After the rule of the Gond dynasty over some parts of Vidarbha, the region came under the control of the Bhosale family of Nagpur. During their reign, they reconstructed a few forts and built some new ones. Besides these, administrative mansions were built in some places, and in some villages and towns, isolated bastions were erected for protection. However, very little is read or heard about these constructions. If one embarks on a conscious or exploratory journey through this region, one comes across such mansions and structures that are completely unfamiliar. One such example is the mansion located in Chanai village of Chandrapur district. Chanai village is about 50 km from Chandrapur district and only 4 km from the taluka headquarters of Korpana. The village is divided into two parts—Chanai Khurd and Chanai Budruk—and is situated just 1 km off the Korpana-Adilabad highway. ... The area of the village where the mansion is located is known as "Small Chanai". Asking locals about the fort or mansion quickly leads you to it. Rectangular in shape, the mansion spans approximately half an acre. Its front portion, including the main entrance, is now completely destroyed. The mansion has suffered significant degradation over time, with only parts of the fortification wall and two broken bastions remaining. Inside the mansion is the house of the Malguzar (landholder) family, who were once responsible for collecting agricultural taxes from the surrounding area. The fort walls are now overgrown with vegetation, and the interior is currently used to shelter cattle. According to an elderly member of the Malguzar family, there used to be a well inside the mansion for water supply, but it was later filled in as cattle began to fall into it. This mansion, which reflects the legacy of the Bhosale rule in Nagpur, has become extremely dilapidated over time and is now on the verge of disappearing completely. The descendants of the mansion's original owners, who still reside there, know nothing about its history or about their ancestors. It takes only about fifteen minutes to explore the mansion from the outside and inside before one moves on to the next fort or structure. Due to a complete lack of historical awareness among the locals, the story of this mansion remains silent.
© Suresh Nimbalkar