Will of Iron and Heart of Gold: Shivaji Jayanti

The great military hero and just king Shivaji Maharaj has captured the imagination of many. His vision of Swaraj upturned the course of Indian history.

The king who won his people their freedom; Source: Public Domain

The ratting cartwheels came to a halt at the order of the guards at the palace’s gate in Agra. “What is there in these large baskets?” enquired one of the guards.

“Sweets and fruits to be distributed in the city, sir” replied the driver as the guard investigated the contents of the cart.

After getting a green signal from the guards, he drove away outside the city, carrying with him some sweets, fruits and the hero of millions- Chhatrapati Shivaji Bhonsale.

This is the infamous tale of how Shijavi managed to free himself and his son from the house arrest that Mughal Aurangzeb put them under. Though the historical accuracy of the incident is still debatable, it captures how the stories of courage, intelligence, and wit of Shivaji find a place in the consciousness of the people.

Born on 19 February 1630, Shivaji Maharaj is a symbol of sovereignty, respect, and autonomy. His father Shahaji Bhonsle served as a general in the army of the Ahmadnagar Sultanate. The Bhonsle daily held Dekhmukhi rights and had a significant presence at the local level.

The political landscape of the Deccan was essentially a tripartite tussle of power between the sultans of Ahmednagar, Bijapur, and Golconda. The Mughal emperor also tried to exert his influence in the region but could eliminate these on-ground players.

It was within this context that Shivaji started his mission of achieving Hindu Swaraj and turned the Maratha confederacy, which was limited to the Sahyadris, into a formidable empire.

The first major clash between Shivaji and Bijapur started over the matter of Sultan Adilshah’s officers taking bribes. For Shivaji, this was the exploitation of peasants and breach of the contract established between the Marathwada and Bijapur.

Mounting on the mission to liberate people from such tyranny, he started on with the mission to carve out an autonomous Maratha state.

In this pursuit, he got many legendary victories like killing commander Afzal Khan with a tiger claw or bagh nakh, successfully bearing Panhala fort, and winning the battle of Pavan Khind.

After defeating the local kingdoms, Shivaji attacked the Mughal empire and shook its foundation. Diplomacy and peace treaties were resorted to, but all of it went in vain because the Chhatrapati wanted freedom for his people and not mere concessions. The situation turned sour when Aurangzeb disrespected him and put him under house arrest. He was successful in escaping Agra and began his course of reconquest.

Owing to his leadership and military prowess, his army was able to sack the city of Surat twice. They also challenged the European powers and didn’t let them establish themselves in India easily. His legacy has been appropriated by people to suit their propaganda. But the spirit of independence and affirmation that echoed in his idea is greater than a skewed narrative.