Dadoji Konddeo

Dadoji Kondev (Marathi: दादोजी कोंडदेव) (also known as Dadaji Konddeo and Dadoji Kondadev ,) was a 16th century revenue expert from India, particularly known for his loyalty towards Shahaji. He was also a "Subhedar" (Military and Administrative head)of Kondana Fort (now known as Sinhagad), and thus the Pune region.

Early days

Dadoji Kondev gochivade was from a Marathi Deshastha Brahmin of the Kulkarni family from the Daund area in Maharashtra. He hailed from Malthan, in the present day Shirur Tahsil in the Pune District.^[1]

Early career under Shahaji

Dadoji Kondev was in the service of Shahaji Raje Bhonslé, a nobleman and a commander in the Nizamshahi military of Ahmednagar. Shahaji proved himself as a brilliant commander. He was given independent land near the Pune region.

Soon Shahaji Raje Bhosale became a prominent war-lord of the region. Due to the constant warfare between the three major powers, Mughals (from north, based in Delhi and Agra), Adilshah (in south, based in Bijapur, current Karnataka State), and Nizam, from east, Shahaji had to be constantly engage in diplomatic and political manouvres. He intended to have an independent kingdom, but couldn't defeat the combined might of the Mughal forces and Adilshah. Eventually, after the death of his father-in-law, Jadhavrao, he joined Adilshah and was sent to Bangalore as a commander of Adilshah's army. Shahaji Raje transferred his family, wife Jijaoo and son Shivaji, from fort Shivneri, near Junner, to Pune and appointed Dadoji as an ordinary officer of Shivaji.

In Jedhe Shakawali

Jedhe Shakawali written by Kanhoji Jedhe and his son Baji Jedhe mentions about Dadoji Konddev as "He developed city Shivapur as per order by Shahajiraje in 1636 and Lal Mahal in Pune in next year. Dadoji Konddev was an absolutely pious, completely honest and highly efficient estate manager of Pune Jahagiri, owened by Rajmata Jijau.RAJMATA Jijau was a daughter of Sinkhedkar royal family. She was a faithful ‘ Patiwrata’wife of Shahaji Raje Bhosle and a loving and dutiful mother of Shivaji raje. Dadoji Kond dev was born at Janefal town,near Sindkhed-Raja ,in Buldana District. Many historians say that Dadoji was born in a Samvedi lad Brahman family. Janefal is the VERY FIRST town owned by Sindkhadkar Jadhov family. Other towns like Deuljaon-Raja, Kingaon-Raja, Sindkhad-Raja, have been acquired by them by a pact with Moguls of Delhi; hence these towns have “Raja” adjective added to them. After Jadov family left Janefal and started living in Sindkhad-Raja, Dadoji woked as their estate manager in Janefal and got a reputation as an honest, efficient estate manager. Subsequently, because of the prevalent political situation, Rajmata Jidau had to reside in Pune Jahagiri, Sindkhedkar Jadaov selected and appointed Dadoji Kondav as an estate manager of this Jahagiri. Dadoji managed this estate with utmost honesty and efficiency. Because of stability and prosperity, brought out by Dadoji’s management, in this estate, Shivaji Maharaj could lay the foundation of an independent maratha kingdom. Dadoji might or might not be considered as Shivaji Maharaj’s guru (teacher), but he was certainly a very important and absolutely pious person of Shivaji period.

Last days

Dadoji Konddev made suicide because of fear of Adilshah. He was afraid of Shivaji's campaign of Swarajya. He tried to stop Shivaji from capturing Adilshah's region.

See also

• Gomaji Naik

References

1. ^ "Daund - Info". Pune Diary. http://www.punediary.com/html/Daund.html. Retrieved 2006-11-25. 

Bibliography

• Duff, Grant - History of the Marhattas, Oxford University Press, London.
• Apte, B.K. (editor), Chhatrapati Shivaji: Coronation Tercentenary Commemoration Volume, Bombay: University of Bombay (1974–75)

External links

• A Note on the 'Twelve Mavals' of Poona District - Modern Asian Studies, Vol. 12, No. 3 (1978), pp. 393–417

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Date of death	1647
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