We’ve all heard of many renowned Burujs a.k.a. Burjs across the world—towering structures which stand tall as symbols of power and progress. One such example is the famous Burj Khalifa in Dubai! But how often do we come across a Burj that is not just a remarkable structure, but a living monument of love, sacrifice, and extraordinary courage? Deep in the heart of Maharashtra, within the historic Raigad Fort, stands one Burj—not built for kings or warriors, but to honor a mother’s unshakable spirit. This is the story of Burj Hirkani—a timeless tribute to maternal bravery in the face of impossible odds.
The mere apprehension of danger to her child awakens an inexplicable fearlessness and courage within a mother. This story takes place during the reign of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. The Raigad Fort, controlled by the Marathas, was considered impenetrable; it was difficult for anyone, friend or foe, to enter. The fort was situated on a high hill and was surrounded by tall walls for protection. According to a strict rule, the fort gate opened at sunrise and closed at sunset, and it would not be opened at any cost until the next morning— not even at the command of Shivaji Maharaj.
At the foot of Raigad Fort lay small villages, one of which was home to a woman named Hirkani Bai. She had a nursing infant and lived with her elderly mother-in-law, as her husband, a soldier of Shivaji Maharaj, was often away on military duties. Like many of the villagers, Hirkani used to sell her cow's milk at the fort.
Once, during the Kojagari (Sharad Purnima) festival, everyone was invited to celebrate. According to tradition, a lot of milk was needed to prepare kheer on the night of Sharad Purnima, and this was expected to be contributed by the villagers. On Kojagari day, a beautiful fair was set up at the fort, and Hirkani and her friends went to the fort to deliver milk. But while returning, watching the fair and the entertainment, they got delayed. Meanwhile, sunset was approaching, which was announced by drums and kettledrums, signaling that the main gate of the fort would close sooner. Some women from the group managed to leave, but others, including Hirkani, somehow skipped the announcement and remained inside.
The moment Hirkani Bai realised that she was locked inside the fort, she pleaded with the guard (Malwa), explaining, "My son is very young; he must be hungry, and there is no one at home to feed him. Please open the gate for a short while. I need to reach my son." But the guard explained, "Sister, I understand, but the rule is so strict that this door cannot be opened at any cost—once it has been closed."
Desperate with worry for her infant, Hirkani began asking everyone for help, but failed. As the night deepened, her anguish grew. In her desperation, she asked a fort soldier about a way out, but he also denied her, saying there was no door or path to exit the fort—except for one place, which was neither a door nor anything else, because from there only water could go down and only air could climb up. This place opened towards a terrible ravine.
The cliff was incredibly high, surrounded by thorny bushes, and was home to dangers like snakes, scorpions, and many other obstacles. However, a miraculous courage awakened within the distressed mother, and without any concern for her own safety, she got on to descend the cliff and soon she reached her home and her son.
When she reached home and saw the wounds all over her body and the condition of her clothes, she realized what she had done. She also began to fear that when Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj would find out the next day, he would surely punish her.
The next morning, when Hirkani's friends couldn’t find her inside the fort, they got extremely worried. A thorough search was conducted from the length and breadth of the fort, but Hirkani was not seen anywhere. While the search was on, a soldier told, "I met this lady, she was asking for gates to go out, and I generally told her about the ferocious edge of the fort..." Now the search was conducted outside the fort for Hirkani and lo Hirkani was discovered in the village.
When the whole matter was reported to Shivaji Maharaj, he ordered that Hirkani Bai be brought to the royal court. Hirkani Bai arrived there with her child. Chhatrapati listened to her entire story with a mix of anger, amazement, and immense pride. Then Shivaji Maharaj said, "According to the rules, you will have to be punished. Come with me to that place and give me a demo of how you climbed down."
As soon as Hirkani looked down at the ravine, she was shocked and couldn't believe her eyes. She said, "Last night, when I was descending from here, I could only see the crying, helpless face of my child before my eyes and I was not aware of anything else. But now that he is with me, crossing this cliff and descending down seems even beyond my imagination."
Moved by her courage and the strength of a mother's love, Shivaji Maharaj made a Historic decision. Instead of punishing Hirkani, he honored her. He ordered that a towering wall—a Burj—be erected at the very location of the ravine, so no other mother would ever have to face such a dangerous ordeal again.
This towering wall, known as Hirkani Burj, still stands erect at Raigad Fort in Maharashtra! It serves as a timeless tribute to the extraordinary bravery and selfless love that resides in every mother, even in the most ordinary of circumstances.
Indeed, Mother Hirkani remains an enduring source of inspiration for us all, embodying boundless courage and love. However, let us also take a moment to pay tribute to the remarkable King Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj—a man who exemplified honor, integrity, and a deep commitment to the dignity of women.
Knowing that Mother Hirkani defied the rule, Shivaji Maharaj could have easily chosen to punish her. And then at knowing how she actually exhibited valour, the man inside Shivaji Maharaj could have easily ignored the sumptuous courage of the woman but instead, he chose to eulogise Mother Hirkani’s chivalry and ordered the building of a Burj, immortalizing her bravery, paying a lasting tribute to her zealous sacrifice.
Like it is said that behind every successful man is a woman; behind every successful woman too there must be some men. The society today needs menfolk like Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj who was not just a ruler but a true flag-bearer of justice, equality, respect for one & all and a champion of women's empowerment!
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