Originally Shivaji Bhonsale, the founder of the Maratha clan became famous for his heroic struggle for liberty. Of the lineage of the Sisodia Rajputs of Udaipur, in Rajasthan, he was a descendant of Sajjan Singh who had migrated to the South and in whose memory he constructed a fort called Sajjan Garh. Shivaji was the second son of Shahji Bhonsale (1599-1664) and his neglected wife Jija Bai whose deeply religious nature had an impact on him. Working for the decadent monarchy of Bijapur, Shahji was assigned service in Mysore and later the coastal region of Madras to conquer new lands. During this assignment, Shahji was accompanied by his favourite wife Tuka Bai and her son Vyankoji. Shivaji was left behind in Pune with his mother Jija Bai, in the care of Dadaji Kond Dev who died in 1647. His father Shahaji, son of Maloji Bhonsale (c.1552-1606), a Maratha chief who had joined Nizam Shah of Ahmednagar at the head of an army, served under him as well as Nizam Adil Shah of Bijapur.

Subsequently, Shivaji developed the jagir (large settlement or fiefdom) covering the vast regions around Pune, that he had inherited from his father Shahji, into a well organised place called Swarajya where prevailed law and order, efficient public administration, security of private life and wealth. Because of his rebellious activities, Shahji had been jailed for four years. Having vowed to revolt against the Muslim rule for atrocities against Hindus, Shivaji was capturing forts and lands in his neighbourhood. He turned a more patriotic rebel when he came under the spell of Samartha Guru Ramadas (1608-1681), a saint-poet skilled in physical exercise, an exponent of karma yoga (detached action) and an organiser who, after travelling all over the country, was immersed in socio-religious reform, preaching to, and helping, people to fight oppression. A convinced partisan of the righteous Hindu rule, Shivaji was determined to end the Muslim domination. He took control of the entire province of Konkan in 1654. During the following five years, he captured many fortresses and territories of the Sultan of Bijapur, Adil Khan, after having organised a huge army. Later, he won many more victories. He took the title of Raja of Marathas upon the death in 1664 of his father Shahji. In 1668, the Marathas, having been galvanised as an entity, owed allegiance to an independent sovereign. Maharaja (Emperor) and Chatrapati (Lord of the Royal Canopy)1 were among the four insignia he offered himself on 6 June 1674 when he was sworn as an independent king at Raigarh. This consecration ceremony, performed by Ganga Bhatta, the famous saintly and learned Brahmin Pandit of Varanasi, was attended by Henry Oxindem, of Bombay, representing the East India Company. To mark the start of his royal era, he issued gold coins.

Trained for guerilla warfare and campaign on the hills, Shivaji?s army was made up of infantry and cavalry, both light. He personally selected the men. Vital importance was attached to the forts, each of which was controlled by three officers of the same status, thus counterchecking one another. During his period, the forts in his possessions totalled 240. These were used to command every important pass in his territory. All booties were duly handed over to the State. Strict discipline was maintained. Shivaji?s navy was composed of 400 vessels formed into two squadrons each led by an admiral. The Kolis and other seafaring tribes of Malabar manned his fleet. Malwan was his main port. Welding the Marathas, made up of ninety-six clans, who were imbued with patriotism and endurance, into a nation, he ?created a compact military state with an excellent administration?.2 Although ?a devout Hindu, he observed toleration of all creeds, a chivalry to women and a strict enforcement of morality in the camp which even hostile critics admired?.3

?A devout Hindu, Shivaji observed toleration of all creeds, a chivalry to women and a strict enforcement of morality in the camp which even hostile critics admired.?

Shivaji?s empire spread into the North, the West, the East and the central part of India. Moreover, it included, in the South, Western Karnataka, as well as the northern, central and eastern parts of Mysore, besides a few adjoining districts such as Bellary, Chittur and Arcot. With his eight-minister cabinet, an advisory body headed by the Peshwa (Prime minister), and newly founded navy, he ruled with tolerance, not discriminating between Hindus and Muslims in his Swarajya, particularly in the state service. Appointed at the pleasure of Shivaji, who played a decisive role in running the entire administration, the ministers were responsible for their respective departments under the king?s instructions and the Peshwa?s supervision. The kingdom was divided into various provinces, which were in turn grouped into parganas and tarafs, whilst the village was the lowest unit. Although a number of forts had been in existence in India even before his period, he was actually the first to make their optimal use. It was his recourse to the network of the forts that helped him set up his vast empire. Found in dangerous precipices, the forts proved indeed useful to him in his guerilla warfare. They numbered around 350 in the early period of the Maratha history.

Chatrapati Shivaji passed away at Raigarh Fort in 1680 when his son Shambhaji succeeded him. Six years later, after defeating Prince Muazzam in Konkan and sacking Bharoch, Shambhaji was beheaded by Aurangzeb. Thanks to the spirit that Shivaji had instilled in the Marathas, these not only braved the attacks of the Mughals at the height of their glory but also subsequently were a terror to the British. Maker of the Maratha nation, Shivaji is considered as ?the greatest constructive genius of medieval India?.

1 Shivaji was the first Maratha Chatrapati (ruler).

2 P. 356, Sinha N. K. & Ray, Nisith R, A History of India, Orient Longman, Delhi, 1973.

3P. 356, Sinha N. K. & Ray, Nisith R, A History of India, Orient Longman, Delhi, 1973.

<B>By Chit DUKHIRA</B>