Pune: To create awareness and generate interest amongst people, especially youngsters of the city, an NGO called ‘Itihas Premi Mandal’, has been creating several replicas of forts and battleground exhibitions from last 15 years. And this year, they have made a replica model of the battleground of Palkhed, where the armies of Bajirao Peshwa and Nizam had fought in 1728.

The replica is a part of Diwali exhibition from November 7 to 23, an initiative by the Mandal at Navin Marathi School in Shaniwar Peth. The exhibition was inaugurated by Lieutenant General Rajendra Ramrao Nimbhorkar, Indian Army’s Master General of the Ordnance on November 7. 
 
Mohan Shete, a history enthusiast and President of the Mandal, said, “This year, the battle of Palkhed has completed 290 years and this battle, which was fought between Peshwa Bajirao I and the Nizam-ul-Mulk is considered as the most famous battle in history. The aim to showcase battlegrounds or forts in miniature models is because there is not much awareness or interest to learn about it. Whereas, the people in foreign countries learn about the history of India or Pune. So, to make people, especially the youngsters, aware and generate interest in them, we have been making such replicas from the last 15 years.”

Shete added, “This year, there will be map, model and a 30-minute show on how the battle between Peshwa and Nizam was fought. The model of Palkhed battlefield is 40 feet long in breadth. The model was made by students of Mandal.”