Kuroji Naik Explained

Honorific Prefix:	Subedar
Kuroji Naik
Honorific Suffix:	Mavala
Native Name:	कुरोजी नाईक
Native Name Lang:	Mr
Birth Place:	Bavan Maval, Maratha Confederacy
Death Place:	Purandar fort, Bavan Maval, Maratha Empire
Death Cause:	Killed in action
Nickname:	Koorojee Naik
Birth Name:	Kuroji Naik
Allegiance:	Maratha Confederacy
Branch:	Maratha Army
Unit:	Mavala
Known For:	Capture of Purandar in 1790
Battles:	Battle of Purandar 1790
Awards:	Victory bastion at Pundar fort

The Kuroji Naik^[1] (also spelled as Koorojee Naik)^[2] was Koli subedar of Maratha army under Maratha Peshwa during reign of Shahu II.^{[3] [4]}

Early life

Kuroji Naik was born to a Koli chief Jadoji Naik Thorat in Maval region of Maratha Empire.^[5]

History

In 1790, Kuroji Naik assembled the Koli naiks of Bavan Maval and raised a Mavala army and attacked at Purandar fort.^[6] Kuroji Naik captured the Purandar and offered it to Peshwa because of his duty as Subedar of Maratha army. After taking of Purandar, Peshwa Madhavrao II awarded the Kuroji Naik with the title of Deshmukh and grants of villages and hug amount of money for his bravery and loyalty. Peshwa Madhavrao II also erected the victory bastion (Fatteh Stambh) to remember the bravery and war skills of Kuroji Naik at Purandar fort.^{[7] [8]}

Titles

• Deshmukh, Kuroji Naik was honoured with the title of Deshmukh and received the grant of villages from Peshwa^[9]
• Sarnayak, He was honoured with the title of Sarnayak for assembling the Nayaks of Bavan Maval to attack at Purandar fort^[10]
• Nayak

Notes and References

1. Web site: Maharashtra . Government of . 2023 . History of Maharashtra: Purandar fort . From this bastion the garrison are said to have leaped about 1790 when surprised by Kolis under one Kuroji Naik.
2. Book: The Medical and Physical Society of Bombay, India . Transactions of The Medical and Physical Society of Bombay.No.VII.New ... . . New Delhi, India, Asia . 68: It was from this bastion that the garrison at the end of the last century, under one of the Poorundhurees, when surprised by the Koolies under Koorojee Naik, are said to have leapt. The Koolies held the Fort for some time, and from them • . English.
3. Kantak . M. R. . 1978 . The Political Role of Different Hindu Castes and Communities in Maharashtra in the Foundation of Shivaji's Swarajya . Bulletin of the Deccan College Research Institute . 38 . 1/4 . 40–56 . 42931051 . 0045-9801.
4. Guha . Sumit . 1995 . An Indian Penal Régime: Maharashtra in the Eighteenth Century . Past & Present . 147 . 101–126 . 10.1093/past/147.1.101 . 651041 . 0031-2746.
5. Book: SARDEṢĀI, GOVINDA SAKHĀRĀMA . The New History of the Marathas. [With Plates, Including Maps.]. ]. 1946 . Phœnix Publications . en.
6. Saswadkar . P, L . 1967 . The Dawn of Modernization in the Maratha State on the Eve of Its Extinction, 1790-1840 . Proceedings of the Indian History Congress . 29 . 127–131 . 44138007 . 2249-1937.
7. Pearson . M. N. . 1976 . Shivaji and the Decline of the Mughal Empire . The Journal of Asian Studies . 35 . 2 . 221–235 . 10.2307/2053980 . 2053980 . 0021-9118.
8. Sharma . G. D. . 1981 . Land Revenue and Early British Experiments in South Gujarat During the Second Half of the Eighteenth Century: A Case Study of the Pargana of Broach . Proceedings of the Indian History Congress . 42 . 377–388 . 44141152 . 2249-1937.
9. Pemble . John . 1976 . Resources and Techniques in the Second Maratha War . The Historical Journal . 19 . 2 . 375–404 . 10.1017/S0018246X00010219 . 2638569 . 0018-246X.
10. Kadam . Umesh Ashokrao . Kadam . Umesh Ashokarao . 2003 . The French in India: A Review (1761-1790) . Proceedings of the Indian History Congress . 64 . 667–676 . 44145501 . 2249-1937.