Author: Milind Gadgil
Publication: Mumbai Tarun Bharat
Date: November 7, 2002
Indian Navy is erecting a grand
memorial to the great Admiral of Marathas - Kanhoji Angre who reigned supreme
over Arabian sea for two decades by his incomparable valour.The Chairman
of Indian Maritime Heritage Society, Vice Admiral (/Retd.) Manohar Awati
(Paramvishishta Sevapadak, Veerchakra) has taken special interest in this
connection.
During the initial two decades of
18th Century, the navy of Angre had defeated the English and Portuguese
Naval fleets again and again. It had defeated the armies of both
on land too. Hence the name of Angre is engraved permanently in the naval
history of the world.
The bravery of Angre was so great
that it had caught the vessel carrying the wife of British Governor of
Karwar Harvey from Mumbai to Karwar, just two miles from Mumbai. It is
worth noting that the vessel was escorted by English Battleships.
Maratha battleships made them to run away. The terror of Angre was
so great that the two other battleships which were in Mumbai Port did not
move out at all. Angre gave safe passage to the wife of Harvey after
taking large ransom for her release.
The Samadhis of Kanhoji and his
descendants are near Alibag. They are in a neglected condition for many
last years. Trees of Pippal and Wad have sprouted through the stones
of the Samadhis. Local people were abusing this place for morning ablutions.
Even after accosting the attention of State Government and leaders of Raigad
District by various newspaper reports, they had stoically kept quiet.
After starting the Indian Maritime
Heritage Society, Awati undertook the task of taking care and developing
the places of pride in the Naval History of India. Indian Navy gave him
complete co-operation. Such places of pride and honour on the
entire coast of India have been recognised and the Indian Navy has demanded
that the maintenance of them should be handed over to Indian Navy instead
of Archaeological Survey of India.
As a part of this scheme, 10 acre
land around the Samadhis of Angre has been requisitioned by the Indian
Navy from the State Government. Now, in the area surrounding it,
excellent greenary and trees are being planted. The joints of the
Samadhis are being repaired. The parts of the Samadhis out of which Pippal
and Wad are peeping are being separated and they are being rebuilt.
A life-size statue of Daryasarang (Admiral) Kanhoji will be erected there.
Its opening ceremony is scheduled on the next 26th January at the hands
of the Admiral of Indian Navy. Around the Samadhi, replicas of the
battleships in the Naval force of Angre will be displayed and they will
have near them the boards giving the name of the replica and information.
