Bapuji Mudgal Deshpande

Bapuji Mudgal Deshpande Bapuji Mudgal Deshpande
General of Maratha Empire
Monarch	Chhatrapati Shivaji

Bapuji Mudgal Deshpande (Marathi: बापुजी मुदगल देशपांडे; 1608–1665) was a general in the early Maratha Empire during the reign of Shivaji. He is best remembered for his major role during first and second recapturing attempts of “Kondhana” fort in 1647 and 1656 respectively. He was also one of the first settlers of Khed Shivapur village in south of Pune. He pursued many Maratha and Muslim families to settle down in this newly developed village.

Bapuji Mudgal Deshpande was born into the Deshastha Brahmin family and his native place was Khed which is 30 km south of Pune. This village is also very close to Sinhagad fort.His family had a tradition of Military Accountants. While some family members working as accountants (Karkhanis) on Kondhana fort, some were engaged in Freelance -Wars along with of Konde-Deshmukh family.

The Deshpande family warriors never had firm directions before 1636 and they used engaged in battles sometime from side of Adilshah or from Nizamshah. The Deshpande family had a light infantry of 500 people consisting of local Mahadev Koli, Ramoshi and Marathas.

It was 1636 when, the family met Jijabai, Konde Deshmukh and Dadoji Konddeo offered their own Wada to stay to the Bhonsales.

This family supported and encouraged idea of new village development of Khed Shivapur.

By using force of his military, Bapuji removed Adilshahi, the Kiladar of Kondhana,, and started Swarajya’s rule over there. Later Muse Khan made complaint to Adilshaha about this incident as a response Sultan sent small army headed by the Ghorpades (who used to hate Bhonsale family) but Bapuji Mudgal Deshpande, Dadoji Konddeo, 18-year-old Shivaji Maharaj convinced Ghorpade about their action, Ghorpades believed to punish Dadoji Konddeo by cutting his one hand as he sided the Bhonsale’s wing in spite of servant of Adilshah.

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