When 7 soldiers fought against 17000

                       It was the dawn of 24th February  1674, Prataprao Gujar,  a general of sixteenth century's greatest ever guerrilla force was on a duty to protect southern border of Maharashtra. He and his six brave soldiers were walking when they saw a man coming on a horse. 

                        The man on a horse looked familiar.  He informed them about Bahlol khan, who was campaigning half a kilometer away. As soon as Prataprao heard the name of Bahlol Khan, blood flowed from his legs to his head. His face became red with anger, his hands shivered, he shouted  and took out his sword. Sitting on a horse, he roared and went straight in the direction where Bahlol khan was campaigning. Something was going in his mind something strange, something which ashamed him and penetrating his heart like a needle. As his horse ran so he remembered about the past.



                Exactly 10 months earlier on the second week of April 1673, he was campaigning near Umrani village near Modern day Kolhapur. At that time, his job was to protect southern border with the help of 10000 soldiers. His main threat was Bahlol Khan of Vijapur. 

                One day he surrounded and blocked Bahlol Khan's army. his army was blocked  blocked such that they were unable to get access to water. The rule was simple if they wanted water then they must fight. However, Bahlol didn't want fight to happen as his army was small. So Bahlol's army decided to wait and how much was the wait ? At that time there was a summer and water scarcity was on its pick. Bahlol's army waited and waited. One day, two days, three days passed they waited for another ten days without water. They had only two options either to surrender or to wait for something to happen which would ultimately lead them towards death. One month passed without water and the men started to die.

               so looking at the worst condition of his army, Bahlol decided to surrender. He urged Prataprao to give him mercy.

 "Please, take all belongings, all the horses, all the swords, all the wealth but give us water and we will not come back"

                   In the Hindu culture, giving water to someone is one of the the greatest virtue. Bahlol Khan was on the knees when he urged for the water. Prataprao felt proud and gave water to all the soldiers and let them go to Vijapur. Immediately after this tactically acclaimed victory and satisfaction, Prataprao wrote a letter to king Shivaji Raje Bhosle. In the letter he boasted about his tactics and his win over Bahlol Khan.


                   At that time King Shivaji was on the fort of Raigad, Capital of the empire. As soon as he read the letter he became angry as how could a general of Maratha army let go Bahlol Khan alive, when everything to kill him was favorable. How a person in a position of general could do this kind of  mistake. Shivaji knew very well about his enemies and their lie. He knew that it was one of the greatest mistakes his empire have to deal with. 


                    Shivaji wrote a strong condemning and angry letter to Prataprao asking him not to show his face to Raigad unless he would kill Bahlol Khan. The letter was strong as it has to be because Shivaji knew how much efforts it requires to raise an empire. How much effort does it take to sacrifice his men for empire. More than that the life of his beloved soldiers was on the stake.


                    Prataprao realized his mistake and never went back to Raigad. He wanted to show his allegiance to the empire and his will to do anything for the greatest king on the planet. He was searching for the chance and it came when he was riding a horse towards unknown enemy.
                        
                    At the dawn of 24th February, the remaining six soldiers saw their leader going in the valley of death. The rule was simple for them.

            'Either you do or die but don't ask why'.   

                   Someone from Bahlol Khan's army saw seven men running towards them, they were roaring. Someone informed Bahlol Khan about seven soldiers coming towards them. Bahlol's army panicked as they realized that it was Prataprao, who was leading them. Bahlol gave order to charge to all 17000 men. Now 17000 men charged towards seven soldiers. They met at some point and the war of self respect started. Seven men fought bravely against seventeen thousand for the word given to their supreme leader. They fought for their king.They fought for the empire which became substantial with the sacrifice of thousands of soldiers. They vanished in those seventeen thousand.


                 Whenever history asks about conclusion of the event someone tells that it was a war for a word given to the greatest king on the planet. Some do consider this as a emotional and suicidal mission. But Prataprao knew that it was his heart which was at the stake. Such was the authoritative respect towards Shivaji Raje Bhosle that his men never feared the death.