Historian Jaisingrao Pawar dead at 84
The popular history of the Maratha Empire, in the hands of political ideologues, often runs aground shortly after the celebrated reign of Chhatrapati Shivaji. Everything that follows — a period defined by the struggles for survival of the Swarajya — is frequently obscured, if not outright distorted. Dr Jaisingrao Pawar, who passed away on 26 March in Kolhapur at the age of 84, dedicated his life to excavating that overlooked era, presenting facts to society based on truth and reality, and remaining undeterred by criticism.
30 Mar 2026 | 396 Views | By Prasad Gangurde
Born into a humble family in Hadser, Sangli district, Dr Pawar’s commitment to education led him to the Prince Shivaji Maratha Boarding, an institution established by Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj. He went on to top his MA in History at Shivaji University before earning his PhD from the same institution. His research career, formally inaugurated in 1964, was spent rectifying the historical record, particularly the contributions of the generation succeeding the illustrious Shivrai.
Dr Pawar, a veteran historian and a staunch proponent of Rajarshi Shahu Maharaj's ideology, focused his primary efforts on what he called the influential triumvirate of the post-Shivaji era: Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, Chhatrapati Rajaram Maharaj, and Maharani Tarabai. In a narrative largely confined to the figure of Shivaji, Dr Pawar undertook the important achievement of meticulously documenting the monumental efforts of Rajaram and Tarabai during a critical period (1689 to 1707), which helped safeguard the independent kingdom. When certain factions inaccurately portrayed the life and character of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Raje, Dr Pawar used rigorous research to present his authentic image to society.
Beyond his chronological focus, Dr Pawar also possessed profound expertise regarding another influential triumvirate: the social reformers Mahatma Phule, Rajarshi Shahu, and Dr Ambedkar.
For four decades, Dr Pawar served as a history educator (1969 to 2001) and an author, penning over thirty books and forty research papers. His twenty books covering undergraduate and postgraduate curricula gained immense popularity across Maharashtra, transcending the status of mere textbooks to become indispensable reference guides. Seminal works like Rajarshi Shahu Chhatrapati, Krantisinha Nana Patil, and Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj collectively charted a new course for historical research.
Dr Pawar was as influential in building institutions as he was in researching them. He founded the Maharashtra Itihas Prabodhini in Kolhapur and played an important role in establishing the Shahu Research Centre at Shivaji University. He served as the director of the centre, accepting a token honorarium of only one rupee, and elevated the legacy of Rajarshi Shahu Maharaj to a global platform. In 1992, he established the Akhil Maharashtra Itihas Parishad (All-Maharashtra History Conference), pioneering a tradition of timely publishing, 22 collections of research papers have been published to date.
Dr Pawar, who was suffering from a pulmonary ailment, was consigned to the flames with full state honours at the Panchganga Crematorium. A final salute was rendered through a gun salute and the solemn melodies of the police band. He is survived by his wife, Vasudha, his two daughters, Arundhati and Dr Manjushree Pawar, his sons-in-law, and his grandchildren.
He often noted that while the specific issues of the past might no longer exist, the "nature of politics and the underlying human tendencies within it can remain the same." It was this enduring political cynicism that Dr Pawar worked so diligently to defeat in the archives.