The
Sardar Yesaji Kank was a companion of
Chhatrapati Shivaji and
Sarnobat (Commander-in-chief) of
Koli Mavalas of Maval region in
Maratha army of
Maratha Empire. Yesaji Kank was born in the village of
Bhutonde in
Rajgad, into the
Mahadev Koli family of
Kank clan (
Gotra), to his father
Dadoji Kank. Dadoji Kank was a soldier in
Shahaji Maharaj's army and chief of the Kolis of Bhutonde.
- Name: Sarnobat Yesaji Dadoji Kank
- Father: Dadoji Kank (Chief of the Kolis of Bhutonde)
- Birth place: Bhutonde in Rajgarh
- Caste: Mahadev Koli
- Clan (Gotra): Kank
- Known as: Koli Mavala
- Battles: Battle Pratapgarh, Battle of Rajgarh and Battle of Torna forts
- Rank: Sarnobat (Commander-in-chief) of Koli Mavalas in Maratha army of Maratha Empire
- Height: Seven feets
- Known as: Elephant 🐘 of Chhatrapati Shivaji
The
Yesaji Kank was the chief of the
Koli Mavla infantry in the Maratha Empire's army. He remained loyal to
Chhatrapati Shivaji until the latter's death. Yesaji Kank fought in the great
Battle of Pratapgarh, where the Maratha army emerged victorious. Sardar Yesaji Kank was famous for his fight against
Qutb Shah's elephant. One day, Qutb Shah asked Shivaji how many elephants he had. Shivaji replied that his soldiers were his elephants, and so a fight was arranged between Qutb Shah's intoxicated elephant and one of Shivaji's soldiers. Shivaji chose Sardar Yesaji Kank because Yesaji was seven feet tall, a skilled warrior, and a powerful Koli chieftain of his army. Yesaji Kank fought the elephant and severed its trunk. Qutb Shah's intoxicated elephant fled in fear. At that moment, Shivaji stood tall with pride and declared that Sardar Yesaji Kank was his elephant. The
Battle of Fonda Fort was a tragic one for Kank, as he lost his son,
Krishnaji Kank, there.
See more Koli articles
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