THE TRAP, & ESCAPE OF SHIBAJI THE BATTLE OF PAVAN KHIND (SACRED PASS) BAJIPRABHU DESHPANDE —THE LONE HERO (HISTORY KILLED BY LEFT KABALS AND MOULANA) SARASIJ MAJUMDER The year was 1660. The leader of the Maratha rebellion, Chattrapati Shivaji Maharaj, was trapped in Fort Panhala. His escape blocked by a monstrous Adil Shahi army, commanded by the Abyssinian General Siddi Masud. Food was running low, and the daily cannon fire made the walls weaker by the hour. It was clear to everyone that unless an escape was made, the nascent Maratha Kingdom would be extinguished. Escape appeared to be impossible but necessary. The fate of Hindavi Swarajya, hung in balance. A daring plan was made. Chattrapati Shivaji Maharaj planned to escape to the nearby fort of Vishal Gadh, which was administered by a Maratha chieftain named Range Narayan Orpe. He was under allegiance to the Adilshahis, but had come to a clandestine arrangement to switch sides and join Chhatrapati Shivaji at