Raj Thackeray pays tribute to renowned historian Gajanan Mehendale

Eminent historian and author Gajanan Bhaskar Mehendale known for his monumental works on Maratha king Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj passed away in Pune following a heart attack on Wednesday evening He was 77Known for his meticulous research and deep understanding of military history Mehendale made significant contributions to Maharashtrarsquos historiographyMaharashtra Navnirman Sena MNS chief Raj Thackeray in a post on X said Gajananrao began his historical journey with the Bharat Itihas Sanshodhak Mandal in Pune where he developed an early interest in military science By the age of 18 he was already immersed in the study of military strategy and at just 24 he served as a war correspondent during the 1971 Bangladesh War This rare combination of witnessing history firsthand and studying it in archives shaped his unique perspective on historical truth hellip pictwittercomCAMESS9SdPmdash Raj Thackeray RajThackeray September 18 2025MNS chief Raj Thackeray paying tribute to Mehendale on X highlighted his impartial approach to history ldquoA historian must possess complete impartiality which Gajananrao hadrdquo he said noting that Mehendale never indulged in romanticising or vilifying historical figures Thackeray added that Mehendalersquos dedication to uncovering the narratives of the defeated alongside those of the victors marked him as a historian of exceptional insightTo ensure accuracy in his work Mehendale mastered multiple languages including Modi Persian and English allowing him to study documents written by diverse sources Raj Thackeray recalled his personal experiences with the historian noting his readiness to provide precise references and his lifelong devotion to researchGajananrao drew inspiration from legendary historian Babasaheb Purandare and belonged to a proud lineage of Maharashtra historians including Vishwanath Kashinath Rajwade V C Bendre R C Dhere and Sardesai Raj Thackeray emphasised the urgent need for future generations to cultivate such dedication to history lamenting the growing scarcity of scholars with Mehendalersquos depth of knowledgeThe Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief offered his heartfelt tribute to Gajananrao Mehendale hoping that his extensive collection of works continues to inspire the next generation of historians particularly in MaharashtraMehendale who was unmarried had devoted over five decades to historical research earning recognition as an authority on Maratha history particularly on the life and military campaigns of the 17th century warrior king Chhatrapati Shivaji MaharajAuthor of several acclaimed works in Marathi and English Mehendales publications included Shivaji His Life and Times Shivacharitra Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Zale Nasate Tar Marathyanche Armar The Maratha Navy and Tipu as a Warrior His writings referencing thousands of archival sources continue to be widely cited in academic circles