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Shivaji Maharaj killing Pt. Krishnabhaskar Kulkarni


The first picture can be found in most popular history books, in which Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj is shown killing Afzal Khan. The second is seldom seen. In this Shivaji Maharaj is depicted killing Pt. Krishnabhaskar Kulkarni. Both events took place on the same day, same time on 10 November 1659, Pratapgarh, Satara, Maharashtra. Kulkarni was the intermediary who arranged for the parleys between Afzal Khan and Shivaji. He was angered when the Maharaj slew the Bijapur general instead. 

Afzal khan who was a giant of a man physically intended to crush shivaji in his ‘embrace’ but was outwitted. It would seem that kulkarni was party to this plot and struck at shivaji when he outwitted Afzal. Kulkarni actually injured Shivaji before he was killed.

While people are busy finding their caste and religions , Chatrapati Shivaji saw anyone without any filters.

Krishna Bhaskar was given repeated warnings by Chatrapati Shivaji " you won't be harmed you can walk away " 
He strikes again 
" Bramhin hatya is a sin for a kshatriya . Walk away "
Strikes again and gets killed.


Krishna Bhaskar Kulkarni, a Brahmin, was a close confidante of Afzal Khan and held a prominent position in the court of Bijapur. 

     Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, united the common people of Maharashtra, regardless of their caste, into a juggernaut which under later rulers planted the bhagwa in Kabul. 

     In those days the Brahmins held sway over much of the courts of the Muslim rulers because, 1) They were considered as high castes Hindu's, 2) They were well versed with the taxation policies of that age, 3) To assuage the majority population that individuals belonging to their religion held prominent positions in the court. 
   Islamic rulers merely substituted Hindu/Buddhist/Jain rulers, whereas the courtiers were mostly local individuals barring a few Muslims who belonged to the inner coterie.

Upper hindu castes adjusted with every ruler so that this caste supremacy was not distributed. 
Precisely, that's the way you stay in power regardless of the political changes, upheavals and maintain your wealth throughout the generations. The stranglehold on the caste system was maintained in this manner, whether it was the Gupta's or the British.


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