Gajanan Mehendale

Gajanan Bhaskar Mehendale (19 December 1947 – 17 September 2025) was an Indian historian and author, noted for his scholarship on Maratha history, particularly the life and times of Shivaji Maharaj and the Peshwas.

Early life and education Born on 19 December 1947, Mehendale earned a postgraduate degree in defence studies from Savitribai Phule Pune University. In 1971, he briefly served as a war correspondent during the Bangladesh Liberation War, during which he reported from the India–Pakistan and India–Bangladesh fronts, before devoting himself to historical research.

Career and scholarship A polyglot, Mehendale mastered Persian, Modi, English, French and German, which he used extensively in his historical work. He was regarded as a leading authority on Maratha history, His most acclaimed contribution was Shri Raja Shivchhatrapati (Two Volumes) and Shivaji: His Life and Times, biography of Shivaji Maharaj published in Marathi and English. It is described by scholars as a uniquely detailed and evidence-based account. He also wrote Shivachatrapatinche Armar(The navy of Shivaji), Tipu As He Really Was, Islamchi Olakh: Bharatatil Islami Rajvatinche Dharmik Dhoran and Adilshahi Farmane (The Farmans of Adilshah). His writings have been widely referenced in academic circles in India and other countries. Mehendale had previously signed a letter that called for the complete withdrawal of Shivaji: Hindu King in Islamic India.

At the time of his death, he was researching Islam and the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, and was completing a 5,000 page manuscript on the Second World War, which was nearly ready for publication by the time of Mehendale's death. His body was kept at the Bharat Itihas Sanshodhak Mandal for public homage before cremation.