छत्रपती शिवाजी महाराज
Chhatrapati Shivaji
Name: Shivaji Bhonsle
Date of Birth: February 19, 1630
Birthplace: Shivneri Fort, Pune district, Maharashtra
Parents: Shahaji Bhonsle (Father) and Jijabai (Mother)
Reign: 1674–1680
Spouse: Saibai, Soyarabai, Putalabai, Sakvarbai, Laxmibai, Kashibai
Children: Sambhaji, Rajaram, Sakhubai Nimbalkar, Ranubai Jadhav, Ambikabai Mahadik, Rajkumaribai Shirke
Religion: Hinduism
Death: April 3, 1680
Seat of Power: Raigad Fort, Maharashtra
Successor: Sambhaji Bhonsle
Shivaji Maharaj : An everflowing spring of inspiration
Shivaji Maharaj and his biography has an answer for any problem faced by a Hindu or Indian politicians; however for this purpose the biography should be read with shrewdness and insight.If read by Hindus with the immoderate vision of Gandhi with respect to non-violence, truth, pleasing Muslims, or through the coloured spectacles of Nehru, who with the concept of ‘all religions are equal’, meted out inferior treatment to Hindus, then Hindus will not even become aware of when they were circumscribed ! Gandhi, Nehru and their descendants had created terror in the minds of the people about what they would have to suffer if they even uttered the name of Shivaji Maharaj. Shivaji Maharaj has been totally eliminated today from the history text books at the Secondary school level. History on Shivaji Maharaj is taught and finished in the 3rd or 4th standards as if they are fairy tales for children to read and forget. Politicians have ensured that the youth and adults do not get any inspiration from the biography of Shivaji Maharaj simply because it is an ever flowing spring of inspiration for Hindus !
Shivaji Maharaj’s inspiration to protect Hinduism !
Shivaji Maharaj was fully aware that he had to fight the Mughals since childhood . In his book ‘Chatrapati Shivaji Maharajanche Saptaprakaranatmak Charitra’ Malhar Ramrav Chitnis has described the mindset of Prince Shivaji when living with his father Shahajiraje at Vijapur. He pens Prince Shivaji’s thoughts as, “ We are Hindus. These Yavans (Muslims) are inferior to us. There is none more inferior than them. I am distressed by serving them, eating food served by them, flattering them or even greeting them. It is so wrong to see the ridicule of one’s own religion. As we walk down the road we see cows being slaughtered. At that time I feel like beheading the killers and the distress grows even more. What is the use of living to see a cow being tormented ? I am compelled to remain silent because of being reprimanded by my father otherwise I feel like killing the one indulging in cow slaughter. It is not at all good to be in the company of Muslims. So also it is inappropriate to go to the court (darbar) of the emperor or to visit any wealthy man.” As soon as he returned from the Vijapur court he would bathe and change his clothing. It is at this very age that young Prince Shivaji showed his valorous nature by chopping off the hand of a butcher who was dragging a cow for slaughter in another kingdom !
Inspiration endowed by Chatrapati Shivaji is very clear from the above incidents. The biographer has strengthened this further in the following words of Shivaji Maharaj, “ We are Hindus. The entire southern region has been invaded by the Muslims and our religion is going downhill. Hence one should not hesitate to sacrifice even one’s life to protect religion. By doing so one would add to one’s treasure of valorous deeds”. Soon thereafter by taking the vow of Raieshvari and conquering the `Torana’ fort Shivaji Maharaj revealed his nature to the world.
Talk about Muslims in Shivaji Maharaj’s army and their valorous deeds !
Today people are talking of the concept of `equality of religions’ in society. The Congress party is trying to depict Shivaji Maharaj as non-communal and secular. Nowadays some Hindu protagonists are trying to drag Shivaji Maharaj into the camp of secularism by making statements such as `there were Muslim soldiers in his army’. Really these are pearls of wisdom by these so-called ardent (hypocritical) lovers of Hinduism!
In this context the author of the book ‘Marathi Riyasati’ and a great historian, Sardessai writes, ‘Towards 1649, 500-700 Pathans from Vijapur came to Shivaji Maharaj in search of jobs. Though he did not approve of employing them, he listened to the counsel of Gomaji Naik Pansabal who advised that ‘these people have come after hearing about your popularity so please do not disappoint them. If you remain adamant that you will employ only Hindus and that you do not need others then you will not be able to establish a kingdom. So include all eighteen communities of all four varna (classes) of society and allow them to carry out their own duties”. So he employed the servitors of Radho Ballal Korde. However the current Hindu protagonists are ignorant about the facts in this context and about how the monarch also ensured that there were spies to keep watch on those Muslim soldiers !
If these 500- 700 soldiers made any attempt to divide the army then as was prevalent in those days, he would also not hesitate to punish them (by throwing them over the cliff). It was not like today when a perpetrator of a heinous crime against the Indian Parliament, instead of being hanged, goes scot free simply because he is a Muslim !
In this context a historian researcher Mr. Ninad Bedekar says, ‘A new idea that Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj had ‘several’ Muslims in his army is being projected. I will quote a few names. You can give me the rest !’ When Prince Shivaji came to the Jagirs of Pune, Indore and Supe, of the representatives of Shahajiraje only three were Muslims, namely Siddi Ambar Bagdadi, Jainkhan Peerzade and Bahalimkhan. Another Muslim associated with Shivaji Maharaj was Nurkhan Beg, the chief of his infantry. But the truth is that later at some juncture all these people were driven off because no mention of their names is made anywhere in the historical annals. After the year 1675 these people were nowhere in the picture.
The British army also employed Indians as soldiers. Afzal Khan who attacked Shivaji Maharaj employed 3000 Mawalas in his army, but can we call him secular ? Why then is this cord of secularism wound tightly (like an iguana) only around the necks of Hindus? Claiming that Shivaji Maharaj was secular simply because he had a few Muslim soldiers in his army is an indicator of an over liberal intellect.
Promotion of Sanskrut in honour of Hinduism by Shivaji Maharaj !
Shivaji Maharaj did everything possible to promote Hinduism in every aspect of the fight for independence and establishing his own kingdom. Shivaji Maharaj’s assembly of eight ministers was formed based on Hindu ideals. One comes across this concept of eight ministers in the Ramayan and the Mahabharat. King Dashrath too had eight ministers. In the Shantiparva of the Mahabharat also it has been suggested that an exchange of thoughts of eight ministers is necessary. During the coronation ceremony, Maharaj changed the Persian names of the ministers to Sanskrut as follows–
Thinking of Sanskrut names to rename various ministers or forts was a hobby of Shivaji Maharaj. In September 1665, that is around the time of Dasra before leaving on a journey he named all the forts from his kingdom. Malhar Ramrav Chitnis in the biography of the monarch, ‘Chatrapati Shivaji Maharajanche Saptaprakaranatmak Charitra’ has spoken about the forts saying, “At each place after place Shivaji Maharaj would build a new fort to frighten the enemy. Varugad, Bhushangad, Mahimagad, Vardhangad, Sadashivgad, Macchindragad are some of them”. In the book ‘Marathyancha Itihas’ it is said, “Shivaji Maharaj loved Sanskrut. There are several instances to testify this. He changed the names of forts to Raigad, Vishalgad, Suvarnagad, Vijaydurg, Prachandgad and Pandavgad.””
Consequences- of not receiving inspiration from the biography of Shivaji Maharaj
Shivaji Maharaj Birth Anniversary celebrations were started by Lokmanya Tilak. He was followed by Svantrya Veer Savarkar in 1908 in London. Both these leaders were fully aware of the importance of Shivaji Maharaj, but Gandhi and Nehru both kept strict vigilance over this text ever since the independence of India. This is how the fact that a handful of Muslims invaded and destroyed Hindu kingdoms and gained control over the Hindu empire is not known to most Hindus after 1920.
In fact it is because of this misguidance that they accepted the division of India without offering any resistance to it. Non-acceptance of Shivaji Maharaj and his biography, which would have inspired Indians, has resulted in the return of Muslim powers in the form of Pakistan and Bangladesh, to overpower Hindus. It is because the incidents of Shivaji Maharaj tearing open Afzal Khan’s abdomen and chopping off Shahishtekhan’s fingers being kept secret that today we so easily allow a compromise by releasing hard core terrorists in return for release of the kidnapped daughter of an Indian Minister, Mufti Mohammed.
India’s External Affairs Minister flies to the Kandahar desert in a special plane only to release criminals who have butchered Hindus ! In Kashmir Bitta Karate who beheaded 16 Hindus is released on parole ! In the 13 days after killing Afzal Khan, Shivaji Maharaj conquered 16 forts and in contrast within a year of India becoming independent, our politicians lost 1/3rd of our motherland in Kashmir to enemies ! Fearing Shivaji Maharaj’s valour, as long as he was alive, Aurangzeb did not dare to even talk about conquering South India. Yet today the cunning, crafty Musharraf arrives in India to disrupt an Agra conference or dares to hang the Indian tricolour upside down on his personal aircraft.
1627:Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj born in the hill fort of Shivneri
.1643-47:Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's overran the hill forts of Kondana, Torana and Raigarh.
1647:Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's Guardian Dadaji Khondev died.
1656:Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj conquered Javli from Chandra Rao More.
1657:Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj came into conflict with the Moghuls for the first time by making raids into
Ahmednagar.
1659:Afzal Khan of Bijapur was killed by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
1660:when Siddhi Johar attacked Maratha Empire, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj intentionally latched himself in siege to Panhala laid by Siddhi Johar to keep him busy at Panhala and let the rest of the Empire be safe.
1663:Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj made an attack on Shaistakhan's camp and wounded him.
1666:Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj escaped from Agra.
1670:In the year 1670, Shivaji Maharaj summoned Tanaji Malusare to capture Sinhagad fort from this very Rajgad.During 1671-72, Shivaji Maharaj confirmed Raigad as the capital base of Hindavi Swarajya` and shifted all operations from Rajgad fort to Raigad.
1674: Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj crowned himself at Raighad and assumed the title of Maharaja Chhatrapati.
1676: Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj s last campaign against Jijapuri Karnataka. Captured Jinji and Vellore.
1680: Chhatrapati Shiaji Maharaj died.
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