In Brief
Senior historian Gajanan Mehendale passes away
He dedicated the last five decades of his life to historical research.
Gajanan Mehendale's body will be kept at the Indian Historical Research Board for final respects
(Gajanan Mehendale) Senior historian and Shivaji biographer Gajanan Bhaskar Mehendale passed away in Pune due to a heart attack. He was 79 years old. His demise has created a significant void in the field of history. For the past five decades, he dedicated his life to historical research. He wrote numerous books and research papers through in-depth study of Shivaji's biography, Mughal-era documents, military history, and religious policies. His mastery of Marathi, English, Persian, Urdu, and European languages earned his research international recognition.
Mehendale wrote important books such as ‘Shri Raja Shivchhatrapati’ (Volumes 1 and 2), ‘Shivaji: His Life and Times’, ‘Introduction to Islam’, ‘Adilshahi Firmans’, ‘Tipu as He Really Was’, and ‘The Navy of Shivchhatrapati’. His works are used as reference books in various universities and history courses today.
At the age of 24, he was sent to Bangladesh before the war began. As a journalist, he initially worked at ‘Tarun Bharat’. Gajanan Mehendale's body will be kept at the Bharat Itihas Sanshodhak Mandal for final respects, and the funeral will take place at Vaikunth Crematorium.