Left historians will always tell the public how courageous Muslim attackers were but the history shows something different. A story of cowardice comes into the bracket of Afzal Khan who was killed by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Afzal Khan killed all his 63 wives before going to war against Chattrapati Shivaji Maharaj. It is believed that an astrologer had predicted he may not come back.

When Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was constantly moving and defeating invaders with his dream of Swaraj in his hands, Mughal ruler Aurangjeb got very scared. In 1658, Aurangzeb was constantly building pressure against Adil Shahi || to go for war against Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and defeat him. Adil Shahi || was very confident office general Afzal Khan and asked him to go in a war against Shivaji Maharaj. Afzal Khan was a man who used to believe blindly on Omens. One such Omen was responsible for the death of 63 of his wives. Before going to war some astrologer predicted that Afzal Khan will not return from the war and will be killed by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. After hearing the omen Afzal Khan blindly believed the prediction and killed all his 63 wives because he feared that after his death his 63 wives will marry someone other. Some say that those wife of Afzal Khan were pushed down the well and some say that they were slaughtered through sword. The protection proved to be true Afzal Khan was killed by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.

The 63 tombstones of 63 wives of Afzal Khan is located at Satth Kabar in Bijapur today. These were the 63 noble women of Bijapur, wives of Afzal Khan. His wives lie buried just 5 km from Bijapur at a place that now bears titular testimony to the uxoricide – Saatth Kabar (60 Graves). Ironically, the tomb built by the general for himself, who wanted to be close to his wives in life and in death, stands adjacent to the one-acre burial ground surrounded by jowar fields.

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