Malusare is a Maratha clan hailing mostly from Maharashtra and neighbouring states; it is known for its most famous son, Sardar Tanaji Malusare.
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Origin
Malusare is Suryavanshi Kshatriya Maratha Clan with Kashyap Gotra, and uses kalamb as a totem.
Branches
The Malusare clan includes Marathas of following surnames: Gowarkar, Gowar, Jawalkar, Dipe, Bodkar, Zudpe, Zure, Talkute, Bathale, Denarkar, Mhatarmare, Mangde, Makone, Mawde, Matere, Manmode, Marmare, Sole, Sonwane, Sorote, Hadpee, Halde, Hasnapure, Hade, Hawre, Hapse.
History
The history of Malusares prior to Tanaji is that they were overlords of over forty villages of Jawali Part (now, Mahabaleshwar) in District Satara, such as Godavali, Amral, Khingar, Rajpuri and Mahabaleshwar up to village Malusar. It is difficult to say whether the Malusare clan got its name from the Village of Malusar or vice versa. The Malusares administrated their Jagir from their ancestral Village Godavali (Near Panchgani, Taluka Mahabaleshwar).
The Malusare Brothers ruling their estates of Mahabaleshwar were Kaloji Malusare and Bhanvarji Malusare. Both these brave chieftains died whilst offering resistance to the Adil Shahi armies. Sardar Kaloji was succeeded by his two sons, Sardar Tanaji and Sardar Suryaji born of his wife Parvatibai, the daughter of a historic Shelar clansman and sister of Sardar Kondaji Ramaji Shelar (Shelar Mama).
Sardar Tanaji Malusare was a capable commander and close associate of the Chhatrapati Shivaji. He had settled in Umaratha village of Poladpur to punish the Koli rebellions on the order of Shivaji. Tanaji was a senior commander who fought alongside Chhatrapati Shivaji in numerous battles such as the Raid of Torana, in the Battle against the forces of Afzalkhan, Battle of Dabhol, Battle of Pali, Battle of Prabhanvalli, Battle of Chiplun, Battle of Sangameshwar, Battle of Shrigarpur etc. However, he achieved immortal fame for his role in the Battle of Kondhana, known famously as the Battle of Sinhagad, in 1670. At the time of his death he was ranked as Subhedar.
Upon his death Tanaji was succeeded by his son Rayaba Malusare. Tanaji also had a daughter named Umabai who married in a Maratha family from Umaratha, called Kalambe. Sardar Rayaba was assigned Killedari (garrison commandership) of the Fort of Pargad near Kolhapur in 1675 by Shivaji. It was in this fort that Shivaji offered 92 tolas of gold and 1200 tolas of silver to the Goddess of Pargad. On the death of Tanaji Malusare, Shivaji awarded grant of Village Donaje near Fort Sinhagad, Malusar Dand (emblem or insignia), a grant issued on copper plate (tamra patra) and knightship of Hindavi Swarajya to Rayaba Malusare.
The descendants of Malusare family live in their villages and main branch is settled at Fort Pargad. The grant issued to the Malusares by Chhatrapati Shivaji was taken by British from Appaji Yesaji Malusare and they inturn issued a new grant printed on paper which carried along with it a political pension. The Malusare descendants received this political pension from British Government till August 1947.