The Kori are a Hindu caste, found mainly in North India, who are traditional associated with weaving. They are known as Bhuiyar in Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Uttarakhand and Koli in Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh.[1][2]

The Kori are historically connected with weaving, but with the widespread introduction of mechanized textile manufacture, they are now mainly landless agricultural workers. They have a caste council, which plays a vital role in social control. The word Kori is said to be derived from the word the kulin, i.e. a person of Shudra status.[citation needed] Other traditions point the community of being of Kshatriya status. Mostly they are engaged in trade of textiles. Historically from Central Asia and Afghanistan. Their historical homeland was Afghanistan and the Awadh region, and those Kori found in western Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Rajasthan claim to have originated in Awadh. They generally are said to be migrated from Afghanistan.[3]
Present circumstances

The community is endogamous, and practice gotra exogamy. They marry their girls to the west and south from their locality and bring brides from north east direction.In Uttar Pradesh, they are found everywhere, except in Rohilkhand.

In Haryana, the community is found mainly in the districts of Faridabad and Gurgaon. The community has been granted scheduled caste status, and speak Haryanvi. They are strictly endogamous, and practice clan exogamy. There main clans are the Nangli, Ashtamuni, Tanwar, Naveriya, Chhonkriya, Bhumaria, Mainayya, Bargujar, Jalanbari and Chauhan. They still remain connected with their traditional occupation of weaving, although a small number are now petty businessmen.[4]

The Koris or as they are known, the Koli of Rajasthan trace there descent from the ancient Shakya rulers. They have several sub-divisions in the state include Koli Madhav, Gaykriya Koli, Son Koli, Banaudiya Koli, Maha Koli, Mahawa Koli, Rathda and Sakwar. Like the Uttar Pradesh Kori, the Koli are still essentially a community of weavers.[5]

Kori is not only a caste of Hindus. It is also of Muslim families of Sindh. The people are changing their caste Kori into different castes (Memon, Qazi, Qureshi, Kalhora, Daudpota, Abbasi, Katpar, & some others). Nearly 36 castes are related to the Kori caste in the Muslim families of Sindh.

The Kori caste tribes live all over the Sindh. Mostly the Kori families are settled in all over Sindh: Larkana, Shikarpur, Qambar shahdadkot, Sukkur, Khairpur mir's kashmor, Jacoabad, Naushehro feroz, Nawab Shah, and lower Sindh Hyderabad, T M Khan, Tando Ghulam Ali, Matli, Badin, Thatta, Jamshoro, Karachi & middle of the Sindh Dadu (Sehwan).

The Kori in Punjab are divided into two groups, the Kori who are immigrants from eastern Uttar Pradesh, in particular the districts of Pratapgarh, Sultanpur, Gonda and Bahraich District, and the Koli who originate in the hilly regions of Himachal Pradesh. Both groups are found throughout Punjab, but their densest settlements are in Hoshiarpur District. While Kori are still weavers, many Koli are involved in the manufacture of hides. The community have two gotras, the Kashyap and the Sandilya. They now speak Punjabi, while most also understand Hindi.[6]

KOLI ROYAL KINGS

KOLI ROYAL KINGS

KOLI KINGS SEPTAL INFORMATION:

Koli Maharajas before the independence of India - the memoranda of the Indian state of Rajput rulers Koli clan based on 1936 List: -

Sr. No. , Name of the ruling place , Name of the ruling class Koli

1. Jawahar - Shrimant Yashwantrao Vikramshahaji Mukne Koli Maharaja
(20 Maharajas of Royal Mukne koli Family, From 1343 up till now)
2. Katosan (?) (clarification needed) - Thakur Keshri singh Makwana Koli
3. Ambil aara - Thakur Jalim singh Khant koli
4. Thodasar - Thakur Fatah singh Dabhi koli
5. Athamma - Thakur Suraj singh Baria koli
6. Khadal - Thakur Fateh Singh Makwana koli
7. Dhaama Thakur Mohan Singh Makwana koli
8. Illol - Thakur Shiv singh Makwana koli
9.Punavra - Thakur Abha singh Makwana koli
10.Gaabar - Thakur Roop singh Makwana koli
11. Raamaas - Thakur Man Singh Makwana koli
12. Bhalusara - Thakur Ratan singh koli
13. Satlasna - Thakur Bhupat singh koli
14. Tajpuri - Thakur Mohbbat singh Makwana koli
15. Timba - Thakur Sardar singh koli
16. Umari - Thakur Jaswant Singh Chauhan koli
17. Batkapur - Thakur Baaje singh Makwana koli
18. Hadol - Thakur Jawan singh Thakor koli
19. Hapa - Thakur Himmat singh Makwana koli
20. Kadoli - Thakur Kuver singh Makwana koli
21. Kondanna- Nag Naik koli
22. Mahabaleshwar - Tanaji Rao Malusare koli
23. Dehradun - Kolya Negi koli Raja
24. Pauri Garhwal - Bhaadwa Singh koli
(Numbers of forts of koli Rajas in pauri Garhwal)
25. South India(Nutshell) - Mudirajas, Tuluva Mudiraj Bunts (Krishnadevaraya family)
,Muthurajas, Mudiraj Bunts , Bedar Valmiki Nayakas,
Cholas, Vellalars, Mutharaiyars,araiyars, Ganagaputra Koliyas.
(Whole south india having numerous forts and Koli Rajas).

Note: - Sub caste of Koli Kshatriya in india : -
1. Mukne, 2. Malusare, 3. Dabhi 4. Parmar, 5. Solanki, 6. Vaghela 7. Makwana, 8. Thakor 9. Baria, 10. 11. Rathod, 12. Chauhan 13.Gohil 14. Khant, 15. Wagdiya, 16. Verma, 17. Divecha, 18. Negi, 19. Patel, 20. Bisht , 21. Shakya, kori , 22. Rawat 23. Mahawar 24. Mahaur 25. Sankhwar 26. Bunkar 27. Kashyap 28. Bhuiyar 29. Kabirpanthi 30. Tantuvay 31. Mahadeo 32. Koli Rajput 33. Mudiraj 34. Muthuraja 35. Arayar 36. Gangaputra 37. Bedar Valmiki Nayaka 38. Valaiyar 39. Vellalar 40. Mudliar
42. Chola 43. Mutharaiyar 44. Mudiraj Pillai 45. Mudiraj Bunts Shetty 46. Mudiraj tuluva bunts.

TANAJI RAO MALUSARE - GENERAL OF SHIVAJI'S ARMY 

Tanaji Rao Malusare was a great Maratha Mahadev koli (more details about Mahadev koli are given at the bottom of this article) warrior and brave General in the army of Chatrapathi Shivaji. The kolis are a well known fishing community in Maharastra and Gujarat. They are also spread all over other states in North India with the same community name. These koli people who migrated and expanded into South India came to be known as Mudiraj / Muthuraj. Kolis believe that the emperor Mandhata was a koli king and descendant of Manu, the progenitor of human race on the earth. The kolis being a warrior community, they became chieftains, ministers and administrators in different kingdoms and even they established their own dynasty rule in some parts of North as well as South India. 

Tanaji was the Commander-in-chief of the army of Chatrapathi Shivaji, who established his Maratha kingdom in Maharastra region and expanded it to far down South India. Shivaji was a great devout Hindu king who took inspiration from his mother and owed to protect the Hindus from the on slaught of invading muslim rulers from North India. Shivaji had several koli Generals in his army along with Tanaji. Shivaji's early intimacy with the hillmen of the Maval community along the Western Ghats was of immense value to him in his subsequent years. Maratha soldiers were known as Mavlas. Through his mother he was descended from the Yadava rulers of Devagiri, and on his father's side he claimed descent from the brave soldiers of Mewar. Thus, the sentiment of glorious heredity and the influence of early training and environment, combined to rouse. 

Mavali => Mavala => Mavla => Maval 

Tanaji was a lion hearted warrior man and master's confidant companion : 
Tanaji Malsure has also achieved legendary fame; this man from the Konkan was among Shivaji's earliest companions. He was not a military genius but was a lion-hearted man. He was his master's inseparable companion and confidant. His personal courage, his integrity and resourcefulness in the face of danger were in themselves the best recommendation for his close companionship with Shivaji. Tanaji's name has become memorable not because of his closeness to Shivaji, but because he gave his life in circumstances which were both tragic and grand. Even today the Ballad of Sinhagad is sung in every home in Maharashtra. 

Some of Shivaji's close associates were also his primary army chieftains, and have entered folklore along with him. These include Tanaji Malusare, Baji Pasalkar, Bajiprabhu, Firangoji Narsala, Murarbaji, Haider Ali Kohari, Prataprao Gujar, Kanhoji Jedhe, Kondaji Farjand, Balaji Avji Chitnis, Netaji Palkar and Lay Patil Koli, and Khando Ballal Under Shivaji, many men of talent and enterprise rose into prominence. Tanaji also known as Sinha ("the Lion"), was a renowned warrior and military leader in the army of Shivaji, a maharaja of Maharashtra in 17th century India. Shivaji called his childhood friend, and one of his ablest men, Tanaji Malusare, for the mission of recapturing Sinhagad. Shivaji had the faith in Tanaji, a giant of a man, and a fiercely loyal general. On February 4, 1670 Shivaji deputed Tanaji, one of his most senior and trusted generals to head a mission to capture Kondana. 

Chhatrapati Shivaji had Hindus of all castes and tribes in his army. There were many Kolis, many of them Mahadev Kolis, who are descendants of Maharishi Valmiki. Tanaji Rao Malusare was always referred to as "my lion" by Shivaji Raje and he was the general of the army of Shivaji ( reference : The Story of Historic People of India-The Kolis). The Rani of Jhansi also had several kolis in her army and hence, a number of them were trying to save her life; amongst them was Jalkari Bai who duped the British army by dressing herself as Rani Laxmi Bai and misled the chasing British army in a wrong direction ( reference : The Story of Historic People of India-The Kolis). 

'A History of the Marathas' note with pride the bravery of Sivaji's army consisting mainly of Mavalis and Kolis. His General, Tanaji Rao Malusare, who was always referred to by Sivaji as 'My Lion' was a koli. Tanaji was truly a lion and he recaptured the fort of Sinhagad for his master and friend Shivaji by paying his life as price for the fort. When Tanaji fell fighting for and winning the 'Kodana Fort', Sivaji renamed the fort as 'Sinhghadh' in his memory. 

Mavalis were the Mahabalis. Mahabalis were the bana warrior people who spread cross Central, Deccan and South India. They are believed to be the descendants of Chakravarty Mahabali and hence they came to be known as Mahabalis. Kaduvetti Muttarasa (Muthuraja) is said to be a Bana king who assumed the title of "Muttarasa". The Mudiraj people are the kolis who spread into South India. Mudiraj community have the descendants of both Mavalis and Kolis in its fold today. 

Mahabalis => Mahavalis <=> Mavalis 
Mavalis => Mavlis => Mavalas 

Imortance of Sinhagad Fort for Maratha kingdom : 
Sinhagad or Kondhana, as it was originally called, is situated on the eastern side of the great Sahayadri range and is twelve miles from Poona. It communicates with the Purandhar hill on the east and west by very high, narrow ridges, while on the north and south it presents a huge rugged mountain with a very steep ascent of nearly half a mile. From the slope rises a great wall of black rock more than forty feet high, crowned by fortifications of Sinhagad. The fortifications consist of a strong stonewall flanked with towers and enclose a nearly triangular space about two miles round. The exterior presents on all sides a stupendous barrier so that, except by the gates, access to the fort is almost impossible. 

It was this fort of singular strength that Tanaji was commissioned to capture. It had been surrendered to the Moghuls and was now under the command of a very able Rajput soldier, Udai Bhan, who guarded it with a picked body of troops. The loss of Sinhagad, the pride of Maharashtra, had made Shivaji's spirited mother disconsolate. She feared that the tender plant of Swaraj reared by her son would not grow in safety unless the fort was wrested from the Moghuls. 

Sinhagad is the most prominant and popular fort in Pune. Sinhagad was once known as " Kondhana ". It is 25 km away from Pune. It is on a high hill 1290 m high. Tanaji Malusare - Shivaji's trusted and one of the brave generals fought a battle here all alone with the Mughal army. He fell dead while fighting in this place and after his death Shivaji renamed this Kondana fort as "Sinhagad ". Sinhagad means fort of the Lion i.e. it was named so because Tanaji fought like a lion. 

The Sinhagad Fort looks hardly like a fort today. Broken walls, two ornate gates and a few other structures stand as testimony to what was once a much sought-after place. Its record is marked by tales of bravery and derring-do. How Shivaji's general, Tanaji Malusare, captured the fort, and how the Koli chieftain, Nag Naik, defended it for nine months, are part of the lore. The monument was named so after Tanaji's valiant struggle as he took on the Bijapur monarch's forces successfully. Legend has it that about three centuries ago in 1670 A.D, Shivaji's general Tanaji Malusre, led a force of men who scaled the fort on steep hillside in the dark armed with ropes with the help of giant lizards and defeated the unprepared forces of Bijapur. Tanaji valiantly fought and captured the fort but lost his life in the process. When heard the news, a grieving Shivaji is known to have said, "Gad aala pan sinh gela" (The fort is won but the lion has gone). And this is how the fort got its name, 'Sinh' (lion's) 'Gad' (fort). He means that "We won the fort but lost the lion". This was how it came to be called Sinhagad - the Fort of the Lion. The fort has a memorial inside with a statue of Tanaji. There is also the tomb of Rajaram, the son of Shivaji. 

From the time when a Koli chieftain, Nag Naik stoutly defended this fort (AD 1328) against the might of the Muhammad-bin-Tughlaq for nine months to Jaswant Singh, Aurangzeb's commander, who dragged his guns up the fort's steep shoulders to avenge the insult to Shaista Khan, who was rebuffed by Shivaji, this fort has been infused by tales of bravery. It was here that Shivaji's general, Tanaji Malusare launched an attack to recapture the fort. In the ensuing battle, Tanaji valiantly laid down his life, but captured the fort. A grieving Shivaji is known to have said,"Gad ala pan sinh gela" (The fort is won but the lion has gone). And this is how the fort got its name: sinh (lion's) gad (fort).

Tanaji was an eminent assult planner and a valiant fighter : 
After Shivaji was crowned, the Kondana fort on the outskirts of Pune, , was stil under the control of a Mughal general. An order was accordingly sent to Umrathe in Konkan, where Tanaji lived, asking him to hasten to Rajgad with his armed retainers. Although he was preparing for the wedding of his son Rayaba, he hastened to go and his men rode post-haste to Rajgad and presented themselves before the great chief. Shivaji cordially received him and took him to his mother by whom the summons had been sent. She famously told Tanaji "If you free Simhagad from the enemies you will be like Shivaji's younger brother to me." Tanaji went forth, for what others advised to be an impossible mission. Tanaji who got his mission from Jijabai set off for his prey. 

Shivaji requested his most senior and trusted general Tanaji to head a mission to recapture Kondana. Tanaji Malusare was already occupied with his son's marriage. But for him duty came first, and he chose to go for the mission although Shivaji tried to convince him to attend his son's marriage. Kondana was heavily guarded by the Mughals, and there was only one way to gain access: an almost impossible to climb, steep edge of the fort. Tanaji's soldiers braved all odds and climbed the steepest side of the fort. In the bloody battle that followed, Tanaji led from the front but was seriously wounded. Two pieces of news arrived in quick succession at Shivaji's palace: first that Kondana fort had been captured by Shivaji's soldiers; and second that General Tanaji had gone down fighting. Shivaji quipped "Gadh ala, pan Sinha gela" (paraphrased and translated): "The fort is captured but the Lion is dead !" In Tanaji's honour, Kondana was renamed Sinhagad = "the fort of the lion". 

Shivaji Raje realised that to regain control over the Deccan and further the cause of Hindavi Swarajya, the capture of Kondana fort was a must because it was strategically located between Rajgad, Purandar and Torna. Shivaji Raje had several meetings with his top generals, including Tanaji and Suryaji Malusare (Tanaji's brother) and Shelar mama (Tanaji's uncle). Tanaji also gained clandestine entry into the main fort precinct, incognito of course. He went dressed as a Gondhali (devotee of the Goddess Bhavani of Tuljapur) and was allowed free access to the villages surrounding Kondana. He had won the trust of Mahadev Koli who was in the service of Udai Bhan. It was also rumored that Koli presented Tanaji (as a Gondhali) to Udai Bhan, who was suitably impressed by this "devotee" and allowed him free access to the fort. 

Tanaji felt that it will be foolhardy to attack the fort from the three sides where the well fortified and continuously manned turrets are. The fourth side had a turret overhanging a sheer cliff. Because of the sheet un-scalability of this cliff, the overhanging turret is very lightly guarded. Tanaji also came to know that Udai Bhan had nightly parties with nearly all his 5000 troops, where alcohol is freely consumed. The attack was planned on a moonless night from the cliff-side. 

Tanaji carried out a careful surveillance of the fort and at that very night when he was told that at the overhanging cliff Udai Bhan and all his senior commanders would be celebrating a usual party with an alcohol and dance orgy; Tanaji decided that he should seize this opportunity. With almost all his troops, Udai Bhan had a roaring party on top of the overhanging cliff. Unknown to them after midnight, Tanaji and his brave followers who numbered 300 scaled the cliff using ropes tied to a reptile called Ghorpad. The Ghorpad can stick fast to any surface and a number of adults can use this force to scale a vertical cliff with the help of a rope, one end of which is tied to the Ghorpad. Silently Tanaji and his comrades slunk up to the top of the cliff.

On the other side his uncle Shelar Mama and his brother Suryaji had moved close to the other gates of the forts with another 300 Mavalas (Maratha Soldiers). On a signal from Tanaji, all his comrades who has taken up strategic position all round the celebrating Mughal army, broke into the party and mercilessly fell upon their enemies. They started slaughtering the surprised and ill-prepared and drunken Muslim soldiers. When Udai Bhan saw that Tanaji - the leader of this invading band of Marathas was no other than the devotee whom he had given permission to visit the fort, he flew into a mad rage. On seeing Tanaji, Udai Bhan rushed at him and we are told that for a few fatal seconds, Tanaji started dancing in the same fashion as he had done as a Gondhali (devotee) when he had met Udai Bhan earlier in the day. The enraged Udai Bhan lunged at dancing Tanaji and cut off the arm with which Tanaji was holding his shield. But undaunted Tanaji used his turban to ward off further thrusts from the blade of Udai Bhan's sword and continued fighting him for 2 hours in this state with his wristless left arm bleeding profusely. It is for this feat of Tanaji, that he is called Narvir - Brave amongst Men.At the end of this ordeal, the exhausted Tanaji fell to a fatal swish of Udai Bhan's sword. But Udai Bhan too was throttled by Shelar Mama and thus lost his life. Shivaji Maharaj is said to have said on this occasion "Gad aala, paan Simha gela" (We have won the fort but have lost the Lion - Tanaji). The fort of Kondana was renamed as "Sinhagad" in honour of Tanaji's brave deed. 

Shivaji's most conspicuous success was the capture of kondana from Udai-Bhan, its Rajaput Qiladdar (4th Feb 1670). One of the outstanding qualities of Shivaji was in making a correct estimation of men. He seldom made mistakes in the choice of his lieutenants. Among the men whom he selected as his lieutenants, two stand out; they were Baji Prabhu and Tanaji Malsure. Tanaji was accompanied by one thousand seasoned Mavlis. They secretly assembled at the foot of the fort for the escalade. It was a clear, moonless night, the ninth of the dark fortnight of the month of Magh, and it was cold and still. Assisted by some koli guides who knew the place well, in the dark winter night Tanaji Malasure, with 300 picked Mavle infantry men, scalled the less abrupt hill side near the kalian gate by means of rope-ladders and advanced into the fort, slaying the sentinels. The alarm was given; the rajaputs, stupefied with opium, took some time to arm and come out; but in the mean time the Marathas had made their footing secure. The garrison fought desperately, but the mavles with their war cry of Hara ! Hara ! Mahadev ! Carried havoc into their ranks. The two chiefs challenged each other and both fell down dead, after a single combat. The Marathas disheartened by the fall of their leader, was rallied by his brother Suryaji Malusare, opened the kalian gate to their supporting columns, and took complete possession of the fort. The rest was butchery. Twelve hundred Rajaputs were slain, and many others perished in trying to escape down the hill side, The victors set fire to the thatched huts of the cavalry lines and the signal blaze informed Shivaji at Raigarh, nine mils Southwards, that the fort had been taken. He mourned the death of Tanaji as too high a price for the fort, and named it Singh-Garh (Sinhagad) after the lion heart that had won it. 

Mahadev Kolis:
Tanaji Rao Malusare was a Mahadev Koli warrior from Western Ghat region which was controlled by koli chiefs for several centuries till Peswas established their rule. The primitive Mahadev kolis are also called Bhills. A Bahamani record dated to the middle of the 14th century gives a convincing proof of the existence of fifty-two Koli chiefs with their Sarnaik (Sar Nayak = head chief), stationed at Junner. Peshwa Balajirao Bajirao in 1741-42 AD took the possession of the fort of Kurag that was under Kolis. After a decade, (1750-51 AD) he annexed fourteen Mahals- areas under the possession of Mahadev Kolis. Thus, all the Mahadev Koli forts in Prant Surgana fell to Peshwas.

Mahadev Kolis, primarily hunter-gatherers, and secondarily pastoralists and agriculturists, have been forest dwellers over many generations and their life revolves around this evergreen forest. Their name may be derived from the Mahadeo or Pachmarhi hills located in Madhya Pradesh. The Mahadeo Kolis occupy the mountainous parts of the Ghats, are skilled and settled agriculturists, and are the most well off among the three tribes.

Mahadev kolis are a sect of Indian koli community and they are the main profession is fishing community in Maharastra and Gujarat states in India. Mahadev Kolis, a part of the larger community 'Kolis', according to Ghurye "the largest and the most well known of the non-Brahmanic and non-dominant ethnic groups in Deccan". Ghurye traces the historicity of Mahadev Kolis back to the period of Ramayana by linking Mahadev Kolis of the tradition of Valmiki, the author of the epic Ramayana. This assumption primarily shoots out of the character of antisocial and tainted militancy among Mahadev Kolis. Mahadev Koli sources claim their descent from the first Sanskrit poet Valmiki, who wrote the famous epic Ramayana. It is not difficult to guess the source of such a popular belief, as one finds corroboratory depictions in the historical records. Some of the eighteenth century commentators on the Puranic texts identify Kolis with Nishadas, a forest living community often mentioned in the Puranic sources. One even today notices a strong sentimental attachment of the Kolis and others inhabiting the high peaks of the Sahyadri to the places, which according to them are attached to Rama, or other popular characters of epic Ramayana. Mahadev kolis worship Shiva and Hanuman besides their own dieties Hirva, Chavta and others.

Mahadev Kolis opposed the British due to its interference in their territories. Finally, before they could put the British administration into any trouble, in 1914 AD. under the criminal tribes act Mahadev Kolis were notified as a criminal tribe. The Maravars and Bedars who are related to Muthuraja community were also notified as criminal tribes by British.

The colonial Gazetteers of Bombay and Hyderabad Presidency bears several reference to Mahadev Kolis along with other segments of Koli population. S. S. Ul-Hassan in 1920 indicates the presence of the Mahadev Kolis in Hyderabad state but Ghurye in 1957 reports that despite his sincere effort, he could not find any Mahadev Kolis group there. Interestingly, captain Macintosh felt that the "Kolis" from the Mahadev Hills (north-west of Berar or modern Vidharbha, which was a part of the Hyderabad state) precipitated into Poona, Ahmednagar and Nasik districts of Maharashtra and therefore known as Mahadev Kolis. The presence of kolis in Telugu speaking lands in 1920s and their subsequent absence in 1950s is a proof that some of them gradually merged into Mudiaj / other fishing communities. It is seen that there are some Marathi kolis ( chunukwad gotram) in Hyderabad today who claim their subcaste as Mudiraj. There are also some Mudiraj people who clain their subcaste as Mudiraj koli. It could also be possible that these Hyderabad Mudiraj / kolis realised that the Mudiraj people of Hyderabad are same as that of Maratha kolis.

The Mahadev kolis have a record of militancy. The British while conquering Maratha dominions had to fight an army in North Konkan in 1818 which had Mahadev soldiers. Around 1830, Capt. Mackintosh was deputed to quell the rebellious Mahadev kolis. Mahadev kolis are also known for their skill in lezim, a jingling rod instrument. The Mahadev kolis are a sceduled tribe in Maharastra today.

In Surgana area Mahadev Kolis admit that most of them were originally Malhar Kolis. Mahadev Kolis assumed a superior position of farmer where as Malhar Kolis figured mainly as village servants. In Maharashtra 'Kolis' in general means fisherman, but it is the Son Kolis who are exclusively fishermen

Virangana Jhalkari Bai (KOLI) History

झलकारी बाई एक भारतीय महिला सैनिक थी जिसने 1857 के समय झाँसी के युद्ध में भारतीय बगावत के समय महत्वपूर्ण भूमिका निभाई थी. झाँसी की रानी लक्ष्मीबाई की महिलाओ की सेना में वह महिला सैनिक थी. उनका जन्म एक गरीब कोरी परीवार में हुआ था, वे एक साधारण सैनिक की तरह रानी लक्ष्मीबाई की सेना में शामिल हुई थी. लेकिन बाद में वह रानी लक्ष्मीबाई की विशेष सलाहकार बनी और महत्वपूर्ण निर्णयों में भी भाग लेने लगी. बगावत के समय, झाँसी के किले पर युद्ध के समय वह अपने आप को झाँसी की रानी कहते हुए लड़ी ताकि रानी लक्ष्मीबाई सुरक्षित रूप से आगे बढ़ सके. बुन्देलखण्ड की याद में सालो तक झलकारीबाई की महानता को याद किया जाता है. उनका जीवन और विशेष रूप से ईस्ट इंडिया कंपनी के साथ उनके लड़ने की कला को बुन्देलखण्ड ही नही बल्कि पूरा भारत हमेशा याद रखेगा. दलित के तौर पर उनकी महानता ने उत्तरी भारत में दलितों के जीवन पर काफी प्रभाव डाला. बाद में कुछ समय बाद ब्रिटिशो द्वारा झलकारीबाई को फाँसी दे दी गयी थी. उनके नाम को दलितों का सम्मान और गर्व बताया जाता है. इसे देखते हुए उनके जीवन पर काफी शोध किये गये और उनके जीवन के बारे में कुछ रोचक तथ्य भी मिले. लेकिन अधिकतर समय झलकारीबाई को बहुजनो की इतिहासिक हीरोइन कहा गया है. झलकारीबाई सदोबा सिंह और जमुना देवी की बेटी थी. उनका जन्म 22 नवम्बर 1830 को झाँसी के नजदीक भोजला ग्राम में हुआ था. उनकी माता के मृत्यु के बाद, जब वह किशोर थी, तब उनके पिता ने उन्हें एक बेटे की तरह बड़ा किया. बचपन से ही वह घुड़सवारी और हथियार चलाने में माहिर थी. लेकिन उस समय की सामाजिक परिस्थितियों को देखते हुए, झलकारीबाई प्रारंभिक शिक्षा नही ले सकी. लेकिन एक योद्धा की तरह झलकारीबाई ने काफी प्रशिक्षण प्राप्त किया था. झलकारीबाई को रानी लक्ष्मीबाई के समान माना जाता है. उन्होंने एक तोपची सैनिक पूरण सिंह से विवाह किया था, जो रानी लक्ष्मीबाई के ही तोपखाने की रखवाली किया करते थे. पुराण सिंह ने ही झलकारीबाई को रानी लक्ष्मीबाई से मिलवाया था. बाद में झलकारी बाई भी रानी लक्ष्मीबाई की सेना में शामिल हो गयी थी. सेना में शामिल होने के बाद झलकारीबाई ने युद्ध से सम्बंधित अभ्यास ग्रहण किया और एक कुशल सैनिक बनी. 1857 के विद्रोह के समय, जनरल रोज ने अपनी विशाल सेना के साथ 23 मार्च 1858 को झाँसी पर आक्रमण किया. रानी ने वीरतापूर्वक अपने 5000 के सैन्य दल से उस विशाल सेना का सामना किया. रानी कालपी में पेशवा द्वारा सहायता की प्रतीक्षा कर रही थी लेकिन उन्हें कोई सहायता नही मिल सकी क्योकि तात्या टोपे जनरल रोज से पराजित हुए थे. जल्द ही अंग्रेज फ़ौज झाँसी में घुस गयी थी और रानी अपनी झाँसी को बचाने के लिए जी जान से लढ रही थी. तभी झलकारीबाई ने रानी लक्ष्मीबाई के प्राणों को बचाने के लिये खुद को रानी बताते हुए लड़ने का फैसला किया, इस तरह झलकारीबाई ने पूरी अंग्रेजी सेना को अपनी तरफ आकर्षित कर रखा था ताकि दूसरी तरफ से रानी लक्ष्मीबाई सुरक्षित बाहर निकाल सके. इस तरह झलकारीबाई खुद को रानी बताते हुए लडती रही और जनरल रोज की सेना भी झलकारीबाई को ही रानी समझकर उनपर प्रहार करने लगी थी. लेकिन दिन के अंत में उन्हें पता चल गया था की वह रानी नही है. झलकारीबाई की प्रसिद्धि : 1951 में बी.एल. वर्मा द्वारा रचित उपन्यास झाँसी की रानी में उनका उल्लेख किया गया है, वर्मा ने अपने उपन्यास में झलकारीबाई को विशेष स्थान दिया है. उन्होंने अपने उपन्यास में झलकारीबाई को कोरियन और रानी लक्ष्मीबाई के सैन्य दल की साधारण महिला सैनिक बताया है. एक और उपन्यास में हमें झलकारीबाई का उल्लेख दिखाई देता है, जो इसी वर्ष राम चन्द्र हेरन द्वारा लिखा गया था, उस उपन्यास का नाम माटी था. हेरन ने झलकारीबाई को “उदात्त और वीर शहीद” कहा है. झलकारीबाई का पहला आत्मचरित्र 1964 में भवानी शंकर विशारद द्वारा लिखा गया था, भवानी शंकर ने उनका आत्मचरित्र का लेखन वर्मा के उपन्यास और झलकारी बाई के जीवन पर आधारित शोध को देखते हुए किया था. बाद में कुछ समय बाद महान जानकारो ने झलकारीबाई की तुलना रानी लक्ष्मीबाई के जीवन चरित्र से भी की. झलकारीबाई की महानता : कुछ ही वर्षो में भारत में झलकारीबाई की छवि में काफी प्रख्याति आई है. झलकारीबाई की कहानी को सामाजिक और राजनैतिक महत्ता दी गयी. और लोगो में भी उनकी कहानी सुनाई गयी. बहोत से संस्थाओ द्वारा झलकारीबाई के मृत्यु दिन को शहीद दिवस के रूप में भी मनाया जाता है. झलकारीबाई की महानता को देखते हुए ही उन्हें सम्मानित करने के उद्देश से पृथक बुन्देलखण्ड राज्य बनाने की मांग की गयी थी. भारत सरकार ने झलकारीबाई के नाम का पोस्ट और टेलीग्राम स्टेम्प भी जारी किया है. भारतीय पुरातात्विक सर्वे ने अपने पंच महल के म्यूजियम में, झाँसी के किले में झलकारीबाई का भी उल्लेख किया है. भारत की सम्पूर्ण आज़ादी के सपने को पूरा करने के लिए प्राणों का बलिदान करने वाली वीरांगना झलकारीबाई का नाम अब इतिहास के काले पन्नो से बाहर आकार पूर्ण चाँद के समान चारो और अपनी आभा बिखेरने लगा है.