Bahirji Naik

Bahirji Naik was an Indian spy and military commander in the army of Chatrapati Shivaji during a time when the Maratha Empire and Mughal Empire were at war. He is assumed to be a Maratha by his clan name Jadhav, but there is a tradition which claims him to be of the Ramoshi community, whose members were known for their resilience and as strong fighters.

Bahirji Naik, Shivaji's Chief of Intelligence, was reasonably successful in his methods. His tomb is currently situated on Bhupalgad (Banurgad) in Khanapur taluka of Sangli district. He was born in the village of Shingave Naik Tal Nagar, Ahmednagar. In 1692, Bahirji's son, Tukoji Naik, built Ram Mandir and the outer border of the Shingave Village. A stone bearing an inscription of his name is kept in the Ram Mandir.

Not much is or was known about the early life of Bahirji, except that his expeditions and adventures as a spy in Chatrapati Shivaji's army greatly contributed to the success of the Maratha Empire. Bahirji was skilled at gathering detailed information about every aspect of his missions, and a lion's share of credit for many of Chatrapati Shivaji's surprising feats must go to Bahirji Naik and his people.

Role during wars

It is said that when a knight from Adil Shah, Afzalkhan, started his journey towards the Maratha Empire in order to capture it, Bahirji poisoned the lead flag-bearing elephants. This led to the enemy abandoning the quest. (The death of a flag-bearing elephant was considered a bad omen.) Bahirji further helped Shivaji by mounting many covert operations and acts of sabotage in enemy territory.

In Umbar Khind, a mountain pass near Lonavala, Shivaji ambushed and defeated the 20,000-strong army of Colonel Kartalab Khan, a well-known military officer of Shahistekhan, in the Battle of Umberkhind. This victory is attributed to Bahirji's intelligence collection. Shivaji captured valuable military equipment and accepted the deserters from Khan's army into his own.

Role during covert operations

Shivaji made a surprise attack on Shahistekhan in Khan's military camp at Pune under the cover of darkness to kill Khan and thus demoralize his army. Khan survived this daring attack but lost three fingers. Shivaji escaped to Sinhagad, while drawing Khan's army into a wild chase to a mountain pass in Katraj. Khan did not die, but he and his army were thoroughly demoralized by the campaign. Within three days of Shivaji's failed assassination, Khan left Pune.

Role during invasions

Bahirji Naik was a key person in Shivaji's many surprise victories and escapes. Despite having a smaller army, Shivaji attacked Surat, Aurangzeb's financial capital,twice,once in 1664 and later in 1670,and carried away much of its wealth as recompense for the costs incurred and pain suffered by Shivaji's citizens during the years of occupation by Aurangzeb's army.None of the ordinary citizens of Surat were attacked or looted.

Shivaji escaped from Aurangzeb's jail in Agra, even though the jail itself was surrounded by a 1,000-strong army under an able commander, and subsequently traveled 700 miles through Aurangzeb's kingdom to complete his escape.

In a second expedition to Surat, Colonel Ikhlas Khan chased Shivaji's army to Kanchan Bari (near Nasik), where they engaged in open battle. Khan was unable to maintain the advantage of surprise and lost; Shivaji captured valuable military equipment from Khan due to his victory in the six-hour battle.

In popular culture

• Bahirji Naik, Marathi language film released in 1943
• In the Marathi language film Farzand, the role of Bahirji Naik was played by actor Prasad Oak
• In one more Marathi language film - Fatteshikast, the role of Bahirji Naik was played by actor Harish Dudhade.
• The first episode of the 2014 Indian Epic TV anthology television series, Adrishya, is about Naik.