Balaji Avaji Chitnis

Balaji Avaji Chitnis was born in a Chandraseniya Kayastha Prabhu family as the oldest of 3 siblings, Balaji, Chimnaji, and Shamji. His father was working at a high post in the durbar of the Siddhi of Murud-Janjira. Although being a hindu, his father Avaji Hari Chitre was the most trusted in the durbar. The other ministers in the durbar became incredibly jealous of the trust the Siddi had put in Avaji Hari Chitre. So one day when the Siddi Nawab fell sick, The other ministers in the Durbar took the chance to blame everything on Avaji Hari Chitre, but he was still trusted by the Siddi. Avaji Hari Chitre's brother studied Hindu Palmistry and was asked by the Siddi's son when the Siddi would recover. Avaji Hari Chitre's brother said that the Siddi Nawab would soon die. This enraged the Siddi's son so much, that he had Avaji Hari Chitre, and his brother thrown in the ocean to be killed, on the advice of his ministers. Balaji Avaji, his brothers, and his mother Rakhmabai Chitre were sent on a ship to Africa to be sold as Slaves. By their good fortune, there was a storm and the Ship could not reach to Africa and came back to the coast of Maharashtra in the city of Danda-Rajpuri to be sold there. Rakhmabai, Balaji's mother, had a brother who lived there, so her brother secretly bought her and her 3 children as slaves, but cared for them as if they were his family. Under his care, Balaji, Shamji, and Chimnaji were educated well as he was one of the wealthiest people living in Danda-Rajpuri. 
==Becoming the Chitnis==
Once, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj decided to capture the Konkan region of Maharshtra and Balaji Avaji Chitnis found out about this. He then wrote a letter to the Maharaja explaining the atrocities that the Siddi Nawab had committed in the Danda-Rajpuri city. Shivaji Maharaj astonished by the handwriting as beautiful as pearls asked Balaji Avaji to come to his Durbar. His mother was scared out of her mind, as she thought the Maharaja had come to kill her son. The Maharaja however, complimented the beautiful handwriting of Balaji Avaji Chitnis and asked if Balaji would join his empire and help to create the Hindavi Swarajya. Balaji immediately accepted the proposal and joined the Swarjya as the Chitnis. His brother Chimnaji was given the post of Phadnavis and Shamji was given the post of Gadkari. 
==Contributions to the Swarajya== 
Balaji Avaji Chitnis worked as Chitnis from the year 1658 to his death in 1681. In the year 1673 Balaji Avaji Chitnis was also given the honor of Palkhi which was an honor only given to the most trusted People of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. 
===A story of Balaji Avaji Chitnis===
Balaji Avaji, having been ordered to write and deliver a letter on some delicate political matter, read out its contents from a sheet of paper in Shivaji’s presence. Seeing that the paper was blank, a nearby torchbearer burst out laughing. When Shivaji asked about the outburst, Chitnis explained that he had been reading from a blank sheet; that he would now prepare the letter; and that he should be punished for his offense. Shivaji instead mercifully commanded him to compose and read out the letter on the spot. Balaji sat, composed the letter, and read it aloud, at which point Shivaji was delighted to find not the slightest discrepancy between the letter and the previous recitation. 
An Illustration of Balaji Avaji Chitnis by The Mawla Board Game Company
==Family==
Balaji Avji Chitnis had one wife whose name was Rajasbai Chitnis. He had three children called Khando Ballal Chitnis, Avaji Ballal Chitnis, and Nilo Ballal Chitnis. 
==Chhatrapti Shivaji Maharaj's Death==
Balaji Avaji Chitnis was one of the only ministers to be present, helping Shivaji Maharaja, at the time of his unfortunate death. 
==The Death of Balaji Avaji Chitnis==
All of the Ashta Pradhan (except Hambirrao Mohite, Balaji Avaji Chitnis, and Moropant Pingle) and some other influential people conspired with Maharani Soyarabai to kill Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj. However, with the Ashtapradhan Mandal, the blame was also put on Moropant Pingle as well as Balaji Avaji Chitnis. Because of this The Ashta Pradhan, Balaji Avaji Chitnis, and his son Avaji Ballal Chitnis were executed under a drunk elephant's foot. 
 The Samadhi of Balaji Avaji Prabhu Chitnis By Ash Gholkar
==Legacy Of Balaji Avaji Prabhu Chitnis==
Balaji Avaji's son Khando Ballal Chitnis continued the work of the Chitnis for Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaja, and Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaja. His Great-Great Grandson, Malhar R
amaro Chitnis wrote one of the most famous and historically important texts,"The Chitnis Bakhar" and " The Shri Shiva Digvijaya". 
Category:Indian people
Category:People of the Maratha Empire
Category:1681 deaths