A Life In Pursuit Of Historical Truth: The Enduring Legacy Of G.B. Mehendale

Maharashtra is blessed not only with a glorious history but also with an illustrious lineage of historians.

From the Satavahanas to the mighty Marathas, this land has witnessed an epic journey of valour and vision, with Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj standing as the immortal icon who reshaped the destiny of his people’s past, present, and future. 

During the British colonial era, a noble tradition of nationalist historians emerged, led by luminaries such as Sir R. G. Bhandarkar and Itihasacharya V. K. Rajwade. They founded enduring institutions like the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute and the Bharat Itihas Sanshodhak Mandal, cultivating a legacy of historical scholarship that continues to inspire.

Into this grand tradition was born Shri Gajanan Bhaskar Mehendale, whom we lost only a few days ago, the last scion of that towering generation of historians.

A man of immense erudition and unwavering devotion, Mehendale dedicated his entire life to the study of Maratha history in general, and to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in particular.

He was a historian par excellence, one who treated evidence with such precision that his meticulous footnotes—often weighing the certainty of each source—sometimes stretched across 60-70 per cent of a page, eclipsing the main narrative itself.

A Lesson in Historiography

I recall one experience that perfectly captures who Mehendale was. At the 'Bharat Itihas Sanshodhak Mandal' in Pune, fortnightly sabhas bring together scholars to present discoveries and debates. On one such occasion, young historians—Satyen Velankar, Parag Pimpalkhare, Manoj Dani, and Guruprasad Kanitkar, all regarded as his disciples—presented a newly discovered Farsi manuscript from Aurangzeb’s court. The document chillingly described the torture and execution of Sambhaji Maharaj.

As they read aloud, one of them faltered, overcome with emotion, saying the passage was too painful to present in full. From the first row came Mehendale’s firm voice: “It is written in the primary source, isn’t it? Then read it—every word. Do not omit a single line.”

The hall fell silent. That was not merely a correction but a profound lesson in historiography: the historian’s first duty is fidelity to evidence, however unsettling.

Scholar, Reporter, Seeker of Truth

Before his career as a historian, Mehendale was trained in defense and military strategy at Pune University and even reported from the battlefields of the 1971 Bangladesh war. Yet his true life’s journey had begun in 1969, when he embarked on the study of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj—a quest that would define his life.

For Mehendale, the foundation of history lay in primary sources: Shiv Bharat, contemporary letters and firmans of the Adilshahi, Mughal, and Qutb Shahi courts, the Mughal Akhbar, Maasir-i-Alamgiri, Alamgirnama, and records of the British, French, Dutch, and Portuguese. Secondary works like the Bakhars came only after.

To master these, he learned the Modi script, Farsi, English, and even some Portuguese. His works, therefore, are not narratives stitched from hearsay but painstakingly built from evidence, often with footnotes as long as the text itself.

Beyond a Single Magnum Opus

Mehendale’s scholarship extended far beyond this. He authored Shivaji: His Life and Times in English, presenting a comprehensive biography of the great Maratha leader. He also explored the neglected maritime vision of Shivaji Maharaj in his Marathi work Shivchhatrapatinche Aarmar, a fascinating study of the Maratha navy.

Another of his works, the short yet impactful Tipu: As He Really Was, dismantled the romanticized image of Tipu Sultan. With his characteristic clarity, Mehendale revealed Tipu not as a secular hero but as a religious despot, exposing uncomfortable truths long buried under popular narratives.

Defender of Historical Truth

“It is often said that falsehood travels far before truth finds its way to light.” In recent decades, certain narratives have sought to paint Shivaji Maharaj in “secular” hues—claiming his armies were largely Muslim, that he was guided by a Sufi mentor, or that he lavishly patronised dargahs. To counter such distortions, only a few days before his passing, Mehendale published an online booklet titled Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharajanche Hindu, Musalman ani Christi Sevak.

Drawing directly from primary sources, he listed Shivaji Maharaj’s prominent knights and servants. The record shows only about 13 Muslims served under Shivaji—many inherited from his father Shahaji, who had served in the Adilshahi courts.

The Unfinished Vision

In his final years, Mehendale embarked upon perhaps his most ambitious intellectual project: to explore the compelling question—“Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jhale Naste, Tar?” (What if Shivaji Maharaj had never existed?).

He began with a powerful lecture, Shivrajyabhishek – Arthat Hindu Samrajya Din, and laid the foundation for a series on Islami Rajvatinche Dharmik Dhoran (The Religious Policy of Islamic Rule).

He traced this inquiry to its very root with Islamchi Olakh (Introduction to Islam), a study of the life and times of Prophet Muhammad. The series was to continue with volumes on the Delhi Sultanate, the Mughals, the Deccan Sultanates, and ultimately, Aurangzeb himself. Tragically, his passing has left this project incomplete. Yet his disciples are certain to carry forward his vision, ensuring that his scholarship, though interrupted, will not remain unfinished.

A Legacy Like No Other

The Bharat Itihas Sanshodhak Mandal has nurtured a proud lineage of nationalist historians—from Rajwade, Vasudeo Shastri Khare, and G. H. Khare to Datto Waman Potdar, Babasaheb Purandare, Ninad Bedekar, Pandurang Balkawde, and many others. Shri Gajanan Bhaskar Mehendale was the last scion of his generation in this illustrious line. Yet he stood apart—an institution unto himself, inspiring countless “Eklavyas” of history who learned under his stern but guiding hand.

To conclude, it must be said once again: Maharashtra is blessed not only with a glorious history but also with great historians who preserved and interpreted it. Among them, Gajanan Bhaskar Mehendale stands tall, having departed for his heavenly abode while leaving behind a timeless legacy—the uncompromising pursuit of truth in history.

May his noble soul attain sadgati. Om Shanti.