns are not addressed.

With agencies inputs