Khanderi
This article has been extracted from THE IMPERIAL GAZETTEER OF INDIA , 1908. OXFORD, AT THE CLARENDON PRESS. |
Note: National, provincial and district boundaries have changed considerably since 1908. Typically, old states, ‘divisions’ and districts have been broken into smaller units, and many tahsils upgraded to districts. Some units have since been renamed. Therefore, this article is being posted mainly for its historical value.
Khanderi
(or Kenery). — Small island in the Alibag of Kolaba District, Bombay, situated in 18degree 42' N. and 72 degree 49' E., near the entrance of Bombay harbour, 1 1 miles south of Bombay and 6 north-west of Alibag. It lies 2-| miles from the Kolaba mainland and \\ miles from its sister island of Underi. Population (1901), 130. The island is a mile and a half long by half a mile broad. A lighthouse, which was built in 1867, stands on the highest part. It is an octagonal masonry tower 78 feet high on the centre of a fiat-roofed house, the centre of the lantern being 1,581 feet above the level of high-water. The light is a catadioptric of order 1, and is a single light with groups of flashes showing white with red sector. The period of revolution is ten seconds, and it is visible for 18 miles. A flagstaff 200 feet high stands north-east-by-north from the light tower.
In 1679 Sivaji, whom no advantage escaped, sent 300 soldiers and as many labourers, with arms and materials, to Khanderi, and began to raise breast-works at the landing-places. The island had never before been inhabited, and its only produce was fuel, which had formerly been sent to Bombay. When they heard of Sivaji's works on Khanderi, the English claimed it as part of Bombay, the Portuguese as an old settle- ment. Two attempts to turn out the Marathas failed ; and even after a naval battle in which the British fleet of eight ships put to flight 50 sail, the English were not able to prevent the Marathas strengthening their forces on Khanderi. The Sldi, as Mughal admiral, joined the Eng- lish with a strong fleet; but the English commander found that the Sidl did not mean to give up the island if he took it, and held aloof. The Sldi continued to batter Khanderi and then suddenly fortified Underi. Daulat Khan, Sivaji's admiral, tried to stop this, bringing guns on the mainland opposite. But he was defeated and severely wounded, his small open boats not being able to stand against the Sidi's stronger and larger vessels. For several years after this there were constant struggles between the Sldi and the Marathas for the possession of these islands. In 1693 Khali Khan mentions ' Kalaba and Gandiri' as the strongest of Sivaji's newly built forts on the sea-shore. In 1695 Gemelli Careri calls them Underin and Canderin, two forts on the island and continent, a rock with some dwellings of SivajT, who was at war with the Great Mughal and consequently in action against the Sldi. About 1706 Mr. Strutt, Deputy-Governor of Bombay, described Khanderi as strongly fortified by Angria and covered with houses. Khanderi was one of the ten forts and sixteen fortified places of less strength which, in 1713, Kanhoji Angria obtained on siding with Raja Sahu. In October, 1 718, the English tried to take Khanderi and failed. This failure is said to have been due to the treachery of one Rama Kamati who held a con- fidential post under Governor Boone, while a year later a Portuguese captain, who lay on one quarter of it with some war-vessels to hinder relief coming to it, betrayed his trust, and let some boats pass in the night with provisions and ammunition which the island greatly needed. About 1740 it was settled between the English and the Sldi that, if Khanderi was taken, it should be delivered with all its guns and stores to the English. The cession of Khanderi to the English was again pro- posed in 1755. It was not actually ceded until 1775 under the terms of the Treaty of Surat, and shortly after was taken back under the Treaty of Purandhar. Khanderi was then held by the Marathas till it passed to the British in 1S18 as part of the Peshwa's dominions.
