South of Jat on the Karnataka border is Umrani village, famous for the battle of Prataprao Gujar. This village has an ancient history and has a glorious history of many dynasties. Some ancient inscriptions of 11th and 12th century AD are found in the ancient temple at Umrani. It records that King Bijjaladeva of the Kalchuri dynasty donated to these temples. But Umrani came to fame during Shivaji Maharaja’s period because of the act of Prataprao Gujar that happened here. In the year 1673, when Maharaj was at Panhalgad for a few months before his coronation, AdilShah Sardar, Abdul Karim Bahlol Khan came to Swaraj with twelve thousand horsemen. As soon as the Maharaja heard this news, he sent General Prataprao Gujar there. He commanded them to fight him and bring him to his fate, death. According to the Maharaja's orders, Prataprao went to fight against him. ... Bahlol khan stay at this time was on the banks of the river Don near Umrani village on the Karnataka border. The Marathas first broke and captured the waters and attacked it from the other side. There was no choice but to surrender to the Maratha, which had become scarce without water. Bahlol Khan surrendered to Prataprao and the Maratha army. Prataprao spared him. Bahlol Khan who surrendered was defeated by the Marathas and retreated. Maharaj got angry when he heard this news. Prataprao had failed to obey the Maharaja's order. They doubted that Bahlol Khan would return to avenge the defeat. He wrote a scathing letter to Prataprao saying, “What did you do to him?” He asked such a question and relied on Prataprao, he said that you acted like a soldier and did not act like a general. Prataprao was deeply hurt by these words and it was only after this that his life was sacrificed at Nesri Khind. Apart from this, the history of Umrani village is the history of Dafle Sardar, the king of Jat Sansthan. After Satwaji Chavan, Patil of Daflapur, obtained the Desmukhi of Jat, Karjagi, Bardol and Kanad from AdilShah around 1680, the Dafle dynasty and Jat Sansthan emerged. After the death of Sambhaji Raja, Satwaji Raja along with Dhanaji Jadhav and Santaji Ghorpade attacked the Mughal army with his 16000 troops. Later on in Peshwai Aausaheb Dafle (1701–54) recognized the Peshwa’s supremacy and maintained the independence of the Sansthan. Bajirao II had confiscated Deshmukhi for some time and handed over the administration of this institution to Trimbakji Dengle. In 1820, the British made a treaty with the Chhatrapati of Satara. Accordingly, for 3 years after 1846, since the king was a minor, Chhatrapati was in charge. After the end of Satara Sansthan (1848) this Sansthan come under British rule. Umrani village is 83 km from Sangli city and 20 km from Jat taluka town. As Umrani was an important place under the Jat Sansthan, the Dafle family often resided here. Umrani village is still the stronghold of Raje Daphle and his descendants are living there. This fort may have been built during the later period of Satwajiraja Chavan. Spread over an area of about half an acre, this fort is square in shape and there are four bastions at the four ends of the fort. Currently, the fort is being used by the descendants of Dafle, who have maintained the fort in its original form. Outside the fort, next to the door, you can see the sculpture of Gajlakshmi. The fortifications of the fort have collapsed to some extent and the four bastions and the gate of the fort at the four ends of the fort can still be seen today. There is a deep stone-built well in the fort premises and the mansion of Dafle. The construction of this wada (mansion) in the fort is still in its original state with very beautiful carvings on the wood of the construction. As Raje Dafle resides here, access restricted to some areas. Some ancient temples can be seen while roaming around the village. Two hours are enough to see the Umrani Fort and surrounding area.
© Suresh Nimbalkar