Indian Antiquary Vol 45

Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple, Devadatta Ramkrishna Bhandarkar
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 56

48
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
[MARK, 1915
looted Datwårå village and soon afterwards they looted British treasure passing along the high road. On 19th November 1858 Tântiâ Topî reached KhargÃon in the Indore Stute, hard pressed by the British. Khwaja Naik and the other Naiks joined bim, the whole party being some 4,000 strong. They were attacked by Major Sutherland near Rajpur and defeated, the leaders escaping. A second fight took place at Dhabê Bảodi, a village eight miles from Barwâni. Bhîmê was caught soon afterwards and transported, but Khwaja Naik continued to plunder along the high road. Finally some Makrâni detectives were employed, who captured and decapitated him, taking his son, Pola Sith, a boy eight years old.
As to the persons and places mentioned in the Ballad " Kamani Sahib” is either a “Commanding Officer", or, more probably, Captain W. G. Cumming, Bhil Agent at Barwânî, and “Barsi," or (as he is still spoken of by some of the old men who took part in these events) Barchhi Sahib, " is possibly Lt, Birch, who disarmed the Burhanpûr Mutineers in July 1857. Palasner, is a village on the Agra-Bombay road in Khândesh. Shirpúr is the head-quarters of a tâlu ka in Khandesh. The Rahî tank is probably the Rehêtiâ tank near Raipûr iu Barwâni. The Mogar or Mogrî river is the boundary between Indore and Barwani territory in the Pansewâl pargana of Barwani. Khadid, is a village near Rajpûr, in Barwani. Malegaon, Dhülid and Dharangdon are all in Khandesh. The Jâmnia-nâlâ falls near the Agra-Bombay road, by Sendhva.
This song is one of the numerous compositions which serve to keep local events alive in the memories by the people.
SONG. Ingrajyashi Khájia Naik hota milûna. Khâjia Naik was always on good terms with
the English Khâjid Näikå var dagå kela, pahå, shipayana, But, note how the sepoys acted treacher
ously towards him. Bhima Naik badalâlâ, kambar bândhile As Bhima Naik has revolted, and girded his tyana,
loins for the pray; Konya divashîn Khájia Naik jail badlûna. So probably Khajia Naik will soon follow him. Khájia Naikâvar jasi mansaba kela Sahibâni, (As a precaution against) Khájiê Naik's
action the Sâhil proposed, Pratham tapyâche ghode ana sodûnî;
That all the ponies on the stages be called in ; Jeohân tapyâche ghode sodle Khâjia Nava- But Khâjiâ Näik loosed the stage ponies.
kâne, Sarakevarchâ târ tocila paha, tyâ marcâna And cut the telegraph wires on the high
road, so brave was he. Palasner lätûn. Såtpudyà gela cha lhûna. He plundered Palásner and fled to the
Såtpudas. Sendu yâchya Ghâta madhyen baslå jâûna. And made his home in the Sendhwa Pass. Kamâni Saheb gela Narmada utrûna. Cumming Sahib crossed the Narbada afte
him. Artân Khâjiâ Nâik yell kontyå watana. ? " By what road can Khajia Naik escape
(thought the Sahib) ? TyAlA jitachi marin kii Kalon Pani davina. I will either kill him or have him trans
porter.