>Hororoka at 22:18, 23 December 2020

2020-12-23T22:18:05Z

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{{more citations needed|date=July 2018}}
'''Khanderao Ballal ''', popularly known as ‘'''Khando Ballal'''’, was a diplomat in [[Maharashtra]] during the late 17th century and the early 18th century. He was also the [[Personal Assistant]] of Chhatrapati [[Sambhaji]], [[Rajaram Chhatrapati|Rajaram]] and [[Chattrapati Shahu|Shahu]]. He is remembered for his splendid contribution in strengthening the [[Maratha Empire]] by way of loyalty, diplomacy and exceptional sacrifice.

==Early life==
Khando Ballal was born around 1660 in a [[Chandraseniya Kayastha Prabhu|Kayastha Prabhu]] family. His father Ballal Avaji Chitnis, popularly known as ‘'''Balaji Avaji'''’, was the ''Chitnis'' (Secretary) of Chhatrapati [[Shivaji]] from 1658 to 1680. Balaji Avaji's original surname was chitre. However, after being appointed as the personal assistant of Chhatrapati [[Shivaji]] the family started using Chitnis as the surname. In the regime of Chhatrapati [[Sambhaji]], however, Balaji Avaji was executed by [[Sambhaji]] because of misunderstandings. Thereafter, on advice by Queen Yesubai, Khando Ballal was appointed to take up the vacant post of his father in 1681.

==Contribution==
Khando Ballal worked as [[Sambhaji]]’s [[Personal Assistant]] for about 8 years until [[Sambhaji]] was captured and put to death by [[Aurangzeb]] in 1689. It is believed that once while [[Sambhaji]] was crossing a flooded river, he along with his horse was caught in the speedy currents of water and was about to drown. Khando Ballal, however, was extremely attentive and fast enough to move at once to him, pull him back to the shore and thus to save his life.
After [[Sambhaji]]’s execution, [[Ramchandra Pant Amatya]] secretly sent Chhatrapati [[Rajaram Chhatrapati|Rajaram]] to fort [[Gingee]] to divert attention of the [[Mughal Empire|Mughal]] army. Khando Ballal was one of the few who accompanied Rajaram in this hazardous journey.
After reaching [[Gingee]], with the help of [[Pralhad Niraji]], Khando Ballal made tremendous efforts in finding out the diplomats and warriors those were vanished in the way and gathering them back.
He also conspired with [[Ramchandra Pant Amatya]] to secretly move Queens of Rajaram from [[Maharashtra]] to [[Gingee]] with the help of his maternal uncles Lingoji Shankar and Visaji Shankar Tungare.
For the performance shown during the tough times at [[Gingee]], Rajaram gave him the ''vatan'' of Dabhol in the [[konkan]] area of [[Maharashtra]].

==Conspiracy for Rajaram’s Escape==
In the early 1698, when the Mughal army had surrounded fort [[Gingee]] and was prepared for the final blow, Khando Ballal designed a plot for the escape of [[Rajaram Chhatrapati|Rajaram]]. He secretly met Ganoji Shirke, one of the Maratha Generals in the Mughal camp who was also the brother-in-law of [[Sambhaji]], and asked him to help for Rajaram's escape from the Mughal blockade. Ganoji dictated certain terms which were negotiated and accepted in writing. Thereafter, Ganoji put forth his major demand of the ''vatan'' of Dabhol which was then owned by Khando Ballal himself. Thereupon, within no time Khando Ballal pulled a piece of paper and wrote Gift Deed of the ''vatan'' in favor of Ganoji and put his signature and stamp. Ganoji was impressed and also embarrassed with the site of this great sacrifice but he could not control his greed. He, however, kept his word and helped Khando Ballal to escape Rajaram from the blockade and to hand him over to the troops under Maratha General [[Dhanaji Jadhav]].

==Later life and death==
Until the death of Chhatrapati [[Rajaram Chhatrapati|Rajaram]] in 1700, Khando Ballal worked with him not only as his [[Personal Assistant]] but also as an Adviser in confidence.
After Rajaram's death, Khando Ballal was continued on his post by Queen [[Tarabai]] until 1707.
On release of [[Chattrapati Shahu|Shahu]] after the death of [[Aurangzeb]] in 1707, Khando Ballal was invited by [[Chattrapati Shahu|Shahu]] to join his hands. Having sincerely felt that [[Chattrapati Shahu|Shahu]] was the rightful and eligible heir of the throne of [[Maratha Empire]] rather than [[Shivaji II]], he accepted [[Chattrapati Shahu|Shahu]]’s invitation. Until his death, he worked as [[Personal Assistant]] and Senior Member of the Advisory Committee of [[Chattrapati Shahu|Shahu]] and attained great respect and honor.
When [[Chattrapati Shahu|Shahu]] became wild on the so-called betrayal by [[Parshuram Pant Pratinidhi]], one of the great diplomats and warriors of the [[Maratha Empire]], he ordered to arrest him at once and smash his eyes. When came to know about this, Khando Ballal ran to [[Chattrapati Shahu|Shahu]]’s court and requested him to stop this nonsense. He then reprimanded [[Chattrapati Shahu|Shahu]] for such unfair deal with the great contributor of the [[Maratha Empire]] like Parshuram Pant. [[Chattrapati Shahu|Shahu]] realized his mistake. He immediately released Parshuram Pant, apologized to him and bestowed his honor back.
Soon after this episode, Khando Ballal died probably in 1712.

==Legacy==
Khando Ballal's son Govind Khanderao Chitnis worked as the [[Personal Assistant]] of [[Chattrapati Shahu|Shahu]]. After [[Chattrapati Shahu|Shahu]]’s death in 1749, Govind Khanderao played leading role along with [[Nanasaheb Peshwa]] in restoring [[Ramraja]] on [[Chattrapati Shahu|Shahu]]’s throne.
Malhar Ramrao Chitnis, the first Indian to write History of Marathas, was the grandson of Govind Khanderao and great grandson of Khando Ballal.
Balvantrao Chitnis, son of Malhar Ramrao, was a minister in the court of Chhatrapati Pratapsinh since 1818. He remained loyal to Pratapsinh until his death in the prison of the British Government.

==References==
*Marathi Riyasat Volume I & II ([[Marathi language|Marathi]]) by [[Govind Sakharam Sardesai]]
*Shejwalkar Lekh Sangrah([[Marathi language|Marathi]]) by [[T S Shejwalkar]]

[[Category:People of the Maratha Empire]]
[[Category:History of Maharashtra]]

Khando Ballal - Revision history

>Hororoka at 22:18, 23 December 2020