India, Sept. 18 -- Eminent historian and Shivaji scholar Gajanan Bhaskar Mehendale passed away in Pune on Wednesday evening following a massive heart attack. He was 78. Mehendale, who remained unmarried, had dedicated over five decades of his life to historical research.

His mortal remains will be kept for public homage at the Bharat Itihas Sanshodhak Mandal on Thursday morning, after which the funeral will be held at Vaikunth crematorium.

Mehendale was regarded as an authority on Maratha history, particularly on the life and times of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and medieval military history. He authored several acclaimed works in Marathi and English, including Shivaji: Life and Times, Shivacharitra, If Shivaji Had Not Been Born, Marath...