Khemirao Sarnaik (original) (raw)

Khemirao Sarnaik (Hi: खेमीराव सरनाईक) also known as Kheni Sirnayak was a Koli Deshmukh of the Maval region in 1640s and had taken up arms against Mughal governor, Aurangzeb and abolished Jizya. he belongs to the Thorat clan of Mahadev Kolis of Maharashtra. When shivaji began his revolts in following decades, the kolis were amongst the first to join shivaji under Khemirao Sarnaik. The Koli community made a substantial contribution to the success of the Swarajya movement of Shivaji under Khemirao Sarnaik and shaked the Mughal rule. Aurangzeb put down the revolt mercilessly and made a pile of the heads cut off. The 'Koli Chabutra' in Purandar fort still stands as a monument to the Kolis' love of independence and their excitable temper.