THE REAL HERO CHATRAPATHI SHIVAJI

Shivaji Bhosle (Marathi: शिवाजी भोसले [ʃiʋaˑɟiˑraˑɟeˑ bʱoˑs(ə)leˑ]; 19 February 1630 – 3 April 1680), with the royal title Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj (Marathi: छत्रपती शिवाजी महाराज) was a Maratha king ^[5] from the Bhosle dynasty who founded the Maratha empire.^[6][7] Shivaji led a resistance to free the Marathas from Sultanate of Bijapur, and establish the rule of the Hindus ("Hindavi Swarajya"). He created an independent Maratha kingdom with Raigad as its capital,^[7] and fought against the Mughals to defend his kingdom successfully.^[6] He was crowned as Chhatrapati of the Maratha Kingdom in 1674.^[6][7]
He achieved the re-establishment of Maratha rule on their homeland after being ruled and dominated by various Muslim dynasties for few hundred years. He established a competent and progressive civil rule with the help of well regulated and disciplined military and well structured administrative organizations. The prevalent practices of treating women as war booty, destruction of religious monuments, slavery and forceful religious conversions were firmly opposed under his administration. Shivaji was a religious Hindu, and showed respect toward other religions.^[8] He also innovated rules of military engagement of that era. He pioneered "Shiva sutra" or Ganimi Kava (guerrilla tactics), which leveraged strategic factors like demographics, speed, surprise and focused attack to defeat his bigger and more powerful enemies.^[8]

Early life

Main article: Early life of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj

Chhatrapati's birthplace on Shivneri Fort

The earliest descriptions of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's birth and boyhood are found in the works composed several years after his death. By that time, several folk tales and stories had developed around his legend.^[9]
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was born in the hill-fort of Shivneri near the city of Junnar. While Jijabai was pregnant, she had prayed the local deity "Shivai" for the good of her expected child. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was named after this local deity.^[9]
There are no contemporary records of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's exact birthdate and boyhood.^[9] The birthdates of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj given by various records include:

• the 3rd day of the dark half of Phalguna, 1551 of Saka calendar (Friday, 19 February 1630).^[2] This date is accepted by the Maharashtra state government as the official birthdate of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.^[10]
• the second day of the light half of Vaisakha in the year 1549 of Saka calendar.^[2] (Thursday, 6 April 1627), or other dates near this day.^[9][11]

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's father Shahaji Bhosale was the chieftain of a hardy band of warrior class mercenaries that served the Deccan Sultanates. His mother was Rajmata Jijabai, the daughter of Lakhujirao Jadhav of Sindkhed. During the period of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's birth, the power in Deccan was shared by three Islamic Sultanates - Bijapur, Ahmednagar, and Golconda. Shahaji kept changing his loyalty between the Nizamshahi of Ahmadnagar, Adil Shah of Bijapur and the Mughals, but always kept his jagir (fiefdom) at Pune and his small army with him. Gomaji Naik Pansambal, a trusted master of state-Craft, was deputed by Lakhuji Yadavrao (Jadhav) to look after Jijabai. He remained with Jijabai and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj throughout his life. He also was a master of sword. But most importantly, he advised Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in making certain crucial decisions which had far reaching effects on the character of the Maratha empire.
When Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was a novice, a troop of Pathans - Afghan mercenaries - had approached Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj requesting enlistment in his service. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was hesitant, but Gomaji advised him to accept them into the service. This resulted in the secular character of the Maratha armed forces. All the communities enjoyed respect and fair treatment in his kingdom. Gomaji also taught the art of swordsmanship to Shivaji, and especially the effective use of lance, the characteristic Maratha weapon.
According to Tarikh-i-Shivaji, Shahaji placed his jagir (Land holdings / Fiefdom) in the Latur region under Dadoji Konddev, who had shown good administrative skills as the kulkarni (land-steward) of Malthan. In a short time, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj became a skilled swordsman, strategist and an accomplished horseman, trained rigorously by Maratha warriors like Baji Pasalkar.
At the age of 12, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was taken to Banglore where he was formally trained further. At age of 14, he returned to Pune with a rajmudra (Soveriegn seal) & council of ministers.

Shivaji Maharaj with Jijamata

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was extremely devoted to his mother Jijabai. Jijabai led a deeply religious, near ascetic life in virtual isolation. This religious environment had a profound influence on Shivaji. He carefully studied the two great Hindu epics, Ramayana and Mahabharata, by listening to recitations and story-tellings. The morality and spiritual messages of the epics made a great impression on him. He was deeply interested in religious teachings, and sought the company of Hindu and Sufi (a Muslim sect) saints throughout his life.^[9]
As the administrator of Shahaji's jagir (fiefdom), Dadoji Konddeo was accorded complete control over the Maval region. He won over most of the local Maval deshpande (chiefs), and subdued others. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj drew his earliest trusted comrades and a large number of his soldiers from this region, including Yesaji Kank, Baji Pasalkar and Tanaji Malusare. In the company of his Maval comrades, a young Shivaji wandered over the hills and forests of the Sahyadri range, hardening himself and acquiring first-hand knowledge of the land. By 1639, he commanded a hardy and loyal band of officers and soldiers.They were alos called Mard Maratha's.

Battles

[edit] Pratapgad

Main article: Battle of Pratapgarh

Chhatrapati Shivaji Raje Bhosle (statue at Raigad)

Adilshah sent general Afzal Khan to destroy Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in an effort to put down what he saw as a regional revolt. Afzal Khan desecrated Hindu temples at Tuljapur and Pandharpur hoping to draw Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj to the plains to retaliate with his limited military resources and thus lead him and his budding military power to easy destruction by the numerically bigger, better-armed and more professional Bijapur army. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, upon carefully weighing his options, strategically decided to confront and surprise Afzal Khan on his home turf under the guise of diplomatic negotiations. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj sent a letter to Afzal Khan stating that he was not eager for confrontation and sought some type of understanding. A meeting was arranged between Afzal Khan and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj at the foothills of Fort Pratapgad.^[8]
Expecting certain skulduggery from Afzal Khan, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj armed himself with the concealable weapons bichhwa (dagger) and wagh nakh (tiger claws) and wore a chilkhat (chain-mail armour) under his clothing for the meeting. What transpired during the meeting was not recorded by scribes, but folklore has it that Afzal Khan pretended to graciously embrace Shivaji as per custom and attempted to stab Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in the back with a kataar (a short waist-holstered dagger). Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's agility, strength and his armour in addition to being prepared helped him survive this attack. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj drew his wagh nakh and counter-attacked, disemboweling Afzal Khan. Following Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's counterattack on Khan, Khans private secretary, Krishnaji Bhaskar Kulkarni attacked Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj with his sword. But Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's bodyguard Jiva Mahale saved Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. In Marathi language people say ˜Hota Jiva Mhanun Wachala Shiva" (Because of Jiva; Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj survived the attack.) Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj slew Krishnaji Bhaskar Kulkarni and Afzal Khan was also killed.

Bagh nakh (वाघ नख)

In the ensuing Battle of Pratapgarh fought in the dense forest of Javli on 10 November 1659, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's armies attacked Vijapur's (Afzal Khan's) forces and engaged them in swift flanking maneuvers.
Soon after the slaying of Afzal Khan, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj sped up the slope towards the Pratapgarh fort with his lieutenants and ordered cannons to be fired. This was a signal to his infantry, which had been strategically placed under the cover of the densely vegetated valley, to immediately attack Afzal Khan's forces.^[8] Maratha troops under Kanhoji Jedhe attacked 1,500 musketeers and routed them at the foothills of the fort. Then in a rapid march, a section of Adilshahi forces commanded by Musekhan was attacked. Musekhan was wounded and subsequently fled, abandoning his soldiers who were subsequently decimated by the Maratha troops.
Commander Moropant Pingale led the infantry to the left flank of the Adilshahi troops. Adilshah's artillery was rendered ineffective by the sudden attack at close quarters. At the same time commander Ragho Atre swiftly attacked Adilshahi cavalry before it was fully prepared for battle and almost completely wiped it out. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's cavalry headed by Netaji Palkar rushed towards Wai in hot pursuit of retreating Adilshahi forces who were attempting to join reserve forces stationed there. The retreating forces of Afzal Khan were engaged in battle and were routed.^[8]
This clear and unambiguous victory made Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj a hero of Maratha folklore and a legendary figure among his people. The large quantities of captured weapons, horses, armour and other materials helped to strengthen the nascent and emerging Maratha army. The Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb, now identified Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj as a major threat to the mighty Mughal Empire. Soon thereafter Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Shahaji and Netaji Palkar (the chief of the Maratha cavalry) decided to attack and defeat the Adilshahi kingdom at Bijapur. But things did not go as planned as Shahaji's health deteriorated and they were forced to postpone this attack. However, Netaji Palkar undertook this mission with smaller scale attacks and military harassment of the Adilshahi kingdom.
Subsequently, the Sultan of Bijapur sent an elite Pashtun army comprising mainly Afghani mercenaries to subdue and defeat Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj before he could substantially expand his army. In the ensuing battle, Bijapur's Pashtun army was soundly defeated by the Maratha troops. This intense and bloody battle ended in the unconditional surrender of the Bijapuri forces to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.

Kolhapur

Main article: Battle of Kolhapur

To counter the loss at Pratapgad and to defeat the newly emerging Maratha power, another army, this time numbering over 10,000, was sent against Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, commanded by Bijapur's renowned Abyssinian general Rustamjaman.^[12] With a cavalry of 5,000 Marathas, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj attacked them near Kolhapur on 28 December 1659. In a swift movement, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj led a full frontal attack at the center of the enemy forces while other two portions of his cavalry attacked the flanks. This battle lasted for several hours and at the end Bijapuri forces were soundly defeated and Rustamjaman ignominiously fled the battlefield.^[8] Adilshahi forces lost about 2,000 horses and 12 elephants to the Marathas.^[12] This victory alarmed the mighty Mughal empire who now derisively referred to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj as the "Mountain Rat". Aurangzeb the Mughal emperor was now actively preparing to bring the full might and resources of the Mughal Empire to bear down on the potential Maratha threat.
Upon the request of Badi Begum of Bijapur, Aurangzeb sent his maternal uncle (brother of late Queen Mumtaz Mahal) Shaista Khan, with an army numbering over 100,000 along with a powerful artillery division in January 1660 to defeat Shivaji. Khan was accompanied by eminent commanders like Turktaj, Hussain, Haider, Naamdar Khan, Kartalab Khan, Uzbek Khan, Fateh Jung and Rajputs namely Bhau Singh, Shyam Singh, Rai Singh Sisodiya, Pradyuman and many more.^[12] Khan was an experienced commander who had defeated Shahaji in the same region in 1636.^[8] He was ordered to attack the Maratha kingdom in conjunction with Bijapur's army led by Siddi Jauhar. Aurangzeb ordered Shaista Khan to capture the Maratha kingdom to add to the empire (he intended to deceive the Adilshah), after Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's expected defeat by Jauhar. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj now prepared to face a combined attack of Mughals and Adilshahi forces.^[12]