Shivaji Raje The Founder of Idea of Swaraj

Anupama Nair

www.mediaeyenews.com

In the last part, I spoke about the battle with the Mughals, and how he escaped from captivity in Agra. Today I am going to talk about he formed the great and invincible Maratha Empire

The founding of the Maratha Swaraj involved a relentless struggle for over thirty years. Shivaji realized that now it was necessary for Swaraj to win general recognition as a sovereign, independent state. For legal recognition to the Swaraj, a formal coronation was necessary. On 6th June 1674, Shivaji Maharaj was coronated in Raigad by Gaga Bhatt, a learned pandit from Banaras. Maharaj ascended the throne of the Swaraj. He now became the Chhatrapati of the Swaraj. As a symbol of sovereignty, Shivaji Maharaj instituted a new era commencing from the date of his coronation known as Rajyabhisheka shaka. Shivaji Maharaj thus became the founder of a new era. On the occasion of the coronation, special coins were minted — a gold coin called hon and a copper coin called shivrai with the legend Shri Raja Shiva Chhatrapati inscribed on them. After, that all the royal correspondence carried the words, 'Kshatriyakulaawatansa Shri Raja Shiva Chhatrapati'.

After the coronation, Shivaji marched to conquer Fonda near Goa and captured it in 1675. Then the Marathas captured Ankola and Shiveshwar which was followed by the annexation of Kolhapur. After that Shivaji got the title ‘Dakshin Digvijay’. Chhatrapati Shivaji then planned to attack and conquer the province of Adilshahi in Karnataka. He undertook the Karnataka expedition in 1677, as Karnataka was famous for its riches. At the same time, it was not well defended by Adilshah. Chhatrapati Shivaji then went to Golkonda to meet the Qutubshah. He entered into a treaty of friendship with him. Then he captured Jinjee and proceeded to Vellore. The city withstood a long siege. Later, he conquered Bangalore, Hoskote, certain other forts such as those at Vellore and also some parts of the Adilshahi kingdom. Permanent annexation in the south increased his strength and most importantly he was successful in executing his plan of defense which would help him to resist the armies of Aurangzeb in the future. For the administration of the newly conquered province, Shivaji made excellent arrangements. He appointed Raghunath Narayan Hanamante, the chief officer to look after these newly conquered territories. After accomplishing the mission of the south, Shivaji Maharaj returned to Swaraj.

Shivaji then decided to fortify the island of Khanderi, as it was a key position because it was located near Mumbai. The British then decided to lay a regular siege to the island. In this naval conflict the English had to withdraw their fleet. This brought an end to the naval conflict between Shivaji and the British.

The greatest achievement of Shivaji was to inculcate the spirit of independence in his people. Shivaji Maharaj’s personality and message are as relevant today as they were in the past. “Shivaji breathed new life into a moribund race that for centuries had resigned itself to abject serfdom and led them against Aurangzeb, a powerful Mughal ruler. Above all, in a place and age stained by religious savagery, he was one of the few rulers who practiced true religious tolerance”.

Now I am going to talk about the comments made about Shivaji.

“Ya Allah, you gave me an enemy, fearless and upright, please keep your doors to heaven open for him because the world's best and large-hearted warrior is coming to you.”

-Aurangzeb (After Shivaji's death, while reading Namaz)

“That day Shivaji just didn't chop off my fingers but also chopped off my pride. I fear to meet him even in my dreams”.

–Shahista Khan.

“Netaji, your country does not require any Hitler to throw out the British. All you need to teach is Shivaji's history”.

-Adolf Hitler

“Had Shivaji been born in England, we would not only have ruled earth but the whole Universe”.

-Lord Mountbatten

“Had Shivaji lived for another ten years, the British would not have seen the face of India”.

— A British Governor

“If India needs to be made independent then there is only one way out, ‘Fight like Shivaji’”.

–Netaji

“Shivaji is just not a name, it is an energy source for Indian youth, which can be used to make India free”.

– Swami Vivekananda.

From these comments, we need to realize that to make India the next Superpower Shivaji’s rule and his greatness need to be inculcated in our History curriculum. Then only will Swaraj exist.