Chhatrapati Shivaji – The chest widens with pride only after hearing the name of Chhatrapati Shivaji.
We will narrate how Shivaji gained independence from the Mughals through his
war strategy and impeccable planning.
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| Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj |
Everyone knows about Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, one of the brave sons of
India. Shiva Ji was born on 19th Feb 1630 in Shivneri Durg, Pune. His
mother’s name was Jijabai and his father’s name was Shahji Bhosale.
An attempt was made by Veer Pravar Shivaji Maharaj, the exclusive priest
of independence, to establish a sovereign independent rule in the whole of
India by making the nation independent from foreign and tyrannical state
power. Similarly, he is acknowledged as a leading hero and immortal freedom
fighter. Like Maharana Pratap, Veer Shivaji was a living symbol and symbol of nationalism.
Come know about Shrimant Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
Shivaji’s entire childhood has been under the care of his mother Jijabai. He also received the teachings of Ramayana, Mahabharata, and Bhagavad Gita from his mother Jijabai. The Sultan of the south appointed a Maratha general in his army, who was very brave and mighty. Whose name was Shahji Bhosale.
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| Shivaji with mother Jijabai |
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| Shivaji |
Shivaji’s father always had to stay out of the house in connection with work, So Shivaji was looked after by his mother and his Guru Dadu. Shiva’s Guru believed that when Shivaji also grew up, he will become a great commander of the Muslim Sultanate like his father. The time was around 1646 when Shivaji was only 16 years old. At the time it was almost impossible for any Hindu ruler to establish his own independent state in India. Because almost every part of India was occupied by Muslim emperors and if any ruler wanted to establish his own independent state, then it was very important for him to have 3 rivals. One that powerful empire should be away from the center so that no emperor could attack it. Second that the land should be unusable for cultivation so that no Muslim emperor would even think of capturing it. And third that the kingdom should be covered with forests so that Shapamar or Guerrilla was can be one. These conditions became favorable for Shivaji in 1946. When he built his army with the help of local farmers molly. Shivaji knew very well the importance of the fort for the establishment of any empire. So, at the age of 16, he bribed the officers of Aadil Shah to break through and captured the Chakan and Kondan Forts.
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| Chakan and Kondana Fort, Maharashtra |
Slowly the flow of Shivaji started increasing, now people started feeling that there is someone who is going to give competition to the Muslim emperors. To maintain his fear and stop Shivaji’s increasing flow, in the year 1959 the Big Sahiba of Bijapur ordered Afzal Khan to attack Shivaji (Battle of Pratapgarh) with 10,000 soldiers. At the time, Afzal Khan was considered the cruelest and most powerful man. Because whoever faced him, his death was certain. First of all, Afzal Khan demolished many temples to provoke Shivaji and start killing many Hindu citizens. Afzal Khan knew that Shivaji was very clever. That’s why he is now taking all the forts one by one. Somewhere Afzal Khan was also afraid of Shivaji. This was the reason why Afzal Khan thought of killing him cleverly and Afzal Khan sent an invitation to meet Shivaji. Shivaji takes the invitation and appoints a meeting place.
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| Shivaji and Afzal Khan |
As the two come face to face, Afzal Khan proceeds to hug them and is about to take out his knife and kill Shivaji, but Shivaji immediately takes out his dagger and tears Afzal khan’s stomach. After this victory, the name of Shivaji started becoming more famous. The fear of the people from Muslim emperors had almost vanished. This time the sultan of Bijapur sent his best commander, Rustam Jawan, to defeat Shivaji. A huge army of Rustam Jawan attacked Shivaji but Shivaji defeated Rustam Jawan in the battle, fighting the War cleverly with the help of a lesser army. A few days later Adil Shah also sent his general Siddijihar, one after the other Muslim emperor took several steps to eliminate Shivaji, but none of them succeeded. Then gradually the Kingdom of Chhatrapati Shivaji expanded and his army became even more powerful, After this, the Elder Begum of Bijapur requested Aurangzeb to capture Shivaji.
Aurangzeb sent his maternal uncle Shaista Khan along
with one and a half lakh soldiers to fight with Shivaji. Shaista Khan captures
Pune on the strength of his huge army and made his shelter at Lal Mahal, the
residence of Shivaji. Shivaji cunningly entered Pune with 400 of his soldiers
in the guise of wedding processions. And in the dark of night, He directly
attacked Shaista Khan, as soon as he saw him acing Chhatrapati Shivaji, he
jumped out of the window out of fear and started running for his life, but
couldn’t escape from the dangerous bar of Shivaji’s sword Shaista Khan survived
but the fingers of his hand were cut off by Shivaji's sword, due to which he
was greatly insulted. Till now the kingdom expansion of Shivaji had become very
high. Shivaji’s army was very excited by its continuous success.
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| Maratha Empire In its startup |
Shivaji destroyed many Mughal Sultanates by attacking them till the year 1664, after which Aurangzeb got furious in the year 1664 and sent 60-year-old general Mirza Raja Jay Singh along with his one and a half lakh soldiers to fight with Shivaji, Shivaji was defeated in this war and he had to pay a lot of money from his treasury as compensation for defeat and he had to go to Agra with his 9-year-old son Sambaji. In order to control Shivaji, it was first given that he should be given a position in the Mughal court, but Aurangzeb changed the decision and ordered Shivaji to be imprisoned in the house. Aurangzeb did not know that this mistake would be very costly in the future. Shivaji first made an excuse for illness and wished to send sweets and gifts to Sadhus, and Faqirs daily for Aashirbad to recover his well-being. One day he himself took out Sambhaji in the guise of a laborer by hiding Sambhaji in a box and then went to Mathura, Kashi, Puri Gulkonda, and Bijapur to reach Raigad. By the year 1670, Shivaji fought many battles and got a large part of his kingdom back from the Mughals within 4 months. From 1671-1674, Aurangzeb made every effort to subdue Shiva by whatever means, but he failed completely in doing so. Sent his best warriors like Dawood Khan and Mahobat Khan to fight with Shiva but everyone had to face his face. In the same year in the year 1672, Adil Shah died, and on 6 June 1674, Shiva's kingdom was consecrated in Bijapur with Hindu traditions. and became the king of Maratha.
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| Maratha Empire in its Peak in 1759AD |
And after a gap of many centuries, the coronation of the king of a kingdom took place between Tilak, Jeeneu, and Vedas Upcharan, according to Hindu rituals. Shiva's greatness was not only in his valor and fighting skills, but he was also a skilled administrator. He was the only king of the time who never took sides on the basis of religion, many of his officers, and even some of his personal bodyguards. There were also Muslims. He never insulted any woman, even the women of enemies who were defeated in the war were sent back with respect. The use of guerrilla warfare forts and the formation of a new navy army were done by Shivaji for the first time in India. He started with 4 forts and 2000 soldiers and at the time of his death, the number had increased to 300 forts and one lakh+ soldier. Shivaji's health deteriorated and he died at the age of 52 due to high fever and dysentery.
