The story fi nds mention in three books. Two books are by Sawant — Shodh Bhavani Talwaricha,and Shiv Samadhicha Shodh aani Bodh, and third by Appasaheb Pawar, Studies in Indian History.
The state government may be planning to spend tens of crores in building a 190mhigh statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in the Arabian Sea, but the only sculpture made during his lifetime lies disregarded in a little-known village in Karnataka.
The three-foot-tall sculpture in granite was sculpted by Mallabai Desai way back in 1678. Shivaji was heading back to the state after his victory down-south, when he stopped over to spend some time at Belwadi fortress in G a d a g prov i n c e i n Karnataka.
“There was a battle in which Belwad in-charge Yesaji Prabhu Desai was killed by Marathas. However, Yesaji’s wife Mallabai continued to fi ght with the help of her women warriors. After some time, she retreated and pleaded for a truce which Shivaji agreed. “Once the truce was agreed, she complained to Shivaji that one of her warrior personnel Sukhoji had harassed her women warriors. Shivaji reprimanded and punished Sukhoji. He also gave back
Belwad to Mallabai. Taken aback by the kind of respect shown to her, Mallabai decided that a sculpture be made after the war hero,” said Indrajit Sawant, noted historian and researcher on Shivaji and Shahujimaharaj.
The story fi nds mention in three books. Two books are by Sawant — Shodh Bhavani Talwaricha,and Shiv Samadhicha Shodh aani Bodh, and third by Appasaheb Pawar, Studies in Indian History.
Shivaji’s respect for women immortalised
The sculpture in two parts is three feet in height and 1.5 feet in width. It portrays Shivaji’s respect towards women. At present it is in a Hanuman temple in Yadvad village in Dharvad taluka of Karnataka. The temple is being renovated. Villagers say they have marked a spot near Hanuman temple where the sculpture will be placed.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "sculpture")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}