Battle of Umberkhind

Battle of Umberkhind ( Marathi: उंबरखिंडीची लढाई ) took place on 3 February 1661 in the mountain range of Sahyadri near the city of Pen, Maharashtra, India. The battle was fought between the Maratha under Chhatrapati Shivaji and General Kartalab Khan of the Mughal Empire. The Marathas decisively defeated the Mughal forces. [1] This battle was a great example of guerrilla warfare. On the orders of Aurangzeb, Shahista Khan sent Kartalab Khan to attack Rajgad. Shivaji's men encountered them in the mid way, that is The Umberkhind. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj wanted Kartalab and the famous Rai Bagan (Royal Tigress), the wife of Deshmukh of Mahur Sarkar of Berar Subah Raje Udaram, to enter Umberkhind, so that they become easy prey to his guerilla technique. When the mughals entred Umberkhind, a 15 miles passage, Shivaji maharaj’s men started blowing horns. The whole mughal army got stunned. Then Marathas attacked the Mughal army with arrows. The Kartalab khan and Rai Bagan with other Mughal soldiers tried to retaliate, but the forest was so dense and Maratha army was so quick that the Mughals could not even see the enemy. The situation was such that mughal soldiers were getting killed without seeing where the enemy is and without knowing where to shoot. Number of mughal soldiers died this way. Rai Bagan then advised Kartalab khan, that he should surrender himself to Shivaji Maharaj and ask for mercy. She said, "You have made a mistake by putting the whole army in the lion's jaw. Shivaji Maharaj is the lion. You should not have chosen this path to attack Shivaji Maharaj. Now, to save these dying soldiers, you should surrender yourself to Shivaji Maharaj. Unlike Mughals, Shivaji Maharaj shows amnesty for those who surrender."[2] Battle lasted for an hour or two. And then Kartalab khan on advise of Rai Bagan, sent the soldiers with white flag for truce. They shouted “ truce, truce!” and within a minute got encircled by Shivaji maharaj’s men. Then on the condition of paying huge ransom and surrendering all the arms, the Kartalab Khan was allowed to go back. Shivaji Maharaj then stationed Netaji Palkar in Umberkhind to keep check on the mughals, if they come back.

Battle of Umberkhind
Part of Imperial Maratha Conquests
Date 2 February 1661 Location Pen, Maharashtra, India Result Decisive Maratha victory.
Belligerents
Maratha Empire	Mughal Empire
Commanders and leaders
Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj	Kartalab Khan Rai Bagan
Strength
3000	20,000

References

1. B. R. Kamble (1982). Studies in Shivaji and His Times. Shivaji University.
2. परमानंद, कवींद्र. श्री शिवभारत. भारत इतिहास संशोधन मंडळ,पुणे. pp. Page 291, 292.