Page:The Imperial Durbar Album of the Indian princes, chiefs and zamindars.djvu/179

 Akalkot.

THE Chief of Akalkot is a Mahratta belonging to the Bhonsle family, and is a first class Sardar of the Deccan. In the beginning of the 17th century A.D. the principality formed part of the territories of the ruling Kings of Ahmednagar. Shiwaji, the celebrated founder of the Mahratta Empire, died in 1680 A.D., leaving behind him a son, Sambhaji, who was captured and slain by his inveterate foe Emperor Aurangzeb in 1 689 A.D. His son, Shiwaji, better known as Shahu, was thrown into prison by the Emperor; but immediately after his death in 1707 A.D. the Mahratta prince was restored to liberty by his successor Bahadur Shah. During the absence of Shahu at Delhi, the administration at Satara was earned on by Tarabai, the widow of Rajaram. When she learnt that Shahu was returning to the Deccan to regain his lost patrimony, she made strenuous efforts to oppose him and to keep him out of Satara. On his way to the .capital, Shahu was attacked by Sayaji, Patel of Parad, who espoused the cause of Tarabai, and fell upon Shahu with his band of followers. The Patel was defeated and slain in the encounter. His widow threw herself with her three sons on the mercy of Shahu and sought his protection. Naturally of a humane disposition, Shahu was moved with pity at the sight of the innocent and fatherless lads; and expressed his willingness to take Ranoji, the eldest of the three children, with him, and bring him up with fatherly care and affection. This was all that the distressed woman wanted, and Shahu gave her the villages of Parad, Shivn, and Thana in inam. The widow readily gave her consent to the proposed arrangement. Ranoji was a precocious child of ten years, and his fine look beaming with natural intelligence won him the favour of his patron Raja Shahu.

While marching from Parad, Shahu's progress was often hindered by the resistance offered by the aboriginal Bheels. On one of these occasions, the nominal command of the detachment employed to disperse the lawless mob, was entrusted to the boy Ranoji. The Bheels were defeated and put to rout, and the Raja looked upon this victory as a good omen, indicative of the young leader's future career. His name was changed to Fattesingh (the victorious), and he became a constant attendant of Shahu. In 1707 A.D. Shahu Raja conferred on him the family surname of Bhonsle, and began to look upon him as a member of the royal family. Subsequently he was granted the estate of Akalkot, which is still held by his descendants. Fattesingh figured prominently in the subsequent campaigns against Kolhapur, Trichonopoly, Bunded khand, and Bhaganagar; and received the title of 'Raja' and other honours from Raja Shahu for his meritorious services.

After the death of Shahu in 1749 A.D., Fattesingh retired- to take charge of his estate at Akalkot, where he died in 1760 A.D. His two widows Ahilyabai and Gujabai became satis, and he was succeeded by his adopted son, Shahaji Raja I, alias Babasaheb. After his death, the jahagir was held by his elder son, Fattesingh II, alias Abasaheb and the younger Tulaji, the estate of Kurla in the Satara District. The State of Akalkot first came in contact with the British Government in 1820 A.D. when the East India Company restored to Fattesingh his possessions, which had come into the hands of the English along with the other Satara territories. Fattesing II died in 1822 A.D.