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The Battle of Vasai was fought between the Marathas and the Portuguese rulers of Vasai, a village lying near Bombay in the present-day state of Maharashtra, India. The Marathas were led by Chimaji Appa, a brother of Peshwa Baji Rao I. Maratha victory in this war was a major achievement of Baji Rao I reign.
1737 A.D. – 1738 A.D. – Marathas march towards Bacaim.
They seized Arnala to drive out the Portuguese. General Shankarji Pant informed Chimaji that Arnala fort is a strategic FORT for the naval forces that were on route to attack the Portuguese. Chimaji approved the assault on the fort. Shankarji Pant consulted and sought assistance of the local people to attack the Arnala fort; among them were Govindji Kasar and Gavraji Patil from Bolinj. Shankarji sent Gangaji Naik, Bajirao Belose and Rayajirao Surve to lead a battalion of 400 soldiers to lead the attack on Arnala fort. This attack was coordinated along with naval force commanded by Manaji Agre.
On March 28, 1737 Maratha forces attacked the fort and surprised the Portuguese who were caught with their guard down. The Portuguese retreated and gave up the fort. The Maratha victory was commemorated with a plaque installed on the northern wall of the fort and is still visible today. Soon after the Maratha victory, Shankarji Pant began reconstruction of the fort. By January of 1738 three bastions were completed. The three bastions were named Bahirav, Bhavani and Bava. The construction was completed by March of 1738. Later Marathas occupied Versova and Dharavi.
• 1739 A.D. – Seize of Bacaim begins on 17 th February 1739 under able leadership of Bajirao’s brother Chimnaji Appa. Marathas exhibit besieging force, skill, courage and perseverance and thus Portuguese lose their commander Silveira de Menezes. But Portuguese Garrison defends with highest courage and constancy with hand grenades, musketry and mortars, using their technically advanced weapons and artillery, the Portuguese inflicted high casaulties on the Marathas . Angre’s fleet plays brave role and on 16 May 1739 Marathas defeated Portuguese with might.
Portuguese offered to capitulate, but requested to allow marching out with honours which Marathas accepted, as a mark of humane protocol to the defeated army. Bacaim fell from Portuguese as a stately tree never to rise again.
• 1739 A.D. – Bacaim was named as Bajipur after the peswa Bajirao. To restore the Hindu Culture and resettle the unconverted natives they incurred upon by the Portuguese Rule, Peshwas brought a flight of well trained, well learned Brahmans to purify the native converts willing to reconvert to their original Hindu fold of four castes and made them fit to take their place in their old castes. To the converts unwilling to come back to Hindu Fold or to those who were born out of Portuguese Peshwas striped the churches it was latter in 1800s that these churches were reconstructed during the British rule of India.
Chimnaji Appa restores the Nageshwar Mandir near Naga Kunda, Builds Hanuman Mandir over a church which might have been built on a mosque or temple foundation in the Fort . And oldest Trivikram Mandir in Fort over st. Anthony church and Vamana Mandir of Aggasi said to have been established by Shri Vamadev Tirtha Swami in 388 B.C. built Bhavani Shankara Mandir of Aggasi over our lady of light church, Papdy Kshetrapaleshwar Mandir which was built over our lady of Fatima .
Also rebuilt and restored Jagadguru Shankaracharya Mandir at Nirmal. Also reestablish the Padmanabha Tirtha Swami Samadhi Ruins on the outskirts which were destroyed by Portuguese. Shankarji Keshav, the Subhedaar of Vasai took lead in all these activities. While going back to Pune, Chimaji took beautiful church Bell's, which was cast in Europe and was in use of church services in the Fort. This Bells were so beautiful that, chimaji couldn't resist to take it along with him in his backward journey. One of the beautiful Bell among them is installed at MAHABALESHWAR MANDIR, Satara. One can see it even today. Inscribed on the Bell '''AVE MARIA. . The greatness of Chimaji was he allowed all Portuguese people to go with their belonging and without any harm to their lives.
Some of the information is edited by: JFP
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