The Marathas began their campaign on a high note capturing Mahim on 9 January 1739 and Tarapur and Asheri on 24 January 1739. They captured the important island of Dharavi at the mouth of the Bassein creek on 6 March 1739 effectively sealing the fate of the main fortress.
This victory gave the Marathas a strategic advantage to launch a full – fledged attack. Baji Bhivrao, the most trusted lieutenant of Peshwa Bajirao lost his life at Tarapur while several others like Ramchandra Hari Patwardhan received serious injuries.
By the middle of March 1739, the Marathas gained control of most of the Portuguese outposts in the Bassein region in readiness for a concentrated assault. Chimaji Appa had already despatched his troops in 1738 to ensure that reinforcements would not reach Bassein in time.
He arrived on 7 February 1739 and began preparations to storm Bassein. A passage had to be made by demolishing the strong walls of the fortress. For this, mines were excavated under the foundations of the ramparts.
The workers were constantly under fire from the heavy artillery of the Portuguese while they worked tirelessly for days. The Marathas also retaliated with equal measure protecting their own.
The Marathas finally managed to place thirteen mines below the bastions. On 2 May 1739, the mines were ignited and a massive explosion blew up the north tower creating wide breaches through which the Marathas quickly rushed in.
Some of the mines blew up late creating some confusion but the Marathas rose to the occasion and pushed on with grim determination to the war cries of “Har Har Mahadev” and “Jai Bhavani“.
A fiery battle ensued with countless injured and dead. Another big mine was sprung the following day which made a fresh breach for the Marathas to occupy the bastions overpowering the Portuguese.
The Portuguese were well and truly encircled. The battle lasted for two days. Eight hundred of the Portuguese officers and men were killed and their ammunition exhausted.
On 4 May 1739, the Portuguese hoisted the white flag. A Portuguese officer met Chimaji Appa to discuss the terms of surrender. The capitulations were signed on 5 May 1739 and a week was agreed upon for evacuation.
The remaining garrison was allowed to leave unmolested with all their families and possessions with full military honours. An exchange of prisoners was effected satisfactorily and war vessels in the harbour were allowed to remove their artillery.
Full religious liberty for practising one’s religion was established throughout the North Konkan district.
On the auspicious day of May 23, 1739, the Zari Patka was unfurled at Bassein Fort ending a cruel Portuguese regime of two hundred years that saw unmentionable atrocities, heinous form of torture, unethical forced conversions to Christianity and deplorable religious persecution.
Written by Lakshmi Subramanian
* Information about Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj is taken from archives
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