Sub.: The Historians, and their dilemmas.
While under-taking the cleaning campaign, prior to Deepawali, i happened to lay my hands on 1982 issue of Wal-mitra, where-in, an article [Article enclosed.] appeared about the exhibition of my photographs, held a Maratha Art gallery Satara.
Some information, about the Wal-mitra.
Wal-mitra was a magazine, being published by the cultural wing of 3 Divisions [Foundry & Engine, Machine-tools & Turn-key Project division.] of Walchand-group, headed by Mr.Vinod Doshi then. Mr.Jaywant Gujar, from our maintenance department, visited the exhibition, and drafted the article, after a brief interview of mine.
Satara is a thorne of Shri.Chatrapati Shivaji Raje Bhosale, who established the Swarajya in Maharashtra, and the local politics, was also dominated by the members of Bhosle dynasty then. My close friend, Mr.Parag Potdar, was a curator of a local museum, being managed by the state government, and he himself, was a artist [Fre-hand drawings & paintings] as well, and active member of a district Arts club. Photography was my hobby, and i had an opportunity, to travel across the country, since i was working in Marketing Department, during my formative days.
My roles, were being developed by M/s.Bhurke Arts studio, and its owner, Shri.Dada-Saheb Bhurke, himself was a nail painter, and the founder president of Satara District Arts club, and his son, popularly known as Bhaiyya, was a District President of Lions club, and active supporter of Dada-saheb, in his activities. It is the Trio of Dada, Bhaiyya & Parag, jointly decided to organize my exhibition, and i was tasked to provide the photographs, duly framed.
The preliminary preparations, for exhibition.
The inauguration, was planned with the Auspicious hands of Smt.Sumitra Raje Bhosle [Grand-mother of Udayan-Raje Bhosle, prevailing MP from Satara] Myself & Parag, approached Smt.Sumitra Raje, but due to knee pain, she was not able to accept our invitation.
The lady members of dynasty, rarely interact with commoners, but because of Parag, i had an opportunity to meet, the Senior most member of Bhosle dynasty, who's forefathers, established the Swarajya, and blocked the entry of Moguls, to Southern India. But i was not fortunate enough, to see the entire palace, but it is understood that, it is constructed on the slopes [Called Machi] of Ajinkya-Tara Fort. Even to reach the De-facto lobby, and then the hall, we have to climb around 15 steps, should speak for the undulating profile of the palace.
After the Non-availability of Smt.Sumitra Raje Bhosle, we decided to approach Smt.Kalpana-Raje Bhosle, herself a Ceramic Artist, and a mother of Udayan-Raje Bhosle. On enquiry, she invited us for the Break-fast meeting, very next day. Next day, when Parag phoned, the attendant called us at palace. At around 11.30 AM, she appeared in the balcony, and apologized saying " I am yet to start my day." and had a general talk for 15 mnts, and gave some excuse, to avoid. Thereafter, the inauguration, was performed by Mr.Arun Godbole, the Chairman of United Western bank, at the instant of Bhaiyya.
The very 1st photo-graph of exhibition, was a plaque from the Pratapgad Fort, with the remarks of Portuguese Governor, praising Chatrapati Shivaji-Raje Bhosle, and the last one, was a Majestic towers [Minars] of Darbar hall, at Fort Raigad, the capital of Maratha dynasty. Our plan of Inauguration & closing [Sangta] ceremony, by the person associated with Maratha dynasty, could not be materialized, but we were quiet happy with the closing [Sangata] ceremony, performed by Shri. Purushottan Ingle.
Dr.Shri.Purushottam Ingle, the historian, from Walchand-Group.
The reference of Shri.Purushottan Ingle, has appeared in the article published, was very respected person from our organization, since he was maintaing RG23 registry [Excise related document] and was very perfect in his documentation. He was a avid a history reader, and also the writer, with a Primary interest in Chatrapati Shivaji Raje era. He has done extensive study, on Maratha history, and was in extremely good books of, entire Bhosle dynasty. Even Shahu Maharaj from Kolhapur, used to consult him, to decipher the old records, written in Modi language. [Lipi]
When he came for the closing ceremony, he brought his own Ink bottle & Boru, and affixed his remarks, in the Abhipray book, in Modi language. The language he used for Abhipray, was of Maratha vintage. Due to his intense liking for the history, he was sponsored by our Walchand-group, for Doctorate, and he has selected the subject titled, "
Portuguese influence, on Maratha empire. " Ones during our friendly chat, i told him about the Saffa masjid, close to our ancestors home, at Ponda Goa, and the said masjid, was on the Goa tourism circuit also. Perhaps he selected the thesis subject, deriving the inspirations, from our friendly banter, is also not ruled out.
The obstacles, being faced by historians. Some budget was sanctioned, for his Doctorate thesis, and he landed in Goa, and met Dr.Pisurlekar, heading Archeology Survey of India [ASI] office at Panaji. Dr.Pisurlekar appreciated the choice of his subject, but since, all the records were available in either French or Portuguese, he also introduced two translators, and then the translation [Not the translators] itself, became a bottle-neck.
We Goans, have a habit of gobbling the rice for lunch, and then doze off. After a brief nap, get-up, have a Cuo of Tea, before starting the work, but call off, at 5.30 PM sharp, since the last bus departing from Central bust-stand then, was at 7.00 PM. Even now, the last private bus [Around 90% buses, are private] is at 7.30 PM for Ponda, and only a solitary Government bus, is available at 8.30 PM.
Bit of a Goan history.
That apart, all the texts available was written with Boru [Bambu stick, with ink flowing through capillaries.] and the Boru, is primarily meant for the circular letters, and the Portuguese staff then [Predominantly Christian] have taken the liberty, to corrupt the words, to improve the speed of writing. For example, our surname Kapdi, was corrupted as Capodi.
We the locals, are tuned to this style, but Mr.Ingle found it very difficult to digest. In nut shell, he was not satisfied with the speed of translation, hence dropped the Goa project, and proceeded to Mysore, and selected the subject "
Tipu Sultan, and his French connection. " I understand, Tipus Army, was trained by the French gunners.
In spite of the best gunners, Tipu has to face the defeat, at Shreerangpattum in 1799, due to the treachery by Polygars [Off shoots from the Kadamba dynasty of Goa.] The late Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Mr. Y.S.Reddy, was also one of the Polygars, should give you an idea, of the personality traits, of Polygars.
Portuguese entered the Goa in 1510, and ultimately were evicted by Indian Armed forces in 1961, i.e. after around 450 years later. On the same lines, Kadamba dynasty ruled Goa for 450 years, before, the entry of Portuguese. Is the gap of 450 years, in both the cases, is Co-incidental.?
In my personal capacity, i requested Mr.Ingale, to probe the role of Kapdi family, during the Muslim era, but since he left for Karnataka, i was not able to have sumptuous information, however, what little he could gather, and told me, is as follows,
The Muslims reached up to the out-skirts of Ponda, but were not able to capture the trading center [Bazaar, in route to Belgam] but they looted the traders, and captured their family members, presumably Jains. They converted them to Islam, and married their womenfolks, but permitted them to practice, their religious rituals, such as eating before the Sun-set, and putting a screen before the mouth. When i narrated this to my father, he corroborated the statement, and said, he has seen those women during his youth.
The Archives records translations, is a universal problem.
One of my friend from Himachal Pradesh told me, their family property settlement, was delayed by two years, since all the records were in Urdu, and for conversion, the translators were not available. Mr.Ingle faced similar problems, hence he has to drop the Goa project. Fortunately, our Maratha records, written in Modi, are very close to our Marathi language, hence even a common man, with little efforts, can read. Even the archives at Pondicherry, are in French, since it was ruled by them. There are many Indians, in Pondicherry, who are French citizens, and vote in French elections, and similar was the practice in Goa, after the liberation.
The status documentation [Say, Face book page] is a prevailing concept, but the history is written, by connecting the dots, hence can be deceptive at times, by design also. Hence the research scholars, has to go through, heap of the study materials, for Cross-checking, and thereafter the translation. is the biggest hurdle, one has to negotiate. India was ruled by Muslims [Urdu] British [English] French [French] Dutch & Portuguese, for last 1,000 years. So the genuine history, has been a challenge, and also the subject, of controversy.
One should learn from the history, for course correction, but many times, the readers are in a state of confusion, since the alternate point of views, are always available elsewhere, and then he doubts the both, and this confusion, can be on account of various factors. One amongst the various, i have broached as above.
The readers, should factor this point, while evaluating the historians.
M.Y.Kapdi.
[09860081951]
