Maharashtra, the state in Western India, had been under the rule of the Muslims since the thirteenth century. For about four hundred years it had tyrannical and intolerant kings from outside who never allowed the local population to live in peace. Loot, exploitation in the name of religion, rape and violence were rampant until Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj challenged the rulers and set up a Maratha empire in the seventeenth century. His mission was not a cakewalk: he had enemies from within, outside the state as well as those from other countries (the Portuguese and the British had made their present felt by then.) Loyalty of his followers was one major factor that helped Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj build an empire which was held in awe. Pavankhind is a historical novel that covers the events leading to the War of Pavankhind. (Pavankhind is a pass near Kolhapur.) The king successfully made his way through a siege of the pass; thanks to Baji Prabhu Deshpande who made the break through possible. Ranjit Desai (1928-1992) tackled the genre of novels with such ease that his collection includes all types of novels: historical, social, mythological, and biographical. He was also a playwright and has to his credit short stories. हेलकावे घेणा-या पालखीचा गोंडा धरून राजे पालखीत बसले होते. पालखीवर झाकलेल्या अलवानामुळे राजांना काही दिसत नव्हतं. फक्त बाजींचा आवाज कानावर येत होता, ‘‘चला’’ चला! कुठं जायचं? एका माणसाच्या जिवासाठी धावायचं कुठवर? बाजी! कशासाठी हे कष्ट घेता? कोणाच्या स्वार्थापायी? आणि तेही एका माणसाच्या जिवापायी? कोणाच्या सत्तेनं आम्ही या माणसांना गुंतवलं? कोणत्या अधिकारानं? जीवनात अखेरचं मोल असतं ते स्वत:च्या जीवाचं! मग त्या जीवाच्या कवड्या यांनी आम्ही मांडलेल्या पटावर का उधळाव्यात? कसल्या आणि कुणाच्या भरवशावर? बाजी, फुलाजी तुम्ही स्वामीकार्यासाठी का ह्या अवघड वाटचालीत सामील झालात? कोणत्या त्यागापायी? हे व्हावं ही तो श्रींची इच्छा आहे असं आम्ही म्हणालो. पण हा महाचंडिकेचा होम धडाडत असता त्याचं पौरोहित्य आमच्या हाती का सुपुर्द केलंत? यातून खरं काही साधणार आहे का? या पालखीचा वीट येतो! नशिबानं या संकटातून पार पडलोच तर... बाजी, पालखीचा मान तुम्हाला देऊ! त्यावेळी तुम्हाला कळेल ही पालखी केवढं सुख देते ते!
