Hindu Samrajya Din
A Story of Raja Shivaji
Who is Shivaji?
• Today is Jyestha Shukla 13 (June 16th).
• Shivaji Maharaj was coronated as a
“Chatrapati”
• Shivaji Bhosle was born in 1627 (Died:
1680) was the founder of Maratha
empire in western India in 1674.
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He is considered a great hero in India,
especially in the present-day state of
Maharashtra. Using guerrilla tactics
well-suited to the rugged mountains
and valleys of the region, he annexed a
portion of the then dominant Mughal
empire and the Sultanate of Bijapur.
Why Celebrate?
• Hindu society's long and painful experience of
Islamic invasions
• An independent Hindu empire was established
• Solid pluralistic society with equal respect for all
jatis and varnas with an overwhelming Hindu
identity
• Terrorism was crushed
• Reconversion : a State policy
• Economic and Cultural Resurrection
Childhood
• Training from Mother Jijabai, Dadoji Kondeo
• When still in his teens in 1645 CE, Shivaji began
administering his father's estate under a personalized
seal of authority in Sanskrit, an indication that he
envisaged independence and respected the Hindu
tradition.
• Age 16, oath to make the land free at the fort Torna at
Raireshwar Temple
• With a bunch of friends (Mawla)
• By 1647, Shivaji had captured two forts and had the
complete charge of Pune.
• Captured other forts held by Adilshahi (Purandar,
Rajgad)
Defeat of Afzal Khan
• Disturbed by his continuing success,
Adilshahi sent a famous Sardar,
'Afzalkhan' to capture Shivaji – dead or
alive
• Huge army – destruction of temples
• Shivaji’s meeting at Pratapgad
• Prays to Bhavani Mata
• Afzal killed using “Bichwa” (Tiger claws)
General Shaista Khan
• Delhi sent Shaista Khan to punish Shivaji
• Destruction of property
• Shivaji along with a few people created
chaos in his living quarters
• Cut his fingers
• Due to this humliation, recalled to Delhi
Momentum
• Regained territory
• Administrative setup
• Army, navy
Fort Sindhudurg
• Guru Samrtha
Ramdas
Samartha Ramdas
Escape from Agra
• Aurangzeb worries about Shivaji’s power
• Send Mirza Raje Jaisingh to defeat
Shivaji(1666)
• Too powerful, agrees to serve “Delhi” with
son Sambhaji
• Humiliation at Delhi, imprisoned in Agra
• Spectacular escape
Hindavi Swaraj
•
Enthroned as a sovereign king in 1673.
•
By 1680, the year of Shivaji's death, nearly whole of
the Deccan belonged to his kingdom.
•
Shivaji strove consciously for political power as an
instrument for the resurrection of dharma
(righteousness), a quest he termed as "Hindavi
Swarajya," a word having both geographical and
spiritual-cultural connotations.
•
Fort Raigad was to become the centre of power and
prowess. During the coronation ceremony he gave
magnificent gifts to holy men and the poor. He died
after three years. His son could not amass sufficient
strength to finish the work of liberation throughout
Bharat. Nevertheless, Shivaji had laid the foundation
of a great Hindu empire which lasted for two
centuries.
Important Events
• 1627 - Shivaji born in the hill fort of Shivner.
• 1643-47 - Shivaji overran the hill forts of Kondana, Torna and Raigad.
• 1647 - Shivaji's Guardian Dadaji Khondev died.
• 1656 - Shivaji conquered Javli from Chandra Rao More.
• 1657 - Shivaji came into conflict with the Moghuls; raids into
Ahmednagar.
• 1659 - Afzal Khan of Bijapur was killed by Shivaji.
• 1660 - Moghul Governor Shaista Khan occupied Pune
• 1663 - Shivaji made an attack on Shaistakhan's harem and wounded
him.
• 1664 - Shivaji raided and looted Surat.
• 1665 - Jai Singh besieged the fort of Purandar; forced to sign a treaty
• 1666 - Shivaji escaped from Agra.
• 1670 - Shivaji attacked Surat for the second time.
• 1674 - Shivaji crowned “Chhatrapati”.
• 1676 - Shivaji's last campaign against Jijapuri Karnataka.
• 1680 - Shivaji died.
Our Strength
• Shivaji proved, by his example, that the Hindus could build a
nation, found a State, defeat its enemies; they could conduct
their own defence; they could protect and promote literature
and art, commerce and industry; they could maintain navies
and ocean going fleets of their own, and conduct naval battles
on equal terms with foreigners.
• He taught the modern Hindus to rise to the full stature of their
growth. He demonstrated that the tree of Hinduism was not
dead, and that it could put forth new leaves and branches and
once again rise up its head to the skies."
Shivaji’s Sentiments
•
A court historian sums up Shivaji's sentiments (Shivaji was not literate according to
J.N Sarkar):
"Why should we remain content with what the Muslim rulers choose to give us? We
are Hindus. The whole country is ours by right, and is yet occupied and held by
foreigners. They desecrate our temples, break holy idols, plunder our wealth, convert
us forcibly to their religion, carry away our women folk and children, slay the cows
and inflict a thousand wrongs upon us. We will suffer this treatment no more.
•
We possess strength in our arms. Let us draw the sword in defense of our sacred
religion, liberate our country and acquire new lands and wealth by our own effort. Are
we not as brave and capable as our ancestors of yore? Let us undertake this holy
mission and God will surely help us. All human efforts are so helped. There is no such
thing as good luck and ill luck. We are the captains of our fortunes and the makers of
our freedom."
•
(Pg 251 and 252 - The Moghul Empire edited by R.C Majumdar and J.C Chaudhuri.
The citation give in this book for this quote is G.S Sardesai's "New history of the
Marathas, 1957, Vol I, Pg 97, 1st edition).
Appendix I
•
Bhushan's verse has immense historical value because the Kashi
Vishwanath temple was razed in 1669 and thus lost its splendour, and the
Krishna Janmabhoomi temple was destroyed and converted into a mosque
in 1670. Bhushan came to Shivaji's kingdom from the Mughal capital in
1671, and within two years composed Shiv Bhooshan, a biography of
Shivaji. It clearly states that Shivaji wanted to set up a Hindu Pad Padshahi.
•
Noor Khan Baig: Chief of bodyguards
Siddhi Hillal: head of cavalry
Madari Mhetar: first sarnobat
Kazi Haidar: lawyer and secretary
Rustum-e-Jaman: dear friend
Darya Sarang: first subedar in Shivaji's navy
Daulat Khan: Chief of navy
Meer Mohammad: painted first portrait of Shivaji
Sant Baba Yakut of Kelshi: Muslim peer held in high regard by Shivaji