Final Sivaji

VIVEKANANDA KENDRA PATRIKA 1 SHIVAJI IN STORIES

EDITORIAL

The Tercentenary of ChhatrapatiShivaji ‘s Coronation is beingcelebrated all over the country

during the year that commenced on June2, 1974, and the present volume conceivedas part of the celebrations is now broughtout as signifying their concluding phase.It may be recalled that the idea of thecoronation day celebration was first mootedby Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak in 1886as a symbolic expression of the aspirationof the people for sustained freedom and inorder to mark the beginning of New India’sstruggle for independence from what hasbeen described as the rule of “the Mughalsof the modern era.” The celebration, asthen suggested, came off in April 1896 atRajgarh, and sought to stress the trulynationalist, revolutionary and anti-imperialist direction regarded as necessaryfor the struggle and to provide the newmovement for Swaraj with the dynamicinspiration of a popular, national hero.Lokmanya Tilak, who used to visit Sinhagadevery year and stay there for sometime toimbibe the spirit of Shivaji, firmly believedand declared that “The only consciousnesswhich we as a nation can proudly retainand foster ought to have its springs inHindutva.” Hence he rightly saw and sharedwith his compatriots, the appropriatenessof projecting the image of Shivaji as a

symbol of the sublimest sense of patriotismand nationalism, and representative of theideal of political emancipation. Directingthe people, to adopt like Shivaji, everymeans including the use of arms, methodsof warfare and military strategy in the fightagainst alien oppression. Tilak pointed outto them, on the occasion of Shivaji’scoronation day celebration : “If thievesenter our house and we have no strengthto drive them out, we should, withouthesitation, shut them and burn them alive.God has not conferred upon the foreignersthe grant of the kingdom of Hindusthan.”

It was an image revealed in the archivesof history and re-shaped out of legend andtradition, and it served to bring Shivaji backto the modern peasant and worker as wellas to convince the intelligentsia of the needfor an organised fight for freedom. Thereis nothing incongruous in an image ofShivaji, himself a ruler, the “:Chhatrapati”,serving as a source of revolutionary andanti-imperialist inspiration for a fight againstalien oppression. Shivaji had, in his owndays, risen above narrow affiliations ofcaste and community, broken the shacklesof class-consciousness and defendedmasses against all forms of exploitation.We have it on record that he had even tofight his own kith and kin and the Jagirdars,


Patels and Deshmukhs who were thrivingon the inams granted by Badshahs. Itwould not, therefore, be surprising to knowthat a revolutionary like Vasudeo BalwantPhadke, acclaimed as among the first toraise the banner of armed struggle in 1878against British Imperialism in India, issueda manifesto in his name signing it as “Shivajithe Second.”

The Tercentenary is thus a tribute of anation to one of its most outstandingheroes for having roused it from a state ofsemi-slumber and infused into it thecourage and dynamism needed to standup and arrest the advancing tide of Moghul

conquest and domination. It was Shivajiwho made the people, the sons of the soil,re-awaken to a sense of unity forgedspontaneously by bonds of a time-honoured concept of nationalism. The callfor unity was in the name of “HindviSwaraj” , which implied free and un-hampered self-determination of a peoplewith a heritage dating back to the ancient

seers of the land and a culture mouldedin the light of their vision and by thepower of their penance.

Moghul conquest was the chief politicalfeature about the time of the birth ofShivaji. The trail of destruction, throughfire and plunder, that the Moghul armiesleft behind, as they advanced inconquest, the religious discrimination bythe Muslim rulers and the harassmentto which the natives of the land, theHindus, were subjected, all resulted ingreat discontent, social and religious.Contemporary conditions grew sodesperate and everyone was in such astate of helpless expectancy that allthoughts turned towards the advent ofa deliverer. The man of destiny wasShivaji, born in February 1630 in the hill-fort of Shivneri, where his mother JijaBai had to be left for safety. That isthe setting into which we see Shivajithe Grat ushered as an infant.

The tree of Hinduism is not really dead,that it can rise from beneath the seeminglycrushing load of centuries of politicalbondage ; that it can put forth new leavesand branches. It can lift up its head tothe skies,” writes Jadunath Sarkar, in Shivajiand His Times. He further points out that,


“Intensely religious from his very boyhoodby instinct and training alike, he remainedall through his life abstemious, free fromvice, respectful to holy men, passionatelyfond of hearing scripture readings andsacred stories and songs.” According toVincent Smith, “Indeed, it is safe to affirmthat his religious zeal was the most potentfactor in arousing the sentiment ofnationality which inspired his lowlycountrymen to defy the Moghul Legions.”However, as Sarkar has rightly stressed,“Religion remained with him an ever-freshfountain of right conduct and generosity,it did not obsess his mind nor harden himinto a bigot.” By all accounts, Shivaji’spersonal life was marked by a superiorstandard of morality and deep spiritualfervour. Here indeed was not only a warriorand administrator, but one who was devotedas a son, attentive as a husband, and aunique exemplar of duty as a father.Historians, poets, novelists, bards and play-writes have painted the picture of thismedieval India’s outstanding hero inresplendent hues. And the image of Shivajiis regarded today as a blend of history

and legends. The legend as it appeals tothe modern mind is happily not divorcedfrom history.

“Study the life of Shivaji and you will findhim a nation-maker, instead of a marauder,as the Europeans represent him,” saysSwami Vivekananda, the patriot-monk ofIndia. We have here endeavoured topresent in the form of a narrative, markedby a certain sequence of incidents (as itmoves from chapter to chapter), the wholecourse of Shivaji’s illustrious career in abrief campass. The trend would be seento be almost unbroken, even if some ofthe chapters are selected, culled out andstrung together, as for instance those thatappear under the titles, “Refrain”,.“Crescendo”, and “Closing strains”, includedin the opening, middle and concludingsections of the volume with a view toproviding a compre-hensive picture of theentire ground. What we have offered hereis neither just history nor just legend. It isa blend of both, so that the legends thatare narrated are rooted in facts of history.


Whatever the faults of the Indian people, they have one great quality , they know how

to honour their heroes, heroes of theirHistory, who have brought honour to theirNation, glory to the Motherland, lived anddied honourably and heroically, exemplifyingthe ideals and values of which theMotherland is the sacred symbol, thecultural values which are the heritage andthe legacy of the Motherland, which it isthe mission of the Motherland to contributeto the cultural whole of humanity. Yes, thesimple, gentle, mild and sincere people ofour great Motherland, Bharat Varsh, it hasbeen conceded by all, including manyforeign writers, thinkers and historians,have an extraordinary, exceptional, uniquecapacity, nay a genius for myth-making,for creation of stories and legends, roundtheir national heroes, which have thebeneficial effect of sustaining the peoplein the period of their national adversityand peril, when they are down-cast anddepressed due to tyranny or oppression orapathy or inertia, and also the effect ofexhilarating, enthusing and even inspiringthem to action through a re-awakening ofpride in their past and faith in their future,which incline them, then, to break thebones of depression and apathy, and plungeinto heroic and harmonious action, onceagain to add a new glorious chapter to theheroic history of their Motherland.

Shivaji Stories

True of this great, glorious tradition of ourpeople, the great, impressive, dynamic andheroic figure of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharajtoo has attracted and inspired our people,our poets and our writers, in the interestof our people, to fire them with idealism,energy and fervour, with zeal for nationalservice and the spirit of nation-building,to weave many stories around some or theother of the many exploits and adventuresof Shivaji Maharaj, a hero among men, anideal son of an ideal mother, Jija Bai, anexemplary pupil, a devoted disciple of hisGuru Samarth Ramdas, a fit friend and true,a soldier and a commander of ability, skill,and judgement, quick in his judgements,quick in his movements, a master of guerillawarfare, which is now being made so muchof, even by that successful master ofwarfare, Mao of China, and which had wonfor Shivaji the strange appellation anddescription of ‘the mountain rat’, whichepithet can be interpreted as it has alreadybeen interpreted by different historians,differently, both as a compliment as alsoas a slight or a caricature.

Yes, Shivaji has fired the imagination ofour people, as of our poets and writers, asa national hero, held high in esteem, as anation builder, a dreamer of the dream ofthe Hindu Nation, a daring and fearless andfar-slighted freedom-fighter, who also wassuccessful in many ways even as an able

SHIVAJI - SYMBOL OFNATIONAL RENAISSANCE IN STORY

Prof. K.N.VASWANI


administrator and a founder of the greatMaratha State which challenged the mightyMoghul Empire and re-asserted and revivedthe spirit of Hindu Independence and re-invigorated the spirit of India, preparing itfor its re-efflorescence and renaissanceby regaining for it a consciousness of itsinner, inherent power, its past glory and itsfuture destiny.

Stories of Dedication and Humility : Tukaram and Ramdas

From among the many moving stories ofShivaji, of heroism, adventure, dedication,humility, daring, fearlessness, defiance,shrewdness, skilled statesmanship,devotion, chivalry and so many otherqualities of Shivaji, and so many differentaspects of his character and achievementsand exploits, we shall briefly glance at justa few, a very small but significant samplefrom this invaluable and ever-growing andever-inspiring treasure. Here are some.

It is best to begin with Tukaram (1608-1649) and Ramdas (1608-1681) stories –stories of Shivaji’s spirit of dedication andhumility. Truly touching is the story thattells of Shaista Khan having capturedPoona and forbidden entry into it withouta permit and yet how Shivaji risked his lifeby passing the sentries and entering thetown to attend a Kirtan of songs of hisbeloved poet Tukaram. Meanwhile ShaistaKhan had challenged him to come down tothe plains and fight like a man. ‘You hideaway in the hills,’ he taunted him, ‘like amonkey.’ ‘Yes,’ replied Shivaji, ‘butremember, it was the monkeys, whichdestroyed Ravana and all his host!’ And

Shivaji was as good as his word and laterattacked Shaista Khan in the Rang Mahal,whence he had to flee for his dear life.

On another occasion, the story is told thatthe Ashta Pradhan went with gifts toTukaram to implore him to come to thecourt, but it told Tukaram had no use forgifts or the court, and wrote :

“Touches, umbrellas, steeds, - what bethese to me?Lord of Pandari, why seek to ensnare methus?Pomps and vanities are to me as dust andashesHasten, O Lord, to my help, saint Tukaram,the bard.”

Tukaram is also reported to have written :“Why come to thy court? Why wearymyself with a fruitless pilgrimage? Almsare my support, cast-off rags my garment,stone my bed, the sky my covering. Whythen ask thy help? It is but wasted time.The King is the fountain of honour, buthonours give no peace to the soul. Thisthen is my last message to thee. Themendicant’s life is best for me. Do nowone thing : Grow not weary of well-doing :invite me not. Do this and my heart findspeace. I need not visit thee, for life isshort.” And again : “There is one Truth inthe World : there is one Soul in all Being.Pin thy Faith to this Soul, see thyselfmirrored in Ramdas. Do this, O Prince, andthou and the whole world shalt be blessedtherein, thy fame will pervade the Universe,saint Tuka.” The story is told that findingthat he could not get Tukaram to come tothe court, Shivaji went to visit him : the


following lines are said to have beenuttered by Tukaram on this occasion : “KingShivaji, listen to me. Fix thy mind onRamdas : Ramdas is thy teacher, thy sage,go prostrate before him.”

History as Story

Shivaji, so the story goes, adopted Ramdasas his spiritual preceptor, about 1650. Thisyear may not be certain, as even the yearof Shivaji’s birth, 1627, is given by someas 1630, which makes one recall that allhistory is really a story, as re-constructedby historians from whatever dates, facts,episodes, they can collect and of how theypiece them together or interpret them.“”Others abide our question, but thou artfree” has been said about Shakespeare dueto uncertainty also about him, not onlythe year of his birth, but his very existenceand identity -–Was Bacon Shakespeare ?- has been one of the questions in EnglishLiterary History. In our own Indian History,in the recent past, we know that despitea number of Government and otherCommittees and Commissions, the date andyear and even the fact of Netaji’s deathare still undetermined, thus indicating againhow history and story mingle even in themodern period – the same would be evenmore true of the past, including Shivaji andhis times. Some historians have described“history as a mixture of poetry andphilosophy,” to use the words of Macaulay.

Ramdas StoryTo resume the story of Ramdas, the storygoes that in 1655 (according to some ofthe year is 1676), when Ramdas, accordingto the practice of mendicants, came to

ask alms, Shivaji, in utter humility andsurrender, fell at his feet and made overhis Empire to him. Ramdas accepted thegift but returned it to Shivaji, saying thathenceforth he must regard his kingdom asheld in trust for God, and himself not aking but a trustee. In token whereof,Shivaji adopted the “Bhagva Jhenda”‘Saffron Banner’, as his standard in view ofthe saffron robe of the mendicant.

The story is also told that after meetingRamdas, Shivaji wished to renounce theworld and become his disciple, but Ramdaswrote for him the following : “Gods andcows, Brahmins and Faith, these are to beprotected, therefore God has raised youup.” “Kings should fulfil their kingly office ;warriors the duties of a soldier ; Brahminsshould perform their religious functions,each according to his station.” “Whenthe Faith is dead, death is better than life: Why live, when religion has perished?”“Gather the Marathas together, makereligion live again : Our fathers laugh at usfrom Heaven !” “Discrimination, Prudence,Action, these be thy virtues; Rama killedRavana by the aid of the Lord of Tulja.Tulja Bhavani conferred her blessing onRama. To her Ramdas prays.”

Other stories

Countless are these stories connected withShivaji – there are stories also connectedwith his coronation at Raigad, the Gibraltarof the East, as it is called, where he wasalso cremated (5th April, 1680), as he hadbeen crowned (6th June, 1674) in thepresence of Gaga Bhatt, a renownedShastri from Benares, how 50 thousand


Brahmins were then fed for a week, Theepisode of Afzal Khan, with its differentversions by historians, itself has become astory, even as the famous story of hisescape from Aurangzeb’s court in a basketof sweets for distribution in charity to thepoor and his presence back at the feet ofhis mother Jija Bai in the disguise of Bairagi.There is the story of the heroic defence ofthe Rangana Ghat (1660) by a thousandstrong Mavalas under Baji Prabhu, Shivaji’sformer foe, turned into his devoted officerand brave supporter who himself wasdeeply wounded and died in this defence,which, not without justice, has beencompared to battle of Thermopylae.

There are stories of the sack of Surat(1664 and 1670), Ahmednagar,Aurangabad, Golconda, and the foreignsettlements and Karwar and Hubli, and afterShivaji’s coronation ceremony (June 6,1674) the narrative of Dr.Fryer, who hadmet and recorded the impressions of hisEmbassy representatives who had attendedthe coronation ceremony and were seekingpermission to trade in safety and peace atSurat, Karwar, Hubli,etc., and the story ofhow Shivaji granted an interview to theEnglish Embassy.

Story of Defiance

It seems worthwhile to recount here thefollowing significant story of Shivaji’s earlydays – his boyhood – as it proves howchildhood shows the man. This story isgiven in the book, The Grand Rebel : Shivaji,Founder of the Maratha Empire, by DennisKincaid, and underlines how Shivaji was aborn rebel. Here goes the story : “Shahaji

took his son to pay his respects to theSultan. Within the Durbar hall the Sultanof Bijapur sat on a throne. As the courtiersin turn approached the throne, theyprostrated themselves bowing their turbansto carpet. Shahaji followed their example.But his young son, without bowing salutedthe Sultan with Maratha Salaam, such ashe had seen his own people greet theirsuperiors in villages of the hill country –simple, manly gesture of raising both handswith palms together to the level of thin.As Shivaji could not be persuaded toapproach the Sultan’s throne in theprescribed manner, his act was a ‘piece ofobstinate defiance’, and it was only thehigh favour, which Shahaji enjoyed at court,which saved Shivaji from punishment.”History has however shown that this wasa symbolic and even a historic action, forShivaji was destined to be the Grand Rebel,the symbol and embodiment of the spiritof an ancient and proud people re-awakening and re-asserting themselves.

Shivaji : The Fact, Significant asMohen-Jo-Daro or Gandhi

Shivaji is a fact to be reckoned with, aphenomenon to be explained. He cannotjust be explained away, as many Muslim,English and Marxist historians would haveliked. He has happened ; it needsexplaining, how and why, and cannot justbe explained away. He is an inescapable,significant, vital part of human, heroic,national history, even like Mohen-Jo-Daro,even like Gandhi. His emergence andimpact like those of Mohen-Jo-Daro andGandhi have to be accepted in their fullmeaning, their real significance as giving a


new meaning to the history of Hindustan,nay the history of not only the Hindupeople, but also the stories of nationalrevival and growth everywhere.

For, what really is History, but the Story ofNations, story of their great men, theirheroes? What will be American History,without Washington, Lincoln and evenRoosevelt and Kennedy? What will be

Russian History, without Peter the Great,Tolstoy, Lenin and even Stalin ? What willbe History of Italy, without Mazzini,Garibaldi, Cavour and even Mussolini? Whatthe German History without Frederick theGreat, Bismarck and even Hitler? Yes, whatwill be Chinese History, without Confucius,Latoze and Buddhism and without SanyatSen and Mao and Communism and evenChiang Kai Shek?, Or the History of Vietnamwithout Ho-Chi-Minh? Or Pakistan withoutJinnah?, Or Egypt without Zaghlol Pashaand Nasser? Or Turkey without Khalifa andKamal Pasha?

Shivaji: The Force , LiberatingInspiring Nation-Making

Historians and writers, whether Moslem,English or even Marxists have had toconcede the greatness of Shivaji, as aforce, a liberating force, as a nationalforce, as a nation-making, nation-buildingforce, of exceptional strength and power,an inspiring power, a sustaining power, apower of renaissance and renewal, thatrecreates a people, infuses a new life inthem, and enables them to march on onceagain, on their journey of never-endingpilgrimage to fulfil their Divinely destinedgoal to play their proper role in the historyof the World.

The Mystery of History

It is one of the mysteries of History how aShivaji, a Lokmanya Tilak, a SwamiDayananda, a Ramakrishna Vivekananda,Aurobindo, Ramana Maharshi, Gandhi andeven Nehru emerge at a Particular moment,in the history of a people and a country,


and re-vitalise a people, give a direction,and infuse new life into the flagging currentof the force of their life, so that the currentbecomes more active and alive, andresumes its onward journey instead ofbecoming and ending as a stagnant pool.Shivaji has been hailed as a hero of HinduHistory, nay the history of Hindustan, inthis high, special sense, and not only byHindu historians or Indian writers, but byothers, even Muslim, English, and evenMarxist historians and writers, who havehad to concede his undoubted and provengreatness, as something exceptional andextraordinary, even unique. Whenever acopy of the Holy Koran came into his hands,he treated it with respect, and gave it tosome of his Musalman followers. When thewomen of any Hindu or Mohammedan weretaken prisoners by his men, and they hadno friends to protect them, he watchedover them till their relations came.Rawlinson writes : “Shivaji’s respect forwomen was so well-known that on morethat one occasion Muhammedans escapedfrom the sack of a town by dressing inwomen’s clothes.”

Rawlinson, Englishman that he is, furtherwrites : “Shivaji must not be judged bytwentieth century western standards. Hewas, according to the ethics of his ageand nation, a brave and chivalrous man.His was a dark and violent age but his handswere not stained, like those of Aurangazeb,with the blood of his kindred. He was neverdeliberately or wantonly cruel. To respectwomen, Mosques, and non-combatants, tostop promiscuous slaughter after a battleto release and dismiss with honour captured

officers and men – these are, surely, nolight virtues.”

To some of us Indians, there may appearin this writing something of a grudgingtribute, a touch of condescension, a hitas if twentieth century standards werehigher – twentieth century practices, weall know, are not higher – what Germansdid to the Jews, the Russians and Chinesehave been doing to their own people, theAmericans to the Negroes in America andto the Vietnamese in Vietnam, and whateven we have done to each other, are allhappenings in history, too recent to beforgotten.

Rawlinson adds : “Shivaji was a sincerelyreligious man. He believed himself to beconstantly guided and inspired by GoddessBhavani. He was the disciple of Ramdasand an admirer of the saintly Tukaram. Hisdevotion to his parents, especially to hismother Jija Bai, was proverbial. Heorganised the army that shattered theMughal Empire in the height of its power.”Rawlinson concludes : “We still see thefruits of the organising genius of Shivaji.”He has further said that the British LandAdministration System was based onShivaji’s. He has also praised the CivilSystem introduced by Shivaji as inessentials the same as that of the Mauryas,and said the British too adopted Shivaji’sthough it is so-called ‘bureaucracy’, whichit is a fashion to criticise but it ‘is reallyindigenous’ to the soil and probably moresuited to the needs of the Eastern peoplethat any form of representativeGovernment, - the Districts were managedby village and district officials and the

VIVEKANANDA KENDRA PATRIKA 1 0 SHIVAJI IN STORIES

Central Government consisted of the Headsof Departments, who formed a cabinet – itwas called the Ashta Pradhan or Councilof eight and directed the Policy of theState in general.

Shivaji’s Personal Appearance

Rawlinson describes Shivaji in the followingwords : In appearance, Shivaji was atypical Maratha. He was short and slight,with long arms, small hands, an aquilinenose, a pointed beard, and a faircomplexion. He had piercing eyes, and aresolute face, handsome and intelligent,but hard and feline. He was an excellentswordsman and horseman, of wonderfulendurance, and pleasing and frank manner.Of his personal character, many estimatesof a most diverse nature, have beenformed. Grant Duff speaks of him ‘as anassassin and freebooter’, and so also manyother English writers. But even Grant Duffhas had to concede that ‘his claim to highrank in the pages of history must beadmitted.’ Dennis Kincaid has comparedShivaji’s role to that of Frederick the Great,in Germany, and to Garibaldi’s in the historyof Italy.

Marxists find Shivaji“A Riddle in History”

K.L.Mahaley of the Department of History,Amravati, in his book Shivaji, ThePragmatist, following the fashion of theMarxist interpretation of History, andseeking to examine the fact andphenomenon of Shivaji, to find in it anytraces of class war, or rise of the exploitedagainst the exploiting classes, dedicating

his book, in the interest of ‘a socio-economic revolutions’, to Shivaji’s Mavals,who were his main and most loyal anddevoted supporters in his campaigns, isdriven to concede : “How to apply themaxims of materialistic development ofsociety to the static Indian society, is theproblem. The non-applicability of laws ofeconomic determinism makes rise of Shivajito power a puzzle in history. How couldhe exhibit a secular conduct in his relationswith the religious communities in thatmedieval age? How could he inspire thatmasses against the privileged sections ofsociety, whom they suffered in meeksubjection, just at the time of his birth?”

“These and the like are the questions thatcannot be answered either throughspeculation of spiritualism or through thecognates of dialectical materialism. Theprinciples of equality and fraternity camein action after a full century of his death,and socialism to come in active operationtook more than two centuries. Thesequestions are difficult to answer. Mysticismcannot have any place in the formulationof scientific history. Scientific thinking mustgovern the historic thought. But the meansof scientific thinking in construction ofShivaji’s history do not appear within sightto lay hands on. Will Shivaji continue tobe a riddle in History?”

Error of ‘Marxists’ and ‘Moderns’

‘Marxists’ and the so-called ‘Moderns’, arebound to get confused and find many afact and phenomenon of History, ancientand even modern, “a puzzle and a riddle”,for they have read but forgotten : “There


are more things in heaven and hell thanare known to their philosophy”, materialistand modern. There are spiritual forces morepowerful than material ; men live not bybread alone, and are motivated not merelyby economic forces, but are willing to fightand die for ‘the ashes of our fathers andthe temples of our Gods’.

Deeper Currents of HistoryShivaji and Gandhi

The soul of a people, the spirit ofRenaissance of a people, is something morethan or subtler than what seems on thesurface, something gross or material, simplyhistorical or factual, - it is somethingspiritual, something finer, and thereforemore powerful and seemingly inexplicable,in terms of the usual, conventionalexplanations. To this category belong theemergence of Shivaji and Gandhi and theirimpact on history and on the millions andmasses that are moved by these nation-souls, in whom the millions discover andgreet their national soul, their spiritualidentity. These persons – despitehistorians, their formulas and criteria,Marxist or other interpretations – inspirethe people, as they inspire writers andpoets, to weave stories around them : andthese people, then inspired by theseembodiments of the national heritage,epitomes of the national culture andincarnations of the National Soul, give thenation a new age of the renaissance ofthe best in its values, its culture. Shivajiin the 17th century, as Gandhiji in the 20th

century, can only be adequatelyappreciated in this light, historically, orpoetically, in fact scientifically and even

more truthfully. For Truth is more thanScience, and embraces more than merefacts : And History is whatever reallymoves the people, and not mere eventsbut also ideas and dreams, and evencertainly stories of great men and nationalheroes, like Shivaji and Gandhi.

Story of Shivaji’s Chivalry

It seems appropriate to conclude this bunchof thoughts on Shivaji, with a story of hischivalry, typical of his respect for women,derived from his reverence for his motherJija Bai, - the most formative influence ofhis life, which made him what he was, theembodiment of the best in his Hindu culturalheritage.

Here is the story, as given in Rawlinson’sShivaji : The Maratha – His Life and Times.Soon after Shivaji had way-laid the convoycarrying treasure from Kalyan from theMuhammedan Governor Maulana Ahmed, toBijapur and captured the treasure, one ofShivaji’s officers, Abaji Sondev,emboldened by Shivaji’s success, attackedKalyan itself, captured the Governor andhis family and took the town. “Abaji sentto Shivaji the daughter-in-law of MaulanaAhmed, a young women of striking graceand beauty. Shivaji behaved like a gallantsoldier to his captives. The great Maratha,on seeing her, merely remarked with a laughthat had his mother been half so beautiful,he himself might have been a little lessugly, and dispatched her, with everyrespect, to her relations. This chivalrousattitude towards women (who accordingto the ethics of the day were the propertyof their captor) immensely increased


Shivaji’s prestige.” As mentioned earlier,this trait of Shivaji, has been testified toeven by Khafi Khan, Aurangazeb’s historian,though he has said of Shivaji : “He wasdistinguished in his tribe for courage andintelligence ; and for craft and trickery hewas reckoned, a sharp son of the devil,the father of fraud.”

Beauty and Significance of Shivaji inStory and History

It is clear thus that Shivaji has not onlybeen celebrated in story and song bywriters and poets – Hindus and Indians, -who hailed him as a national hero, symbolof a Nation’s renaissance, a people’sresurgence, but he really had noble traitsof character, and heroic qualities ofcourage and valour and devotion to GoddessBhavani and to the common people, whichnot only endeared him to the people,inspiring the devoted loyalty of theMavalas to him, who fought under thecommand, with fire, faith and power, butwhich compelled admiration even from his

enemies and encomiums even from suchhistorians as Muhammad Hashim, betterknown as Khafi Khan, and Grant Duff, bothof whom have been quoted earlier.

Ranade’s ShivajiRawlinson has complained that “the latejustice Ranade’s brilliant little essay on TheRise of the Maratha Power (Bombay) 1912)is spoilt by the author’s exaggerated viewson his hero’s merits and achievements.”For this very reason, the Indian reader mayfind Ranade’s Rise of the Maratha Powerreally rewarding reading, and so the writercommends it to every reader, specially onthe significant occasion of the nation-widecelebration of Chhatrapati Shivaji’scoronation, so that our hearts may fill witha sense of elation and pride at Shivaji’sabilities and achievements, and also inducein us a sense of devotion for the serviceof the Motherland, which animated his nobleheart and makes of him a truly worthy andmemorable figure, of which the Nation isjustly proud.


THUS incident dates back seventyyears. It was a beautiful moonlitnight. Sitting on the verandah of a

bungalow on the South Beach of Madras,a youthful Sannyasi was singing a song intune with the roar of the waves.

“As a forest-fire is to the forest, a leopardto the deer herds, a lion to the statelyelephant, the Sun to the darkness of thenight, and what Krishna was to Kamsa, sois King Shivaji, a King among Kings, to thehordes of Mlechhas.” The song pouredforth in all its sublimity.

What is this? Swamiji uninhibitedly praisingthis “highway robber !” The disciple of theSwamiji could contain himself no longer.He interrupted the Swamiji excitedly andasked : “Swamiji ! What is this? How cana holy person like you praise such a thief,a cheat and a murderer. With a handful ofrabble-rousers did he not indulge in lootand all kinds of mischief?” The Swamijiimmediately stopped singing, his face redwith indignation. He thundered “Shameon you! How can you say such unbecomingwords about a great hero and aDharmatma? At a time when our Dharmaand Samskriti (culture) were on the brinkof ruin, when our entire society was onthe verge of extinction, when the noblestin the land had to undergo untold indignities,he descended as the much-awaiteddeliverer and established Dharma andsaved our Society. How dare any one

utter such falsehood against him? This isthe outcome of your reading Indian Historywritten by foreigners who had no sympathyfor your society, no respect for your hoaryculture and traditions, but had the soleaim of building an Empire in this country.You imitate and repeat like a parrot thesedistortions of history !

“In fact, a universal prayer had gone upbefore the advent of this great man. Ourseers and saints eagerly awaited his arrivalto deliver them from the cruel clutches ofthe foreigners. He came to this world atsuch a critical hour, put an end to Adharmaand established Dharma. He was anincarnation of Lord Shiva! He was endowedwith all the great and noble qualitiesexemplified in our great epics. Is there agreater hero, a nobler soul, a greaterdevotee and a greater King than him ? Hepersonified in himself this country’s soulforce. He was the torch bearer of theresurgent future of Bharath !” On and onwent the Swamiji’s voice.The disciple wasstunned ! He felt very small, so foolishand so ignorant ! He said in a low tone :“Swamiji ! Please enlighten us about thisgreat man and rid us of our mis-conceptions.”

The Sannyasin began to depict the life ofthis great man in his melodious voice andinimitable style. He took his listeners backto the living memories of the eventsofhistory that happened 250 years ago.

A MONK’S REMINISCENCESKESHAV KRIPA


Hours rolled by. Nobody stirred. Thatyouthful Sannyasin was none other thanSwami Vivekananda, who was the torch-bearer of the resurgent modern Bharat.Dr.M.C.Nanjunda Rao was the disciple who

has recorded for posterity thesereminiscences in the Vedanta Kesari. Itwas at the house of Bhattarcharji that thisilluminating incident took place.

THE room was dark with drawn shutters, gleaming oil lamps purifying fires risingfrom the sacrificial offering filled the room with an ethereal air. At times the watchingfaces of the priests was startlingly clear and sometimes veiled in the translucentcurtain of the ascending smoke that rose like a prayer. Jija Bai lay silent and atrest. She felt the absence of her husband. The ceremonies at the birth of a Hinduboy are numerous, as at all other occasions in the drama of Hindu life, where thechief actor is the father.

As was the custom among the Maharashtrians, some loving hands laid the babe in awinnowing fan, kissed his head in benediction and let a drop of honey fall throughthe circlet of a gold ring into its mouth, thus symbolically invoking the sweetness oflife on the new born. Days rolled on in quick succession. For Jija Bai it had been amixture of bitter-sweetness. Bitterness at the absence of her husband, temperedby the sweetness of all that a new mother experiences at the sight of her little newarrival. Each day would have brought out its own calendar of events, as the youngone’s quick senses responded to the environment and beauty around. The gurglesand helpless flaying of tiny hands and legs were a sheer rhythm of movement underthe loving gaze of the mother.

Soon after the birth ceremony come others. The most important one is the christeningat which the newcomer is to be assigned a name. The mother’s heart beat inexcitement as the moment arrived. Dressed in all her finery she held her tremblinglittle mass on her lap. Through the fading mists of the past and the dim horizons ofthe future the mother recognized the Goddess Bhavani, as she stood before herchosen instrument. A gleam of recognition lit up the young mother’s countenance ;she who had sought Her blessings bent and whispered the name ‘Shiva’ into the tinyears. That was Her name and that was what Jija Bai chose to call her baby. He isnow known to all as Shivaji – the name that came as a gift from Divine.

He has a name


Ahuge procession was windinga long the cause-way. The day was the 5th of June. A mass of

heads bobbed up and down while deafeningroars broke the stillness of the morning.

“What are these people exulting about?”asked Jim McGraw who was in India for aholiday.

“Oh, that !” said Apte. “Their exultationdates back to the days of Shivaji. Todaythey are hearkening to the time whenShivaji ruled over Maharashtra threecenturies ago. They call it the Tri-Centenary Celebrations of Shivaji !”

Jim : “From what you say I guess he musthave ruled over Maharashtra three hundredyears ago. Right ? Many such rulers musthave come and gone. Why this fuss overhim?”

Apte : “Volumes of history lie behind thisquestion of yours. Yes, Shivaji was anuncommon man and a very special King.His rule was one that Indians will rememberwith gratitude.”

Jim : “Why ?”

Apte : “Many are the reasons that couldbe given for this. At the time when hecame to the throne, India was broken intofragments, ruled by unscrupulous deputiesof the Moghul Emperor at Delhi. Even

among the Hindus unscrupulous and greedybehaviour only prevailed. The canker ofcasteism was eating into the vitals ofsociety. Father and son, brother andbrother rose against each other. This manwho lived in mountain hideouts unified thesewarring brothers and parents, gatheredthem under a banner that recognised noother distinction than the brotherhood ofman, fought no evil but injustice andreigned supreme for sometime.”

Jim : “But that was three hundred yearsago? Why all this fuss now? Many menhave come and gone, more so in India.Who is responsible for the revival of hisname and what was its purpose ?”

Apte : “You are asking a question that thatwill bring out a response which may not bepalatable for various reasons.”

Jim : “I insist. The bare truth is what Iwant. The twentieth century with all itsbarriers down and all truths bared to apoint makes our senses ready to absorbanything. I am sure you have nothing tofear. I know why you are hesitating. It is,perhaps, a reference to the British rule inIndia that you are trying to withhold. Haveno fear of hurting my feelings. I am eagerto hear.”

Apte : “Precisely, friend, that is what Iwanted to avoid. After all, the past isdead. Resurrections of this crucifixion of

TRICENTENARY COMMEMORATESHIS CORONATION


a nation and the ghastly torments it hadundergone, - these were what I wantedto avoid, but now that you insist, here Igive. As you know, the English came tothis land as traders but later takingadvantage of the prevailing dissensionsamong the local chiefs, they took on therole of peace makers and ultimatelyestablished themselves as rulers. In thisthey broke many promises, resorted toquestionable means and ground down anation that was already prostrate.Centuries of attack and foreign rule hadmade the Indians lose courage andconfidence. Complete submission to allindignities was the order of the day.Revolts were put down ruthlessly by apower that had come asking for permissionto trade. Out of this bruised, broken nationthere arose a few, who questioned theright of an alien people to rule over thenatives with such brutality. The nation asa whole had lost all. The past was asmuch dead as the future seemed to beunreal. It was at such a time that a sonof Maharashtra rose up and gave to Indiansa national ideal in Shivaji. He fostered thecult of Nationalism, among the masses byorganising Ganapathi Pooja and Shivajifestival. He redeemed this great King fromthe dust of two centuries, repainted himin vivid colours and set him up to let Indiansknow that from ancient times Indians had

never bent their knees before insolentmight, and it was time they took up arms.”Jim : “Oh ! Is this not the same LokamanyaTilak, famous for his Gita Rahasya?”

Apte : “Jim, you surprise me with yourknowledge of the literary accomplishmentsof Tilak. It may interest you to know thatthe very Gita Rahasya you speak of waswritten while he was confined as a politicalprisoner in Mandalay.”

Jim : “I would like to know something moreabout this Shivaji. From what I gather, itseems that India was, in a similar state ofchaos as when the British landed on Indiansoil. Though born in this small state ofMaharashtra, he was first an Indian andthen only a Maharashtrian. Rare, thesedays, when each state is fighting for itsautonomy ! The welfare of the name washis greatest duty, and caste and don’t-touchism were even then prevalent, andShivaji had done his bit in establishingequality and brotherhood of man !”

Apte : Wait Jim, turn over the pages ofthis journal, and there you will find all thatyou want to know of Shivaji, set out foryou in colourful medieval splendour. TheMaratha legions will thunder across thepages once more reconstructing and re-enacting the heroism of bygone years.


JADHAV RAO gave a house partywhich was akin to holding aminiature Darbar. As head of the

house and host of noble rank, he sat on ahigh chair with his guests around him,among whom was Maloji, favourite cavalryofficer. The boy Shahaji, then aged five,stood next to his father.

The boy was a handsome lad and caughtJadhav Rao’s eye. Jadhav Rao beckonedto the young boy to come over and sit onhis right knee. A moment later his littledaughter came running towards her fatherand sat upon his other knee. The fatherlooked fondly upon the pair. Jadhav Raoasked the young girl in jest whether shewould have the boy for her husband, andwhen she nodded her head, he turned tothe company assembled around and madethe lordly gesture of saying they wouldmake a fine couple.

Interpreting this to be the wish of theirlord and benefactor and regarding it as thehighest compliment to themselves, Malojiand Vithoji stood up and ceremoniouslyaccepted the betrothal proposal forShahaji, as suggested by Jadhav Rao.There was no levity or jest in theiracceptance. The spectators assented inequal seriousness, to the embarrassmentand astonishment of Jadhav Rao, who nowsaw he had gone too far. Theembarrassment grew to near rebellion inJadhav Rao’s household, where the women,

led by his own wife would not hear of themarriage of their daughter to someone ofsuch unequal rank.Matters took a seriousturn when Jadhav Rao tried to explain it allaway, for Maloji claimed the alliance withJadhav Rao’s house stating that thepronouncement was made in a full houseof noblemen. Thus it could never bewithdrawn.

Even though it was Lakhuji Jadhav himselfwho first put Maloji on the ladder ofsuccess, on which he rose in rank and inthe Nizam Shah’s favour, the members ofJadhav Rao’s household, more particularlythe women, and chiefly his wife, were inno mood to subscribe to an inter-marriagebetween their respective houses. Equalityof rank, in so far as marriage wasconcerned, had to be supported by equalityat the time of birth, the women said. Theysaw no harm in the boy Shahaji, Maloji’sson, playing with their three-year-olddaughter, Jija Bai. Yet it was clearlyunderstood by the women of Jadhav Rao’shouse that such familiarity should neverbe construed as evidence of social equalitybetween the two families.

Having to choose between an irate wifeand a dependent with wounded pride,Jadhav Rao had no option but to try andget out of the commitment by rebukingMaloji for his insolence. Therefore, it issaid, he forthwith ordered his clerk to drawup the account of the monies due to Maloji

THE VISION AND THE PROPHECY


and Vithoji and to pay them off with noticeof immediate discharge of their services.Jadhav Rao ordered the two young men toquit his territory with the semi-royal fiathe pronounced.

The exile order came as a shattering blowto the prestige of the two brothers, whoreturned to their village of Verul nearDaulatabad. Back to the land they wentto till, working with half-naked bodies inthe scorching sun. The uniform they oncewore with its glistening gold braid anddecorations became a thing of the past.To one who has been a soldier, the loss ofa uniform brings sorrow which grows withinthe heart.

The days moved heavily for the twobrothers, who realised that it was only thepower and wealth of Jadhav Rao which hadcrushed them down. Lack of wealth andlack of equality of status humbled them.But for the position he held in the court ofNizam Shah, Jadhav Rao would never havedared to insult them in the manner he had.But poverty often leaves no other choiceto man but to swallow an insult hurled athim, and while Maloji vowed that he wouldavenge the wrong done to him, there wasvery little he could do to wipe out theinjustice he and his brother had suffered.The long evenings in the fields grew longeras the days passed. During the day theirminds turned to the seeds they had sown,the rains that would fall thereon, the fieldsthat had to be ploughed, the bullocks thathad to be fed and tended, and the cropsthat would grow at harvest time which weretheir only reward.

As the days of harvest grew nearer, thebrothers worked harder in the fields for, inthat region, wild animals prowled at nightand during the day the birds damaged thecrops. The days at the glittering court atAhmednagar were no more and their livingwas down on earth, close to the mud andslush. A return to the days of glory seemedimpossible now, unless some miraclehappened. Late one night, in the Hindumonth of Magha, they left their villagehome and walked towards their fields. Theharvest was nearing and the moon shonebright and full.Accounts differ about thedetails of how it happened, but the legendstill holds that Goddess Bhavani appearedto Maloji that night in a vision. Bhavaniwas worshipped as patron Goddess by alarge number of Rajput tribes and whenthe Rajputs came down to Maharashtra,they brought their mode of worship withthem. The main centre of Bhavani cult isat Tuljapur, some 20 miles from modernSholapur. The temple at Tuljapur is said tohave been built by Shahaji and is reportedto have been twice sacked by the Muslims.On account of its subsequent associationwith Shivaji and the fact that Shivaji’sgrandfather, Maloji in a vision and forecastfor him in hour of desperation the glorythat was yet to come to that family theBhavani temple at Tuljapur remains evento this day a great place of worship forthe people of Maharashtra.

That memorable night in the fields of Verul,Bhavani appeared to Maloji draped in silverwhite, heavily bejewelled with shimmeringarmlets of gold and with the customarytikka on her forehead. As the moon shoneon Bhavani, it was a wondrous sight for


Maloji to see. At first he appearedfrightened by the vision, but soon theGoddess spoke to him in soft comfortingwords. And then She uttered the greatprophecy, which has since become a legendin every Maratha home. She told Malojithat in his house would be born a son whowould be a great man. This was theblessing, which She of Her own accord hadcome to lavish upon him. This son, Shewent on to explain, would found a Kingdomand twenty-seven of his descendants inthe direct line would rule the land.

By now the vision had turned into a dream,for one fails to remain fully conscious whenreceiving such a blessing and as Maloji waswondering how from the poverty to whichhe had now been degraded the tide wouldturn for him, She told him more. Therewas an ant hill nearby, She said, and aroundit there lurked a snake which protected it.“Dig it up”, She bade him, “for a greattreasure lies buried there. Do not be afraidto possess it, and when you do take it toSheshaji Naik at Shringonde who will keepit safely for you.” The man She named asthe safe keeper of that treasure was thelocal banker. Maloji awoke, startled by thevision. He spoke of it to Vithoji who, atfirst, did not believe what his brother toldhim. It was too late to test the truth ofthe prophecy that same night, and so theywalked back home with Maloji still tryingto convince his younger brother that thevision he saw was a true one and thatBhavani did actually appear before him.The morrow came and back to the fieldsthe brothers went. Vithoji found the ant

hill near which a snake moved about thatBhavani had indicated. At their approachthe snake slid away into the grass and thetwo brothers bent down with their picksand shovels to unearth the treasure theywere told was buried there. The earthwas hard and seemed to want to hold on.As they dug layer by layer, and nothingwas seen, Vithoji gave his brother adisbelieving look. Maloji also becamefrustrated but still maintained that this waswhat the Goddess had bade him do. Thevision was real, he persisted, whether thetreasure was there or not.The early sunwas rising. It was getting warm now. Theypaused to mop the sweat off their browswith Vithoji now beginning to wonderwhether it was worthwhile digging anymore.But Maloji kept saying, “I saw Her, I tellyou. I saw Her as clearly as I see younow. She told me there was a treasurehidden here.” The younger brother pickedup his crude shovel and as if to humourMaloji, agreed to dig on a little more. Notlong thereafter the iron struck a huge metaljar. In it was the treasure Bhavani hadspoken of. Vithoji now dug with twice thespeed. He did not doubt Maloji any more.For Maloji the dream had proved a realityand he knew he had found the hiddentreasure. As they loosened the jar fromthe surrounding earth, brought it up to thesurface of the ground, they paused towonder what it held in store for them. Asthey opened it, the gold glistened. A newday had dawned for the two Bhonslebrothers, whom Jadhav Rao had cast outfrom his court and out of his sight. A newerfuture awaited them – the second part ofthe blessing was yet to come true.


REPEATED campaigns kept Shahajibusy, but he managed to slip outand spend a little time with his young

wife. She needed him now more than ever.Her delicate condition demanded hispresence and attention but Shahaji was awarrior. The call of duty beckoned to himand before a thought did flash he had tobe up and away. Jija Bai was after all aHindu wife. Complete identification withher husband’s needs was her rule. Whatworried her most was that her people werevassals. Slavishness was eating into theirentrails and they had constantly to bowbefore insolent might.

Shahaji looked at Jija Bai with concern andhalf muttered to himself : “As a matter offact I should stay by her side now.” Butthen the powers that he addressed wereobviously deaf. Suddenly, a bright flash litup the eyes of this dreaming mother-to-be and she prayed in hushed whispers, “Iwant a redeemer to be born.” It was inthe month of Shrawan, a period of laughterand joy, lights and festivities that the boltfell. Jija Bai’s father Lakhuji Jadhav, wholived at Daulatabad, had gone to the Durbarwith his three sons. There they weremurdered in cold blood. Murder, foul andtreacherous, had felled two innocentvictims.

Jija Bai’s anguish knew no bounds. Shahaji’smind was in a turmoil. Today it was theJadhavs, tomorrow it could be the

Bhonsles. Where could he go? To theMoghuls? To Adil Shah or Khutub Shah?It would be the same old story. No ! hewanted to be free. At what cost? Revolt!The idea possessed him. With this resolveShahaji hastened to Poona, the Jagir ofthe Bhonsles since Maloji’s time. Here heraised the banner of freedom…. Or was itrevolt ? Tension mounted. Nobody knewwhat lurked in the corners. Shahaji wasworried about Jija Bai and said to her :“There is no knowing what calamity maybefall us. In this condition we cannot takeyou with us. At the same time it would berisky to leave you here.”

“I could stay at Shivneri,” suggested Jija.So leaving her to the care of Vishwas Raoand a few trusted followers, Shahaji setout. The news of Shahaji’s audacityreached the Bijapur Durbar, and the AdilShah to whom the territory belonged fumed.A mere Maratha ! Dare he question theauthority of the Shah ? The Sultan issuedorders. A large force under Vazir KhawasKhan set out for Poona to teach Shahaji,the rebel a lesson. Adil Shah reachedPoona, ransacked it, ruined its temples andset fire to the whole city.

Death and destruction stalked in uglyparade the fair streets of Poona. Ruin,Desecration, Destruction, Insult. All thesewere there. Yet the marauders were notsatisfied. To crown their acts of brutalitythey ploughed the city with an ass-drawn

NIPPED IN THE BUD


plough. An iron crow-bar was driven intothe ground on which a chappal and abroken cowry were suspended.What a demonstration of ugly tyranny !

IN the hill fort of Shivneri, about 50miles from Poona a young mothercrooned her baby son to sleep. The

mother’s eyes held a far away look. Visionsof wars, where the young one wouldfeature, seemed to unfold before her. Shehad prayed to the Mother Goddess that aRedeemer be born to avenge thehumiliations that her people had been

subjected to. Her yearning heart hadlonged for a son, whom she could nurseand nourish with leonine courage to standthe onslaughts of formidable foes.

Now, her days of fasting and ferventprayers were over. The little Redeemerlay in her arms, a helpless babe. The daythat the Eternal Mother ushered this littleWarrior on to the arena on life was Monday,February 29, 1630. In the fastness of thehill fort, away from the maddening crowdof storm and strife, the same hand rockedthe baby to sleep – it was the hand of themother who was to rule through her son inyears to come.

Strife and bitterness had marked the yearsof her childhood and maidenhood. Evennow her husband was a hunted man whofled, leaving her to the care of a fewtrusted followers. Jija Bai’s husbandbelonged to the family of Bhonsles. Forabout 300 years before the birth of Jija Baithe land of Maharashtra was overrun byinvaders. The cries of the people who werelooted and butchered, whose temples weredesecrated that a Redeemer be born, whowould stop this oppression. Some MarathaSardars had become he servants of theMoghuls and were helping in the oppressionof their own countrymen. It was in thiskind of environment that Jija Bai spent herchildhood years. As a young girl, she metShahaji, the son of Maloji Raje Bhonsle.As children they had played together andlater were tied in holy bonds of matrimony.

It is precisely at this time that Natureseemed to have planned to shape thedestiny of this great woman, so that she

THE REDEEMER


might in turn mould the destiny ofMaharashtra. Jija Bai’s adolescence andyouth witnessed the events that broughtMaharashtra to its knees. She would flareup at the oppression of her people. Sheloathed the very fact that here husband,brother, and father had to bow in servitudeto the Moghul oppressors.

To fight a common enemy internal unity isabsolutely essential. Even this wasuncertain, as internal quarrels,misunderstandings, feuds and pettybickerings had rent the fabric of societyinto shreds. The family of Jija Bai’shusband, the Bhonsles and of her father,the Jadhavs fought bitterly, and herbrother Dattaji was killed by her brother-in-law. The two sides of her family becamebitter enemies. A few days later the Adil

Shah of Bijapur had her father and herbrother killed.It was in the midst of these tragic eventsthat Jija Bai felt that she was soon to be amother. It was possible that she hadvisions as a young woman that a liberatorwould be born, who would set her peoplefree from the strangle-hold of servitude

and slavery. History records that,during the months of herconfinement, Jija Bai would oftenspeak of the dream of seeing asovereign king who would bringback the rule of justice andloyalty among her people.

Within the forest and hill-girdedShivneri fort she fasted andfervently prayed to Bhavani, theMother Goddess. A few faithfulretainers manned the bastions.Beyond the walls stretchedpanther-haunted woods and

jungle wastes. Wild and lonely was theplace where Jija Bai spent her lonely hoursand filled them with the dreams of the futureliberator, for the fulfillment of which sheinvoked the blessings of Bhavani, theuniversal mother. Now this little babe laybefore her, his life like the uncharteredocean. Yes, this frail vessel had to beequipped and fortified to battle with thetumultuous waves of life. The task thatlay before Jija Bai was tremendous but shewas prepared for it.


SHAHAJI was on his heels with theMoghul hordes after him. He fledto safety and it was Bijapur once

again. If not on Shahaji, they let loosetheir fury in pursuit of Jija Bai and Shivaji.In the midst of all the turmoil the only feelingthat the child Shivaji might have beenaware of was the fear and uncertainty thatplayed on his mother’s mind. The fortwhere his mother had taken refuge couldnever stand a regular siege. A vague hopepersisted that the Moghul patrols might notknow where Jija Bai was.

When Shivaji was six the blow fell. It isnot known how the secret of Jija Bai’shiding place was betrayed, but all we knowis that Jija Bai was taken captive, but theMoghuls never found Shivaji. Perhaps, thealarm was given in time for a servant tosnatch up the child and dart through theback gates of the fort to be lost in thejungles around.

Jija Bai was borne in a palanquin surroundedby Moghul troops. The motley processionwith its captive wound its way to Triambak,a hallowed spot for the Hindus, but thenalso the headquarters of the Moghuls. Inthe vast cliff that overhangs, is the springwhere the sacred Godavari rises. Today itis an enchanting place, with its black stonetemples of simple grandeur dedicated tothe great Lord Siva, trees blooming in thecourtyard of the town. When Jija Bai camein through the gates of the town her heart

sank in despair, for the houses were inruins and the streets were empty. Shehad the fear that now that they had caughther they must inevitably find her son.

The hand of providence turned the crueltyof the Moghul commander into indifference.Jija Bai’s only value to him was as ahostage. She was sent under heavy guardto a fortress, while measures were takento speed up the capture of the son. Heordered the patrols in the hills to redoubletheir efforts. Coming events cast theirshadows long before the event itself. Evenas a child he was to be as slippery as helater grew to be.

For three years his devoted servantscarried Shivaji with them into the recessesof the hills with Moghuls hounding them.These hills are wild labyrinth of narrowpasses between huge cliffs where the airis stifling and damp ; of rolling uplandswhere the yellow spear grass stabs one’sankles and the leafless shrubs seem tocrouch, tightly gripping the shallow pebble-strewn soil; of endless avenue through theluxuriant forest, under one’s feet a carpetof rotting leaves squelching at every step,and all around the suspense of breathlessnoon. Bitter is the winter in those hills, athick mist clinging about the trees almosttill noon, so that even the hill-men comeout into the day-light chilled and numbed,slowly stretching their aching limbs in thesun. In May come the long rains. At first

THE ELUSIVE LITTLE ONE


a few showers, pleasant after parchingdrought. A thick mist veils the ravines,while in the darkening woods thecoppersmith bird hoots menacingly warningof the approaching storm. Red cloudsclimbing the sky; a hush and sense oftension ; and then with the first outburstof thunder, trees bend and scream undersea-bitter wind, and the rain falls in hardwhite rods, that beat the grass flat andsend rocks hurtling down precipices andsound upon cottage roofs like the clamourof kettle-drums.

Through winter, the monsoon, and shortbreathless summer, the fugitives wanderedin the hills, never daring to rest long underany roof, always in constant anxiety. Itwould be difficult to exaggerate the effecton the child’s mind of these three years.

While most well-to-do Hindus had come toaccept Muslim domination as inevitable andhad been seduced by the luxury andcomfort of Muhammadan courts, Shivajispent his earlier childhood among men notyet subdued, among wild tribesmen and inlonely forest villages. Other young Hindusof his rank lived as neighbours withMuhammadan gentry and if they weredespised and sometimes persecuted, theyaccepted such inconveniences withouttoo much complaint ; but to Shivaji theMuhammadans were the people who hadtaken his mother away and who followedhim relentlessly.

When he was ten, his mother escaped fromher fortress, but we do not know anydetails of the manner of her escape. Shejoined her son in the hills. She can hardlyhave hoped to see him again. In theloneliness of her imprisonment she hadturned increasingly to religion for comfort; and the re-union with her son must haveseemed almost a miraculous answer to herprayers. The war between the Empire andBijapur was drawing wearily to its end, andthe Moghuls abandoned their search forShivaji. Glad of the respite, mother andson lived together in some cottage in thehills. Shivaji never forgot listening to hismother, while she told him of the old gloriesof Hinduism and how her family and hisfather’s had been free and noble evenbefore the coming of the Greeks, in dayswhen Hindustan was the land of the Hindus,indeed !


OUR knowledge of the past is alwayspartial, partly inaccurate, cloudedby ambivalent evidence and biased

historians, and perhaps distorted by ourown patriotic or religious partisanship.“Most history is guessing and rest isprejudice.” So we must operate with partialknowledge and be content withpossibilities. In History, as in Science andPolitics, relativity rules and all formulasshould be suspect. Perhaps, within theselimits we may ask what history has to sayabout the nature, conduct and prospectsof man.

History is conditioned by geology andgeography. Everyday the sea encroachessome where upon the land or land uponthe sea. Mountains rise and fall to therhythm of emergence and erosion. Riversswell and flood or dry up and change theircourse. Geography is the matrix of history,its nourishing mother and disciplining home.Its rivers, lakes and oceans draw settlersto their shores, for water is the life oforganisms and towns. Mountains rise in aconfusion of creases defyingdomestication, hiding in its dark cavessecrets that kindle the spirit of adventurein man.

Man is as much a product of naturalenvironment as he is the heir to the historyof the community or group to which hebelongs. In the following narratives weshall try to trace the history of such a

group or body of men against thebackground of the stresses and strains thatthey were subjected to. Maharashtra, asthe place is known, is synonymous withShivaji, one of the sons of the soil, whosemastery and craftsmanship in war earnedfor him a name that stands indelibly etchedon the tablets of Indian History. The naturalhide-outs that this piece of land affordedand the name that he earned amply bringout the full advantage that he took of thegeographical situation of this piece of land.

This girdle of land lies east of the Ghats.The rocky nature of the country and theabundance of forests made travellingdifficult and unprofitable. The country wascut up by Nature in to small compartmentsin which the natives lived isolated, self-contained lives. The Maratha people’s loveof isolation was greatly helped by Nature,which provided them with many ready-made and easily defensible fortresses closeat hand, to which they could flee for refugeand whence they could offer tenaciousresistance. Unlike the Indo-Gangetic plainthis country could not be conquered andannexed by one cavalry dash or even onewhole year’s campaigning. Here the nativeshad the chance of putting up a longstruggle against the superior numbers, and,as it often happened, of recovering theirown when the invaders were worn out.

A hero’s glories are sung by the bards ofhis home-country. His greatness is lost to

THE LAND AND THE HERO


others and, with the passage of time, runsthe risk of sinking into the oblivion of deadand forgotten past, from which the creditfor its revival goes to history or otherillustrious sons who featured in thecountry’s struggle for freedom. Tilakrealised the necessity to rouse the sleepingleviathan in his countrymen by hearkeningback to the musty forgotten pages ofhistory and by using his artistry in paintingthe faded colours with vivid hues, thatstand out in stark contrast to the paleand misty mass to which India had beenreduced then. He retrieved this forgottenwarrior, Shivaji, and set him up as anational hero. How well he deserves thisdescription is for us to judge.

At a time when India was ravaged by theMoghul hordes, her temples desecrated,land appropriated and the natives reducedto slavery, there rose a man in a corner ofIndia who challenged this unjust might.The past is a powerful force that silentlyacts on the living present. It is, by nomeans, dead. The historical process is acontinuous whole, perennial and dynamic.The sap and savour of the fruits would bemeaningless without the roots.

Maharashtra today has a distinctivepersonality evolved in the course ofcenturies. The wealth of Maharashtra isnot to be assessed in terms of its materialriches alone. The character of its peopleis an invaluable asset to the country as awhole. This has not emerged suddenly intolife, like Minerva fully equipped from thehead of Zeus. There was a time, not verylong ago, when Indian nationalism was

supposed to have been inspired by Mazziniand Garibaldi. A closer study of our ownhistory reminds us of Chandra GuptaMaurya as the first Indian patriot toorganise successful national resistance toforeign aggression. In its wake was foundthe glorious Empire of Asoka. Later, Shivajidemonstrated (as Jadunath Sarkar puts it)that the Hindu race could build a nation,found a state, defeat enemies, conducttheir own defence, prefect and promoteart and literature, commerce and industry,and maintain navies and ocean-tradingfleets of their own or conduct naval battleson equal terms with foreigners. Shivaji, asSarkar says, taught the modern Hindus torise to the full stature of their growth.

Jawaharlal Nehru writes in his Discover ofIndia : “Shivaji was the symbol of resurgentHindu Nationalism, drawing inspiration fromthe old classics, courageous andpossessing high qualities of leadership. Hebuilt up the Marathas as a strong unifiedfighting group and gave them a nationalbackground and made them a formidablepower which broke up the Moghul Empire.There are glimpses to show that it wasnot all adventurism, though manyadventurers held the field. The Marathashad a wider conception and as they grewin power this conception also grew.”Warren Hastings wrote in 1784 : TheMarathas possess, alone of all the peopleof Hindustan and Deccan, a principle ofnational attachment which is stronglyimpressed on the minds of all individuals ofthe nation and would probably unite theirchiefs as in one common cause, if any greatdanger were to threaten the general State.


SHAHAJI was a roll ing stonegathering little moss, for theSultan of Bijapur moved him around

like a pawn in his Kingdom. The Adil Shahtransferred Shahaji to the Karnatic, not incharge of any military campaign but as asecond-in-command to his Muslim general.At the time of this movement, Shahajithought it advisable to give his wife andson a guardian, and the man he entrustedwith this responsible work was his faithfulBrahmin assistant, Dadaji Kondadev.Kondadev thus became the guardian andtutor to the young Shivaji and as the needfor living in a fortress was now not so acuteon grounds of safety, Shivaji came downto the plains of Poona with his mother.

Shivaji was now thirteen. Of the Brahminaristocracy Shivaji’s tutor Dadaji Kondadevwas a fine example. His devotion hadbecome proverbial. His one passion wasthe service of his young master. He waspunctil ious almost to the point ofeccentricity in his honesty. As anillustration of this the following story is told.He had caused an orchard to be plantedon Shivaji’s estate, and he warned theservants that anyone who stole fruits fromthe trees would be punished. One day hehimself was standing at the orchard at noon; he was thirsty and without thinking hestretched out his hand and picked a ripemango which was swinging tantalisinglybefore him. A moment later, he rememberedthe warning that he had himself given to

the servants, and he was overpowered byremorse. He called for a sword and gotready to hack off his offending hand, thevery hand of one who had earlier laid therule which it broke. The servants crowdedround him and, weeping strove hard todissuade him from so extravagant a self-punishment. Though he laid aside hissword, he wore thereafter a coat withouta sleeve for his right arm. This incident isoften quoted in India, and it may soundtheatrical to English or other alien readers,but the emotional atmosphere was sohighly-charged in Moghul India that anygesture of remorse and penitence wouldhave been neither strange nor unusual.

Dadaji was not only a saint and a scholarbut he was also a capable administrator.He devoted himself to restoring the estateto something of its former level ofprosperity. He started with the wolfplague, offering a reward from his ownsavings for each of the wolves killed. Thehill-men found wolf-killing more paying thanraids on an occasional caravan, and sooncleared the country of wolves. Then Dadajitried to tempt the peasants back to theirfields from banditry in the woods. Heoffered land to them at graduated rates ofa nominal rent of one rupee for the firstyear, three rupees for the second, and soon up to twenty rupees in the sixth year.Many of the tribesmen of the hills wereattracted by this offer, left their forestsand mountain villages and settled down on

THE PRECEPTOR AND THE PRINCE


Shivaji’s estate and became in course oftime his enthusiastic adherents. Dadajirecruited other hill-men as armed guardsto protect the countryside from brigands.

THE chief village in Shivaji’s lands was Poona. Poona was a small village, known onlyfor its temples and the orthodoxy of their priests. At the time of Shivaji’s returnfrom Bijapur even these temples were in ruins. The village had several times beenlooted and was now entirely deserted, save a few fisher folk who lived along theriver Muta. When the last Muhammadan force had passed that way, the commandercaused all the houses and walls to be pulled down, and with a final gesture ofresentful contempt, ordered a team of asses to be harnessed to a plough and drivenover the foundations. Then, solemnly cursing the site of the Hindu town, he plantedan iron rod in the earth as a symbol of his malediction.

Dadaji now dug up this iron rod and threw it away. But he realised that the memoryof the curse would remain with the superstitious villagers, so he retorted to thegesture of the Muhammadan commander by one that was even more dramatic; hehad the site ploughed over once again, but this time with white oxen drawing aplough of pure gold and the royal prince himself wielding it.

From a site deserted and shunned, Poona rapidly became a prosperous town thereafter.One day it would be the Antioch of Hindu India. To measure the change one maylook forward to the days of its splendour and quote the impression of an Englishvisitor, Roberson : “Vast wealth poured into Poona from many sources. The citywas bright with armed men, handsome horses, rich palanquins and gorgeous houses; messengers ran from place to place ; all was gay with sport, dances and merry-making.” But in spite of its Wealth and frequent holidays and festivals, Poona wasknown for its peaceful, orderly life. Foreigners have remarked favourably on thesensible and sober character of the people.

Dadaji could not foresee that the little village for whose prosperity he did so muchwould one day be one of the important cities of India, but it was his patientadministration that laid the foundations of Poona’s civic greatness.

For the first time in many years, thevillagers knew relief from constant peril.Confidence returned. Houses began to bere-built and temples were whisperedgrateful prayers.

POONA AND THE GOLDEN PLOUGH


A MARATHA house is generally builtround two courtyards; the frontcourtyard, having a pil lared

colonnade round it with an archway to thestreet, is used for the reception ofstrangers and the recreation of the menof the household; the back courtyard, usedgenerally by the women, has an altar inthe centre planted with sacred basil. Inthe front colonnade, the men would reclinein the evenings. Servants bring oil lamps,the company rising to salute with liftedhands the sacred flame regarded as asymbol of life.

This must have been the happiest momentof the day for Dadaji – rest after long hoursof wresting with the business of the estate– rest and leisurely perusal of his scrolls ofSanskrit verse – the quiet evening, thesoft lamp-light, the black squat Sanskritcharacters opening up worlds of beauty.Presently he would call Shivaji, and theboy squatted down beside him while herecited the sonorous couplets of old epics,singing of the heroes of Hindustan. AndShivaji sat entranced, while the lamp flamesleapt up in the night, and great mothstumbled about the carved pillars of thecolonnade, and the dreams that filled thememory of his earliest childhood becamefixed in a passionate ambition.

As though to prepare himself for the longordeal of his life, Shivaji spent his days inan arduous routine of daily exercise. He

gathered round him a band of hill-men, andwith them wandered over the same hills,where he had spent those perilous yearsof his childhood. In the ravines, where hehad then stumbled wearily, he now strodeas master. He loved, as all his life, tosubject himself to every strain, to test hisstrength to the utmost. He turned to lonelypaths, where even his companionshesitated to follow ; he scrambled alongthe rocky ledges of sheer cliffs, sendingeagles and yellow vultures screaming fromtheir nests. In time he came to knowevery mile of that wild hill-country, asfamiliarly as his own house in Poona. Andthe hill-men, at first peering distrustfullyfrom their stockade villages at rumours ofa stranger, presently came to greet himwith admiration. He had a smile for all ofthem ; and we know from all who recordedtheir impressions of him how attractive hissmile was. These hill-men were one dayto form the back-bone of the Maratha army.

After a long day in the forest Shivaji wouldreturn to Poona, the hills violet behind him,and before him the rolling yellow fields. Asevery Hindu usually does, he would go firstto his mother on returning to the house.At that hour she would be worshipping thesacred Tulsi before the altar in the centreof the inner courtyard. The altar wasplanted with holy basil. She walked slowlyround the altar, a lamp in her hand, thegolden petal of the lamp-light dispelling thegathering darkness. When her prayers

THE SCHEDULE OF A KING-IN-THE-MAKING


were over she would talk to Shivaji. Theywere so much together that theyunderstood each other perfectly.

Presently, he would leave her for hissupper, for in a Hindu family the men andwomen are apart. His supper – a littlesalted rice and milk, or a few maize-cakes,- would be served in the colonnade of thefront courtyard, Shivaji reclining against acolumn, the little pile of rice set on aplantain leaf before him, and all around theleaf the maid-servants had drawn designsin coloured flour.

And after supper followed his studies withDadaji. So the years passed, and Shivajigrew to manhood.

WHILE Poona was his base,Shivaji was not content tostay put on the plateau of the

Deccan. An inner urge kept taking himaround the mountainous countryside,discovering new hill tracks, some of whichwere difficult to follow. Dadaji Konda Devencouraged this love of an outdoor life.The old man believed that this followedfrom Shivaji’s natural desire to visit thevarious corners of his jagir. He had littleidea of what was really at the back of theyoung man’s mind.

Out of these seemingly harmless outdoorexpeditions, which grew in number as thedays went by, Shivaji started makingcontacts with new people, who were thenatives of mountainside. Towards themShivaji began to feel a natural affinity.They in turn were pleased to see their ownJagirdars come to visit them, despite theparching sun and the heavy monsoons anddefying the difficult mountain tracks whichShivaji had to cross on horseback and onfoot.

To climb these high mountains and wadethrough the dense forests of the WesternGhats, Shivaji spent many days and nightsin the jungle. The wild beasts whofrequented this area in greater abundancethan now, did not deter him from plottinghis camp wherever he had to halt for thenight. This was the hazardous life of his

Aspirations fora New Order


fellowmen; this was the life he too wouldfollow. In this area, and particularly in thedistrict of Maval, there lived a sect of verypoor people, who called themselves afterthe district and were known as the Mavalis.Mavalis were a sturdy, hard-working type,untainted by the sophistication ofcivilisation. Their problems were basic ;they only wanted food to eat and agarment or two, albeit dirty, with which toclothe their nakedness. But these peoplehad character in them, a pricelesspossession, probably formed theruggedness of the surrounding hills. As theMavalis came within the orbit of his jagir,revenue taxes were levied on them by theJagirdar who was Shahaji himself. Shivaji,who was administering the Jagir on behalfof his father, began to realise the strain ofthese taxes on the extremely poor people.He, therefore, told Konda Dev that in viewof the barren soil on which these peoplecould cultivate but little, there should besome remission of taxes for the Mavalis.

Despite the fact that the Mavalis were abackward people and not too civilised,Shivaji developed a fondness for them. Heencouraged the idea of their getting enlistedin his service. He gave them small andun-important jobs – of being couriers takingmessages from Konda Dev to the variousparts of the district and of serving as peonswho attended to household work. A few,who showed talent for military service, hebegan to enroll as soldiers. According tothe historians of the day, the salary theMavalis received in the service of the Jagirvaried between one and two rupees permonth. There were other jobs andinducements offered to the Mavalis,

especially those who could wield a javelin.Their duty was to protect the villagepeople from the attack of wild beasts. Aman-eating tiger or dangerous wolf, if killedby one of them earned him a suitablereward. The wild beasts were taking atoll of human life. The object of the rewardswas to make this part of the country safeto live in.

Among the Mavalis, there was also adangerous lot who indulged in brigandry.These men attacked the villagers returningfrom work in the evening and robbed themof whatever possessions they had. Inconsultation with Konda Dev, Shivajiencouraged the idea of peons and sepoysguarding the roads making them safe fortravel for the innocent and the unwary.The idea of Home Guards thus took root inShivaji’s mind as also the idea that as thefuture Jagirdar of this territory he wouldhave to defend the people who inhabitedit. Food was scarce in this Mavali area,and the people were therefore exhortedto grow fruit which grew easily in themountain regions. The improvement of thelot of the Mavalis became Shivaji’s earlyconcern. Out of this small experiment theidea occurred to Shivaji that if thesenatives of the soil were encouraged in theright way, and not discredited as uselessas the foreign conquerors had done, theycould have a utility value, which couldincrease with time. Foreigners neverinterested themselves in the welfare ofthose natives who were of no use to them.Foreign domination had brought aboutexploitation. Only in a free country,governed and administered by the nativesthemselves, could these sons and


daughters of the soil rise in stature andenjoy the fruits of their civilization.

Therefore, according to Shivaji’s youthfulmind three things seemed essential. Thefirst was to throw off the foreign yoke.This meant a clash with the authority ofSultan in Bijapur, a clash with the Muslimforces which sustained the Sultanate, anda clash also with those who, like his father,helped to maintain the Sultan in power.Later, there may also have to be a clashwith the Moghuls who periodicallydescended on the Deccan for loot. Thesecond essential was that after the foreign

yoke had been cast off, an independentkingdom should be carved out, with a Hinduchieftain at the head of it, who wouldnaturally be closer to the people than anyMuslim or Moghul could be. And the thirdidea was that even this Hindu chieftainmust encourage and welcome the co-operation of the people in the administrationof the jagir. These three ideas, though notclearly defined at the time, started to takeroots in Shivaji’s mind : the removal of theforeign power from this territory, theestablishment of a Hindu state, andestablishment also an elementary form ofdemocracy.


DADAJI KONDDEO was a terror.His rage was consuming, burningthe wrong-doers like a forest fire!

As a tutor to Shivaji he was a strictdisciplinarian. If example is better thanprecept he was an embodiment of theprinciple. He was straight-forward in hisdealing with people and abided by the ruleswhich he himself imposed on others. As aresult, he was both feared and respectedby all. With all this, he was very kind, andhis concern for the people was verytouching.

Dadaji’s administrative skill was well-known.He paid full attention to the needs of thefarmers. Fields, rich with crops, startedyielding plenty of good grain. Hisachievements won the admiration of allpeople. Dadaji once got a miscreant calledPhulaji Naik arrested and brought him toLal Mahal and chastised him severely forhis bad behaviour. Likewise, KrishnajiDeshmukh also paid dearly for his anti-social behaviour. A miscreant or wrong-doer had to pay adequately for his deeds.There was no escape. So strict was he asan administrator.

Once Pant named a village after Shivajiand called it ‘Shivpur’. It was set amongbeautiful surroundings, it had hills withgreen trees and bushes all around. Aftersetting up this village, Dadaji got the ideaof converting its surroundings into mangogroves. Mangoes of all varieties were to

be planted, and the orchard was to be sorich as to put to shame even Adhilshah’sreputed orchard.

After due planning, the work started.Varieties of trees were planted and theythrove on the rich soil. Jijabai wasimmensely pleased with the orchard, whichwas named after Shahaji – ‘Shahbag’ wasits name. Pant tended the plants as hewould tend his own children. His men toiledfor four years and the orchard grew intoripeness and spread their fragrance in alldirections ; soon the emerald-like lumpsappeared that later got transformed intoraw mangoes. Trees were laden withfruitage and bent down with their weight.The green of the mangoes slowly ripenedto a rich yellow tinged with red. Dadajithought of showing the orchard, full of ripemangoes, to your Shivaji and so herequested Shivaji, “Sircar, our orchard atShivapur is now in full fruitage. I wish youwould have a look at it.”

Young Shivaji readily consented.

Horses were brought in and they set outfor Shivpur. They crossed Katraj Ghat, andentered the orchards of Shivpur. Mangotrees, rich with ripe fruits, welcomedShivaji. They saw the trees grown to theirfull height spreading like umbrellas. Themangoes could be plucked easily by thehand as the trees were not very tall. Therewas obvious pleasure on the face of

ADMINISTRATION OF DADAJI KONDDEO


Maharaj. Dadaji felt gratified. A smiletransformed the otherwise wrinkled faceof Dadaji. Shivaji said, “Pant, these fruitswill be fit for the treasure house ofBhausahib (his father).”

Dadaji smiled. At last his efforts had trulyborne fruit. He pointed out one tree inparticular to Shivaji and said, “Balraje, thiswas the first tree to blossom, and the firstto bear fruit among the whole lot.”

Shivaji then walked among the trees,admiring them one by one. He wonderedat the liberality of the trees that yieldedfruit in such profusion and at such a tenderage.Dadaji’s attention was caught by a yondertree. He was attracted by a mango, thatwas just ripe and looked reddish yellow.The mango was really very attractive. Itscolour and quality would not allow Dadajito turn his attention elsewhere. Dadajiplucked the mango with his right hand andlooked at it with childish joy. The juicewas still oozing out of the broken stemwhen suddenly Dadaji’s face became moreand more serious. A moment ago he wasdelighted, but now all his pleasure seemedto have vanished. He looked at the mango.His eyes were filled with tears. His handswere trembling. Shivaji was still looking atthe trees. He threw the mango andinstantaneously drew his sword from itssheath. When Shivaji came closer, he couldnot believe what his eyes saw. Dadaji helda sword in his left hand, ready to chop offhis other hand. The right hand was heldstraight. He was biting his lips with rage.

He was just about to strike. At thatmoment Shivaji cried, “Pant, stop that, stopthat !”He ran towards Dadaji and caught hold ofhis left hand. “What are you doing, Pant?”asked Shivaji.“I was going to chop off my right hand”,replied Dadaji.

“Why ? What happened, Pant ?”“This hand has betrayed me”.“What do you mean ?” wondered Shivajiwhile still gripping Dadaji’s left hand in thesame manner.“Sircar, I plucked a mango without yourpermission ! A crime has been committed! There can be no excuse ! The crimemust be punished ! Sircar, chop off myright hand yourself.”“No, no, Pant ! What is the crime in it?You planted the trees. And if you pluck amango, I find nothing wrong in it ! Whowill blame you ? It is so succulent.”

But, “I have not committed even such apetty crime so far !” was the remonstrance.“If such petty crimes go unpunished, biggercrimes would be perpetrated. The entireadministration would become corrupt ! Youlose your wealth, you lose your Kingdoms !This is not fair ! I have plucked the fruitwithout your permission. I must bepunished.”

That was how Dadaji governed. To himevery act was to be carefully weighedbefore it was executed. He was as readyto cut off his own offending hand as hewould have done in punishing otheroffenders.


THE young and agile form of Shivajiached for action. Tidal waves ofturmoil rose and engulfed him. He

could not contain them. “How long? Howlong was he to wait thus?” seemed to bethe unending query posed by his mind. Likeall true devotees of Mother he waited forHer call. “Why this delay?” he keptquestioning Her.

The Divine Mother had Her own plans andas Her chosen instrument he was to abideby it. The brooding lines and beetled browsbecame a constant feature of his face.Was he also to live a tame life? Wait forthe scraps thrown from the ruling master’stables? Better death than the dishonourof slavery? Thus he mused. Driven by thetautness of indecision and anxiety heentered his mother’s chamber for thecomfort that had never failed him so far.Jija Bai looked up. Her heart missed a beat.An unearthly light seemed to radiate fromher son. “Yes”, she thought “Bhavani hasat last taken hold of Shiva. Soon therulers would have hell to pay for.”

The fire of resentment and the rising wavesof resolution bottled up within the frail formof Shivaji seemed to spill out. He cameand stood by his mother and said, “Thecall has come”. Jija Bai looked at her sonwith bated breath. “Yes, the hour hasstruck. The great Mother has soundedher clarion call and you have answer it,my son. But should you not ask your

master’s permission ? After all your fatherhas entrusted you to him.” The obedientson bent his head in submission and waitedfor Dadaji Konda Dev to come. As usualthe revered head showed itself at thedoorway at the appointed time. He seatedhimself at his accustomed place and wasabout to start his work when summonscame from Jija Bai’s chamber. The old manhurried out and was soon in the presenceof his young pupil and Jija Bai.

The room was large with a number ofcarved wooden pillars. At one end thelight of an oil lamp shed its limpid glowilluminating the face of Bhavani, the MotherGoddess. The morning worship was over.Mother and son waited in the sacredpresence for the preceptor’s arrival. Theusual formalities over, Shivaji pitched instraight. “Pant”, the young boy quietlysaid, “I am sure that you are aware of thechaos all around us. The country isoverrun by foreigners. Our temples are inruin. There is no honour left amongst us.It is high time that something is done aboutall this.” The fervour and urge of the youngman’s utterance sent a thrill through theageing form of Dadaji Konda Dev. But thenprudence prevailed.

“Pardon my impudence Bal Raje” (that ishow the preceptor called him). “Proud asI am to hear of your noble resolve, certainmisgivings prompt me to sound a warningnote. This land of ours has long beenbattered down under the heels of hordesof foreigners. Today her might is aforgotten dream and I am afraid that anattempt to free her from this iron grip mayalso remain …a….mere…..dream !”

The Tryst


As Shivaji listened to this reminder of thestark realities so vividly painted, the breaththat blew itself in short gulps, the beetledbrows and the deep flush on the faceeloquently expressed the storm that ragedwithin his young bosom. One could seethat the storm that gathered would wreckhim or ruin those who were to be victimsof it. Obstacles were to be pushed asidewith resolve. His mind was made up andno power on earth was to stem the tidethat had risen to such tremendousdimensions. In measured tones Shivaji said: “No, Pant, I am convinced that it is notto be a dream. In the attempt to make ita reality I am ready to lay down my life.In the meantime, I have only one requestto make. Would you grant it?” “What isthat, Bal Raje?” asked Dada Konda Dev.“Your blessings” said Shivaji. A soft smilelit up the care-lined face. “It is yours, BalRaje. . . . and will always be there.” Insilence three heads bowed in ferventprayer while Bhavani beamed benevolentlyon them.

The sun had risen above the hills touchingthe tops with his golden magic wand. Themist that enveloped the hills was liftedrevealing the verdant greenery of thevegetation. A band of young menclambered up the hil l side to theRohideswar temple. Their determined facesfore-told eventful happenings of the future.Since they were clad in white, with a sash,from which a scabbard hung it was easyto conclude that these were warriors. Whatbrought them to the temple courtyard ?The priest was there and so were someother people. At the appointed time more

young men came. Among them was Shivaji.As the priest’s incantations started, youngheads bent in silent prayer. Prayer for what? Now the Linga was anointed and sacredwater was poured over it. As if at a silentcommand all the heads were raised and ahost of swords flashed up and met abovethe sacred symbol of Shiva. In deepsombre tones Shivaji in toned the pledge,- it was a pledge to stake his own life forthe freedom of his people. The same wordswere echoed by his companions who alsovowed loyalty to Shivaji, whom theyacknowledged as their leader. Dadaji KondaDev and Jija Bai watched on in silent aweat the profundity of sentiment and the deepearnestness of the young men bound by acommon pledge.

This great event took place in 1645. Howwell Shivaji stood up to this great pledgewas to be proved a few days later. Freshwith fervour he set out with his friends tofind out if law and order prevailed in hisown territory. Alas ! tyranny and thebrute power of man was ever the same allover. With blanched face and tightenedlips he heard that the Patel of Ranjha haddishonoured a woman. This was not to betreated lightly. His hand tightened on thehilt of his sword as he sent out messengersto fetch the offender. Maximum punishmentbefitting his crime was pronounced. Hewas to atone for it in terms that would notleave others in doubt about what their fatewould be if the same was repeated. Thisthen was young Shivaji whose wrath wasnot roused against any religion in narrowbigotry but was ever set against insolentmight and inhuman wrongs.


influence, declaring themselvesindependent rulers. India as a whole hadno identity. The country was hacked intotwo sections, the conquerors who camefrom across the borders and the people ofthe soil who either became the conqueredor remained dependants of some localchieftain, who broke away from theconquerors.It was at Bijapur in 1641 that young Shivaji,then only 14 years of age, began to feelthe difference between those who belongedto the ruling classes and those who werethe ruled. In the territory in which helived at that time, it was the supremacyof the Muslims which clearly stood out.What irked the lad was not the differencein the two religions, but the glaringinequality between the rulers and the ruled.

There was little awareness of democracyin those days. Nevertheless, withoutunderstanding the principles and theory ofthe political or public welfare, Shivaji at anearly age felt the first spark of a revoltagainst the prevailing inequality. It was a

A Slave is Always a Slave

BIJAPUR was the capital of theAdil Shahs, the Muslim Sultanswho had a Kingdom of their own in

Deccan. The Sultans were tributaries ofMuslim domination over India. The foundersof the Sultanates were originally in theemployment of the Bahmani rulers ofDeccan that began to wane, and with thatthe individual Sultans attempted toconsolidate their own individual spheres of

mere coincidence that the resistance hadto be primarily against Muslims, for thecountry was mainly in the hands of theMoghuls, and he rebelled against them.

From an early age, Shivaji had a greatpreference for simplicity of living. Life asone constant exile and one long journeythrough rugged mountain tracts, demandedthat he develop a simple way of living thatcould be lived anywhere. He appeared tolack the accommodating ways of his father.With Shivaji simple living was almost a fetishand he expressed his abhorrence for allforms of luxury. He appeared to lack theaccommodating ways of his father. He hadrespect for those who revealed eitherwisdom or learning, and expressed withoutfear his contempt for the idle rich.

Shahji was, however, greatly disturbed byhis young son’s rudeness towards thoseon whom his own existence depended. Hefelt that one should adopt a practicalattitude to life and that if it was ordainedat any period of time that the Muslimsshould rule over our land, there was noharm in serving them so long as one’s faith,which was Hindu religion, was notinterfered with or affected, by Muslim sway.Shahji wanted his son to adopt this outlook,instead of fighting a battle with those whowere superiors by sheer might and power.He gave his own examples and argued thathe was a Hindu Chieftain well treated bythe Muslims, one who received great


favours from the Sultan. The lad wasstubborn. He kept saying that suchpatronage could only ease the irksomenessof being a vassal ; it never changed thestatus itself. A slave was a slave andgolden shackles could not change thatstubborn fact.

Shahji did not give up hopes of changingthe mind of his rebel son. He relied on hisown parental authority, for every fatherbelieves that he can eventually mould hisson to the pattern which he thinks is bestfor him. By tactful conversation, byoccasional admonitions and frequentpersuasions he induced Shivaji toaccompany him to the Sultan’s Durbar.Before taking his son to appear in the courthe coached the young man on right conductat the court. On the day of the Darbarthe rebel in Shivaji got the better of theloyal son in him, and as father and sonappeared before the Sultan, the fatherbowed low, while the son only made a slightgesture and took his seat by his father, hishead held high and with no signs ofsubmission on his countenance. TheSultan, observing that his General Shahjiwas accompanied by a young man, kindlyinquired who the boy was. Shahjidiplomatically explained that the boy washis son Shivaji and that this was his firstappearance at Court, thus making up forthe scant salutations which Shivaji hadoffered the Sultan. The aged Sultanunderstood his Hindu Courtier’sembarrassment and overlooked the youngman’s lack of etiquette. He went on topresent jewels and robes of honour toShivaji welcoming him to the Royal Darbar.

Shivaji took the presents given to him, butwhen he returned home that day he castaway the court dress which had beenplaced on his shoulders, dumped the giftsin a corner, never caring to take a secondlook at them. The lavish furnishings andeasy life reflected in the mien of the noblesrepelled Shivaji. The Darbar, glittering withthe ornamentations and heavy carpets,contrasted sharply with the bare stone wallsand floors amid which Shivaji romped as aboy and grew up to rugged manhood. Theatmosphere, scented heavily withy must,incense and attar only brought him nostalgicmemories of the fresh air of the mountainside, laden with subtle scents of natureand the smell of brown, caked earthresponding to the first showers. The men,with their handsome delicate features, freshcomplexions, and well cared for features,brought to his mind, and showed how hardlife was for his sun-browned brethren athome, whose bathing salts came only fromtheir sweat and mud was their onlycosmetic.

The splendour of the Royal Court onlymagnified the vision Shivaji already had ofthe contrast between the ruler and theruled, and intensified his repulsion for Courtlife. The secluded life he had all along,away from Court life, was responsible forShivaji’s nature. Had he been at Court,and seen his father constantly bowing downto the Sultan, and beaming at his favours,Shivaji perhaps could have been influencedinto that life, and his spirit of rebellion wouldnot have taken the upper hand.

Now came the time for him either to decidebetween accepting the ways of the court


or stay aloof from it, and of course, Shivajichose the latter course.

Behind Shivaji’s behaviour was always hisearly realisation that he and his peoplewere the have-nots of the land. If herose in rank or position as his father haddone, it was because of the use the Sultancould make of him to prop up his ownposition. To be aware that one is only avassal requires the strength of character.That Shivaji was aware of it at the age ofthirteen, does credit to him. It evoked inhim a hitherto unknown national pride. Thathe was a Hindu and therefore different inreligion from the Muslims was not somaterial to Shivaji as that he was a nativeof the soil along with his father andforefathers, part of the land itself, whilethe Muslims came from a land that was faraway and taken possession of our ownearth. Classified regionally, he was aMaratha, and to be a Maratha was indeeda matter of pride to Shivaji. But his mainpride was that he was part of themotherland, and an Indian.

MIR AMJAD ABIDI, the greatnoble of the realm and one ofthe chief counselors to the King

of Bijapur, growled. The khansama hadserved the food and the aroma of thecurries increased the nobleman’s appetite.But when he started eating, he gasped inhorror ! There was no meat !

“Begum !” he shouted with a cry of despairand pain.

Three women came running in, followed bythe Khansama, an old cook. The womenwere young and rather pretty, vivaciousand pert. They saw the anger on theirhusband’s face but it did not mean anythingto them. They were too young to knowand appreciate the pent up emotions andintricacies of desperate rage. They weretwenty-two, twenty and eighteen yearsof age, respectively, while their husbandwas past fifty.

“Is something wrong?” Mohammedi Begumasked. She was the oldest of the three.He growled.

“Where is meat?” he shouted. “Do youthink I’m a buffalo to eat only grass?”

“Hai Allah !” Shahzadi Begum exclaimed.She was the youngest and, at the moment,his favourite.

The Butcher of Bijapur


“Now, what has Allah got to do with meat?”he asked stingingly.“Don’t you know that meat is not availablethese days?” Mohammedi Begum said.“The butchers have been asked to give upslaughtering cows.”

“What nonsense! Who gave the order?”“The Sultan,” said Razia Banu, the middleone.“The Sultan gave no such order”“Hai ! Hai !” Shahzadi exclaimed. “You goto the durbar every day and you do notknow anything about the king’s fireman ?The servant has gone to the market severaltimes but there’s not a single butcherthere.”Mir Amjad Abidi got up, his eyes red, hisbeard and moustache bristling. A hungryman is an angry man, and he was in arage. He walked out with long strides,determined to get at the root of the matter.

Mohammed Adil Shah, the ageing Sultanof Bijapur, was in the harem. And AmjadAbidi wanted to see him. It was an oddhour to be advised on the affairs of stateand he disliked this noble.“Well, what has upset you now ?” theSultan queried. “You look oddly miserable.”

Mir Amjad Abidi bowed deep and salaamedto the king.“I am miserable, Alijah. I am hungry,” hesaid in low voice.“Ya Allah !” the Sultan exclaimed. “Therichest man in Bijapur and he has no foodto eat !”“I don’t mean that, Jehanpanah,” Abidiput in immediately. “My khansama couldn’tserve me meat.”

The Sultan saw the humour in this andburst out laughing. Abidi lookeddisconcerted.“No meat? What happened to all thebutchers?”“There are no butchers,” Abidi said in ahollow way.“Mir Amjad Abidi, you must be joking.Butchering is a profession. What will thebutchers do if they give up their profession? If the butchers are not here or therethey must be somewhere.”

“They used to have their slaughter housesand their stalls on the main highway, Alijah.But today I rode four times up and downthe highway, and found that their stallshave been taken over by other traders –those of vegetables and fruits. There wasno meat displayed, nor were there anybutchers.”


The Sultan laughed again. The gruff voicegave way to a cackle.“No meat,” he murmured, and burst intofresh laughter. He saw the serious face ofthe counselor and sobered up.

“I remember now,” he said. “I had orderedthe butchers to remove themselves fromthe centre of the city and move to theoutskirts in the south.”

“But why, Alijah?”“For communal harmony. I want to avoidhatred and unhappiness among my Hindusubjects, and I do not want to offend theirreligious sentiments. They worship thecow, you know. I have done it in theinterests of internal peace.”

Abidi was taken aback.“Jahapanah, the butchers have been theresince Allah knows when. Why this suddenchange?”A female attendant came in with a gobletof wine and a long glass in a small roundtray. She poured the wine into the glassand gave it to the Sultan. The Sultandrank it with relish.

“I heard you got a new wife” he askedAbidi.Abidi looked at the king.“Why the change, Alijah?” he asked again.

“Oh, that ! It was not sudden. You knowI love my subjects. Only nobody told methat the Hindus were perpetually hatingthe Muslims because of the slaughter ofcows. I have not stopped the slaughter,only I shifted the slaughtering houses.”

“Who told the Jehanpanah about this ?”

“You are a persistent scoundrel, Abidi. Well,if you’d like to know, it was Shahji Bhonsle’sson, Shivaji, or whatever name he calledby.”

“I understand, Alijah. May I withdraw ?”The Sultan nodded and Abidi walked out.The king turned his attention to the girl.“No meat,” he murmured and burst into aloud cackle.

Abidi returned crestfallen. But under-currents of rage seethed within him. Athirteen-year-old Hindu boy to tell theSultan to stop butchering of cows ! Thiswas indeed audacious, extra ordinary !

He was curious to know what power theboy had over the king. The damnedMaratha !The three begums fluttered around him likemoths around a flame. The wanted to knowwhat had happened. But he wasexasperated. He only thought of the boywho had made the king obey him.In the days that went by, he met othernobles, and each in his own way feltinsulted. They felt that the king was agood and understanding man but unduepressure had been brought on him by aboy. So, the boy had insulted them bycutting off their supply of meat in the nameof religion. The boy was dangerous. If hecould influence the Sultan now, how muchpower would he not wield when he grewup !

They conspired to get rid of Shivaji. Therewere only two ways : either Shivaji should


be killed or he should be driven out ofBijapur.

The conspirators met in the entertainmenthall of Mir Amjad Abidi’s house. Five peerssprawled on the soft divans, quaffing wine,chewing betel leaves and nuts, andenjoying the dance of Gulbadan.

The guard announced the arrival of KasimQuerishi, a butcher.Abidi clapped his hands and the dancestopped. Gulbadan withdrew with hermusicians.Kasim Querishi walked in. He was amedium-heighted, rough-looking man, withthick moustaches and thicker muscles. Hisface looked as if cut out of stone and itlooked cruel, brutal. His head was cleanshaven. He was dark and bestiality seemedto drip from every pore of his body.He made an uneasy bow to the nobles,salaaming them.

Abidi spoke : “Kasim, you have beenforbidden by the king to sell meat on thehighway. Where are you selling meat now?”

“In the southern part of the city, master.”Kasim said, his voice gruff and rasping.“Very few people come all the way to buymeat there. It is too far away. We willhave to give up our trade if this should goon.”

“Don’t do that,” said Shahabuddin, a peerof realm. “Do you know who wasresponsible for all this?”“The Sultan, master.”“No, you idiot. It was Shahji’s son Shivaji”- Mirza Ismail, another noble, said.

Kasim guffawed, “I know the boy. Howcan he be responsible, master?”Abidi lost his temper. Kasim was a fool, animbecile.“He told the Sultan,” he said hotly, “andthe Sultan got rid of all of you.”

“That’s a rotten thing to do,” Kasimconceded.“But we will rectify matters,” Shahabuddinsaid. “Tomorrow you will sell meat on thehighway. Shivaji will pass that way. Ifanything happens, we will be there to takeall necessary action.”“What will happen?” Kasim asked, puzzles.“And what will the Sultan say? It wouldbe breaking the law!”“Do not worry about the Sultan. We willanswer him. It’s Shivaji we have to worryabout.”

Kasim was all brawn and really thick-headed.“Why? Shivaji is only a chokra. As big asmy little finger.”“He is a noble’s son, you know. He mightpick a quarrel with you, or abuse you. Ifhe doesn’t, we want you to provoke himto do so.”Some sense seemed to dawn on Kasim.“We don’t know. But will you do as wesay?”Abdul Samad Khan threw a bag of coins.“You want to kill the boy?” he asked.The bag fell at the butcher’s feet with aloud jingle.“It is yours if you provoke the lad,” hesaid.Kasim picked up the bag. “It shall be done,master.”


“Tomorrow , at the time when Shivajipasses on the highway to the durbar,remember to be there.”“Yes, master.”He was dismissed. Mujahid Asafuddaulahquaffed the wine.

“Send for Gulbadan,” he said. “The sightof the butcher has upset mu stomach.”Abidi clapped his hands and the guardappeared.“Tell Gulbadan to come in,” he ordered.The music began and Gulbadan danced.

Next day, the people were shocked to seeKasim Querishi sitting at the city gates witha basketful of meat. The people flocked innumbers to buy the meat, but the priceswere exorbitant and prohibitive. Quarrelsrose in the air, and soon everyone wasshouting at everyone else.Shivaji rode his horse with ease. He was ashort lad of thirteen, with an aquiline nose,thin lips and a determined chin. He wasdressed in the rich clothes of a courierand was on his way to the durbar. He sawthe furore and stopped.

Kasim saw the boy and grinned. Shivajisaw him at the same instance and wasshocked. Selling meat on the highway wasforbidden. Kasim came up to Shivaji andsaid belligerently, “Does the young masterwant some cow’s meat?”

He laughed at his own joke and began todisplay the meat to everybody. Shivaji’sface darkened with shame. There was ablaze in his eyes. He jumped from thehorse and rushed at Kasim.

Kasim saw the boy and his face twitchingwith contempt. Others saw him andwondered what the little boy could do.

Swiftly, Shivaji drew his sword and slashed.Before anyone could even squeak, the headof Kasim Querishi rolled on the ground.Shivaji calmly sheathed his sword andwalked back to his horse. He got on to itand rode back homewards. There seemedto be a great peace in his heart, and thecalmness on his face suggested it.

There were hoarse shouts of dismay andconsternation. Everyone began to talk.There was even fear on some of the faces.Then, soldiers came rushing up, led by Abidi,Mirza Ismail, Shahabuddin, MujahidAsafuddaulah and Abdul Samad Khan. Theyhad expected a quarrel, a wordy battle, ahot exchange of harsh words, not a death.

The whole scene looked confusing, andpeople ran helter-skelter. Before long,Bijapur was ringing with the name of Shivajiand his killing of the butcher. There wastension in the city now. The Muslims lookedat the Hindus with apprehension. Fearlurked in the alleys and by lanes. A Hinduboy had killed a Muslim. What would aHindu man do?

Abidi looked at the gathering throng andsaid :“Justice will be done. The king shallbe informed and Shivaji punished.”

But he was angry that his plan had misfired.He had wanted to kill Shivaji and in theconfusion nobody would have known. Fatehad turned the tables, and only regret was


left behind. Everyone went his way. Thebody of Kasim was left to rot in the marketplace. The nobles went to the king.

“You’re strange boy, Shiva. You are myson and yet you are a stranger to me.What do you hope to achieve? You insultthe king in the durbar by not bowing tohim and make yourself ridiculous in the eyesof the peers of the realm. You are onlyboy and yet you behave so differently. Andyou have the audacity to tell me that youcut off a butcher’s head just because hesold meat by the city gates. What’s wrongwith you, Shiva? Are you ill?”

Shivaji looked at his father, his eyesunflinching, his face stern and rigid.

“He provoked me to buy cow’s meat, father.Please let me go away from here, father.I’m sick of this city life, this pomp andceremony, these intrigues of the court….”

“Where would you go?” the father asked,puzzled. “A son should stay with his fatherand follow in his footsteps.”

“I am born of the Sahyadris, father. I willgo back to the mountains and the openspaces. I will go back to the earth I belongto, the soil I love and to the people whomI know and understand.” Shahji lookedpuzzled.

“There will be hell to pay for what you’vedone. All right, go. I’ll tell Dadaji Kondadevto take you to Lal Mahal, to my Jagir atPoona.”

“Thank you, father.”Shivaji touched his father’s feet and walkedout. Shahji saw him go and started withpuzzlement. He would never understandthe boy. A very strange boy !

Abidi met the Sultan. “Still no meat,Mr.Amjad Abidi?” the king queried andlaughed boisterously.

“A dreadful thing has happened, Alijah. Acrime has been committed. Shivaji hasmurdered a butcher.”

The king laughed some more. “No cow’smeat, so you are after human meat ! Soyou have cut a butcher.” Abidi lookedexasperated. “Shivaji had committed acrime, Jehanpanah.”

“Oh that ! The butcher disobeyed the lawand Shivaji must have enforced it.Probably, Shivaji was a little over-enthusiastic.”

Abidi bowed and withdrew. As he walkedout, he heard the king say, “No meat,” andburst out into a loud laughter.

Abidi bit his lip. His other nobles met himoutside in the courtyard. The laughterseemed to follow him. The Sultan wouldpay for this cruel joke. “Come, my friends,we have much work to do,” he said.

He set about planning the Sultan’s downfall.


AROUND the crackling fire theysat, the pungent smell of wood-smoke filling their nostrils. The

attendants fetched them warm drinks whichthey imbibed. Then Shivaji started toaddress them. He enquired about the fruitsand food crops. He asked about the localpeople, their problems, altogether a varietyof questions. Gradually, he came to thepoint. “This fort of Torna,” he said, “is agood place. If we could get it, it would bea place of our own. From here I couldkeep in easy touch with all of you. Wemust get it.” “Hoi,” came the chorus fromthe three chiefs.“But how ?”“Not difficult,” Shivaji explained to them,for he knew the life of the land.“Do we attack it ?” one of the Deshmukhsasked.“It would be better if the Governor couldbe induced to give it up,” Shivaji replied.

“Hoi,” came the chorus once again. Theyhad understood the point the young Jagirdarwas making. It would be a grand thing ifthe Governor could be made to give it up.“Hoi,” the chiefs agreed. They nodded theirheads in unison.

“We will tell him that you have news fromBijapur to take charge of the fort,” one ofthe chiefs volunteered. Torna wasinadequately garrisoned by the Bijapurforces, it not being even remotelysuspected by the Sultan that anyone had

any designs on his forts in Maharashtra. AGovernor with a small garrison guardedTorna, as if it were a police chowki for thepreservation of local law and order. AGovernor was no great official ofgovernment ; he was only a local head-man paid by the Sultan for his allegianceand allowed to lord over the local Mavaliswith the authority of the Sultan in far awayBijapur.

To the Governor, Shivaji dispatched threeof his active Mavali chiefs. They were theones who had shown earliest enthusiasmfor Shivaji’s idea of consolidating the Hinduelement in the area and gradually takingthe administration of that territory into hisown hands. Yesaji Kunk, Tanaji Malusareand Baji Pasalkar were the names of thesethree chiefs which indicate nothing now,except that they were the men who tookthe initiative in uttering the first “hoi” toShivaji.“Hoi” meant instinctive obedience toShivaji. When uttered in a quick staccatomonosyllable, it left no time for questioning; it allowed for no argument; “Hoi” or “yes”it was lending their support to Shivaji’sspoken word. The idea of inducing theGovernor to hand over was good, but notforceful enough and was not sufficientlyconvincing if the Governor wanted proofof such a communication. What was lackingin conviction or authority could be madeup by an alluring offer of the yellow metal.A bag of gold could work well !

The Capture of Torna


Shivaji bought out the gold required, forthe idea of owning the fort of Tornaappealed to him. Gold enough and tospare, would always be available, but fortswere few, and with possession of the fortsthere came security, stability, strategicpower. Shivaji had borrowed the gold fromDadaji Kondadev. So long as it was forthe protection of the Jagir, it was worthspending, Shivaji had argued with his oldguardian. In any case, it was the wish of

the heir to the estate that it should be sospent. Kondadev had no option but togive his young master the gold he wanted.

So went the chiefs at Shivaji’s bidding onthe first successful errand of diplomacy,but not without a price, which, however,did not matter. In 1646 Torna came intoShivaji’s hands, the first fortress of hisdreams.


THE old man lay ill. The blurredvision and the inaudible speechtold their own tale. Dadaji Kondadev

was to pass into the pages of a gloriouspast soon. Young Shivaji sat by the manwho had been his friend, guide, and loyalsubject. He held the aged hands in hisown and tried to infuse warmth into it.Induction was of no use, now. For thepast few days Shivaji had not left the sideof his master. He had nursed him with thedevotion of a son.

With the premonition of death the old manturned his eyes on Shivaji. He seemed tobe muttering some incoherent words.Shivaji bent his head low to catch thewords that said faintly, “Forgive me if Ihave ever spoken harshly to you, Bal Raje,it had been only for your good.” Shivajiassured him accordingly and stammered outa request for forgiveness on his part, if hehad caused his tutor any worry. Theprescience of the dying inspired Dadaji toa sudden realisation of Shivaji’s destiny,and he advised him to restore the oldvirtues of Sanatana Dharma, when he roseto the peaks of power.With these words the old man departedfor his heavenly abode.

Shivaji keenly felt the loss of Dadaji. Heknew how much he owed to him. The outercourtyard in the palace at Poona seemedsadly changed. Gone was the figure thatbent over the low desk, containing scrolls

of Sanskrit verses, gone his deepabsorbtion over reports from the districtsand the unending accounts ! After all,this was inevitable. The old order changed,yielding place to new.

The death of Dadaji Kondadev found Shivaready for his task. He had already beentrained in martial exercises and civiladministration. He had familiarised himselfwith the troops of his father’s western jagirand the people he would have to govern.Shivaji had also taken part with his motheror his guardian in judicial investigations andpublic decisions of legal disputes.

After the death of Dadaji it was Shivaji’saim to bring all parts of Shahji’s Jagir underhis own control, so as to form a compactstate under a single supremacy. The fortof Chakan guarding the road to Poona fromthe north had been entrusted by DadajiKondadev to Firangoji Narsala, who laterprofessed allegiance to Shivaji and wasconfirmed in his past. The officers of theThanas Baramati and Indapur on the easternmargin of the Jagir peacefully submittedto Shiva’s authority.

Thus inch by inch Shivaji was scaling upthe slippery wall of power, when a suddencheck was brought in by alarming newsfrom Karnataka. Shivaji got news that hisfather was arrested and all his propertywas confiscated by the Bijapur Commander-in-Chief. Shahji was brought out fromprison one day and told that he would bebricked up alive unless Shivaji presentedhimself at Bijapur. He was chained to theback of the niche and masons began tobrick the entrance.

THE BAIT


Shivaji was in a terrible dilemma. He couldonly resort to diplomacy for rescuing hisfather, and diplomacy pointed only to onepath. The Moghul Emperor was thehereditary enemy of Adil Shah andevery rebel against Bijapur was sureto gain the Emperor’s patronage.Shivaji realised that Moghul Emperoralone was strong enough to intimidateAdil Shah.

A plan slowly took shape. A few dayslater a special messenger took a letterto Prince Murad Bakhsh, who hadbeen recently appointed byShahjahan as Viceroy of Deccan.Shivaji wrote to Prince Murad Bakhshentreating him to secure the Emperor’spardon for Shahji, his father andprotection for him and his sons in thefuture, and offering to come and jointhe Moghul service.

To this Murad replied on 14th March,1649 asking him to send a trustworthyagent first to report his demands.Accordingly, Raghu Pandit was sent toreport. Shivaji’s messenger was treatedwith flattering consideration. Prince MuradBakhsh wrote gracious letters not only toShivaji but also (further to embarrassBijapur) to Shahji imprisoned behind thebrick wall. It was a strange reversal offortune for Shahji.An Imperial letter could not be withheld.The stiff sheet bordered with elegantdesigns and stamped with the seal of a

great purple hand arrogantly out-spread,had to be treated with the same respectas an utterance of the Emperor from histhrone. In the letter to Shahji Prince Muradwrote, “Be free from anxiety. A dress of

honour has been sent to you as a mark ofour favour. We trust that by its arrival asa good omen you will appreciate the extentof our Imperial Condescension.”

And to Shivaji it was writer : “You, Shivaji,worthy of magnanimous treatment,recipient of our favour have imploredImperial help and your letter is pleasing tous.” The Sultan of Bijapur had noalternative now but to order Shahji’srelease from his tomb of bricks.


WE decided to take a drivealong the high road fromPoona to Satara through Katraj

Pass. We sped past the mango groves ofShivapur, past the ancient town of Shirwal.A number of forts raised up their headslike grim sentinels reminding one of theglory of a monarch who dared to defy themight of the Moghuls. There stoodSinhagad for the capture of which TanajiMalusare gave up his life. There also stoodforts of Purandhar and Vajragad, thatwitnessed the valour of Murar Baji, andSajjangad hallowed by the memory of SaintRam Das and Satara, the capital of MarathaEmpire.

Fort after fort with its battlements andreinforcements, that we passed, spokevolumes of Shivaji’s military genius. Thesites were generally atop hills accessibleonly by narrow and steep foot-paths thatzigzagged along unscalable precipices.They were all defended by stout stonewalls. The hill sides were rendered difficultto approach by bushes of thorny opuntia,that forms the common feature of thevegetation in these places. As the eyesroved over the forts, my mind raced backa few years and recalled the account ofthe Military Tactics of the Marathas bySurendra Nath Sen that I had read. Therehe states that the forts were well equipped– “every fort was provided with aDarukhana or a power house and AmbarKhana or store-room for provisions. The

water supply was not forgotten. Even asmall fort like Satara can boast of morethan one tank and a well that suppliedexcellent drinking water even today aftera century of neglect.”

Torna was Shivaji’s maiden effort in theart of King-craft. The eaglet had spreadout its infant wings on to the immense fieldof life. The wild expanse of hills and plainslay before him for his exploration, or was itexploitation ? The shrewd eyes alightedwith precision on Torna, twenty miles fromPoona. With a swift strategic swoop Tornawas firmly clasped, and he went on to otherpursuits.

Shivneri has the unique privilege of havingwelcomed the infant Shivaji into the world.There Jija Bai had bent her head in ferventprayer to Bhavani the Mother Goddesswhose shrine once adorned the place. Thefort which was once in the possession ofShahji was later taken over by the Moghul.More than once Shivaji tried and failed torecover the place. Raigad, the strongholdof Shivaji’s power and prowess, overlooksthe immense blue expanse of the ArabianSea on one side and the purple range ofhills on the other. Stupendous in itsenormity, Raigad was the witness of manyimportant events in this monarch’s life. Itwas in 1656 that Shivaji attacked this eerieof Chandra Rao More and ousted him totake life-long possession of it. This placestill echoes the Vedic incantations of the

The Tales of Valour that Rock-Forts Tell


red letter day in Jija Bai’s life – thecoronation of her son as Chhatrapathi. Anaccount of this imposing ceremony is leftfor posterity by Henry Oxinden, anEnglishman, who was present at the time.Apart from this, Raigad claims the uniqueprivilege of being the scene of the weddingceremony of Rajaram, Shivaji’s son. JijaBai, the contented mother, closed her eyesafter 80 long years at this very place,which later saw also the last hours ofShivaji himself on the fateful day of April3, 1680.

Rohida, sacred toMavalis as the hide-out from which theyswore allegiance toShivaji in his missionto win freedom fromMoghul yoke is built ona spur of the Sahyadrirange. All thatremains of it today isits dilapidated walls relieved by fifteenwater reservoirs, that whisper to us acrossthe years the concern and skill with whichShivaji equipped his forts. Rohida it is saidwas the first among the earlier forts to fallinto Chhatrapathi’s hands.

Sinhgad, the scene of a sacrifice – Tanaji’simmolation at the altar of his country’sfreedom ! One almost visualises the ropeladder suspended from the cliff by whichTanaji ascended the high walls of Sinhgad.The agility of his leap, the ingenuity of hisplan is even today a saga fit for the bardsto eulogise. Sinhgad tops the cliff whichforms the Sinhgad-Bhuleswar range. This

fort is built on a summit of the same flat-topped rock which rises up dizzy precipices,nearly fifty feet high. Shivaji captured thisfort in 1670 and added it to his collectionof other strongholds.Purandhar, the bone of contention, wasrepeatedly besieged by the Bijapurians andMoghuls. Twice wrested from the invaders,the defence of this fort lost for ShivajiMurar Baji, one of his ablest soldiers. Stoutin defence, wily in attack, this fort wasthe witness of many pitched battles.

Purandhar fort, 18 miles to the south-eastof Poona, stands on an elevation andfrowns upon the land below even now.It was at Pratapgarh that Afzal Khan hadhis momentous meeting with Shivaji. Theeastern side of the lower fort is sanctifiedby a temple dedicated to Bhavani, whereShivaji spent many hours in prayer. It issaid that this fort was built by Moropantat the command of Shivaji. It stands on ahigh rock near the source of River Krishnaand commands full view of the surroundingcountry. A tower built by Shivaji standsout from the eastern side, - it is this thathouses the remains of Shivaji’s adversary,Afzal Khan.


The hill-fort of Vasota stands at the headof a small valley which branches off fromKoyna. It is built on a flat and looks downon the valley below. The land round andabout this fort is said to be very ancient.It was once in the possession of the Shirkesand the Mores from whom Shivaji acquiredit.

The most impregnable hill fort of Mahuliwas the scene of repeated assaults byShivaji who at last captured it. Thethunder of hoof-beats still resound alongthe three terraces. Once in the possessionof Shahji it was captured from him by KhanJaman and later retrieved by Shivaji.

Set amongst a triangular formation of hills,Sajjangad stands today as a testimony tothe devotion of royal disciple to his master.The fort stands on a scrap of black rockbuilt up in places. The sheer height towhich it rears up makes all approachdifficult. It is said that Shivaji capturedthis hill-fort and gifted it t o his master,Ramdas. Panhala crowns the hill that risesabove the plains of Kolhapur. Threemagnificent double gate-ways guarded bya flight of steps stand as testimony to thebuilder’s skill. Of these three gate-ways,two have been mutilated beyond repair. Itwas after a long and protracted attackShivaji was able to wrest Panhala fromBijapur.

Janjira, the fortified island, lies at the neckof a creek, girdled by walls that rise to asheer height of 40-50 feet. The waterlaps in low rhythm against battlements thatare strongly loop-holed. Their surfacesare interrupted at equal intervals by 19

bastions. Today the large and handsomeentrance welcomes visitors to peep backthrough three centuries and read from thestone battlements the story of the peoplewho fought a successful battle againsttyranny.

Shivaji’s determined efforts to secure thefortified isle of Janjira and his constantinability to do so made him anxious topossess and equally fortified island toprotect his vessels. An intensive surveyof the coast was made by Shivaji’s sardars.After long deliberations the rock opposite

Malvan was chosen as the site fit forSindhu Durga. This extensive fort, withits irregular projecting points and deepinundations, measures more than two miles.This fort has the decided advantage ofnot having a single point outside itsramparts, which is not commanded fromsome point from inside. A shrine dedicatedto Shivaji himself is a special feature ofthis fort. Surat, the premier port of theMoghul Empire in the latter half of the


seventeenth century, was twice sackedby Shivaji, first in 1664 and again in 1670.

It was the greatest commercial centre inIndia for the distribution of Persian,Arabian, Egyptian, African, Chinese andEuropean commodities ; besides this it wasthe principal Centerport for the productsof Gujarat and the Malabar Coasts on theone hand and for the inland produce as faras Patna, Agra, Lahore, Kashmir on theother. No other port could rival its traffic,wealth, prosperity and fame.

Shivaji raided Surat from the 6th to the10th of January, 1664. The port of Suratstood on the south bank of Tapti, 12 milesfrom the sea ; but the city close to theport was quite defenseless ; it had no wallsto protect it. Its wealth was boundless.“The looting was unresisted and extendedover four long days and nights and Shivajiscorned to carry away anything but gold,silver, pearls, diamonds and such preciousware.”

On October 3, 1670, Shivaji raided it forthe second time. He had 15,000 strongcavalry and artillery with him. He ransackedit and appropriated a rich booty worth Rs.66Lakhs.Many more such forts lie scattered overMaharashtra proclaiming the genius of asingle individual who dared, andsuccessfully subdued, the might of theforeign hordes that tyrannised Bharat.

SHIVAJI loved mountains. Heloved the vision of vaststretching lands, and loved

dreaming of bringing those vast lands alltogether, uniting them to make them intoone country where all shall be brothers andsisters, no matter what caste, creed orreligion they ascribed to themselves. Thatwas his vision. That was his dream. Andthe dream coming true seemed remote tohim, when as a boy of fourteen he watchedAdil Shah’s troops rout and rampage hisPoona Jagir. Dadaji Kondadev’s experience,wisdom, administrative and battle skills didnot save it a bit.

Shiva pondered over the situation. Whydid this happen ? He had a Jagir. Thepeople of the Jagir were his, and he hadan army of sorts composed of his ownsubjects. And there was Dadaji to head itefficiently, to plan a campaign. Yet theycould not even put up a feeble resistanceagainst Adil Shah’s troops. They weresimply hunted down and hounded likehelpless animals in the open. In the open!That is it. That was what caused thesedefeats, thought Shiva. They were in theopen, with nothing to protect them, and apowerful assault could scatter his forces.He must have a fort and he must takeone, wrench it out of the hands of theBijapur Sultan, and with it as his stronghold,go on taking others. His Jagir must expand,and everywhere there must be forts todefend the expanding land. While Shiva

The Re-Union


loved mountain ranges, he was obsessedwith the desire to acquire forts.

By this time he was thirty-four, the dreamborn out of a consuming love and obsessionhad come true. The forts of Torna, Kalyan,Pratapgarh, Kondana, Purandhar, Panhalaand Rairi were his. His Jagir was now aRajya, stretching over vast areas. AdilShah, who routed and rampaged his PoonaJagir effortlessly, had now to labour hardto keep his own territories in his grip. Hewas none too pleased by it. Shiva had tobe checked. That he wasa power to reckon with AdilShah knew. To hunt him andbring him down from theposition he had ascended toby sheer genius, effort andpersistence was no meantask. And Adil Shah loathedexerting that much.Instead, he planned totackle Shiva on thesentimental front. Shahji,now 68, was still at hisCourt. The boy Shiva hadnow grown into a man. Hehad not seen his father forover a quarter of a century. Why not playthe old man against the young man, rousethe love and longing that remainedimprisoned within so long without findingexpression and prop them up as a barrierto the rebellion in the young man’s heart ?

Adil Shah sent for Shahji. “Your son isbecoming an incorrigible rebel. For yoursake, what he did had been tolerated sofar. But he is getting too much out ofhand. He is a courageous man and a good

warrior. I would not like to hunt him downlike a criminal or humiliate him. I wish youwould control him as a father should,” hesaid.

Shahji pleaded with Adil Shah that Shivajiwas only a “boy” and his young blood wasplaying mischief. The lad of eleven andodd years he sent away to Poona to becared for by Dadaji was all Shahjiremembered of Shiva. He would talk toShiva, and bring him round, make him desistfrom the rebellious acts. Adil Shah agreed

that it was the best way. The forts hehad so far captured could be retained byShiva, but he was to refrain from makingfurther assaults on Bijapur territories. Awritten treaty to the effect had to beentered into.

Shahji, with his second wife Tuka Bai andson Vyankoji started for Jejuri, therendezvous he had fixed for meetingShivaji. A date was fixed for the meeting,and Shivaji waited with an eager, yearning


heart to meet his father. Shahji visitedthe temples en route Jejuri paying homageto the family deity Bhavani at Tuljapur,worshipping at the family shrine atShignapur and Vithoba at Pandharpur.

The meeting between the long separatedfather and son was to be a historic event.Shahji’s career at the Bijapur Court had inno way enslaved him or erased his love ofhis own people. En route Jejuri, his visitto the shrines and the lands he crossedbrought to him nostalgic memories. Helonged to see his son, who brought thisfeeling of oneness to his people. Shivajion his part longed equally to see his father,savour the paternal love and affection hemissed during the long years, and his heartyearned for the fortunate, joyousexperience of seeing his father and motherside by side. To his noble, devoted heart,nothing was more pious than having thedarshan of his parents together. He awaitedthe visit of his father, at the age of thirty-four, with the eagerness of a ten-year-oldlad.Jejuri, the insignificant little town, hadovernight become the place of importance,the historic land-mark of the meetingbetween the father and son. Shivaji camedown to Jejuri from his capital Pratapgarh,had residences for his father and entouragebuilt in Jejuri with all comforts and pompbefitting his illustrious status as a grandnoble of a Princely Court. He waited forhis father in the premises of Khandobatemple at Jejuri. With him were his mother,wives Sai Bai and Soyara Bai and his closeassociate, Moro Pingle. At last the retinuecame into sight and the notes of welcomingmusic filled the air. The palanquin stopped

in front of Khandoba temple and as Shahjialighted, Shiva stepped forward, botheager, their hearts pounding withanticipation. Shivaji at once fell prostratebefore his father, stretching full length withhis forehead resting on the feet of the oldman. Shahji’s eyes were moist as he bentand raised his boy up by the shoulders andstood staring mutely at the young man,trying in vain to reconstruct the scenes ofthe twenty-five years that had lapsed inshaping the lad of eleven into this youthof thirty-four, his body erect with the prideof his achievements, and his head bent inloveable, endearing humility befitting hiscultured ancestry. Jija Bai with heredaughter-in-law came forward with thewelcoming flame of scented camphor, andthe family entered the temple to prostratebefore the deity, to thank Her withoverflowing emotion for the sheer joy ofthis reunion.Shivaji took his father and the rest of thefamily to their ancestral home at Poona.Here, during the monsoon they were leftto bask in the warmth of the togethernesswhere even Shiva’s step-mother Tuka Baiand her son Vyankoji were drawn into theclose circle of family ties and were boundby its love. Towards the end of themonsoon Shahji made ready to go back.Now had come the time to put forth theerrand upon which he came. The groundhad been prepared. Shiva had beenthawed in the warmth of paternal love.

“Shiva, you look fine, and you look happyamidst your own people, and the people ofMaharashtra look upon you with love andrespect. Yet this is a hard life, the life ofa soldier subject to hardships of a never-


ending war, of refuge in mountains. Whydon’t you join the Court of Adil Shah ?”Shivaji did not lack the respect tounderstand Shahji’s love that made himspeak thus and so was not prompted toanswer in a manner that might humiliate orwound the feelings of his father. And yet,in the firm small frame of his son, who nevereven sat in the presence of his father, lestit should be a breach of respect that is afather’s due from his son, Shahji sensedthe obstinacy of an independent mind. Theform that stood before him, with head bentlow in utter respect and humility, wouldnever stand in similar submission beforeAdil Shah, he realised.

He tried to point out that a treaty withAdil Shah would be an honour. If Shivawere not considered a force and power ofequal distinction, why should Adil Shah optfor a treaty ? Why should he not marchhis forces against Shiva and rout him ?But the flattery of being equaled with aKing was lost on Shivaji, the proud son ofthe soil whose heart was set on freeing itfor the habitation of his own creed. Thislonging, this independent mind, was beyondthe comprehension of Shahji, whotraditionally served in the Court and was aloyal subject. With the intent to make afinal effort to understand his son, he wentround the Rajya his son had acquired. Thesurvey revealed his son’s heart and mindto Shahji. The entire land was free -freedom pervaded the atmosphere here.Here you could pursue your ancestraloccupations without interference fromanybody. Here your religion and your faithwere not tampered with by someone whodid not understand them. This was the

soil that gave you birth and to own it isyour birthright. And the yearning to enjoythis birthright is the flame that is burningin the frame of his son, glowing in his eyesand sharpening his intellect, to plan evernew campaigns to free it further, inch byinch if necessary, be it however hard atask. A mixture of two different emotionsenveloped Shahji - the regret that his wasnot the mind that envisioned this gloriousscheme and the pride that the mind whichconceived this glorious future for his countrywas his own offspring. Shivaji read theunderstanding and pride in his father’s eyesand heaved a sigh of relief. To ignore thisbeloved old man’s command and disregardhim was a loathsome prospect to his noblemind. Yet, to give in, and be enable atthe Adil Shah Court was a prospect equallyloathsome. The comfort and luxury of anoble’s life at Court did not compare withthe pure joy of freedom, of working shoulderto shoulder with his brethren, building brickby brick the fortress of freedom. Upontheir return to the capital, Shahjicommended his son on what he achieved,and said.

“My son, your achievements are part of avision. It is a limited vision at first, ayearning to establish for yourself a smallbut free stronghold. But it is a growingvision, destined to reach the far offhorizons. Today, you have expanded asmall Jagir into a Rajya with fortresses thatcan withstand and ward off foreigninvasions. Tomorrow this will expand intoan Empire uniting our entire country andmaking the entire soil of our Bharat Varshfree, - as free as it was in the bygonedays of Rama and Yudhisthira. I am proud


of you, my son, for you shall be thearchitect of this glorious Empire. I failedin my duty as a husband in providing anyhappiness to Jija, but she had fulfilled herpart of the marital duties and gave me thesupreme happiness of being the father ofsuch a son.”

Shiva stood, humble and happy and Shahjisaw in him still that strappling lad of elevenwhom he sent to Dadaji. He placed hisarm around his son, and advised :“To retain what you have achieved, Shiva,you require an impregnable fort. PratapGargh and other forts can hold backagainst terrible attacks, but to withstandmajor assaults you have to build a strongfortress on an advantageous spot. Rairishould serve this purpose well. Expandyour Rajya further, but please keep awayfrom the Adil Shahi territories, for I camhere promising to attain that treaty fromyou. For more than half a century I hadbeen a noble at that Court, sallied throughAdil Shah’s displeasures, and enjoyed hisfavour and trust. Let me not, in my oldage fail in the mission upon which I hadcome. The promise shall bind you only tillmy death.” Shiva understood his father -and entered into the treaty that satisfiedthe Bijapur Sultan. His mission completed,Shahji unwillingly retraced his course toBijapur with Tuka Bai and Vyankoji - hisheart heavy with the grief of parting fromhis beloved son. Shivaji’s promise to hisfather to honour the treaty bound him butfor a short while, for, within three years ofthe historical reunion, Shahji breathed hislast.

A NATIONAL HERO INTHE MOULDING

TONGUES of leaping flame lit upthe evening sky as the pyre burntfiercely, consuming the last remains

of a dauntless Maratha soldier who haddied of an accidental fall from his gallopinghorse. Not far from the crackling fire-woodsstood the statuesque figure of a woman,brave and faithful, - Jija Bai, shockedbeyond belief at the loss of one whom sheloved most. In deference to the age-oldcustom of sati, she was ready to immolateherself on her husband’s pyre. As the youngwidow paced up to the blazing fire, shepaused for a moment to look over theshoulders at her son. She stood transfixed,gazing on him. It was a crucial momentthat changed the course of history. Thena voice was heard :

“Mother if you also die, who will live toinspire me ? My dream of freeing ourcountrymen from the shackles of slaverywill languish for want of your support. Oh,Mother, the country needs you at this grimhour of trial.”

These were the beseeching words of theson, who was chosen by destiny to becomea mighty force, moving the very soul ofIndia, Chhatrapathi Shivaji. For Jija Bai itwas no longer a conflict of duties. Shefelt the defiance of tradition was as muchthe fulfillment of her duties as of her son’swill to redeem the country’s honour. Sheretraced her steps. As one goes to thehaunts of Shivaji’s childhood, one sees how


far his mother was instrumental in mouldinghis destiny. She was his companion in playand learning. The heroes of yore with theirdeeds of valour paraded before youngShivaji’s eyes as he sat on her lap listeningto her narration, in raptattention.

Jija Bai’s training of Shivajiincluded the inculcation of adeep sense of revulsionagainst every injustice metedout to women. A sister-in-law of Jija Bai had beenspirited away by the Moghulswhen she had gone for a bathto the river Godavari. Thehatred born in Jija Bai becauseof this cruel act and thehistoric jauhar committed byPadmini, the queen of Chitore, because ofAllaudin Khiliji’s lust for her, was too deepto be eradicated. All this left an indeliblemark on Shivaji who, in similarcircumstances, when the Patil of Ranjadishonoured a woman, punished him bychopping off his hands and legs.

The famous story of thedaughter-in-law of theSubhedar of Kalyan beingbrought to him after the defeatof the Subhedar is far too well-known. Shivaji treated thisbeautiful captive with greatdignity and respect andreturned her laden with gifts ofclothes to her husband.Another incident relates howShivaji imprisoned one of hisown Sardars who attempted tohurt the wife of one of the

enemy officers after his surrender. Thisrespect towards women was ingrained inthe mind of Shivaji mainly because of hismother’s influence upon him, and the anger

that she succeeded in creating in his heartwas solely against the ill-treatment ofwomen under the Moghuls.It was Jija Bai who urged her son to winthe battle against the 50,000 soldiers ofthe Bijapur kingdom near Pratapgarh. Itwas she who inspired him to enter the camp


of the Moghul emperor, in spite of lakhs ofsoldiers stationed in it. It was again shewho aroused his anger against thetreacherous Baji Ghorpade, whose disloyaltyhad led to the arrest of Shivaji’s father.

The effort of Shivaji to set up anindependent state did not always meetwith success. There were times whenbrave men like Murar-Baji were lost, whenShivaji had to accept compromises in spiteof his own wishes. There were severalsetbacks and times of depression whenShivaji’s mother alone could rekindle theflame of faith and enthusiasm in his heart.“Those who are frightened of obstacles andhard work have no right to expect victory,”was the challenge that Jija Bai often placedbefore her son when he talked of giving upthe whole fight and even his ambition,momentarily. She pointed out to him herown widowed state and asked him, “If yourambition is to be given up so easily, whydid you stop me when I was about tocommit sati ?” These admonitions wereenough to rescue her son from the sloughof despondency and lead him on to freshfield of hope and cheer.Jija Bai wanted to make her son a lion of aman ; history has it that she fed him withthe milk of a tigress. The warrior king,ruthless in war and chivalrous to womenand magnanimous to the defeated was wellin the making. The seeds of Shivaji’s geniusin warfare, state-craft, religious toleranceas well as in spirituality were thus sown inthe very early years of his life. Motherand son succeeded in re-building hopes forhumanity’s independence.

THE TRAITOR

“THAT is one good thingaccomplished,” Shivaji said, and Jijabaiagreed. The capture of Purandar fort wasindeed a good beginning for Swarajya.

But a thoughtful look came into his eyesas he gazed from the parapet of the newly-won fort.

On a nearby hill stood the Rudramal fort -and on that fluttered the flag of the Sultanof Bijapur.

“That fort”, Shivaji mused aloud, “is aperpetual threat to Purandar.” And it wastrue. A cannon ball from Rudramal couldhave easily struck at the heart of Purandar.

“There is only one thing to do, to safeguardPurandar,” Shivaji decided, “and that is tocapture Rudramal….”

Preparations were rapidly made and oneday Shivaji’s force laid siege to the fort.

Days went by but the fort withstood theonslaught. “How is it that the fort is stillnot in our hands ?” Shivaji wondered.Inquiries were made and he learnt thecause the Mughal commander of the fortwas a brave man - and the fort was verywell stocked.

“Well, if those do not prevail, cunningnesshas to be used,” Shivaji decided.


The next day a rumour spread in the area- “Shivaji is lifting the siege because he istaking all his forces on an importantcampaign in the Konkan.”

It was not long before the report reachedthe commander of the fort.Then one dayin the dead of night Shivaji’s forces suddenlystruck. Looking at the operation from hiscamp Shivaji confidently expected theelement of surprise to overwhelm the fort.

But he started at what happened. Thestriking Maratha forcewas met with instant anddetermined opposition.Quickly sensing that theattack had not been asurprise Shivaji deployedall the forces at hiscommand. Grimly the fortheld on, till a cannon ballfrom outside breached awall and Marathasswarmed in.

After a brief but bloodybattle the fort fell andthe commander was made prisoner.As theman was presented in shackles Shivajiexclaimed, “Untie him ! I’ve nothing butrespect for a valiant foe….”

He made the Khan sit by his side, and said,“You are a brave man, and you executedyour duty very well. I shall see that youand your family are sent to Bijapursafely……”

“I’m grateful to you, Maharaj” the Moghalsaid. “Your generosity becomes your

greatness as a leader. But one thing thatsurprised me is that you should have atraitor in your employ…..”

“Traitor ? “ Shivaji exclaimed, his eyesbecoming hard as steel.

“Yes,” the Khan said, “it was he who toldus not to believe the rumour of your liftingthe siege….”

An ominous silence pervaded the court.Then Shivaji quietly asked. “His name,

Khan ?”

But the Khan shook hishead.

“No, Maharaj, I’ve pledgedby the Koran that I shallnot divulge his name.”

Again silence reigned inthat tense atmosphere.

Shivaji’s eyes wereexpressionless. But hismind was in a turmoil. His

devoted band of freedom fighters had atraitor among them ! But how could hefind him ?

Then Sardar Rambhaji stepped forward andsaid, “Maharaj, if there is a traitor amongus here is one sure way of destroying him- all of us will jump down the parapet intothe valley below……”Shivaji stared. All his conquering force toembrace death for just one traitor….?


Shivaji shook his head in the negative.Then the Sardar whispered something andShivaji nodded.

Two hundred and fifty Mavalis stood onebehind the other for the fatal jump.

“Maharaj,” Rambhaji called out, “he whohesitates will automatically show himselfup as the traitor….”

At these words the Mavalis surged forward.Now there was no going back and the firsttwo jumped.

Immediately the Moghal commander put upa hand and exclaimed “Stop! The traitoris dead !”

The guilty man had shown greater anxietyto come forward so that his shame-facedtreachery might not be found out!

BIRTH OF RAIGARH

SHIVAJI’s obsession to acquireforts resulted in his conquestsfor establishing an independent

state. He now yearned to build a fort, animpregnable fort from where he couldlaunch his future campaigns and spreadhis state far and wide until became anEmpire. He thought over his father’ssuggestion to reinforce and strengthen thefort at Rairi. Surrounded by Sahyadri hills,this fort had a natural barrier of mountainsall around, itself rising steep and high amidstthem all, a vantage point of survey if enemyapproached. To climb the mountain andreach the fort on any side was a task nearto impossibility. With a strong wall builtaround, the single entrance garrisoned andably guarded, this fort indeed would bethe kind of the asset that an ambitiousEmpire builder could dream of.

So Rairi came to be chosen for the centreof action. One day he rode to Rairi withseveral faithful close followers like MoroPingle, Sambaji, Abaji Sondev, Kavji, Tanaji,Netaji and others. In their company hemade a tour of the existing fort and itssurroundings. With meticulous care he wentover all the details, noting the few weakjoints that were there, discussing thefortifications to be introduced in differentareas, until he was satisfied that all thepoints were established and theconstruction could be started. Heentrusted the task of renovation the fortand reinforcing it to his able companion


Abaji Sondev. With dedication did Abajiwork on the task that was handed to him,painstakingly going over every detail thatwas discussed during their survey andincorporating them in the constructionwork. Inside the protective walls of thefort were built residences for Shivaji, hisofficials and companions, and CouncilHouses and Assembly Halls to propagateadministrative work and plan futurecampaigns, as well as barracks and coloniesto house his soldiers, and a long array ofshops that formed the market to supply allthey needed. Garrisons were built as guardposts at different spots, and the mainentrance gate was further strengthenedand a posse of able guards was posted toguard it day and night. Outside, almost atthe foot-hill, on an elevated spot was builta beautiful house for Jija Bai where shecould relax in comfort drinking in the beautyand luxury of the natural splendours thatsurrounded her.

It took two years for Abaji to completethis fort. And when it was completedeveryone realised it was worth those twovaluable years of Abaji’s time. It indeedwas an impregnable fort. Shivaji took hismother around the fort explaining to her indetail all the security measures andstrongholds in it. Like a young boy gleefullysubmitting his excellent school report, hebeamed with pride, showing off his marvelfort to his mother. Jija Bai was happy,very happy for her son. But she was warytoo. A woman born to bear and rear thisgreat soldier, she was wary. Her son wasproud of this fort, and it was indeed worthyof his pride. But should a soldier at anytime be too sure of his defences ? Would

it not make him unwary of an approachingenemy ? After all, your enemy has no needto be proud of your impregnable fort. Hisonly concern would be to find loop-holesand the concentration with which theenemy would work to find loop-holes wouldbe lacking in the person who surveys hispossession with pride. She commended himon the work, “It is beautiful, Shiva. Youhave indeed done well. This is what I hadalways wanted for you, my son - anindependent abode, a free state, wheremy son shall not have to bow his headbefore anyone. From this fort, thisstronghold, you shall conquer all, you willbuild an Empire. That is my wish andblessing to you my son, and that shall bemy prayer to Bhavani always. “ She pausedand then continued, “But are you sure,really sure, that the fort is impregnable ?Have you tested its immutable strength,son ?”

The words cleaved a deep line of doubt inShivaji’s mind. No one knew he had thedoubt there. He still surveyed the fortresswith the deep pride of a father looking upona champion son. He named it Raigarh. Heshifted his capital there. From there theMavalis sallied forth on their new campaignsand returned victorious. The fort wasblessed with the charm of luck by GoddessBhavani and that luck spelt victory forShivaji in whichever direction he extendedhis vision.

But through all this, the tiny seed of doubtJija Bai planted in his mind remained green.And one day he called his companions andannounced his intent to make aproclamation challenging anyone to enter


the fort by any route other than the mainentrance, and offering a reward of a bagof gold mohars and a gold “Kankan” toone who succeeded in doing so. The largenumber of people who came forward toperform the task attracted by the richreward, were hindered by the very sightof its insurmountability and retreated. Atlast there came a man ; he was short, butstocky ; his legs were short but thick andmuscular ; his toes were turned in like thepaws of an animal and his long arms andlarge palms suggested strength and irongrip.

Shivaji looked at the man, whom his guardsbrought in and announced the purpose forwhich he came. The man was obviously ason of the soil. His body was of the colourof black earth. He was clad in a smallpiece of dirty, torn cloth that just coveredhis thighs. It was a last piece that stoodbetween the animal and the transition toan apology for clothing.

“Who are you ? and what is your name?”Shivaji asked.“Maharaj, I am a Mahar by caste. I haveno name. Being the eldest son in the familyI am always called ‘Bhau’ (elder brother).”

Shivaji smiled. “So be it. What can bemore suitable as a form of address thanBhau? We are all children of the same soil.So I shall call you Bhau.” The Mahar shifteduncomfortably ; this great man calling himBhau ; how could it be ?

Shivaji continued, “I am told you wish toattempt the entry into the fort. Is thatso?”

The Mahar said, “Yes, Maharaj, if I may bepermitted to make the effort.”

Shivaji said again : “Do you realise thatthe task is not only arduous, but dangeroustoo ? The hill is very steep and there is nobeaten track nor good foot-holds. If youlose your grip you may fall.”

“Yes, Maharaj, that I know. My family isstarving and the prize money will be usefulif I win it. If I fell and died in the attempt,it does not matter, for I must die sooner orlater,” said the Mahar. There were otherthings he did not say. For one thing, itwas not the money alone that temptedhim. It was the first consideration, though,for he was steeped in poverty. But behindit was the urge for adventure. Besides, asa boy, his only means of play was rompingin the wild growths of the hill and exploringavenues in the old fort. The chances werehe could do it again. It would be a thrill todo something others did not even attempt,and of course that reward could be veryuseful. His thoughts were interrupted byShivaji’s words. “If money is the mainreason why do you want to try this deadlytask, I will give you enough money. Youneed not endanger your life for it.”

The Mahar shook his head. “No, Maharaj, Iwould like to earn it.”

Shivaji stared at the man. Something inthe man, in his stubborn mind and will,attracted him. “here is a man who hasthe strength of mind to prop up even afeeble physique ; such a man can do almostanything upon which be set that mind ;and my country is full of such stubborn,


strong-willed men. Could it be that theseMahars were the ones that gives birth tothe name Maratha ? Then this soil andthe State I have won is theirs. And withthem behind me, I could conquer anything,”he thought, and, turning to man, said :

“Very well then, go ahead. If you succeed,you hoist a flag beneath the Bhagwa flagof mine as a proclamation of yourachievement.”

The Mahar bowed and left. Shivaji camedown to the gates and watched him as hedisappeared into the forest. His mother’swords again rang in his ears. “Are yousure, really sure, that it is impregnable ?”Is it? is it so impenetrable ?

The man entered the thick undergrowth.It was a steep ascent and the stones wereslippery, covered with slimy moss, yet, likean ape he deftly heaved himself up, hiskeen eyes discerning the almost invisibletrack he once covered as a boy. His toesgripped like the claws of a wild cat, andhis hands held like a gorilla’s. Heaving hisbody up on the strength of small holds whichthe palms held in iron like vice, he reachedthe top and climbed the wall, crawling likea lizard, grappling with his finger tips atminute projections in the stones. And thenit was over ; he had crossed over the walland found himself in the fort. From therethe rest of the way from turret to turret,pillar to post, jumping from one terrace toanother was as easy and natural to him as

breathing, an effortless play. And at thetop he paused, and stood scratching hishead. Shivaji had suggested that he shouldhoist a flag, but where was the flag ? Hethought for a while, and decided. Untyingthe cloth around his waist, he tore it offinto two pieces and tying back one to coverhis nakedness he tied the other piecebeneath the Bhagwa Jhanda.

At the base of the fort, Shivaji patientlysat and waited, talking with hiscompanions, balancing the possibilities ofsuccess and failure of the man. Andsuddenly he narrowed his eyes, and peeredat a small form that emerged by the sideof the flag. Could it be the Mahar ? Hisdoubts were cleared in the next instant bythe cloth that fluttered out beneath thesaffron flag. He clapped his hands in glee.He felt the Mahar’s success was his ownsuccess. His calling the Mahar “Bhau” wasno shallow pretension.

The Mahar came down by the normal routefrom the flag-post ; Shivaji was waitingfor him, with the bag of gold and eyes fullof appreciation. He made the Mahar takehim to spot where he broke into the fort.He ordered a garrison to be built there,and a strong vigilance force to be posted.

That night before he slept, he answeredhis mother’s query in his mind.

“Yes mother, I do really thing it isimpregnable.”


SHIVAJI settled down to thecomplacence of security thatRaigarh offered. He was proud of

his capital and of his impregnable fortress.His mother’s question was answered, notoff-handedly but after testing and provingits impregnability, by closing down the onlyweak spot through which the Mahar madehis access to the fort. And so he settleddown in his capital at Raigarh to carry onwith a smug assurance of absolute security,the task of administering his acquired stateand of further campaigns to conquer andcontrol new dominions. But Achilles heel isno legend. In each iron-clad self-defencethere always remains a tiny loop-hole, aspot of weakness, which is sometimesknown to the defender, sometimesunknown. When it is known he is at leastwary, alert and on the look-out. But whenhe is unaware, the exposure of that weakpoint comes as a surprise blow. And thusit happened to Shivaji sometime aftersettling down at Raigarh. Shivaji was takenunawares in his complacency. A milk maid,a coy country girl in her teens foiled thefool-proof defence of his supposedlyimpregnable fortress.

She was Hirakani, the pretty wife of IshwarRam, who earned his livelihood bymaintaining cows and supplying milk to theVillagers. The shifting of the capital fromPratapgarh to Rairi gave him the incentiveto expand his business by adding newnumbers to his herd. Pretty Hirakani hadan amicable disposition and a good heart,and was liked by everyone except her evil-tongued, nasty-tempered mother-in-law.

She was always picking quarrels with thegirl on some pretext or other, but the good-natured girl had also the wisdom not to letthe quarrels develop by joining the banterand let them get out of hand. As much asIshwar Ram loved his wife for her looks, somuch did he respect her for her wisdomand strength of character. And so when itcame to the supply of milk to the peopleinside the fort, he unhesitatingly sent hispretty young wife, amidst the banteringsoldiering when his mother refused toundertake the job. And Hirakani was indeedworth her weight in gold. With hermodesty, wit and quick repartee, she didgood business without letting the soldiersget too smart with her. And her good heartand helpful nature had won their affectionso that the banters of the Mavalis meantnothing but simple fun, and they all lovedher like a sister.

Hirakani had a son, a lovely baby uponwhom she doted with all her being. Comewhat may she would return from herbusiness errand before dusk so that thebaby had her full attention after that andalso that his feeding might not suffer.Shivaji placed strict orders as to the closingand opening of the fort gates. And thegates, once closed, would not be openedagain till the next scheduled time, eitherto let anyone go out or come in, even if itwere Shivaji himself. Hirakani alwaysreturned before the gates closed, so thather baby did not have to suffer the pangsof hunger. But one day, in one of the houseswhere she usually supplied milk, thesoldier’s wife was in labour, with no one to

RAIGARH versus THE FORCE OFA MOTHER’S LOVE


help. Hirakani stayed with her, with someof the neighbours to help. The helplessnessof the young mother so moved her, thatshe stayed right by her side, unmindful ofthe time till she delivered a healthy boy,very much alive and kicking. It was onlythen, as she was helping the exhaustedmother to some milk, that she realised itwas getting dark and someone was lightingthe lamp. She mumbled ahurried explanation to theneighbours who protestedagainst her going at such atime and pressed her to stayback, and left in a haste. Butwhen she reached the gates,to her utter dismay, she foundthem closed. The guardsknew her well. She beggedthem to open just a crack andlet her pass. They understoodher predicament, sympathisedwith her, but had to expresstheir helplessness. Shivaj’sorders were strict. Theymeant exactly what was said in so manywords. There was no room forinterpretations or exceptions to hiscommands, and none dared defy them.They advised her to go back to the soldier’shouse and stay with his wife for the night.Distressed and dejected, Hirakani turnedback. But instead of going back to thevillage, she walked along the wall, prowlinglike an animal whose instincts are roused.In her ears droned the crying of her baby.She was like a tigress caught in a trap,with her cubs whimpering outside. All herinstincts woke up – the force of thatuncontrollable love and longing to get backto her hungry child egging her mind on totry and find a way out. She moved hitherand thither restlessly, weeping in distress,and at last stopped at a spot, and, making

up her mind to do or die, tied her milk potto her waist and climbed up the wall, wentover it and jumped out. Outside, it waspitch dark in the jungle. Night calls ofpredators did not fall on her ears, for sheonly heard the wailing of her baby in hermind. Snakes slithering in her path did notscare her. She was hardly conscious,hardly aware of what she was doing or

how she was going to make the steepdescent on the hill side. A slip would havesent her rolling down to certain death. Butshe did not slip. With the tenacitystrangely sustained by despair she clungto anything she could catch and loweredherself further and further. At last shereached the foot-hills and unmindful of herblistered, bleeding feet and hands, ranhome absorbed in delight, and picked upthe baby. Her mother-in-law’s invectivesdid not bother her. She was worrying aboutthe baby and now she was with him. Thatwas all that mattered. As for the invectivesand insinuations of the mother-in-law, sheknew she did not have to worry aboutthem, too. She was aware of her husband’strust in her.


The next day early in the morning, as theyopened the gates, one of the guards wentto the soldier’s house to tell Hirakani togo. Where was Hirakani ? The soldier’swife started at him in surprise. “Of Course,Hirakani never came here last evening”, shetold him firmly. A search proved that themilk-maid was nowhere in the fort. Adespatch to her house and the answercame back prompt. Yes, she was there, inher husband’s house, preparing for yetanother day’s round of business. Theguards ran to Shivaji and related theincident. Shivaji was stunned. A milk-maid, a frail woman, to go out of the fort,in pitch dark, and scale the mountain down? Unbelievable ! If climbing it wasdangerous enough, getting down its steepsides was death itself. He sent for Hirakani.He learnt of the desperate urge that droveher to attempt so deadly a task. He sawhere bruised hands and feet and the lightof mother’s love in her eyes. He felt humble,and, kneeling before her, placed thosebruised hands upon his head, seeking theblessing of that noble, loving, courageousmother. And then he asked her to takehim to the spot through which she madethe exit. He ordered immediate measuresto be enforced to garrison and guard tospot. As he stood watching it, his mother’swords again rang in his mind, “Are you sure,really sure ?” He bowed his head.

“No, mother. I am not sure any more. Imay never be sure again, and I will be alertand always ready for an attack,” hethought.

THE fort of Purandar was in thesafe hands of Murar BajiDeshpande. Shivaji established his

rule over the plains or Karhe. Yet he wasnot satisfied, because, the sub-district ofSupe was yet to be brought under hiscontrol. Unless that was done, the eastern‘gates’ to Karhe plains would be open toattack. Supe was of vital importance toShivaji. Unfortunately, it was difficult forShivaji directly to lay siege to it. Supewas under the supervision of SambhajiMohite, who was the brother of TukabaiSaheb, step mother of Shivaji. That placedShivaji in an embarrassing situation. Yet,he carefully planned a strategic move. Hesent his envoy to Supe to have a talk withMohite Mama (Uncle Mohite).

The envoy had his own doubts about theoutcome of the talk, as Mohite was soclosely related to Shivaji ! The envoy wentto Supe. He met Mohite Mama.

“How is your ‘Maharaj’?” Mohite askedsarcastically raising his eyebrows.

“I have come with a request from ShivajiMamasahib……. The request is that youshould help us in our efforts,” the envoyurged.

“And get killed,” Mohite completed thesentence. He (Shivaji) had his fatherdishonoured. Now, it is my turn !” Mohitecontinued angrily.

SAMBHAJI MOHITE


“You do not understand it, Mamasahib !This is a sacred duty that we areperforming for the sake of our country andour religion,” the envoy tried to explain.

“Let Gods and religion remain in their ownplaces ! Who will save me if the Badshahcalls me for explanation ? Nobody will facehim then ! “ Mohite remained unmoved.“What are you saying ?” Maharaj himselfwill rush to help you ! Once Supe is mergedin Swarajya, no enemy on earth can stepon an inch of our territory,” the envoysaid proudly. “Yes, now I have understoodthe game ! Your Maharaj has an eye onSupe !”

“No, Sir ! Supe will remain under yourcontrol. But it should be merged with theterritory of Shivaji for its fortification,”continued the envoy undaunted.

“I know everything ! I tell you once againthat you will not get Supe. They arefighting for Swaraj ! You had better bringother parts excluding Supe under yourSwaraj !” with great annoyance Mohitereplied the envoy.The envoy returned to Raigarh. He toldShivaji all that had happened. Nobodydoubted the decision that would be takenby Shivaji. He only said, “Alright !”

Two days passed. On the night of thethird day Maharaj’s orders went out toShamrajpant Peshwe, “Pant ! Get thehorsemen ready, tell them that they haveto advance immediately !”

Shamrajpant did as he was told. Threehundred and fifty armed horsemen stoodbefore the palace at Padmavati summit.Maharaj marched towards Supe along withhis horsemen the same night. He explainedhis plan only to a few close officers in hiscavalry. He insisted that the job shouldbe done perfectly. Before the day dawned,Maharaj presented himself in the smallfortress of Mohite Mama. The fortress wasvery small, and was not well guarded.About five to six Mavalis advanced towardsthe gate which was closed but soon theyfound a sub-gate had just opened. Therewere only three guards at the gate.

Shivaji and his army advanced cautiouslytowards the fortress. The Mavalis whohad reached the gate saluted the guardand said, “Mastersahib (Mohite) had calledus today to receive our tips.”

“What tips ? What is the occasion for it ?”asked a guard. “Is Diwali not approaching?” reminded one of the Mavalis.“Diwali is yet fifteen days from now. Inwhat way are you justified in expectingthe tips beforehand ? What strange customis it ?”

“How am I to explain it to you, now ? Wehave nothing to eat at home. That’s whywe had sent a petition to Masterji to grantus our tips for Diwali in advance. He hassummoned us here this morning, so we arehere,” explained one Mavali.

“Very well, go ahead !”

They rushed through the gate !


Within seconds they unlatched the gate.When the guards questioned them instupefaction, they were threatened withdire consequences. The Mavalis said, “Ifyou shout, you will be cut to pieces, nowand here !”

The Mavalis entered the fortress likestampeding cattle and Shivaji led them.The gate was wide open. The Mavalisfollowed Shivaji one after another. Asplanned earlier, the Mavalis spotted theguards and pointed their swords at theirchest, and robbed them oftheir weapons. Withinminutes the Mavalis coveredthe whole fortress. Not adrop of blood was shed andthey captured the fortress! The action was so swiftthat there was no use ofraising an alarm. They weretotally at the mercy of theMavalis !

Shivaji entered the mansionof Mohite along with thirtyMavali ! He ran towards thedrawing room of his uncle! His uncle wassmoking his hukka while resting on acushion. A servant shouted, “Master, ittreachery….”

“Mind you,” shouted Mohite mama on seeingShivaji and the Mavalis advancing towardshim ! He got up! He was surrounded bythe armed Mavalis. Mohite was taken bysurprise. He looked baffled. How couldthey have entered the fortress ?

“Kill me ! You want to kill me, don’t you ?Kill me ! “ He was utterly helpless and hisvery helplessness made him shout all themore ! His lips trembled. “No, Mamasaheb! The people to be killed are different ! Itis our duty to place our heads at your feetand solicit your blessings. It is your dutyto bless us in our efforts.” So said Shivajiin all earnestness. He put his sword backinto its sheath. All the other Mavalisfollowed suit. Seeing that the air wascharged with emotion the Mavalis withdrew.

“Please be seated, Mamasahib !” Shivajigently coaxed him on to a seat and himselfsat beside Mamasahib. Mohite kept ongazing at the roof.

“Mamasahib ! You are like my father ! Itwas never my intention to insult you. Inever dreamt of it. It is my sincere wishthat our land should be freed from theclutches of Badshah and to establish aSwaraj for the welfare of the people. It ismy sacred duty to see that freedom ofworship, honour of women and justice are


re-established. I am only an instrument.The force behind us all is Goddess Ambika! All that I am today I owe Her. It is Herblessings alone that has raised me to thiseminence.”

Mohitemama now saw the greatness of hisnephew ! He had not seen any person inhis life who had opposed or arrested a manmerely to ask for his blessings ! He hadseen many who had beheaded theirvictims. He never thought that Shivaji hadsuch a large heart, so full of reverence forelders. He had thought that Shivaji was avagrant and a wastrel !

“Kindly come along with us to Raigarh andhelp us in our venture,” Maharaj tried tocoax him.Mohitemama spoke to him in a choked voice,“No, Raja ! You are really great. How canyou ask for my support ? You will never beunsuccessful. Your fame will spread allover the world ! You may now take overthis sub-district of Supe. I must go !”

“No Uncle ! Where will you go ?” askedShivaji.

“To Karnataka! I shall pass my days there,”said his uncle. Shivaji urged him to stayat Raigarh again and again, but Mohite wasfirm in his resolution. And with a heavyheart Shivaji agreed.Mohitemama was given a warm send off.

CHANTING mantras all the while,the priest set himself to the taskof preparing ghee oblations. The

participants, numbering two Brahminfamilies of Jamba and Asangaon and theirfriends, readied themselves for the solemnmoment or Muhurta, when the sacred vowsof the young couple would be recited beforethe holy fire.

Banaji Buwa’s little daughter, her eyes aglowwith excitement, leaned against him whilehe supported her hand holding thesacrificial ladle. Her prospective husband,Narayana, a proud lad of 12, surroundedby his mother and brothers, sat uprightwith an air of distant reverie on his gravecountenance.

The assistant glanced up at the priest andat a signal activated the fire. The priestput the sacrificial ladle in Narayana’s handand commanded the assembly’s attentionwith the portentous word : “Savadhan”,heralding the Muhurta or auspiciousmoment and at the mention of “Savadhan”(Take care !) Narayana’s mind jerkedawake.

“Take Care !” Yes. Take Care ! This wastruly a divine warning reaching him throughthe wall of ceremonial paraphernalia.Wasn’t the priest’s word a God-sent arrowpiercing a way through his bondage and

SANT RAMDAS


marking a path of light to his soul’s freedom? “Oh Lord, I shall take care. This I will !”With the agility of a jungle cat, his limbsstretched under him and loosened as if shotfrom a spring and in one bound he was outof the marriage pandal and in two more hedisappeared out of sight, not to be seenagain for nearly 24 years.

Born on the 9th day of the bright fort-nightof Chaitra in the year 1608,Narayana was the third sonof a Brahmin couple, SuryajiPant and Ranu Bai, Rig VedicBrahmins of Jamadagnilineage, who lived in Jambaby the Gadavari. The othertwo sons were GangadharaPant and Ramirama DasaPant. Suryaji Pant passedaway soon after havingperformed Narayana’sUpanayana (ThreadCeremony).

Ranu Bai often reproached herlittle boy for not taking partin household work. She would find himdreaming in a corner of the kitchen andonce she asked him :

“What do you think you are doing here allby yourself ?”

“O Mother”, he would reply, “I was reflectingupon the Universe.”

Narayana who longed to receive initiationinto the mysteries of spiritual life hadapproached Gangadhar, but his brother

refused to initiate him because he was tooyoung.

The boy would have run away from homein search of the Real Teacher, had he notbided his time out of regard for his mother.

But the electrifying effect of the priest’sword had touched him at the very core ofhis dilemma and at the most critical moment

of his life. Having thus decamped, hereached the Panchavati, near Nasik, thescene of the legendary kidnapping of Sita.

He found a cave on a hillock called Taakaliby the mouth of a small tributary of theGodavari. He remained in that cave for 12years, doing severe penance standingwaist-deep in the water at the confluenceof the rivers, from sunrise to midday,meditating on Raghunatha.The Lordappeared to him in the form of Sri Ramaand initiated him.


From then on, he took the name ofRamadasa, living on Madhukari, collectingmorsels of food from several householdsjust as a bee collects honey from flowers,which he first offered to Rama, meditatingin the river and reading the Puranas.

Compared to other and earlier saints ofthe Vithala Sampradaya, Ramdasa stoodout as a class all by himself. Whereasthose great souls campaigned for a revivalof dharma alone and did not seek to makea great many disciples or change thepolitical map, Ramadasa went out of hisway to spread his creed with a zeal of amissionary. He aimed at reforming societyand getting rid of foreign invaders. Heused direct methods and a language gearedto the necessities of the day. He was moreobjective and believed that a religion whichhas become decadent and in imminentdanger of being wiped out should becomeactive and first reform itself in order to beable to overcome such threats.

Thus, he gathered numberless disciples whoset themselves forthwith to spread themessage in their own towns and villages,from Karhad, Shahapur, Miraj, Chaphala,Shirgaon, Masur et. Et., forming societies,building maths and temples and making moredisciples. Men, women and entire familiesfired with enthusiasm, renounced the worldand dedicated their lives to this newmovement. The showed deep andunflinching faith in God and trust in theirGuru. This was the beginning of theRamdasa Sampradaya.

Ramdasa established the main maths inShirgaon and Chaphala. He sent a letter

to Uddhava and asked him to join him. Hewas given charge of the Domagaon Math.His faithful disciple Kalyana with his motherand a friend, Dattatreya, ran the ShirgaonMath. Thus he opened eleven Maths andtemples in different places. The great kingShivaraya (Shivaji) lived for the same idealand it was meet that those two pioneersof religious revival and Maratha revolutionshould have met.

Counseled by Sant Tukarama whose fore-sight caused him to go to Ramdasa, Shivajifound indeed the spiritual Master of hisdreams in the short and lively Sannyasinof the lineage of Jamadagni. They wereboth intelligent, smart and shrewd judgesof people. They both felt the burning urgeto free Maharashtra from oppression andre-establish dharma and justice in the land.Ramdasa bemoaned incessantly the waveof a new materialism, the perpetualinsecurity in politics and warfare, decriedthe overwhelming selfishness at all levelsof society and the plethora of fake religiousteachers, atheists, and above all, theapathy of the people as a whole.

“A Sadhu”, he preached, “should awakenothers but not remain in their midst, heshould go on to help others and regularlymeditate in the solitude of the hills andvalley.” In 1647, Ramdasa had discoveredan image of Rama deep in the bed of theKrishna river at Angapur and consecratedit in a shrine a year later, in Chaphala.

After leaving Divakara in charge of theMath, in the Ashadha of the same year,Ramdasa accompanied by his disciplesKalyana, Akka and Ananta Swami, visited


Pandharpur, where he met Sant Tukarama,a year before the latter’s passing away,and then he left for Shivathara where hewrote his Dasabodha and Abhangas andthen returned to Jamba. Some say hestayed at Parli. In 1655, Shivaraya offeredhis whole kingdom at the feet of the Guru,who as history knows returned it to theking, asking him to rule in his stead. Thesame year Ramdasa went back to Jambato attend on his dying mother. Ramdasa

and Shivaji formed a perfect teamdedicated to the uplift of their people, -one as the soldier, leader and statesman,the other as the wise counselor. In 1661,Shivaji having built the great fortress ofPratapgad, had his Guru Ramdasa install init the beautiful image of Tulja Bhavani, oneof the aspects of the Goddess Durga andpatron of the king, and endless were theprayers of the saint to the fierce destroyerof Evil, the divine Mother, to further thecause of his King.

Shivaji built several forts and conqueredmany more, having perfected the uses ofguerilla warfare. Ramdasa finally decided

to settle down atop the natural fortress ofSajjanagad, near Satara. Most DeccanPlateau mountains present ready-madebases for fortresses’ sides and tops.Shivaraya fortified Sajjanagad and built agreat fort.

Later on, as he watched the building ofSamangad in the vicinity, his heart rosewith pride at the sight of the thousands ofworkers swarming all over the summit,

working with zeal and agilitywhile carrying out his behest. Atthis moment, Ramdasa whosensed his thoughts came overto the king and called hisattention to a curiousphenomenon. The saint pickedup a rock from the basket of oneof the workers and smashed itagainst a wall. To everyone’ssurprise it was found that thestone contained a live frog whichleaped out of its erstwhile prisonunharmed.

Taken aback by the wonderful sight, theKing with the help of his sharp acumenwas quick to grasp the meaning of hisGuru’s action : If God could provide a frog’swhere withal to live within a stone, whowas he to think of himself as strong andpowerful ? Everything was indeed theLord’s play. God alone was the doer andhe, the King, was merely his servant andhis instrument. When Ramdasa saw hisdisciple had shed his pride as if it were anunwanted parasite, he smiled. This wasthe way the master taught, and no wonderShivaji felt unabated love and devotion forsuch an exceptional teacher.


In his letter to him, which are still inexistence, Shivaji pays tribute to him inthe highest terms, and he constantly usedto make grants for various temples andMaths.

“In the establishment of religion, andservice of God ….. in the relieving of themisery of my subjects and in theirprotection and help that I should seek toobtain spiritual satisfaction in the midst ofthis duty, you were also pleased to saythat whatever I wished from the bottomof my heart would be fulfilled for me….”, hewrote. This is only an example of theirclose relationship.

One can see how his knowledge of theworld fits in with his spiritual teaching. Hisaim was to reach everyone and encourageeven the weak to spurts of renewal,courage and strength. It was in 1674 thatChhatrapati Shivaji was crowned King andhe stayed for 45 days at Sajjanagad withRamdasa, feeding and caring for the poor.

In 1678 Ramdasa ordered new images ofSita, Rama and Laxmana to be made inTanjore and sent to Kalyana to take overthe Math at Damagaon. Then Shivarayawho visited his guru for the last time inthe month of Pausha in 1679, was informedby him of the approaching end of his reignand mission as his soul would soon gainrelease from the body. The Chhatrapatipassed away as predicted on the followingChaitra of 1680.

WHEN Pantaji Gopinath arrivedat Pasarni hill top, he saw thewhole area of Dhom, Menavali,

Wai and Bardhan flooded with an array oftents. Wai looked beautiful, its green treetops swaying to the tune of the ripples inKrishna river flowing by. But the beautyonly saddened him, for the territory wasthen occupied by Afzal Khan’s army. Theentire area from the banks of the Krishnawas plundered by his soldiers, who madethe life of those residing were miserable.

Pantaji descended from the hill-top andcame near the Khan’s camp. He saw Arabs,Afghans, Bakhsaris and converted Deccan’sdonning military uniforms fully armedwandering carelessly within the camp.When they saw this Brahmin, Pantaji, theywatched him with great curiosity mixed withdispleasure. At the same time they wereeager to know what his message could be.

Pantaji met Krishnaji Bhaskar at the camp.Krishnaji welcomed him. Pantaji nowdescended from his horse and startedwalking along with Krishnaji while theirhorsemen were coming leisurely behind bothof them. Pantaji was observing everydetail in the camp. He noticed the ropesof the tents spread out like fishermen’snets, innumerable elephants waving theirtrunks, caravans of camels, bullockscarrying water in skin pouches and alsocountless servants, maids, Baluchi traders,etc. Javelins tied in groups of four or five

PRATAPGARH


were seen at many places, and rifles andammunition dumps were strewn at variousspots in the camp. Occasionally, he couldhear sounds of dholaks (drums) and ghazalsbeing sung in a tent or two. Pantaji andothers were watched very curiously by thesturdy soldiers, while they were passingby. In another part of the camp there wereseveral shops displaying eatables, cloth,jewellery, etc. Many jewelers from Bijapurcame there with the confidence that Shivajiwould be defeated and they would have aroaring business.

On the plains, cannons were placed inhundreds and chests full of ammunitionwere close by. They were heavily guardedby armed soldiers. From all that he saw,Pantaji concluded that Khan’s camp wasextremely powerful and rich, full of skill yetcareless. In comparison Shivaji’s army wasvery small and extremely poor ! Pantajiwas alarmed at what he saw.

Suddenly, Krishnaji Bhaskar halted at thegate of a tent. Rich carpets were spreadout with a mattress in one corner and somecushions to lean upon. Krishnaji and Pantajientered the tent, and Krishnaji sent hisclerk to Khan to convey the arrival ofShivaji’s ambassador.

“Hand this letter of Maharaj to Khan Sahib,”said Pantaji to the clerk passing on anenvelope. Pantaji was visibly afraid at thethought of Shivaji Maharaj having tocontend against the might of the Khan.“What will happen to my Maharaj ?” hemurmured to himself.“You may rest for a while. I shall fetchthe orders of the Khan,” Krishnaji Bhaskar

said to Pantaji and left after arranging forhis personal comfort. Krishnaji saluted Khanand informed. “Shivaji Maharaj’sambassador has come to meet you honour!I have just come from Pratapgarh as peryour orders.”

“That’s fine,” exclaimed the Khan. “Now,you tell me what happened there. I amvery eager to know.” “Sir! You havealready won half the battle! No moreanxiety !” Krishnaji enthusiastically informedthe Khan.

“Is it so ? How is that ?” enquired theKhan eagerly.

Krishnaji narrated, “Shivaji is so frightenedthat he has requested me time and againto urge you to pardon him for his misdeedsso far. Your vast and powerful army, yourpersonal valour, and the force of yourdetermination struck terror in him. In fact,he is trembling with fright, and your honourhas robbed him even of his sleep.”

The Khan was delighted at this report.“Shivaji is now prepared to accept ordersfrom you, Sir,” continued Krishnaji.

Again Khan guffawed. “He is prepared tohand over all the forts, provinces, all theriches to you and is ready even to cometo you bare-footed from Bijapur.”

“But for the greatness of your honour,Shivaji could not have come to terms soeasily,” added Krishnaji.“I never expected even in my dreams thatthis wicked rogue would yield so soon !Now he is in my hands, this son of Bhonsles,


most disgracefully shall I hand him over tothe Sultan. I can finish off not one but adozen such men single-handed, if attacked.And how can this ‘mountain rat’ survive ?He is now just a hare in the jaws of a lion.”Thus boasted the Khan before Krishnaji.

Krishnaji then handed over the cover tothe Khan. He asked him to read it. It wasfull of praise for the Khan. Shivaji pleadedguilty of disobedience to the Sultan, andrequested Khan to pardon him and pleadon his behalf with the Bijapur Sultan. Herequested that he may be granted theopportunity to meet the Khan in personand present his case personally.

A smile flickered on the Khan’s face. Heagreed to meet Shivaji’s messenger the nextmorning, accordingly. Pantaji and Krishnajiwent to the Khan’s tent next morning withpresents, which Shivaji wished to be givento him. Khan was reclining on themattresses. When they entered he orderedhis men to exit. Krishnaji saluted the Khanand handed over the presents. Heintroduced Pantaji to the Khan as Shivaji’sambassador. Khan accepted the presentsand said to Pantaji. “Your Shivaji must haveunderstood the greatness of my power. Itis my wish that Shivaji should accompanyme to Bijapur.”

“He will come. It is his duty. He cannotdisobey your orders. Our Maharaj isashamed of his behaviour which might havecaused a great deal of anxiety to you. Hehas definitely invited the wrath of yourhonour. But it is only your honour who canpardon him. Shivaji Maharaj is nowfrightened ; he spends all his time worrying

about his safety. He is ready to hand overall his forts, even part of the country thathe has captured to you, if only you willspare his life,” explained Pantaji.

“Your Shivaji Raja was very conceited sofar ! He took undue advantage of theleniency of the Sultan ! Now his trickswon’t work with me.” Khan turned angry.

“Please pardon Shivaji Maharaj for all hisfaults. He will never forget this favour allhis life. When he is prepared to hand overevery inch of land to your honour, whyshould you be so cruel to him ? He isprepared to fall at your feet with foldedhands,” said Pantaji.

“If he is ready to come here, you may bringhim here,” ordered the Khan.

“But he is afraid to come here !” solicitedPantaji.

“Very well, then, what do you want me todo ?”

“If your honour would be kind enough tocome to Javli yourself, a meeting can bearranged.” “What ? I come to that jungle? to die ? It can never be. Shivaji has tocome here.” “But, Khan Saheb, Kindly listento his request ! Shivaji Maharaj will beutterly defenseless and shall come unarmedwith only one attendant. He is just likeyour son. He respects you more than hisfather. Kindly comply with his request. Hehas no courage to come out of Pratapgarh.”“So, you want me to meet him at Javli ?Well, leave me alone for the moment. I


shall think over and let you know mydecision tomorrow morning.”

“As you please, your honour,” said Pantaji,and he saluted the Khan and turned back.Pantaji and Krishnaji walked together.Pantaji insisted that Krishnaji should makethe Khan come down from Pratapgarh.Krishnaji promised him the same. Meanwhile,Khan thought over the proposal with all itsconsequences and repercussions, andfinally decided to agree to Shivaji’s request.Krishnaji also explained to Khan that Shivajicould do no harm to him even if he methim at Javli. Khan was convinced, and heconveyed his acceptance to Pantaji.Pantaji was very happy. He praised Ambain his mind for his successful mission as anambassador and left for Pratapgarh whereJija Bai and Shivaji were eagerly waitingfor the message.

“Come, come, Uncle !” Shivaji caught hishands and welcomed Pantaji.

“What ? Khan is ready to come ? That’sgood, Uncle, you have won half the battle,”exclaimed Shivaji.

“But Khan will bring his army ! Is it asmall force ? Shiva, what difference will itmake, if Khan comes down ?” enquiredJija Bai.

“I am going to meet him !” Maharaj saidvery calmly.

“What ? yourself ? No, no, I shall not letyou go,” Jija Bai protested vehemently.

“No, no, we won’t let you go, Maharaj,”echoed all the others, refusing to let Shivajigo alone to meet the Khan.

Shivaji then requested them to listen tohis point of view and explained, “I knowpretty well that the Khan has come herewith the definite intention of deceit in hisheart. He has a huge army. We will haveto so arrange that none of his soldiers canescape. If this is to be done, we must tryto get his army to jungles of Javli or to thevalleys of Koyna.”

“But how is it that you have decided tosee the Khan personally ?” enquiredMoropant.

“No, If he comes along with his army intothe forest of Mahabaleshwar you will tellhim that I cannot see him as I amfrightened. You will persuade him to leavehis army in the valleys of Koyna and comealone to the foot-hills of Pratapgarh. Wewill raise a Shamiana for him and I shallmeet him there. And if he does so, hisarmy will be at your disposal !”

“Wonderful,” exclaimed Tanaji. Jija Bai wasstill anxious. “If the Khan behaves himselfit will be all right. Cannons will be soundedat the time of the meeting. As soon asyou hear the sound of cannons, you musttackle his army.”

“But how can you be sure that the Khanwill behave properly ?” asked Jija Bai.

“If the Khan behaves properly, he will betreated with respect ; if he deceives, thenI have got the nails of a tiger to protect


me. I shall break open his entrails. Evenhis corpse will not reach Bijapur. I shallnot consider myself your son if I cannotavenge the insult that the Khan has doneto my father.” Shivaji spoke with firmnessand determination to his mother. The dayfor the meeting was fixed! It was onThursday, Agrahayan Shuddha Seventh, inthe afternoon.

All the important colleagues of ShivajiMaharaj had assembled ; Moropant, KanhojiJedhe, Baji, Sarjerao Jedhe, Tanaji, Yesaji,Netaji Palkar, Jiva Mahalya, etc. werepresent. Shivaji assigned a task to eachone of them. Sambhaji Kavji Mondhalkarand Jiva Mahalyawere to remain with Shivajiduring his meeting with the Khan.Meanwhile Mavalis were engaged in theblockade of the jungle of Javli from all thedirections in order not to allow the escapeof a single soldier and to block their way inthe dense forests of Javli. Mavalisthemselves hid in batches of eight or tenand were only waiting for the signal forattacking the Khan’s army thus surroundedby them in the jungle. They were verycautious, alert and wrathful, waiting forthe right opportunity. For Shivaji Maharajhad said to them, “This is the wish of God! Be confident, Goddess Jagadamba isbehind you. We are doing this only for thesake of our Gods, our religion and ourpeople.”

INSTIGATED by the Dowager Queenof Bijapur, Afzal Khan’s army was onits way to capture Shivaji, destroying

all the places of worship. Shivaji did notrelish the idea of facing a major battle withso tremendous a force as Afzal Khan’s andwhen Afzal Khan sent a Brahmin, offeringto meet and conclude peace Shivaji agreedto it, though doubtful of Afzal Khan’ssincerity in the offer. A meeting wasarranged. When the Brahmin returned toAfzal Khan, he gave to the Bijapurcommander a very different version of whathad transpired between himself and Shivaji.He faithfully narrated the conversation thattook place in the Shivaji’s Darbar, of howShivaji proclaimed that he had no intentionof disrespecting the Sultan and how eagerhe was to meet the Khan and concludepeace. But he omitted the subsequentcall Shivaji had made on him in the middleof the night from his narration. During hissecond meeting Shivaji managed to extractfrom the Brahmin the Khan’s actualintentions, and learnt that he bragged aboutcapturing Shivaji and taking him back toBijapur in chains. Naturally Afzal Khan wassatisfied at the success of the Brahmin’smission. He was flattered by the humbleand repentant attitude of the Maratha whowas now seeking pardon and protection,and urging the Khan to intervene on hisbehalf at the court of Sultan of Bijapur.“My Master”, said the Brahmin to AfzalKhan, “You have put the fear of God intothis young man to whom I conveyed your

THE DEADLY EMBRACE


messages. He is humble and repentantand will do as you say, but I am of theopinion that he is suspicious lest he betrapped in some way. For this reason hefeels unable to come to you here in Wai.He urges humble that you march up a littleway, perhaps up to Javli. There he wouldmeet you more assuredly, for you wouldbe without your formidable army aroundyou. That would be the starting point fromwhich you could gradually draw him intoyour grip, and thereafter hewould be all yours to do asyou want with him” thusconvincing Afzal Khan thatShivaji was really afraid ofthe Khan and his forces.

Afzal Khan decided tocomply with Shivaji’srequest and gave orders forthe camp to get ready tomove forward to Javli. Iwill honour him”, Afzal Khanthought. “After all, as theBrahmin has said, he hasmore reason to be afraidof me than I, Afzal Khan, have to be afraidof him ?”Shivaji proceeded for the peace talks, butto three chosen men who were in chargeof his own forces Shivaji sent a differentkind of order. These three were his militarycommanders, Netaji Palkar, PeshwaMoropant and Tanaji Malusare. Thesecommanders, were in charge of hisbattalions in Konkan. Shivaji asked themto come closer and station themselves inthe thick forest, east of Pratapgarh. Buteven to these three he did not disclosethat there would be need to commit any

act of aggression against the Khan’sforces. He informed them that this wasfor protection in case the Khan launched asurprise attack.

The time for the meeting dawned. TheBijapur commander slowly walked up theincline from his camp to pavilion, wherethe two were to meet. Afzal Khan camedressed in a full-skirted thin Muslin robe,carrying only his sword by his side. He

asked Sayed Banda, who accompanied him,to stand at a distance for that was thearrangement he had made with Shivaji.Then he came forward marching into thepavilion, where he took his seat on therichly decorated couch which had beenmade ready for him.

Shivaji came down from his fort, and leavinghis followers at a distance from the pavilion,he approached it with only two escorts.He was apparently unarmed, but concealedunder the sleeves, into which he foldedhis hands, were small but deadly enough


weapons, with which he could protecthimself if the Khan made a treacherousmove. On the fingers of one hand weretiger’s claws and hidden inside the othersleeves was a dagger. As he approachedthe stocky, hefty Khan, who was almostdouble Shivaji’s size, the Khan got up andadvanced with open arms, ostensibly toextent a warm brotherly embrace ofwelcome to Shivaji. But his muscles weretwitching with eagerness to crush theMaratha and his mind was in a fever. Ashe folded Shivaji in what was intended tobe a deadly embrace he slipped one armaround Shivaji’s neck and tightened his gripchoking, while with the other he drew adagger and stabbed him. Shivaji waspetrified for a moment, though he was notunarmed, thanks to his steel armour. Thenext moment, he managed to free his arm,the arm with the tiger’s claws and diggingthe claws into the Khan’s stomach he toreopen his entrails. Stung by the pain, theKhan loosened his grip on the Maratha, whothen freed his other arm, stabbed the Khanseveral times, and before his surprisedattendants could make a move, hestreaked like lightening across and out ofthe tent.


SHIVAJI stood on the ramparts ofPratapgarh and surveyed thefinishing touches being given to

Afzal Khan’s tomb. An ignominious deathfor a powerful soldier, but the insult shouldnot be carried beyond the grave. The deadshould be laid in honour.

His trusted lieutenants stood beside him ina group. Shivaji turned to them.

“A soldier never rests, till he finds his eternalrest on the battle-field. Afzal Khan’s deathwould cause panic and confusion at theBijapur Court. Strike into that chaos andgrab an easy victory, that is how I feel.What do you say Netaji ?”, he asked.

Excitement shone in the eyes of thelieutenants. “Say whither and we shallproceed there and capture, Maharaj. Yourpolicy is always sound and we know not tohesitate upon one of your decisions”,replied Tanaji and others nodded assent.No sooner had the thought crossedShivaji’s mind than a battalion stood readyto speed and Netaji took the lead. Horses’hoofs thudded as the spirit of warpossessed the soldiers and they gallopedtowards Bijapur. The thunder of the hoofsshook the earth.

Shivaji watched the troops disappearing ina cloud of dust over the horizon and turnedto his companions. “And now to turn ourgaze in another direction and strike ! Ishall be at the forefront this time.” Withlightning speed he struck at the unwary

rulers of the small territories, capturing fortafter fort with little or no resistance offeredby them and reached Kolhapur, thirteendays after the tiger claws tore at Bijapur’svitals. Panhalgarh stood like a prey waitingfor the tiger’s approach and Shivaji roaredhis orders to surround it. The resistanceof Panhalgarh did little to repel thepersistent Maratha troops and at last theOchre flag was hoisted on the ramparts ofPanhalgarh.

The atmosphere at Bijapur Court was grim.Netaji’s onslaught and Shivaji’s capturingforts en route Kolhapur unnerved thealready down-hearted Bijapur generals.Now Panhala stood in imminent danger, andit had to be protected Let Panhala fall intoShivaji’s hands, and Bijapur might as wellopen its arms and welcome Shivaji intotheir midst. Panhala’s position was toostrategic. If it fell, all hope would be lost.

Rustum-e-Jaman, a stalwart and veteranof many a war came forth to take thechallenge. Under him marched the armyof Bijapur, ten thousand strong, while thevanquished generals vowed vengeanceupon the Maratha and marched ahead oftheir troops with grim determination.

Rustum-e-Jaman called his generals to aconference and warned them of Shivaji’sforces that were not to be under-estimated. There was no need for thewarning. They all suffered an ignominiousdefeat at the hands of the Maratha, at

A SPEEDY FOLLOW UP


one time, or another. Fazal Khan and MalikAmbar guarding the two flanks, Fateh Khanand Mulla Hai forming the vanguard withSarje Rao Ghatge and Santaji Ghorpade atthe forward base and the commander-in-chief Rustum-e-Jaman at the centre, theten thousand strong army cavalcadedforth.

Shivaji was no less prepared than theBijapur army for he knew that Bijapur wouldsurely send forth a massive campaign toprotect Panhala. He decided to face theBijapur forces in the open and marchedforward to meet it as it rushed towardsKolhapur. He too gave orders to thedivision of his forces and decided Netajiwould attack Fazal Khan on the left flankwhile Mahadik with his troops would routthe vanguard and Pandhare would takecare of the right flank. Jagtap wouldshatter the frontal defences of Ghatge andGhorpade and Shivaji himself would rushthrough the shattered defences, to thecentre and tackle Rustum-e-Jaman.

With cries of Hara Hara Mahadeo echoingall around, the Maratha troops charged.The spirit and the force of the surgingMaratha troops was too much even for thewell prepared Bijapur forces and very soontheir defences began to slacken.

Fazal Khan turned on his heel and chaosreigned in the army, through which Shivajiplunged with his chosen men and headedstraight towards Rustum-e-Jaman.Rustum’s own resistance to the onslaughtwas feeble and soon he too retreated.Panhalgarh opened the gate-way toKonkan for Shivaji and he marched onundaunted.

We know not today O thou mighty King,

Shiva ChhatrpatiOn what dawned day in that

by-gone centuryYou sat on some obscure peak

in MaharashtraScanning the far horizons that the

thought flashedThrough your contemplating mind“As far as I see and farther still,

Lies the soil of sacred India,hacked to pieces.

These fragments shall I bind togetherAnd unite my holy land to

house her children.”That day, when the length and breadthOf the country vibrated to thy thought,

My Bengal remained untouched, dormant.When the entire land rose to

your clarion callShe alone was silent.

No conch shells boomed in her court-yards

To echo your war bugle.She snuggled contentedly

Under the soft, clear, green apparelOf spacious fields, clasping her children

In an embrace of warmth and lulled them to sleep.

The day when the flame ofyour passionate love

For your mother wrote in glowing wordsThe great Mantra of Deliverance

Thundering them to the far horizonsAnd flashed the fire of lightning

That presaged the end of an evil era,And the Moghul turbans shook

SHIVAJI FESTIVALRabindranath Tagore [Translated by

Basudha Chakravarthy]


and tumbledLike ripe leaves in the dusk of cataclysm,

Bengal still was deafTo that thunderous trot of

marching Marathas.At the dead of that storm tossed night

The court at Delhi wept desolate,As the palace lights flickered out

So ebbed the glow of the Moghul EmpireTill it was put out, and left a carcass

To the screaming hungry vulture.The flame died, and all that was left

Of a long Imperial ruleWas a heap of ashes scattered,

never to be seen.That day on the borders of Bengal

The goddess of commerceushered a throne

In the dark tunnel running beside a shop of merchandise

Anointing it with the sacredwaters of Ganga.

The measuring rod of merchandiseAssumed dimensions of a royal sceptre

Ere that night ended.None knew that day where thou wert ;

Thou, the thoughtful Maratha heroThe noble son of Bharata Varsha

Thou wert buried in memoryWhen thy ochre flag streakedno moreIn yonder blue skies.

The minds that delved into factsAnd wrote down volumes of history

Did not read thy noble thought,And called thee a dacoit

Laughing in derision -That thou shalt seek a crown.

Thy loving gift of freedom to thy motherWas labelled as a bandit’s adventure.

I rail the gathered volumes of blundering history

And cry out the agony of my heart,“Stop ! Stop your vociferous tongue.Thy false recordings shall not belie

The engraved writing of the Great Dispenser.

Thy ridicule shall not veilThe undying truth of destiny.”Thou Royal seeker of Truth,

The grandeur of thy thought is gatheredAnd piled away in thestore-house of God,

Where guarded by His zealous careNot an iota of that great wealth

Can rust under the march of time.None knew that thy toil,

The dedicated quest of TruthThou sought to establish on the altar

In the temple of thy motherlandWould become an undying flame

To shine forever in India’s epochs.Like an ascetic retreated to

a mountain caveTo do his penance in peaceful obscurity

Thou hast retreated into the obscurity of centuriesAnd now emerged like a thunderous rain cloud

To deluge the world with thegreatness of thy thought.

And the world gaped in stunned intellectWondering how this ochre flag that tinted

The entire horizon to flaming orangeRemained an obscure flicker all along.

And I wonder, my poetic mindStruggling to grasp the meaning

Of this un-precedentedspectacle, musing

How and when has your battle-drumOf victory sounded on the

borders of Bengal !What newer and brighter rays

thou art now castingOver the eastern horizon, rising out

From thy long buried gravecenturies ago.

The spirit of Truth is ever alive,The heap of facts of a hundred centuries


Cannot drive it into oblivion.Neglect does not destroy it,

Nor insult shatter its iron nerve,Nor quails it under any attack.

When all despaired that the noble TruthExhausted itself beyond the

region of actionIt appeared again at the doors of India

In the garb of a venerable guest.Thy lips chant the same mantraThy benign eyes still envision

A glorious future,Thou the disembodied ascetic

now re-appearedAs the fruit of your grand penance

Thou hast brought with theeThe strength of thy inspiration.

Thy vast armies, hordes of neighing horses,

Trumpeting elephantsAnd battle cries of Har Har Mahadeo

Have today merged into the silent flashOf thy glorious name.

To seat thee, we, the Bengalis,Offer the throne of our loving heart.No far-fetched intellect visualised

That by thy glorious name stand unitedThe hearts of Bengal and Maharashtra,

Before the power of whichQuails the feeble concept of war.

None knew the agelessness,The imperishability of thy mind,Whose dedication, through the

oblivion of centuriesWould survive and rise again

To usher a new light, a new dawnOn the soil of India.

When thou, the great virtuous KingHailed us from the borders

of Maharashtra,We did not reckon you asking,

Nor did we feel any shame,As we failed to acknowledge

That call terrible.

We did not see thy furious actionThat day, as thy sword flashed,

The banner of freedom across the skies,But sat aloof, at that hour of thy strife.

Today, thy image sits foreverOn the throne of memory

Immortal beyond the power of death’s destruction.

The glitter of thy crown shall never subdue.

In the resplendent light of that gloryWe have, today, realised thee.Eight crores of Bengali children

Stand before the throneOn which, thou King among Kings, fittest

in tradition’s gloryBringing to you thy Royal due.We failed to hearken to thy

call ages back,But today we stand before thee

To bow down and takethy every command.

All the lands of India stand today,Shoulder to shoulder,

Breathing the mystic spell of deliveranceThy mind contemplated ages ago.We shall hoist thy ascetic scarf,

As the flag of strength to the poor,“There shall be an identical Kingdom of

virtues in this land of India,”We shall find the strength

to seek deliveranceIn these noble words of Thine.

“O ye Bengalis, hail to-day,In unison with the Marathas

‘Victory to Shivaji,’March ahead in festive dress,

Oh ye Bengalis, with the Marathas.”May today the flanks of India,

East and West merge in a unionTo felicitate in harmonious joy that

glorious name.


THE news of Afzal Khan’s terribleend spread shock and shookBijapur. The realisation now dawned

upon Bijapur that Shivaji was far morepowerful than they were willing to believe.

Subsequent to the Khan’s death Shivaji lostno time in seizing more territories and forts.Pavangad fort was captured. The fort ofPanhala was also captured. The BijapurGeneral, Rustum-e-Jaman, who facedShivaji near Kolhapur was routed.

Among the strategic coastal forts inKonkan was the town of Rajapur wherethe East India Company was trying tosecure a foot-hold. The Marathas hadrushed into Rajapur, but Shivaji, unwillingto clash with the British just then, orderedto cease the attack and returned with theplunder taken from the citizens. He didnot wish to face trouble with the earlyBritish settlers while he concentrated onuprooting the alien rule of the Muslims.

The actual position and extent of theMaratha Empire crystallised itself in the year1662, when the territory that fell intoShivaji’s hands stretched from Kalyan toGoa, comprising of some 300 miles ofKonkan coast. There were, in addition,the uplands from river Bhima to Wenna,measuring 160 miles in length and over 100miles in breadth. That was the nucleus ofthe Maratha Empire, the beginning of theKingdom which he founded for himself infulfillment of the prophesy which Bhavani

had made to Maloji Bhonsle. His army hadalso grown. His infantry numbered 50,000men, his cavalry 7,000.

The Emperor’s Apprehension

Shivaji was now a force to reckon with,and he caused considerable apprehensionin the minds of the Moghul Emperor, andthe Bijapur Sultan. Aurangazeb, engagedthen in a gory and sordid fight to ascendthe throne, had little time or inclination todeal with Shivaji, but he kept Shahji’s jagirsunder his control, refusing to return them,despite Shivaji’s repeated requests andpromises of loyalty. Shaista Khan,Aurangazeb’s uncle, was posted as Viceroyof Deccan, as a huge obstacle in Shivaji’scampaign. Shivaji himself made no bid toenter into a pitched battle with thepowerful Khan but kept egging on with hisguerilla tactics and capturing smallterritories on the fringe. But he was enragedwhen the Khan, in a message addressedto Shivaji written in Sanskrit, called him a“mountain ape”. Shivaji felt terribly insulted,and decided to teach the Khan a lesson.

He found a Maratha officer of the Moghularmy, willing to conspire with him. Theofficial, at Shivaji’s instigation, requestedpermission for a wedding ceremony to beperformed. With the Khan’s permission,the wedding procession, including Shivajiand his own men guised as wedding guests,entered the Moghul camp at Poona, takingthe Khan’s army by surprise and completely

THE JAGIR THAT EXPANDED INTO AN EMPIRE


rampaging it. The Khan himself escapedwith a finger or two from his hand cut offby Shivaji’s sword. The shame-faceddefeat at the hands of the Maratha exposedhim as a careless general, upon whomAurangazeb inflicted the added insult of atransfer to the Bengal provinces.

With Shaista Khan replaced by Raja JaiSingh and Prince Muazzam, Shivaji wasagain faced with the problem of reckoningwith a strong foe. Yet, his ambition wasneither thwarted nor did it cool off. Hiseyes were fixed on Janjira, but he decidedto proceed slowly towards that goal,annexing territories on the way, gatheringfunds for his army and its maintenance.The first target was Surat, and itsmerchants yielded great sums, eithervoluntarily when he first politely asked forthem or unwillingly later on upon threat oflife. Shivaji, however, never mixed up theconcepts of alien rule and alien religion.The Roman Catholic father and his abodeat Surat, with all those who took shelterunder him were spared graciously andreverently, under explicit orders from Shivajithat neither their effects nor their personsshould be touched by anyone in his troops.Next to Surat came Baselor where hisexpedition lasted just a day, but yieldedas much funds as the Surat expedition did.

Now was the time for the Emperor to takeaction against the rebel and check hisimpertinence. Under two of his powerfuland able commanders, Raja Jai Singh andDiler Khan the vast Moghul armies launcheda many sided attack on the Maratha.Making Aurangabad the headquarter, DilerKhan attacked Purandhar, while Jai Singhlaunched an attack on Sinhgad, and yet

another part of the army attacked Rajgad.The Rajput princes of Deccan, reluctantto accept Shivaji’s suzerainty found someground other upon which to join hands withthe Moghuls. All told, it was a surpriseattack, to match which Shivaji had notsufficient power then, and he once againplayed up his strategy of submission andgaining time to wait, gather strength andstrike again. Diler Khan was unwilling toconclude any peace pact with Shivajiwithout the order of the Emperor, andunder his pressure the siege of bothPurandhar and Sinhgad continued.

They realised the futility of the attempt tocapture Shivaji’s forts which were fortifiedwith fool-proof guard tactics, and fight hisable men who launched surprise attackson the Mughal army seiging everyopportunity offered for such an attack.Finally Diler Khan also agreed to concludea treaty with the Maratha, and at ameeting Shivaji promised to concedetwenty of the thirty-two forts he held ;the remaining twelve forts with all theadjoining territories were to be Shivaji’swith a grant of rupees ten lakhs revenueto be enjoyed by him. Shivaji also agreedto help and serve the Emperor in any futurebattle, and to depute a company of hisarmy to the Moghul court to serve theEmperor. The treaty thus concluded wascelebrated with banquets and festivities,Shivaji once again gained his strategicbreathing spell to recoup and launch hisattack afresh again.


FROM the towering heights of hiscapital fort Shivaji surveyed thesurrounding dominion. The valleys

and the plains stretched far beyond thereach of vision. Kalyan, though small,attracted his eye. Like a man who rightlysenses the agitation of a tree’s foliage whenhe becomes aware of the humming beesactive on a hive as something differentfrom the casual rustle of the leaves, hebecame aware of the real cause underlyingthe restlessness of the people in Kalyan.

Kalyan was under the rule of an Abyssiniannominee of the Moghul Emperor. The peopleof the province resented this intrusion uponthem by a foreigner. The Moghuls werealien enough but somehow they took rootin our land and their authority was no longerquestioned. It was one thing to haveMuslim Governor under Moghul employment,or their own native Governor, thoughsubject to Moghul power, and quite anotherthing to have an intruder, an alien, a Siddi,thrust upon them to rule over them. Thepeople of Kalyan squirmed under such adispensation waiting for someone to givethem just a prod to burst into action andoverthrow Siddi. With the seethingdiscontent in the mind of the populaceShivaji had little trouble in crushingwhatever resistance the Abyssinian offered.On a warm afternoon in 1648, the Governorof the province, Maulana Ahmed, an Arabin the service of the Sultan, was dozing inhis palace. He had, a few days ago,

supervised the despatch of a specialcaravan to Bijapur, carrying the year’srevenue of his province. This was (as faras the central authorities were concerned)his chief duty, and as usual he had sent astrong guard in attendance. The caravanmoved towards a pass in the hills leadingto the plateau beyond, and thence toBijapur. From the flat coast land the hillstowered up, gaunt basalt rocks leaping froma tangle of forest, and round the highestpeaks there was seen a coronet of clouds.A wild stretch of country it was, and onewould hardly venture there alone, but forthat well equipped company there couldhave been no cause for any alarm. Asthey entered the pass, the guards thoughtof little but the labour of the ascent andthe heat of the day. They did not noticeany movement at the mouth of pass behindthem.

Shivaji, with three hundred men mountedon little Maratha ponies, was stalking themup the narrowing ravine. The creek andrumble of cart-wheels, the steady trampof marching feet and the consequentcrackling of dried leaves, and then suddenlya roar from the rear, the battle cry thatwas one day to be heard all over India :“Hara Hara Maha Dev ! “ and the Marathaswere upon the startled soldiers. The fightwas soon over, and the caravan with itsgreat treasure was in Shivaji’s hands. Helost ten men in this, the first battle. Hegave generous rewards to his followers and

THE KALYAN CAMPAIGN


presented large sums to the families of theten who had fallen.

Meanwhile, in the town of Kalyan, thebazaars were empty in the noon-day heat.A party of Maratha horsemen rode quietlythrough the gates, past the guard-roomsand rode on to the palace and took theGovernor prisoner. When the merchantsstirred out of their houses in the cool ofthe evening they found a young Marathacalled Abaji installed in the palace and theochre flag fluttering over the city gates.

ON the way back from KalyanShivaji stopped at theHarihareswar temple. Among the

treasures of the temple was a sword,beautifully charged and shining gloriously,with resplendent ferocity, with the metallooking limpid and shining liquidly like quick-silver. It seemed more like a lashing, hungrytongue of Kali than a stiff blade of steel.It seemed like active, potent, liquid powerstraining to flow out, engulf and eraseenemies. Shivaji looked at the sword andwas at once enchanted by it.

“If only I had that sword in my hand, Iwould conquer any foe in the world.Somehow, I feel that the sword has thepower of Bhavani herself in it and if I wereto hold it, Mother would lit that power flowinto me and I would be an unconquerablewarrior,” he mused.

But he was wise to hide his feelings. Thesword was actually the precious possessionof a man by name Gowalkar Sawant. If itcould sway the mind of so strong a personas Shivaji who was overcome with a desireto possess it - he who never wished tohave anything for himself, how much moreattachment would not be there in the heartof a simpler man for it ? Strong as thedesire was, the force of Shivai’s noblenature and character was even strongerand so the desire was at once pushed backinto his mind. But Sawant, present there,noticed that look which flashed in Shivaji’seyes. He understood that Shivaji coveted

THE LEGENDARYSWORD


the sword, and yet the Maharaj would notask for it. In whose hands would the swordshine better ? To what better purposecould it be used, if not Shivaji’s noblemission ? Sawant stepped forward, andtaking the sword in his hands, knelt beforeShivaji, and offering it said, “Maharaj,please accept this humble gift. The swordis for a conqueror like you, who is fightinga battle of Dharma. I feel as though MotherBhavani if urging me on to give you this.”

Shivaji’s eye shone with a tiny film of waterthat sprang in his eyes, out of pure joy.He accepted the sword, and a thrill ran uphis spine as if some unseen power, like anelectric current, ran through his bloodstream. He raised the sword and touchedhis forehead with it, bending in obeisance.

“This is Thy gift, Mother. You understoodthe longing in your son’s heart and yougot it for me. I shall name it after you.This shall be called the Sword of Bhavani,and through it your power shall alwaysprotect me,” he murmured, and rewardingSawant generously for the marvelous gift,marched off with his precious possession.

ONE incident in Kalyan acquiredmajor significance, for it shedslight on Shivaji’s noble heart

providing glimpses of his character. Duringthe Kalyan campaign, the Commander incharge, Abaji Mahadev, captured a verybeautiful Muslim girl, the daughter of thelocal Mulla. She was one of the captivesof the campaign and her beauty soimpressed Abaji that he decided to presenther to Shivaji. During the Durbar held atKalyan after the conquest, Abaji broughtthe girl, bedecked and bejeweled exquisitelyand presented her at the Durbar statingthat he brought her as a gift for ShivajiMaharaj.

Shivaji looked at her exquisitely carvedfeatures, the alabaster complexion and herbeautiful figure making her appear as if thefigure had been carved out by the nimblefingers of a master sculptor. He steppeddown from the throne, and coming towardsthe girl, placed his palm upon her head asa gesture of blessing. She trembled slightlyand looked at him appealingly. Her largeeyes now moist with unshed tears madethem shine brighter stil l. Shivajicomprehended the appeal in her eyes, andsmiling reassuringly at her, turned to Abajiand addressed him thus :

“Thank you very much, indeed, Abaji, forbringing such a beautiful girl into my family.I myself can boast of no extraordinaryhand-someness of mien, and this lack of

THE BEAUTY ANDHER BENEFACTOR


beauty in my family is today amplycompensated for by the acquisition of sucha beautiful sister as this.” Then he turnedto the girl and spoke gently :

“Sister, you are so exquisite to look at thatI feel you are an angel, perhaps. I amonly a rugged soldier ; some people callme a mountain rat. Such as I am, I do notthink I deserve to call myself your brother.If you would accept me as such, I shallfeel mighty proud.”

The girl’s eyes shone with happiness, anda smile lit up her lovely face as she lookedat Shivaji.

Shivaji again turned to Abaji. “Abaji ! Apost-war Durbar is no place for such abeautiful girl. Let her now go back to herpeople, carrying with her all the gifts thata brother should bestow upon his sister.”

Abaji’s head bent low in shame formisunderstanding the impulses of his noblemaster. And now he was happy, for pridefilled his heart at this noble conduct of hisgreat master. And so the girl went backto her home honoured and laden with giftsof love from Shivaji.

On the rampart of Satara FortWas seated Shivaji one fine mornWhen he saw his Guru Ramdas

Go begging alms from door to door.Pondered Shivaji : “Strange, indeed,

That with a beggar’s bowl moves the Guru,

In whose abode no want there isWho at his command has resources all,

Before whom lies prostrate the monarch,Still his avarice knows no bounds.To me a vain endeavour it seems

Thirst to quench from a leaky vesselIn which water is poured night and day.

How much it needsThe beggar’s bowl to fill.”

That instant a note he scribbled,Summoned Balaji and to him he said,

“When to the fort for alms comes the Guru,

This note to him deliver.”Many were the way-fares and chariotsThat strode past the Guru as he sang,

“Oh Maheshwar, Oh Shankar !To all else have you earth

and home given,But to me only the path

have you assigned.Mother Annapurna has of the universe

taken chargeAnd in Her joy do all thrive.But, me from such a Mother,

Oh ! mendicant,Have you snatched and made

your follower.”As his hymn he ended, and took

his mid-day bath

THE VICEGERENTTranslated by J.L.Das, from the

original Bengali poem“Pratinidhi” of

Rabindranath Tagore


And came before the fort-gate and stood,

Obeisance rendered Balaji,And the royal note at his feet placed

And stepped aside, his head in reverence bent,

His wonder roused, the Guru took upAnd the message perused,To him had Shivaji tendered

his reverenceAnd his kingdom and capital

At his disposal placed.To the king went Ramdas

the following dayAnd said, “Tell me, my

worthy son,If indeed the kingdom in me

Vest you will,What mission will you serve,

What other excellenceshave you ?”

Replied Shivaji saluting the Guru

“Most gladly will I my life lay down

At your service, and abideby your command.”

“Take this satchel on your shoulder thenAnd follow me for begging,”

Bade the Guru.And so they went,

Begger’s bowl in had moved ShivajiWith his Guru from door to door,When the monarch they saw,

the childrenTo their homes in fear hurried

And their parents called out in wonder,“One who is of immense

wealth possessedIs now in begging engaged,

A rock floating above water !A sport of the high-souled !”As, bashful and trembling,

They came to offer,

Alms to the Royal beggar.The hour of mid-day was from

the fort proclaimedAnd city-dwellers their errands

stopped to restSetting to tune his “ektara”

chanted Ramdas,His eyes with tears of ecstasy filled,

“Oh Lord of the universe,Your ways I comprehend not,

Nothing do you lack,Still in men’s hearts you roam

And from all crave all.”At the end of the day,

His evening bath he completedIn the river that by the city flowed,

Then cooked the food by begging obtained

And partook of it with great cheer,His disciple the remains acceptingAs food of grace, of holy flavour.

The king now smiled and to the Guru said,

“Royal vanity have you destroyedAnd him to a beggar reduced,

What more do you desire,Great pains from his Guru

See this slave ready to endure.”


Spoke the Guru, “Heed then,A difficult vow have you takenAnd so a similar burden bear.

This is my command,Take back your realm and govern itOn behalf of me and in my name.

A vicegerent of beggarsHas God appointed you,

Though a king, indigent and indifferent yet,

The royal duties that you dischargeWill be but my work,

Even with your kingdomA stateless monarch shall you remain.”

“My son, with my blessingsTake my saffron robe,

And convert your standardInto the wrapper of a recluse,”

So bade Guru Ramdas.The Sun from this throne descended

The cow-boy’s flute ceased its strain,And the cow-herd to shed returned,

But the royal disciple with his head bent,On the river-bank sat

His fore-head with thoughts furrowed.Deeply absorbed was RamdasChanting spontaneous hymns“Who art thou that robed me

in royal attireAnd amidst this world placed,

Yourself remaining unseen,Oh king, I have your sandals brought,

And am seated underneath,Darkness descends,

How long seated shall I wait,Do comeAnd show thyself in thineOwn Realm.”

LONG, long ago some three hundredyears from now, this land of ourswas the scene of a mighty drama.

The stage on which this scene was playedwas Maharashtra and the actor was a king,a king who caused the Moghul Emperor’sthrone at Delhi to tremble at its veryfoundations. His thundering hoof-beatsstruck terror into the hearts of enemies,but for all that his courteousness andchivalry never suffered. Deeply religiousand devoted to his mother, this king was achampion of the fallen, the weak and thesuffering. To him all women wereembodiments of the Mother GoddessBhavani, whom he worshipped. Who washe ? Where and when was he born ? Whowere the lucky parents of this great kingand man, - these may be the questionsthat rise in your minds. Wait - these shallbe answered. In the meantime, let us castour minds back over the years and followone of the acts of this drama.

The night was still. A convoy of cart-wheels creaked along the Satara Road tothe foot-hills of Western Ghats. Tiny lampsglimmered like fire-flies from the carts. Theroads lost themselves into denseness ofthe forest, where stood the great Hill Fortof Pratapgarh. This caravan wound its wayand was soon lost.

The early morning rays of the sun touchedthe hill-tops. The forests still tried to keeptheir secret from the prying eyes of thesun but what do we hear …. Clip …. Clop

A PROFILE


….. Hoofs of horses ? And soon adetachment of mounted Marathas burstinto view. Six hundred or more of them.In the middle of this cavalry was one whostood out.

He was a lone soldier astride a dark baymare. Erect and regal he sat there, verymuch the leader and master. His profilewas sharp. The aquiline nose and sharppointed features spoke volumes. He worea cream-coloured cap which terminated ina tassel that bobbed up and down as herode. By his side hung a sword curved atthe edge. A braided gown with a sash andtight breeches formed his attire.

The villagers who rushed out on hearingthe hoof-beats stopped short at the sightof the leader. They exclaimed in hushedawe “Maharaj” - “Chhatrapati ShivajiMaharaj.” That was Shivaji, a hero to thepeople of his day, a liberator who freedthem from the slavery of the Moghuls. Thesoldiers of the Moghul Emperor called him“the mountain rat”, for he was elusive andhad to be captured, like the rodent lost inits burrows.

Slowly he rode on acknowledging the silentreverence of these people, for whom hestaked his life every moment, for whoseliberty he ran the risk of capture and death.That then was Shivaji as he appeared tothe people of his time.

IN the first quarter of the 17th century,the minds of the people of Maharashtrawere in a most disturbed and unsettled

condition. The chief political feature ofthe time Shivaji the Great was born andduring the period of his boyhood was theadvancing tide of the Mughal conquest.The trail of destruction and desolation, fireand plunder that the march of the Mughalarmies left behind contributed mainly tothe production of that economic miserywhich, joined with other factors, caused afirst class political explosion in the Deccan.The people were in so eager a state ofexpectancy that their thoughts naturallyturned to the idea of the advent of adeliverer. The man of destiny was born inFebruary 1630 in the hill-fort of Shivneri,where his mother Jijabai (a daughter ofthe aristocratic Lakhuji Jadhavrao ofSindhkhed) had been left by Shahji forsafety ; Shahji had just escaped fromDaulatabad which was at that time beinginfested by the Mughals and was beinghotly pursued by his father-in-law LakhujiJadhavrao. During the period 1630-36Shahji was a fugitive, subject to frequentchange of place and enemy attacks.

The Tender Touch

Jijabai was a proud and spirited lady ; evenin the days of her misfortune she did notthink of seeking the protection of herfather’s roof. She must have developed ahatred for the Mughals to whose invasion

A REFRAIN

The Advent of A Deliverer


her difficulties were due; this hatred wasfostered by the vindictive acts perpetratedby the king of Ahmednagar, as evidencedby the frequent sights of cow-killing, thedesecration of temples and shrines, theinsults heaped on the Brahmin priests andthe violation of the honour of Hindu women; and she would have naturally taught herson to hate them likewise. This is seen inthe open contempt he showed for Muslimauthority by refusing when taken to thecourt, to prostrate himself before theBijapur king as required by Muslim etiquette.He used to restrict himself on suchoccasions to an informal salaam. He alsogot himself involved more than once indisputes over the question of cow-killing ;he would attack the butchers in the streetsand free their victims. Rawlinson says :“In this, we may be sure, Shivaji wasinstigated by his mother.” A resolute, self-respecting woman, she always felt theindignity of foreign subjugation ; she everremembered that her fore-fathers hadbeen, before the coming of the Yavanas,the rulers of the land and did not quite likethe idea of her husband’s fighting in thecause of Islam. She would not allow Shivajito be married at Bijapur “lest the Muslimdefile the ceremony by their presence.”

At Poona, a seat of ancient Brahmanicallearning, young Shivaji was surrounded byan atmosphere of rigid orthodoxy and it ismainly to the impressions that were thenleft on his plastic mind and to Dadoji’sparting advice that we must trace hissubsequent policy, either of changing intoSanskrit the very names of his AshtaPradhans, or of proclaiming the protectionof Brahmins and cows as the aim of hisnoble efforts. To these early impressions

which he retained to the last, as well asto the teaching of the contemporary saintsand prophets are due the profound respectin which he held the religion of his ancestorsand the veneration he showed to theBrahmins.

Here, too, he came to like the Puraniclegends and the two great Hindu epics,Ramayana and Mahabharata by listeningto recitations and story-telling (Kirtans andKathas). He would sit late in the night bythe fire-side or under the moonlight,listening to these Kathas and Kirtans andsuch was his passion for the recitation ofthe wondrous tales of the adventures ofthe Pandavas, of Rama and Sita, or theballads of the Gondhalis, that it is on recordhow once long afterwards he even riskedhis life to be present at one of theseKathas.

In this way he assimilated the contents ofthese two valuable epic poems and gotthe necessary knowledge of the arts ofgovernment and war from them. Sircarsays, “the noble examples of doing andsuffering, of action and sacrifice of militaryskill and state craft, which the stores ofRama and the Pandavas afford, the politicallessons and moral maxims with which theseepics are filled, deeply impressed his youngmind.” His imagination was fired withambition to emulate the example of thelegendary heroes.

Nature’s Promptings

Shivaji the Great was further strengthenedin his resolve to strike for the freedom ofhis country and to stake everything on itsresult by the inspiring natural scenery roundabout Poona and the Bohemian life he led


at this time. Shivaji the Great used towander over the hills and forests of theSahyadri range in the company of hisfriends, and the grandeur of the landscapewith the big forts of Sinhgad, Raigad andTorna for the background did not fail tomake a powerful appeal to his imagination.Nature added one more impulse to seekthe freedom of his land. His active mindbegan to love independence and loathe alife of idle luxury in the pay of the Muslimruler. Thus “an intense love of his countryand his religion - which showed itselfespecially in his devotion for Amba Bhavani,the family Goddess - was the natural result.There seems to be little doubt that Shivajigrew up with a genuine sense of a missionthat his career was inspired by a real desireto free his country from what he consideredto be foreign tyranny and not by a merelove of plunder.”

Hindavi Swarajya

He must have argued : if the Deccannobles with the Hindu help could founddynasties by shaking off the control of theDelhi Sultans, why should he not be ableto do the same against the BijapurGovernment ? Thus his ideal of “HindaviSwarajya” was formed and the choice ofthis career which he was to follow wasalso made. The Mavalis had been completelysubjugated by Dadoji Kondadev. TheDeshpandes were mainly won over, butthose who dared to defy his authority weredefeated and crushed.

His Companions at Arms

Peace and prosperity having been thusestablished in that region, it became asource of wealth and strength to Shivaji

instead of being an unprofitable and adangerous possession. It was from thisregion that Shivaji the Great drew his bestsoldiers, his earliest comrades and mostdevoted of his friends like Yesaji Kank, BajiPasalkar and Tanaji Malusare. With thesefriends young Shivaji wandered over thehills and through forests and valleys of theSahyadri mountain and thus trained himselfto a life of hardihood. He was now andagain absent in the Konkan for several daysat a time. The Mavalis in his serviceaccompanied him on his excursions and inhunting, and young Shivaji becameextremely popular with them as also withhis country-men round-about. In his visitsto the different parts of the Ghatmathaand the Konkan he familiarised himself withthe paths of that wild country and gathereda first-hand knowledge of its people. Thispersonal and intimate information of thecountry and its inhabitants was quiteessential for the future conqueror as apreliminary preparation for his militarycareer that was to follow in due course.The hill-forts under all the MuslimGovernments were, as Grant Duff remarks,generally much neglected and Shivaji theGreat happened to notice this importantfact on the occasion of his excursions.

The Straight and Narrow Path

After three centuries of slavery the wishfor freedom was all but dead and lived, ifat all, in a few hill tracts in the Maval andthe Konkan. He could expect no aid fromother Maratha nobles. All that theGhorpades, the Mores, the Manes, theSawants and others aspired to, was theirown advancement at court or theenlargement of their fiefs at the expense


of their neighbours. Without resources hemust raise an army. He must inspire itwith his own words and with high ideals.He must fight against his own relatives andcountrymen. He must face charges oftreason and charges of unfilial conduct.Yet he chose ‘the straight and narrow path’,for a sense of his mission had fully developedin his young but thoughtful mind. Such isever the stuff of which heroes are made.More than 2,500 years ago, three immortalgoddesses had called on another easternprince to decide questions very similar tothose which now confronted Shivaji.

Ready for His Task

Shivaji the Great was now ready for histask. As Sircar remarks : “He had alreadybeen trained in martial exercises and civiladministration ; he had familiarised himselfwith the troops of his father’s western Jagirand the people he would have to govern.Initiative and power of command had beenfreely developed in him without check orinterference from his guardian.Administrative orders had, for some timebefore this, been issued in his name as hisfather’s representative, while DadajiKondadev had stood by watching his pupil.Shivaji had also taken part with his motheror his tutor in some judicial investigationand public discussion of legal disputes(mahazar).”

The officers that had gathered alreadyround him were men of tried merit anddevotion to him. Thus his civil and militaryarrangements were complete before hebegan to draw his ideal nearer to practice.

Military Career Begins

Shivaji began his military career verycautiously and all his earliest attempts weredirected towards securing the neighbouringterritory without either exciting thesuspicions of Bijapur court or attractingtheir notice in these initial stages. Fromthe beginning he had a very clear idea asto how he was to proceed about his plan.The chief means he employed were eithercoercion or compact, diplomacy or surpriseattacks. He knew he could not long foolthe Bijapur King but wanted to strengthenhis position as much as possible before heventured upon bigger enterprises.

Torna !

Taking advantage of the serious illness ofthe king of Bijapur and the consequentdisorder in his kingdom, Shivaji the Greatstruck his first blow in 1646 by occupyingthe fort of Torna by tricking its Bijapurcommander and immediately set to workto repair its defenses. Khafi Khan gives anadmirable account of his rise to power andof the situation that contributed to it :-

“Shivaji became the manager of theseparganas (Poona and Supe) on the part ofhis father and looked carefully after them.He had distinguished himself in his tribe forcourage and intelligence. In that country,where all the hills rise to the sky and thejungles are full of trees and bushes, hehad an inaccessible abode. Like thezamindars of the country ;he set abouterecting castles on the hills and mud fortswhich in the Hindawi dialect of the Dakshinare called garhi. Before the jagirdars inthose troublous times could appeal toBijapur he had sent his own account of


the matter with presents …… and offeringto pay some advance amount for the landon their being attached to his own jagir orto pay some advance amount for the landon their being attached to his own jagir orto pay their revenue direct to thegovernment. He communicated thesematters to the officials at Bijapur who inthose disturbed times took little heed ofwhat any one did. The country of theDakhin was never free fromcommotions and outbreaks,and so the officials, the ryots,and the soldiery, under theinfluence of surroundingcircumstances, were greedy,stupid, and frivolous. Inaccordance with the wishes ofthis disturbing agents the reinsof authority over that countryfell into his hands and he atlength became the mostnotorious of all the rebels. Heassembled a large force ofMarathas and set aboutreducing fortresses.

Poona Pegged Down

“With the large treasure he discovered inthe course of the repairs to the walls ofTorna he proceeded to build anotherstronghold on the neighbouring peak ofRajgad. This bold move stirred even thelanguid authorities at Bijapur and Shahjiwas ordered to check his son’s aggressions.Shahji wrote to Dadaji Kondadev to keep atighter control on his ward but the oldminister, now on the point of death,secretly sympathised with the designs ofShivaji the Great. On Dadaji’s death Shivajitook over the Poona estate as his own

from his father, coerced his only rival BajiMohite, his father’s brother-in-law, to joinhim and tried to get him to stay at Poona,but the latter chose to be at Karnataka tojoin Shahji. About this time he also wonover the fortress of Sinhagad and led asurprise attack on Purandhar. Thus by theend of 1649 he established his full controlover the Poona district and waited for anopportunity, watching and crouching like a

tiger of his own mountain valleys until hehad stolen into a situation from which hecould at once spring on his prey.”

The Magnanimity of Might

Shivaji the Great, now began to cast hiseyes on Konkan, the fertile low countryarea lying between the Ghats and the sea.The first blow fell on Maulana Ahmed ofKalyan. Coming to know from his spiesthat a load of treasure was about to besent from Kalyan to Bijapur he ambushedthe convoy as it climbed the hills andcaptured the treasure with very little lossof life on his side. This was the firstoccasion on which blood was spilt. He


liberally rewarded the gallantry of hissoldiers and made ample provision for thefamilies of those who had fallen. Thecomplete success of this enterprise andthe generosity accompanying it gave asense of their importance to the Mavalisand they dreaded the Muslims no longer.Soon after this Abaji Sondev attackedKalyan itself and took the governor andhis family prisoners. Towards his captiveshe behaved like a true soldier and allowedMaulana Ahmed to go free. His chivalrousconduct to the Maulana’s beautifuldaughter-in-law increased his prestige.The people were tired of the Muslimmismanagement, and the capture of Kalyanwas followed by a general uprising.

Konkan in His Hands

This daring exploit marks the beginning ofhis career as the champion of Hindu religionin the Konkan. Fort after fort eithervoluntarily surrendered or was surprised,till the Konkan as far as Sawantwadi wasin the hands of the Marathas. The hill ofRaigad, his future capital, was probablyfirst occupied at this time. Kalyan and therevenues of the Konkan were thus lost tothe Bijapur court, and the disgracedMaulana Ahmed clamoured for revenge.But the decaying state was afraid to actopenly against Shahji who had won bigsuccesses in the late Karnatic campaign.They therefore instructed Ghorpade toseize Shahhi by treachery. For thiscowardly betrayal, Shivaji subsequentlytook a terrific vengeance on Mudhol whichhe razed to the ground in 1661. This wasthe only instance where the enraged Shivajiordered anything like a general massacre.

Mores of Javli

Shahji was released in 1653. Shivaji theGreat was relieved from anxiety on thatscore, and was therefore free once moreto pursue his ideal further. This time itwas Javli and its Raja, Chandrarao More,who claimed his attention. This state ofJavli included a large slip of the Ghat Matha,the borderland between the Dekhan andthe Konkan and if Shivaji the Great was tobe able to pass between these two tractsin safety, he must take possession of Javlior form an alliance with its ruler. The statewas, therefore, of great strategicimportance. But the obdurate ChandraraoMore refused to enter into any alliance. Itwas also impossible to attack him openlywith any reasonable hope of success owingto his strong position in men, money andhill forts. To these general considerationswas added another of a personal nature -Chandrarao More must have been privy tothe treacherous attack made upon Shivajithe Great by Baji Shamraj. Incensed atthis, the Maratha leader decided to get ridof More. The various hill-forts of the GhatMatha were then immediately stormed andthe whole of the territory of the Mores fellinto the hands of Shivaji. The terror of hisname had now spread all over the centralDeccan and practically every independentchief, including the Savants of Vali, wasbrought under his sway, the only exceptionbeing the Siddis of the important port ofJanjira. Thus the authority of Bijapur, northof Kolhapur was almost extinguished.


JAVLI was situated in the deepforests and gorgeous mountains ofMahabaleshwar, Makarand Garh,

Mangal Garh and Parghat. The mountainsrose to stupendous heights and the heavydown-pour of the monsoons made theforests grow dense. The dark and heavyfoliage sheltered a variety of wild animals.It was over this wild country that the Morefamily ruled as the Adil Shah’srepresentatives, the proudbearers of the title “Chandrarao”,bestowed upon them by theShah.

Shivaji’s ambition of founding anindependent Empire was still in thebudding stage then. Only four orfive forts were controlled by him.He wished that Chandrarao Moreshould allow the merger of Javliinto his territory, though therewould be no infringement onMore’s right in his Jagir. But hehad not approached Chandrarao yet withthe proposal.

Chandrarao More was a good neighbour toShivaji for sometime after coming intopossession of his Jagir. But gradually hestarted showing signs of greed. He claimedthe title of ‘Deshmukh’ in the village ofGunjan. Shilankar, who had proved hismettle during the attack on Fateh Khanwhen he fought the Khan shoulder toshoulder with Shivaji, held exclusive rights

THE DEADLY ENCOUNTER

to the title of ‘Deshmukh’ at Gunjan. Somepeople tried to influence Shilankar to believethat Shivaji intended to support More andhelp him annex Gunjan. The news of theserumours reached Shivaji’s ears, and he atonce wrote to Shilankar :

“I have come to know from reliable sourcesthat some bad elements have created adoubt in your mind, that I am trying to

deprive you of your ‘Deshmukhi’ rights.They have also made you believe that Iam after your life and the ruin of your family.But, I assure you that I have nothing ofthat sort in my mind. Please do not givecredence to such rumours but come andmeet me personally, so that we can talkover the matter and dispel all lingeringdoubts.”

Chandrarao, of course, did not like Shivaji’ssupport of Shilankar. But, he kept quiet asthe time was not yet ripe for action. At


this juncture, Shivaji came to know thatone Rango Trimbak Vadke of the Muse Valleydishonoured a woman. Shivaji alwaysimposed severe discipline upon his subjectswith regard to their conduct. Rangoba wasfrightened when he realised that Shivajihad come to know of his misdemeanour.He ran to Chandrarao for fear ofpunishment, and Chandrarao gave himrefuge.

Chandrarao became bolder. He attackedRohnide, a part of Shivaji’s territory. Healso killed Ramaji Patel and his son Lumajiof the village of Chikhali. The more Shivajitolerated his misdeeds, the bolder hebecame. Shivaji warned him several times,asking him to abandon his troublesomeways. Where coaxing failed he threatenedChandrarao with punishment. Far fromgiving up his troublesome ways he was nowmore arrogant and provocative thanbefore. At last, Shivaji’s patience wasexhausted and he decided to attack Javli.He immediately called for a conference ofall his commanders, Kanjohi Jedhe, HaibatRao Shilankar, Sambaji Kavji, Kondhalkar,Bandal Naik and Raghunath Pant Sabnis todiscuss the matter. He announcedseriously, “I dislike declaring war againstmy compatriot, but Chandraro More isbecoming too much of an obstacle to ourfight for freedom. He has to be removed.”The commanders launched an all out attackagainst Javli. The Mores were renownedfor their skill in the wielding of the sword.They displayed this skill at its best in thebattle that ensued, especially one of theircommanders, Murar Baji. Shivaji noted hisskill with appreciation. The battle thatensued was a fierce one and the Mores

resisted valiantly. Slowly but surely, theyrealised that Shivaji’s power was somethingthat could not be toyed with. In the faceof defeat, Chandrarao fled to Rairi.

Javli was now in the hands of Shivaji. Hecalled Murar Baji and praised his skill andcoaxed him to join him in his fight forfreedom. It was the same Murar Baji wholater on made for himself a name as a greatand valiant general in the Maratha army.

Now Shivaji left Javli and set out for Rairifort where Chandraro More was hiding. Thefort was a strong one and was surroundedby very steep mountains and high walls.

Rairi withstood the onslaught of one longmonth. Shivaji persisted with the siege,knowing well that Chandraro would not beable to stay within the fort and fightindefinitely. Sooner or later, that life ofconfinement would become difficult, andthen Chandrarao would have to surrender,for he did not possess the strength andforce to meet Shivaji in the open. Eventsturned out exactly as Shivaji had expected.Chandrarao surrendered. Shivaji pardonedhim and returned to him the jagir of Javli.But More would not keep out of mischief.Finally, when he conspired with BajiGhorpade and tried to join hands with theBijapur Sultan, Shivaji came to know ofthis and, infuriated by More’s ingratitude,attacked Javli again and captured More.Chandrarao tried to escape, but wascaptured and executed, and so were histwo sons. Javli and Rairi came into Shivaji’shands.


IT was past midnight. Cold breezewas blowing with biting ferocity

as the Mavali horsemen preparedthemselves. In that dense darknessthere was a deadly calm. Not a wordwas spoken though hundreds ofMavalis carried on their preparations.Only the occasional thud of animpatient horse’s hoofs or the neighingof a mare straining at the reins,disturbed the silent night. The horseswere alert, waiting for the orders ofthe mounted men, who in turn awaitedthe orders of Shivaji.

The bell in Purandareshwar temple rangaloud, its clear notes filling the night air ofthe jungle. Shivaji rode away from thetemple immediately and Baji Pasalkarfollowed him. The Mavli horsemenpositioned themselves with javelins tightlyclasped in their hands. Shivaji dug hisspurs, signaling to his stallion to speed up.The side gate of the fort opened with acreaking noise, and the stallion gallopedon, followed by a horseman carrying thesaffron flag, and other Mavli horsemen,with javelins raised high over their hands.Slowly the sound of the hoofs died intothe darkness. Neelkanth Rao watched themen disappear into the darkness and thenordered the gate-keepers to close thegate. But before they could close itcompletely, a horseman streaked past atvery great speed. There was hardly anyopportunity for the gate-keeper to observe

and recognise him. The door was closed.Fateh Khan’s camp around Belsar was sunkin deep slumber. The tents were billowingwith the wind, looking like white elephantsclustered together. On all sides of thecamp, alert guards kept up the night vigilwith burning torches. Occasionally, a guardmoved around the camp with a big tin ofoil, to replenish the spent oil for thetorches. The bells tied round the bullocksand camels made a jingling noise in thenight breeze. Long shrill calls of ‘Hoshiar’from the guards, echoed from time to time.Fateh Khan’s tent was in the centre of thecamp. The guards kept a close watch withnaked swords in their hands. Adil Shah’sflag fluttered, a few yards from the tent.

Shivaji’s horsemen continued theirmovements. The horses glided swiftly inpitch darkness. Dense forests and pitch

A RARE FEAT


darkness could not deter the horsemen asthey rapidly cut their way towards FatehKhan’s camp. As Shivaji approached Belsar,he reduced the speed of his stallion. Hehalted at some distance from the camp,where he ordered his distance from thecamp, where he ordered his Mavli men todisperse in various directions to attack.Concealing in the darkness they stealthilyspread out and waited, ready to spring.

Calm prevailed all over the jungle for a whileand suddenly the atmosphere was rent withwar cries as the Mavali groups moved inand pounced upon the surprised army ofthe Khan. The sleeping soldiers were jerkedrudely out of their slumber and they fumbledand ran in utter confusion and disarray,their minds still groggy. They did not knowwhat was to be done. Some ran, somefumbled for weapons ; some were caughtunder the huge canvases as the Marathashad cut off the strings of the tents, andwere trying to find the way out. TheMarathas pierced the collapsing tents,pandemonium broke loose. Shivaji himselfmoved around like a tiger, ordering hissoldiers hither and thither, preventing theKhan’s soldiers from the assembling at oneplace to put up a fight. Fateh Khan cameout of his tent and stared at the melee inpanic. Marathas raided the whole camp.They ran around with lightning speed anddid not spare any life. The war cry of ‘HarHar Mahadev’ filled the whole atmosphereand struck terror in the Khan’s soldiers.The Khan came forward to fight with asword and a shield in his hands.Encouraged by their leader now in theirmidst, some of his soldiers also gathered

and came forward in defence. But, muchdamage had been done by then.

Although all other platoons of Shivaji tookpart in the plundering, the platoon carryingthe ochre flag was intentionally kept at adistance. It was decided that the platoonshould enter the camp only when theplunder was completed. Seeing theircomrades fully engaged, they could nothelp pitching in.

Khan plunged into the fray with all hismight. His army was vast. Shivaji knewwell that he could not stand against sucha vast army with his limited number ofsoldiers, and it was not his intention tocapture the camp either. It was merely toinflict as much damage as possible, andwithdraw.

After inflicting considerable damage, Shivajigave a signal and the Maratha army clearedout as quickly as they had swarmed in. Asplanned earlier, Maharaj went out towardsthe platoon bearing the standard. Seeingthat they had entered Khan’s campwithout waiting for instructions and werealready deep inside the camp, he wasworried, but there was no time to waste !He sped towards the fortress.

The flag platoon, in the meanwhile, foundthemselves trapped, surrounded by aboutfive to six hundred Pathan soldiers. Theyrealised that their ambition had misfired.The standard bearer became the target ofthe enemy. They flocked round him.Maratha soldiers tried their best to foil theattempt of the enemy to reach thestandard bearer. It would have been shamefor the Maratha soldier to let the flag fallinto the enemy’s hands. The situation was


getting grave and the soldiers were fallingfast. What was to be done ? The soldiercarrying the flag was clutching at it as if itwere his very life.

But, as ill luck would have it, he was hit bya sword. He swayed at the cruel blow,and made a mighty effort to stay upon thehorse, but fell. It looked as though theflag would be captured by the enemy!Suddenly a horseman shouting ‘Har HarMahadev’ rushed through the crowd, andfought his way deftly flashing his swordlike lightning, reached the falling man. Hecaught hold of the falling flag with his lefthand. He had no time to waste ; hecontinued to slash at the enemy with thedeadly sword while, with his right hand heordered the Marathas to clear off. Hehimself turned swiftly and rushed through; his sword spelt death all the way out.Within a few moments he was out of thecamp and reached the fort of Belsar. Theothers followed suit. They went along withthe soldier holding the flag to Purandar,where Shivaji had already arrived. He wasin a pensive mood, thinking of the platoonand the flag left behind.

It was the early hours of morning. Shivajistood on Shendrya bastion with some ofhis men. Although he was happy for thebattering that Khan got at their hands, hewas also unhappy to have lost the flag.Suddenly, he saw a horseman with the flagin his hand speeding towards the fortress.He stared with unbelieving eye at theadvancing men, and then a brilliant smilebroke out on his face. At last, the flaghad been restored.

The platoon entered the gate of thefortress. Shivaji saw the soldier holdingthe flag, and stared in disbelief at theyoung boyish face. He was a mere lad,not one of his rugged, seasoned soldiers !Baji Pasalkar stood beside Shivaji. He toowas astonished. Baji shouted at the youngboy carrying the flag :

“Is that you ?”

The young boy held the flag tightly in hishand, and laughed merrily. He was thegrandson of Baji. His father, Kanhoji, hadwarned him not to join the army as he wastoo young. He was too young to takepart in such expeditions, thought Kanhojiand Baji was not permitted to accompanythe Mavalis who went to plunder FatehKhan’s camp that night. He had beenpurposely dropped out. But how could thatboy rest in peace ? He followed the platoonin stealth, determined to play his part inthe expedition.

He was the horseman who sped throughthe gate after all the soldiers had left andwhen the gate was about to be closed !He escaped miraculously with the flag whichwould have otherwise surely fallen into thehands of the enemy. Suddenly the younglad became a great hero and the talk ofthe entire fort centered round hisastonishing valour. Shivaji praised himhighly and bestowed upon him the title,‘Sarje Rao’. Baji Pasalkar beamed with prideat the valiant performance of his grandson.


ADIL SHAH had arrested Shahji,Shivaji’s father, and openlychallenged Shivaji : “Young man,

do you want your father to live or not ? Ifyou do, return all the forts that you havecaptured from us. Abandon all your plansfor your Swarajya. Surrender yourself andI shall offer you some suitable service. Areyou willing to accept it ? Think over theproposal seriously. Remember the fate ofyour father who is our captive.” This wasthe threat that faced Shivaji ; and he satimmersed in thought.

Jija Bai also faced similar questions fromBadshsh : “Tell me, do you want yourhusband or Swarajya ? You have provokedyour son to revolt against me. Swarajya !Recollect how your father was killed. Thinkover the end of your brother. How did thehead of Murar Deo fly into the air when hedared talk against me ! How was thatwicked Babaji Kate murdered ! Don’t youremember ? Your husband’s life is at mymercy. Tell me what you prefer, yourhusband or Swarajya ! I have selected afine swordsman, full of valour and skill, toteach your son and his wicked friends agood lesson. He is already half way up.”Mavali spies brought foreboding news. Ageneral from Bijapur had come along witha huge army to demolish the foundationsof Swarajya.

The whole of Raigarh was in panic. Jija Baiflung herself at the feet of GoddessBhavani, and wept piteously :

“Mother ! Tell me how we have wrongedyou or anyone ? Our efforts were directedto make poor people happy in our Swarajya! Why do you cause us so much trouble ?What should my son do under thesecircumstances ? Am I not your daughter ?That wicked Khan is about to kill myhusband ! Tell me, pray tell me ! Whereshould I go for refuge ? Should I go andfall at the feet of that wicked Badshah ?”

She shed bitter tears.

The news that came in from time to timewas far from encouraging. There were anumber of brave generals with Fateh Khan,viz., Muskhan, Minad Shaikh, Hasam Shaikh,Ashraf Shah, Balaji Haibat Rao and BajajiNaik Nimbalkar of Phalton.

Bajaji Naik Nimbalkar was a relation ofShivaji ! His brother-in-law ! Brother ofhis wife, Sai Bai Saheb ! Shivaji was in adilemma. If he continued with his effortstowards establishing Swarajya, he couldlose his father. If he tried to get therelease of his father, he had to abandonhis aims and attempts. The bright linga ofRaireshwar stood in front of him. He hadtouched it and taken an oath, “I shallstruggle for my country and religion,whatever obstacles may come in my way!”On the other hand, he could see the figuresof Jija Bai and Shahji before his eyes ! Lovefor father ! Respect for mother ! Patriotism! Young Shivaji, hardly eighteen years wascaught in a turmoil. Swarajya was at stake

THE SILENT STRENGTH


on the one side, and his father’s life andsurvival on the other ! What could he do ?His mind was aflame. Bad news incessantlykept pouring in every day. It seemed thatthe spies were meant to convey only badnews ! The news of Fateh Khan’s arrivalnear Rajgarh, the news that Khan’s armyhad crossed Indapur, and then the newsthat Khan reached Bar Mati, then Kanheri,then Nira, then Jeyur and even Belsar.These caused a shiver to run through evenShivaji. Shivaji’s dream of Swarajya wasbeing wiped out by the wily hands of Khan.

Shivaji was perplexed ! Whom could heconsult ? Sonapant Dabir ? BapujipantNarhekar ? Or Mazumdar ? No, No ! Theywere all in a state of horror ! Could heconsult his own mother ? No ! At leastnot at the time when she was in deep griefherself !

At that moment a shocking news reachedRajgarh : “One regiment of Fateh Khan’sarmy had entered Swarajya territoriesthrough Shirval under the leadership ofBalaji Haibat Rao.”

This was followed by another : “Badshah’sarmy conquered Subhan Mangal fort atShirval.”

Shivaji had to receive blow after blow. Hewas not afraid of the army in his territories.He knew that it was expected andinevitable. But, he was definitely shockedat the check that Badshah had applied byarresting Shahji and this was treachery !Shivaji was in a panic ! His wholemovement seemed to have failed, at leasttemporarily. In his own Mahal, the mainfortress of Rajgarh, Shivaji sat sunk in deepthought. The curtains on the arches

fluttered in the breeze. Kondana fort wasvisible. It stood erect and tall, almosttouching the sky. Maharaj was in no moodto be captivated by nature’s beauty now.

What was that sound ? The sound ofbangles and toe-rings ? Shivaji looked upand in utter surprise saw Sai Bai Sahebstanding near the curtain.

“May I come in ?” she asked.

“Please do,” replied Shivaji, with a faintsmile on his face.

Sai Bai Saheb sat near Maharaj. She worea vermillion mark on her fair fore-head. Herears twinkle with diamond rings. Theyoung girl, barely eighteen, said in a tendervoice, “What makes Maharaj so thoughtful?”

“You know pretty well ! Shahji Raje hasbeen treacherously arrested by theBadshah. His life is in danger ! AndBadshah has released a major partof his army to smash us. The army hasreached Jejuri !” explained Maharaj.

“That’s all ! Is it that which has causedyou all this worry ?” asked Sai Bai Sahebin astonishment.

“is that a minor event ?”

“No ; but, why should Maharaj find it sodifficult to cope with this simple situation?” wondered Sai.

“Do you find it so trifling ? My father isabout to lose his life ! If I go to get himreleased all our efforts for Swarajya will bein vain. I shall have to return every inchof the territory that we have fought sohard for. We shall be reduced to slavery.


It is a choice between my father and theSwarajya of our people : both of them aredear to me. Both are worthy of worshipby me !”

“Yet, what is the difficulty ? You can haveboth ! You can save father-in-law andstill cherish Swarajya ! Nothing isimpossible for a person like you.”

Suddenly, Shivaji glanced at her in surprise,for she spoke with determination andconfidence.

“My dear Queen !” Maharaj stared at herbut she continued : “Why is it not possible? I am only a woman ! Women do notknow much about politics or war. But I amcertain that for you, of all persons, nothingis impossible !” she said.

Shivaji kept on staring at her in wonder.

“Goddess Bhavani has given you thestrength of a lion ! She has given youintelligence and wisdom. How can anythingbe impossible for you ? Plan things in allearnestness and you will be successful !And while trying to rescue your father fromthose wicked enemies, if you succumb in abattle, I do not see anything wrong in it.You will be doing your glorious duty !”

Shivaji was stunned ! He was struck withher wisdom and resolve ! It seemed as ifhe had seen a Divine vision ! His heartwas filled with awe. A smile replaced thegloom on his face. The young queen whowas hardly eighteen years had spokeninspiringly to him. Nothing was impossiblefor him now.

Shivaji, then, went to his secret chamber.Sonopant Dabir, Baji Pasalkar, Bapujipant

and others followed him. Shivaji was moredetermined. He discussed some plans.“Whatever may happen, father must bereleased and Swarajya should not be givenup. Badshah has challenged our might aswell as our intelligence !” thought Shivaji.

Shivaji decided to fight with Fateh Khan !If God really wished that Swarajya shouldbe established, Fateh Khan’s army mustsuffer a defeat at Shivaji’s hands.

Maharaj ordered his army to get ready. Atthe same time he thought of a clever trick

to get his father released. He sent one ofhis brilliant envoys to establish contactwith the Badshah at Delhi. On the onehand he solicited the help of ShahzadaMurad, who was stationed at Ahmedabadas the Subedar for Gujarat, and on theother, he sent his spy towards Purandarfort.

What was the strength of Shivaji’s armythen ? Hardly one thousand two hundred.Soon they received the orders to march.They prepared within minutes. Let the


enemy be five thousand or five lakh strong,they were determined to rout the blighters.It was the resolve of one and all of theMavalis. Mother Jija Bai demanded successfrom Goddess Bhavani for her son. Thesaffron flag fluttered in the breeze. BajiPasalkar, Bhikaji Chor, Godaji Jagtap, BajiJedhe, Kavji Malhar, Shivaji Ingle, BhimajiWagh, Bhairoji Chor, all of them wereprepared for the great clash. Shivajimounted his horse. The horse raised itsfront hoofs. Maharaj raised his hands inresponse and shouted the cry of victory :

“Jai Bhavani !”

“Jau Bhavani !” All the others respondedenthusiastically. From the gates of Raigarh,an army of horsemen followed ShivajiMaharaj ; with faith in God and deep lovefor his country he set out, to rout FatehKhan !

From behind the curtain of a window inMaharaj’s Mahal at Rajgarh, two eager eyessilently bade a warm and inspiring send-off to Maharaj and his army unnoticed byanyone. She was Sai Bai Saheb ! thevaliant young queen.

THE forest was very dense, anddeep darkness prevailed allaround, and yet some soldiers

managed to escape. Hundreds of themwere caught. One man groped his waythrough the dense forests, as he movedabout furtively. Every moment panicgripped him harder.

Khandoji Khopde Deshmukh was a traitorto the freedom movement, a selfish, wicked,cowardly person ! Khandoji Khopde hadno respect for the invaluable work doneby Shivaji Maharaj. He had no reverencefor his religion, no ideal to strive for norany courage to support the great work doneby Shivaji Maharaj. He joined Afzal Khan !but, he was not faithful to him, either !Khan lost his life and that foolish persontried to survive at any cost. A traitor anda deserter, he was now on the run.

Where could he go ? Now that the Khanwas killed, who would accept him ? Hewas sure that one day Shivaji would findhim out and kill him. He escaped from theforests of Javli.

After the Pratapgarh battle when peacereigned for sometime, Khandoji furtively lefthis hide-out and reached Rohid Khore.Some villages, like Utravali, Nazre, Bazan,Wadi were in his possession. Khandoji hidhimself in one of these villages, but hewas in doubt as to how he could continueto live and how long ? One long year passed

THE SCALESOF JUSTICE


thus in fear and trepidation. Sometimelater. Maharaj came to Raigarh fromVisalgarh. Khandoji decided to dosomething about his unhappy state andsent a messenger to Haibat Rao Shilankar.Haibat Rao was one of the closest friendsof Maharaj. He was also the son-in-lawfought loyally on the side of Maharaj, thefather-in-law had shamelessly turnedtraitor. He had become an enemy to thefight for Swaraj !

Shameless the fugitivefather-in-law sent a manto his son-in-law with amessage, “I have managedto escape, but I am afraidof Maharaj. Let me knowwhat I should do !”

Khandoji could not wait forthe return of themessenger, so he went toHaibat Rao himself ! HaibatRao was disgusted at thevery sight of Khandoji. Hecould not imagine whatfavour his father-in-lawwould ask for ! Khandojitold him, that he would liketo be pardoned by Maharaj !

It was, then, the turn of Haibat Rao to befrightened. Could he request Maharaj tosave his life ? Could he even utter a wordto that effect ? He could well imagineMaharaj’s reaction to such a request. Howcould he make such a preposterousrequest.

Haibat Rao did not speak. Down-cast hewent to Javli and met Kanhoji Naik. Fromhis countenance Kanhoji guessed that

Haibat Rao had come on some unpleasantmission. What could it be ? Haibat Raohimself explained his father-in-law’s wish.Kanhoji gave him a patient hearing. “HasKhandya escaped alive and does he stillwish to live ? It is very difficult ! He cannever escape the penalty of death at thehands of Maharaj !” He was sure thatKhandya would lose his life with one strokeof the Bhavani sword. Kanhoji knew Shivaji’s

discipline and thesharpness of hissword. He satimmersed in thoughtwhen Haibat Rao brokethe silence “Naik, youare respected byMaharaj. Kindly savethe life of KhandojiKhopde. I am sure,you will be successfulin your attempt !”

Did it mean thatMaharaj would listento Kanhoji ? Yes, hewould ! Haibat Raowas sure about it.Kanhoji had servedMaharaj loyally for

many years. Maharaj respected Kanhojiand treated him like a father. So HaibatRao was sure that Maharaj would certainlylisten to Kanhoji.

With great reluctance Kanhaji accepted thetask, but the problem that faced him washow he could put forward the case. Kanhojiwas in a dilemma. He could neither rejectnor completely accept it. Yet Haibat Raowas a loyal man. At last Kanhoji got up


and went to Maharaj. He felt that a heavyload weighed on him.

As Kanhoji climbed the steps and enteredthe fortress, his heart beat fast. Havingmade up his mind he met Maharaj alone.Maharaj understood that somethingweighed on Kanhoji’s mind. Moments tickedaway in silence. At last he managed tobegin, “Khandoji Khopde of Utravali hasescaped alive and now he wishes to atonefor his past conduct.” The Kanhoji

explained in detail while Maharaj listenedin silence, a silence that was foreboding.Unable to bear it Kanhoji burst out.

“Maharaj, please pardon Khandoji Khopde!” No sooner had Kanhoji uttered thesewords than Maharaj flared up !

“That wicked traitor. He had no land, andI made him a land-lord. Yet he had theaudacity to join Afzal Khan. He has noright to ask for mercy. Please do not aska favour on his behalf. I cannot forgivehim !” Now it became more than ever clearto Kanhoji what Shivaji felt towards traitors.A traitor was not to be pardoned. That

was Shivaji’s firm conviction. That’s overthen. He could not plead for Khandoji anymore. Yet he decided to try once again.So, he got up and pleaded “Maharaj, I amprepared to take the blame on behalf ofKhandoji, but please spare his life !”

Maharaj became thoughtful. A person ofKanhoji’s status was pleading for Khandoji; if he did not agree, Kanhoji, a faithfulservant of Bhonsles, revered for his ageand loyalty, would be hurt ; if he did, the

traitor would get away scotfree. It set a bad example toothers. What could be done? He looked down and toldNaik, “I have no alternativebut to pardon him now thatyou plead for him, I agree tolet him live. But Khandojishould be brought here.”

Kanhoji was delighted.Maharaj had paid heed to hisword. Maharaj never listenedto anyone, but he agreed to

Kanhoji’s request ! He felt honoured.Kanhoji descended from the fort and senta message to Khandoji that Maharaj hadagreed to pardon him and that he shouldgo to the fort to offer obeisance.

Khandoji could not believe it ; neverthelesshe was very, very happy. He came toKanhoji and the latter took him to Shivaji.Maharaj was seated in court and Khandojifollowed suit but did not dare to raise hishead. Shivaji did not utter a word ! Heturned and walked away in silence, unableto contain his fury. The next day Khandojiagain appeared in the court to pay hisrespects, Maharaj looked up with blood


shot eyes. Khandoji was terrified.Suddenly Shivaji ordered a swordsman tohold the wicked traitor ! “Take him away.Though his life is spared, he shall not escapepunishment. Sever his right hand and leftleg.”

Kanhoji Naik came to know of it. He gotannoyed at What Maharaj had done ! Hadhe cut off his hand and leg ? Was it justice? Maharaj had broken his promise. Themore he thought of it the more angry hegot. It was intolerable, he thought and sohe went straight to Khandoji and gentlybandaged his wounds and then went toMaharaj.

Maharaj knew well that Kanhoji would meethim when he heard of the punishmentimposed on Khandoji. When Kanhojientered, Maharaj was awaiting his arrival.Kanhoji spoke with annoyance.

“You pardoned Khandoji and told methat you would spare his life ! What valueis there for your word ?”

Maharaj saw that Kanhoji was very angry;and he spoke gently in response.

“Naik, I did keep my word ! I did not killKhandoji. I merely got his hand whichfought against his own people and the legthat ran towards their enemy amputated.”

“After all he was a traitor ! He deserved aworse fate.” Maharaj had agreed to spare

his life and had done so. Did his offencedeserve any pardon ? If one escapedpunishment in spite of one’s treacherywould it not be a bad example to thepeople ? Writing a letter of regret ortending an apology was hardly sufficientfor such a crime. If justice had to bemaintained, traitors have to be punishedseverly. Otherwise, Swarajya would notsurvive.

What wrong did Maharaj do ? Maharajexplained his responsibility as a lover of

his country. Kanhoji with his long years ofservice should have understood all thiswithout Shivaji’s explanations, but a manis sometimes carried away by his ownemotions. Emotions and sentiments havesmall place in the administration of justiceof a country. Those who cannot shoulderthat responsibility properly will bring ruinto themselves and to their subjects.Shivaji’s words burnt themselves intoKanhoji’s memory. He realised his folly. Itwas not meet to plead for a traitor.Maharaj was right ! And Kanhoji expressedhis admiration and respect for him with adeeply grateful smile.


IT was the 6th day of Ramzan, themonth of fasting for Muslims. Theservants of Nawab’s household had

mostly fallen asleep after their day’sabstinence followed by the heavy meal atnight. Some cooks who had arisen fromtheir beds to make a fire and prepare themeal which is taken a little before dawn inthe month of Ramzan, were dispatched bythe Marathas without any noise. The walldividing this outer kitchen from the bodyservants’ room within the harem once hada small door in it, but the opening had beenclosed with brick and mud to complete theseclusion of the harem. The Marathasbegan to take out the bricks and made anopening there. The noise of their pick-axes and the groans of the dying awokesome of the servants, who reported thesuspicious noise to the Khan, but thatgeneral only rebuked them for disturbinghis sleep for a trifle.

Soon the breach in the wall was largeenough for a man to creep through. Shivaji,with his trusty lieutenant Chimnaji Bapuji,was the first to enter the harem, and wasfollowed by 200 of his men. The placewas a maze of canvas, screen-wall afterscreen-wall and enclosure within enclosure.Hacking a way through them with hissword, Shivaji reached the very bed-roomof the Khan. The frightened women rousedthe Nawab, but before he could use hisweapons Shivaji was upon him and severedthe thumb with one stroke of his sword.

It was evidently at this time that the lampsin the room were put out by some wisewoman. In the darkness two of theMarathas tumbled into a cistern of water ;and the confusion that followed was usedby Shaishta Khan’s slave-girls to carry himaway to a place of safety. The Marathascontinued their work of slaughter in thedarkness for sometime, killing and woundingmany of the Khan’s women, withoutknowing their sex.

Meantime the other half of Shivaji’s force,the 200 men, evidently under Babaji Bapuji,who had been left outside the harem, hadrushed the main guard, slaying the sleepersand the awake and crying out in derision,“Is it thus that you keep watch ?” Theynext entered the band-room and orderedthe bandsmen, as if from the Khan, to play.The loud noise of the kettle-drums drownedall voices, and the yells of the enemyswelled the confusion. The tumult in theharem, too, now grew so great that theMughal troops became aware that theirgeneral was being attacked. Shouting “theenemy are on us,” they began to take uptheir arms.

Abul Fath, a son of Shaishta Khan, hadbeen the first to hasten to his father’srescue without waiting for others; but thebrave youth was slain after he had struckdown two or three Marathas. AnotherMughal captain who lodged just behind theharem enclosure, finding its gate closedfrom within by the wily Marathas, let himself

EXTRACTS FROM JADUNATH SARKAR’SSHIVAJI AND HIS TIMES

THE NIGHT-ATTACK ON SHAISHTA KHAN


down inside by means of a rope-ladder ;but he was at once attacked and killed.

Shivaji, finding his enemies fully awakenedand arming, delayed no longer, butpromptly left the harem, called his mentogether, and withdrew from the camp bythe direct route, while the Mughals, notknowing where their enemies were,fruitlessly searched all their camp.

This night-attack was a complete success.The retreat from the camp was unmolestedand no pursuit was made. During thesurprise the Marathas lost only six men killedand forty wounded, while they slew a sonand a captain of Shaishta Khan’s forty ofhis attendants and six of his wives andslave-girls, besides wounding two othersons, eight other women and Shaista Khanhimself.

The daring and cunning of the Maratha herowas rewarded by an immense increase ofhis prestige. He was taken to be anincarnation of Satan ; no place wasbelieved to be proof against his entranceand no feat impossible for him. The wholecountry talked with astonishment and terrorof the almost super-human deed done byhim ; and there was bitter humiliation andsorrow in the Emperor’s Court and familycircle at this disaster to his maternal uncleand the “premier peer” (amir-ul-umara) ofhis Empire.

AT THE FEET OF TUKARAM

By D.V.PATUKAR and S.K.DEODHAR

AS Shivaji’s Kingdom grew inextent and influence, saintly menall over Deccan happily sang the

name of God, and people thronged to theirBhajans and Kirtans. Shivaji was deeplyreligious and he encouraged discourses anddevotional gatherings throughout his land.Many saints had the patronage of Maharaj,and among them there was one saint,whose sweet discourses had a specialfascination for the pious young King. Hewas Tukaram, whose devotional songsflowed like a stream of nectar in and aroundriver Indrayani.

One day, when the King was at the fort ofPurandhar, he received the tidings thatSaint Tukaram had come to Poona andwould be giving a discourse in the court-yard of the shrine in a certain mansion.

“We shall go to Poona for the Kirtan.”Shivaji announced. “There is divine magicin Tukaram Maharaj’s words.”

The Muslim Subedar of the area learnt ofShivaji Proposed visit to Poona andimmediately hatched a plan. Picking out ahandful of men he gave them his secretorder : “Be ready for a surprise raid onthe temple when Shivaji is there.”

It was night and the soft glow of oil lampsfilled the spacious court-yard of the temple.A large crowd of devout men and women


Tukaram, “The Muslims have come here tocapture Shivaji.”

The young King, who was sitting near,calmly said, “Do not worry about us. Pleasecontinue the Kirtan without interruption.”

The saint closed his eyes for a briefmoment, as if to commune with theAlmighty and then continued with hishymns.

He sang without the slightest change ofserenity on his face, and those in theaudience who were frightened were soonsoothed by the silent calm on his face andthe spoken assurance of his songs.

The young companions of Shivaji were,however, alert. Tanaji, Yessaji Netaji andHiraji Farjand talked among themselves fora few moments. Then Hiroji whispered intoShivaji’s ears, “Raje ! will you please comeover for a moment ? I have a plan.”

The small party went to the ante-chamberof the temple for a few moments, whilethe saint continued with his Kirtan, but

there was now a note of urgency in hisvoice, as if he was urging the Almighty toprotect the young saviour of the country.

Suddenly Shivaji and a small party of hiscompanions rushed out of the gate andsprang on to their mounts. Before theMuslim force could know what washappening, the Marathas were gallopingaway.

“There, “ the Subedar shouted, pointingto the typical turban that Shivaji wore,“There he goes ! After him, all of you !”Cursing aloud, the Subedar himself sprangon to his horse. The others followed himand the whole party ran in hot pursuit.

Inside the temple the saint calmly continuedwith his Kirtan. Some of Shivaji’scompanions returned and sat down again.On their lips a faint, inscrutable smileplayed.

Tukaram looked at them as they sat downand a benign joy lit up his face as he lookedat Hiroji Farjand.

For it was not Hiroji. It was Shivaji wearingHiroji’s turban and Hiroji’s robes.

It was not difficult for the saint tounderstand the trick that had been played.Hiroji Farjand had a striking resemblanceto Shivaji in features and stature, and thedaring young man had undertaken to leadthe Muslims away on the strength of thatresemblance.

“It is dangerous,” Shivaji had remonstrated,but with a sly smile Hiroji had responded.“Don’t worry, Raje ! We’ll be too swift forthe pursuers. We shall easily elude themin the darkness and reach Purandhar.”

eagerly waited for the saint to begin, andamong them sat the young King,accompanied by a few close companions.

The saint stood up, and his soft voicechanting the Lord’s name filled theatmosphere. The people as well as theKing listened enraptured to that sublimemelody.

But some stealthy movements were noticednear the grates of the temple. In a littlewhile it became clear that Muslim soldiershad cordoned off the mansion. A wave ofpanic ran through the audience. In aworried voice the host whispered to


Shivaji had reluctantly agreed and the robesand turbans had been exchanged. Wearingthe young King’s distinctive turban andapparel, the dare-devil had taken theMuslims by surprise and sped away whilethe young King calmly sat, engrossed inthe Bhajan.

In the meanwhile the fleet-footed Marathashad eluded their pursuers. “Allah’s curseon him,” the Subedar growled. “He tookadvantage of the darkness.”

Soon the party entered Purandhar, andHiroji reported the whole story to Jijabai.Her eyes shone with admiration for her son’sbrave friends.

The Kirtan came to an end in the temple.Shivaji fell at the saint’s feet and touchedthem in reverence.

Then he said, “Maharaj, good men like youdeserve all the riches in the world. I’d liketo present you with some silks, jewelleryand a palanquin.”

The saint smiled and said, “But I’m alreadyrich. I have with me the name of theAlmighty, and it gives me all I want.”

“Then, Maharaj,” the pious King said, “letme remain with you. I, too, feel like leavingeverything and merging myself in the nameof God with you.”

The saint put a hand on the young King’shead and softly said, “Raje, your work, too,is the same as singing God’s glory. Everyman has to worship in his own way,according to his own Dharma, and yourway of worship is the attainment of freedomfor your country.”

The gentle words lit up Shivaji’s mind withthe luminosity of Divine Grace, and hetouched the feet of the great saint again,the saint whose music was the music ofthe Lord.


IN his camp Shaishta Khan sattalking with Kartalab Khan.

“At last we have taken the fort of Chakan,”Shaishta Khan said with satisfaction, pullingat his hookah. “But it has shown us howimpregnable Shivaji’s forts are.”

“I have known that since long,” KartalabKhan agreed ; “I have been posted inDeccan for a long time now, and I knowShahaji. Shivaji’s father personally. Bothfather and son set great store byimpregnable forts.”

For sometimes both sat thinking in silence.Then Shaishta Khan slowly said, “I haveanother idea. How do you like leading asurprise expedition to the coastal areas ofKonkan ?”

Kartalab Khan stroked his beardthoughtfully and said, “A good idea. Withthe conquest of Konkan my prestige willsoar at the Darbar in Delhi.”

A few days later a huge Mughal force setout towards the sea. The army includedmany prominent personalities including alady named Rai Bagan.

“Khan,” Rai Bagan had said to KartalabKhan at the start of the march, “Do yourealise what you are undertaking ? To reachKonkan you have to cross the Sahyadrimountain range, and the passes are sonarrow that not only will it be a job to

take your heavy guns through them buteven your soldiers will have to march in asingle file.”

“Well, “ Kartalab Khan had replied, “in thefirst place even if we have to wend ourway like a snake, we would be too muchof deadly python to be approached byShivaji’s men and secondly, Shivaji has noidea of our destination.”

So Kartalab Khan thought, but Shivaji’sspies had reported every move of the Khan,and Shivaji said to Netaji Palkar :

“Netaji, the prey is walking into our parlour.We entrust you with the job of taking careof them.”

“It will be a pleasure, Maharaj,” Netajisaid with a broad smile. “It would be niceif you could come just to watch the fun.”

Slowly, heavily, the Khan’s huge army andarmament wended its way through themountains, climbing up and down thetortuous passes.

The soldiers would look at the peakstowering above them and would be panicstricken at the thought that Shivaji’s menwere hiding in those hills above.

“Could there be a more difficult mountainpass ?” Kartalab Khan’s generals thoughtwhile negotiating one till they came toanother and a more difficult one.

THE PROUD PYTHON


And in the narrowest of them all, UmbarKhind, it happened.

As the panting Mughal forces dragged theirway up the inhospitable terrain, a shrillwhistle echoed through the hills around andliterally from all around them a shower ofarrows whizzed past the Muslims.

“Ya Allah,” they screamed, knowing notfrom where death came on wings. Beforethey could recover from their shock, thefamiliar war cry of “Har Har Mahadev”, rentthe skies and from every boulder and rocka Mavia sprang upon the Mughals caughtin the pass, his sword flashing in the sun.

It was slaughter, as the nimble-footedMarathas jumped from rock to rock, cuttingdown the enemy, while the Muslims lookedin vain for way to escape.

“Fight, men, fight !” Kartalab Khan shoutedat his panic-stricken men in frenzy, and helooked at his big guns lying immobilized inthe narrow pass.

Like monkeys the Mavlas jumped fromboulder to boulder, striking at the fumblingMughal army. The huge python, of whichthe Khan had spoken so proudly layhelplessly bleeding, cut into a hundredpieces.

And on an elevation above the battle scenestood two mounted men, Netaji Palkar, whohad directed the ambush so superbly, andby his side, Shivaji, watching his general’sskill at war.

There was also another person whowatched the rout, Rai Bagan.

“Khan Sahib,” she said to Kartalab, “I triedto make you understand what you were in

for, when you decided to cross thismountain with such a huge army. Nowlook ! Your men are being mowed downlike grass. Now if you want to avoidcomplete destruction, there is only one wayout, surrender.” And she pointed to Shivaji,watching from the crest of a hill.

The Khan saw how his men were goingdown and cursed his fate under his breath.Glumly he beckoned to one of his generalsand handed him a large white handkerchief.“Go to Shivaji as our emissary,” hedirected, “we want to talk peace.”

As the handkerchief began to flutter in themountain wind, the Marathas stopped thebattle, and the man was allowed to climbup to Shivaji.

“The Khan wishes to apologise,” theemissary began, “for transgressing intoShivaji Raje’s territory. It was done onthe thoughtless orders of Shaishta Khan.The Raje’s father Shahaji is an old friendof Kartalab Khan, a fact Shivaji may pleasetake into consideration.”

In a short while a huge bundle of valuableslay at Shivaji’s feet. Then the Khan’sgunners left their guns, muskets and swordsand slowly began their ignominious retreat.Shivaji watched the scene and turned toNetaji with a look of admiration.

“The credit of this victory is all yours,Netaji,” he said softly. Netaji bowedhappily.


NOT more than a couple of days- that was what Shaishta Khanhad thought it would take to

conquer the fort of Chakan when, duringhis invasion on Shivaji he laid a siege to it.

And the fort did look like it - a smallstructure on plain ground, it was built ofmud. It had a force of about four hundredsoldiers.

The Khan gave the order : “The fort mustfall in a couple of days.”

The Moghul guns boomed. Shells rainedinto the walls of the fort - and stuck inthe mud walls. In return, Maratha gunsrained fire on the Moghul army. Withbravery and efficiency Firangoji Narsala,commander of the fort, directed thedefence.

“Damnation !” the Khan angrily exclaimed,as he saw his force of about twentythousand struggling for fifty days.

Late at night, a war council met in theKhan’s tent. “It is shameful !” the Khangrowled. “Such a small fort stands up toour mighty force for full fifty days.”

What should be done ?

Ideas and suggestions - Then someonesaid, “I have an idea - let’s dig a tunnelfrom our camp to the ground under one ofthe ramparts of the fort, then placedenough gun powder below it - and blow itup.”

Shaishta Khan stopped his restless pacingand stared at the man.

“Why,” he said slowly, “that’s an idea !But it must be done secretly.”

The Khan gave the orders and the secretoperation began immediately. On the fortFirangoji Narsala saw the stocks of fooddepleting. “Never mind,” the fortcommander said reassuringly, “whatever theodds, we fight it out.”

The fifty-fifty day !

“It is complete,” the officer in charge ofthe secret tunnel reported to the Khan,“the charge is in place.”

The Khan smiled. “At least this couldovercome the stubborn resistance of thesedevils.”

On the fort the Marathas force wasdeployed as usual to meet the Moghulbombardment. The Moghuls were takingpositions in a particular part of thefortifications. There was an expectantpause. Then ……

“Boom….”

With a rumble that shook the atmosphere,the explosion ripped open a rampart of thefort and a gaping hole appeared.

“Onward …. Attack !” the Khan gave theorder and the Moghuls rushed to the hugeopening.

HIS SOUL WAS NOT FOR SALE


For an instant Firangoji Narsala stared atthe havoc - at the debris that flew intothe air - at the mangled bodies of many ofhis men caught in the blast.

But there was not much time to stand andstare. The Moghuls were not far from theopening.

Swiftly the Maratha commander gave theorder and a human phalanx moved up toclose the gap in the defence.

“Swords in both hands, men !” Firangonjicalled out, “No shields !”

The Marathas jumped into the booby frayand battle raged in the gap.

The Marathas fought like men possessed.In amazement the Khan saw that his mencould not get through, though they werefar greater in number.

For a whole day the fight was on at thegap - and the Moghuls were kept out.Night fell, but the Moghuls did not go backto their camp. They stayed on right atthe gap.

When morning came, fresh waves ofMoghuls rushed at the defenders. Thedepleted and exhausted ranks of theMarathas were overwhelmed - but the menand their leader Firangoji Narasala,continued to fight like devils.

Shaishta Khan swept into the fort andwatched the Maratha commander, his armedhands flashing everywhere like lightening.

In sheer admiration the Khan called out -“Stop ! I am yet to see a fighter like you…. I am proud of an enemy like you.”

The battle stopped.

As Firangoji stood erect before the Khan,the Moghul commander exclaimed, “Whatbravery ! Come into the Imperial army -all the acme and wealth you may desirewill be yours.”

Quietly the Maratha commander replied,“My soul is not for sale.”

“Shabash !” Shaishta Khan said, impressedall the more. “You can leave the fort withyour men.”

Silently, but with their heads erect still,the Maratha commander and his handfulof men rode out. It was August 15, 1660.

Next day Firangoji stood before ShivajiMaharaj, his eyes turned in shame to theground.

“I’m ashamed, Maharaj !” he gruffly said.“I could not defend the fort - I deserve tobe punished.”

Shivaji looked at the man standing beforehim. “Punished ? Yes, I’ll punish you,”Maharaj said slowly, “by appointing youcommander of a more important fort, thefort of Bhupalgarh.”

In astonishment Narsala looked up, andShivaji smiled at him.

“Yes, Firangoji, I am yet to see a lion likeyou - who could hold the fort for fifty-fivedays when it could very well have fallen ina week.”


THERE was a well-known Shivatemple on the banks of thePanchaganga near Dicholim. Shivaji

knew of this holy place that the Portuguesehad desecrated. It presented a sad sceneof utter desolation and ruin. The name ofthe deity in the temple was SaptaKoteshwar. This was a very ancient andhallowed temple. The tolerance of thedevotees was extraordinary, indeed.

Its story dates back into the hoary pastwhen, the Kadamba dynasty ruled Goa.Gomantak, as Goa was then known, wasan independent Sovereign State.Kadambas had a powerful navy, they werewell known for their valour and devotion.Sapta Koteshwara was considered one ofthe famous temples of the time. Oncethis temple had been gorgeous, it was fullof beautifully-carved structures. In thesanctuary, there was a Shiva-lingam thatshone brilliantly when it caught the light.Kadamba kings were noted for theirdevotion. Therefore, they addressedthemselves with the appellation, “ShriSaptakoteshwari Labdhawar-prasadMaharajadhiraj Shri Kadambaveer.”

First, the Sultans plundered the temple,burnt the scripts and smashed the idols.There was ruin all around. The Sultanskept the Shiva-lings hidden.

Later, the kings of Vijayanagar took a pledgeto free the land with the temples and othersacred places from the clutches of the

invaders. Gomantak was freed by theVijayanagar kings from the possession ofthe Sultan. Goa became free. The flag offreedom fluttered once more. The imageof Gods and Goddesses were reinstalled intheir respective shrines with full devotion.Once again Sapta-koteshwar temple wasestablished in the holy sanctuary of abeautiful temple and worship started as ofold.

Years rolled by. There again came a timewhen Gomantak was destined to suffer thesame fate. Now it was in the hands of thePortuguese. The Portuguese proved worsethan their Muslim fore-runners. It was inthe name of religion that the Portuguesecommitted fresh atrocities on the people.Within the span of twelve hours, six hundredand fifty temples were completelyshattered. The Sapta-koteshwar temple,too, suffered the same fate. Stone bystone, this magnificent edifice wasconsigned to the sea. The Shiva-lingamwas left planted by the side of a well, sothat people would have to step over itwhile taking out water from the well.

Forty years went by. A person namedSuryarao Desai obtained permission fromthe Governor of Goa to carry away thelingam to Narve. He took it and kept it inhis house. At last, Sapta Koteshwar gaineda roof over Himself.

Sixty summers passed. Then some onesaw an extraordinary person, making his

THE LORD OF THE SEVEN CRORES


way through the trees that stood in frontof Shri Saptakoteshwar. This person wasnone other than Shivaji Maharaj !

The village of Narve stood on the banks ofthe Panchaganga. Cocoanut groves, arecanut trees, mangoes, teak, jack fruits,jamuns etc. grew in such abundance herethat it looked like a jungle. About twenty-five huts could be seen between thesetrees. They were the huts of farmers. Anarrow route snaked along these huts andstopped short of a hillock covered withtrees. A water-fall could be heard leapingdown noisily somewhere in the vicinity.This was the hamlet of Narve. Thesurroundings were enchantingly green allover. The spot had very recently mergedinto the Swarajya !

A red stone wall was the only man-madestructure here. A huge arched recess brokethe continuity of these stone walls. Onentering it one saw the famousSaptakoteshwara Linga, housed in a tent-like structure, prepared from the driedleaves of coconut trees. An oil lampillumined the inside with its soft flow.Occasionally, the sun’s rays piercedthrough the gaps. Evidently, LordSaptakoteshwar enjoyed His presentaccommodation of solitary splendour !Shivaji stood in front of this symbol of thegreat Lord Siva deeply absorbed indevotion. He stood still for some time andsaid, “Pant, arrange for Puja, I am goingto worship the Lord.”

Moropant straightaway engaged himself inthe arrangements for the worship. Maharajstood underneath the mandapam.Thoughts thronged his mind. He pondered

over the name, “Shri Sapta Koteshwar !The God of Seven Crores ! To him it meantthat the Lord commanded an army of sevencrores ! What a condition he was reducedto today ! This was hallowed spot for allMarathas ! He was one of the most reveredof their Gods. His greatness wasconsidered to be no less than that of KashiVishveswar. Unfortunately, His devoteesbecame powerless and ignorant. That wasthe reason why the temple of such famehad to suffer all this desecration. Wherewas the trident that killed Tripurasura ?Where was the arrow that brokeAndhakasura to pieces ? Where was thetabor, ‘Damru’ and the ‘Third Eye’ that burntproud Madan (Cupid) to ashes ? Wherewas that terrible army of ghosts ? Andwhere was Bhavani-Parvati who killedMahishasura ?” Maharaj stood gazinglingam still shone more brilliantly !

Really, where were those sacred,unconquerable weapons ?

Maharaj took his bath and sat for worship.The priest started chanting mantras ; lampswere lit. Fragrance filled the air ; waterfor Abhisheka was poured over the lingam.For the first time, the ‘hut’ ofSaptakoteshwar resounded with thechanting of the Vedas. Occasionally, avagrant ray peeped through the numerousgaps and one or two of them fell on thebare body of Maharaj.

The worship was over. Suddenly a driedleaf from the roof fell, and it made a sound.It fell on the shoulder of Maharaj. Helaughed, and he brushed it aside. Thepriest said, “Maharaj, really it is a goodomen !”


“What do you mean ?” asked Shivaji.“Maharaj, Saptakoteshwar Himself hasdemanded something from you !” repliedthe priest. “What is His demand, Guruji ?”enquired Shivaji. “Maharaj, the Lorddemands that a new temple beconstructed. He is the family God of manykings. Now, we are in Swarajya (it is ourown rule). We are in the kingdom of onewho rules as a trustee of God.Saptakoteshwar should no more be allowed

to remain in a neglected spot like this,”explained Guruji.

“Yes, that is my wish as well, Guruji ; afine temple will come up in time. Worshipwill be performed carefully and without anyfear or worry in this land of Kadambas.Nobody will dare to disturb Him.”

“let that happen ! Let there be peace andwealth !” Conches and bugles sounded inconfirmation.

AND THEY SILENTLY SLIPPED AWAY

SHAME and defeat were writtenall over his face. Fazal Khanburnt with the sense of disgrace of

a son who could not avenge his father’signominious death. Worst of all, Panhalafell into Shivaji’s hands. Allow him respitenow, and destruction of Bijapur would becomplete. To add to the fears alreadyentertained by the Bijapur Sultan, newsreached him of the alliance Shivaji madewith the British. Doraji captured three shipscarrying valuable goods, belonging to AfzalKhan, which had fallen into the hands ofBritish. He also captured a British officialby name Philip Chifford and brought himover as hostage and this forced the Britishto promise their help to Shivaji.

Who, among all his defeated generals, woulddare to head an attack on this rebelMaratha ? The Sultan pondered over thesituation. And then in a flash it occurred

to him that Siddi Johar, the insolent BijapurSardar who was at Kurnool, would be theright one. Could he not be put in chargeof a fresh campaign and made to marchagainst the Maratha rebel ?

A letter went to Siddi and he arrived atBijapur Court. The Sultan spoke honeyedwords dripping flattery and solicitude. Whoelse but the powerful Siddi, could attackand capture the crafty Maratha ? He couldtake whatever forces he wanted fromBijapur and he would be the supremecommander of the forces. Siddi wassufficiently flattered. With a vast army ofthirty thousand he thundered towardsKolhapur. Shivaji heard the news of theterrible army coming under Siddi Johar’scommand with the complacency of a manknows how to take calculated risks. Hismain concern was to choose the base fromwhich resistance could be offered to the


Bijapur troops. Upon reflection, he decidedto thwart the enemy attack from Panhalafort. Better resist from the enemy territoryitself than recede towards his kingdom andlet the enemy advance that far. So PanhalGarh was the refuge from which Shivajidecided to offer resistance to Siddi’s forces.

Siddi marched in great pomp to Panhala,his thirty-thousand-strong army floodingthe region in great waves. At first he triedto send troops under cover of firing fromthe rear. But as the troops came withinrange, Shivaji’s soldiers opened fire andforced them into a hasty retreat. A fewsuch frustrated attempts made Siddi realisethat it would be futile to pursue thisstrategy further. What was needed was agiant cannon that would hurl its deadlycontents at the fort walls and shatter them.Such cannons were, however, found onlyin the possession of the foreigners.He calledhis generals to a conference and placedthe problem before them. Fazal Khan, AfzalKhan’s son, came up with a suggestion.He argued, “The British at Rajpur couldgive us such a cannon. Shivaji no doubtacquired a large territory and acquiredsufficient strength and force, but the BijapurSultanate is an established State withgreater strength, and these foreigners whocame here to carry on business wouldsurely see the wisdom of pledging allegianceto the stronger powers. They would surelyhelp us”

Siddi agreed that there was everypossibility of their acquiring help from theBritish. A messenger was immediatelydispatched and Siddi sat back insatisfaction, awaiting the favourable replyfrom the British.

Revington promptly consented to help Siddi.Now that Philip Clifford was returned insafety, there was no longer any need toabide by their promise to Shivaji. Lookingat the vast army of Siddi surrounding thePanhala fort and Shivaji trapped inside witha very small force, Revington decided thatthis was the end of the Maratha. What,then, was the sense in sticking to him anddefying the Sultan ? The Sultan could, onthe other hand, offer many concessionsto facilitate their trade if now they helpedhim in his hour of need. So Siddi was notdisappointed in his anticipations and thedeadly cannon was brought soon at theBijapur camp.Shivaji was bidding his timewithin the fort with complacency. He knewthat the Bijapur forces could not approachthe fort. But his calm was shattered onemorning as a giant explosion like that ofthunder filled the air. Simultaneously, theearth shook as the fort wall took the impactof the huge cannon ball. With a start herose and came over to look at the causeof the disturbance. In the distance, heespied the huge mounted cannon, mannedby the British. “The traitors,” he mutteredto himself indignantly. “So they have nowjoined hands with Siddi. Well, these cannonballs can do nothing to Shvaji’s forts, andthat they will soon learn,” he thought.

The siege continued relentlessly for threemonths. Inside, Shivaji and his men wereintensely apprehensive. It now appearedas if he had been trapped within thesewalls. Siddi could take his own time andbreak into the fort when he wanted to,and Shivaji would be there to be conquered!

At Poona, matters were taking a bad turn.Shaishta Khan lay siege outside Poona with


the huge Moghul army. Jijabai grew moreand more apprehensive as the days rolledon and the siege of Panhala continuedwithout any trace of relief. No one was athand to be sent to help her son fromwithout. She became desperate and atlast decided to march out herself to helpher son. At this juncture Tanaji arrived onthe scene. At the bidding of Jijabai herushed to the help of Shivaji. But of whatavail could his small troop be in facing theBijapur forces in the open ? Shivaji heardthe rattle of gun-fire in the distance andsaw a platoon from the Bijapur army in thatdirection. He knew Tanaji would have cometo assist him. With a leaden heart hewatched the Bijapur platoon’s return,knowing that Tanaji came, and went backin the defeat. He felt utterly helpless,trapped inside the fort. More than theworry about his own capture was the worryover the state of affairs in his kingdom.“What was happening in Poona ? What ifsome other enemy chose this juncture toattack Poona ?” His mind was racked withsuch questions.

Then one day there came a surprise tohim in the form of a beggar. The beggarwished to see the Maharaj and wasushered into his presence. And, lo ! thebeggar turned out to be a spy whomanaged to elude Siddi’s vigilant eyes andfound his way into the fort. He broughtnews of the grave situation in Poona. TheMaharaj’s presence there was essential.Shivaji’s brow darkened. So there wastrouble in Poona, he sadly mused. “Whilehe was trapped here, his own kingdom wasthreatened out of all security. But howcould he manage to go there in this hour

of Poona’s need ?” His thoughts came to asudden halt as though he was jerked outof a slumber. He stared at the spy andblurted out, “You… you entered this fortfrom without. How did you pass by Siddi’stroops unobserved ? How, indeed, did youenter here ?”

The spy spoke with quiet confidence.“There is a way out, Maharaj, beyond thevigilance of Siddi. It is risky, no doubt,but it would be a worthwhile risk to take.”Shivaji mused a while and came to adecision. Leaving 5,000 men with TriambajiBhaskar to command the fort, he wouldtry to escape to Poona. 600 men wouldfollow him. Siddi had to be thrown off hisguard. Shivaji sent a message offering tocome to terms. The messenger, GangadharPant, flattered Siddi enough about hisgreatness and convinced him that Shivajiwas miserable, trapped inside the fort, andwould come and meet Siddi the nextevening, alone and unarmed, to discussterms of a treaty. The Bijapur army wasalso getting restless over the prolongedsiege and was happy to learn that Shivajihad at last given in. Tension relaxed.

In the fort, preparations were silently madefor the escape of the 600 men with Shivaji.Nature blessed his plan and darknessenveloped the entire area as clouds hidthe moon. Covered in black shawls, the600 men silently trooped out and spedaway, carrying Shivaji in a palanquin.


SIX hundred figures moved likeshadows as the escaping troopsdescended down from the fort by a

secret path. The torrential rain muffledthe sounds of their foot-falls and the pitchdarkness of the night hid their forms.

In the fore-front wasthe spy leading themon, and Baji Prabhubrought up the rearguard, keeping one eyeon Siddi’s camp. Thecamp lights glimmeredfaintly through thedarkness andoccasional sounds ofmerry-making floatedout through the nightair.

As they reached thelevel ground at the footof the fort, the soundsbecame louder. Nowthey were close toSiddi’s camp.

The way out wasthrough a thicket thatpassed through thecamp itself. With bated breath and ferventprayers to Bhavani, they marched throughand came out on the other side of thecamp and started on the open stretchbefore them. Forty miles from there wasVisalgarh, their destination. Would they

come out unobserved through the enemyoutposts before the darkness was dispelledby dawn ? There was no turning backnow, and they marched ahead, but ahundred questions tormented their minds.Misfortune struck as they were almost out

of the dangerzone. A flash ofl i g h t e n i n grevealed thesilently movingtroops and aguard stared instunned silence,unable to believehis own eye.Next moment,before thesurprised troopscould pounceupon and silencehim, he turnedand disappearedinto thedarkness. Thesoul of fast-running hoofsnow fell on theears of the 600

men who waited in miserable silence. Therewas not even a moment to lose, theyrealised, and started moving fast.

The sounds of merry-making in Siddi’s campwas broken by the thud of the gallopinghoofs of the guard’s horse. He burst into

THE COUNTERFEIT


Siddi’s tent, unannounced, babblingexcitedly and incoherently. From thisbabble Siddi gathered enough informationto deal him a shocking blow. Shivajiescaped ! Siddi raved and cursed, cursedeveryone and himself for letting theMaratha’s fooling to succeed again. Thenhe recollected himself and ordered a troop,commanded by his son-in-law, to pursuethe escapers and capture Shivaji.

The silent troopers heard the hoofs in thedistance. Baji Prabhu came to the palanquinof Shivaji and murmured something. Soona major part of the troop merged intodarkness, just as the Bijapur soldiers burstupon the remaining men and captured thepalanquin.

In the presence of Siddi the palanquin waslowered and from it descended a man ;Siddi Johar stared at him. “This mancannot be Shivaji. The royal bearingassociated with Shivaji is not present inhim,” he though, as he asked him, “Whoare you?”

The man replied, “My name is Shivaji.”

“You fool ! Tell me the truth. You are notShivaji. Who are you, and where is themountain rat ?”

The man replied, “I told you, Sir. My nameis Shivaji. I am a barbar from Panhala fort.The three months’ siege exhausted theprovisions inside and unable to stand thestarvation. I made a bid to escape.”

“And you are being carried in a palanquinlike a prince ? Tell me why you are being

so supremely honoured.” Siddi’s tone wassarcastic.

“That was Shivaji’s plan,” replied thebarber. “He came to know of my wantingto run away, so he offered to let me go,on the condition that I should ride apalanquin. If your sentries saw it, the ideaof Shivaji’s escaping would cause confusionhere. Some of your troops would disperseto pursue the escaping people and hewould attack you, taking you by surpriseand speed away to his kingdom.”

“So that is it,” Siddi nodded thoughtfully.“You insist, then, that Shivaji is still in thefort.”

“Yes, Sir,” the barber replied. Just thenthe sentry who reported the escaping partystepped forward.

“The party I saw much bigger. I don’t thinkthat the entire party was cought up. Evennow Shivaji might be speeding away,” hesaid. Siddi Johar cursed under his breath.Was he to pursue some unknown escapersor keep vigil on the fort only ?

At last he decided to accept the idea thatShivaji was escaping. He sent his troopsin the direction indicated by the guard,and alerted his men to be more vigilant inthe siege of the fort.

The shadowy figures moved on. Soon itwould be dawn. The time on their handswas very little and they had a long way togo.


THE silent feet marched on. Theirears were turned to pick out anysound above the rain splashing and

their feet were trudging through the mud.

They were now four miles from Vishalgarh,nearing Gaziapur Pass in the mountains.As they neared the pass, in the faint lightof the early dawn, Baji Prabhu turned andsaw in the distant plains a huge troopmoving on towards them, galloping fast.As he turned to Shivaji and spoke, his facewas calm and set.

“Maharaj, I am going to tarry here withhalf the men. The pass is narrow and thepath leading to it is narrow, too. Thosetroops cannot march into the passtogether. We will fell them as they tricklethrough the pass.” He announced hisdecision.

Shivaji protested.

“But Baji Prabhu, that is inviting death uponyourself. Even with this narrow pass toyour advantage, you can’t fight backthousands of men with only two hundredsoldiers. I cannot leave you to face certaindeath and run away to safety.”

“I am choosing that certain death, Maharaj,and the men who remain with me here alsodo so voluntarily. If I die in the effort itwould be an honour, for I shall die for you,our kingdom and in obedience to Bhavani’sdecree. You cannot make things betterby staying with me, and if the country loses

you at this juncture our bid for freedomcomes to an abrupt end. I am sure I havechosen the only course open now. Pleasedisappear soon and when you reachVisalgarh, fire a cannon. Its boom shall letme know that you are safe, and then, ifthere is still a chance I shall try to eludethe enemy and escape.”

He turned to the soldiers and announced.

“I am going to stay here and defend thispass till Maharaj reaches Visalgarh insafety. Those who wish to stay with me,come forward.”

In unison the entire troop moved forward.Baji Prabhu and Shivaji exchanged glancesthrough tear filled eye. Baji Prabhu tookcommand quickly, and choosing some twohundred men, moved to the interior of thepass and stationed himself thee. Shivajiembraced him, and with a heavy heart,eyes brimming with tears and voice choking,bade a silent fare-well to his brave generaland men and sped towards Visalgarh.

In a short while the thundering Bijapurtroops approached the pass. The passwas quiet, and the first few troopersentered it. Immediately their terror-strickenvoices, mingled with roars of “Har Har MahaDev” rent the air. Masud, the Bijapurcommander realised the situation in a flash.

“A trap, is it ? There can’t be many menout there. Charge in. Sooner or later theywill all fall, and we shall yet cross the passand capture the Maratha,” he roared.

A LIFE TO PROTECT A KINGDOM


Like sheep to the sacrificial slab the Sultan’smen rushed into the pass, to be hackedby the merciless Maratha swords. But BajiPrabhu was becoming restless. “How longmore could he hold on ? Had the Maharajareached Visalgarh ?” Questiones flashedthrough his brain as his sword slashedabout, hacking the Bijapur soldiers as theyrushed in. His men were falling fast. Ifonly that cannon’s boom came on, he couldorder those who remained to make a bidto escape. When would it come ? Hisbody was caked with blood. The pass wasan ugly mass of severed bodies. Baji waswounded, and with the blood draining out,his strength was fast fading.

Then over the air came the thunderousroar of the cannon. It boomed in his earsand echoed through the pass.

“Give me an indication of your safe arrivalat Visalgarh, and then if there is time andchance, I shall elude the enemy andescape,” Baji Prabhu said to Shivaji. Thesignal came, but it was too late. Therenow was neither time nor chance for thehero who took a plunge into a suicidalattack for his country’s sake. He gave alast shout to his men to try and escapeand sank to the bosom of mother earth,content in the awareness of death on thebattle field.

IDENTITY, stimulation, security : Thinkof these in terms of their opposites.We shun anonymity, dread boredom

and seek to dispel anxiety. We grasp atidentification, yearn for stimulation,conserve or gain security. The extent ofa given need will vary from species tospecies, population to population, individualto individual.

A behaviour pattern or a cultural traditionis successful if it satisfies a maximum ofinnate need. Human warfare has beenthe most successful of all our culturaltraditions because it satisfies all threebasic needs. War provides glory for someand, in a subtle fashion, identity for all.Through squads and companies andregiments there are a thousand satisfyingpigeon holes.

War is also most powerful stimulation everproduced in the history of the species.No philosopher, viewing the horrors ofwarfare through astigmatic lenses, cangrasp the attraction which war presentsto the civilized - and territorial - man. Itis the ultimate release. In all the richcatalogues of human hypocrisy it is difficultto find anything to compare with the beliefthat people do not like war.

The continuity of human evolution fromthe world of the Animal to World of Manensures that a human group is inpossession of a social territorial principle.“Patriotism” is a calculable territorial force,

THE LONG ARMOF JUSTICE


which released by a predictable situation,will animate man in a manner no differentfrom other territorial species.

Territory is the cause of war in the sensethat it takes an intruder to ferment it. Butwhat territory promises is a very highprobability that if intrusion takes place, warwill follow. So also was it with Shivaji,whose expanding territorial activities wonfor him both friends and enemies, loyaladherents and treacherous traitors, amongwhom is the chronicle of one that follows.

Adilshah of Bijapur sent Khavas Khanto conquer all the parts of thecountry which were captured byShivaji after defeating Ikhlas Khan.Chieftains like Siddisarvar, ShahrHazrat and Shaikh Meeranaccompanied him in this task. Therewere some Hindu Chieftains who wereprepared to fight Shivaji. It was asad story for India that even thestep-brother of Shivaji, Venkoji -joined the enemy’s camp. Nimbalkar,Ghatge, Shirke, Jadhav etc., werethe other chieftains on the side ofthe enemy who were eager to arrestand destroy the growing power ofShivaji Maharaj. Had theyunderstood the great cause for whichShivaji was struggling, the course ofhistory would have been different. Shivaji’svery close relatives laid hurdles in his way.One of them was Rajbahadur Baji Ghorpade.Actually, Baji Ghorpade belonged to theBhonsle family ; but he preferred to sell hisservices to the Muslim rulers. He consideredit his sacred duty to go against Shivaji’sefforts for the establishment of Swarajya

in all possible ways ! He had Shahji arrested.He managed to be an obstacle in the wayof Shivaji merely to show Adilshah how loyalBaji was to him ! This loyalty gave himutter satisfaction.

Khavas Khan planned his strategy in sucha way that Shivaji should not know any ofhis moves until he reached Konkan ! Buthe was totally unaware of the fact thatevery detail of his move was being reportedto Shivaji through his expert network ofspies. It was known to Shivaji that Baji

Ghorpade stationed at Mudhol was to meetKhavas Khan in Konkan along with aregiment in order to assist him. Shivajidecided to kill Baji Ghorpade at the outset.He was furious when he remembered allthe mis-deeds of Baji Ghorpade. He wasthe same Baji who entered Shahji’s tentalong with Afzalkhan and Mustalakhan andtreacherously wounded him. He had seen


Shahji in shackles ! The same Baji wasnow thinking of attacking Shivaji Maharaj !What courage ! Shivaji was not preparedto wait and give Baji a chance to let himmeet Khavas Khan. He reached Mudholimmediately to put an end to Baji.

Baji was about to start for Konkan ! Infact, he had nearly completed thepreliminary preparations. When he cameto know that he had been surrounded byShivaji’s men from all sides he felt trapped.With the spreading of the news that Shivajihad come in person, shouts like “Run, getaway, Shivaji has come” were heardeverywhere ! And before Baji could plan acounter attack on Shivaji the latter hadreached Baji’s residence ! Baji was certainlya brave and experienced soldier ! He wasexpert in handling a sword ! He drew hissword and started a duel with Shivaji.

A bitter fight ensued. Shivaji’s anger wasalready kindled. Baji thwarted all the effortsof Shivaji by his skill in swordsmanship. Hedefended himself using his shield withmasterly strategy.

Occasionally, he tried to attack Shivaji withhis sword. Baji could not withstand Shivaji’sfury. He started fleeing. Shivaji took along hop, and with one severe blow he putan end to Baji’s life.

Shivaji thus set another example of hisextreme severity of punishment in dealingwith traitors.

SHAISHTA KHAN’s name struck fearin the hearts of the people in andaround Poona. Poona had been

looted, plundered and laid waste by thisterrible tyrant. The untold sufferings thatthe people had to undergo pained Maharajdeeply. In the very teeth of heavy andalmost overwhelming opposition Shivajimanaged to recapture Lal Mahal, Kondana,a sub district of Supe from the clutches ofShaishta Khan ! But, many valuable liveswere lost in these expeditions and manysubjects rendered homeless. Maharaj’sconcern for his people’s suffering, physical,emotional and economic, could hardly bedescribed. He was seeking a way out ofthis tyranny and Jija Bai understoodShivaji’s anxiety. It was the early hours ofthe morning and the sun’s rays gentlytouched the surroundings with its goldenwand. Bells jingled as the cattle were ontheir way to the pasture. Somewhere alone cowherd played on his flute. It wasat such a time that Jija Bai had enteredher little temple for worship. Shivaji hadinvited some of his most trusted colleaguesviz., Moropant, Anaji, Bahirji Naik, HamsajiMahite, etc., for drawing up a plan insecrecy. It was Shivaji’s practice toworship in his temple first, then payobeisance to his mother. That day Jija Baihad waited long enough in that room and

THE WINDBLOWS SILENTLYSMT. NAYANTARA DESAI

Translated from theoriginal in Marathi


finding that there was some delay, she sentfor Shivaji.

Shivaji got up, informed his other colleaguesand went into the room of worship. PutalaBai, his wife, stood at the entrance. Seeinghim she smiled and modestly stepped by.The mild glow of the oil lamp, the scent offlowers, incense and sandal paste addedto the sanctity of the place. Shivaji kneltand touched his fore-head to the groundin salutation of Goddess Bhavani after whichhe saluted his mother in the same manner.“Long live, my son,” the mother offeredher blessings. She got up and touched hiseyes applying holy water which waspreserved in a decorated golden vessel.Maharaj cherished these blessings. Hismind grew stronger when he received them.Once again he saluted the Linga, thesymbol of the great Lord Shiva, and satdown close to his mother.

“Son, though I have been noticing yourgrowing anxiety I have been unable to findthe reason,” said Jija Bai, as she pattedhim on the back lovingly.

“Masaheb, you are perfectly correct. Weare faced with a financial crisis at themoment. Our subjects have been thevictims of the cruelty of Shaishta Khan.They have looted, tortured and renderedabsolutely helpless. It is my duty to takecare of them.

“Though we propose to collect the wealthby attacking the most wealthy part of theMughal Kingdom, I am at a loss to decideupon the source that should be tapped.That is why we are anxious.” As Shivajiexplained his difficulties, the tremor in hisvoice indicated his deep concern.

“Son, forget your worries and come alongwith me,” said Jija Bai as if there was nocause for concern at all. She bowed beforeGoddess Bhavani and left the room.Maharaj followed her. They mounted abastion of Raigarh. Jija Bai pointed towardsthe north west and asked Shivaji, “Canyou think of a richer possession of theMoghuls than the one that lies in thatdirection ?”

“Surat !” Shivaji replied without hesitatinga single moment.

“Son, you had better attack the city ofSurat which is a veritable treasure house.Gather as much wealth as you can. Byattacking Surat you will serve the doublepurpose of acquiring wealth as well asteaching Badshah a lesson for his pastwrongs,” Jija Bai elucidated her point.

“Masahe, you have solved my problem andput an end to my anxiety. If I am able tobuild up Swarajya for our own people. Themajor part of the credit will be yours,”Shivaji said with overflowing gratitude. Hebowed down in reverence.

Jija Bai fondly embraced him and pattedhim on his back gently. His locked up energyhad been released and Shivaji was nowready for the great task. The very nextday Maharaj invited all his importantcolleagues and placed before them his planfor the raid on Surat.

Moropant, Anaji, Tanaji and others wereoverjoyed. Preparations were afoot. Theyhad to go about it in utter secrecy. Noone outside the circle knew of the plan.While Shivaji was thus engaged he hearda very heartening piece of news ! Shah


Jehan, father Aurangazeb, had died at Agraand the latter had moved northwards.Shivaji Maharaj felt greatly relieved !

The rains had ended. Fields full of cropswere ready to be harvested within a matterof days. Trees stood erect as if to watchthe bountiful crops with satisfaction !There were signs of satisfaction all over.Rajgarh prepared itself to bid farewell toits sovereign. Shivaji came to Pratapgarhalong with his family. ‘Nav Ratri’ festivalwas being celebrated. On the ninth dayof the festival, Goddess Tulja Bhavajiseemed to give Her silent benediction forthe proposed expedition. Maharaj wasimmensely pleased. The next day, i.e.,Vijaya Dasami day, Maharaj summoned BalajiNaik Bahirji, who came and stood by hisside, and said :

“Bahirji, you are our best spy. Our effortsfor freedom depend on your skill. So far,we have always counted on your help. Oursuccess has depended mainly on you. Now,as you know, we are moving towards Surat.We have very little knowledge of Surat.So, please go to Surat and gather as muchinformation as possible. At the same time,don’t forget that you will now have to crossMughal territories.”

“Maharaj, I am at you service. I shall starttomorrow,” replied Bahirji and leftimmediately after paying his respects.

Next day Bahirji and a band of people cameto see Shivaji. Bahirji introduced hisassistants, the Ramoshis to Maharaj.Shivaji scrutinised each one of them veryminutely and smiled his approval. Bahirjiand his party now disguised themselves

and entered Surat under the guise of aband of Fakirs.

Surat was indeed the richest city of theMughals. There was a strong fort on thebanks of the river Tapti, from which thecity of Surat fanned out in all directions.Aurangazeb had a military force tenthousand strong for the defence of Surat.Turks, Arabs, Dutch, English, all of themflocked into the city of Surat, because theywere given ample facilities for trade. Therewas a tremendous flow of goodsthroughout the year, and the markets ofSurat were flooded with goods and people.Multi-storeyed buildings lined the broadroads of Surat, palanquins built of sandalwood were found frequently movingthrough the streets, all of them indicatingthe prosperity of the city. That Surat wasthe most favourite city of Aurangazeb wasobvious and it deserved to be so ! Bahirjientered Surat along with his band of Fakirs.He was immensely pleased. He scrutinisedeach corner, bungalow, and trading place.He scanned all the guard posts, estimatedtheir strength and studied their loop-holes.Nothing escaped his eyes. Finally hereturned to Rajgarh and saluted Maharaj.Shivaji was very happy to see him. Hetook Bahirji to his Mahal. Bahirji suppliedhim with all the information he hadgathered. They then decided on astrategy.

It was the beginning of the month ofMargazhi (Agrahayan). It was the marriageseason. The whole atmosphere was filledwith the music of Shehnais and the beatof drums. Jija Bai became very active asshe herself took a major part in themarriages of the sons and daughters of


some Mavalis. Shivaji was in a pleasantmood. An auspicious day and time wasfixed for the expedition. The day dawnedand Shivaji prepared himself to set out onthe expedition. Royal musicians playedmartial music. At such an auspiciousmoment, Putala Bai, wife of Shivaji appliedthe vermillion mark on his forehead. Shivajisecured his sword and dagger to his waist.He applied sandal wood paste on hisforehead and prostrated full lengthensalutation to Goddess Bhavani. He thenmade his way to Jija Bai. She was sittingwith young Sambhaji on her lap. SeeingShivaji, Jija Bai stood up to receive herson’s loving greetings. Shivaji touched herfeet. “May you be successful, son,” themother blessed. Young Sambhaji eyed hisfather with wide-eyed wonder so naturalto a child. The latter’s heart was filledwith love. He lifted his son and tenderlykissed him.

“Young one, I am going to Surat. Don’ttry to displease your grand-mother,otherwise she will leave you alone and runoff to Pratapgarh,” Shivaji joked gleefully.

Soon they were off to Surat. “Har HarMahadev”, the sound struck terror in theears of Muslims. They got frightened andcame to see. One of them asked, “Whoare you ? Where are you going ?”

“We are a marriage party,” replied Bahirjiand said to other, “Say, ‘Har Har Mahadev’.”Others responded and the party wentahead.

Shivaji and his Mavalis moved aheadwithout any hindrance. They grew bolderas they drew closer to Surat. But, thepeople around were obviously frightened.

When the Mavalis reached the outskirts ofSurat they were stopped by the guards.“Where are you going ?” asked the guardcommander. “We are the soldiers ofAurangazeb Badshah and are headingtowards Ahmedabad,” replied Bahirji. Theycould not afford to wait for consent orrefusal. They marched ahead. Luckily,the guard was sleepy and chose to allowthem to pass through.

Winter had set in. Nights were pretty cold.The Subhedar of Surat, Inayat Khan, waspulling at his hooka while he rested againsta cushion. A decanter filled with wine wasby his side. His eyes were red withintoxication. The stains of music that filledthe night air came to a sudden stop.Inayat Khan had to be helped to hisresidence as he was fully drunk !

The next morning the tides were high andthe waves roared as they tossed and fell.And on the other side, the Mavalis raisedtheir martial slogan, “Har Har Mahadev”.So deafening was it that the whole of Suratwoke up in horror ! Shouts of ‘Ya Allah !Ya Khuda !’ were frequently heard all overSurat. Inayat Khan got up from his deepslumber. He came out and shouted in anger,“ Why are you shouting ?”

“That Maratha King Shivaji has come !”People reported trembling. Even theEnglish, Dutch and Arabs joined in.

“Stop it. Be quiet. He is not Shiva. I aminformed that a Mughal regiment is marchingtowards Ahmedabad to assist MahabatKhan,” Inayat Khan tried to pacify them.“If he is Shiva, we will deal with him !” hecontinued.


The poor chaps, who went to Subhedarwith some hopes, returned indisappointment blaming their luck.

Shivaji had already issued order to raid therich localities of Surat. Meanwhile, he hadsent his ambassador to Inayat Khan.Inayat Khan became visibly upset.Nevertheless, he managed to keep his faceexpressionless and read the letter whichwas brought in by the ambassador.

“Maharaj is waiting near Burhanpur border.It is your business to meet him and fix theamount of tribute. Give it all in one lumpsum. If not, Surat will cease to be Surat.Mind well. You will be responsible for theconsequences !” So the letter said.

The ambassador watched the expressionson the face of Inayat Khan while the latterwas reading the letter. There was silenceeverywhere. Inayat Khan’s restlessnesswas obvious. But he restrained himselfand stroked his beard. In a subdued tonehe spoke to the ambassador : “Why isyour king so annoyed ? We shall have afeast of dance and arrange music for him !Our court dancer will go and invite the kingpersonally ! We shall then receive your kingand discuss the tribute. Convey thismessage of ours to your king.” Theambassador turned back and Inayat Khansmiled cunningly.

Inayat Khan then sent a message toTabassum, the court dancer. She arrivedwithin a short time and saluted him. InayatKhan kept staring at her for sometime andthen said, seriously, “Tabassum, you aregoing to the most important night of yourlife. The greatness of Mughal Empire andmy destiny rest on your head. If anything

is found wanting in you, you will have topay the penalty.”

“Khan Sahib, I have always obeyed yourcommands. I would not dream of refusinganything you want. Why do you doubt menow ?” she replied. This made InayatKhan all the more happy. He said, “Listen,the Mughal Empire looks forward to tonight’ssuccess. If it is successful, we shall behighly honoured by Badshah. In turn, youwill also be honoured with some title.”

“But, Khan Sahib, you have not told meanything. You have not explained what isto be done tonight.” She was obviouslyconfused. Inayat Khan kept on looking ather beautiful face for several moments. Hewas satisfied at her innocence. He furtivelylooked here and there and in a hushed voicetold her : “Tabassum, that Shiva ofMarathas has come here. It is yourresponsibility to invite him. Go to his camppersonally. Use all your charms and gethim here tonight. When he is fully drunkpoison his drinks. Then there will be nosign of Shiva left tomorrow morning !” Andhe laughed loudly. His laughter becameloud and more dangerous. Tabassum wasfrightened at the mere mention of the word‘poison’ . She was sweating all over.

Tabassum returned to her mansion. Asusual, her parrot uttered the words ofwelcome, but she was not in a mood tolook at it. As she went to bed, she wenton thinking, staring hard at the ceiling.

Suddenly she shot up with a mild whistleindicating that an idea had flashed throughher. She was very pleased with herself,and she hummed a little tune.


The sun sank in the west. A reddish glowtinged the western sky, while a few cloudscaught up the glow of the setting sun.The traffic in the streets of Surat hurriedto a close. Tabassum dressed herselfexquisitely and waited for the palanquin.The palanquin came at the specified timeand she set out for her destination. Withinwhat seemed a few moments, the palanquinstood before the tent of Maharaj. Theguards sought Maharaj’s permission toenter. Maharaj asked the guards to sendthe guest in. Tabassum walked into thetent of Maharaj, paid her respects and helda tray covered with Muslin before Maharaj,standing at some distance. Shivaji lookedat her very closely and, then, in a verylow voice told her to take a seat. But shecontinued to stand.

“Maharaj, unless you accept this present Ishall not be able to sit, “ said Tabassum.Shivaji admired her and removed the clothover the silver tray. There were a garlandof diamonds and a chain of pearls in thetray. Maharaj took the first in his handbut returned it to the tray. He rememberedhis daughter, Sakhu Bai when he looked ather grace and charm. He kept on gazingat her for sometime. She sat with extrememodesty.

“Maharaj, I am a singer and a dancer atInayat Khan’s court. The Khan has sentme to invite you as his guest for theprogramme tonight,” spoke Tabassum softlyand kept still for a moment. She stared atMaharaj in an attempt to understand hisexpressions. But Shivaji’s face was blank.She looked around and said, “Maharaj, theconcert to be held tonight is not meant tobe an entertainment. It is for deceit,

treachery ! I am to offer you poison in aglass of wine. That disgracefulresponsibility has been forced on me !” Herface became pale.

“You may go ahead with your plan when Icome to attend that concert. You will earna prize for it, perhaps even fame.” Shestared, and Maharaj looked at her. Heobserved the changes in her moods asreflected on her face. Her eyes filledwith tears. She came forward and bentbefore him so that tears from her eyesdropped on the feet of Shivaji. “Raja Saheb,please do not doubt me. My father turnedtraitor. I am innocent for all that. Pleasedo not make me more unhappy bydisbelieving me,” she said. Her charmingface turned pale. Tears ran down hercheeks. But, Shivaji was more surprisedby what she said. He could not understandwhy this Muslim girl had warned him. Theremust be something more than meets theeye. Maharaj stared at her face as if toknow more about her. She proceeded :“Raja Saheb, not a word of what I said isuntrue ! I may bee wearing a Muslim gown,but I am a Hindu. My mind is Hindu. I tellyou this only to protect your life.” Onceagain her eyes filled with tears.

“I can’t understand what you are saying?” Maharaj wondered.

“Raja Saheb, I am the daughter of aMaratha general who left the Marathas andjoined the Mughals. He later on deceivedthe Mughals, as well. Our house was burnt.My mother was killed. I had been broughtup by an old Muslim music teacher.Therefore, I had to accept this professionin which capacity I am asked to offer you


poison ! Raja Sahib, it is my desire towash off the sin of my father, by doing mybit to keep you, the supporter of lakhs ofpeople, alive. I have disclosed everythingto you. Please believe me.” Saying thisshe again fell at his feet.

Shivaji’s eyes took on a faraway expressionand he saw a treacherous person standingbefore his eyes. He was Khandoji Khopde! Once again he looked at her and asked,“What is the name of your father ?”

“Khandoji Khopde,” she replied.

Suddenly, Maharaj’s feelings were stirredto the depths. He patted her on the back.He looked upon her as his own daughter.With great admiration he said, “Really, mydaughter, you are a brave girl. Your fatherdeceived us. And you, his daughter, aretrying to risk your life in order to save mine.Brave girl, I am proud of you.” He removedthe garland of pearls around his neck andgifted it to her. Tabassum looked at him inwonder. She had been standing. Now shequietly bent and once more touched hisfeet. He told her, “Dear girl, get up now,it is getting late. Go to your mansion.”“Maharaj, I shall bring a glass of wine beforeyou during the night. But you should nottouch it. This is my sincere wish. I haveto do all this due to my helpless position.Please forgive me !” Tabassum said.

“My child, tell Khan Sahib that I do notdrink. I am really pleased with you.‘Tabassum’ means smile ! I met you and Iam sure that I shall leave this place with asmile. It is all the grace of the Lord.”

Tabassum sat in her palanquin and reachedher mansion. This time, she did not forget

to listen to her parrot. Time was shortand she had to get ready for the night’sprogramme.

An elegant Shamiana was raised to greetShivaji. The pillars were beautifully carved,with rich rose brocades braiding it. ThinMuslin curtains sealed off one passage. RichKashmir tapestry covered the mattressesand cushions. The Shamiana wasdecorated brilliantly with diamonds, pearlsand rubies. Fragrance of various perfumesfilled the air. A richly decorated carpetwas spread with two cushions on eitherside. The platform was richly carved.Tabassum took her seat at the appointedtime. She was a young girl of abouteighteen. She was clad in a rose-colouredgown, and wore a chain of pearls withmatching ear-rings. She was the verypersonification of beauty and grace.

Musicians took up their instruments andTabassum was attracted by somemovement at the entrance. Inayat Khanrespectfully ushered Shivaji inside. Heindicated a seat for Maharaj. Both of themlooked happy. Maharaj sat along withInayat Khan. Other guests, including someDutch, English and Arabian traders also satat their respective seats. Maharaj wasthe cynosure of all eyes. He lookedhandsome, in superbly tailored, snow-whitegown and head dress with a plume of pearlsabove it. He wore ear-rings, also of pearls.

Tabassum prepared herself for the concertand took her seat. The audience wasserved with essence and roses. Rose-waterwas lavishly sprinkled all over. Tanpurasstruck the opening notes followed by thetabla. Tabassum looked around with a slight


smile. She prayed silently and began therecital with Raag Abhogi Kanada. The nightpassed, as the melodious voice spread anatmosphere of serenity. Maharajappreciated the song. “Wah ! Wah !” hesaid and appreciatively nodded. Tabassumwas delighted and cherished the praises inher heart. Then she switched over to RagJogia which produced a different effect onthe audience as they started swinging theirheads to the tune. Shivaji thoroughlyenjoyed the quality of music she presentedand responded appropriately. But InayatKhan grew restless. He glanced atTabassum immediately after she completedthe recital. Without waiting for a moment,she got up from her seat and brought twoglasses exquisitely fashioned and full ofwine. She handed them to Maharaj andInayat Khan respectively and rushed to herseat. Shivaji kept the glass down in thetray. Inayat Khan looked at him wonder.

“Khan Sahib, you may help yourself withpleasure ! I am on fast today !” Maharajsaid with a sweet voice. “At least tastethese fruits,” Inayat Khan requested in acoaxing voice. Maharaj smiled a bit andsaid, “I am sorry, Khan Sahib, I do not eator drink anything on my days of fasting.Please excuse me !” Once again Maharajexplained in the same sweet tone. InayatKhan grew impatient. The night waspassing along with the sweet music ofTabassum. She was now singing a Thumri,a favourite refrain of separated lovers andit held the entire audience spell-bound.

The concert was over. Betel leaf waspresented to Maharaj as a mark of respect.Inayat Khan walked along with him.

“Khan Sahib, I am really very happy,”exclaimed Maharaj.

“Raja Sahib, your happiness means muchto our city of Surat. I believe ! RajaSahib, my ambassador will come to you fortalks. Let me take your leave now,” saidthe Khan.

Maharaj looked around, bade him good byeand mounted on “Sulakshani” his mare.Kudtoji Gujar, Moropant, Bahirji Naik, HansajiMohite, all followed him. Maharaj came tohis camp, went round the camp andentered his own tent. Then he opened abox in which a Shiva Linga was kept. Heplaced it on his own bed and worshippedit. He then moved out rather impatiently.Bahirji ran towards him. He saluted Maharajand stood close to him.

“What is the news, Bahirji ?” askedMaharaj.

“Our vessels will reach the port today. Wemust plunder Surat today itself and fill themwith the wealth.” So spoke Bahirji.Maharaj went into peals of laughter.

It was morning. There was a traffic jam inthe streets. Of course, the raid was inprogress. The vessels from foreigncountries were told to leave the port. Thepeople of Surat were in a state of tension.There was satisfaction in Shivaji’s camp.Suddenly a young Muslim youth enteredthe camp. Arrogance was writ large onhis countenance. The guard was about toput an end to his life but Moropant cameforward and took the youth to Shivaji. Hesaluted Maharaj and stared at him. Hesaid, “Raja Sahib, I have come here as anambassador of Inayat Khan.”


“Read this letter, Pant,” Shivaji toldMoropant who stood close by. Moropantwent on reading : “Raja Sahib, our Badshahwill never forgive you. Mind you, and returnall the wealth that you have lootedimmediately. Quit Surat. If you do this,you will get the tribute. Otherwise, youshall have to face Inayat Khan who willtake it back by force !”

Moropant read the letter. The so-calledambassador kept staring at Maharaj withblood-shot eyes. Maharaj could nottolerate the text of the letter and saidwith fury, “Look here, youngman, I am not a woman tobe frightened of fighting.We are ready to face theconsequences. Go andinform your Khan Sahib.”Maharaj got up from his seatand stepped forward. Theambassador also wentahead and said, “RajaSahib, there is no need tobe angry ! I wish to talk toyou, but it has to be donein private.” Said theambassador with a glint ofevil in his eyes.

“All right,” Said Maharaj and kept walking.Moropant and others understood whatShivaji wanted. So they followed him ata respectable distance.

Suddenly, the so-called ambassador whoalso followed Maharaj took out a daggerand raised his hand to attack Maharaj. But,the offending hand was removed in its veryattempt by one stroke from the blade ofBahirji’s sword. The ambassador collapsed

on Maharaj. A Ramoshi guard did not waitfor a minute. The assassin was immediatelyput to an end. The news of the attempton Shivaji’s life spread like wild firethroughout the Maratha camp. TheMarathas were furious. They killed all theMuslim captives in their camp. Even thoughMaharaj himself tried to maintain calm,Marathas were not prepared to listen tohim. Maharaj knew pretty well that it wasvery difficult to control the Marathas. Heordered his general, “General continue theraid. Don’t hesitate to lay your hands on

gold, silver, ornaments, diamonds, whateveryou get, deposit it in treasury. On nocondition should harm befall the poorpeople. Do not touch the ladies.”

Surat was in ruins. The booty wasenormous. The treasure was taken to thecamp. Under the supervision of Moropant,the costly items were securely packed.Shivaji looked at it with satisfaction. Hethought about the various ways of makinguse of the treasure. Suddenly his eyes


fell on the jingling anklets used by dancers.It was made of silver and studded withcostly diamonds. He remembered Tabassumimmediately. He took it in his hand andsaid, “Pant, debit this pair of anklets tomy personal account.”

Ships were getting loaded with wealth.Guards were posted to protect them. Shipsset out on their voyage towards Marathaports. The streets wore a look of utterdesolation. The city, once proud of itswealth, was now in ruins. It was gettingdarker and darker. Maharaj stood outsidethe camp and watched the frail figure of agirl drawing near. Maharaj recognised her.“Tabassum, I had just now rememberedyou. I offer you this pair of anklets, forwhat you have done. I feel proud to honouryou in this way.”

Maharaj took them out and gave them toher. She touched her head with them,bent submissively and touched his feet.She started weeping.

“Maharaj, please make use of this property,which you have offered me, for the sakeof your kingdom. I request only one thingof you, please give me refuge. I do notwish to remain here even for a moment.Relieve me from this hell. Please, Maharaj.”She pleaded in all helpless.

Maharaj lifted her up and told Moropant,“Pant, I am going to change the name ofthis girl. Please suggest a suitable namefor her.”

“Tulasi,” Pant looked at her and suggested.She looked down. “It’s really a fine name.Tulsi, come along with us. I charge youwith the responsibility of singing bhajans

to my mother. My son, Shambhu, will alsoenjoy your songs. The air will be filledwith the sound of your jingling anklets.”

Maharaj looked glad.

Shivaji laughed merrily. The rest followedsuit. Tabassum (Tulasi) also joined in.Suddenly, Maharaj seemed to recollectsomething. He said, “Pant, do youremember that there is a bastion behindthe summit Padmavati on our fort of Raigarh? Let the bastion be known as Tulasibastion henceforth.”

“Your order, Maharaj,” Pant obedientlylooked at Maharaj. So did Tabassum. Earlynext morning, Maharaj began his returnjourney to the accompaniment of music.Mavalis accompanied him. A young ‘boy’of about eighteen followed Maharaj on ahorseback just behind him. Maharaj badefarewell to Surat and set out for Rajgarh.


THERE was chaos in the City ofSurat. The streets were full ofpeople running away to save their

lives. Women and children ran leaving theirhouses open. Occasionally a Moghulhorseman sped past on his horse. Peoplestepped aside to avoid the hoofs of thehorses. Children cried in bewilderedconfusion. Rich men, while trying to escapein palanquin, were shouting to get the waycleared, ordering the palanquin-bearers tohurry up.

Whatever wealth they could take along,the people carried while escaping along withtheir families. Everyone was franticallytrying to leave Surat. The air was thickwith rumours. Through all the din only onerefrain was audible :

“Shivaji has come ! Shivaji has come !”

The Mughal commander-in-chief at Surat,Inayat Khan, was so frightened that heran to take refuge in the Fort of Suratalong with his one thousand Mughalcavaliers. The Fort of Surat was situatedwithin the City itself. They were trying toenter the gate of the fort. Instead ofprotecting the city, the commander-in-chiefwas trying to hide himself ! Shivaji hadadvanced towards Surat but he was stillaway from the city. Five thousand cavalrymen of the Marathas surrounded the citywaiting for his final order. Maharaj hadsent word of stipulation through hisambassador to Inayat Khan : “Give us a

tribute worth Rupees One crore, and weshall return without doing any harm to yourmen and materials. We shall not even enterthe City of Surat.”

Maharaj was demanding a tribute. He hadinformed the commander-in-chief in veryclear terms. He said, “You give us thetribute. We are demanding it. Yourcommander, Shaishta Kha,, looted Poonaand the surrounding areas continuouslyfor three years, that has cost us crores ofrupees. He destroyed villages, plunderedand ruined them. We are demanding onlya part of that compensation. We knowthat you are a big Subhedar of the Mughals.It is not at all difficult for you to give usjust a crore of rupees. There are so manybusinessmen in Surat having plenty ofmoney. Just one among them - anyone -could give us this paltry amount of onecrore. If you do not meet our demand,necessary action will have to be taken toget what we ask for.”

Inayat Khan himself was a very rich manwho had acquired riches by fraudulentmeans. He flatly refused to pay the tributeto Shivaji. He not only refused to pay anytribute but like a coward avoided a directconfrontation with Shivaji. There wasneither honesty nor courage in this man toentitle him to any respect.

Shivaji at last gave his orders. Marathacavalry entered Surat. Bahirji Naik wasahead of them all. Big businessmen were

LEST SOMEONE SHOULD TAKE

ADVANTAGE OF YOU


the first targets of the attack. Along withthe thumping of horse hoofs, desperatecries were heard from all sides. Weeping,shouting, wailing - all these filled the air inthe City of Surat.

She was all alone in the huge bungalow.She sat with all her children nesting closeto her, seeking the protective warmth ofher physical presence. They were all sofrightened. The building was beautiful andspacious. There were huge mirrors,cupboards, chandeliers, costly apparel, richutensils, curtains and many such luxuryitems ! The drawing room was decoratedexclusively in Western style. Among themany photos that adorned the walls was ahuge portrait of the crucified Christ. Thelady’s fair complexion indicated that shehailed from the West. She was actuallyfrom Holland. Her husband was a very richman. He earned enormous wealth inbusiness and he spent a lot for the poorpeople of Surat. He was very kind andpopular as a philanthropist. He died atSurat leaving behind his wife and childrento live in that palatial building.

When Shivaji invaded Surat, there wasmuch hue and cry. The whole of Suratwas overcome with fear. All the peoplewere frightened, and most of them left thecity for safer regions. Many crossed theriver Tapti. But, how could that widowwho had come from a foreign countryescape, with her small children ? How couldshe abandon the wealth ? She did notknow what to do ! Her bungalow was inSurat, but it was on the outskirts. In utterconsternation she imagined all sorts ofthings - that her house would be set onfire, her children killed by the merciless

soldiers raiding the city. There was noone to comfort her for a moment.

She gathered her children together and heldthem in a close embrace. She decided toface any consequence. She looked againand again at the portrait of Lord Jesus andwept silently.

Now the sound of hoofs was getting closerand closer. Her heart throbbed violently.She looked up. The horses wereapproaching. She stared out of the houseand she saw about ten horsemen. Theywere all armed with naked swords. Nowshe was sure that death was at hand. Thehorsemen were certainly coming to herbungalow. She could see everything clearlyaround her. Her children clung to her evermore closely. She sobbed aloud and closedher eyes. The horsemen had stopped nearher bungalow. The sound of hoofs ceased.She imagined her head severed from herbody by the sword of one of the horsemen.A minute passed……. Then two.. three..four.. six.. ten.. twenty-five! But nothinghappened. She did not hear anything. Thesuspense added to her anxiety. It seemedshe had nothing to do but await death.But nothing happened. She gatheredstrength and opened her eyes and lookedaround. The Maratha horsemen werestanding near the gate of her courtyard.She wondered what they were up to.Mustering sufficient courage, she got upslowly from her seat and walked up to thedoor. The horsemen were out therestanding still. Somehow, she movedtowards them. But they seemed to havenothing to do with her. She wiped hertears and asked them in broken Hindustani,“Why do you stay outside ? I thought you


were going to loot my house, set it on fireand kill me !”

The Maratha horsemen heard her words.They smiled under their moustaches. Intheir rough, Maratha-styled Hindustani theyreplied : “Madam, it will not happen. Weknow that there is great wealth in thishouse but there is no male member here.You are a lonely lady with little children.Our Maharaj knows this. That is why hehas sent us to guard this house lestsomeone should take undue advantage ofyour loneliness and destroy your things.”

“What did you say? Is it true that youhave been sent by Shivaji?” asked thelady eagerly.

“Yes, Madam, don’t be afraid. Nobody willtouch you or your property. We are theservants of Shivaji.”

She was struck by the nobility of Shivaji’snature, and happiness, gratitude, andrespect filled her bosom. Her lips trembledand her eyes filled with grateful tears. Sheran back to her children and held themcloser, reassuring them as the benevolentfigure of the Saviour smiled on them fromits eminence, shedding His light and grace.

The Lull

SHIVAJI the Great was, in thisway, fast approaching the firstcrisis of his career. The reason why

the Bijapur authorities had so helplesslylooked on, while Shivaji’s power was everon the increase was to be found in theinternal quarrels that broke out at thecapital between the different factions afterMahomed Adil Shah’s death in 1656 andthe Mughal policy of aggression which wasbeing pursued at this time against bothBijapur and Golkonda, under PrinceAurangzeb, now Viceroy of the Deccan forthe second time. Soon after came thenews that Shah Jehan was seriously ill andAurangzeb had to withdraw the Imperialarmy and march to Delhi to fight Dara.

The Swoop on Junnar

and Ahmednagar

When Aurangzeb invaded Bijapur, Shivajithe Great with his usual astuteness offeredto acknowledge him overlord of the Deccanand asked to be confirmed in hispossessions which, he represented, he hadseized on account of their mismanagementby the Bijapur State. Each equally wantedto take advantage of the other againsttheir common enemy, Bijapur. As soon,however, as the Mughal army waswithdrawn, Shivaji the Great suddenly

THE CRESCENDOExtract from The Rise

and Fall of the MarathaEmpire by R.V.NADARNI


raided Junnar and Ahmednagar andcaptured a big treasure. He carried awaya thousand good cavalry mounts whichwere at once utilised in raising his cavalryunder the control of Netaji Palkar. On thereturn of Aurangzeb he again sent anembassy asking for pardon for the pastraids and suggesting that he would holdKonkan in fief to Delhi to fight Dara.

The immense Spoil

Having recovered from Aurangzeb’s recentattack, the Bijapur Government resolvedby one supreme effort to settle theiraccount with Shivaji the Great who haddefied them for so many years. During themonsoon of 1659 preparations were pushedforward at Bijapur with feverish activity,and a formidable army fully equipped waslaunched against the rebel under AfzalKhan, an experienced soldier and a manknown for personal strength and courage.On his part, the Great captain too was notidle. More Trimbak Pingle, a young Brahminofficer, Had been ordered to fortify thefamous Par Pass of Javli and thus secure itat any cost and More Pingle did his workwell, finishing the same in 1656. Suffice itto say that the crisis called forth all theresourcefulness, all the daring and courage,all the skill and mastery of details, all thecunning and foresight of the heroic soul,Shivaji the indomitable, in making his plansto face this terrible menace. In war,annihilation of the enemy forces is theobjective, not the winning and keeping ofprovinces. So well did this “born strategist”understand this principle and so thoroughlydid he draw his net that the entiremagnificent army was before long levelledto the dust. “That day the Deckhan

vultures gorged their fill. Seldom has alarge force been so completely anddramatically destroyed with so little lossto the attacking party. In the Marathacamp, songs, feasting, and rejoicingresounded all night. Silver and goldennecklaces, robes of honour, and presentsof money were given to those who haddistinguished themselves in the fight or hadreceived wounds and to the relatives ofthe fallen. The spoil was immense. Thisrout of the Bijapur army and thecapitulation of war with Kamalgad andother forts under its charge completed thebreakdown of the power of Bijapur in thecentral Deccan and increasedcorrespondingly the prestige of the greatShivaji.

Shivaji Takes the Offensive

After the defeat of Afzal Khan’s army,Shivaji the Great decided to take theoffensive and teach his enemies a lessonthat would not be easily forgotten. Hepossessed now a well organised army whichwas more than a match for any force thatmay be sent against it. If he remainedinactive, that would surely invite perhapsa stronger expedition against him. On theother hand the advantage of a treaty couldbe secured without any difficulty bymarching straight upon Bijapur while yetthe city was panic-stricken. He could atleast, get himself confirmed in his lateconquests. He, therefore, laid his planswith great speed and secrecy and madeup his mind to carry the war into theenemy’s country.

He made his dispositions with a strategicallyskill worthy of a great military leader. He


kept one army to guard the Poona district,he detached another to counter any flankingmovement from the Sawants of SawantWadi or the Siddi of janjira, both of whomhad, on the approach of Afzal Khan,renounced their allegiance to him ; hehimself marched southwards at the headof a third. On reaching Kolhapur district,he seized the great fortress of Panhala,the key to the southern Maratha country.Vishalgad, Rangana, and Pavangad werethen taken. A tardy attempt of RustumZaman to oppose the advance of theMarathas was beaten back and his smallcavalry force was driven in headlongconfusion across Krishna. The Marathasfollowed up their initial success byadvancing up to the gates of Bijapur,plundering as they went and rapidlyretreating with their booty.

Siddi and the Second Thermopylae

When the Bijapur government recoveredfrom the effects of the first shock of thesudden Maratha raid, they sent a large armyunder a famous Abyssinian general, SiddiJohar. Unable to face such a force in theopen field, Shivaji the Great left Netajipalkar with his cavalry division to harassthe enemy in the open country and himselffell back on Panhala.

Netaji Palkar, even though successful inthe beginning, was driven back by theexasperated Bijapuris. During the wholerainy season of 1660 he was shut up inthe fort and was forced to make his choicebetween surrendering the fort or trickingthe enemy once again. He decided to trythe second course. Negotiations wereopened with Siddi, at which he pretended

to give up the fort the next day, andconsequently when the vigilance wasrelaxed, that same night he slipped with afew followers under cover of rain anddarkness through their outposts. The birdhad flown. Furious at being thus deceived,the Bijapur cavalry under Fazal MahomedKhan (Afzal Khan’s son) was sent in hotpursuit. The Marathas were caught upsome six miles from Vishalgad, where theywould be safe, once they got within itswalls. It was on this occasion when thedevoted Baji Prabhu, the Marshal Ney ofShivaji the Great, was fighting a rear guardaction to stop the enemy from pursuingthe main body under the Great King himselfthat a second Thermopylae was enacted.Three bloody assaults were delivered onthe rear-guard but all of them were beatenoff ; the heroic Baji Prabhu with 700 of hisgallant followers fell but not before hismaster reached Vishalgad in safety.

The True Son

His first blow was delivered against Mudholfor past wrongs. He had not forgottenwhat his father wrote to him thirteen yearsbefore, “If you be a true son of mine punishBaji Ghorpade.” Creeping like a tiger for itsprey he rushed to Mudhol at dawn andneither man, woman, nor child was spared.He fired the town after him and withlightning speed retreated to Vishalgad.Internecine feuds paralysed the action ofthe Bijapur court. Suspected by the King,Siddi Joher was driven to rebellion. Thusin the hour of need Bijapur lost the servicesof a good general. Sawant Wadi wasconquered by Shivaji and trouble began tobrew again in Karnatic. Shivaji the Great


at this time brought the Portuguese to theirknees and forced an alliance on them.

Raigad

With his unfailing intuition he realised theimportance of a navy and formed thenucleus of a fleet with which he plunderedthe trading vessels bound for Janjira andother ports of Bijapur. These eventsinduced the Bijapur court to come to termswith him. Shivaji the Great wasacknowledged as the ruler of the Deccanas far south as Kolhapur and of the Konkanas far as Goa, a territory some hundredand fifty miles in length and from fifty to ahundred miles in breadth. Recognising theimportance of his Konkan kingdom the kingdecided about this time make Raigad hiscapital. Raigad was not so suitable.Hereafter his troops deposited at this moreconvenient place their booty after theirraids on Surat, Ahmed Nagar, and othertowns. The capital took several years tobuild but the main defences werecompleted by 1664.

The Hero of Deccan and his DoughtyCompanions

During the cold season of 1662 the greatcavalry leader Netaji Palkar pillaged theMughal territory up to the very walls ofAurangabad spreading terror all around thetaking vast quantities of plunder. It wasclear that the troops on the spot couldnot cope with the Marathas and theEmperor furious at this open defiance ofhis authority, sent his uncle Shaishta Khan,with an immense army to teach Shivaji theGreat a lesson. Aurangzeb did not have aproper appreciation of the situation.Evidently he had not reckoned with the

masterful personality of the Hero of theDeccan or his doughty companions and thepatriotic spirit that animated them. Earlyin 1663 the whole force moved in thedirection of Poona without any premotionof the coming misfortunes. The Marathasfollowed their guerilla tactics, hanging onits flanks, plundering the baggage andcutting off stragglers. They also destroyedthe grain and fodder in the country roundPoona and Chakan, thus removing all tracesof human habitation.

Firangoji Narsala

Harassed and weary, the Imperial armyreached Poona and occupied it. It wastheir intention to rest here for the rainyseason and then begin the campaign inright earnest. But the ardour of theImperialists was damped at the very outsetby the determined resistance that wasoffered by the brave little garrison of thesmall fort of Chakan. For nearly threemonths the besiegers were unable to takethe fort in spite of their superior strengthand even when for want of reinforcementsthe town surrendered at discretion, it wasnot until brave killedar. Firangoji Narsala,who had excited the sincere admiration ofShaishta Khan by his dogged resistance,was pressed to enter the Imperial serviceon high pay. But Firangoji remained trueto the cause of his master and was allowedto go back to Shivaji with his army. Thisgave the chagrined Shaishta Khan someidea as to what the reduction of otherMaratha strongholds meant to him. Butworse was to follow.


The Prowler at Night

A mighty blow was delivered at the Moghuls- “a blow whose cleverness of design,neatness of execution and completenessof success”, Sarkar says, “created in theMughal court and camp as much terror ofhis prowess as his coup against Afzal Khanhad done among the Bijapuris.” In spite ofthe great precaution taken by him, Shivajithe Great found means to evade hisregulations and a surprise night attack onLal Mahal (Shaishta Khan’s Poona residencefor the time being) was planned from hisretreat at Sinhagad and was executed withgreat daring. The panic-stricken general

escaped only by leaping out of a window,but not before a Maratha slashed at hishand on the window sill and cut off threeof his fingers. Wild was the joy of theMarathas when their beloved King returnedsafe to his stronghold. At dawn a party ofMuslim cavalry which, in hopes ofintercepting the attackers, ventured toonear Raigad, was routed with great lossby means of the fire of a concealed battery.This was even worse. Shivaji’s prestige

as an incarnation of Satan against whoseentrance no place was considered to beproof, rose very high. The whole countrytalked of the superhuman feat withastonishment and terror, while at theImperial court there was bitter humiliationand sorrow at the disaster to the “premierpeer” of the empire and maternal uncle ofthe emperor. The dispirited Shaishta Khanwas recalled and as a mark of Aurangzeb’sdispleasure was transferred to the penalprovince of Bengal without being allowedeven to see the emperor on his way to hisnew charge. Prince Muazzam was sent torelieve him and the Khan left Deccan forgood in the middle of January 1664.

Everywhere and for

Every Emergency

Raja Jaswant Singh remained as the Prince’sdeputy, though he was suspected ofcorruption and treason. Shivaji the Great,however, continued as successful as ever.“he assaulted the foe on dark nights,seized difficult passes and fired jungles fullof trees.” He struck coins in defiance ofthe Mughal supremacy. His navy seizedparts on the coast of Gujarat and to thehorror of the devout emperor cut off pilgrimup to ransom. Ahmednagar was plunderedand even Surat was raided early in 1664.As one of the English factors wrote, “Heseemed to be everywhere and preparedfor every emergency.”

The Sack of Surat

The sack of Surat was a feat of evengreater audacity than that Shivaji the Greatever displayed before. Only nine daysbefore Shivaji was in the neighbourhood of


Bassein but making a forced march by aroundabout route, he travelled with suchrapidity and secrecy that he arrived atSurat at eleven o’clock in the morning ofWednesday, the 6th of January, 1664, andpitched his tent in a garden just outsidethe eastern gate. The night before, theRaja had sent messengers with a letterdirecting the governor and three of themost prominent merchants to come to himpersonally and settle the terms or the whole

town would be pillaged and burnt. As noanswer was given to his demand, theMaratha horsemen immediately on theirarrival entered the deserted city and madegood their threat. Thousands of houseswere burnt and two thirds of the town wasdestroyed. The looting was carried on forfour full days and nights and yielded abouta crore of rupees. The Marathas “scornedto carry away anything but gold, silver,pearls, diamonds and such precious ware.”On reaching Surat Shivaji the Great publiclyannounced that he had not come to doany personal injury to the English or othermerchants but to take revenge onAurangzeb for having invaded his country.

But money was his real object and notcruelty to the citizens and this secured tohis heart’s content, he retreated by rapidmarches to Konkan. Thus did the masterstrategist make Aurangzeb pay dearly forShaishta Khan’s seizure of Poona.

Shivaji the Great then sailed to the Konkanand ravaged the coast towns, exactingfrom the English factory at Karwar anindemnity of one hundred and twelve

pounds.

Diler Khan and Jai Singh

Gradually the Mughals now led byDiler Khan and Jai Singh, two of theablest captains, began to prevail. Theveteran Jai Singh did not enter uponhis task with a light heart but madehis preparations with suchthoroughness and farsightedness thatnot even the minutest detail wasneglected. He opened the campaignwith vigour and the siege ofPurandhar was pressed on with

determination. Purandhar was nowdoomed, invested as it was by a forcewhich was at least ten times that of thegarrison and which was led by Diler Khanwith dogged determination. During theincessant fighting which lasted for twomonths, the Maratha ranks were thinnedconsiderably. Early in the siege they alsolost their gallant captain Murar Baji Prabhu,who attempted to reach Diler Khan byclimbing the hill, by making a sortie with700 selected men. In the severe hand-to-hand fight, the Mavalis slew more than700 Pathans and Murar Baji indeedsucceeded in facing Diler. The Khan, movedby his matchless courage called upon him


to desist and promised him his fief and ahigh post under him. But Murar indignantlyspurned the offer and was on the point ofstriking at Diler when the latter shot himdown with an arrow. Thus died another ofShivaji’s trusted lieutenants, who neverthought any sacrifice too great for thecause of independence.Three hundred Mavalis fellwith their worthy captainand the rest retreated tothe fort, undismayed bytheir leader’s fall and saying,“What though one man,Murar Baji, is dead ? Weare as brave as he and weshall fight with the samecourage !” The miserableremnant of the garrisoncontinued the unequalcontest but at last theadvantage of sheer numbers began to telland Shivaji the Great found himself forcedto rely upon diplomacy rather than uponthe doubtful chances of a protracted warin which he stood to gain nothing and tolose everything.

The Ordeal at Agra

He saw that it was necessary for him to lielow for the time being and trust to futureevents for the fulfillment of his cherishedambition. Out of his 32 forts in Deccan 20were to be surrendered, and he was toassume the position of a Munsabadar ofthe Mughal Emperor. On these terms trucewas made. The campaign against theMughals was thus a failure ; the greatShivaji had yet to go through anotherordeal in which his very life was at stake,- his important ordeal at Agra.

Shivaji the Great extricated himself fromthe dangerous situation by a masterlystroke which for its deep insight into humancharacter and knowledge of humanweakness has scarcely been equalled.Where did the great king learn his principlesof psychology, we wonder ! He and his

son Sambhaji escaped in sweet basketsone day and rode for their lives to Madura.Here he was met by the faithful Tanaji andafter hair-breadth escapes and followingcircuitous routes to evade his pursuers,he returned to Raigad in the guise of aBairagi, to the great relief of his anxiousmother and his devoted subjects.

The news of the king’s romantic escapeand safe return spread like wild fire all overthe country and great indeed were therejoicings of the Marathas on that day.

In his absence all had not gone well. TheMughal garrisons occupied Sinhgad andPurandar and thus by their commandingposition held the districts of Poona, Supeand Chakan, the three districts which henow possessed in Deccan, undersubjection. In Konkan the Marathas had


Raigad and Kalyan districts together withsuch of the ceded forts which the ableMore Pingale had managed to re-occupyafter he was appointed regent during theking’s absence. From 1667 to 1669 Shivajithe Great was occupied with civil andpolitical reforms except the annual raid onJanjira which was every time unsuccessful.

Ready to Take the Field

In 1670 he was ready to take the fieldagain having consolidated whatever of hisformer kingdom was now left to him. Heopened the offensive with great vigour andhad immediate success. Judging rightlythat Aurangzeb would not send anyreinforcements to Prince Muazzam or JaiSingh owing to jealousy of the one andsuspicions of the other, he first of all tookin hand the work of re-capturing the hillforts. Sinhgad, commanding as it did, thePoona district and also because Queen JijaBai considered it a disgrace to allow theMuslims to be in possession of it, was thefirst to be re-taken. This rather dangerousundertaking could be seen through onlywith devotion and self-sacrifice of TanajiMalusare and his brother Suryaji.

Died with his Face to the Foe

Tanaji the brave left with 1,000 picked menand as Shivaji afterwards lamented, thefort was captured but the lion was lost.When three hundred men succeededescalading the walls at an obscure spot,Tanaji sounded the advance but in themortal combat that followed, both Tanajiand Udai Bhanu, the redoubtable Rajputcommander of the fort, fell. The leaderless

Marathas were on the point of falling backon their ladders but Suryaji taunted themas cowards and cut off the ropes. Stungto the quick by the taunt, the Marathasrallied and raising their battle cry of ‘HarHar Mahadev’, charged furiously and at lastthe fort was won. The garrison consistingof 1,000 Muslims and Rajputs were eitherkilled in the action or taken prisoner. “TanajiMalusare had died, as every right-mindedman would wish to die, with his face tothe foe, in one of the most gallant anddesperate feats of arms of an ageabounding in desperate deeds. Not a greatleader like More Pingale or Netaji Palkar, hewas an honest and devoted soldier,” suchis the verdict of Mr.Rawlinson. One of thegreat Shivaji’s earliest friends, Tanaji hadbeen with his revered comrade-in-armsand leader through thick and thin. WhenShivaji heard of his loss, he was grieveddeeply as if his right hand was cut off.

One by one, the other forts held by theMughals were soon afterwards re-captured, though in many cases thegarrisons offered desperate resistance.Considering that Prince Muazzam did notreceive the much-needed reinforcementsfrom Delhi and having regard to the internalquarrels among the Imperialists, it is nowonder that the Marathas succeeded socompletely in so short a time.


A LION was caught ! Yes, thelion was caught ! Maharaj wasdeceived ! He was caught in a net

! Mirza Raja Jai Singh had promised Shivajithat he would be well looked after at Agraand shall return safely. Not even a hair onhis would be harmed. He promised thatthere would be no foul play !

Maharaj relied on that promise and wentto Agra. But Aurangzeb did not botherabout the promise and arrested ShivajiMaharaj. Fulad Khan’s regiment surroundedMaharaj There was no chance of escape.To try to escape was no better thanembracing death ! Maharaj understood itwell. He was completely helpless ! Hehad been deceived ! He was over eighthundred miles away in the very fortress ofhis foes, along with a handful of his trustedfriends, the commanders of his army.Shivaji was trapped along with his nine-year-old son, Sambhaji.

The colleagues who accompanied him weremost trustworthy and possessed rarecourage. They loved Maharaj. Many ofthem were very young ; some of them wereof middle age ; only one of them was anadolescent. His name was Madari andMehtar was his surname. He was a Muslim,who was loyal to Maharaj. He looked uponMaharaj as his father and Maharajreciprocated his affection.

Madari looked after the needs of ShivajiMaharaj. He took care of Shivaji’s clothes,

his tools. He made his bed, fanned himand at times even massaged his feet. Thiswas the self-assigned job of madari.Madari had become almost a mother to him! So well did he take care of his master.

Maharaj was engrossed in his ownthoughts. The one problem that worriedhim was how to free himself from theclutches of Aurangzeb ? Could he escapeat all ? Or, was he going to die in thisdungeon ? Thus he sat immersed in thoughtall the time as the days slipped by withoutmuch hope.

On a certain day Maharaj got a bright idea! If escape was possible it should be in abig bamboo basket ! It was a brilliant idea.

Maharaj started dwelling on the samethought till it possessed him. What wasto be done ? How was it to be done ?Who should do what and at what time andplace ? All the details were being workedout in his mind. The very idea of escapein this way spelt risk. Once caught, thedire disaster that awaited him wasunthinkable. If he succeeded, the wholeworld would acclaim that as a feat. Bardswould sing his praise. If he failed ? Well…….

Shivaji, however, decided to cast the dicewith calculated caution and meticulousplanning. He uttered the name of GoddessBhavani and set out to execute his firstmove. He explained his plan to all hisfriends, because Maharaj was under arrest

THE TINY MIGHT


in a big tent. Fulad Khan’s soldiers hadsurrounded the tent. Fulad Khan himselfkept prying from time to time. There wasno possibility even of a secret meeting.Countless eyes and ears were alert to foilthe attempts of Maharaj. How could heget into touch with his beloved friends?

The main part of this plan was played byMadari. His job was to massage Shivaji’sfeet, but when Maharaj sat in the basket,Hiroji Pharjand was to take his place, andMadari had to continue massaging the feet

of Hironi. Others were to quit that placeonly after escape of Maharaj. Only twopersons were to remain in the prison camp.They were Hiroji and Madari. They had toleave after all had escaped. That was theplan in outline.

And, according to the plan Maharaj andSambhaji sat in the boxes and left theprison. Hiroji lay on the cot taking theplace of Shivaji Maharaj ! Madari rubbedhis feet. The boxes moved. There wasanxiety in the hearts of the two whoremained behind. Moments moved with

leaden feet. Their mouths were parched,fear possessed them, yet they could notafford to show any sign of fear outwardly.Even the slightest suspicion was sufficientto undo the whole plan ! It was indeed atremendous responsibility ! The boxes werebeing carried past the very jaws of death.Hiroji was lying on the cot and Madaricontinued his duty at his feet. The boxcarrying Maharaj went out of sight alongwith a number of other boxes. All the boxeswere gone.

Other trusted friends alsoescaped equally cleverly. Onlytwo of them remained, Hiroji andMadari. Just imagine, whatwould have happened if they hadbeen identified on the spot andcaptured ? But, the cause ofSwarajya was great, and bothof them, Hiroji and Madari waitedto escape at their own leisure.They told the guards.

“Maharaj has just slept ! Pleasedo not disturb him. Some peoplehave gone to get medicine, but

they have not returned as yet. We areanxious and should like to go and fetchthe medicine ourselves.”

“Go ahead,” replied the guards.

That gave them the chance, and theyescaped. All of them !

They escaped in all direction. It was rainyseason. Rivers were over-flowing. Roadswere slushy, ill maintained and full ofhurdles. They were also being chased overlong distances, more than eight hundredmiles !


Braving all risks and surmounting deadlydangers one by one, all the Marathasescaped and at last reached ‘Raigarh !Maharaj too, reached Raigarh ! Hiroji andMadari also arrived. All were utterlyexhausted yet Maharaj was delighted tosee them. He praised them, seated themby his side and patted them on their backs.He embraced Madari and said with affection:

“My son, what a great achievement !What risks you have taken !”

Really, Madari had suffered too much forhis tender age. Just imagine ! Had he justwinked at the guards when Maharaj wasescaping in the box, what would havehappened ? Madari for his part could havebecome rich, as Aurangzeb would haveoffered him all the wealth he wanted inthe world ! But, the thought of deceit,never, not even once, entered Madari’smind.

Maharaj told Madari.

“MY son, tell me, what I should give you.Come on, ask for something.”

Madari embraced Maharaj’s waist and saidsobbing,

“I don’t want anything, Mahraj ! You makeme your servant when you are enthroned! That’s all, Maharaj !”

And when Maharaj was duly enthroned, toMadari was given the honour of taking careof the golden throne !

AGRA was a veritable cauldron, adry, scalding, burning city,smarting under the sweltering heat

and the howling dust-laden wind thatallowed no respite to the denizens of thetown. The narrow, filthy streets with fliesand famished horses and grumbling peopleand shabby houses belied the fact thatthis was the capital city of the mightyMoghul Emperor, Aurangazeb. Except forthe gleaming Taj, in pure white marble thatstood on the bank of river Jamuna whichmeandered like a thin stream, and thetowering majestic fort, there was nothingto redeem the monotony and drabness ofthe scene.

Emperor Aurangazeb followed a militantpolicy of anti-Hinduism. Though hispredecessors had followed a more humanepolicy, though he himself had Hindu bloodin him, the Emperor was a fanatic whowanted to convert as many as he could tohis faith.

He also struggled to conquer regions inDeccan and to assert his supremacy overthe Marathas who were led by the powerfulShivaji.

When he failed to win Shivaji by militarytactics, he stooped to a sly trick to baghis adversary. He wanted to get Shivajiinto his clutches by fair or foul means.

Aurangazeb directed Raja Jai Singh toextend an invitation to Shivaji to visit theMoghul Court. The Emperor offered his

FREEDOM THROUGH A BASKET


hand of friendship, assured Shivaji of hiswarm regard and affirmed that no dangerwould befall the Maratha Chief.

Aurangazeb sighed in relief when Raja JaiSingh intimated the Emperor that Shivajihad accepted the invitation. The newscame to him as the greatest solace. Hehad till then been worried about thepossibility of Shivaji rejecting the invitation.The tension which gripped him vanished.He felt elated.

He decided to accord a cool reception toShivaji, to seat him among second ratenobles, to disgrace the Maratha by showingutter disregard to etiquettes and commoncourtesies. He arranged for a grand Darbarto dazzle Shivaji with the wealth andgrandeur of the Moghul Court, to exhibitthe might and glory of the Moghul Empire.

Shivaji was shocked at the receptionaccorded to him. He pointed out that hehad been assured of the Emperor’s cordialfeelings, and that it was not worthy of theEmperor to violate his solemn pledges.Aurangazeb merely laughed in derision.

However, Shivaji acted with perfect aplomb,maintained his regal poise, presented thegifts which he had brought and thenwithdrew. He was seething with anger andfury. He realised that he had been trapped,that the invitation was a ruse to lure himinto the Moghul City to be kept under thewatchful eyes of the Emperor.

Shivaji was still wondering whether theEmperor would rectify his mistake andaccord him due recognition when he foundhimself a virtual prisoner. The house inwhich he stayed was surrounded by armed

guards. That was the prelude to morestringent restraints. There was no moreany doubt about the ulterior motives ofthe Emperor. Shivaji was a prisoner, regalprisoner of the Emperor.

The heat and dust of Agra was indeedintolerable for Shivaji and his party. Itwas at variance with the cool, pleasingclimate of the Konkan region.

Still, Shivaji hoped that sane counsel wouldprevail and that the Emperor would releasehim.

But these hopes ebbed out as monthsrolled by without any indication thatfreedom would came soon. Time wasslipping by. He did not know how long hewould have to live in this prison, whetherhe would get away from this filthy place orhe would die a prisoner of the fanaticalEmperor.

He had come to Agra in May, 1666 with hisfollowers. He discussed the situation withhis close associates and valiant warriorswho advised the Maratha Chief to takesome positive action to gain freedom.Shivaji counselled patience and stated thatit would be futile to attempt to escape byfighting against the Moghuls with theirimmense army.

He said that it would be brains, not brawnthat would deliver them from bondage.

By the end of June, Shivaji had a plan whichhe felt would be fool-proof. He analysedthe details of the plan, discussed its salientfeatures with his associates and finalisedthe ingenious scheme which woud allowhim enough room to wriggle out of theclutches of the Emperor.


When Shivaji sought the permission of theEmperor to allow a sizeable number of hisretinue to return to Konkan, Aurangazebwas delighted. With reduced strength,Shivaji would be more firmly tied down inAgra. Aurangazeb gave his approvalimmediately.

Aurangazeb was also plotting for the murderof Shivaji. He decided to send Shivaji alongwith Ram Singh on an expedition againstthe tribesmen of the North-West Frontier.Enroute, a Muslimofficer namedRadandaz Khanwas to murderShivaji.

Now that only afew confidants ofShivaji stayedback, theEmperor felt thathe would have aneasy task ofeliminating Shivajiby clandestinemeans.

When Aurangazebreceived news of the indisposition ofShivaji, he shouted in anger. He hadalready laid out his plan for packing offShivaji with the party of Ram Singh so asto facilitate the murder by Radandaz Khan.He raged like a tiger baulked of its prey.

The Emperor did not want Shivaji to die inAgra. It would give room for gossips whichwould tarnish his name. He was interestedin causing Shivaji’s death by surreptitiousmeans so that none would suspect him forthe tragic death.

He posed as if he was worried aboutShivaji’s health. He readily agreed whenShivaji’s associates asked for permissionto send out sweet baskets daily fordistribution among Brahmins. He, however,instructed the guards to keep close watchover the items carried in the baskets.

In the beginning, the baskets werethoroughly inspected. The guards probedand dug into each basket, assuring

themselves that the baskets containednothing suspicious.

The vigour and zest of the examinationcontinued for a week. Shivaji’s condition,his associates told the guards, was causinganxiety. The sentries who caught a glimpseof Shivaji also realised that he had becomefamished and weak. His wiry frame hadbecome thinner due to constant worry andlack of exercise.


The dispatch of sweet baskets continuedunabated. The inspection slowly lost itskeenness. It became cursory and casual.The sentries could not understand howdistribution of sweets could save a mansuffering from serious ailment. Theylaughed in derision when the baskets ofsweets continued to flow out in largernumbers. They wondered at the ignoranceof the Kafirs.

The sentries had got so accustomed tothe baskets that they stopped even casualinspection. Shivaji was just waiting forsuch an opportunity.

He hid in a basket and was carried outalong with several baskets of sweets.Another basket carried his son. They weresafely transported to a spot outside theramparts of the city. Shivaji’s closeconfidants were waiting for his arrival.

Shivaji shaved off his beard and moustache,changed into the robes of a Sannyasi androde off towards the North. This was ashrewd move. Once the Emperor came toknow of the escape, he would naturallypresume that Shivaji and his men had madea dash for the South.

In order to delay discovery of Shivaji’sescape, one of his close friends, HirojiFarzand, lay on the bed, wearing Shivaji’ssignet ring. He was about the same buildas Shivaji. The sentries who saw him, lyingin bed, caught sight of the signet ring andbelieved that it was Shivaji.

Early next day, Hiroji came out, told thesentries that Shivaji was seriously ill andwas not to be disturbed under anycircumstances. He then walked off, with

a wild grin, to join his leader. By the timethe sentries noticed that the prisoner hadescaped, fourteen hours had elapsed. TheEmperor ordered a search. But, theEmperor’s soldiers never guessed the paththat Shivaji had followed. They dashedtowards the South, scanned all thehighways, imposed road-blocks, andarrested suspicious characters forinterrogation.

But, Shivaji had foreseen the naturalreaction of the Emperor’s men andchartered a path through Mathura,Allahabad, Bundel Khand, Gondwana andGolkonda.

When he returned to Rajgad on 12September, 1666 he was given a rousingreception. The people flocked in thousandsall along the route to get a glimpse of him.They offered prayers, thanking the Almightyfor Shivaji’s safe return.

Was it basket that led Shivaji from fettersto liberty?


SHIVAJI passed through thewestern gate of the City of Agraand crossed the river in a boat

without being questioned by anyone.When they reached the bank Shivaji tookout a handful of coins and giving it to theboatman told him to go and inform theEmperor that he had carried Shivaji andhis son across the Jumna. This was notan act of wild bravado. Shivaji was anxiousto publicise the fact that he was travellingwestwards.There was a purpose behind it.

Hurrying along the road to Mathura, Shivajiovertook the servants whom he had sentwith horses as an offering to the KrishnaTemple. The whole party now mounted onhorseback galloped all night till they reachedMathura the following morning. Mathura isfamous for its temples dedicated to thecult of Krishna. Round most of the templesare monasteries, seminaries and lodginghouses for pilgrims. Wide, cobbledcourtyards surrounded the cells of monks.There were pools of still dark water coveredwith rose petals ; heavy pylons carved withfigures of gods and men and animals. Underthe archways and through the narrowdoorways there passed an endless streamof worshippers, priests with shaven headsin robes of yellow or scarlet silk, studentsor novices in simple white, princesses incurtained palanquins and beggars inclamant hordes. At dawn all the multitudesof the faithful move towards the river,whose waters lap the steps of the Krishna

temple, and there, as the first light gleams,they perform the ritual of sun-worship,lifting handfuls of water, and scattering thesun-reflecting drops before them with theprayer, “Glory of the Sun, enlighten myunderstanding.” Mingling unobtrusively withthese crowds of pre-occupied worshippers,the fugitives from Agra attracted noattention. In the cell of a friendly brahminnamed Kashi, Shivaji and his companionschanged their clothes. Shivaji shaved hishead, cut off his moustache and beard,smeared his face with ashes and put onthe yellow robe of a religious mendicant.At this waist was a begging bowl and inthe hand a pilgrim’s bamboo staff. Hiscompanions, too, had dressed themselvesas priests and wandering friars. In Indiathis has often been a favourite disguise.

Shivaji had to leave his son behind. Hewas worn out by the long ride through thenight. The Brahmin, Kashi, offered to hidethe lad in his own cell. He dressed him inBrahmin attire and gave out that he washis own son come to visit him. So Shivajiand has companions set out once on theirtravels.

They were hundreds of miles from theMaratha country. As soon as the alarmwas given, the Imperial courtiers would begalloping down the great roads, warningall local authorities to be on the lookoutfor the fugitives. Now since Shivaji hadsent horses westward and had apparentlyfollowed them himself, judging from the

THE TEST OF KINSHIPKINCAID


boatman’s report the government wouldnaturally assume that he was making adash for the Maratha country by the directroute south-west through Khandesh andGujarat. So Shivaji doubled back on histracks and raced eastwards, risking theimmediate danger of running into the armsof his pursuers.

In every town and village the alarm hadbeen sounded, and rewards offered forShivaji’s capture, along with threatsuttered against those that helped him. Inone village he was actually arrested onsuspicion and brought before the policeinspector of the village, who put himthrough a grueling cross-examinationextending far into the night. Towardsmidnight Shivaji confessed his identity, butjudging the inspector’s character with hisusual acumen he offered him some jewelsas the price of his freedom. The inspectoraccepted the bribe and let Shivaji go. Itwas a lesson that he must now move withthe utmost care, and so he chose to travelonly at night and alone, his companionstravelling by different routes.

At the time a Brahmin named Nabhahappened to be studying at Benares underone of the Chief Priests. He had of latebecome dissatisfied. He complained thathis preceptors made his work too long andkept him always short of food. He wouldhave welcomed an opportunity of followingsome other occupation. One morning,before the sun had risen, he went down toriver side and sat there alone, probablybrooding over his grievances. The spiresof innumerable temples were black againstthe graying sky; a few lights shonewaveringly in an occasional shrine or under

some tree where a panther-skin-cladascetic repeated his prayers; the dim mistof dawn hung low over the swift runningriver. As he sat there musing, a muffledfigure came out of the shadows, andapproaching him said, “Will you perform theceremonial ablutions for me and recite thedawn prayer ?” Nabha agreed and, in thechill and the gloom of the hour wentthrough the Brahmin’s ritual for thestranger.

Suddenly the city was awakened by anumber of trumpets and drums. The policewatch rode down the streets, rousing thehouseholders and proclaiming that Shivaji’strack had been traced to Benares. Thestranger and the Brahmin looked at oneanother. The stranger said, “Open yourhand,” and placed in it nine large jewels,Nabha nodded. He turned away and beganto pray as though nothing had happenedwhile the stranger slipped away into thedarkness. But that day the Chief Priestsawaited their novice in vain. He leftBenares and travelled to Surat where hebought a large house and set up practiceas a physician. Many years later heconfided in the historian Khafi Khan andtold him the origin of his worldlyprosperity.Tramping and riding, Shivajireached the shores of the Bay of Bengal.

Even in a small fishing village the noise ofhis flight had preceded him. When he triedto buy a horse, the horse-dealer becamesuspicious.

“What do you want it for ?”

Shivaji offered him some gold coins. Theman’s suspicions were confirmed. “Youmust be that escaped Maratha to be so


free with your money.” In despair Shivajioffered him the remainder of his money.Once again the avarice of another savedhim. But now he was glad to escape alive,with no money left, without even the horsehe had hoped to buy.

Wearily he turned back towards CentralIndia. As he neared Indore he soughtrefuge in a peasant’s hut, trusting totraditional Indian hospitality to avoid manyquestions. He was welcomed as a poorwayfarer. His host’s old mother hurried offto the kitchen to prepare supper. Ithappened that a body of Maratha irregularshad recently burst into Imperial territory.The village where Shivaji now rested wasone of those that had suffered from theirincursion. When the old woman came backfrom the kitchen she began to curse theMarathas for their desperations. “As forthat brigand Shivaji,” she added, “I wishto God he had died in prison.” Few monthslater, when he had reached his kingdom,he sent her a purse containing twice thesum of money to compensate the loss.

Though Shivaji and most of his companions(the latter traveling separately or in smallgroups) had returned safely, there stillremained Shivaji’s son Sambhaji who, it willbe remembered, had been left behind atMathura with a friendly Brahman. If theImperial authorities found him, they wouldtake revenge on him for his father’s escape.So Shivaji resorted once more to his“stratagems”. He began publicly to referto his fear for Sambhaji’s life pretending tobe ignorant of his whereabouts. Mughalagents reported that he seemed “veryanxious about his son”. Then heannounced that he had received

intelligence of Sambhaji’s death. He weptbitterly and ordered all his followers to gointo mourning. The Mughal agents werecompletely deceived by this show of sorrowand assumed that the news must becorrect.

A few days later Shivaji sent a letter tothe Brahman, Kashi at Mathura, begginghim to bring Sambhaji to Raigad. Stilldisguised as a Brahman lad Sambhaji setout with Kashi on his return to the Marathacountry. They had a narrow escape atUjjain where a Mughal police officer,watching Sambhaji closely, came to theconclusion that his demeanour was hardlythat of a priest’s son.

“Is this really your son?” he asked Kashi.Kashi said yes, and began talking gliblyabout a pilgrimage to Allahbad, where theyhad bathed in the sacred river and visitedthe temples, but how unhealthy they hadfound the climate there, unhealthy, thatis, for southerners, for instance Kashi’s ownwife who had fallen ill there had died, andso now father and son were returningmourning to their village. The Moghul cutshort his chatter with the words, “If he isreally your son, let me see you both eatingout of the same plate.”

But Kashi, realising how carefully the policewere watching every detail of hisexpression, never showed for a momenthis reluctance ; and he and Sambhaji satdown to dine together from the same dish.Convinced by this proof of Kinship, theMughal police released them and theyreached Raigad without further adventures.


THE fort of Janjira stuck out like asore thumb on Shivaji’s hand. Hebrooded over it constantly. His

earlier attempts were foiled for one reasonor another. Maharaj was determined toconquer this sea-fort. Before he plannedthe attack, however, he went to Kelsi toseek the blessing of Baba Yakut, who wasa renowned Muslim saint, who had no otherattraction than the worship of Allah. Hetreated the rich and the poor alike. Hewas a real devotee of God. Maharaja wentto Kelsi for the vision of Baba Yakut andthen only did he set out for the siege ofJanjira.

Moropant had just returned from hissuccessful expedition of Ramnagar. Maharajwas unable to capture Janjira from Siddieven after a sustained effort for abouttwenty years, but Moropant understoodthe responsibility. He led an army of tenthousand soldiers and with it marched toJanjira which he vowed he would only takeafter annexing Danda and Rajapuri.

He reached the shore facing Janjira. Anassault was planned, for which trees inthe vicinity were cut down to be used forsheds to be built in order to conceal smallvessels anchored at the shore. Pant hadplanned to fire canon balls from behind thesheds and to break the wall of Janjira fort.On the other hand, Siddi Kasim had leftSurat for Janjira along with his navy.

Once again the Maratha canons startedbombarding Janjira fort. Small ships andlaunches with canons fitted on themsurrounded the fort. The wall of Janjirafort was altogether impregnable. Itstubbornly withstood the blasting byMaratha canons. Canon balls struck thefort wall and were repulsed without makinga dent. The only thing that it producedwas a loud sound.

Moropant was trying his best to make thisplan a success. An idea dawned on him.Though difficult and daring, he thought itwould be worth having a try. The planwas to place ladders against the wall ofthe fort and scale it ! But the questionwas, how the ladders were to be plantedand who would do it ? The walls were hugewith the turbulent waves beatingunderneath. The lashing waves would foilall attempts to plant the ladders on theground, but the ladders could be rested inthe vessels. Even then, with Siddi’s menever alert and on guard how could thesoldiers reach the top ? Their ammunitioncould annihilate all the Maratha vessels inone attempt.

But Moropant was fortunate in having adaring seaman to aid him. The name ofthat seaman was Lay Patil. When ShivajiMaharaj built his navy, he invited all thesea-faring men (mostly fishermen) whoprided themselves on being the sons ofthe sea ! Darya Sarang, Mainak Bhandariand Daulatkhan were some of them whom

JANJIRA - A TASTE OF DEFEAT


Shivaji had enlisted. They were a band ofhardy and weather-beaten men who hadbraved many a storm. Now they were loyalto Shivaji, and Maharaj handed them thesaffron flag and the navy ! Thus did thenavy start functioning. The fort of Sindhu-durg or Shiva Lanka was constructed inthe sea by these brave men who renderedtimely help to Maharaj. The brave seafarerwho now came to help in the capture ofJanjira was Lay Patil, who was a fishermanby profession. The naval officers ofMaharaj treated him with respect. Heserved Shivaji Maharaj for twelve longyears. Had their seamanship not beenrecognised they would have remained asmere fishermen!

Moropant called Lay Patil and said, “Youare a servant of Chhatrapati ! If Maharajneeded your urgent help, would you obligehim ?”

Lay was astonished at the roundaboutmanner in which the Prime Minister(Moropant) asked for his services. Heunderstood that the job must be a verytricky one and that was why Pant hadrequested him.

“Yes Sir ! I shall obey your order,” repliedLay Patil.

Moropant explained to him everything indetail. “The ladders on the wall of Janjira! Oh my lord ! The task seems to be asdifficult as raising ladders to heaven !”Moropant said, “Your job is only to fix theladders ! We have about twelve hundredsoldiers ready to scale the wall and enterthe fort.” Lay Patil nodded assent.

Though dangerous Lay Patil accepted thechallenge and said, “I shall do it !” He

went about his task along with hiscolleagues. It is not known how he reachedthe wall of Janjira. Probably he had theadvantage of the darkness of the night.

It was a miraculous feat ! The tides lashedagainst the wall of the fort. It was pitchdark. Lay Patil raised ladders on the walland waited for the twelve hundred soldiersof Moropant to arrive on the scene. Hewaited and waited. Had the Arab guardson the fort known anything about thehappenings at the bottom, it would havebeen their end. Siddi Kasim had capturedDanda-Rajapuri in the same way. SoMoropant thought that the same planwould work in the capture of Janjira and abig load would be lifted from his shoulders.

Lay Patil had planted ladders and waitedfor the soldiers of Moropant. It was sodangerous a venture that Lay was temptingdeath every moment. One hour elapsed,then two ! The waiting seemed endless.It was dangerous to continue to wait,because if the guards came to know oftheir existence, their fate would have beensealed. Lay had performed an incrediblefeat, but the army was not playing its part.Another two hours went by. Lay grewapprehensive ; he was sure now thatnobody would come to scale the wall. Itwas dangerous to keep on waiting andfoolish to boot. Dawn was breaking. Oncethe Black guards saw their ladders, it wouldbe the end of the whole matter. At last,Lay Patil removed the ladders in disgustand vanished with his associates.

What was the real trouble ? Nobody knew.Who was at fault? One could only guess.May be, the plan was not known to allconcerned. Janjira remained unconquered


by Shivaji Maharaj, as neither Moropantnor the soldiers actually utilised the daringfeat of Lay. Lay accosted Pant later andsaid, “We raised the ladders and waitedfor your soldiers. When it was near dawn,we returned !”

Moropant felt very sad. He was astonishedat the rare courage of Lay Patil. Heaccepted the blame on himself. The siege

of Janjira continued and they waited till allthe stock of grains and supplies in Janjirawas exhausted. But how long could theykeep on waiting ?

A naval force under the Mughal generalSiddi Sambul advanced towards Jaipur andlaid it waste. Siddi Kasim had alreadyadvanced from Surat with five hundredArab seamen. When he came to know ofthe Maratha attack on Janjira, he rushedtowards Janjira and attacked the Maratha

navy. An encounter ensued in which theMarathas had to release the siege. Thatwas the second defeat that the Marathassuffered in their attempt to capture Janjira.Janjira remained unconquered !

Efforts continued. Moropant went backto Raigarh. Lay Patil the brave officer,Padadurg Subhanji Mohite in charge of thefort, Subhanji Kharade the flag officer, andothers went to Raigarh, to pay theirobeisance to Shivaji. Moropant had alreadynarrated the whole story about Lay andhis valour at the same time admitting thatthe cause of defeat was due to his ownlack of co-ordination. Mahraj wasimmensely pleased to hear of Lay and hisdaring attempt. He ordered Moropant topresent a palanquin to Lay. Shivaji wasalways ready to encourage heroism andvalour even though the attempts provedfutile. But though he ordered the palanquin,Lay Patil refused it. He fought shy of fameand honour. Maharaj was more pleasedthan ever before with his behaviour. Heordered a ship to be built and asked LayPatil to man it.

Maharaj enquired of Lay : “Who offeredthe title of ‘Patil’ to your family ?” “Badshahhad conferred the title !” said Patil.Maharaj saw that it was not high enoughand called him ‘Sarapatil’!

He also honoured the officer Padmadurgwith a palanquin.


AURANGAZEB basely broke theterms agreed upon betweenShivaji and himself at Purandar by

assisting Siddi of Janjira against him. Heblatantly put an end to the truce by sortingto dubious and cunning ways. At last, thescheming mind of Aurangazeb hit upon amaster plan.

The Maratha army numbering around sixthousand were near Aurangabad. GeneralsPratap Rao Gujar and Niraji Raoji were thecommanding officers of camps of theMaratha army stationed at Aurangabad. Itwas as part of the truce that Sambhaji,Shivaji’s son was to be provided an armyof six thousand men by Aurangazeb. ButSambhaji being immature, it was decidedthat Pratap Rao and his colleague NirajiRaoji were to be under Muajjam, the sonof Aurangazeb, though they did not haveto serve him actually. Muajjam dislikedfighting. The prince was given to a life ofpleasure. He liked and admired ShivajiMaharaj ! Though an epicurean by nature,Muajjam was very shrewd and a man offoresight. If he got opportunity to revoltagainst his father. Shivaji would have beenhelpful him ! This was what he lookedforward to.

On Sambhaji was conferred thechieftainship of a village in Berar and thisgave him the right to maintain an army ofsix thousand soldiers. Ravji SomnathSubhedar took care of the army on hisbehalf.

He respected both of them. The Marathasin turn maintained cordial relations with him.They kept up a regular correspondence andreceived guidance from Shivaji Maharaj atRaigarh. This state of affairs continuedfor three years.

One day the whole of the Maratha campwas humming like a hive. Pratap Rao andNiraji received a call from Muajjam. Butnobody could tell why the call came.

Pratap Rao and Niraji immediately rushedto Muajjam. The latter stayed in theinterior chamber of the fort at Aurangabad.Rao and Niraji Pant entered the fort.Muajjam took them to a secluded cornerand said, “Look, I have received aconfidential message from Delhi. My fatherhas issued a secret order to me which maybe received here within a day or two. Ihave, however, come to know the deadlycontents of the order. The order says thatboth of your should be arrested and sentto Delhi and all the six thousand Marathasstationed here are to be butchered andtheir camps looted !”

Pratap Rao and Niraji Pant were stunnedas they heard the terrible sentencepronounced by Aurangazeb and conveyedby Aurangazeb’s son himself. What wasAurangazeb going to do with him ? He wouldhave them tortured and killed ! Or he wouldhave them converted into Muslims ! Itwas clear. The whole plan of completeannihilation of all the six thousand Marathas

THE FLIGHT FROM HELL


fitted well with the bigotry of Aurangazeb.This again was a breach of promise !

One more Point that was mentioned in theorder was that an amount of Rupees OneLakh was to be recovered from theMarathas as compensation ! The reasonwas, as the order stated, that Shivaji hadused the amount from the treasury ofBadshah for his expenses when he was atAgra and it had to be repaid.

After conveying the above informationMuajjam said, “I do not like thiscommunication from my father at all. Thisis treachery ! But what can I do ! Whenthe order is issued and it arrives I have tocarry it out. It is, therefore, in yourinterest to quit before the communicationactually reaches Aurangabad. All of youleave Aurangabad at once, with yoursoldiers ! Hurry up !”

Pratap Rao and Niraji Pant did not waste amoment. They were very grateful toMuajjam. They came back to their campsand immediately started preparations forleaving the place. All the six thousandsoldiers completed the packing quickly andwere out of the camp in half an hour !

Pratap Rao left Aurangabad. He sent amessage to Ravji Somnath who looked afterthe land on behalf of Sambhaji in Berar.He informed Ravji to take the entiretreasury and men and to go to Raigarh !

After eight days, the communication fromAurangazeb arrived at Aurangabad. Themessenger handed the bag containing itto Muajjam. Muajjam opened the bag inthe presence of the general who was hisassistant. Aurangazeb had ordered to finish

off the Marathas, to loot their camps, toarrest Pratap Rao and Niraji and send themto Delhi. Muajjam read it loudly, on purpose,and added in a very sad tone !

“Treachery ! Treason ! We received theorder today, but those wicked Marathashave packed up and gone, eight days ago.I don’t know how they have left. I wouldhave constructed a huge minar with theirheads. I would have sent all theirchieftains to Delhi. I would haveconfiscated all their property and handedit over to the Emperor at Delhi. But, themountain rats have run away !”

His generals thought that Muajjam reallymeant every word of it ! He was so faithful.So dutiful ! He respected his father somuch and was eager to obey his orders tothe very letter ! But what could he do ?The wicked Marathas had run away ! Ifonly they had stayed they would have paiddearly !

What remained was only the words of pity! Muajjam informed his father about hishelplessness ! Aurangazeb was astonished.How could they have run away ? Shivajiran away from Agra a day before he wasto be murdered (18th Aug. 1666).Aurangazeb had no go but to blame his illluck. He was exasperated beyond words.

Pratap Rao Gujar left along with the wholearmy from Aurangabad, but he did not goto Raigarh. He attacked Mughal strongholdsin the East, caught them unawares andbrought a huge fortune worth lakhs ofrupees with him. On the other hand, RavjiSomnath looted Mughal posts in Berar,crossed river Bhima and reached Raigarh.Both of them collected and offered a


‘present’ of rupees twenty lakhs to Shivaji.Actually it was Aurangazeb who wantedto obtain rupees one lakh from theMarathas. But, the Marathas did not givehim a single pie ; on the contrary, lootedhim to the tune of twenty lakhs.

Shivaji was shocked to hear the news ofAurangazeb’s treachery. Pratap Rao, NirojiPant and the army of six thousand soldierswere saved only due to the kindness ofShahzada Muajjam. He could not imaginethe consequences otherwise ! He praisedand thanked Muajjam. But he once againrealised how Aurangazeb had thrown hima challenge !

He heard of compulsory conversions,bloodshed, destruction of temples, breakingof idols and images of Gods. This wasconfirmed from the latest reports Shivajireceived from Delhi. He came to know thatthe famous Kesava temple of Mathura wasdestroyed and the main idol was broughtto Delhi and buried underneath a tomb !He heard similar news about many suchtemples and also of conversions ! But,what could he do ? What was the remedy?

Aurangazeb had broken the treaty ofPurandar. It became quite evident thatShivaji had to launch his attacks on Mughalterritories. Raigarh was once againenthusiastic ! The Lion had rested for fouryears, and again he had to come out ofhis lair. Horses snorted once again andstarted pawing the ground, impatient foraction.

RAIGARH was busy with thepreparations for marriage ofSambhaji, Shivaji’s son. As is the

custom in Maharashtra, turmeric paste wassmeared all over the body of Sambhaji. Hewas decked with coloured papers (bashing)and a garland hung from the side of boththe ears. The Shirkes were of an ancientand noble lineage ; so Shivaji selected thedaughter of Pilaji Rao Shirke of Chiplun forhis daughter-in-law. Shirkes had struckterror in Konkan area over a period of manyyears. One of his ancestors had completelyrouted Mali Kuttuzar Zainuddin, whoinvaded Konkan with the aid of 10,000soldiers. That demon of a Mughal hadrazed many a king to the ground andconquered their territories.

Later on, however, the Shirke family servedAurangazeb. The family received ‘Dabholi’village in recognition of its services. ShivajiMaharaj needed Shirke’s help in his bid forfreedom. That was the main reason inbringing about this alliance. Pilaji Shirkehad a son named Ganoji. Shivaji Maharajcontacted him and proposed, “Let mydaughter Nanisaheb wed your son GanojiRaje, and let us have your daughterYesubai Saheb for my son Sambhaji.” PilajiRao was delighted at this exchange match.He did not hesitate ever for a moment andreadily consented.

Everything was arranged. Maharajrequested Pilaji Rao to join the freedom

THE BARGAIN


movement and not to remain servant tothe Mughal Badshah ! Pilaji Rao acceptedit. Maharaj told him. “You and othermembers of Shirke family will be offeredrespectable posts but once you havebecome part of us you shall be relieved ofyour right over Dabholi !”

This was rather difficult for Pilaji to digest,as he had enjoyed this privilege for so manyyears. He was treated like a king andreceived obeisance from subjects. Howcould he surrender all this ? And then toserve in the military of Raigarh !

Maharaj told him :

“Raje Saheb, this involves the honour of anation. It is a divine decree that we shouldserve our country and our people.”

Pilaji somehow accepted the offer. And,the rights over Dabholi, were relinquished.Pilaji himself joined the Maratha army.Marriages were finalised. The four bridesand bridegrooms, who were very young,got ready for marriage. Shivaji and Pilajiwere now bound by a double bond. Adaughter of Konkan came to the Ghats andthat of the Ghats went to Konkan.Territorial differences were erased and anew relationship was forged, satisfactoryto all concerned.

As the months passed, Shirke grewimpatient. He disliked the present statusof serfdom ! He thought to himself, “TheShirkes were once the kings of Konkan.Our Kingdom had been snatched away bythe Badshah. But now I have lost eventhe small hold I had ! What now is left forme ?” The choice was between the rightsand the service under Maharaj. Hepreferred to get back the rights to Dabholi.

“Shivaji Maharaj must return it to me. Iam sure that he will give it back, becauseI am now closely related to him.” Withthis thought in mind Pilaji wrote a letter toShivaji.

Shivaji received it at Raigarh and gave itto Moropant to read. “Now our land hasbeen absorbed by your Government. Theright was a very old one, enjoyed by ourancestors. They served the Badshah withloyalty and zeal. It is the duty of a son tomaintain whatever the father has earned.I am serving your Majesty even now.Therefore, I request you to hand the rightover Dabholi back to me.”

Maharaj was silent. Moropant understoodhis mind well. He said, “Maharaj, this isthe nature of every person. Landlordshipstrikes deep roots, and since they confera few petty honours people think it an insultto be deprived of them.”

“Pant”, said Maharaj, “These rights arepotentially dangerous. To maintain thema rebellion may be incited against our effortto consolidate territories. That is why Ihave discontinued this practice. Our mainaim is that our land should be placed on afirm footing of its own, and the titular headsshould not become powerful. They shouldserve the cause with loyalty placing theircourage and valour at the disposal of thecountry. They should not consider itprowess to maintain whatever theirancestors have earned. It seems that PilajiRao has not understood me !”

“Maharaj, do try and change his mind”, saidMoropant. “Pant, it is our endeavour tosee that everyone should love the land towhich he belongs. Faith in the motherland


is very important. I brought Pilaji Rao intoour fold. I offered my daughter to his son.My aim was that he should understand andlove this free realm. But, it is unfortunatethat Shirke loves his rights more than thesolidarity of his country, heeven has the nerve todemand his rights ! Pant, Icannot give in to Shirke ! Ican never do so, no, never!”

“But, Maharaj, Shirke Raje isa powerful person. He mayget annoyed”, said Moropant.

“Yes, he may get annoyed,perhaps! But, Pant, am I tocare for somebody’sannoyance at the cost of oursolidarity ?”

“But Maharaj, if Shirke joins Badshah inannoyance……….”

“If he does, so, he will become our enemy! That is all there is to it. It is not difficultto quell an enemy, but if we allow him tomaintain a title like this, our efforts arebound to come to naught. I admire PilajiRao as a brave warrior, not as the ownerof lands”! Shivaji replied firmly.

“That’s true Maharaj. But if you can tryto keep Shirke Raje in your fold withoutreturning his rights ?”

“It shall be my endeavour, certainly. I feelpained when I have to submit to such dirtytricks from our own people ! Our ownpeople deserve our hearts. Tricks and rusesare meant for others, who do not considerthemselves as our kith and kin. But, Pant,

we are helpless ! You write to him in thewords that I dictate.”

Pant brought a blank-paper and a pen.Maharaj started dictating.

“You have written that the right to Dabholi,which was absorbed by us, should berestored to you. It is not our practice togo back on what we have done. Sinceyou have established a relationship withus, we undertake to offer the title ofDeshmukh to you when your daughter-in-law, Rajkunwas Bai delivers a son.” Maharajsmiled. It was not the smile of a victoriouswarrior, but of one who had escaped theconsequences of an unpleasant situation.The letter was sent to Pilaji Rao. He readit and was happy. He was glad to knowthat title would be restored to hisdescendants at least at a later date !

On the whole, Pilaji did not prove to bevery clever.


BEFORE leaving for RajapurMaharaj had posted TanajiMalusare and Pilaji Neel Kanth Rao

Sarnaik at Shangameshwar and assignedto them an important task. The foot-pathsin Konkan were made difficult to traverseby the torrential rains. Even the roadsleading to the town of Sangameshwar wereno good. Shivaji decided to have themrepaired and made travel-worthy and heassigned that work to Tanaji and hissoldiers. What a strange task for one ofthe bravest of the commanders ! But, wasit not an important one ? Shivaji had rightlyinculcated the dignity of labour in his leadersand followers alike. So, for the time beingall of them kept aside their swords andjavelins and took picks and shovels in theirhands. Though Shivaji had very little timeat his disposal, whenever he did get anopportunity for respite he utilised it forconstructive work like agriculture, irrigation,construction of roads, dams and barragesand development of education and trade.He never neglected any aspect of publicwelfare.

Tanaji, Pilaji, and other soldiers madethemselves busy at Sangameshwar in theconstruction work. Suddenly, on a darknight, Suryaji Rao (who had earlier beenpardoned by Maharaj) attacked theMaratha camp. There was panic for amoment, but the Marathas stood theirground. Tanaji armed himself to meet thefoe. On the other side, Pilaji also preparedto fight the enemy. A tumultuous battle

ensued. Suryaji Rao was a warrior of nomean merit or courage. Tanaji alone, infact, was a match for him, and he evenpushed him back and held his frontremarkably.

Pilaji fought equally well, but seeing thesuperior reinforcements of the enemy, hegot panicky. The enemy, sensing his panic,took the initiative in their hands and beganpressing forth more and more aggressively.Pilaji was greatly flustered and feared hewould be either killed or captured beforelong.

Tanaji, in the meanwhile, was completelyunaware of the situation but he heard theexultant battle cries of the enemy and wasalarmed. He immediately rushed towardsthe enemies and saw Pilaji’s predicament.Pilaji turned on his heels and was retreatingfast. Maratha warriors turning on his heelsand running away from the war front inpanic ! Tanaji could not tolerate suchshameful behaviour. He ran behind theretreating Maratha warrior and caught himup. Tanaji flared up, “Why are you runningaway like a coward ? Are you not the sonof Neelakant Rao who died a martyr’s death? Your father will turn over in his gravewith shame at this behaviour on your part.Shame on you !” He forced Pilaji right backinto the middle of the battle-field andcontinued to reprimand him. “When I amhere to support you, why are you runningaway, leaving the battle-field ? You wereboasting so much ; what of that now ?

KICK THE THRONE OF SLAVERY


Shivaji Maharaj had honoured you by givingyou such a high post. Is it only to hearthat you ran away from the battle-field ?At least, you should have some regard forhim and gratitude for the honour that hehas conferred on you.” But Pilaji was afraid.Tanaji’s sermons on valour and courage fellon deaf ears.

Tanaji, then got a rope which lay nearby,and secured Pilaji to a huge stone, in spiteof the latter’s protests to prevent him fromrunning away. He wanted Pilaji to witnesshow a brave Maratha would fight theenemy. He then took his sword and shieldand plunged into the battle-field.

Tanaji entered deep into the enemy lineswith an ear-splitting cry of “Har Har MahaDev”, encouraging his men, “come on mymen, kill the enemy”, “Fight till victory isours”, and so on. The Marathas weredoubly enthused by his encouragement andin the end the victory was theirs. SuryajiRao ran towards Shringarpur to seek refuge.Tanaji released Pilaji with a smile of victory.

Tanaji and Pilaji went to convey theirmessage to Maharaj. Maharaj honouredthem for the victory but was annoyed withSuryaji who deceived him once again. Yet,he wished to make Surya Rao understandthe importance of his being in Swarajya,and so he sent his envoy to Shringarpur.The envoy conveyed the message.

“Suryaji Raje, you had merged your jagirwith Swarajya willingly. You fought againstus on behalf of Badshah, and wronged uson a number of occasions and now youhave attacked our army again atSangameshwar. After entering into anunderstanding with us, you chose to break

the terms of our pact. Please explain howsuch a breach of faith can be tolerated ?”

“Raje, you are a brave man. Jaswant RaoRaje of Pali has come to seek refuge underyou for fear of punishment at our hands.We propose to capture all the landbelonging to Jaswant Rao as he hascommitted treachery. We expect you tocome and meet us at Pali, and if you persistin abstaining from doing so arrogantly, youwould be dealt with in the same manner asJaswant Rao. Nobody on earth can saveyou from the fury of Maharaj.” Suryaji Raolistened to the message and replied ; “Youmay go ahead. I will follow you.”

The envoy returned to Sangameshwar anddelivered the message of Suryaji Rao toMaharaj. Whether Suryaji Rao would goto Pali or not was to be known in a day’stime.

Maharaj attacked Pali, and captured thejagir of Jaswant Rao within a very shorttime. Many of Jaswant Rao’s commanderssurrendered to Maharaj.

There was a fort near pali named ‘ChiraDurg’, It was a very strong fort, coveringa vast area. Its walls and bastions wereexceptionally stout and sturdy. Shivajinamed it Madan Garh and placed it at thedisposal of an officer and other staff, tobe looked after.

Pali was captured and Maharaj waited forSuryaji Rao to meet him there, but Suryajidid not turn up. On the other hand, hewas enjoying himself at Shringarpur. Hethought that while Shivaji attacked Palidirectly in order to capture it, he only sentan envoy for a talk, and hence Suryaji


thought Shivaji did not dare to attack him.This enraged Maharaj, and he pressedforward with an army fifteen thousandstrong to sack Shringarpur. Suryaji Raowas informed of Shivaji’s arrival. That thesituation was precarious dawned upon him(Suryaji) now. Shivaji’s army was a hugeone, and he knew that he would surely bedefeated and captured. Suryaji fled inpanic from Shringarpur.

Maharaj and the Marathas advancedtowards Shringarpur with great speed. Hewas still thinking of the sort of punishmentto be meted out to Suryaji to preventtreachery in the future, when Moropantbrought the news that Suryaji Rao hadvanished from Shringarpur. Shivaji wasgreatly disappointed at this loss ofopportunity to punish treachery. Heentered the town, which was deserted.Inside the palatial residence of Suryaji Rao,he saw a richly decorated throne. A goldencage, a seat of velvet to buffer theinsulting kicks of the alien ruler !

With a heart surging with fury and disgust,Shivaji gave a kick at the throne.

Another symbol of slavery wiped out !

SHIVAJI stood on the shorewatching the sea. It was hightide, the waves rose to tremendous

heights and broke in a spray of foam againstthe shore. Mahraj stood watching thebreakers. Krishna Savant Desai and BhajiPrabhu Desai were two among them. Theroving gaze of Mahraj suddenly stoodarrested, something had attracted hisattention. About a mile or two, from theshore was a small island. Maharaj studiedit thoughtfully for a while, and, turning toPrabhu Desai, who stood beside him, asked,

“What is the name of the island ?”

“It is known as ‘Kutre’ island !” repliedDesai.

Shivaji was lost in thought again. Whatwas the island like ? What could be thesize of it ? Where was it situated ? “Letus go and take a look at it,” he declared.

A boat was brought. Maharaj embarked itand along with his colleagues, he rowedtowards the island, which they reached inhalf an hour. The island was a rocky armprojecting into the sea, against which thewaves lashed continuously. On the rock,almost at the centre, ran a slender streamof clear, sweet water. It looked as thoughthe island was made to order there by anunseen hand. Shivaji passed immediateorders that a huge fortress should beconstructed there.

THE FORTRESSIN THE SEA


Fortune smiled on Kutre island. It was asif the island had been in penance forcenturies, standing still in the vast seajust waiting for such an occasion !

People gathered on that island coming toit in steamers, launches, small boats.Maharaj himself arrived to lay the foundationfor the structure of the fort. All theparaphernalia for worship was made ready.The first foundation stone was to be laidby the Maharaj. It was suggested thatthe priests who were natives of that areashould officiate at the ceremony.

Messengers were sent to invite ‘VedaShastra Sampurna’ Janbhat Abhyankar andhis nephew ‘Veda Murti’ Raja Shri DadamBhat. They declined the invitation out offear, for they thought that if the area againfalls into the hands of the Sultan, he wassure to take them to task for havingassisted and colluded with Shivaji in theconstruction of the fort.

They knew very well that Shivaji was anideal king and that he fought for his religiousconviction. But then, his kingdom was verysmall, while the Badshah’s kingdom was vastand well established. How could Malwanwhich was just on the edge of Shivaji’sterritory be prevented from Badshah’sattack ?

Shivaji fathomed their feelings and thoughshocked, he made allowance for the preists’fears. Unless they were made aware ofthe fact that a solid power was behindthem, they could not be expected to shedtheir cowardice. Therefore, Maharaj senthis emissaries to invite priests once againexplaining to them that he would protect

them, and if they still did not accept theinvitation they would be forced to come !

Both the parts promptly arrived after thesecond message. He welcomed them withdue respect and said,

“You are Brahmins. You should live in peace,and it is my duty to see that your lives arenot disturbed in any way. Most of theKonkan area is already in our hands andthe rest will soon be ours. Our Kingdom isexpanding and gathering strength day byday. Do not be worried at all !”

The Pundits now felt pacified, and gratefullyacknowledged his protection and began theceremonies. The sounds of musicalinstruments filled the air, and the chantingof Mantras blended with them. Shivajihimself sat to perform Puja. He set thefirst ‘stone’ of the first fort that was to behis naval base. The fort was named‘Sindhu Durga’ and Jan Bhat and DadamBhat received handsome rewards. Theywere offered the permanent priesthood ofthe new fort.

Sindhu Durg started taking shape. A newornament for Darya Bhavani (Goddess ofSea) was designed. The stony face ofthe island broke its gravity and bubbledwith life as Sindhu Durga reared its headout of the frothing foaming waters.


Spring was bouncing around,revealing its creative facultiesthrough fresh tendrils, tender

foliage, nascent buds, lush stretches ofgreen grass, luxuriant trees and sprawlingbeds of shrubs and plants.

Nature was at its best, colourful, exoticand intoxicating.

Birds flirted around, heralding the onset ofspring, basking in the vigour and vivacityinjected by the season, keen to prancearound, to love and to be loved, to mateand to procreate, to revel in the caressesof nature and to respond to its call.

Jija Bai stood at the edge of the verandah,feeling the aroma of spring, enjoying themild warmth that roused and whipped upmyriad emotions in her. These emotions,in turn, provoked her brain to indulge infanciful dreams. Hopes of the future filledher mind. Challenging plans flashed throughher brain, plans which if executed boldly,would lead her daring son, Shivaji, furtherup the ladder of power and fame.

The memory of her son turned her faceaglow with pride. Indeed, he was the giftof Goddess Bhavani. It was She whoinspired him, protected him, watched overhim, guided him through tortuous anddangerous times, and helped him to carvethe Maratha Empire out of the terrain overwhich Moghul overlordship extended.

Repeatedly, Shivajihad raided thefortified citadels ofMoghul power,crippled thed e f e n c earrangements ofthe Moghuls,returned with richbooties. Theseraids had boostedhis confidence andproved that theMoghuls were notinvincible. In turn,these raidscreated in thehearts of those

who were pitted against him a grumblingadmiration for his tactics mixed with mortalfear of his hurricane attacks.

In this mood of exultation, Jija Bai surveyedthe sprawling scenery. She saw theSahyadri Ranges, standing almost at theedge of the horizon, with the blue skydipping down and kissing the top of themountain ranges. The terrain, uneven,rolling into valleys and suddenly rising togreat heights in the shape of sharp peaks,all dressed in green, created a cavalcadeof emotions in her. She imagined that shecould hear the tumbling, gushing, madwater-falls, rumbling over rocks, breakinginto bits over sharp protuberances, fallingfaster and faster, glistening in the sun,dancing their way down to the plains. Shevisualised, in her mind, the music of theparakeet, the trumpet of the elephant, theroar of the tiger and the call of the wolf.Then, she espied the silhouette of Sinhgad

DEATH OF A HERO

THE year was 1670


Fort, and a cloud of depression spread overher face.

It was five years since she had last beento Sinhgad, five years since Shivaji, bythe terms of an agreement, signed withthe Moghuls, had surrendered the fort tothe enemy. At that time, Shivaji hadassured her that he would not rest, thatthe surrender was only a tactical move,that at the earliest opportunity, he wouldlaunch an attack to recover Sinhgad.

Suddenly, the spark of desire filled her, thedesire to stroll through the ramparts ofSinhgad Fort, to take a glimpse of theSahyadri Ranges at close quarters from alofty perch in the fort. The spark grewinto a tiny flame. Then, it became aconsuming passion.

She turned back to her bedroom, mumbling,“I will ask him when he proposes to captureSinhgad. I can’t wait. I am impatient. Iwant to be back in Sinhgad.”

Shivaji rushed in, like a springing tiger, andthrew himself at her feet. Jija Bai bentlow, lifted him and hugged himaffectionately.

She examined his dust-covered clothes,his glossy flowing beard, his radiant, alert,dynamic eyes. She patted him, gently,called for a servant to bring sherbat forShivaji.

The mother and the son sat on an ornatecarpet.

“I am indeed glad to see you, Shivaj. Ihave been waiting for you.”

“Ma, I came rushing as soon as I got yourmessage. What is your command, Ma, ? I

will do anything, but, Ma, don’t ask for theMoon !”

“Shiva, I have been rather depressed. Anunknown pain has been gnawing at myheart. Staying here at Pratapgarh, I haveoften brooded over your safety, about thegrave risks you face daily.”

“Risk is part of the game I have beenplaying. I have faith in Goddess Bhavani.She will protect me. I am just an instrumentof Her will.”

“A mother’s heart is never at rest whenher son lives such a dangerous life.”

“Well, Ma, what is worrying you ?”

“I told you it is a pain, a sort of desirewhich I have tried to control, but havefailed.”

“Tell me, Ma, if it is in my power to removethis pain, I will certainly take immediateaction.”

“I hesitate to tell you. I wonder whether Ishould ask you to carry out my wish. It isbetter to stifle this desire, to allow it tofester and dry up within my soul thanconfide in you and ask you to undertakeanother risky mission.”

“Ma, I will undertake any project you havein mind. Please tell me, Ma. Please.”

The bearer came in, carrying a bowl full oforanges and a tray on which rested twoglistening glasses, filled with sweetenedsherbat. The bearer bent low, placed thebowl and the tray on the carpet andretreated.

Jija Bai picked up an orange, peeled theskin, removed the seeds from the core and


pushed one of the juicy bits into Shivaji’smouth. She fed him till he said, “Enough,Ma.”

“Drink this,” Jija Bai picked up the glassfull of sherbat and held it to his lips. Hesipped the drink slowly, enjoying its sweettaste and pleasant fragrance.

“Thank you, Ma. Now, let us get back tothat pain in your heart, the pain which Ithink I can remove.”

“Shiva, I have been brooding over theglorious days we spent at Sinhgad. Oh, itseems as if it was only a few days backthat we were there, enjoying itssurroundings, admiring its strength andimpregnability. Ah, five years have slippedby since you handed the fort to theMoghuls. At that time, you promised tocapture it for the Marathas at the earliestopportunity. When do you propose to takeaction ? When can I live again in that fort?”

“Ma, you know the dangers inherent in anassault on Sinhgad ?”

“Yes.”

“It’s almost inaccessible. The fort can beapproached only by climbing up an almostvertical, rocky wall of over forty feet. Eventhe approach to the rocky wall is throughdangerous, slippery paths. The fortificationis very solid and strong. It would be avery risky mission. Do you want me totake an attempt, Ma?”

“That’s rather strange, Shiva. I thoughtyou would immediately see my point ofview, my desire. I imagined that you wouldbe as keen as I am to recover the fort. I

hoped that you would plan an assault andregain control over the fort. Instead, yousit by my side, detailing the odds. I don’tcare about the odds. I want Sinhgad tobe recovered. The Moghuls have to bedriven out. I want to return to Sinhgad,to live in the bosom of the Sahyadri Ranges,to roam around the fort freely, proud of itsheritage, happy to hold it on as the centreof Marathas power.”

“Ma, I will do anything that you want. Iwould rather die than fail you.”

“Victory will be yours, Shiva. There is nodoubt in my mind. Perhaps, this desirewhich germinated in me has been due tosome hidden plan of Goddess Bhavani.Perhaps, the time has come to regain thefort. Otherwise, why should I be possessedby such a craze after a lapse of five years?”

Shivaji was walking up and down the ornate,well-kept room, like a caged tiger. He didnot glance at the paintings hung on thewall. He had no eyes for the raresculptures which adorned the mantel-piece.The vicker lamps, moulded out of brass,with lissome dames etched on the surfaces,did not attract him. He cast eager looksat the open door, often mumbling to himself,“Ah, if only Tanaji comes soon! He is theman for the job !”

Shivaji heard foot-steps. He turnedtowards the door and saw the tall, lithefigure of Tanaji Malusare. Shivaji rushedforward while Tanaji came forward, fell flatat Shivaji’s feet and waited till Shivaji bentlow and lifted him up with affection.


“Please be seated,” Shivaji pointed to asofa. Shivaji slumped into the sofa. Tanajisat by his side.

“I am sorry, Tanaji, to send for you. Iknow you were in the midst ofarrangements for the marriage of your son.I apologise.”

“My Lord, I belong to you, body and soul.You have raised the Marathas from slavery,given them their individuality, showed themthe path of freedom. You have lifted usfrom the abyss of discord and in-fights,led us bravely, established the mightyMaratha regime which is bound to lastforever. We are your vassals for life. Youcan call me or any other Maratha warriorat any time. We are all yours to command.”

“It is because of men like you that I couldachieve all these successes. In the finalanalysis, a leader is judged by the menwho follow him. I am proud to be the leaderof such a dedicated band of men.”

“What are your orders, my Lord?”

“I have decided that we should captureSinhgad. I want you to lead the assaultparty.”

“I am happy you have selected me for thistask. I will capture Sinhgad for theMarathas, even if I die in the attempt.”

“You know it is a very risky operation ?”

“Yes, But, it is a task that has to beundertaken. The risks only make the taskworthy of our efforts.”

“You are a lion among men. How much Iadmire your courage !”

“My Lord, I shine only in reflected glory,You are the inspirer of our courage, thelight that makes us glow. Your inspiringleadership has converted ordinary mortalsinto heroes !”

“Tanaji, when do you think you cancomplete the necessary preparations forthe assault ? What do you think would bethe suitable time to initiate the move ?How many men would you require to carryout the plan successfully ? I leave thesethings to you. You shall be the master ofthe entire show.”

“Thank you, my Lord, for this expressionof supreme confidence. May God give mestrength to prove myself worthy of yourtrust.”

“Jai Bhavani !”

Tanaji decided to launch the assault on anew moon night. He wanted to crawl tothe foot of the fort under cover of darknessand to make a surprise attack. He collecteda band of a thousand young, bold dare-devils to take part in the campaign. Hewas ably supported by his brother Suryaji.

All the arrangements were completed intime. Addressing the men, Tanaji said, “Wewill be victorious. Goddess Bhavani is withus. I have been told that Udhai Khan, thetrusted General of Aurangazeb, who is incharge of the fort, has been leading a veryeasy life. Five years of indolence at Sinhgadhas sapped the fighting quality of theMoghul force. Lethargy and indifference,the craze to have the best of a smoothand care-free life fill them. They believethat the Marathas have no interntion toattack Sinhgad. This belief is what makesour task easy. We will take them by


surprise. We will prove our might. We willhave an easy time over men who havebeen enjoying women and wine for fiveyears, men who have allowed their swordsto rust, their muscles to rot !”

“Jai Bhavani” the warriors shouted. Thecry echoed through the hills and dates.

The party moved under cover of darkness.The rugged mountainous terrain did notdeter them. Most of them had been bornin the area. They had taken to mountainclimbing at a very young age. They knewevery bend and turn in the Sahyadri Ranges.They knew its mood and caprices. Theyhad seen how a slim, shallow, mountainstream could suddenly leave its docility,swell with swirling, fast moving currentwhich could take in its sweep even giantelephants. They had seen paths beingwiped out of existence by sudden landslides. They knew the mountain inside out.

The thick vegetation around the fort helpedthem to reach the foot of the fort withoutrousing any suspicion. It was pitch dark,except for a few owls, daring the darkness,raising their weird cries. There was nosound to disturb the eeriness and frigidityof the scene.

Tanaji poised hismen at the foot of thefort. He directed a group of men who hadmastered the art of handling ghorpads toget into action. These men tied giant ropesround the ghorpads and flung the animalsagainst the sheer straight rocky wall. Theghorpads stuck against the wall, built up avacuum and clung on to the wall withtenacity. The warriors tested the strengthof the ghorpads’ hold by tugging at the

ropes and also by taking wild swings. Theghorpads held on.

The party split into groups. Like monkeysambling up, the Marathas climbed up thesteep wall with the help of the ropes.

Three hundred men, including Tanaji,managed to get on top of the ramparts ofthe fort. Others were moving up the ropesto join their leader when a Moghul sentryheard the sound of foot-steps. He shoutedto his comrades. A few more frightenedsentries rushed ahead with lighted torches.Then, they got the shock of their lives.They saw several armed men moving alongthe rampart of the fort.

One sentry rushed up to Udhan Khan, withthe news that the Marathas had launchedan attack, that some of them had climbedup the parapet wall of the fort. UdhaiKhan was drunk. He was in the midst ofhis mid-night orgies. Beautiful damsels inall states of dress and undress dancedaround him, taking sips of wine. Udhai Khanturned to the informer and shouted, “Offwith you, fool. It can’t be true. TheMarathas could not have climbed up thewall of the fort. No human being has everdone it. Your story lacks sense.”

‘By Allah, I promise. The Marathas arehere !

‘You will pay heavily if it is false !

‘It is true, I swear !

Udhai Khan broke himself off from thecompany of the dames. He rushed to thetoilet and washed his face with cold water.This dispelled his grogginess. He felt a bitmore alert. He rushed back to his room,


slipped into martial uniform, grabbed hissharp sword and ran out, followed by hismen who had been alerted by then.

Udhai Khan heard, in the distance, the clangof steel hitting against steel. He heardnow the cries of “HAR HAR MAHADEV”mixed with ALLAH-HO-AKBAR. He turnedto his men and said, ‘We have been caughtnapping. The Marathas have attacked us.But, we will teach the Maratha dogs alesson, which they will never forget. Thecheek of the fellows who dare to pitthemselves against the might of the MoghulRuler !

The Moghul forces, now swelling in numbers,fell on the few Marathas who had enteredthe fort. The war cries of the two partiesfilled the air. The Marathas had anadvantage. They knew the size andstrength of the Moghul contingentstationed at the fort. But, the Moghulsdid not know the composition and strengthof the Maratha party.

Udhai Khan fought like an enraged lion. Hewas here, there and everywhere. Hegoaded his men to give of their best. Henoted Tanaji Malusare. Then, his eyesgleamed with rage. He decided to isolateTanaji, to kill him. The death of Tanaji,Udhai Khan felt, would leave the Marathasleaderless, make them surrender.

The two came to close grips. They wieldedthere swords and shields with exceptionalskill. They matched thrust for thrust,parried the opponent’s sudden moves,waiting for each other to make a falsemove, to expose his flanks. Udhai Khanwas almost at the end of his tether whenTanaji pressed home his advantage. Finding

himself losing ground. Udhai Khan made areckless charge which gave him a chanceto strike at Tanaji. With a mighty blow,Udhai Khan felled Tanaji.

Suryaji immediately assumed command overthe Marathas. He egged them on, sayingthat they should not retract, that victorywas round the corner, that Tanaji’s deathwas not in vain. The Maratha war-cryfilled the air.

Suryaji picked out the tired Udhai Khanclosed in on him and killed him in combat.The death of Udhai Khan marked the endof Moghul resistance. They surrenderedmeekly.

On receipt of the news of the capture,Shivaji conveyed the news to his motherand rode to Sinhgad to congratulate hismen. On arrival at Sinhgad, he heard ofTanaji’s death. Shivaji was caught inconflicting feelings, joy at the capture ofthe fort, grief at the death of Tanaji.

Shivaji stood at the rampart of the fort,immersed in thoughts. He mumbled, “I havegot the fort, but lost the lion,” and strodeoff, a cloud of pain covering his mien.


SALHER lies on the border ofKhandesh and Gujarat. It was apost of the utmost strategic

importance, for the possession of which abitter conflict unprecedented in all Shivaji’slife ensued, and several bloody battles werefought with heavy losses on both sides,proving thereby that Shivaji and his mennever shirked open fights when it wasconsidered necessary. As Shivaji wasreturning from the plunder of Karanja, hewas joined by a column under Moropantand the united division besieged the fortof Salher and captured it on 5th January,1671 after a short but desperate defenceby Fathulla Khan, its Mughal commander.The Mughal Government tried strenuouslyfor a year to retake the place, when severalmemorable actions took place between thetwo contending parties.

During the monsoon months of 1671, theMughals encamped at Parner, where thevarious commanders held dailyentertainments such as music and dancingwhich they all attended and made merrywhen their soldiers were dying in numbersthrough pestilence in the camp. Fourhundred dancing girls from the Punjab andAfghanistan lived in the Mughal camp andwere patronized by the officers.

Confusion reigned in the MughalGovernment of the Deccan and this soonattracted Aurangazeb’s attention. Thesecond sack of Surat and the Maratha

conquest of Baglan roused him to a senseof the grave situation.

In November 1670, he sent Mahabat Khanto the supreme command of the Deccan ;another competent general Bahadur Khanwas ordered from Gujarat as an additionalsupport. Daud Khan and Diler Khan werealready there. The Emperor often talkedof proceedings to the Deccan himself, butif his intention was really serious, it didnot materialise, possibly owing to a wantof nerve to face Shivaji personally. Manyrenowned Rajput officers were also postedto Deccan. Mahabat Khan Jatwant Singh,Daud Khan and others all assembled atAurangabad in January 1671, paid theirrespects to Prince Muajjam, and fullydeliberated upon measures for restrainingShivaji. But, as may be imagined, mattersare not necessarily improved by manyworthy men being brought together. Theprobability is that such wise heads differradically and spoil the result, making theconfusion worse still. They had mutualjealousies which prevented co-ordinationand concerted action.

The Emperor suspecting Mahabat Khan ofa secret understanding with Shivaji,recalled him from Deccan and appointedBahadur Khan and Diler Khan to thatGovernment. They rapidly came from Suratwhile Mahabat Khan was still in charge andlaid siege to Salher which was now inMaratha hands. In order to cripple Shivajistill further, Bahadur Khan and Daud Khan

THE MAGIC LEAD OF SHIVAJI


left the conduct of the siege to Ikhlas Khanand themselves made a detour upon Poonawith a view to stopping Maratha succourproceeding to Salher. Bahadur Khanadvanced towards Supe andDiler Khan came upon Poona inDecember 1671. The lattermassacred a large number ofinnocent inhabitants of theplace but Shivaji was equal tothe occasion. Pratap RaoGujar, Anand Rao Makaji,Moropant Pingle and othercommanders of Shivaji playedsuch havoc in Khandesh uponthe small Mughal forces ofIkhlas Khan that Bahadur Khanand Diler Khan had to retreatprecipitately from the vicinityof Poona and hurry back to thenorth. Thereafter, an obstinateand sanguinary battle tookplace before Salher in the firstweek of February 1672, inwhich the Mughals werecompletely routed. Ikhlas Khanand some thirty principalMughal officers were woundedand captured and severalthousand soldiers were slain.Moropant recaptured bothSalher and Mulher, took promptand ample measures for theirfuture defence and returned toreport the success to hismaster.

Says Sabhasad, “One SuryaRao Kakde, Shivaji’s companion in arms fromchildhood lost his life. More than tenthousand men were slain on the two sides

with countless numbers of horses,elephants and camels. Rivers of bloodflowed on the battle ground. The Marathasacquired by way of plunder six thousand

horses, as many camels, onehundred and twenty-fiveelephants, and all the campbaggage of the Mughals withtreasure and jewellry.” Thisphenomenal victory was mainlydue to the strategy and valourof Shivaji’s Peshwa, of whom acontemporary poet sang :

“The valley of Poona echo thename of Shivaji.

There roams his dauntlessPeshwa,

He slaughtered the Mughals ofSalher

Just as Arjuna slaughtered theKauravas of yore.”

The fight of Salher was anopen action by Shivaji’s menopposing the best-equippedand most ably-led Mughalarmies, by no means partakingof the nature of gueril lawarfare. The disaster to theMughal arms led to the disgraceof Mahabat Khan at the handsof the Emperor, just in the sameway as Jai Singh five yearsbefore him had suffered. Hewas transferred to Afghanistanand died on the way thither,

having served the Empire long andfaithfully.


Sabhasad paints a glowing picture of thebattle of Salher : “Maratha captains andthe Mavali troops overcame the mostrenowned Mughal commanders. The newsrejoiced Shivaji’s heart. He rewarded themessengers who brought the news withgold bracelets and wristlets. Sweets werewidely distributed. Diler Khan saved hislife in a fight. A large number of the Mughalwounded and captives fell into Shivaji’shands. They were properly nursed andwere released with presents after theirwounds had been treated. Some willinglyaccepted Shivaji’s service.” Thus Shivajiin a few years not only recovered his formerposition but became a match for the bestgenerals and administrators of the MughalEmpire. His officers and men were so welltrained that they could exhibit skill andinitiative in every difficult situation. Howone earnest leader can change thecharacter of a whole nation and attain aswift rise to prosperity, is well exemplifiedin this military organization of Shivaji.

An illustration of this national change wasalso furnished by the fort of Kanhergadnear Chandwad, where Shivaji hadappointed one Ramaji Panger as the keeper.The small but select band of 600 men facedterrible odds fighting with all their might,until nearly all the defenders were woundedand disabled, but they succeeded in turningthe enemy back with discomfiture. Sucha spirit of service and sacrifice quicklypermeated the whole Maratha nation atthe magic lead of Shivaji. The terrible routand the consequent debacle of the Mughalforces before Salher drove Aurangaze toan extreme measure of reproach. He thus

vented his wrath in bitterest terms in aletter to Diler Khan and others.

“Why did you not die on the battle-field toavoid this disgrace to your master ? Whydo you live and report to me this dismalnews ? You very well know how Adil Shah,Kutub Shah, the Portuguese, and the Siddisall court our favour and express an earnestdesire to join our standard. If you hadmade such a common cause with all theseand hunted Shivaji down from all sides, hecould have been easily brought to hisknees.” But things are easier said thandone !

In reply to these taunts, Bahadur Khan andDiler Khan rendered a piquant reply to theEmperor, saying that : “If the Emperorremembered that this same Shivaji hadbefore so cleverly managed to effect hisescape in a strange manner from thestrictest Imperial custody at Agra, our ownoffence would not appear after all so veryblame-worthy.”

Writes Sabhasad, “The news (of the Mughaldefeat before Salher) reached the Emperorand grieved him sorely. He did not makehis public appearance for three days,saying, ‘It seems God Almighty is pleasedto deprive the Muslims of their empire andbestow it upon an infidel. Why ? I shouldrather die than live to see such results’.”


AURANGAZEB paced up and down.Reports came from Deccan,about the rapid rise of Shivaji’s

power and influence. He read and re-readthe reports and finally called the GrandVazir, Mohammed Jaffer. “Is there no oneamong us who can catch this mountainrat ?” he demanded.

“If it please your majesty”, the Vazir replied,“I think my son Namdar Khan can do thejob …..”

Namdar Khan was called and ordered, “Youare to be in the van-guard of the campaignto be launched against Shivaji by ShaistaKhan …..”

The spirited Khan proudly stroked his beardat receiving so important assignment.

With a large force, and with the largerambition of capturing Shivaji andconquering his kingdom, he crossed theMoghul border near Burhanpur and enteredMaratha territory.

When the news reached Shivaji he did notwish to indulge in war and sent an overturefor peace. Disdainfully setting aside thepeace proposal the young Khan replied :“I am under Emperor’s order. At hiscommand I am strolling about in yourkingdom. But you, our host, are in hiding.Is it not your duty to receive a guest ?”You have so many strong mountain fortsand a disciplined army. Yet you avoid

confrontation and sue for peace from ahide-out. Shame !”

“So he is waiting for a hot reception ?”Shivaji said with a smile as he read thehaughty and biting reply to his peaceproposal. Then he called his two famousgenerals. Sardar Pratap Rao, and SheikhIbrahim, and gave them the order “Welcomethe Khan with a force of forty thousand.”

Meanwhile Namdar Khan made furtheradvance without resistance and reachedPen. From there he wrote a letter to theMughal Emperor, “By the grace of Allah, Ihave conquered Shivaji’s territory up toPen. It would not be long before I catchthe mountain rat himself.”

Resting at Pen, the young Khan reclined inhis shamiana, dreaming of the honours thatthe Emperor would shower on him when hereturned a triumphant hero. Suddenly……

“Hara Hara Maha Dev” echoed throughthe near-by hills. This was the unexpectedwar-cry of forty thousand Marathas.Springing up in dismay, Namdar Khanordered his army to march towards thehills. The two armies met in the mountainof Pen. A fierce battle raged for weekswithout respite. Handicapped by theunfamiliar and rugged mountain terrain, theKhan lost thousands of men. Ultimately,Khan shorn of his pride, gave the order“Retreat to Burhampur.”

BACK TO BURHANPUR


As the camp was being wound up, an un-known person suddenly appeared beforethe Khan, a sealed letter in hand. As theKhan shared at the stranger, the mandelivered the letter and vanished aselusively as he had appeared. The Khanlooked at the seal and his eyes openedwide. The letter was from Shivaji !

With unsteady hands the Khan opened theletter and read. “Khan Sahib, you enteredmy country as a guest and searched forthe host. You met the host in the mountainsof Pen and, I hope, you received all thehospitality we reserve for guests like you.Do you think you are the first Mughalgeneral to report back that you haveconquered Maratha country and are aboutto capture Shivaji ? For three years well-known Mughal generals coming before youhave reported the same thing. I feel sorryfor your Emperor. How long is he going tosuffer from such false reports? May truthbe with you - truth as you saw it at Pen.”

In a very small voice the young, once vainKhan repeated his order to his depletedarmy - “Back to Burhanpur.”

IN a Shiva temple in the precinctsof Burhanpur, Keshav Shastri, adevout Brahmin, knelt before the idol

in tears. His lips moved in a half-audibleprayer, in the dimly-lit gloom of night inthe temple. The silence of the night wasintermittently broken by his sobs.

“Oh God, my God,” he sobbed, “are youreally nothing more than stone ? Is notmy devotion to you worth even a hundredgold pieces ? I’ve never coveted wealthbut is my son to die because I do not havea hundred mohurs ? Only the Hakim hasthe remedy to save my son but he insistson a fee of a hundred mohurs. Take mylife, oh God, but spare my son.”

The deep sobs died into a whimper ofagony, as through sheer grief the learnedand devout Brahmin lapsed into silence.

Suddenly, there was some noise in thedarkness and some voices at the outer doorof the temple.

“Maharaj, you must rest here for the night.”

Somebody was urging somebody else. Thenanother voice spoke. “Hiroji, do you knowthat this is Burhanpur, a stronghold ofMughal power in the south ?”

“But, Maharaj, you are burning with fever.We can’t proceed, with you in such acondition. The best chance of escape isfor you to get some rest and regainstrength.”

A HUNDREDGOLD COINS


Rooted to the ground like a statue, KeshavShastri listened to the whispered dialogue.He also heard the groan of a man in agonyand in a flash he understood !

Only the other day he had heard a publicproclamation by the Subedar - “Shivaji, theMaratha King, has escaped from Agra. Anyone tracing his whereabouts and handinghim over will receive a handsome prize.”

And now Maharaj andHiroji ! Those namescould mean only onething, that a large prizewas now in his hands,that his son would not diefor lack of medicine.

Silently the Brahmin gotup and stole awaywithout being seen bythe new-comers.

At home Keshav Shastri’swife sat by her son’sside, who lay in a comabrought on by high fever.At the feet of the sickman sat a girl, his youngwife.

With her tear-filled eyes the older womanlooked at the girl and thought, “Poor girl !A mere lass of fifteen, but how devoted toher husband. I don’t know what wouldhappen to her if anything happens to myson.”

The girl sat still, her sad eyes showeringlove on the dying man.

The door creaked, and Keshav Shastricame in.

For three days, he had been coming homewith the gloom of despair in his eyes, ashis son lay dying for lack of medicine. Everyday his wife would look into his eyes for ananswer to an unspoken question and wouldfind the same answer. No money, nomedicine.

But today there was something in theBrahmin’s eyes that made the woman lookhard.

In a breathless whisperthe Brahmin told the story.

At the end the Brahminsaid, “I’m going to theSubedar straightway.There is no time to lose,Our son must be saved.”

The young girl listened insilence.

She looked at her dyinghusband and her heartfilled with love. This man,who lay on his death bed,was her very life. Andnow he was going to live.But how ? By means ofgold received as a reward

for betraying Shivaji.

Shivaji ! At the thought of that name somewild scenes raced before her mind’s eye.The other day the Mughal had destroyedKrishna Mandir. Then her friend Lakshmihad been cruelly abducted in broad day-light. And Shivaji was fighting against suchpeople.

Now he might be caught, tortured or killed.


No ! Shivaji must be saved ! His life wasthe life of the nation. Her husband’s lifewas of importance only to her.

For a long moment a tempest raged in herheart. Then she jumped up and made forthe door. Her father-in-law may be alreadyon the way to the temple with theSubedar’s soldiers. There was not amoment to lose if she was to warn Shivajibefore it was too late.

Like one possessed, she ran through thedark night towards the temple.

Shivaji’s eyes grew moist as he heard thegirl-s frantic story. Here was a young girlsacrificing her husband and her father-in-law for his sake, otherwise a good man, hewas forced to betray him for a hundredgold coins.

By the time the Brahmin came to the templeit was empty.

“What !” he exclaimed in disbelief. Thenoverwhelmed with grief, he stuck his headat the foot of the idol and there was atinkling noise !

He groped and held up something. It wasa satchel containing a hundred gold coins.


BUNDEL KHAND was as famous forits invaluable diamond mines, asit was for its brilliant warriors, each

one of them better than the other. Likethe magnificent stones that contributedtowards the embellishments of the Moghulcourt, these brilliant men also excelled intheir service to the Moghuls, IndramanBundela, Shyam Singh Bundela,Shubhakaran Bundela, and many more likethem proved their valour on countlessoccasions.

It was a Bundela, Champat Rai by name,who helped Aurangazeb in his treacherousascent to the Delhi throne, and as suchenjoyed the imperial patronage for quitesometime.

The favours of a king never last long.Champat Rai fell out of favour withAurangazeb and was subjected to muchhardship and humility. He still served theEmperor faithfully and died fighting for him.His wife ended her life when she learnt ofher husband’s death, leaving their fiveyoung sons to fend for themselves. Theeldest was about fourteen years old, thenext Chatrasal, about eleven and the otherthree were younger still. Chatrasal wasthe most intelligent, and shrewd, and itwas he who took up the challenge.

After four years, while still an adolescent,young Chatrasal was in search of anopening for his future career. He had inmind Mirza Raja Jai Singh as one who could

help him. Mirza Raja was about to leaveon an expedition to Deccan. Chatrasal hadheard about Shivaji, who was thenstruggling against and harassing theMoghuls. Mirza Raja had been deputed torestrain Shivaji’s efforts and reinstate allthat was lost to him. Chatrasal was alsoattracted by Shivaji’s chivalrous deeds, butdecided for the time being to seek serviceunder Mirza Raja Jai Singh. He met Mirza

Raja who was much pleased to welcomehim, he being the son of Champat Rai.Mirza Raja absorbed him in his army quitewillingly.

The young lad had taken part in theDeccan campaign, and proved his mettle.Raja Jai Singh was pleased and handed himover to Diler Khan.

When Diler Khan, who hated PrinceMuazzam, launched an attack on Deogarh,the battle was won mainly due to the valourof this brave lad, then only seventeen.

CHATRASAL BUNDELA


Diler Khan proudly announced his victoryto Aurangazeb. He was given a rousingwelcome at Delhi and was richly rewarded.But neither Auragazeb nor Diler Khan hadeven a single word of praise for Chatrasal,who was the real hero of the wholecampaign.

Young Chatrasal felt very bitter. The insultsank deep into his heart. Bitterness andfrustration racked his mind. “This Moghulhad shown no recognition to my father,who helped him to ascend the throne. MYfather died in humiliation and my mother inmisery. And now it looks as if it is my turnto serve him and suffer the same treatment.Even if one day I win his favour, what wouldit amount to ? Shackles of glittering gold !I, a Hindu Prince, am fighting my ownbrethren to wear those shackles. What ashame !” Thus he brooded long over theprospect.

His mind turned to Shivaji. He longed tomeet him as early as possible, and offerhis services in the fight for his motherland.He was determined to fight againstAurangazeb and avenge the death of hisfather who suffered in the imperial service.

The opportunity came to Chatrasal toescape from the Mughal army and joinShivaji when Diler Khan was camping in thenorth, still waging war against the Prince.When Shivaji looted Surat, Aurangazebordered Diler Khan to rout Shivaji’s army,and the Mughal army came to Deccan andcamped there ; Chatrasal got out one dayon the pretext of hunting, and, in thecompany of a few trusted friends, hetrekked the treacherous jungles andcrossed river Bhima which as in full spate

using a shaky wooden raft, and at lastreached Poona.

Shivaji gave the young man a warm andfriendly welcome. Chatrasal opened hisheart to Shivaji, whose constant battlesagainst alien rule guided and shaped hisown thoughts and desires. “I no longerwish to be a slave, at the mercy of thesealien rulers. You are fighting to shake offthese shackles, and I shall feel honoured,if my past is forgotten and forgiven and achance is offered to me to serve in yourarmy,” he concluded.

Shivaji appreciated the sincerity anddetermination of the young man. He wasalso very sympathetic towards Chatrasal.But Chatrasal was a Prince in his own rightand Shivaji was reluctant to offer him“employment” in his army.

“You go to Bundel Khand and liberate yourmotherland from the yokes of foreign rule.You ought to have your own kingdom. Itis not meet that you, a prince, should serveunder me. Serve the motherland bystrengthening your province. Defy alienrule whenever an opportunity arises. Incarrying out your duty, if you are killed,you shall receive the grace of God. If yousurvive and win over the enemies, you willhave the delight and freedom of ruling overyour own territory. You are brave, youare full of valour, you have intelligence. Iam sure that you will be enthroned oneday. Chatrasal ! if I keep you here forservice under me, all the credit will cometo me. You will get nothing of it. That iswhy I ask you to go. Defy and drive outthe enemy, and the news of your successshall be music to my ears.”


That was Shivaji’s reply, a reply worthy ofa king and worthy of the ears of a Prince.Chatrasal was at once deeply moved andhighly inspired by those words. His ownvague notions of his future were now givena definite shape. Accepting his duty as adivine gift, he left the camp to establishhis own rule at Bundel Khand.

Before Chatrasal left the camp Shivaji helda Darbar in his honour. Then in thepresence of a distinguished gatheringShivaji took out his own sword andpresented it to the Bundela prince withthe words, “Accept this symbol of ourfriendship. May you use it for securingfreedom……..”

WITH his eyes closed and hishands folded in all humility,Shivaji Maharaj sat still before

the idol of Shri Parashurama. Silently heprayed for the welfare of the Kingdom thatwas extending its borders from day to dayby Divine grace.

With the ignominious retreat of KarthalabKhan, Shivaji had himself set out anFebruary 2, 1661 for a lightning strike atthe Bijapur territories in Konkan. A forceof four thousand mounted Mavalis gallopedafter him.

A halt on the way was at Dabhol.

“Now my days are numbered,” the localJagirdar, Yeshwant Rao Dalvi thought inpanic. He had participated in the Muslimsiege of Vishalgarh as an employee of SiddiJohar.

“Give me refuge,” he had beseeched SuryaRao Surve, the Jagirdar of Shringarpur.

“We’ll together fight him,” Surya Raoassured him.

But Shivaji had no time for such small fry.Leaving a force of two thousand in Dabhol,just as a warning, he went on to Chiplun,in Konkan.

And now he was sitting in this holy templeof Chiplun on the banks of the sacred river,Vashishti.

The whole town wore a festive look. Forthe first time a king and his army had come,

“Is there a greater hero, agreater saint, a greater bhaktaand a greater king than Shivaji?Shivaji was the very embodi-ment of a born ruler of men astypified in our great Epics. Hewas the type of the real son ofIndia representing the true con-sciousness of the nation. It washe who showed what the futureof India is going to be sooner orlater, a group of independentunits under one umbrella as itwere, under one supreme impe-rial suzerainty.”

- Swami Vivekananda

BUSINESS ISBUSINESS


not to defile and destroy a temple but toworship there.

Shivaji had come to this holy place to seekdivine grace for his mission but an angrythought kept disturbing the peace of hismind. Looking towards the horizon he softlybut grimly said to himself, “Not far fromhere is Rajapur, the trading post of theFirangi from Vilayat. It was their big gun

that had been used against me in Siddi’ssiege of Panhalgarh. By the side of thegun had fluttered Firangi’s flag.”

Now the day of reckoning had come.

Shivaji gave a brief order : “On to Rajapur.”

It was enough. Jumping on to their steedshis men sped in the direction of the Britishpost to teach the Firangi a lesson.

The next day, as if out of the blue, a smallband of armed Marathas appeared at thegate of the mansion of every localbusinessman and money-lender in Rajapur.

It was a summons : “Shivaji Maharaj hascome. He is camping on the outskirts of

the town, and you are to present yourselfbefore him immediately.

With folded hands the businessmen stoodbefore Shivaji and he said, “You are sonsof the soil, and my mission is the welfareof our country. So I expect financial helpfrom you. I won’t say how much I want. Ileave that to you.”

There was no threat and the Sahukarsgave willing promises.

Shortly after, huge amounts of gold,precious stones and money weredelivered at the camp.

But the more important purpose ofthe visit to Rajapur was yet to befulfilled - and Shivaji’s eyes grewhard as he thought of it. Calling hisofficers he gave the order, “Go intothe city, arrest every British officerand bring them to me in hand-cuffs.Then loot their godowns. All thewealth belongs to this country, not

to these alien businessmen. After you cleanup the godowns, raze the walls to theground and dig up the floors to the depthof a man’s height to make sure that nothingremains hidden, - go.”

The officers beckoned to their men, andthe force entered the city, every manwearing a look of grim determination.

When the soldiers returned, they hadaccomplished their appointed task sothoroughly that the list of wealth obtained,still available in historical records, is toolong even to read at one stretch.

On March 15, 1661, two long caravans ofhorses and bullocks wended their way out


of Rajapur with their fabulous loads, headedfor two different forts under Shivaji’sinstruction. This was just 24 days afterthe large-scale surrender of arms andarmament by Kartalab Khan in UmbarkhindPass.

It was also in this expedition that Shivajifound a really precious jewel, a young brightboy by name Balaji Avji Chitre, who later

became famous as Shivaji’s letter-writerand a living embodiment of completededication to Swarajya.

“Even the Firangi post at Rajapur couldnot withstand his onslaught,” BadiSaheban, the domineering mother of theBijapur Sultan and the power behind thethrone, exclaimed in disbelief. “This is reallythe end for us.”

In resignation, she gave the order, “Preparefor my pilgrimage to Mecca. I might notreturn.”

From the windows of the dungeons of thetwo forts, Vasota and Sangarh, Shivaji’sBritish prisoners from the raid on Rajapurstared out into the distance, as if tryingto find the answer to their fate. Whenwould Andrews, the President of theirCompany, stationed at Surat, get themreleased ? Will they be released at all ?

One of these prisoners was HenryRevington, an officer in charge of theRajapur trading post who had, on his ownresponsibility, taken the British gun toPanhalagarh to help Siddi’s siege of Shjivajiand had personally given the order to fireit.

Revington sat on a bench in his cell,gloomily thinking of the many letters hehad written to his President beseechinghim to secure the release of the Britishprisoners.

On June 10, 1661 he wrote in desperation,“Sir, two of my assistants, Richard Napierand Samuel Bernard, have already died injail at Rajapur and I too, it seems, maymeet my end here behind the bars. So forGod’s sake do something.”

The President folded the letter and openedanother. After many letters he had writtento Shivaji requesting the release of hiscountrymen, he had received this curtmessage from Shivaji’s emissary, Somnath:

“The release would depend upon yourmaking up our losses during the siege ofPanhalgarh and your completing the talksour emissary Daroji was having with you


before the siege of Panhalgarh, in whichwe had asked for the help of your big gunsand ammunition against Siddi of Janjira.”

Again Andrews wrote replies, but there wasno word of making up Shivaji’s losses or ofhelping him against Siddi.

Shivaji read the letters and calmly ignoredthem.

Then one day a guard came in and said,“Maharaj, Henry Revington requests anaudience.”

“Bring him in.”

Revington slowly came in and bowed. Thenhe said, “Sir, you can see that I am ill.Still, as a last effort to secure my releaseand the release of my fellow countrymen,I would like to be freed on parole, so that Icould go to Surat and try to persuade myofficers to agree to your demands. I giveyou my word of honour that I shall return.”

Just a moment’s thought and Shivaji said,“Permission granted.”

Only a few days later Shivaji received amessage, “Revington’s efforts proved futile,and now he has died of his illness.”

Again the remaining prisoners wrote letterafter letter to Andrews, and Andrews wroteletter after letter to Shivaji.

Ultimately, exhausted with the unendingcorrespondence, Andrews wrote to thePrisoners themselves :

“I keep receiving letters from all of you.We too keep writing letters to ShivajiMaharaj, but he does not reply to a singleone.

“But, in a way, are you not yourselvesresponsible for your hardships ? Your dutywas to safeguard the goods of theCompany, and had you been imprisonedwhile discharging this duty, theresponsibility of the consequences couldhave been ours.

“But you have been punished by Shivajifor taking our gun to Panhalgarh on yourown initiative and firing it on his fort underthe Union Jack. Had there been somebodyelse in Shivaji’s place, he too would havedone the same thing in revenge.

“Is it the job of a trader to sell ammunitionor go and fire the guns himself ? And thiswas done when Revington knew about thetalks we previously had with Shivaji. Clearlyyou transgressed into his territory andcommitted an indiscretion and you aresuffering for it.”

At last, on February 15, 1663, Shivajiordered the release.

Thankfully, the Englishmen stood before himin a row and bowed low.

Shivaji gave a brief, simple warning forthem, “Go and tell your superiors never toforget one thing : we rule here. TheFirangi’s business is business and he muststick to it !”


FOR the last twenty-five years thesame story had been repeatedmonotonously. Fort after fort had

fallen. The Adil Shahi Sultanate was onits way out, and of this Khavas Khan wassure. Who was to be blamed for all this ?That wily Maratha called Shivaji ! KhavasKhan fumed at the very thought of him.

Shivaji Maharaj was out to conquer Bijapur.Not only did he wish to put an end to AdiShah, but it was also his aim to rub outMughal Shahi, Kutub Shahi, Siddi Shahi andeven the Portuguese from the map of India.Shivaji kept on increasing the strength ofhis army and navy.

Khavas Khan invited all his generals oneday and said, “This young Badshah is torule over you in years to come. Till then Iwish to request you to keep the Sultanatefrom ruin.”

The generals were in a quandary thatBhonsle was really on the verge of makingAdil Shahi a part of his kingdom. Theycould sense the inevitable. There wereonly handful of able men among them. Whocould accomplish this impossible feat ?Yes, there was one who could match hisstrength with the bravest and thehardiest. He was Abdul Karim Bahlol Khan,a Pathan. Long ago, he had migrated toIndia and was absorbed by Adil Shah in hisservice. At that moment he was a Subedarof Miraj and Panhala. There were twoparties in the court of Adil Shah, Pathans,

and men of Deccan. He was the leader ofthe Pathans, and his loyalty to Adil Shahwas well known. Now, he listened toKhavas Khan, the Prime Minister, verypatiently. After his speech was over, allthe generals looked towards Bahlol Khanand they said with one voice and heart,“Bahlol Khan is the best among us. TheSultanate of Adil Shah continues to existbecause of him. Enemies have run away;leaving their weapons at the mere sight ofhim.” Thus they flattered Bahlol Khan.Everyone including the Prime Minister,Pleaded : “We are afraid that Shivaji willwipe us out of existence. So we requestyou to help us in protecting our land. Kindlyundertake an expedition that will check thenefarious activities of this Maratha.”

The Khan was now longing to exhibit hismight, and without wasting a second heprepared for the assault. He waspresented with two elephants, four horses,costumes, and a number of weapons.Bahlol Khan was now equipped to lead anattack against Shivaji’s army.

He went about his job swiftly. He collectedhis army. Renowned generals were hisassistants. He commanded an army thatwas twelve thousand strong when he leftfor the expedition. He came to Tikota atfirst and then went to Umrani after twodays. He had planned to collect a muchlarger army.

SOLDIER PAYS FOR HIS PITY


Shivaji was at Panhala when he came toknow that Bahlol Khan was coming withhis huge army. He invited top men likePratap Rao Gujar and Anand Rao, forconfidential talks.

Maharaj asked, “How are we to opposeBahlol Khan who is on his way with hismassive army ?”

“If Maharaj tells us his plan, we are thereto execute it to the best of our ability,” allof them obediently replied.

“Bahlol Khan has come with an advanceparty of a few thousand soldiers. He isnot very far from this place. We musttackle him at once so that he is not ableto move.”

Shivaji’s plan was to surround the Khanand catch him unawares. Pratap Rao andothers understood what Shivaji had in mind.Maharaj entrusted the attack to PratapRao and said, “Bahlol Khan is longing for afight. Do away with him.”

Pratap Rao saluted Maharaj and left. Hegathered an army of fifteen thousandMavalis along with experienced generals likeVithal Pides Atre. Anand Rao Maharaj,Krishnaji Bhaskar, Viso Ballal, Siddi Hilal,Vithoji, Shide Dipaji, Rant Rao, and left forPanhala.

Pratap Rao reached Umrani. Khan knewnothing about Pratap Rao’s unexpectedmove. Before he knew what washappening, he was completely surrounded.Pratap Rao was quite aware of the prowessof the Khan.

It was summer, and there was only onepond in Umrani which supplied water to

the Khan’s army. Pratap Rao decided toassume control of the pond and this wasnot difficult. There were no guards at thepond, and so Hilal surrounded the pondimmediately. Though the Khan’s watersupply was blocked, he was totally ignorant.

Visaji, Baltal, Vithal Pides, were slowlyclosing in on the camp, from all directions.It was only when the Khan’s elephants weretaken to the pond that they were awareof their plight. Suddenly there was a cloudof dust and the Khan’s men saw a generalon horseback rushing towards them,followed by one thousand horsemen. Thegeneral was none other than Pratap RaoGujar. Khan’s soldiers were now in panic.Bahlol himself got his Patha regiment readywithin a short time. Pathans were tall,strong and disciplined soldiers, and the Khanwas prepared for a fight. All of a sudden,the Marathas attacked. Siddi Hilal and hisfive sons took part in the attack. A fiercebattle ensued.

Arrows darted past whistling through theair. The battle continued for three longhours. A huge tusker from the Khan’s armybecame wild. He broke the noose withwhich he was secured and rushed towardsthe Pathans. He caught them one by onewith his trunk and threw them away likeso many logs of wood. Many of them losttheir lives before Bahlol Khan’s mahoutstried in vain to capture the elephant.Vithoji Shinde, Vithal Pant, and otherMaratha generals also rushed to get theelephant. Bhaik Khan Tarin, a Pathangeneral, mounted an attack on theMarathas. Thus, there was a fierce battlefor the elephant. Sidoji Nimbalkarsuccessfully captured the elephant and


brought him to side of the Marathas. TheMarathas thus captured the best elephantthat Bahlol Khan possessed.

The Khan was bothered with the lack ofwater. It was summer, the heat wasunbearable and the Pathans were in thethick of the battle and they were thirsty.Elephants and horses were dying of thirst.Pratap Rao’s strategy had now worked.What could be done ? Bahlol Khan wasutterly helpless. He could not run awayas his whole army was surroundedon all sides by Maratha army. TheKhan himself was dying of thirst.He felt weak and miserable. Therewas only one way out. That wasto surrender to Pratap Rao. Thealternative was to get killed.

Finally, the Khan sent his envoy toPratap Rao. The Khan surrendered.All his pride vanished. The envoycame to Pratap Rao and in a veryapologetic tone he said, “We arenot your enemies. But, we have toobey the orders of Badshah. Now that weare among you, please do not take us toShivaji.”

The massive Pathan turned into a lamb, inthe hold of a wolf. “I shall never fight withShivaji,” he went on repeating. And ………..

Pratap Rao pitied the Khan ! He thoughthe had proved the might of his sword insuch a way that the Khan would not againdare attack any part of Swarajya. His heartwas filled with pity and he decided thatBahlol Khan should be freed. Whateverpunishment he got was sufficient for him.He could never attempt any moreexpeditions against Shivaji.

The Khan escaped because of Pratap Rao’sgenerosity. The Pathan army went back.

Bahlol left that place, but the sting of hisdefeat made him all the more vengeful.Pratap Rao pardoned him, but he hadcreated a vicious enemy who would strikeat any moment.

Maharaj was at Panhala then. He wasdelighted to know that Pratap Rao haddefeated Bahlol Khan and captured hiselephant. But when he came to know

that he had set Bahlol Khan free when hewas so well trapped by Pratap Rao, Shivajiwas furious. How could Pratap Rao excuseKhan without consulting him ? Whom didhe ask ? Why was the Khan not arrestedand brought before him ? Had he beenarrested, Pratap Rao would not have lostany prestige. Now Shivaji was sure thatBahlol Khan would nurture revenge like awounded serpent set free. He woulddestroy the land, the loot all the wealth !Pratap Rao had shown unwanted pity andhe was the commander-in-chief. Indeed,he was fit only to be a soldier and not acommander !


Just when Pratap Rao was very happy inthe thought that he had defeated thePathasn, and made them look small beforehim, he received the letter from Maharaj.The questions posed by Maharaja joltedhim cruelly back to reality. “Why did youentertain a conversation with him ? Whydid you not kill the Khan ? Or arrest him ?Who permitted you to release him ? That,surely, was not part of Commander-in-Chief’s responsibility.”

Pratap Rao saw before him a very angryMaharaj, with eyes red and blood-shot. Butit was too late now to repent. A spentarrow could not be re-called.

Whatever Maharaj had written was all true.Bahlol Khan remained in Kolhapur Districtand did not go back to Bijapur. He collectedmore men and waited for a betteropportunity.

Pratap Rao’s mind was full of anguish dueto the grave mistake he had committed.He took it very ill that Maharaj had beenangered. He kept on listlessly plunderingDeccan plateau.

It was to restore his prestige after thissetback in Karnatak that next month PratapRao was sent against Bahlol Khan, severelycensuring him for his neglect in having letthat Bijapuri general off instead of crushinghis power once for all, when he was at hismercy at Umrani in April last. The Rajahwrote to his general in anger, “Bahlol hascome again. Go with your army, destroyhim and win a dicisive victory. Otherwise,never show your face to me again !”

Stung to the quick by this letter,Pratap Rao sought Bahlol outat Nesari, “in a narrow passagebetween two hills.” Smartingunder his master’s censure, hethrew generalship to the winds,and rushed upon the Bijapuriarmy, followed by only sixhorsemen. The rest of hissoldiers hung back from the madcharge. The gallant seven werecut down by the swarm of foes,and much havoc was doneamong the Marathas who were

disheartened by the fall of their leader ; “ariver of blood flowed”. Shivaji greatlymourned the death of Pratap Rao andrepeated for his angry letter. The deadgeneral’s relatives and dependents werewell provided for, and his daughter was sixyears later married to Rajaram, the secondson of the king.

Anand Rao, a lieutenant of Pratap Rao,relied the disheartened army of his chief.Shiva appointed him to an independentcommand and ordered him to return alivewithout defeating the enemy. At thisAnand Rao went off with the whole bodyof his cavalry far into Bijapur territory in


search of Bahlol. Diler Khan, with theMughal army, advanced promptly to thesuccour of his brother-Afghan, Bahlol Khan.But Anand Rao, not daring to fight the twosuch large forces, retreated towardsKanara, making forced marches of 45 milesa day. The two Khans, unable to overtakethe mobile Marathas, gave up the pursuitand turned, Bahlol to Kolhapur and DilerKhan to Panhala, whence, after a five-days’halt with the intention of besieging it, hefell back on his base.

Anand Rao, penetrating further into Kanara,robbed the Bazaar (peth) of Sampgaon,about 20 miles from Bankapur, in Bahlol’sJagir, capturing 150,000 hun worth of booty.Thence he set out on return with 3,000ox-loads of plunder. Bahlol and Khizr Khan,with 2,000 cavalry and many for soldiers,tried to intercept him near Bankapur, butwere defeated after a desperate battle andput to flight with the loss of a brother ofKhizr Khan. Anand Rao robbed the entireBijapuri army, capturing 500 horses, 2elephants, and much other prize.

But the Bijapuris had their revengeimmediately afterwards. Bahlol Khan,regarding the loss (of the elephants) as agreat disgrace to him, became desperate,attacked the robbers again, and beingreinforced, secured such a victory that theMarathas had to abandon 1,000 horses andwere pursued for a long distance. It wasnot the Marathas policy to fight pitchedbattles during a raid. So, Anand Rao rapidlyretreated with his booty to Shiva’sdominions and left it there in safety.

THE treatment accorded by theMoghul Emperor to theiruncrowned King angered and

embittered the Marathas, and any chanceof compromise with the Moghuls was nowruled out. It became evident that therewas no way out except expulsion of alienrule, and to this end they vowed theirservices unto death. It was obvious thatalien rulers could not be trusted. Theywere just not in the habit of keeping theirpromises. So once again started thearduous task of annexing territories andforts. With perseverance Shivaji set uponthe task of recovering all the forts andterritories he yielded to the Moghuls underthe terms of the treaty. With the seizureand possession of vast territories, the ideaof now obtaining legal sanction for hispossessions started taking shape. By virtueof power and responsibility Shivaji wasalready the uncrowned King of the newly-conquered Maratha territory. His followersand people already started referring to himas Shivaji Maharaj. Convention demandedthat a son, whose duty was to be humblebefore his parents, should not glorify himselfmore than his father. It was, therefore,only after Shahji’s death in 1664 that theidea could be conceived of Shivaji beingcrowned as King of Maharashtra.

Ten years had now elapsed since Shahaji’sdeath and in 1674 preparations were madefor his coronation. A King must be crowned

THE PRELUDE


by the people, and the coronation musthave divine benediction. Therefore,contact was immediately made with RamDas, the head priest of the MarathaBrahmins of Maharashtra. Ram Das wasinclined to approve of the idea and Shivaji’smother also gave him her maternalblessings. But there were difficulties, anddoubts began to be expressed about theform the coronation should take.

It was agreed that the coronation shouldbe in accordance with the dictates of HinduShastras, and the insignia of Royalty bebestowed on Shivaji at this formal andreligious function. But now that orthodoxyand religion had come into a picture of greatpolitical importance, difficulties began topresent themselves. It was questionedwhether the traditional ceremony of a Hinducoronation could at all be held, becausethe Shastras decreed a preliminaryinvestiture of a sacred thread. It was likeputting the cart before the horse. Orthodoxopinion was thus a deadlock in the situation.

The matter was finally referred to a scholarof merit, Gaga Bhatt of Benares. He provedto be more progressive than hiscontemporaries, and held the view thatorthodoxy should not come in the way ofa man who had himself fought for theprotection of Hindu religion. The time-barrule for the thread ceremony could bewaived in Shivaji’s case. Shivaji provedhis merit and right to ascend the throneso well through his independentachievements, that Shastraic injunctionscould be shown to be in his favour.

When this reassuring message reachedShivaji, he invited Gaga Bhatt to visit him

at Raigad. The holy man was receivedwith pomp and splendour, for he hadremoved the great impediment which stoodin the way of a Shastraic coronation.

The astrologers of the court weresummoned and asked to fix the time andday most auspicious for the coronation,and accordingly the coronation was fixedfor the thirteenth day of the first half ofJesht of the same year. The correspondingEnglish date is given as June 6, 1674.

Preparations for the coronation were nowmoving fast. They gathered momentum atRaigad, which was to receive recognitionas the capital of Shivaji’s new Kingdom.

A King, once crowned, must have a palace.He cannot continue to live in a fort like asoldier. Architects and stone-masons fromnearby areas were soon invited to comeand design a palace for the new King.Around it, eighteen spacious buildings weredesigned, which were to be out-housesand office premises for those who were toserve the new Monarch.

Shivaji always believed Raigad as his luckycharm. Besides, it symbolised, in its quiettranquillity, the hopes and aspirations ofhis followers, their desire for a sanctuaryafter their many clashes with thedominating foreigners. Raigad had alwayssymbolised freedom for Shivaji. It was nowto become the symbol of his sovereignty.Raigad was the place where he also died.Before choosing Raigad as his officialresidence, he had consulted Pandits andhad it confirmed that this was the part ofhis Empire which would prove auspiciousand which would increase his bounty.


As Shivaji was the first King, he was notbound by any precedents. Instead, as hisobjective was to entertain the people ofthe soil, he wanted to give them the typeof entertainment with which they wouldbe familiar, avoiding the trappings andornamentation of foreign rule.

So came the fourth day of Jesht, whichwas the first day of the celebration. Onehundred thousand Brahmins gathered onthat day to recite verses from the Vedasand to chant appropriate pieces from theShastras.

For nine days, thereafter, the preliminarieslasted, and, on the thirteenth of Jesht,which was the coronation day ofChhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. That was theday of days for the Marathas and theMavlis, a day when the blessings of Bhavanicame true with the scion of the Bhonslesstepping on to the golden throne, havingshaken off the dust of many a battle whichhe had fought.

Earlier that morning Shivaji had announcedthe names of the eight Ministers of Statehe had appointed and confirmed them intheir new officers. He also named the twomen who would be his principal Secretariesof State, each being allotted his sphere ofwork or department, for a Monarch couldnot move with the same elasticity as asupreme commander. Shivaji, whileretaining all powers of State in his hands,was now compelled to delegate the routineduties to the men he had selected to servehim.

Shivaji was crowned as the Sovereign ofthe Maratha Kingdom, with the titles ofChhatrapati and Kshatriya Kulavatansa

bestowed on him. The coronation wascelebrated with the pomp and splendourbefitting the occasion. The simple soldier,accustomed to hard living now ascendeda throne and wore the mantle of a king.All around was the glittering magnificenceof a pompous celebration. His throne, hisdress and his umbrella glittered in gold andbejewelled ornamentations. From behindall this, his rugged and simple but nobleheart beat the same rhythm, which italways did, to the tune of freedom fromalien yoke.

Bhavani, who had appeared in the dreamto Maloji Bhonsle, had now translated thatdream into reality. While hitherto only asword had hung by the side of Shivaji,there now also shone a crown upon hishead.


I

IN the drawing-room Jija Bai sat fullywrapped up in a shawl. An oven,full of burning embers proclaimed the

biting cold outside. Annaji Pant, Balaji Aojiand two others were deeply engrossed insome discussion. At that time a messengerrushed in, followed by Niraji Pant.

Niraji Pant paid his respects to Masaheband offered her a basket of vegetables.Masaheb asked :

“What have you there, Pant ?”

“They are some brinjals from my kitchengarden,” replied Niraji.

Annaji Pant looked at them. Masaheb toldhim, “Look here Annaji, some peopleremember even minute things. I hadcasually spoken to Niraji’s wife about themonotony of the same type of vegetablesavailable here. And look, the good girl herehas immediately sent these brinjals.”

Niraji said, “There is nothing commendablein it. There were plenty in the garden andso I brought some.”

“Please do not mistake me. I am touchedby your concern even over such minutethings. There are people who forget eventhe major issues of life.”

“Please forget about it, Masaheb, and don’tlet it bother you,” requested Niraji.

“Why should I not ? You have all done themost impossible things. You have defeatedthose mighty warriors who attacked youwith all their armed might. You have shownyour valour. And still there are people whodare to laugh at your deeds ! So muchblood has been shed. Is there no valuefor it, or for the young boys who havestaked their lives for freedom ? Were theyfools ? Yet some people flatter theBadshah ! What a shame !”

“We have been continuously clamouring forour own King, our Emperor duly sworn !”Balaji promptly expressed his wish.

“What is the use of your telling me, mychildren ? I know that all of us are veryeager to witness this great occasion. But,unless he (Shivaji) takes it into his headwhat can we do ? It is as good as drawinglines on water” said Jija Bai.

Suddenly, a messenger announced thearrival of Shivaji.

“Let him come ! We are all eagerly waitingfor him,” said Jija Bai.

Niraji, Annaji, Balaji and the rest stood up,and Masaheb looked on with longing eyes,as Shivaji crossed the threshold. Hetouched the feet of his mother tenderlyand thus paid his respects as Jija Bai heldhis arm and made him sit beside her. Shivajisaid, “Masaheb, nothing can beat your lovein this world!”

PERSUASION SUCCEEDS AT LASTG.N.DANDEKAR


“Hold your honeyed tongue. I would ratherhave you come to see me every day thanhear those sweet words of yours spokento allay the pain of your long absence.”

“But, mother, it is you who have taughtme to work. And, now, you want me tovisit you every day?”

“No, my child, I know that I am not a matchfor you in smart talk, though, you are myson ! Well, be it so ! Tell me from whereyou are coming ? What news have youbrought ?” Jija Bai asked her son.

“Masaheb, let politics and battle fields beleft to us. For your part, just be satisfiedwith seeing us victorious.” And turning toAnnaji, Shivaji asked, “Annaji, do youremember the medicine prescribed by theVaidya ?”

“Yes Sir, one or two herbs were notavailable, and so we got them fromAurangabad. The decoction is beingprepared. As soon as it is ready it will bebrought here. Normally, the doctor comesand examines Masaheb every day,” Annajireplied.

Masaheb then spoke with disgust.

“Shivba, enough of these decoctions andmedicines ! Your medicine has no powerto cure the disease that ails me.” Shivajisat very close to his mother, took her handsvery tenderly in his, and slowly pressingthem he said : “Masaheb, nothing is lackinghere now. Once you owned only thirty-two villages, now your kingdom hasexpanded into three hundred and fifty fortsand fortresses. Each one of them is strongenough to resist enemy attack at least forone year. Holy rivers like Krishna, Koyna,

Vennya, Savitri, Gandhari all flow pereniallythrough your kingdom. You have underyour command some of the most powerfulgenerals of the time. Each one of themcan deal with a hundred soldiers single-handed. Anything you wish to have onthis earth will be at your command withinminutes. My father left me a little jagir,and I have enlarged it into a mighty, vastkingdom. What is it that ails you, now ?”

Tears rolled down her cheeks. Wiping themwith her sari she said,

“Shall I tell you why I am pained ?”

“Yes, please tell me,” said Shivaji.

“Raje, your word is law. A violation of itspells death. Even as your word is honouredand feared, so should you respect thefeelings of others. Otherwise, people willnot rely long on your words.” Jija Baiexplained her pain.

“Yes, I will do anything you bid me do,”assured Shivaji.

“I say that the wish of your people to havea sovereign rule over them should behonoured.” Jija Bai spoke firmly. Shivajiwas silent for a moment. Both Balaji andAnnaji stood up with folded hands. Shivajiemerged apparently from his absorption,and said.

“Annaji Pant, I do not like to see youstanding with folded hands.”

Balaji said, “Our wish is well-known to themaster !”

“What do you mean ?” asked Shivaji.

Annaji said, “We can only request you tofulfil the wishes of Masaheb.”


“Could you tell me what is lacking in thepresent regime ? I have been able to provea deterrent to Adil Shah. I have forgottenan alliance with the Sultan of Golkonda.Your Aurangazeb had to acknowledge mymight. I detained some Englishmen, andtheir people at Surat had no courage toset them free. I have re-built the SaptaKoteeshwara temple before the very eyesof the Portuguese and in their ownterritory. Our ships carrying the saffronflags sail the high seas fearlessly, whileothers have to take our permission to move.Siddi has just managed to keep his position.He can’t stir out. Tell me, who is therewho would not recognise Maratha might ?”went on Shivaji.

But Jija Bai retorted forcefully :

“I know that you have fought the foesoutside. Yet, many people in Maharashtrastill consider you a dacoit and a burglar.”

“Let them think what they like. I am notgoing to involve myself in any uselessquarrel,” Shivaji said with determination.

Annaji Pant recognised the urgency of thesituation and said in a soft voice :

“Master, nobody doubts your authority.Your gallantry and valour are no secret.Yet, it seems to be all in vain without thesanction of a religious rite, a sacredceremony.”

Shivaji raised his voice and said :

“Do you say the same thing, Annaji Pant ?If you think that you are unable to servein a kingdom over which a proper king, aduly anointed ruler is not sworn in, you arefree to leave the service.”

Annaji answered with equal firmness.

“Only one power can dismiss this servantof the Maratha Kingdom ….. Death ! Master,do you understand me well ?”

Shivaji cooled down and said in perfectpoliteness,

“I am aware of your loyalty, Pant. Don’tyou know the Sloka about the lion ……”

Annaji recited it.

Shivaji enthusiastically added,

“See ! Does the lion have to beceremoniously proclaimed a King by theother animals ? Is he not King by his ownright ?”

Jija Bai, who had been listening patiently,broke her silence :

“Where do you stand Shivba ? A liondefinitely is not sworn king. If we hadbeen animals, and behaved like animals,there would have been no need for anyrites. But do the animals build temples forMaha Dev ? Do they fall at the feet of theMother Bhavani and offer humble obeisance? Do they bow down in respect to theSaints and Yogis ? Or are you sure thatthey eat their food with taste ?”

Shivaji replied,

“I do not under-estimate the importanceof ceremonies and rites, mother! What Imean is that the rites to be performed fora brave soldier should be baptism withblood. It is the wounds on his brave chestthat matters, and not the application ofsandal wood paste or holy ashes, orsprinkling of sanctified water. It is notimportant whether he wears a diadem.


What matters is whether his hands havebeen hardened by handling weapons.”

“I know, it is useless to argue.” Hecontinued smiling at his mother. “It is afterall you who have taught me all thesethings.”

Jija Bai Said, “Yes, but I have also taughtyou that a nugget of pure gold is useless.To fashion it into an ornament fit to beplaced around the Lord’s neck, it has topass through a number of tests. Lumps ofgold are not given as offerings. Similarly,you must go through the rites, andceremonies to be recognised. Those whoare close to you do recognise yourauthority. It is essential to show to thosethat may deny you that you are a sovereignEmperor by authority. It is, therefore,absolutely necessary that you go throughthe whole gamut of form and ceremony.”

This long-drawn speech proved too muchfor her. She started heaving. She lookedup at her son, and saw him immersed inthought. And she resumed :

“Raje, whatever you have to decide mustbe done here and now.”

Shivaji turned to his Secretary, Balaji, andsaid,

“The ceremony would cost quite an amountof money.”

Balaji said without any reservation,

“But, Sir, it has to be performed for thesake of the public.”

“Just as we spend on construction of forts,maintenance of cavalry, cannons and otherequipment, so also do we have to spend

money for the coronation ceremony. It isonly fitting that it should be so.”

Shivaji Maharaj was bitter as he said,“Annaji Pant, I have not a pie to spend onthis ceremony. Construction of forts isaltogether a different matter. If our fort isstrong we can fight our enemies. That isnot the case with pompous pageantry andmeaningless ceremonies. People will eatand make merry, and then all will be over.”

Annaji was not a bit perturbed and he said,

“You need not release a single coin fromthe treasury. Only say that you are readyfor the ceremony. That would be enough.”

“How will you get the money ?” askedShivaji.

“We shall collect it through a special tax.”Annaji.

“That means, you will make the poor peoplepay. No, Pant, it is not possible. If itmeans that my subjects have to suffer. Iprefer to remain without a crown.”

“Please excuse me, Sir ! Without demur,the Marathas in their love and devotionwill offer all that may be required for thesake of their Emperor. How can I tell youhow deeply all of us feel the urgentnecessity for a king. If you will onlyconsent, you will find a flood of wealthand all the paraphernalia flowing intoRaigarh.”

“I don’t want to listen to any complaintslater on,” said Shivaji.

“Be fully assured, Sir ! We only requestyou to give us your consent,” replied Balaji.


Shivaji kept quiet for sometime. Then hespoke with feeling,

“Annaji Pant, if this coronation is to takeplace I would have preferred to enthronemyself in the presence of Tanaji Malusare,Baji Prabhu, Murar Baji, Kanhoji Jedhe - mydearest friends. Alas, all of them havegone. I cannot think of enjoying theceremony without them. You may saywhatever you like.”

The conversation came to an abrupt end.Shvaji was not prepared to agree, and noamount of argument would have persuadedhim.

II

Gaga Bhatt stayed with Masaheb. He hadbecome the centre of attraction not onlyfor Pachad folks but also for the townsand villages situated around.

By that time, the intention of Masaheb,and the Secretary to have a coronationceremony, was known to all the peoplearound Pachad. In fact, the whole ofDeccan longed for the day. The onlydifficulty was to obtain the willingness ofShivaji himself. He did not pay heed evento the words of his mother on that count !People wondered, what would happen !

A ray of hope in the form of Gaga Bhattillumined their hearts. Gaga Bhatt was themost famous Pandit from Kashi. It waslearnt that he had taken a vow, (with theholy water of Ganges in his hand) that hewould see a sovereign Emperor sworn inDeccan. If he did not, he would neverreturn to Kashi. All the people, rich andpoor, big and small, Brahmins, Kshatriyas,farmers, weavers, blacksmiths, gold-smiths,

tailors, clerks, accountants, all of themvisited Pachad. They came from all partsof the country and they came in all sortsof conveyances. The cooks wereexhausted because of continuous cookingand serving. The store-keepers were alsoin a similar plight.

Gaga Bhatt was seated on a high platformand Jija Bai sat in front of him in the court-yard. The place was packed to capacity.

Gaga Bhatt continued his preaching. Hecited many examples from different religiousbooks, quoting authorities, and said,

“Janak’s ethics, Vidura’s ethics, Chanakya’seconomics …… all of them were unanimous.There can be no kingdom without a king.Without a king, the affairs of a countrywill be in chaos. Although, it is possible torule a kingdom with one’s might, it is betterto set the seal of sanction through religiousrites. It is imperative and it ought to bedone.

Once, long ago there was anarchy in acertain place. No one paid heed to another.There was chaos all around. The Rishisand saints of that land gathered together,and held a meeting. They came to theconclusion that the havoc could not bestopped till the kingdom was duly handedover to an able person. So they agreed tonominate a competent person as the King.It was only then that social life progressedsmoothly.

“How can a kingdom exist without a king ?It would be just like the solar systemwithout the Sun. Does anyone take shelterunder a fictitious cloud ? So is a Kingdomwithout a king. The land must be controlled


by a king, a duly sworn king. A religiousbath, anointing the chosen ruler with thewaters of seven holy rivers is a pre-requisite. There is a profound significancehidden in this ceremony. It means that allthese rivers, or the areas surrounding them,accept the king, who got bathed in thewaters, as their master. Earth from sevenholy mountains should be brought to makea seat for the ‘Abhisheka’. That means, allthe areas where those mountains aresituated also accept the king as theirmaster”.

Gaga Bhatt explained the urgency of theceremony performed. Words came out ofhis mouth in an eloquent stream and theaudience was spell bound. Jija Bai wasnow more determined than ever. Yetrealising her personal helplessness shepleaded.

“But, Guruji, what can we do when Shivbais not willing for the ceremony.”

Gaga Bhatt was confident. He said, “Yes,is that the hitch Masaheb ? I shall try topersuade him. He is your illustrious son. Iam sure he will not dis-respect the authorityof the scriptures that I represent. He hasto be sworn in, Masaheb. There is noalternative.”

The crowd dispersed. Shivaji arrived homeand was extremely pleased to have PanditGaga Bhatt as his guest. He touched hisfeet in reverence. Gaga Bhatt was eagerto be with him alone and requested him toaccompany him to Raigarh.

Shivaji treated him with great reverence.He took him to Raigarh in an ornatepalanquin and with fully decorated

elephants and horses marching ahead ofhim. Maharaj himself walked bare-footed.Gaga Bhatt requested him a number of timesnot to go on foot but Shivaji replied,“Please excuse me, I hope you will not goagainst this wish of mine.”

“Would you agree if I requested you to doany other thing ? But that shall be donelater” said Gaga Bhatt.

“I am sure, Guruji your order would be well-thought-out one.” Shivaji was equallyadept in his reply. Now the palanquin slowlycame to its destination. The crowd woundits way through forests of teak, pine,Deodhar and Catechu. The leaves rustledin the breeze, cooling the sweltering heatof the afternoon. When Gaga Bhatt sethis eyes on the main gate, he was stuckby the impregnable defence that the fortprovided. He had seen cities like Delhi,Agra, Jaipur, Bikaner, etc. But heappreciated the uniqueness of the defenceand the beauty of Raigarh.

The palanquin now entered the main fort.Shivaji gave a fitting reception to GagaBhatt and led him to an exquisitelydecorated seat. He stood before GagaBhatt with hands folded. He said, “Guruji,I have only one request to make. Pleasestay here at Raigarh for two months andlet it be filled with your sanctifiedpresence.”

“I too have a favour to ask of you” GagaBhatt replied. “I am at your service,”answered Shivaji. “I request you to bepresent during those two months.Otherwise, you will leave me alone and roamabout,” Gaga Bhatt added laughing


heartily, Shivaji joined in the laughter andsaid, “I shall do as you wish.”

Shivaji had kept a place ready for GagaBhatt. He took him to the place and sawthat all arrangements were perfect. Thenhe said,

“Now, please let me take leave of you. Ishall be here in the evening.”

III

It was a moon-lit night. Supreme serenityreigned everywhere. In the enclosure ofJagadishwar temple two persons sat, closeto each other, Gaga Bhatt and Shivaji.They talked in whispers to each other. Theguards stood still like statues outside thetemple. The main speaker was Gaga Bhatt.

“Therefore, a kingdom must have a king, aplenipotentiary invested with authority.Just because somebody addresses one bythe title one does not become a king. Ithas to be confirmed and sanctified by areligious ceremony. You cited the exampleof a lion, the king of beasts, and said thata mere ceremony has no meaning. That istrue, so far as that goes.

“When you live in a society, its customshave to be followed. Some ceremonies,functions, rituals are to be performed, ifnot for anything else, at least for the sakeof the people. It is true to say that one ofthe functions of a king is to satisfy thepeople. You know that Sri Rama abandonedSita to satisfy his subjects. He must havefelt that he was cutting his heart into twopieces and separating one from the other,yet he continued to rule without his wife,all alone. He hid his sorrow. Could youimagine the agony he must have undergone

? Did he not suffer for the sake of thepeople ? However much you dislike it, youhave also to undergo all the religious ritesfor the sake of your people.”

Gaga Bhatt was silent. Maharaj rememberedsomething and said,

“You have not answered one of myquestions.”

“What is that ?” questioned Gaga Bhatt.

“All my most beloved friends have gone.They have been slain. How can I …….”Pleaded Shivaji.

“Maharaj, you have lost nothing. The taskthat you have undertaken is a sacred one.Gain and loss are the obverse and reverseof the coin of life. Take the example ofYudhishthira. After the great war ofMahabharatha, he was to be sworn. Hesaid, ‘For whom shall I be sworn ? I havelost all my brothers and friends. MyPreceptor and revered ones like Bhishma,who would have been happy to witnessthe present ceremony are no more. Nay,we killed them ! Even my sons have beenslain. I am not going to be a king. I shallgo to the Himalayas and do penance.’ Onhearing this speech the best of sages, LordKrishna laughed and said, ‘Yudhishthira, itmay be easy to leave everything andbecome a Sannyasin but remember you arerunning away from the battle field, and youare a Kshatriya. Society is a big chariot,it has to keep on moving. If you become aking, only then can you drive this chariot.Be wise, Yudhishthira, and for the sake ofthose people, who have survived in spiteof the Mahabharatha war, you must becrowned.’


“As Yudhishthira once listened to LordKrishna, will you also now listen to my word? You have captured the forts of yourmightiest enemies. Emperors and Sultansnow acknowledge your might. Now, yoursubjects need a religiously sworn king.They will raise their heads and declare thatthey have got a sovereign Emperor of theirown, and that they do not care about whatothers say about it.

“Maharaj, this is the longing of the people.Won’t you listen to it ? I request you,urge you, nay, order you in my capacityas heir of the head priest of all the SouthernRoyal Dynasties, that you must acceptthe coronation ceremony performed withall the religious rites. I have not thoughtill of anyone throughout my life. I havenot hurt anyone. I have not disobeyedany religious commands. Now I have onlyone wish in my mind, that there should bea Hindu Sovereign Empire in the land, andif there is any one most suitable to ruleover it, that is Yourself !

“Kavi Bhushan has already stated that hadnot Shivaji existed, everyone would havebeen forcibly converted to Islam. All thepoor people, all the saints, all the law-abiding people, the women, thehandicapped and the old have their hopescentred in you. Therefore, I fold my handsin all earnestness and make this appeal toyou, Maharaj.” Before Gaga Bhatt coulddo that, Shivaji got up and touched hisfeet and said :

“Please do not make me feel more ashamed.I shall abide by your wish.”

Gaga Bhatt was overwhelmed as heembraced Shivaji. He said,

“Go to Pachad early in the morning, andconvey your decision to Masaheb. She islonging to hear this news.”

IV

Jija Bai sat on a cot. Shivaji was besideher. She stroked his back with tremblinghands as tears ran down her cheeks. Witha choked voice she spoke :

“Once the ceremony is performed, I shallbe free to leave this world.”

Shivaji remonstrated, “Then I am takingmy decision back.”

“Don’t talk like that, my son. The dreamof centuries is to be fulfilled. Please donot say ‘No’. This body has become old.It will die within a few days. You knowthat all our wishes cannot be fulfilled. It isthe law of life that one does not live forever.Man likes to possess a thing, and once hegets it, he thinks of another. That is anunending chain. Your case is different. Itwas the wish of the people for a numberof years. Only your consent was not there.Now we have got it and you should notturn back,” Jija Bai explained carefully.

“It shall be as you wish,” Shivaji consented.

“My blessings are always with you.”

The news spread like wild-fire, and the joyof the people all over Maharashtra knewno bounds.


Introduction

CHHATRAPATI SHIVAJI MAHARAJwas born in 1627 at Shivneri,near Junnar. When he was twelve

years old, his father Shahaji bestowed onShivaji thirty-six villages out of his PoonaJagir. As he grew up, Shivaji defeated theMoghuls and the Adil Shahis and extendedhis dominions. He became the master of alarge crack force of cavalryand infantry which began tobe feared for its hurricane-like movements and eagle-like swoops. He also had abig powerful navy whichinspired awe and ensuredrespect. At the same time,he had amassed immensetreasure. By the age offorty-four, he had becomea de facto independent kingof an extensive part ofDeccan. He was no more aJagirdar, or a subordinatechief, or even a feudatory Prince. He was,therefore, in every way fit to be crownedas King.

The Moghul Emperor Aurangazeb becamefully alive to the danger posed by Shivaji’sactivities. So did several other rulers, suchas the Sultan of Golkonda. In order to betheir equal, Shivaji resolved, properlyenough, to have the religious ceremonyof coronation (Rajyabhisheka) performed

according toVedic rites andassume the titleof Chhatrapati.(It seems thatthis title wasalready intendedto be takenwhen Shivaji

reserved the umbrella – Chhatra - tohimself. Again it was intended to emphasiseShivaji’s superior position).

Preparations for the coronation

Preparations for the coronation werestarted. The choice of the place fell onthe strong fort of Raigad which Shivaji hadalways loved. The fort was spaciousenough to accommodate the vast

THE CORONATION OFCHHATRAPATI SHIVAJI MAHARAJ

PROF. M. Y. KHAN


concourse that would be gathering thereon the historic occasion. Shivaji heldconsultations with his advisers, and havingformed his decision invited the greatDeccan; Pandit of Benares, Gaga Bhatt,to act as the Master of Ceremonies. Bhattarrived in due course and he convinced hisopponents about the necessity of lookingupon Shivaji as “ a Heaven-sent warrior ofundoubted Kshatriya characteristics andattributes as defined in the Smritis andthe Bhagavad Gita.”

A large number of distinguished guests wereinvited and brought to Raigad fort in specialpalanquins. Many pandits, Kings, Nobles,Diplomats, friends and Kinsmen gatheredat the capital. Incidentally, Shivaji postedstrong guards at every pass in the Konkonso that Bahadur Khan, Aurangazeb’sgeneral, could not come to prevent thecoronation.

On May 26, 1674, Shivaji’s “threadceremony” was performed. It wasnecessary to enable him to be crownedwith Vedic rites. Before the beginning ofthe coronation ceremonies, Shivaji visitedPratapgad and worshipped his family deity,Tulja Bhavani. He also visited several othertemples and shrines.

The coronation was fixed for SaturdayJyaistha Shuddha Trayodashi, Shaka 1596,corresponding to June 3 (or 5), 1674. Theprincipal function was to take place earlyin the morning, an hour and twenty minutesbefore sun-rise at the astrologicallyauspicious moment. Shivaji spent the eveof the coronation in fasting, prayers andmeditation.

The coronation of the Chhatrapati

On the day of the coronation, Shivaji wokeup before dawn and had a ritual bath. Soonafter this he went to offer his respects tohis old mother Jija Bai and the other elders,and sought their blessings.

The coronation was truly gorgeous andimposing. The first important rite on thismemorable occasion was the abhisheka.Shivaji was dressed in white clothes for it,and his chief Queen Soyra Bai had hersaree knotted to his robe as they do atmarriage ceremonies. They sat side byside on two paats (low wooden stools).Sambhaji, Shivaji’s eldest son, sat on thestep in front. The eight Ministers of theState, led by Moropant Pingale (Peshwaor Chief Minister), with the insignia ofRoyalty in their hands, stood around thecanopy which was bedecked with preciouspearls. So did the representatives of thefour varnas – namely, Brahmins, Kshatriyas,Vaishyas and Shudras – holding golden,silver, brass and earthen jugs respectively,filled with the holy waters of the four seasand the seven sacred rivers of Bharat. Thepresiding priest Gaga Bhatt, amidst thesounding of the Shahnai, nagara and otherauspicious musical instruments and theboom of a cannon, sprinkled on Shivaji’shead the holy waters and sacred rice,chanting the Vedic mantras prescribed inthe Aitareya Brahmana for Mahabhisheka.One of these is the memorable blessing :

May thy subjects love thee everMay thy kingship slip thee never.

Then for the Chhatradharan or coronationproper, Shivaji was dressed in rich, red robesand costly ornaments. He performed


Shastra Puja by sprinkling gulal (red andyellow powder) on his war weapons. Heonce again paid his respects to the eldersof his family.

The coronation hall was bedecked in richvelvet, brocade and pearls, with its wallscovered with sacred Vedic signs andsymbols. The gold-covered and diamond-studded throne was a raised stately seat,with four pillars at the four corners in orderto hold up the awning made of the cloth ofgold. The palace gates and grounds weredecorated with green banana and mangoleaves. Two ceremonial horses and tworichly caparisoned elephants stood guardat the gates. G.S.Sardesai observes :“The coronation ceremony was modelledon the old Aryan traditions. A gold-lacedflag accompanying the vermillion-colourednational emblem, the grand royal umbrella(chhatra), the gigantic drum (nagara), werethe usual appurtenances of pristine Hinduroyalty and were revived on this nationaloccasion.”

When Shivaji took his seat on the throne,lotuses and other flowers made of gold,silver and jewels were showered on himand his noble guests. The pancharti withlighted lamps was performed by thesuvasinis. Priests chanted prayers whilesubordinate chiefs and Jagirdars, militarycaptains and civil administrators andthousands of villagers and village officershailed the Monarch. Right then, cannonswere fired from all his forts in salute to thenew king. Gaga Bhatt came forward withthe chhatra (royal umbrella) and held itover Shivaji’s head and the people hailedhim as Maharaj Chhatrapati, Lord of theThrone, Head of all the Kshtriyas.

About eight O’clock in the morning, as soonas the Chhatrapati became free from thereligious performances, he gave aninterview to the assembled nobles andpriests. They paid their homage to thenewly crowned king and to each he gavegifts of money and rich robes (pashaks).He also granted interviews to thePortuguese, the Dutch and the Englishenvoys. Return presents were given tothem and the whole assembly was treatedto pan and attar.

Thereafter, the Chhatrapati mounted hischarger and went in triumphant processionto the Jagadishwar temple in the capital.From there he mounted his elephant androde in State through the streets of thefort, to show himself to the thousands ofhis people who had gathered to greet him,and also to pay a visit to the temples of


Maha Deva and Durga. Small flowers madeof gold and silver were showered amongthe throng, shouting victory to the newking. Ascetics, beggars, hermits and allkinds of poor people who had assembled,received gifts, food and attention indifferent ways. Having worshipped the twodeities, the Chhatrapati returned byanother road amidst the “Jaya”acclamations of his happy subjects.

Then he went back to the palace wherehis eighty-year-old mother and othersfondly received him. It was a moment ofsupreme happiness to Jija Bai, when hercrowned son stood before her to bow andreceive her blessing. She felt fortunate tohave witnessed the coronation and alongwith it the fulfilment of her dream of anindependent kingdom for her son. She hadreally lived for this day ; for she died onlytwelve days after the glorious spectacleof the Rajyabhisheka, leaving twenty-fivelakhs of hons to the founder of MarathaSwaraj. While dying she might have feltlike Mary, Jesus’ Mother “

Now lettest thou thy servant depart, OLord,

According to thy word, in peace ;

For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,

Which thou hast prepared before the faceof all people ;

A light for revelation to the Gentiles,

And the glory of thy people !

The True Significance of the Coronation

The coronation was the grand climax ofthe Chhatrapati’s career. It was at once a

public demonstration of his power andachievements.

It was mainly used to give a final shape tothe constitution of the Maratha Kingdom.The Chhatrapati also started a new era(Rajashak or Rajyabhishek). It begins fromthe date of his coronation. No wonder,therefore, he is known as the Shakakarta,“the maker of an era”.

Over and above everything, the Chhatrapatiby his coronation dealt a death-blow tothe idea that he was a small Jagirdar ofPoona and as such the bond servant ofBijapur State, or that he was just anopportunist.

Conclusion

The Chhatrapati’s coronation is the mostimportant event in his life and in the historyof Maharashtra. It gave him the newposition as the crowned king of HindaviSwarajya. It created a sentiment ofpatriotic love of country in the hearts ofhis people. This patriotism was of suchintensity that it lasted a hundred years atleast. It weathered successfully the GreatMoghul’s invasion of Maharashtra after theChhatrapati’s death, and even led to theextension of the power of the Marathaswhen Aurangazeb was no more.


PREPARATIONS were afoot inShivaji’s capital. No stone wasleft unturned to make the occasion

a gorgeous one. New palaces and roomsof state were erected, and consecratedby the singing of traditional hymns, theburning of sacrificial fires and libations ofholy water. In the audience hall a thronewas raised, rounded by figures of tigers,lions and elephants and carved round itsbase with the thirty points of the compassin symbol of Shivaji’s new Imperial claims.In long trains from every part of India eleventhousand priests and one hundred thousandvisitors journeyed towards Raigad, wherethey were entertained as Shivaji’s guestsfor four months. From Benares the greatestof the Brahmins of that sacred town, GagaBhatta, travelled southwards in great stateto perform the coronation ceremony. Hewas met by Shivaji and his Ministers, whodismounted at his approach and conductedhim by slow stages to Raigad.

First Shivaji visited the temple of theMother-Goddess at Pratapgad. Hepresented the shrine with an umbrella ofpure gold, forty-two pounds in weight.Then, accompanied by a few followers, heentered the temple and passed many daysin vigil and prayer. While prostrate in prayerbefore the altar he fell into a trance andfrom his mouth a faint thin voice, whichthose present declared must have beenthat of the Mother-Goddess Herself, beganto prophesy the future history of the

Maratha State, the final collapse of theMoghul Empire, the entry of the Marathasinto Delhi, the twenty-seven generations’rule of Shivaji’s descendants.

Shivaji being absent from Raigad, theEnglish envoys were received by one ofhis Ministers, Narainji Pandit, whom theyfound to be “a man of prudence andesteem”. They presented him with adiamond ring and his eldest son with twomantles. Shivaji had not known of theapproach of this embassy when he leftRaigad for Pratapgad and had made noarrangement for their reception ; and , thetown being crowded, they could not findaccommodation, but had to live in a tent.

Henry Oxinden (who was one of the Englishenvoys) was informed, “Two of your staffmay come to offer obeisance along withyour presents, half an hour after sun-risetomorrow. One of our men will take youalong.”

Henry kept himself in readiness. His dressstruck a strange contrast to those wornby the Hindu nobles in their white muslindhotis and togas of yellow or scarlet silk.True to the style of those days the Englishwore periwigs, feathered hats, lace cuffsand buckled shoes.

Shenvi now waited for the messenger. Thelatter came at the stipulated time and Henryand Shenvi got ready to go. There werefour men to carry the presents. Themessenger saw this and suddenly stiffened.

THE DEBT OF HONOUR


“What has happened ?” asked Shenvi.

“You are permitted to take only two personswith you.”

Henry knew the futility of arguing. He toldtwo of them to stay back and left alongwith Narayan, Shenvi following themessenger.

The main fort and its surroundings werecrowded with people clad in robes ofvarious colours and designs. At the footof the fort there was a huge gathering.People, men, women and children weremoving swiftly towards the main fort inthousands. Henry could barely manage topush his way through the throng and reachthe market place. He was surprised to seethis mammoth gathering from the loft.

Armed guards marched to the tune ofmartial music. They wore pantaloons andcoats peculiar to Mavalis, and from theirwaists hung the swords they used so often.Their heads were covered with colourfulturbans. Marksmen stood on one sidepointing their rifles upwards. There werehundreds of gallant horsemen who stoodarmed to the teeth. Swords gleamed insun-shine. Men with bulging biceps andscarred chests stood exhibiting their battle-wounds in heroic pride. Mounted camelsstood in front with drummers ready; forthe signal to start. Yonder stood twostallions, with their trappings of richembroidery. Two elephants stood at theentrance, their foreheads gaily painted,silver chains hanging around their neckswith a gold lump in the centre. Richbrocade covered their backs. One of themcarried a profusely decorated canopy andon the other a mounted soldier held a

saffron flag aloft. It was such an arraythat met Henry Oxiden’s eyes that day.The details of the celebrations were wellworked out. The whole procession movedon in perfect order.

The messenger ushered Henry and hisassociates inside through the entrance.Pomp and splendour such as this wasunknown and unheard of in an inaccessibleand hilly tract. He saw streams of peoplepouring in from all sides forming a vastocean. An assistant of Noroji Pandiapproached Sir Henry and took him to avantage point and explained to himeverything about the pageant.

“Maharaj will be arriving any time now.That peculiar instrument that you seethere is meant to measure time. Theauspicious moment will be known as soonas it is filled completely.

“This shamiana (large tent) has beenspecifically prepared for the occasion. Itis our custom to decorate it with leavesand flowers.

“That square is a permanent one, and it ismeant for the throne. The throne itself ismade of thirty-two maunds of gold. Theyare real pearls, with which you see itencrusted.

“That canopy around is made of wood.

“That vacant place on either side of thethrone is meant for the queens and royalguests. They have just started coming in.

“Look, there comes Jija Bai Sahib, themother of our King. She looks very tirednow.


“There – those persons standing with goldenplates in their hands are the Ministers.Moro Trimbak is the Prime Minister, andRamachandra Neelakanth the FinanceMinister. There stands Ravji Pandit Rao,Hambir Rao Mohiteis the commander-in-chief. The other one over there is hisprivate secretary, and that the chiefsecretary. At the end stands our ChiefJustice.”

A group of Brahmins were chantingMantras. The chieftains were all standingin a line on either side of the throne. Closeby were Shetty Desh Mukh, Deshpande,Watandar, Patel, and Kulkarni. There wereothers, Marathas hailing from differentparts of the country.

“Here come the ushers and mace-bearers.

“That is Gaga Bhatta, who has a shawltied around his head. And here, he comes! Shivaji Maharaj himself !

Clad in white robe, crowned and garlandedwith flowers, Shivaji entered the great hallof his palace, his queen-consort Soyrabeside him, their robes being knottedtogether in token of their union. BehindShivaji came his mother and his sonSambhaji. Then followed his eight Ministers,each carrying a gold vessel filled with holywater. He approached his throne, whichwas covered with a canopy of cloth ofgold from which pearls hung in festoons,lotus blossoms of gold and emerald beingthrown among the crowds during his slowprogress across the hall. He mounted thethrone and every gun in the city boomedhomage ; from fort to fort along all theghats Maratha guns answered the guns ofthe capital ; from the plains guns in every

Maratha outpost took up the loud salute,so that over every mile of country whereShivaji’s writ ran people were aware of theirruler’s coronation. Henry watchedeverything with great interest. Maharajstood in front of the throne. He salutedhis mother Jija Bai Saheb by bendingforward. Then he saluted Gaga Bhatta andBalam Bhatta in the same manner.

The time-measure indicated that theauspicious moment so eagerly awaited hadarrived. That was the moment for whichthe country had long been waiting, -waiting for centuries.

Marathi, the mother tongue of the people,Maratha customs, Maratha culture that hadbeen so long under the iron heels ofsuppression were waiting for this hour ofliberation. The souls of those martyrs,those men and women who died due tounimaginable tortures were all awaiting thishour of deliverance. Saints had performedpenances longing for this occasions. Allthe resolutions, promises, cries andmournings of sufferings millions, vows,pilgrimages, penances and fasts, heard orunheard by the deities, were waiting forjust this moment. All the merits of thegood had just fructified at this supremehour. Devas, angels would have descendedto watch this great event as it was theirman of choice that was now to ascendthe throne. Look at Shivaji, the sovereignEmperor of the Marathas, full of gratitudebeaming from his subdued countenance.Can one fathom the stormy thoughts thatare thronging his mind ?

Outwardly, the stoic calm, the regal poiseand bowed head could not reveal the


feelings hidden within. At this moment thememory of all those dear friends, who couldnot be present would have smitten him, ofthose martyrs on account of whosesupreme sacrifice, and the dream that theyhad cherished, this day has beentransformed into a reality.

Sixteen Brahmin women now advancedtowards Shivaji seated on his throne andflashed ceremonial lamps before his eyesand swayed them over his head to ensuregood fortune. The Shivaji rose and putover his simple white dress, a heavy robeof purple, embroidered with gold, and inplace of the chaplet of flowers he put on aturban hung with tassels of jewels. Thepontiff, Gaga Bhatta raised above his headthe pearl-studded gold umbrella of ImperialSovereignty, the soldiers clashed shield onspear and the crowds shouted andcheered.

Gaga Bhatta then started reciting hymns,in a deep resonant voice. Finally, hearticulated the proclamation, “KshatriyaKulawantas Maharaj SimhasanadheeswaraRaja Shiva Chhatrapati Ki Jai.”

The crowds took up and there was a chorusof voices that rent the air : “ChhatrapatiShivaji Maharaj Ki Jai.”

People did not really know what to do. Somuch were they overcome with joy ! Theyembraced one another, while tears of joystreamed down their cheeks. They wavedtheir towels and clapped their hands in glee.

“Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Ki Jai.”

The spectators showered flowers of goldand silver, popped rice, and vermillionpowder on Maharaj. The darbar was a riot

of colours with flowers of all types arrangedin banks and banks of beauty. Bards sangsongs of praise celebrating the valour ofthe great ones who had departed leavingthe fulfillment of their dream to this mostauspicious moment ! The thunder of voicesthat boomed was deafening. MoropantPingle and Pandit Rao now showeredMaharaj with gold coins. Then, there wasa stampede for offering presents toMaharaj. Some brought muslin cloth,brocade, costly turbans, others shawls. Allthese were carried in plates, which Maharajgracefully touched with his fingers in tokenof acceptance.

Henry chose this occasion to signal toNarayan Shenvi, who raised the golden ringHenry had brought as a present. WhenMaharaj saw him, he beckoned to Henryto come close to the throne. ShivajiMaharaj seated Henry under the canopyon the back of decorated elephant. Thecommander-in-chief stood on one side witha goad in his hand. The victory parademoved on. The infantry marched on in frontas well as at the back of the royal elephant.An orchestra followed the infantry. Behindthem, a sea of heads surged and swelledas in a storm. They were all immersed inhappiness.

Today, all those who had sacrificed theirdear ones considered themselves the mostfortunate people on earth. They forgot allthat they had suffered. Their pains werewashed away by the waters that anointedMaharaj during coronation. Shivaji was theKing who ruled their hearts. The heavyload that weighed on them seemed to havelightened. They would soon be on theirway to the temple. Vermillion powder,


flowers, parched rice, were to be showeredfrom the house-tops, buildings, shops, asMaharaj was to pass in all his rich regalia.All the doors and windows were packed tocapacity just to get a glimpse of theirbeloved Emperor. Women, who usuallyconfined themselves to their houses, wereout to see Shivaji. Roads were crowded.The guards found it difficult to make wayfor the royal elephant. The boom ofcrackers filled the whole atmosphere.

Descending from his throne Shivaji walkedacross the hall, and mounted an elephantof state hung on either side with goldtasselled carpets and went in processionthrough his capital. From every windowthere were showers of flowers and colouredrice on his head, lamps were waved overthe procession, waved again and againthrough the sudden breeze that blew overthe town.

At last, the procession reachedJagadeeshwar temple. Maharaj descendedfrom the elephant, went inside the temple,fell flat on his face in prostration to theLord as his lips moved silently articulating,“I had taken a vow at Raireshwar and Itoiled as far as it was possible for me. Itis Thy grace that has made all this possible.What shall I say now ? Only this, that Ihave tried to fulfill Thy command.”

Maharaj entered all the temples andworshipped at every shrine. The processioncame to the last temple. There remainedonly one more Deity to be worshipped.

That was his own mother ! The mother,that was father, friend, guide, and all, wasthe last to claim his supreme worship.

Chhatrapati walked towards the palace ofKashi Bai Sahib. Maid-servants were allrunning about. Jija Bai Sahib stoodtrembling in anticipation.

Maharaj crossed the threshold and cameinside. He moved forward, but was takenaback at what he witnessed. Mother JijaBai was bending to pay him her obeisance,her body all al-shiver like an aspen leaf.Maharaj held her shoulders and asked :“What are you doing, Ma Sahib ?”

She replied softly : “Raje, you are no moreShivba. You are a sovereign Emperor. Allare your subjects. So let me do that whichevery subject is expected to do.”

Shivaji asked in wonder : “What ! Doesnot an emperor have a mother ?”

“I don’t know, because I am not an emperor.But I know it well that, when a sonbecomes an emperor, he does not remaina son. He lives as an emperor.”

“Mother,” said Shivaba.

“Raje, I have a loving child, one who wasconferred on me as a gift of the Gods inanswer to my prayers. I wanted him alwaysto be with me. But this land was in greaterneed of him and the land demanded himfrom me. I gave him. My cup of joy isfull.”

And before Jija Bai bent down to payobeisance, Shivaji held her by the waistand affectionately said, “Ma Sahib.”


IT was the morning of an importantday – the coronation of Shivaji asChhatrapati. The date that history

records is the 6th June June, 1674. Amongthe dignitaries invited for this greatoccasion were the English representativesof the East India Company. The Britishambassador was also there with a gift forChhatrapati, accompanied by hisinterpreter. The Englishman who was torepresent East India Company on theoccasion, set out for Raigarh from Bombayin a palanquin on the 10th of May, 1674.His name was Henry Oxinden.

He reached Choul at about seven p.m. onthe 13th of May. He observed howextremely watchful Shivaji’s administrationwas, during the whole course of his journey.

There was a small out-post of thePortuguese at Choul. Henry reached therein the evening. Day had already passedand night was slowly setting in. ThePortuguese had locked all the gates of thefortress at the approach of the night.Henry was astonished at the dead silencethat ruled the place even before night hadset in. Of course, there was a gate openfor him. Henry entered the fortress andmet the Deputy Governor. He waswelcomed by the Portuguese DeputyGovernor, and talking casually asked theDeputy Governor, “Why do you close allthe gates of the fortress even beforenightfall ?”

The Portuguese Deputy Governor replies,“Yes, we close them because thatdangerous Maratha, Shivaji, is expectedat any moment and he can annex ourfortress in no time.”

Such was their dread of Shivaji. But Henryhimself had a taste of Shivaji’s alertgovernment. He was at Pachad, a villageat the foot-hills of Raigarh, on the 19th ofMay, 1674. He went to Raigarh later on.The coronation ceremony was colossal inits splendour.

Henry, of course, had his eye more onpolitical advantages than on the ceremonyitself. His main aim was to point out thesuperiority of English trade, economics andpolitics whenever he got any opportunity.Henry had seen the coins that Shivaji hadminted for circulation after the coronationceremony. They had the words, “ShreerajaShivchhatrapati” written on them, but theylooked very crude. There was nothing ofbeauty or finesse about the minting of coin,and its sound was harsh, - they had ahollow ring. Henry got a bright idea onseeing the “Shivrai” coin. He had withhim a coin with the figure of the BritishKing etched on it, and it was much morebeautiful to look at. It was really veryimpressive. Its ring was musical. Theletters and picture printed on it weresymmetrical and orderly. He placed“Shivrai” on one palm and his coin on theother and lost himself in imagination. Hewas delighted at his own plan. It was a

THE COIN WITH A SUPERIOR RING


tricky one and he was thinking of the meansby which he could get Shivaji into acommitment. He kept staring at both thecoins while sitting at the accomodationprovided for him at Raigarh.

As the idea flashed in his mind, he got upand went towards the fort. His interpretoracompanied him. He desired to see theFinance Minister. All the Ministers wereresiding within the main fort of Raigarh.The residence of Ramachandra Pant wasalso there. Henry reached the bungalowof the Finance Minister. The latter wasthere at home. He welcomed Henry, whobroached the subject for which he hadcome. He said, “Look, this is our coin.That is your coin. See the difference !How beautiful ours is and listen to its ring!”

The interpreter conveyed his message.Ramachandra Pant took both the coins ;looked at them carefully and was convincedof the superiority of the English coin.

Henry continued, “You may give thecontract for minting your coins to our EastIndia Company ! We shall prepare thesuperior type of coins of the same typefor you,” he suggested.

“Is that so ?” Pant asked raising hiseyebrows.

“We impose only one condition ! You maycall it a condition or a request or our ownexpectation !” Said Henry.

“What is it ?” asked the Finance Minister.

“Our coins should be made legal tender inyour country along with your coins !” saidHenry. Ramachandra Pant immediatelyunderstood the game. He understood that

the English wanted to extend theirtentacles over the Maratha Kingdom. Hequietly told Henry what he thought of thewhole matter.

“It would be better if we meet Maharaj. Ishall explain your request to him. Comealong.”

Both of them went to the palaceimmediately. Maharaj was in hisantechamber dictating a draft to thesecretary when Henry and RamachandraPant arrived with coins in their hands.Maharaj asked, “What is your plan, Pant?”

“Maharaj, this Englishman has come with arequest. He says ……” Ramachandra Pantexplained the plan handing over both thecoins to Shivaji. Shivaji listened to himvery patiently. While looking at both thecoins in his palm, he said to his FinanceMinister :

“I see ! This Englishman is worried aboutour coins which he says should lookbeautiful ! And he says that his coins shouldbe accepted in our Kingdom as legal tenderalong with our coins ! This is his request.”

Shivaji raised his eyebrows. He balancedthe coins in both his palms. Then he toldthe Finance Minister :

“Pant, tell these Englishmen,” he raisedhis voice and continued, “Tell them, whenour goldsmiths put their skill into it, weshall have much better coins than theyhave. We do not need their skill !”

Maharaj threw the coins towards Pant.Henry understood that Raigarh was alert.


Aaii…..i…..i (Mother) Aaii………broke the sombre stillness of thesurrounding scene. The slight frame

shook and his entire being was racked bysobs. There he stood, the grown man fromwhose depths rang out this anguished cryof a boy. All that he was – he owed to theone whose mortal remains he had nowconfined to the flames. The sobs, the deepsigh, the silent but anguished look wereterrains too sacred for strangers to tread.None dare enter that sanctumsanctorium. The vitalising, life-giving spirit had left its moralabode – the aching void washis.

Yes, “Aai” was gone. No morewould he see her dear face ;for Shivaji her face wasanimated by something morethan life. It was this face thatinspired him and launched himout on his victoriouscampaigns. It was the sameface which he sought out atthe end of a hard day’s work, yes this washis (Shivaji’s) mother, known to the worldas Jija Bai.

Today the spark was out. The deity in thetemple that he worshipped had winged forthinto the unknown void. The gentle voicewas hushed and an unearthly silence hunglike a pall around. Far out Shivaji couldhear the sound of music and celebrationthat marked his coronation – the

culmination of his ascent up the thornypath of power, cushioned for him by theoutstretched, welcoming arms of hismother, Jija Bai.

To Shivaji, Jija Bai was the very embodimentof the universal Mother. The respect thatShivaji always accorded to women reflectedthe nobility and sublimity of Jija Bai’s natureas no woman lacking in herself the qualitiesof nobility, magnanimity, gentleness and

grace could succeed in infusing nobility ofnature or character to her children.

The development of Shivaji into a nobleperson can only be traced to this greatlady. So great and beautiful was hercharacter and personality, power ofendurance and patience, her individualityand sublimity that Shivaji saw Bhavani inJija Bai and Jija Bai in all the women hemet. Shivaji saw her in the captive Moghul

THE HAND THAT ROCKED THE CRADLE


Princesses, saw the same reflection in thepoor milk-maid who clambered down theRairi fort to reach her hungry child. Hesaw Jija Bai in all.

No more would he hear the wise counselthat guided and urged him on in his mission.The hours he spent talking to his mothergave him a true understanding of hiscrusade and the ability to correct any loop-holes in his campaigns. She was associatedwith the most important phases of his life.She was the lone audience for theexpression of his innermost thoughts. Shewas both his follower and leader. Whateverhis schemes were, she never failed tounderstand or to applaud him. Where, oh,where was that voice gone ? The warriorin him longed to wrest her back from thehands that had taken her away from him.Alas ! That was not within his power.

The supreme moment of her life when theflame of her life leapt up in one bound ofjoy was the coronation of her Shivba. Yes,that was how she had fondly called him.It was she Jija Bai, who had nurtured himfrom his childhood, and seen him reach thepeak of his career. She found supremesatisfaction and pleasure at his coronation.Alas, even before all the festivities wereover, she passed out in the evening of herlife in the quiet of her Raigad home ! Noillness marked her end. She just left himand disappeared.

Standing there beside the dying embers,the sobs stopped and a faraway lookpossessed him. Was it a flashback intothe past ? Did he see her as the youngmother whose word was law, whose wishhis guiding star ? Had he failed her ? NO,

not if he could help it. She was his onlycompanion in the long years that separatedhim from his father. The riches of Bijapurcould be thrown aside at one pitch andtoss for the abiding love of his Aaii. Yes,he remembered how his father wanted togroom him into a loyal subject of the BijapurNawab. How could he ? Could he forgetthe long evening when he sat beside herand heard the sordid tale of slavery andsubjection to which his people weresubjected ?

Could he forget what she expected of him? Had he failed her ?

His father was never near her. Yet theloyalty she cherished for him wasphenomenal. Would it not have been easierfor her to swing her allegiance over to hisfather ? But no. The true Hindu wife thatshe was – she preferred to be in exile fromthe family of her birth rather than desertthe man she had married. Shivaji had oftenwondered in later years at this aspect ofhis mother ! Now the events followed inquick succession. He remembered hisuncertain childhood. Now at one place,then at another, his life swung like apendulum from uncertainty of capture anddeath to the dubious safety of a fort. Allthis was bearable because of the warmthof her love and protection.

A rule shock brought him back to the starkrealities of life. Yes, he had to go on.That was her wish. The ochre banner hadno replace the crescent and star.


THE coronation ceremony wasconcluded. It had been the mostimportant and the most necessary

event of the era. The memories of thatscintillating event lingered even after theceremony itself was over. Everyone, manor woman, young or old, soldier or farmer,rich or poor, without any exception, talkedabout it continuously. Such was theenthusiasm of the people who took part init. Those who were able to attend andwitness this historic event, consideredthemselves very fortunate. Those whowere not able to attend, gathered theaccount from their relatives and friendswho attended the ceremony. They all felt,however, that they were fortunate to havebelonged to this great era.

It seemed as if the golden age of Ayodhyahad repeated itself in Maharashtra. Anempire based on equity, equality, justiceand culture was established. The humilityof slavery to an alien rule of three centuriesand a half had been erased. Merriment,joy and mirth prevailed everywhere, in citiesand towns, in villages and hamlets, injungles and valleys, in forts and homes, infact in every nook and corner of the newindependent empire. Doubts and fears hadvanished totally. New life coursed throughthe sinews of all creatures, human beings,animals, birds, and even trees and plants.A sovereign empire of the very people, hadcome into existence. Here they coulddemand protection ; claim justice, equalityand affection, from their ruler. A sense ofsecurity prevailed everywhere. All, young

and old, helpless or sick, crippled or maimed,found a patron who would take personalinterest in their welfare. Orphans rejoiced,as they could claim the emperor as theirfather. Nature blossomed, Sahyadri wasoverwhelmed with joy, as a tide ofhappiness swept over the land.

Alas ! providence is not king and mercifulat all times. The mirth, the merriment andthe joy of the people of Mahrashtra couldnot last even for two weeks ! Dark cloudsof gloom enveloped the Kingdom and athunderbolt shook the Empire ! Not onlyShivaji, but the whole of Maharashtra lostthe Mother Jija Bai, who spread comfort toone and all through her courageous smile,at all times, now smiled her last, wearysmile and left on her journey to join herdeparted husband. It was the unkindestblow for Shivaji. The man who faceduncompromising situations with a care-freesmile was now weighed down by the blowand sank into despair. She had transformedShvaji into a sovereign Emperor ! It washer dream fulfilled. But for her guidanceand insistence Shivaji would have remainedan ordinary person, and history would nothave taken any note of his name ! Theblow was totally unbearable for her darlingShivba. Shivaji constantly recollectedmemories of his childhood.

She was the mother who gave birth tothis illustrious son. He came to her as a‘gift’ from the Goddess Bhavani, in returnfor her deep devotion and penance. Shewas the mother, who nurtured in her womb

THE GREAT ROUT


the passion for an independent kingdom,and who brought up the boy, moulding himin the cast already conceived in her mind,rearing him in the best of the traditions ofall the heroes of our ancient culture, fusinginto him the ethics of Rama, the politicalgenius of Krishna, the skill and prowess ofArjuna, the strength and valour of Bhima,and above all the undaunted effort ofBhagirath. She was the mother who

caressed, coaxed and cajoled him, defiedhim at times and gave him the moralstrength when he needed it most. Shewas the mother, who looked after thewelfare of Shvaji’s beloved colleagues, andtheir dear ones when they went away onduty. She was the mother who praisedtheir efforts, their valour, and bravery andtook part in their functions and ceremonieswholeheartedly and sympathised with themin their day of the sorrow and hardship,and even upbraided them if they failed intheir duty. In fact, she was not only amother to all of them, but she was also afriend, philosopher and guide. And such amother had been cruelly taken away fromthem never come back ! Shivaji was

extremely sad and so was the whole ofMaharashtra.

To Shivaji came the experiences of bothsuperlative happiness and extreme sadnesswithin a short span of fifteen days. Butcould he go on rejoicing or could he go onbrooding ? He was an Emperor then, andhad the highest responsibility towards hissubjects. His stoic nature did not allowhim to indulge in happiness or sorrow. He

was a philosopher in his ownright. He was the person whocould very well fit into thedescription of a Yogin as statedin the Gita, neither forgetfulof duties in the intoxication ofjoy nor sunk in the misery ofmishaps. He had no time tobrood over his great personalloss. He realised that thetreasury had beenimpoverished by lakhs ofrupees due to the colossalexpenditure on the occasion ofthe coronation ceremony. He

realised the need for acquiring funds,although Jija Bai had left a handsomesaving of nearly one crore of rupees at hisdisposal at the time of her death. Howlong could the amount last ?

With this thought in his mind, he sat in hisapartment alone, fixing his gaze on theceiling above. Could it be Surat ! Ofcourse, Surat was on his list, but hepreferred to wait for sometime. In fact,he had written a letter to the Subedar ofSurat to send him a tribute of nine lakhs ofrupees (for the past three years) beforethe end of the monsoon. Or else, hewarned him to be prepared for theconsequences. But, the end of the


monsoon season was too far and whatwould he do till then ? Shivaji did nothave to think more on that subject. Hisproblem was temporarily solved in a veryinteresting way.

Aurangazeb lost all faith in Diler Khan Pathanowing to his quarrels with Prince Muajjam.He recalled Khan to Delhi. In his place, hesent one Bahadur Khan Kokaltash as theSubedar of Deccan. Bahadur Khan was anintell igent man, and an efficientadministrator. As soon as he took overhis duties, the first thing that he did wasto study the whole situation through hisperspective. He decided to change thestrategy completely. He studied theshortcomings of the Mughals ; he alsoconsidered the points on his own side. Infact, in his own way, he planned acompletely new strategy for his area. Itwas a sort of rejuvenation of the Mughalarmy, a renewed strategy !

As a first step in his plan, he changed theplace of his permanent camp. He shiftedit to a place called Pedgaon, about forty-eight miles east of Poona, on the banks ofBhima river. He constructed a fortress atPedgaon and named it Bahadurgarh. Itwas a very strong and sturdy structure.He hoped that slowly he would be able torecover all the forts annexed from theMoghuls by Shivaji, or at least those whichwere in the vicinity. With this plan, hestationed his huge army in the fortress ofBahadurgarh. He was very much pleasedand felt very confident.Very little wasknown at this time, of Haibat Rao Mankar,a commander of Maratha army. He had noopportunity to have his name mentionedin the records. He was in charge of theMaratha army of about nine thousand men.

Shivaji ordered him to attack the fort atPedgaon and collect all the wealth. It wasentirely left to Haibat Rao, the wholestrategy and plan of attack and the specificdeployment of his army. Haibat Raoconsidered it as a challenge, because heknew that Khan’’ army was much largerthan his own. But, he studied closely thesituation and planned his attackaccordingly.

As was the usual practice, Haibat Rao senthis spies to ascertain the position in enemycamp. His spies penetrated deep into thefortress and found out that the entire armywas accommodated within. They alsogathered vital information about hidingplaces, jungles nearby, routes to thefortress and loop-holes in theadministration. They did not forget togauge public opinion about Bahadur Khan.Haibat Rao was now satisfied. He chalkedout a marvellous plan and took two of hisgenerals into confidence to execute it. Oneof them was given the responsibility ofmanning a regiment of two thousandsoldiers. Of the remaining, the othergeneral was instructed to take a regimentof another two thousand along a differentroute, and launch an attack at anappropriate moment.

Early in the morning, when the Mughal armyin the fortress was still in slumber’s chains,the guards at the gates saw a huge cloudof dust in the distance. They guessed atonce that the Marathas were launching anattack. The cloud of dust gave them theillusion of a much larger army approaching.The guards immediately reported to BahadurKhan of the attack and told him that amighty army was approaching the fort.Bahadur Khan gave orders to mobilise hisentire force at once and to be prepared


for the attack. He donned his uniform andcasually looked out from the bastion. TheMarathas were still approaching and thecloud of dust raised by the hoofs of theirhorses suggested their large numbers.Bahadur Khan ordered all the soldiers tofollow him and marched out of the fort toward off the attack. Only a handful ofsoldiers remained in the fortress. He ledthe assault with his countless soldiers. TheMarathas, having seen from a distance theapproaching enemy suddenly turned back.Bahadur Khan was determined to rout theMarathas and he followed them, with hisentire army. The Maratha soldiers enteredinto the forests nearby to dodge the Khan’sarmy. They allowed the Khan’s army tocome close to them and as the army camenearer, the Marathas vanished ! They kepton appearing and disappearing from thethick forest, eluding the Khan’s army, andluring them deeper and deeper into theforest.

Meanwhile, the remaining seven thousandsoldiers hid in the jungles close to thefortress. Haibat Rao made sure that theKhan’s army had gone at least twenty-five miles away from the fort as plannedearlier, before he signalled to his othergeneral. The latter took his regimentlaunched his attack from the back of thefortress, while Haibat Rao himself directedhis assault from the front. There werehardly any soldiers in the fortress, as theKhan had taken most of the army with him.The Marathas raided the fortress, collectingdiamonds, gold, jewellery, swords, and otherammunition and weapons very swiftly. Thebest part of loot was a herd of two hundredArabian stallions which were kept readyby Bahadur Khan to be presented toAurangazeb. Needless to say, the

Marathas raided every tent, recovered allvaluables, practically before the battingof an eye-lid. They set fire to all the tentsin the camp. They vanished as speedilyas they came to attack. When the lootwas counted, it was worth one crore ofrupees !

In the evening, Bahadur Khan returned withhis army, tired and spent out. TheMarathas dodged him the forest by playinga game of hide and seek with his army. Hewas fretting and fuming and cursing themunder his breath. He swore that he wouldplunder all the fortresses of Shivaji andfinally returned to his fortress.And lo ! Hewas stunned to see his camp reduced toshambles. Most of tents were still burningwhilst others had been reduced to ashes.And where were the stallions ? “Oh myGod ! Ya Allah ! The treachery of it all !What a humiliation !” cried the Khan. Whocould console him? His dream of routingthe Marathas had turned back on him.Leave alone his defeating them, they nowheld the trump card of victory!

Haibat Rao Mankar proudly exhibited theproceeds of the raid to Shivaji. They wereso vitally needed. Shivaji’s happiness knewno bounds ! He glanced at the stallionsand patted Haibat Rao on his back. Haibatexplained. Maharaj laughed heartily andsaid, “Haibat Rao, you have even excelledme ! I am proud of you.” He wasappropriately rewarded on the spot.


THE army was on the move. Itwas an expedition at whichChhatrapati Shivaji advanced as far

as Kanya Kumari. On the advanced as faras Kanya Kumari. ON the way, the piousShivaji issued a declaration to his army –“It is our desire to visit the many sacredshrines that line the western coast. Sothe army may march ahead and camp atGoa, where we shall join it. On ourpilgrimage we shall be accompanied by onlythree or four bodyguards. The army mustnot give trouble to the civilian population.These are our instructions.”

The army headed for Goa while Shivaji,accompanied by his bodyguards visitedUdipi, Shringeri, Gokarna and many otherholy places. On the way from Gokarna toMajali, Shivaji’s horse suddenly ran wild.

“Easy, boy, easy ! …..” Shivaji said, tryingto control his fleet-footed steed. But thehorse galloped at full speed into a forest,leaving the bodyguards far behind.

By the time the horse was brought undercontrol and came back to the route, therewas no sign of the bodyguards. Now Shivajiwas alone. On the way to Medangere,Shivaji looked about him and a puzzled lookcame into his eyes. For, many villages thathe passed were deserted.

“Strange,” he murmured. “Some housesare locked but some have their doors openas if the occupants left in a great hurry...”

And then his eyes narrowed. These weretell-tale signs that his army had marchedthat way. “Is this desolation caused bymy soldiers ? Has my order, not to givetrouble to the civilians, been ignored ?”

On and on Shivaji travelled, immersed indeep thought. But the horse and the riderwere exhausted, thirsty and hungry.

There was a thatched hut in front andsomebody in it !

Leading his weary mount to the hut, Shivajilooked in and saw an old lady.

“Yes, my man ?” the lady inquired as shesaw him. “Where have you come from andwhat do you want ?”

After a slight pause Shivaji said, “I’ve comefrom Gokarna and have had nothing to eatfor a whole day.”

“Dear Man,” the old lady exclaimed. “Letme see if those looters have left anything.”

“Looters, madam ?” Shivaji repeated.

“Yes,” the woman said bitterly. “The otherday Shivaji’s army went this way and lootedthe villages. Didn’t you see the desertedhouses of villagers who ran away in fright?”

Shivaji was silent.

“I’ve heard he is a good man,” the oldwoman continued. “I wonder how he allowshis army to do such things.”

THE SOUVENIR


Shivaji was still silent. The woman scrapedup some rice and gave him a hot meal. Heate the food with gratitude, thanked thewoman and resumed the last lap of hisjourney to his army’s camp in Goa.

A couple of days later, as the old womancame out in the morning to sweep hercourtyard, she saw a couple of Marathasoldiers approaching her.

The aged eyes flamed up in anger.

“Yes, is there anything left to loot now ?”She asked sarcastically.

But the soldiers hung their heads in shame.

“We’re sorry, mother,” they replied.“Whatever we did was against theChhatrapati’s orders. We ask for yourforgiveness and that of all villagers. Hehas sent you golden bangles as a gift, ina gratefulness for the one meal he hadat your house.”

“Meal ?” the woman’s eyes opened wide.“Then, was that young man ChhatrapatiShivaji himself ?”

“Yes,” and he has also asked for amemento of his visit to your hospitablehome.

“A memento ? A memento from a poorwoman to the Chhatrapati ?” the womanmustered in amazement. Then she lookedabout her empty dwelling. Suddenly hereyes turned to her hands. In them she

held the broom with which she was aboutto sweep her courtyard.

She held it out and said in all simplicity,“This is all that I now possess to give tohim.”

The broom was taken to Chhatrapati. Helooked at it thoughtfully and said, “ A goodgift. It will remind us always to sweepaway impurities from our mind and thoseof our followers.”

The lowly broom was decorated with asilver handle and from then it was takenwherever Chhatrapati went, as a messageof cleanliness and purity.


CHINCHWAD is a village situatedsouth-west of Poona. It is onthe banks of river Pavna. Moraya

Gosavi was a devotee of Lord Ganapatiand a famous yogin. Tukaram, RamdasSwami and Moraya Gosavi werecontemporaries. It is believed that HorayoGosavi attained Jiva Samadhi. His son,Chintamani Maharaj Dev, also a devoteeof Ganapati, had his Samadhi situated tothe east of the one dedicated to MorayaGasavi. Chintamani’s son, Narayan MaharajDev also rose to fame by the grace of theLord Ganapati. It only indicates thatChinchwad had been a seat of devotionfor three generations. There also standsamadhis of some yogis and a beautifulidol of Lord Ganesh received by MorayaGosavi while in penance at one place,Chinchwad. Narayan Maharaj had beenrevered by many a general of his time. Itis said that some generals of Adilshahi andMughalshahi also had a respect for him.Shivaji Maharaj’s devotion to NarayanMaharaj was well known and NarayanMaharaj had great liking for Shivaji. Forthese reasons Chinchwad had become aplace of worship as well as pilgimage.

A huge religious fare was held at Chinchwadon the 4th, 5th and 6th day;s of Agrahayanevery year. This fair was considered to bea gathering in holy commemoration of theMahasamadhi of Moraya Gasavi. The fairused to be a great occasion. Thousandsand thousands of devotees were givenfood, and Mahaprasad was served on the

THE CONCESSION AND THE LOSS

fourth day of waxing half of the lunar month(known as Sankashti Chathurthi) to all. Thefair also provided opportunity for rejoicingand merriment.

Grain, ghee, jaggery, salt, coconuts etc.were used in large quantities. The generalsserving in Adilshahi had provided all thefacilities for this fair. There was a specialconcession, shown to Narayan Maharaj forthe purchase of the required material.

He was allowed to purchase rice, salt,coconuts and other things from Pen,Panvel, Nagothana and such marketcentres, at extraordinarily low rates. Itwas a “right” , a privilege given todevotees. The real meaning of thisconcession was that Narayan Maharaj couldpurchase all the required material at just a“nominal”, Price, irrespective of the rulingcurrent market rate. It was a special “right”vesting with that place of pilgrimage.Narayan Maharaj’s clerk visited thesemarket places in season and purchasedinnumerablebags full of these items. Thebags were mounted on the bullocks. Thebullocks climbed the ghat from Konkan andcame to Chinchwad.

Later on, the boundaries of Shivaji’sterritory extended upto the sea. The rulesand regulations of Swarajya were applicableto all alike. Maharaj had appointed hisown officers in these areas, as well.Maharaj had already amended the rulesthat affected the average farmers


adversely and cancelled all the specialtitles. However, the question of theconcession of “low rates” of purchasegranted to Narayan Maharaj was still notsettled. No doubt, the farmers who hadto sell their produce at such specially “lowrates” suffered a loss. There was someinjustice in it, and it did not fit in with theregulations in Shivaji’s administration. Ofcourse, Narayan Maharaj did not carry thegoods for his personal use. He carried itonly for religious and philanthropic purposes.But, that could not help prevent in anyway the loss incurred by the farmers andretailers. It was a continuing practicecarried on every year. Heaps of goodshad to be sold at phenomenally low price !

It was again the annual occasion. NarayanMaharaj’s clerk turned up as usual forshopping. A huge gathering of servantsand bullocks accompanied the clerk.Officers and guards of Swarajya were onduty. They stopped the huge procession.Then the clerk asked,”Why do you stop us? We are the people Shree Narayan DeoMaharaj and have come for the purchases,as we do every year.”

“You cannot purchase the goods at anyspecially ‘low rates’. You will have topurchase at market price,” said the officer.

“Oh ! We have been purchasing ourrequirements at ‘low rates’ year after year.Even Badshah did not oppose this practice.In fact, he offered additional concessionsto Shree Narayan Maharaj.” Explained theclerk.

“That was the rule of Badshah then. Now,we are in Swarajya – our own rule,” theofficer insisted.

“It is really strange ! Even under foreignrule we got all the concessions and facilitiesfor religious purposes. But now, this is therule of our own Shivaji Maharaj ! And youare denying us our rights. Is it justice ?Does it conform to the ideas of Maharaj’sreligion ?” asked the clerk.

“Yes, This is justice ! You never knew andnever gave a thought to the poor farmerswho suffered due to concessions grantedto you,” replied the officer.

“Sir, you know pretty well that the goodsthat we take from here are not utilised inmarriages of the sons and daughters ofthe temple staff ! We do it in the interestsof the festival, to propitiate the Gods !”explained the clerk.

“I do agree ! But does that factor preventthe harm being done to the poor farmer ?Shivaji Maharaj does not appreciate thispractice ! You had better obtain a letterof authority from Mahraj. Then, and onlythen will you be allowed to purchase goodsat special rate !” said the officer with allthe firmness he could muster.

“But, Sir, your Shivaji Maharaj is a well-known devotee of our Narayan Maharaj.How do you think he will stop theconcession ? Be reasonable !” pleadedthe clerk.

“Yes, but you know that we are obeyingShivaji Mahraj now. It will be in yourinterest to obtain the letter of authority.And then we shall allow you.” The officercooly replied.

“Now that we are helpless, the onlycourseopen to us is to obtain the letter ofauthority,” said the clerk in all helplessness.


The clerk narrated the whole incident toShree Narayan Maharaj. The latter was,of course, surprised. He sent his men toShivaji Mahraj at Raigarh and requestedhim that he should be allowed the usualconcession.

Narayan Deo’s men broughtthe letter to Raigarh. ShivajiMaharaj touched his fore-head with it reverently, as itcame from a great devoteeof the lord. Pant (Moropant)read out the letter toMaharaj. Maharajunderstood the whole case.Here was a problem ; on theone hand, the purchaseswere being made for areligious purpose, on theother, the farmers suffereddue to the extremely low priceat which they were forced tosell their goods ! Thishappened every year in the same manner! Was there a solution ? What would behis decision ?

Maharaj paused for a minute, and then toldMoropant, “Pant, send a Government orderto Shree Narayan Maharaj that his usual‘right’ for the concessional purchased iscancelled with immediate effect. There

cannot be any purchase in this way anymore!”

Moropant simply stared at him ! Before hecould utter a word, Maharaj continued,“Pant, yes, this must be stopped ! It is

irreligious to make thepoor farmer suffere !Issue the orders andforward it to NarayanMaharaj !”

The orders were issuedand was dulyl receivedby Narayan Maharaj.Narayan Maharaj neverexpected such ashocking letter, fromShivaji Maharaj of allthe persons !

“This is a differentMaharaja,” he said :“let us purchase therequirements at the

prevailing rates !”

The very next day, Maharaj sent a letterto Narayan Maharaj. It was written withall respect, love and humility. It indicatedthat all the goods that would be requiredby Narayan Maharaj for religious purposes,and for feeding the devotiees, would besent to him at Mahraj’s own expenses andthat he need not worry about payment !


KHUDA has offered a kingdom to thatwily Maratha ! This is really toomuch !” Aurangazeb said to himself.

He had pitched his might against Shivajifor more than sixteen years now. Lakhsand lakhs of soldiers were sent to his areato capture him alive or dead. Countlesscannons and rifles had been wasted.Having tried all sorts of methods toannihilate him this strange Shjivaji was stillalive. An unaccountable amount of wealthwas being wasted on Deccan from Delhim,Burhanpur and Aurangabad, yet it wasShivaji who proved successful always.Shaista Khan, Diler Khan, Jaswant Singh,Daud Khan and Mahabat Khan were allmiserably humiliated by him. He made afool of Bahadur Khan. Only Mirza Raja couldkeep check on him and sent to Agra. Butwhat was the use? He had slipped awayfrom under his very nose. He was at hiswit’s end. Who was there to oppose hissteady progress?

Thus did Aurangazeb think. To hisknowledge all had been tried and proveduseless. Some of them had finished theirturn. Now it was necessary to recallBahadur Khan as he was totally fooled byShivaji, and he was getting defeated byAdil Shah generals, as well.

Thus did his thoughts run on whensuddenly Aurangazeb remembered the nameof a very powerful warrior, one of the mostbrilliant, most valiant and intelligentgenerals. He would be a match for Shivaji

in every respect. Aurangazeb decided tosend him to Deccan to tackle Shivaji. Hethought that the general in his mind wasthe only one who could defeat Shivaji andthat was Muhammed Kuli Khan.

Muhammed Kuli Khan! Would it be possibleto recognise him now ? He had leftMaharashtra nine years ago ! He was nota Hindu any more. He passed the last nineyears of his life in unknown areas of KabulKandahar where he fought the Pathans onbehalf of the Mughal Empire. Aurangazebhad converted him to Islam by force. Hewas not taking any chances. The shrewdAurangazeb had sent him to the northernregions instead of sending him to fightagainst Shivaji, immediately after hisconversion. This same Kuli Khan was oncethe commander-in-chief of Shivaji’ s army.The same Maratha warrior, commander-in-chief of Maharaj, became Muhammed KuliKhan now. Formerly he was known as NetajiPalkar. He was arrested by Aurangazeb bytreacherous means and later converted toIslam.

He had never reconciled to this conversion.It was at the point of the sword that hehad been persuaded to accept Islam.Aurangazeb was not too kind, nor was hestupid. He took all care to see that Netajiwould go to Kabul to fight the Afghansand remain there for an indefinite period,so that he could forget his earlier years.Years rolled on in apparently endlesssuccession. It seemed that he had

THE RETURN


forgotten Maharashtra. One other thoughtthat painfully possessed him was “Who willaccept me in Maharashtra now? Who wouldown me now ?” However, what probablyawaited his return was humiliation anddishonour.

Then the bolt fell. Muhammed Kuli Khanreceived an order from Aurangazeb. It said,“Go to Deccan”. One can only imaginehow he must have felt on receiving that

order. Memories of the past would havefitted past his mental vision. Those familiarmountains, rivers, temples, Maharaj, andJija Bai Sahib all stood etched in his mindone after another. And, these scenesmoved past fort Panhala, anger of Maharaj,his own disagreement with Maharaj andservice with Adil Shah, and then his arrrest,Kabul Kandahar, and those nine years, allthem. And, now he was detailed to fightMaharaj ! Should he fight against his ownMotherland ? Should he fight against

Maharaj !” Netaji Palkar put these questionsto himself. Then a tornado of thoughtsshot through his mind. He was obliged togo to Deccan, because it was an order ofAurangazeb Badshah.

Aurangazeb selected one more general toaccompany him. He had already remainedin Deccan for a long time. It was DilerKhan, the general who tried his level bestto defeat the Marathas ; but unfortunatelyhe could not even create a dent. Theonly things he was successful in was torestrain the swift movements of theMarathas. This time, Diler Khan was tocommand with Kuli Khan as his assisstant.That was what Aurangazeb had planned.

Mughal soldiers started on their march.Muhammed Kuli Khan accompanied them.As he approached Maharashtra after a lapseof nine years a storm raged within him.One thought nagged him continuousely …go back….. go back.

Then he thought “How would Maharajreceive him ?” What would he say ? Whatwould he think of me, of my conversion, ofone who had left the Swarajya fold ? WouldI be the target of his temper ? Would hesend me back ? This was not time. “Imust go back to Maharaj”, he said tohimself. “I must go back.”

Aurangazeb thought that Netaji would nowhave become a confirmed Muslim. Thatwas why he was assigned the Deccancampaign. Netaji, on the contrary, waswaiting for an opportunity to leap out. TheMughal army advanced step by step. Ona certain day Netaji stalked strealthily outof the camp. The how and where of hisescape is lost to history. It is certain that


he escaped from the Mughal camp. Maharajwas at Raigarh. Every brick and stone ofRaigarh was known to him. He was veryeager to see Maharaj.

After a long march he reached Raigarh.The one time commander-in-chief nowreturned to same fort, an unknown man.Then Maharaj and Netaji met. That whichtranspired then can hardly be put intowords. Feelings mingled and hearts sang………. One who had been given up for lostwas now back.

Maharaj decided to forget everything.Netaji was after all his bosom friend. Hecould not afford to treat him like a stranger.He should return to the religion of hisfathers. Was there no means by whichthis could be done ? There must be!Muhammed Kuli Khan should once againbecome ‘Shri Netaji Palkar’.

Maharaj decided to perform a Shuddhiceremony for him and received him backinto the Hindu fold with due religious rites.

Finally, on the 19th of June, 1676 Netaji re-entered the religion of his fathers, assanctioned by rituals. It was a virtual re-birth to him. What is conversion ? Andwhat is ‘Shuddhi’? Is it just like donning anew dress ? If enlightened faith is deepest,revived faith is strongest !

SHIVAJI Maharaj entered BhagaNagar. The cavalry elephant waswalking leisurely ahead. Theochre

flag of Maharaj was fluttering in all its glory.Royal bugles sounded. The strains ofmartial music heralded the Maratha cavalrythat was approaching. In the midst ofthem the royal elephant, decked in acolourful cloth of embroidered gold waswalking at a dignified pace. Shivaji Maharajsat canopied upon the elephant. Twoservants fanned the Maharaj with chowries,while a third held a colourful umbrella overhis head. Two musketeers with goldenstaffs in their hands marched ahead of thatroyal elephant and shouted, “Maharaj,Kshatriya Kulavatansa, Maharajadhiraj,Simhasanadhishwar Shivaji Maharaj.”

Immediately the royal bugles responded.All the streets, houses, court-yards,terraces and manors in Bhag Nagar werefull of men, women and children.

Shivaji Maharaj was leisurely watching thecrowds in the capital of Abul Hassan KutubShah. Thousand and thousands of peopleflocked to see this Maratha King.

Slowly Shivaji went towards Dad Mahal.Hazrat Kutub Shah was well prepared towelcome the royal guest. Although KutubShah would have welcomed him directly itwas the wish of the Maharaj that he shouldgo to him instead, as he considred KutubShah as his elder brother. Such was the

AN ENCOUNTER

WITH THE TUSKER


respect shown by Shivaji to Kutub Shah.The Badshah (Kutub Shah) sent hisambassador and commander-in-chief toreceive the Royal guest who was arrivingat the palace steadily to theaccompaniment of musical instruments.

In fact, the Badshah was growing nervous.He knew what Shivaji had done to AfzalKhan, Shaista Khan, Baji Ghorpade, NamdarKhan, and others. The same Shivaji wascoming to see the Badshah.

Shivaji reached the gate of Dad Mahal. Ahearty welcome was accorded to him.Maharaj descended. Important chieftainsof Badshah accompanied him and theyproceeded towards the palace.

Shivaji entered Dad Mahal. It was richlydecorated. Kutub Shah got up from hisseat and came forward, smiling, to greetShivaji. Though he wore a smile on hisface, the Badshah was plagued by doubts.Shivaji extended his hands to embraceBadshah. The latter, too, made a similarmove. They embraced each other. Atthat moment, Kutub Shah realised that hissuspicious were baseless.

They exchanged gifts. Their conversationwas very cordial and friendly, revealingmutual regard. Kutub Shah was immenselypleased and greatly impressed by thedignified demeanour of Shivaji. He was acultured person himself. He came to knowthe Maratha way of hospitality.

Then Maharaj went to stay at the place ofresidence reserved for him in Bhag Nagar.Kutub Shah made every effort to see thatShivaji felt comfortable. Shviaji stayed onfor a number of days. There werereciprocal demonstrations. Days passedin friendly exchange of views and ideas.

Kutub Shah took personal care of Shivaji,and attended to his needs.

One day Kutub Shah got up an elephantfight, which was then in vogue as part ofroyal sports. Shivaji was invited to witnessit as an honoured guest and he readilyresponded.

The arena for the elephant fight was gotready. The galleries were decorated withsilken fringes. Special arrangements hadbeen made for the seating of the chieftainsand other dignitaries. All the importantpersonalities at the Darbar were invitedand were present in response to theinvitation.

The field was packed with spectators.Elephants, Mahouts, servants, all wereready. Kutub Shah and Shivaji Maharajsat close to each other.

At a given signal the elephant fight started.Shrill trumpeting filled the air. The championelephants charged at each other. Mahoutswere shouting, enthusing and guiding theelephants in their attack. Spectators, too,joined in the cheering. Shivaji appearedmightily pleased, enjoying the sportthoroughly. The Badshah was very gladto observe and watch Shivaji’s appreciationof the whole course of the sport. He feltproud of his great beasts. He turned toShivaji : “Maharaj, how did you like myelephant ?” “Incomparable, indeed,excellent !” exclaimed Shivaji. Highlypleased at the remark, Kutub Shah queried,“Have you any elephant of this kind in yourtreasure ?” “Yes ! Why one ? There areso many elephants of this sort with us !”Maharaj replied.

“Really ?” Badshah’s wonder was mounting.


“Yes, in fact I have many of them,” saidShivaji.

Kutub Shah’s curiosity was roused, “Haveyou brought anyone of them with you?”Shah questioned.

“Yes, quite a few” replied Shivaji.

“Is that so ? Will you let one of them comeup to the arena to fight an elephant ofours ?” asked Badshah.

“Why not ? certainly !” Shivaji assented.

Kutub Shah’s curiosity reached new heights.Immediately, he ordered for the strongestelephant to be brought in. A huge tuskerappeared on the field. He was loud intrumpeting his strength, raising dust as hemoved furiously across the field. Thespectators were eagerly awaiting the arrivalof his rival ! Kutub Shah himself was eagerto see Shivaji’s elephant that would matchthis mighty tusker of his. Suddenly,Maharaj flanked towards the right andraised his eye-brows, and he signalled witha nod and his brave commander YesajiKunk, straightway stepped forward andsaluted Maharaj. Kutub Shah thought thathe was going to fetch an elephant. But,to the surprise of all, Yesaji removed hisgolden coloured sword, held it in his righthand and himself entered the field. All thespectators gasped in wonder as theyrealised that it was this man, not anelephant, that was going to fight the tuskerat Kutub Shah’s court. Yesaji was a manof ordinary stature, but it was a sight tosee him fight the mightiest of elephants.

Yesaji raised his sword and gave a lion’sroar challenging the tusker. The elephantcharged towards him, trumpeting, raisinga cloud of dust. As soon as the elephant

came close, Yesaji quickluy dodged him.The elephant turned about the chargedagain and Yesaji evaded the elephantadroitly again. The elephant now becomingfurious was charging with terrific force, butYesaji, nimble on his feet, was dodging himevery time. The more angry the elephantgrew the more Yesaji dodged him. Everytime the elephant charged, he got his headbeaten against the wall, for Yesaji everytime managed to evade the blow and stepaside. And at every such move he struckthe tusker hard with his sword. That madethe elephant more and more furious. Hewas trying to seize Yesaji in his trunk andsmash him to the ground, but all hisattempts proved unsuccessful. Thespectators, including Kutub Shah, watchedthis deadly sport holding their breath ; onecould clearly see what the fate of Yesajiwould have been, if only the tusker couldsucceed once.

Suddenly, Yesaji took the offensive andhimself attacked the elephant. The latterwas also seen advancing towards Yesaji.It looked as if the tide had turned now,and Yesaji was to be smashed. Theelephant came closer and closer …… ! Andthere was a shrill cry, - how terrific ! Bloodsprayed as from a fountain and soaked theearth. It happened within the fraction ofa second, confusion reigned as thespectators thought that Yesaji was smashedby the powerful tusker. Then they heaveda sigh of relief, when they saw that Yesajihad cut the trunk of the elephant with hissword. The elephant fell down, and Yesajiwalked up to Kutub Shah and Shivaji witha smile of triumph.


IN the scorching heat of the mid-day sun, two riders were gallopingalong a road leading from Golkonda to

Bijapur. Only two months back it hadteemed with life, with throngs of peopleon their way to Raigarh to watch thecoronation of Chhatrapati Shivaji. But nowit was desolate. The two riders passedthrough village after village and all weredeserted. Then one of the riders askedthe other : “Why isn’t anybody living inthese villages ? Are they not within theSwaraj ….?” The question came fromNetaji palker.

“Alas, Yes,” answered his companion, noneother than Shivaji, “but they are so farout on the border that we cannoteffectively protect them from Mughalmarauders …..”

With the sun high overhead, the profuselyprespiring riders halted under the shade ofa tree and looked about for a pond or steamto slake their thirst.

“There, by the side of a lovely hut, is apool …..” Shivaji pointed, and the two ledtheir mounts in that direction.

The hut stood almost on the bund of thepool, and looked deserted.

Netaji led the two horses to the edge ofthe water – and stiffened somewhat, as amuffled sob came from within the hut.Shivaji also heard it and motioned to hiscompanion. Swiftly, Netaji went to the

door and Shivaji went to the only windowof the hut.

As they stood listening, the sobs becamelouder and then were heard half-whisperedwords …… “Forgive me, Goddess Bhavani,but now there is no other way to save myhonour but to kill myself …….”

At a signal from Shivaji, Netaji burst intothe house – and stood still.

A young woman was preparing to handherself before an idol of Bhavani. With asudden stroke of his word, Netaji cut thenoose. Then in a kindly tone he asked,“my good lady, what has befallen you thatyou should want to end your life in such aghastly manner ?”

“My honour, Sir,” – the woman repliedamidst sobs.

“Your honour is safe now, lady” - Netajireplied softly. “You are now in the Swarajof Chhatrpati Shivaji …. And with Raghojias his general, no one dare dishonour awoman. Don’t you know that tomorrowShivaji is going to honour him in public andmake him Commande-in-chief of theMaratha army ?”

At the mention of Raghoji’s name the womanstarted – and then broke down. Then herstory was told …. It was general Raghojihimself who wanted to dishonour her ! Herhusband had been a soldier under Raghoji,and he had been killed in action…. Raghojihad once come with him to his house and

THE KNIGHT


had seen her….. And now that she wasleft alone he wanted to take advantage ofher situation…… She had often resistedhim, but this had made him all the moreavaricious…. And he was coming overthe next day, to-to- ….. Then what coursewas there for her but to put an end to herlife…….?

In deep silence Netaji listened to the wholestory, - so did Shivaji who stood on theother side of the window.

As Netaji turned to the door, he said withquiet assurance, “Lady, there is no needto kill yourself……. There will now be nodanger to your honour - I promise that !”

He closed the door behind him and joinedShivaji. As the two men rode away intothe distance, not a word was exchanged.Shivaji’s eyes looked into the distance, asif searching for something.

On reaching Raigarh, Shivaji made a briefannouncement : “Tomorrow’s function tohonour Raghoji has been postponed.”

Everybody was surprised. Raghojiwondered. But Shivaji said nothing. Thenext day, in the gathering darkness of night,a horseman stealthily stepped out of thefort. He was unaware of two otherhorsemen who were watching him and thatthey were on his trail.

About an hour later there was a knock atthe door of the lonely hut by the pond.The door was opened - and the womanstepped back with a gasp of despair. Itwas Raghoji, came to dishonour. Thenwhat about the promise of yesterday’sstranger ?

Advancing into the room, Raghoji seemedto be leering at the woman as his eyestook on a wolfish look. He gruffly said :“Tonight I won’t go back without …… Nowthere is no one to save you.”

“There is” - the two calm words cut inlike a knife across the room. Raghoji spunaround – and then stood rooted to thespot. Before him stood Shivaji, his eyessmouldering like live coals. By his sidestood Netaji, his sword drawn.

“Raghoji,” Shivaji said sternly, “had I notheard this from the lady herself, I wouldnot have believed that a brave general ofmine would stoop to such evil deeds …..”

Raghoji stood still, his head bowed.

“Raghoji,” Shivaji continued slowly, “youare dismissed from my service – and Ibanish you from Swaraj.”

“But, Maharaj Netaji whispered, “ you’dbe losing a very able general !”

“I know,” Shivaji firmly replied, “but I donot mind. If I lose a general, I can getanother – but once a lady loses her honour,she can never get it back.”


O keep thou her glory unsullied, unshorn,

And guard the invincible hope of ournation.”

AS Queen Savitribai entered the court,everybody stood up in respectful attention.The Queen cast a benign glance all round,smiled and took her royal seat. As a matterof routine, she began listening to reportsfrom various parts of her small kingdom ofBellar;y Taluqa.

Suddenly, the chief guard from the bordercame in. He appeared very muchperturbed. Something seemed to havegone wrong.

“Your Majest !” the guard bowed low andsaid, “our borders, nay the very kingdom,is in danger.”

“What !” the noblemen exclaimed. Theirhands instinctively reached for the hilts oftheir swords.

“Give us the full report,” commanded theQueen calmly.

“Your Majest ! After their victoriousexpedition in Karnatak, Shivaji forces aremarching towards our borders.”

“But Shivaji would never attack us. Never.We have done nothing against him. Andhis declared goal is equally cherished by

us. Why should he attack us ?” askedthe Queen.

“But Your Majesty, our intelligence reportstates that the marching force’s intentionsare hostile. They may force an entry intoour terriotry any time.”

The Queen was lost in thought. After along moment of silence, she spoke withcalm and confidence : “I shall think thatthey cannot be our enemies. But if theybehave like foes, force will be met withforce.”

The court rose.

The Marathas did not heed the warning ofthe Bellary Queen.

After all, they were a victorious people.At that time, none of their neighbours daredface their might. So they marched intoBellary territory also. But the victory-intoxicated and care-free Marathas couldnot face the sharp onslaught of the Queen’sforce. They were pushed back and warnednot to enter Bellary territory again.

The Maratha Senapati Sakuji Gaikawadstood arrogantly in Bellary’s royal court.He had sought an interview with QueenSavitribai.

“Yes ?” the Queen asked.

“So, Your Majesty has given a nicereception to the Marathas !” Sakuji saidsarcastically.

HER DEFIANCE


“We are very particular about visitors. Togive them appropriate reception has beenour proud tradition. Any complaint ?”

“Hm ! And you intend to repeat it ?”

“Of course ; if you intend to repeat yourforced entry.”

“I think the Queen should have a greatedawareness of Maratha might. Nobody likesto incur their displeasure. It will be goodfor you if you consider the consequencesof your attitude.”

“Consequences ? Anything more thandeath ? We do not fear death, but weresent humiliation. You can go.”

Senapati Sakuji Gaikwad’s forces encircledBellary. A fierce battle ensued. Savitribai’sforces put up a gallant defence for 26 days.But they knew well that they could nothold out for long against the more powerfulMaratha force. At last, they tried with alltheir might on the 27th day to repel theMarathas. But they failed. Queen Savitribaiwas herself wounded and taken captive.Little Bellary’s tough resistance had filledSakuji with rage. Savitribai must be taughta lesson. She was severly whipped.

Chhatrapati Shivaji’s court was full.Senapati Sakuji was reporting his victoriousexpedition to Karnatak. In the end, headded : “And, sir, now I have to presentto you, quite an unusual gift. It is Bellary’sQueen Savitribai – now our captive. Shedared to defy the Maratha might. I havetaught her a fine lesson. She ……”

“I have got the report,” Shivaji cut himshort and ordered, “the Queen may bebrought in with all due respect.”

Savitribai entered Shivaji’s court. She wasdefeated but defiant. Her eyes were afirewith rage.

“I hear that you have suffered much,”Shivaji said softly, almost apologetically.

“I am not sorry for that,” said Savitribai.

“I am determined to offer compensation.”

“I am not interested in your compensations.Do as you like.”

Now Shivaji turned towards Sakuji. IN asolemn voice he said, “Sakuji, listen ! Oursis not a band of robbers. Each one of us isdedicated to one goal – the goal of Swaraj.And Swaraj does not mean Maratha tyrannyimposed upon our own compatriots. Howcould you dare attack Bellary ? So manyprecious lives are lost. I ask, for what ?And, you whipped the Queen ? How couldyou insult a woman ? Sakuji ! You haveinsulted my mother. What a shame ! Youare dismissed in disgrace, here and now !”

And now Shivaji turned towards Savitribai: “Mother, a horrible crime has beencommitted by my man. I earnestly begyour pardon. Won’t you pardon your ownson?”

Tears gathered in Savitribai’s eyes. Shelooked towards Shivaji with motherlyaffection. And Shivaji saw in her the formof Jija Bai. He rose, touched her feet andstood shining inhis victory. And Savitribai? There she, too, stood, the victoriousmother of a victorious son ! !


SHIVAJI MAHARAJ knew no restor respite. He was alwaysengaged in enhancing the prosperity

of the territories he had acquired by hardstruggle. He had no time to wait, to haltor to feel tired. He handled all matters ofadministration personnaly and theSecretary had to aid him in all of them.His Secretary remained with him always.To be a secretary to Shivaji Maharaj wasas good as becoming a Charioteer to thesun ! But, Balaji Aoji Chitre held this difficultresponsibility with remarkable skill.

Whatever Maharaj undertook, be it a planof attack, or writing letters, or conversationwith strangers, the secretary had to bebeside him. Repairs to the forts, carefulattention to the eighteen factories andtwelve Mahals was all part of hisresponsibility. All the secret plans were tobe executed by him. He had to accompnayMaharaj wherever he went. Even the familyquarrels, ceremonies, in-coming and out-going relatives of Shivaji;’s had to beattended to by his secretary. Thiscontinuous grind left him completelyexhausted.

On one occasion, Shivaji told Balaji orallyabout some details of a letter to be written.The letter was important and it was to besent to the Subedar of Southern Konkan.Maharaj was in a hurry and told Balaji tokeep the letter ready by night. Since themessenger was to go next morning he said

he would read the letter at night on thatday.

Balaji confirmed and turned to othermatters. On that day there was more workthan usual. There was a heavy rush ofclerks, officers and lieutenants, whoseproblems had to be attended to. Therewas not a minute to spare. Bags and bagsof mail poured in and the secretary wasreading them one by one. At the sametime Maharaj was dictating the reply toeach letter.

The whole day passed like this. Balaji hadto run from place to place. It was night.The secretary presented himself in frontof Shivaji. Maharaj was sitting on amattress, leaning against a cushion. Atorch-bearer was standing a little fartheraway with a burning torch in his hand. Allof a sudden, Maharaj remembered the letterwhich he had told Balaji to write. He askedBalaji, “Balaji, have you written the letter?”

The secretary was struck dumb. He hadno time to write it as he was busy. ButMaharaj had not forgotten it. He askedBalaji again : “Have you written the letter?”

Now Balaji was in a dilemma. If he said“Yes,” it would not be true. If he said“No,” then the consequences would beworse. He thought for a moment and choseto say, “Yes, sir, I have written it.” Thinkingthat he could write it the next morning

THE BLANK PAPER


and keep it ready for the mail bag, hereplied in the affirmative.

“Read it then,” ordered Maharaj. Now,Balaji was really in a fix. What should heread ? He had written nothing. He managedto keep calm. He took out a piece of blankpaper and held it in front of himself. As hewas about to read the letter, the torch-bearer came closer. The bright lightillumined the paper and Balaji started :“Shree Tulja Bhavani…..” Without a singlepause, he continued to read. Maharaj waslistening to it attentively. The torch-bearerlooked at the “letter” . To his surprise, henoted that it was totally blank. He wasastonished. He raised his neck slightlyandfound that Balaji was reading the blankpaper without hesitation or pause. A broadsmile lit up his face. Balaji was alarmed.Nevertheless, he continued to read. Therestrained laughter attracted the attentionof Shivaji Maharaj. He turned to the torch-bearer and asked him the cause of hisamusement.

The torch-bearer was frightened, but heldhis peace. “Nothing, Sir.” And he becamevery serious. Balaji, however, did not givein. Maharaj told him to continue readingand Balaji proceeded as if he had notstopped at all. There was fluency in thereading, and apparently Maharaj feltsatisfied. The letter ended.

Balaji was sweating all over. But ShivajiMaharaj was very, very happy. He said,“Oh, how nicely you have written the letter.Your text is bette than what I dictated toyou.” Balaji was happy not because ofthe compliments from Maharaj, butbecause of the relief. But then, Maharaj

asked him to show the well-written letter! And he raised his hands to take it fromBalaji. There was no escape now. Thetorch-bearer was also perturbed. Maharajonce again said, “A letter should be writtenlike this. Give me that letter.”

At last Balaji handed over the paper tohim. Maharaj saw that the paper wasblank, and smiled. Balaji felt that his verylife was ebbing out. Shivaji Maharaj smiledall the more, seeing the man’s confusion.

Balaji spoke apologetically : “Sir, pleaseexcuse me. I was busy throughout theday. I did not have time even for a singlemoment. That is why I could not writethe letter. I was going to write it at night.”

“But you are very clever in reading from ablank paper,” said Maharaj, and laughedheartily. The torch-beared also joined him.“Bravo Balaji ! I am proud of having abrilliant secretary like you. I am reallyfortunate,” said Shivaji. Balaji’s eyes weremoist with gratitude.


ON the auspicious morning ofVijaya Dasami the gates ofRaigad were thrown open. The

drums began to beat. The trumpet gave abeckoning call and twenty-five thousandveterans rushed out on war-hungry studs.

Raigad was used to this experience. Onthe auspicious morn of Vijaya Dasami, theMarathas crossed the frontiers every year,to carry on their standard to newprovinces.

What was the plan of His Majesty this time? Who would dare ask ? Nay, not evenHambir Rao, the Commander-in-Chief, daredto ask King Shivaji about the expand theKingdom (Swaraj) and mount the horseson order – this was the rule – chalked outby none – but understood by all. Not eventhe queen-mother Jija Bai would questionhis Majesty as to the expedition, for thatwould mean a bad omen; the queen-motherknew in her heart of hearts that a newdream of the Hindu Empire would blossomforth when her blessed son marched outof his Kingdom. Her son was spilling hisprecious blood to establish a godly kingdom,on this earth – a kingdom where nobodywould be subjected to any atrocities, northe soul to any compulsions; this was thedivine desire. It was in obedience to thedivine desire that King Shivaji carried hisstandard to the different corners of thenation. Goddess Bhavani had blessed him.He was bound to be victorious. Wherewas the need to question him about his

plans? If necessary, His Majesty wouldhimself inform his mother about theexpedition.

But the people started guessing wheneverthe Maratha forces followed King Shivajion his expeditions.

What was the expedition planned by HisMajesty this time?

‘King Shivaji wants to terrorise the navy ofthe enemy …. He wants to conquerHonavar …..’

‘Nay – His Majesty is very pious ….. Hewants to visit the great SaintMaunibaba……..!

‘No – the king wants his share of patrimony….. He wants, therefore, to reach asettlement with his step brotherVyankoji…..’

Thus the guess work went on. His Majestykept the people guessing. His soldiers neverbothered …. Whatever the expedition……they were bound to get a chance to provetheir mettle.

The troops crossed village after village…….The thundering hoofs of the horsesawakened the villagers ….. The childrenclung to their mothers….. but theyabandoned fear at the sight of the Marathatroops. The Maratha troops neverharassed the people of their own kingdomor a friendly kingdom. Hard cash must begiven for anything the troops wanted….

ON THE TOP OF SHRI SHAILA


The trees must be cared for like children……no damage was to be done to the farms ofthe citizens ….. if necessary, compensationmust be given – these were the strictorders of His Majesty; and the Marathas,who pillaged the enemy territory, obeyedthese orders with strict discipline, becausethe penalty was death. The rich, therefore,were not forced to conceal their gifts……

The troops marched towards Kolhapur.They camped at Pargaon. His Majestyvisited the great saint Maunibaba.

With the blessing of the saint the kingdecided to start upon his expedition.Hambirrao, the Commander-in-Chief wassummoned.

“General, we won’t spend from our treasurefor this expedition. Whatever we require,we must secure on our way to thesouth…..” said His Majesty, deeplyengrossed with his plans.

“Yes, Sir…… Your Majesty may just orderme…. And I will bring all the necessaryfunds ……” said Hambirrao with confidence.

“Sure. But you know General, we neverharass friendly neighbours. How manytroops would you require for an expeditionto the territory of Bijapur ?”

“My ten thousand veterans would do thejob…..”

“Nay…… General …… you take along withyou half of the army ….. you are to rush toDharvad via Torgal, march through Raichur,cross Krishna and meet us nearBhagyanagari (Hyderabad)……”

“Yes, Sir…..” Hambir Rao bowed deeply.

The General took orders ; didn’t questionabout the target of the expedition ; andrushed out to do the behests.

The drums began to beat again when thegeneral left with his troops. The soldiersmounted their steeds. A rumour spreadthat revenge was to be taken upon thecommander of the Fort of Belgaum. Butthe troops marched towards Atapadai,crossed Sangole, Jat…. And after longmarches through forests reachedBhagyanagari.

Hambirrao executed the orders of HisMajesty, pillaged the territory of Bijapurand reached Bhagyanagari.

When the General presented the booty tohis majesty, a deep brooding look spreadover his face, and he softly queried,“General, have we got any ornaments inthe booty ?”

Hambirrao was surprised. His Majesty hadnever so far bothered about the ornamentsin the booty. What was the object of thisquery ? Perhaps the Queen.

Hambirrao was embarrassed. “We haveornaments in thousands ……. Sir…….. HerMajesty would very much appreciate…….”

“General …… don’t you know that the wholeof the booty is directly credited to thetreasury with full accounts ?”

His Majesty curtly said, “We wanted toknow whether we have some ornamentsfor gentlemen.”

Hambirrao was ashamed of himself. Hereplied in low tone, “Sir…… we have finepearl necklaces……”


His Majesty ordered that all the necklacesshould be brought to him, chose a fine oneand presented it to Hambirrao.

“What is this, Sir ?” exclaimed the General,“This rustic servant of Your Majesty doesnot require these soft ornaments. Look –Sir….. there are so many marks of woundscaused in the service of the nation…. Whatmore decorations do I need ?”

His Majesty’s face was flooded with a brightand happy smile.

“We understand ……. General……. Ourgenerals don’t require any ornaments toadorn themselves….….. but there are somewho only value the ornaments and not theman who wears the ornaments, …… toimpress such people we have to make useof even ornaments. We are out to establishan independent state…. A rule based onmorality, equality, justice, it is divinedesire….. and we don’t discard any meanstil l the Hindu empire has beenestablished…… The citizens of Kutubshahimust also be impressed with this fact…..and so we have decided that our noblesshall be luxuriously dressed like the noblesof any other empire…… We shall enterBhagyanagari in all pomp…. Prahladpant …..see to it that our nobles are presentedwith rich ornaments…..”

“Yes….. Sir……” said Prahladpant.

“Present them also with the rich dressesthat we have ordered.”

“Yes…… Sir…….”

“Did you fix our meeting with Tana Shah…. Prahladpant ?” asked His Majesty.

“I personally tried to convince Tana Shah,”replied Pralhadpant, “but at first he wasnot ready to meet Your Majesty.”

“Why ?” A cloud passed over His Majesty’sbrow.

“Perhaps the Shah (Emperor) was remindedof Shahistakhan and Afzal Khan. For along time he obstinately refused to consentto a meeting. He said that he would givefull authority to Madanna… where was theneed for a royal meeting with your Majesty.”

His Majesty’s eyes twinkled.

A loud laughter broke out…..

“At last Madanna and Akanna gave apersonal guarantee, and the Shahconsented….. The Shah was personallygoing to receive your Majesty…… He wasprepared to advance a few miles accordingto custom. But I gave him Your Majesty’smessage. “Your Majesty need notadvance. You are the elder brother.…. Iam the younger one …… This modestmessage pleased the Shah so much thathe ordered the whole capital to be


luxuriously decorated to receive yourMajesty.”

But there was no need for such orders.The whole capital richly decorated itself.Saffron was sprayed in front of the housesand flags waved over them. Festoons wentup every gate. When king Shivaji enteredBhagyanagari, the citizens showered goldenflowers on him.

Tanashah started from the fort ; but HisMajesty requested him not to come down.He ordered the troops to camp at the footof the fort, selected only five nobles andwith them started for the royal meeting.

“Sir, Only five nobles ?” questionedHombirrao with the audaciousdisapprobation of a loyal servant.

“Hambirrao ! ….. Blessing of the goddessBhavani are with us…. What else do wewant ?” quietly replied the king.

The loyal general did not like that HisMajesty should stake his precious life inthis way ; but how otherwise can historybe shaped ?

His Majesty wanted to win the confidenceof Tana Shah. The alliance of the Shahwas necessary for the success of thesouthern expedition.

Tana Shah was taken aback. NoMohammedan ruler had placed so much faithin any other ruler of his same creed ; andthis dare devil of a king who constantlywaged war against the Mohammedantyrants had placed such an absolute faithin a ruler of that creed ….. kept his troopsat the foot of the fort… and had come tomeet Tana Shah as a friend would meet a

friend ; True…. Tana Shah was his ally ;but have not friends betrayed ? Thetreachery of Aurangazeb was fresh in hismemory … and yet.

All doubts of Tana Shah were dissolved atthe noble sight of King Shivaji. And Shivajireturned with the promise of aid.

His Majesty marched with the artillery ofthe Shah on the southern expedition. Thetroops reached Kurnool and camped forrest.

His Majesty was relaxing before his royaltent and suddenly his eye was caught bythe blue green peaks of a mountain in thenorth east.

“Which is that mountain, Janardanpant ?”asked His Majesty.

“That is the Shri Shaila ….. Sir.” AnsweredJanardanpant, “There is the sacred templeof Shri Mallikarjuna…. It is the famoustemple of Shiva…..”

“The eyes of His Majesty glowed. In themonth’s stay at Bhagyanagari, His Majestywas sunk in material pleasures. The Shah,Madanna, Akkanna, and other noblesarranged parties in his honour. Presentsof gold and pearls were showered uponhim. Arrogant wealth had bowed to himwith humility. But wealth could never dazethis saintly king. His noble soul wasindifferent to the royal pleasures.

The king felt an urge to worship the sacredShri Shaila Mallikarjuna. His real self wasawakened and he ordered, “General ….Send all the troops to Atmakuta…. We shallvisit the Mallikarjuna temple with someselect few ….”


“Yes… Sir...” Hambirrao modesty said, “butlet me accompany your Majesty … this isthe land of the Bhilla bandits.:”

His Majesty smiled, “Hambirrao…. God hasblessed us …. Well….. if you wish toaccompany us… come along with us….”

Hambirrao was relieved when His Majestyaccepted his suggestion. The royal retinuestarted on its journey to Shri Shaila. It

was noon time when they reachedNagalotu. The upward climb, started. Thestones looked as if they were polished. Thehoofs of the horses began to slip. On bothsides of the climb the bamboo jungles werethickly set. Here and there the big ant-hills caught his eye.

“We never find such big ant-hills inMaharashtra…” said Janardanpant pointingto an ant-hill that reached up to a man’sheight.

His Majesty suddenly pulled up and bowedto the ant-hill. Others were surprised andconfused. His Majesty smiled and said,“Perhaps a Valmiki might be doing hispenance in the ant-hill.”

The royal modesty added to the reverencethat the royal retinue owed its master.

“Your Majesty is right…” saidJanardanpant, “it was at this place that

the great Narad advisedValmiki. It was here thatthe great Saint started hispenance. Even today thedescendants of Valmiki orrather Valya, the bandit,stay in this part of theregion. They are wayfarers.The passers-by are requiredto pay taxes to them.

“Is that so?” asked HisMajesty smilingly, “then whydidn’t they tax us ?”

“The tyrants and thebandits belong to the samecategory …. Sir they are theenemies of the weak,” …..a caustic remark from

Janardanpant.

The royal company reached Bhimantole ina gay mood. The steep climb started thereonwards. Down below was the deep valley: and the peak of Shri Shaila, kissing theblue skies, challenged the human breath.

“That highest peak is known as Kailas” ;Janardanpant pointed to the peak and said,“To see Mallikarjuna from the peak is a verysacred experience….”


His Majesty piously made a deep bow tothe Kailas peak and began to climb withsuch a quick foot that Janardanpant wasexhausted. But all got their reward whenthey reached the top of the peak. It wasan experience to be on the top of the peak.The fresh air , the cool exhilarating breezeand the absolute quiet…. So far away fromthe world stretched down below…. One feltmoved to a totally different plane ; astrange feeling went through all – a feelingwhich could not be expressed in words ;and yet it was so real, so powerful thateverybody felt what the other felt. Whatwas it ? An awareness…. That what wasso far experienced was untrue, unreal,flimsy, and deceptive; then what was thetruth ? What was everlasting ? Wherewas it ? Here, Here ? On this Kailas peak? Or still higher ? At the feet ofMallikarjuna ?

His Majesty’s face changed. His sparklingeyes were glowing with a pious, quiet, innerlight. The lines of worry and caution onhis brow were dissolved, and his demeanourwas illuminated.

“That is the temple of Mallikarjuna” SaidJanardanpant pointing to the old templeon the mountain : There is a popular legendabout this temple. Once Kartikeya gotannoyed with his parents, and went to theKrounch Mountain. Both Shiva and Parvatitried to soothe him ; other gods alsomediated but with no avail. So his parentsbecame unhappy and came to Shri Shailato see their son. But when Kartikeya sawthem, he went farther to Lohachala andcursed that any woman who would climbthe mountain would be a widow for sevenbirths. Shiva and Parvati, therefore, felt

helpless and stayed at Shri Shaila lookingat Karthikeya from there with warmth andlove.”

The mythical legend reminded His Majestyof his son Sambhaji – but just for a moment…. No worries……. No memories could lasthere in his mind for more than a fewmoments. He felt a strange urge – asthough some one was beckoning him – Heretired into his own shell.

His Majesty rushed to the temple withoutspeaking a word to anybody. Others quietlyfollowed. When they reached the temple,they were taken by surprise. How wassuch a magnificent temple built on the topof the mountain ? The gates were sowide….that even an elephant could easilycross…..the pinnacles smoothly tapering totheir highest point were studded withfascinating sculpture… the fort-like stoutwalls of the temple, and the builders ofthe temple had not forgotten water tanks….

His Majesty was dazed at the sight of thetemple.

“Sir…. The Krishna river is at a distance ofthree miles from here,” Janardanpant said.“People call it Neelanganga or Patalganga.We can go and have a bath in the sacredwaters of Neela Ganga….”

The royal company headed towards theriver.

His Majesty was excited at the sight ofKrishna. On both sides of the river, thesteep cliffs threateningly rose to the sky.The bosom of Krishna was so large that itreminded him of the sacred Ganges. Thewaves were dancing and the dark greenwaters were fascinating.


The magnificence of nature – whether ofthe sea, or of the mountain, or of the river,makes man realise his utter insignificance.Why should it be so ? Why should one feelthat one is so near to God ?

His Majesty’s mind turned inwards. Andwhen he saw the Shivalinga, he was lostin a trance …..the world of desire, anger,wealth, poverty, revenge, affection fadedaway…..all bonds of earthly affectionsnapped…..the frustration of life was notmore…..a new fulfillment of life was inright….the soul tuned itself to the SupremeBeing.

The royal companions were waiting for HisMajesty….but there was no sign of hiscoming out of his meditation, and whowould dare disturb him ?

At last, Prahladpant collected all his courageand said, “Sir…….what religious rites shouldbe performed before we return ?”

His Majesty opened his eyes. There was alost look in his eyes. He quietly said,“No……Pant…..don’t talk of returning…..weshall stay here….”

“We shall stay here ? What about thearmy ? What about the Hindu empire ?”

All were stunned. The saint in the kingwas awakened……he wanted to give up thekingdom…..give up everything….the turningpoint had come….this was the most criticalmoment ……a moment which might havebeen an eternal moment in the life of anindividual …..but which might devastate thecause of the nation.

What should be done ? How to rouse HisMajesty to his royal duties ? How to bring

him back to the world which needed himso much ?

There was no other way but to wait andhope ……hope that this spiritual absorptionwould exhaust itself.

The night passed ……the new morn dawned.Prahladpant again tried, “Sir……we mustreturn at the earliest……Your Majesty ishere…..the General is here….”

“All of you must go back,” His Majestyquietly replied.

“Without Your Majesty?”

“Sometime or other you will have to leaveyour king….”

“But, Sir……. What about the State ?”Janardanpant persisted.

“How long can we serve the State ? TheState can do without us ; Ayodhya didn’tcome to an end when Ramachandrawithdrew, nor did Dwaraka when Sri Krishnamade his exit …..if one Shivaji is dead….”

“No, sir…..” Hambirrao sharply cut himshort, “we can’t stand these inauspiciouswords even from your lips….”

His Majesty quietly smiled; “Hambirrao …..you have seen so many wars…… and yetyou feel that death is inauspicious ?Auspicious ….. inauspicious …..all this isdue to the imagination of man….If life is soflimsy that it can be destroyed with onestroke of the sword…..why should we weepover it ?”

All were stunned at these words. But theking could not be allowed to be carriedaway by his own spiritual upsurge. SoJanardanpant made a last effort :


“Sir…..What would Her Majesty feel if youdon’t return?”

“Nothing….If she knows that we are notgoing to return, she will hasten to placeRamraja on the throne….superseding theclaims of Shambhu” …..His Majesty retortedsarcastically.

“At least for the sake of Shamburaja….”

“No……..Janardanpant……Man knows how tolive without his dear ones…….No one islost…..We felt that we couldn’t live withoutour mother. Jijabaisaheb passedaway……Shahaji Raja passed away…..Tanajidied…..Baji died. The dear ones die….andyet the world continues to laugh and joke; why should one love such a world ? Todayat the feet of Shri Mallikarjuna we arerelieved of all miseries…..no temptation oflife…..no fear of death……no…..Pant, wedon’t feel like giving up this divine ecstasy.We don’t want to return…..PlaceShambhuraja on the throne and rule theState.”

This great spiritual awakening of this greatman left his followers helpless. Nothingcould be done. The only thing one coulddo was to wait and pray….

The royal company refused to returnwithout its master. One week passed; andon the ninth day; the king frightened allby his novel idea :

“Pant….you won’t be required to wait forlong,” said His Majesty, “We are going tohave the supreme worship of Shivatomorrow.”

“And we shall return afterwards, isn’t it so?” asked Pant happily, in the hope that HisMajesty must have changed his mind.

“We shall offer lotuses to Shiva…”

“Shall I order our soldiers to bring lotuses?” asked Janardanpant.

It was necessary to finish the worship atthe earliest and to take His Majesty out ofthis trance.

“No……Janardanpant,” His Majesty said,“The lotus that we are going to offer toShiva is with us….. the best lotus is ourhead itself, isn’t it, Janardanpant ?”

All lost their breath….the earth quaked…..Prahladpant….Janardanpant….Yesaji….allturned pale. Hambirrao couldn’t controlhimself. He threw himself forward andexclaimed :

“If that is your will…. Sir…..then the worshipwill be of hundred lotuses….. First offerthe heads of your General and his hundredsoldiers to Shiva and then touch the royallotus.”

“No…..Hambirrao …..You are to take careof the State….then only can we march onthe path of salvation….don’t block ourpath….it is a great event….tomorrow atthe early hour of dawn shall be the greatoffering presented to Shiva.. Now don’tdisturb us….”

His Majesty again lost himself in a deepspiritual reverie. He became unconsciousof his existence……His body surrendered tothe soul……he felt he was one with LordShiva …..the light of a thousand flamesdazed his closed eye-lids……and suddenly


out of that whirlpool of light emerged theimage of goddess Bhavani.

“Mother….you are here ?” the King’s heartquestioned.

“Are you embarrassed, my son ? Do youknow of any place where you can’t findme ? And do you think that I am differentfrom Lord Shiva ?” These precious wordsechoed through the light.

“Then why are you here in this form …..Mother ?”

“You are used to this image ofmyself…..hence I came in this form…. Youforced me to….when my own devoteebetrays me….”

“Ah ! of what betrayal do you talk, Mother? I have prepared to offer my head toShiva….”

“What will you achieve thereby ?”

“Salvation…..”

“For only yourself….my son. I never knewthat you would be so selfish……”

“Selfish…” the king asked in confusion.

“The black powers had waged a waragainst the white powers, and instead ofchampioning the good against the bad….You leave the battle-ground like acoward….”

“Coward ?”

“My son, whenever ‘Dharma’ is tarnishedby frustration…..by suppression…..God isborn on this earth, God Shiva Himself hasstepped on this globe in your flesh toprotect and save justice, equality,morality…but you forgot why you wereborn….you forgot your duty…. It was yourduty to keep the path of millions tosalvation free and undisturbed ; but youselfishly looked for your own salvation ;worship of God is not different from serviceof the nation.”

The king kept his silence.

Suddenly he heard the blasts of guns…..the sounds of the hammer cracking thetemple stones….the agonising cries ofwomen.

The king was startled.

“Why are you alarmed……sonny ?” askedBhavani, “Don’t you know the sounds ofthe guns ? Look…..the walls of the Hinduempire are cracking down ……see….thehammers are devastating my images…..theDurga …..the Rakhana…..the Parvati …..andlook to that side…..the innocent womenare dishonoured…..their children aremassacred……”

“Oh no ! I won’t allow it any more…..”


“You are here today…..tomorrow you willbe no more….”

“I don’t care for tomorrow …..but I won’tallow this atrocity …..till I breathe my last;it is the divine desire that the godly kingdomshould be established.”

The face of Goddess Bhavani was floodedwith satisfaction and her image dissolvedin the light…..

His Majesty burst out of his trance.

“Hambirrao…..” His Majesty called theGeneral.

“Yes, Sir,……” Hambirrao bowed. Anxietywas writ large upon his face….

“Tomorrow we order…..”

“No, Sir, we won’t allow that….” Hambirraobroke with emotion.

“We have decided to cancel theworship…..Don’t you like the idea ?” HisMajesty asked with a sly twinkle in his eyes.

“Has Your Majesty really decided to cancelthe worship ?” asked Hambirrao. He wasstill suspicious.

“Yes, ……and we proceed to Karnataka…..”

“Forgive me, Sir,……” Hambirrao spoke withhappiness. “We are willing to start thismoment.”

“God has listened to our prayer,”Janardanpant said piously. “Sir, permit meto stay here a day longer….”

“Why ?”

Janardanpant didn’t utter a word.

“Don’t fight shy….Janardanpant,”……. SaidHis Majesty.

“I wish to offer a hundred lotuses to GodShiva…..”

“In return for one ?” asked His Majestywith amusement. “Why …… then we shallall stay here for a day….”

“No…..no….Sir…..all of you must start atthe earliest……”

“Are you afraid that we shall again think ofthe great worship ?” asked His Majestywith a laughter. “No…..that is not to be…….Goddess Bhavani does not want that…….It is the divine desire that the rule ofGod should be established on this earth.”


THE surroundings were extremelybeautiful. The scenery, thegarden, the palace – everything was

perfect. It was the palace of ShivajiMaharaj. Shivaji, the beloved king of theMarathas, was seated in the council room.His Chief Minister Moropant andCommander-in-Chief Hambirrao were alsowith him in the council room. There wassilence in the room. One could hardlybelieve that there was anybody in the room.Excepting for the sound made by the robinred-breast, there was complete silence inthe room. Breaking the silence, Shivajicalled out :

“Hambirrao !”

Hambirrao started looking at Moropant.They understood what the king wanted.Hambirrao went towards the door.Moropant suddenly addressing Shivaji Said,“Maharaj, shall we postpone the meetingto some other day, if Your Highness is notat ease.”

In response to this Shivaji said “

“Pant, now there is no relevance fortomorrow in my life. Whatever I can dotoday, I can’t say with confidence whetherI shall be able to do the same tomorrow.Who has seen tomorrow ? One doesn’tknow what will happen the next moment.There’s many a slip between the cup andthe lip. Though the mind can be controlled,who knows what the body will do ? I can’t

trust it, Pant. I can’t trust it. It maydeceive me at any moment.”

In a sorrowful tone Pant said :

“Maharaj, how can you be so meek andlose your confidence ? You must be brave,You are the king.”

At this very moment, Hambirrao along withFirangoji, intervened.

Firangoji, with folded hands, head boweddown, appeared to be a guilty person.Mahraj kept on staring at Firangoji.However, Firangoji, recognising the angerin Mahraj’s eyes, kept his head boweddown. In the old traditional manner, hegreeted the king and said :

“Your Highness, please accept the bestwishes of this defeated soldier.”

“Defeated soldier ! Nay, guilty, Firangoji,”said the Maharaj.

This remark was a bolt from the blue toFirangoji and to the others.

“Guilty ?” Firangoji questioned.

“Yes, guilty. You are guilty, Firangoji. Noneof us can boast of a victory at all times.But while working for the cause of Swarajeveryone must move heaven and earth.And you, you have run away like a coward.You are a traitor. You have committed anact of treason. How can I say anythingelse, but call you a coward ?”

‘DEFEATED ! NAY, GUILTY !’


Due to the wrath, Maharaj’s voice as wellas his whole frame was trembling.

Seeing this Pant tried to pacify Mahraj.The remaining moments were silent.

It was a terrible blow to see Sambhaji, theson of Shivaji, the Prince of Swaraj, joinhands with the Moghuls.

Diler Khan, the Moghul Sardar, was thrilledto see Sambhaji join hands with him.Without wasting a single moment, DilerKhan sent the news to Delhi. Aurangazebalso sent laurels for Sambhaji.

Aurangazeb had given full rights to DilerKhan to take the maximum advantage ofSambhaji and use him as a weapon to crushthe Marathas.

Taking personal interest, Aurangazeb gaveall honours and special treatment toSambhaji. Aurangazeb was also trying touse Sambhaji as a weapon against theMarathas, Swaraj and Shivaji himself.However, Sambhaji failed to understandthis. Now he had become like the fabledbird in the golden cage eating guavas andmocking the free birds seated on the trees.

Diler Khan had already started havingdreams. He was building castles in the air.He was dreaming of a wonderful tomorrow.He thought that he would now succeed increating a commotion among the Marathas.But this dream was to remain a mere dream.It never came true. Diler Khan thoughtthat other warriors would also join Sambhajiin the Mughal regime. As this dream didn’tcome true he decided to launch an attackon the Marathas.

The first target that he chose wasBhoopalgarh. Bhoopalgarh, a fort in theeast of Satara, was of great importance.Shivaji, knowing the importance of the fort,had appointed Firangoji as its fort-keeper.Firangoji, the right hand man of Shivaji,was a very honest and trust-worthywarrior. His outstanding skill in battle wasseen when he fought with Shaishta Khanat Chakan. As far as Bhoopalgarh wasconcerned, Shivaji had the fullest faith thatFirangoji would be able to protect it well.

Diler Khan attacked Bhoopalgarh. Hestarted shelling the walls of Bhoopalgarh.Firangoji, in response, also sent shells intoDiler Khan’s camp. Firangoji and his troopswere, however, competent enough toreciprocate the attack of Diler Khan anddefend the fort.

Though the shelling lasted a long time,Firangoji was not to give away the fortinto the hands of the Moghuls. Now DilerKhan thought of a very cunning plan. Hetold all the Moghul soldiers to retreat, whileSambhaji was to make a personal attack.

Was Firangoji going to fight againstSambhaji ? His mind started wavering.Firangoji had taken Sambhaji on his ownlap as a child. He had taught everythingto Sambhaji including the wielding of thesword. The same Sambhaji was now beforehim as an enemy – an enemy of the king,an enemy of Swaraj – Firangoji was lost indeep thought. He didn’t know what to do!

Faith clashed with prior relationships,courage with love, and warriorship withaffection and sentiments. Weighing these


considerations, Firangoji decided not tofight.

The next day, he left the fort early andmoved towards Raigad, the capital ofSwaraj. He wanted to explain the wholesituation to Shivaji. Long before Firangojicould go and inform Shivaji, the news hadalready reached him. Shivaji said,“Sambhaji, my son, - the prince of Swaraj– has now become my enemy.”

Shivaji considered Firangoji guilty for nothaving fought with Sambhaji, now theirenemy.

With full determination, Maharaj began toexplain his views. He said, “Pant, all of usare bound by an oath that we will sacrificeanything and everything for the cause ofSwaraj. We are hopefully striving day andnight to build this holy Swaraj. And if onepillar after another gives way, how on earthare we going to build it up ? The unholyfoot-prints have been imprinted on the floorof this sacred temple of Bhoopalgarh. Howdo you expect me to remain quiet ? Never! How can I ?

Firangoji pleaded, “Excuse me, Maharaj, Iwant to tell you something. Not in self-defence but to remind you that I havenever retreated from the enemy. Only Godis my witness. But this time the situationwas quite different. Prince SambhajiRaje…..”

Interrupting, Maharaj said harshly, “Stopit, Stop it. I don’t want to hear yourexplanation. You are guilty. And that’sall. You are guilty.” Mahraj continued,“What ? Do you think my conscience willbe affected by hearing the name of Sambhaji

? The relationship between me andSambhaji should not be taken into accountas we are now dealing with Swaraj. Swarajis more important to us. We have to fightto achieve it. And whoever goes againstit, is certainly our enemy.”

However, those that were present in theroom could read sorrow underlying thesewords.

There was a visible change in the King’slooks. Pant and others were quick toobserve this change. Pant told one of theattendants to get a glass of water for theMaharaj.

Offering the glass of water to Maharaj, Panttried to plead for Firangoji. He started,“Your Highness, how could we change ourloyalties to Sambhaji, a Prince….”

Pant’s pleading was cut short by Maharajwho said : “Pant, what are you trying tosay ? Our trustworthy fort-keeper Firangojibecomes a traitor and allows one of thecommanders of the enemy on the fort, andstill you people want to plead for him. Thecase of a traitor ?”

“Traitor ?” echoed the others.

Shivaji said, “Of Course, he is a traitor.One commander named Sambhaji Bhonsleinvades Bhoopalgarh and our fort-keeper,leaving the fort in his hands, runs away.What do you call this ? Loyalty or an actof treason ?”

Maharaj took a sip of water and againshouted at Firangoji : “Firangoji, you shouldhave forgotten that Sambhaji was my son.You should have fought with him as anenemy of Swaraj. If you had been killed


while attacking Sambhaji, then yourservices would have been accepted byGoddess Bhavani. If you had killed theenemy, you would have rescued Swarajfrom danger, Mata Bhavani would haveshowered her blessings on you.”

Firangoji said, “YourHighness, these are thehands which have taken careof Sambhaji from his cradle.How could you expect me touse the same hands to killhim?”

“Of course, you should, whynot ?”

Pant tried to intervenesaying, “Maharaj, how couldFirangoji commit treason ?Would you have acceptedFirangoji as your honestSardar ? Could your eyessee Firangoji with a sworddripping with blood in hishands – the blood ofSambhaji ?”

“Yes, Pant. I again say, yes ! I wouldhave honoured Firangoji at a special Darbarfor his act of loyalty for killing Sambhaji.After the felicitation programme was over,I would have taken him to my private roomand resting my head on his shoulders I wouldhave cried for the loss of my son.”

This remark moved everybody. They allwere stunned to see the firm, determinedand dutiful mind of their king. Nobodyspoke for a while. All on a sudden Firangojibroke the silence as he gave way to hisemotions. He sobbed out, “I am guilty, O

Lord, I am guilty,” He fell at the feet ofthe Maharaj, and began to weep. Seeingthis, the Maharaj also broke down. Histears were shed on Firangoji’s head.

Shivaji then called Pant and told him :“When Sambhaji comes and attacks a fort

and our loyal fort-keeper,like Firangoji, should leavethe fort and run away –the enemy will certainlydance in joy. If thiscontinues, Swaraj and allthat it means will bedestroyed. So go and tellall the fort-keepers tofight against Sambhaji asthe enemy of Swaraj.The fort must beprotected and Sambhajimust not be allowed toenter.”

Seeing this attitude onthe part of the Maharaj,Firangoji was stunned. Hespoke out, “Maharaj, I am

guilty. I am guilty. Punish me so that allthe others will earn a lesson. I am preparedto accept a death sentence.”

“Bravo, Firangoji,” the Maharaj said. Hereagain he lost control over himself. His eyeswere full of tears. Not being able to controlhimself, the Maharaj left the councilchamber.


SAMBHAJI RAJE, son of Shivaji,lost his mother when he wasbarely two. It was his grandmother,

Jija Bai, who reared him with all the care,love and affection of a mother. The boygrew up with a feeling of loneliness. Whocould fill the vacuum created by the deathof one’s mother ? Soyra Bai, his stepmother, had no love for the poor motherlessmite. She hated him. She was very anxiousto see her own son Rajaram enthroned afterShivaji’s death, and she saw Sambhaji, whowas the elder brother, as the main obstaclein the way. She could not openly expressher desire but her designs often becameobvious in the treatment she meted out toSambhaji. When Jija Bai left the scene,there was none to love him except his ownfather, who was always busy with hiscampaigns and imperial responsibilities.

As Sambhaji grew up, he started resentinghis step-mother’s attitude more and more.His father engaged reputed scholars toeducate Sambhaji. He too was interestedin learning, and also displayed proficiencyin martial skill. But, unfortunately, he wasled astray. His bitterness, born out of alove-starved existence and Shivaji’s inabilityto take personal interest in him and guidehim, resulted in making Sambhaji a waywardcharacter.

When Shivaji left for the south on a lengthyexpedition, Sambhaji left Raigarh and wentto Shringarpur along with his wife Yesu Bai.He remained there for quite sometime.

Yesu Bai gave birth to a daughter atShringarpur. When Maharaj returned fromthe expedition he called them back andsent them to Sajjangarh to come underthe care and influence of Ramadas Swamy.Although Sambhaji appreciated thepeaceful, pious atmosphere of the Ashram,he could not fit into the rigorous routinethere – japa, bhajans, austerities anddiscipline were not to his liking. He washappy at Shringarpur but he could not pullon at Sajjangarh for long. He also resentedhis being treated as an offender and sentto be advised and corrected. He dislikedstaying at Sajjangarh, and did not wish toreturn to Rajgarh, where he would have toface Soyra Bai. Where could he go ? Whatwas the way out ? Frustrated, outragedand distraught, he left Sajjangarh on 13th

December, 1678. Sometime later, newsreached Shivaji that Sambhaji had joinedDiler Khan, the general of Aurangazeb andthe enemy of Shivaji Maharaj. Aurangazebwas only too glad to accept him andordered him to work under Diler Khan withan army of five thousand men under him.

The lack of a careful upbringing and properguidance caused the young man to act inan immature and peevish manner.

In the meantime, Diler Khan decided to takeadvantage of Sambhaji’s position in theImperial army. He sent him to captureBhoopalgarh, a fort which was exclusivelyconstructed by Shivaji at a tremendouscost, and reputed to be very strong and

THE PRODIGAL IS BACK HOME


impregnable. Sambhaji attackedBhoopalgarh with the aid of a strong army.Firangoji Narsala was the general in chargeand Sambhaji sent a messenger to him andasked for the fort gates to be thrown opento him.

Firangoji was in a dilemma. If he obeyedthe order of Sambhaji, he would lose thefort. If he disobeyed it would amount todisobeying his own master. He decided toleave the fort along with Vithal Pant BhaleRao and report the matter to Shivaji. Thenboth of them left the Raigarh, leaving thefort unmanned.

On the next day the fort was opened.Sambhaji and Diler Khan entered it. Therewas no resistance. All the Marathassurrendered to Sambhaji with folded hands.Diler Khan did not let go the opportunity.He ordered the amputation of the right handof each of the seven hundred Marathasoldiers in the fort.

Meanwhile, Firangoji and Vithal Pant BhaleRao came to Maharaj and related the wholestory. Shivaji was stunned. “He (Sambhaji)came to the fort as an enemy and not aPrince. Why did you not kill him ? It wasyour mistake. Hereafter, do not yield tosuch sentiments.”

He immediately passed orders to all hisgenerals that Sambhaji should be resisted,wherever he launched an attack.

Realisation dawned on Sambhaji as hewitnessed the atrocities of Diler Khan. Hehad captured and enslaved hundreds ofmen and women. Many women put an endto their lives in order to escape thehumiliations inflicted by his men.

Sambhaji was filled with rage at the sight.He told Diler Khan to stop the outrage.Diler Khan replied : “Who are you tointerfere in my affairs ? I will do as I please.”

Sambhaji realised the truth. He realisedthat he had no standing in the Mughal army.He was a mere servant. But in Swarajya,he was a Prince and the son of the Emperorof Maharashtra.

“Oh Lord ! What have I done ? Why did Ichoose to become the enemy of my ownfather ?” he exclaimed in dismay.

At first, Aurangazeb’s motive in takingSambhaji into his fold was that the loyaltyto their Prince would induce a section ofthe Maratha generals to come over to hisside. But not one of the Maratha generals,nay, not even a soldier, deflected towardshim. Disappointed and frustrated, heresorted to treachery. Sambhaji was wellcaught in his hands. He planned to gethim to Delhi to torture him to death, unlesshe agreed to become a Muslim. “ArrestSambhaji immediately and send him toDelhi,” went instructions to Diler Khan.

By a sheer stroke of luck Sambhaji cameto know of it. His eyes were now wideopen to the Mughal plans of deceit. ButSambhaji was not alone, Yesu Bai and theirdaughter also stayed with him. It wasrisky to travel with a family. Yesu Baidressed herself as a soldier and both ofthem escaped through the darkness of thenight. Shivaji anticipated that sooner orlater he would come to his senses, and soSambhaji was well received at Bijapur andspeeded on to the Chhatrapati’s abode.Diler Khan’s anger knew no bounds, whenhe knew that the prey had escaped.


The prodigal son returned home. Shivajimet him at Panhala.

It was a deeply repentant son who walkedtowards his father.

He was prepared for the wrath of his father.But what he got were gentle words froman understanding parent.

“MY son, do not leave me hereafter. Youknow Aurangazeb’s treacherous nature,yet you trusted him. It was God’s gracethat saved you from his clutches. You aremy elder son and it is your duty to lookafter the kingdom. I want you and yourbrother Rajaram to share and rule thiskingdom amicably. You shall have the entireterritory of Karnataka under your control.That part which is north of it shall fall toRajaram. And each will rule over histerritory. I shall then devote myself tothe Lord.”

The tempest of internal strife seemed tohave subsided temporarily.

JANJIRA set Shiva thinking of someother island in the neighbourhoodwhich would provide him with a naval

base. His choice fell on Khanderi (Kennery),a small rocky island situated 11 miles southof Bombay and 30 miles north of Janjira.As early as April 1672 the people of Suratlearnt of his intention to build a fort on theisland. The English President at oncedecided to prevent it, arguing that itaffected the interests of Bombay evenmore than those of Surat, because no shipcould enter or issue from Bombay harbourwithout being seen from Khanderi.

The progress of the Maratha engineers wasvery slow, and in September following, theirfortifications were still incomplete. TheEnglish and Siddi fleets came there inconcert and warned the Marathas to stoptheir work. Shivaji’s admirals, Daulat Khanand Mai Nayak, finding themselves opposedby very superior forces, withdrew from theisland.

At the end of August 1679, Shiva againtook up the project of fortifying Khanderi,and collected men and materials for thepurpose at Chaul. He allocated one lakhof hun from the revenues of Kalikan andChaul to be spent on the work. On 15th

September we find that 150 men of Shivawith four small guns under command of MaiNayak are already on the island and have

WAR WITHTHE ENGLISH


run up breastworks of earth and stone allaround it. A request from the DeputyGovernor of Bombay “to quit the place asit belonged to the island of Bombay” wasdeclined by the Marathas in the absenceof orders from Shivaji to that effect. TheEnglish, therefore, resolved that if theoccupation of the island was persisted inand the Maratha fleet under Daulat Khancame there to protect the fortifications,they would “repel them with force as anopen and public enemy.”

The first encounter between the Englishand the Marathas at sea took place onthe 19th September and ended in a reversefor the sons of the Ocean Queen. Thelarger English ships were still outside theBay of Khanderi, because the soundingshad not been taken and they could not bebrought closer to the island. LieutenantFrancis Thorpe, with some shibars made arash attempt to land on the island,“positively against order”. The Englishmenwere assailed with great and small shotsfrom the shore works. The rash, young,drunken officer was killed with two othermen (John Bradbury and Henry Welch),several others were wounded, and GeorgeCole and many other Englishmen were leftprisoners on the island. The lieutenant’sshear was captured by the enemy, whiletwo other shibars escaped to the fleet inthe open sea. Next day, the Marathascarried off another English shear, SergeantGiles timidly offering little resistance.

Early in October, the Maratha fleet wasgot ready to go to the succour of Khanderi.The second battle with the English wasfought on 18th October, 1679. At daybreak, the entire Maratha fleet of more

than 60 vessels under Daulat Khan,suddenly bore down upon the small Englishsquadron consisting of the Revenge frigate,2 Ghurabs of two mastas each, 3 shibarsand 2 manchwas, - eight vessels in all,with 200 European soldiers on board, inaddition to the lascars and white sailors.The Marathas advanced from the shore alittle north of Chaul, firing from their prowsand moving so fast the English vessels atanchor near Khanderi had scarcely time toget under weigh. In less than half an hour,the Dover, one of the English ghurabs,having some English soldiers on board,stuck its colours and was carried off bythe Marathas. The ghurab kept aloof, andthe five smaller vessels ran away, leavingthe Revenge alone in the midst of theenemy, but she fought gallantly and sankfive of the Maratha Gallivats, at which theirwhole fleet fled to the bar of Negothna,pursued by the Revenge. Two daysafterwards, the Maratha fleet issued fromthe creek, but on the English vesselsadvancing, they fled back. Such is theinefficiency of “mosquito craft “ in navalbattles fought with artillery that even fiftyslender and open Indian ships were nomatch for a single, large and strongly builtEnglish vessel. AT the end of November,the Siddi fleet of 345 ships joined theEnglish off Khanderi and kept up a dailybattery against the island.

But the cost of these operations washeavily felt by the English merchants, whoalso realised that they could not recruitwhite soldiers to replace any lost in fight,and therefore could not “long opposeShivaji, lest they should imprudently soweaken themselves as not to be able todefend Bombay itself, if he should be


exasperated to draws down his army thatway”. Moreover, during the monsoonstorms, the English would be forced towithdraw their naval patrol from Khanderi,and then Shiva would “take his opportunityto fortify and store the island, meagre allour designs”. So, the Surat Council wiselyresolved, that the English should“honourably withdraw themselves in time”,and either settle this differences withShivaji by means of a friendly mediator, orelse throw the burden of opposing him onthe Portuguese Governor of Bassein or onSiddi, and thus “ease the Hon’ble Companyof this great charge.” The Surat factoryitself was in danger and could spare noEuropean soldier for succouring Bombay.

The dreaded reprisal by Shivani againstBombay almost came to pass. “Highlyexasperated by the defeat of his fleetbefore Khanderi.” He sent 4,000 men toKalyan Bhivandi with the intention to landin Bombay by way of Thane. ThePortuguese Governor of Bassering havingrefused to allow them to pass through hiscountry, the invaders marched to Panvel(a port in their own territory) oppositeTrombay island, intending to embark thereon seven shibars. The inhabitants ofBombay were terribly alarmed. The DeputyGovernor breathed fire, but the Presidentand Council of Surat decided to climb down.On receiving a courteous letter from Shivaji,sent by way of Rajapur, they wrote : “acivil answer, demonstrating our trouble forthe occasion his people have given theEnglish at Bombay to quarrel with him abouthis fortifying so insignificant a rock asKhanderi, which is not in the least becominga prince of his eminence and qualifications

; and though we have a right to that place,yet to show the candour of our proceedings,we are willing to forget what is past, andtherefore have given instructions to theDeputy Governor of Bombay to deal withsuch persons as he shall appoint about thepresent differences.” The Deputy Governorwas very much dissatisfied with this pacifictone and held that a vigorous policy ofaggression against Shiva’s country and fleetwould give a speedy conclusion to thisdispute, to the Hon’ble Company’sadvantage.” But the higher authorities atSurat only repeated their former order thatBombay should avoid a war with Shiva andfrustrate his designs of fortifying Khanderieither by treaty or by Siddi’s fleet assistingus to oppose him thereon.” The two Englishcaptains consulted and took the same view.At the end of December the Marathasdragged several large guns to Thal (on themain land) and began to fire them at thesmall English craft lying under Underi forstress of weather.

But the hope of hindering the Marathasfortification of island without fightingproved futile, and the English ships werewithdrawn from Khanderi, which, after“holding out (against the Siddi and theEnglish) to the admiration of all, was freedfrom enemy vessels by the coming of themonsoons, and remained in Shiva’s hands.


NOTHING emphasisesShivaji’s role as a nation-builder of India more than

this letter which he, as thechampion of the subjects of theEmpire, wrote to Aurangazeb at thistime. Its tone and dignity, theadmonitions administered in it, theappeal to a higher sense ofhumanity and finally the warningconveyed to the Emperor to desistfrom his ruinous steps make theletter one of the importantdocuments of Indian history. Hereare extracts from the letter.

“To the Emperor Alamgir. This firmwell wisher Shivaji, deeply gratefulfor divine favour and your kindnessas clear as daylight, begs to inform YourMajesty as follow :

“I returned from your presence withoutseeking your permission. It is mymisfortune. May your kindness be felt byeverybody. As a well-wisher I am placingsome matters before you.

“Recently it has come to my notice thatowing to your war against me, yourtreasury has become empty. You havedecided to meet the expenditure throughthe imposition of Jaziya on the Hindus.

“Your Majesty ! Akbar, the founder of yourEmpire ruled the land for fifty-two years.He had adopted the excellent policy oftreating all on a footing of equality –

Christians, Jews, Muslims, Dadupanthis,Stargazers, Malakis, Atheists, Brahmins,Jains, in fact all the communities. His aimwas to ensure the welfare and protectionof all. The result was that to whateverdirection he turned, success and gloryattended him. He brought most of thecountry under his sway.

“After him, Nuruddin Jahangir ruled fortwenty-two years. He led a life full ofgood deeds and he has become immortal.Shah-jahan ruled for thirty-two years. Hetoo made his life fruitful through gooddeeds. That is why these rulers weresuccessful in whatever direction theyturned. During their rule, a number of

THE EPISTLE


provinces and forts came under their sway.They have passed away, but their nameendures. Their greatness is difficult todescribe. We have a measure of theirgreatness in what Alamgir tried to imitatethem but without success. Why shouldthis be so ?

“The previous rulers had they so desired,had undoubtedly the authority to imposeJaziya. But they felt that all men, high orlow, were the children of God, and allreligions were but means to the worship ofthe One Almighty. They never allowed thefeeling of religious hatred even to touchthem. The memory of the kindness of theirdisposition and the goodness of their deedsis ever fresh in the world. All men, greatand small, praise and bless them. Duringtheir rule, the people enjoyed peace, andas a result, their glory was on theascendant.

“But during your regime many provincesand forts have gone out of your hands.The remaining ones, too, will be lost toyou. I for my part will not spare any effortto ruin the provinces. Your subjects arebeing crushed under cruel conditions. Theincome from your Paraganas and Mahals isgoing down day by day. It is difficult torealise even a sum of one thousand fromplaces whereof the income was one lakhpreviously. Poverty is striking the kingsand princes. The plight of noblemen andmansabdars is apparent to everybody. Atpresent your soldiers are discontented, theMoslems are in anguish and the Hindus arescorched. Everyone is hungry and piningfor bread.

“They are in such deep distress, and ontop of it all, you have imposed Jaziya onthem. With what justification could youdo this ? This news will soon spread eastand west. People would say, ‘ The Emperorof Hindustan has taken a begging bowl andis out to realise Jasiya from Brahmins, Jains,Sadhus, Yogis, Sanyasis, Bairagis, all thepoor and the starving. He takes pride indoing so. He is bringing the Taimur dynastyto the dust.’ That will be their feeling.

“Your Majesty, in the Quran God has beendescribed as the Rabbul Alameen, the Lordof the entire universe, and not as RabbulMusalmin, the Lord of the Mussalmans. Infact, Islam and Hinduism are both beautifulmanifestations of the Divine Spirit. As thecall for prayers goes out from the mosques,so do the bells in the temples proclaim theDivine glory. Any one who is fanatical andnurtures religious hatred must be declaredto be acting against the command of God.To draw new lines on a picture is equivalentto finding fault with the painter (the DivineArtist – God).

“It is to point out blemishes in God’screation, which only means that you areblaming the Creator.

“To be just, Jaziya cannot be justified onany grounds. It is an innovation in India.It is unjust. If you feel that on grounds ofreligion and in the interests of justice theimposition of this tax is essential, you shouldfirst realise it from Raja Rajsingh. For, heis the leader of the Hindus. Then it wouldnot be difficult to realise it from this well-wisher.”


Surat’s Second Sack

IN 1670 Shivaji the Great raided Surat asecond time at the head of 15,000 men.For three days the luckless city was pillagedat ease and the Marathas carried off arich harvest of booty safely to Raigad. Anattempt on the part of the Muslim cavalryto intercept the returning convoy in thepass near Nasik was a miserable failure,the Muslims being driven back by thedetachment of the king with greatslaughter.

In open Combat at Salher

In 1672 Moro Pingale fought one brilliantcavalry action at Salher and literally cutthe Mughal division under Ikhlas Khan topieces. “This was the first complete victoryof a Maratha force over an equal numberof Mughals in the open field and it greatlyenhanced their prestige.” Behold ! thedespised Bargirs of yesterday now becamenot only the equals of the best Mughaltroops, but their superiors. The Marathasbecame a terror to their enemies.

Up to the Very Walls of Aurangabad

They swooped upon Khandesh anddemanded Chowth from that Mughal city ;they raided Ahmednagar, Aurangabad andeven Golkonda and Raigad – the capital ofthe Marathas – grew rich with the spoilsof many a successful campaign.

In 1672 Ali Adil Shah died and the Kingdomwas plunged once again into a state ofanarchy and that was exactly what thevigilant Maratha wanted. He at once tookPanhala, plundered the foreign settlementat Hubli and ordered his fleet to raid thecoast. Within two years, the Bijapur troopswere driven back to the walls of theircapital and the Marathas occupied theterritory as far as Miraj.

Thus by this time Shivaji the Great had re-conquered all his ceded territory from theMughals, and had defeated all his enemiesin the open field. Bijapur was knocked outof the race ; Golconda was paralysed ;the viceroy of Deccan was forced to lookon helplessly as fort after fort was re-takenfrom the Mughals and the Marathasplundered their country up to the very wallsof Aurangabad. Verily had the great captainnow established himself as an independentruler of Deccan ; he attained his goal.Shivaji the Great, therefore, felt the needof legitimizing his conquests and get himselfcrowned lawful monarch of the Kingdom.

The Legal Sanction

The principle of legitimacy has always helda powerful sway over the minds of thepeople. In the absence of legal sanction aconqueror, however mighty, at oncepartakes of the character of a parvenu.Napoleon himself at a future date couldhave got rid of this principle ; so engrainedwas it in medieval society both here and in

THE CLOSING STRAINS

(Marking the finale from the Refrain through the Crescendo)


Europe. The permanence and continuityof the political creation of Shivaji the Great,therefore, required that it should be seton a regular footing, as the valid act of asovereign.

It was necessary to give a decent burialto the jealousy, which the rapid rise of theBhonsles had created among the otherMaratha families once their equals in socialstatus or in certain cases even theirsuperiors. These selfish men, theGhorpades, the Manes, the Mores, theSawants, the Dalvis, the Surves, theShirkes, the Nimbalkars and the Ghadges,were content to remain vassals ofAurangazeb or Adil Shah and shamelesslytook pride in calling themselves their loyalsubjects. That Shivaji the Great was, likeWashington, “the first win war, the first inpeace and the first in the hearts of hiscountrymen” ; that in championing thecause of the oppressed fellow Marathas,he had not counted on any sacrifice astoo great ; that in point of virtue, abilityor morals he was definitely superior to thesedegenerate jagirdars and far in advance ofhis times – these considerations werenothing in their eyes. Neither the superbbeauty of his private character, nor theoriginality and loftiness of his ideal , neitherthe brilliant success his armies had metwith nor the resourcefulness, the daring,the diplomatic skill, which he had shown infacing the several crises of his life, softenedthe rancour of hatred of these dregs ofhuman species. The perversity of theirminds was only equalled by the depravityof their souls. A formal coronation alonewas calculated to shut their mouthseffectively.

The coronation of Shivaji the Great was ascene of the greatest spend our. Nothinglike it had been witnessed in Maharashtrafor several generations. The grandceremony was performed strictly inaccordance with the orthodox ritual by thegreatest Sanskrit theologian then alive,Gaga Bhatta.

The Storm Brews

For the next two years, no militaryoperations of importance were undertaken.The crowned head of the Maratha nationwisely busied himself with measuresintended to secure his conquests. Thegreat king’s last expedition was undertakenin 1676 when he set out with the largestMaratha army which had ever yet takenthe field at one time, ostensibly to asserthis legitimate claims to his father’s jagir inKarnataka but really to bring his stupidbrother Venkoji under his own control andinfluence. Since the death of Shahaji, hisyounger son Venkoji had been inundisturbed enjoyment of the extensiveKarnataka Jagir. If he had managed theestate wisely with the help of his father’sveteran Ministers and particularly ofRaghunath Narayan Hanumante, if he hadtransferred his allegiance as a vassaljagirdar to his illustrious brother who wasnow the recognised head of the Marathas,perhaps Shivaji the Great would not haveundertaken this campaign at all. Butinstead, he began to drive his own coachwith the advice of his vulgar and unworthyfriends, and Hanumante, who wasconstantly treated with insults and whoseinfluence in the government wassystematically undermined, saw thatVenkoji’s mismanagement would soon bring


ruin to the jagir and disgrace to Shahaji’smemory. Venkoji, under thesecircumstances, became insolent and openlydefied his brother.

One day there was a stormy scene at thecourt ; Hanumante extolled Shivaji theGreat as a model king and taunted hismaster as a spiritless and an incapable man: Venkoji, not liking the Minister’s frankness,retorted by calling his brother a traitor anda rebel against his lawful sovereign. Thedisgusted Minister left Tanjore and wentto Satara to interview Shivaji the Great.The latter, for his own reasons, wasmaturing a plan for the invasion ofKarnataka during his illness at Satara andhence Hanumante found in the Raja awilling listener to his scheme.

Aurangazeb’s Eye on Deccan

Aurangazeb, though up to now busy withputting down revolts in the north andestablishing his authority in that quarter,had never forgotten his scheme of annexingthe whole of Deccan to his Empire.

He , therefore, followed the policy ofweakening the Deccan powers so that heshould be in a position at a later date tosweep them off the political board himselfwith an overwhelming force.

Bahadur Khan, the Mughal Viceroy, lackedboth the ability and the army for reducingDeccan and there was every likelihood ofall Deccan powers, including the Marathas,making common cause against the Mughals.So Aurangazeb always fomented internaldissensions by bribing everyone in power,by exciting jealousy between the MuslimStates. So long as Shivaji the Great had

not become a menace in the Emperor’s eye,he considered Shivaji’s raids into Bijapurand Golkonda territory as favourable to him.

At Bijapur on the death of Ali Adil Shahtwo factions, the Afghans and theDeccanis, were struggling for power.Khavas Khan was the head of the Deccaniparty while Abdul Kharim headed theAfghans.

Bahadur Khan now received orders toattack Bijapur and punish Abdul Karim forhis treachery. When the war wasproceeding Diler Khan who as an Afghanwas favourably disposed towards AbdulKarim, joined Bahadur Khan’s army and atruce was called for. Both the parties, theMughals and the Bijapuries entered into analliance for the subjugation of the Golkondastate.

Bednore to Tanjore

Golkonda too was torn by internal strife.The new Abu Hussein was hostile to theMughals and the two Brahmin brothersMadanna and Akkanna guided his policy.The able Minister Madanna saw the dangerof the alliance between Diler Khan, Shivajithe Great, and the Bijapur Regent, and thusan alliance between Golconda and theMarathas was inevitable. On his partShivaji the Great had no illusions but thathe was holding his kingdom on sufferanceand that as soon as Golconda wasconquered Aurangazeb was sure to mobiliseall his military resources against himself.At such a crisis he could hope to savehimself only if he could fall back upon somestrong positions in Southern India. His planwas therefore to create a new kingdom inthe South from Bednore to Tanjore. He


would guard its northern frontier fromMughal attack by a line of forts, and extendhis dominions to the south as far aspossible. From this base he thought hewould be able to take the offensive at afavourable opportunity and roll back theMughal tide. The king’s scheme was far-sighted and its wisdom was to be realisedshortly when Rajaram could go to Jinji anddefy the Mughal armies for a long time.

The Born Strategist’s Strategy

Shivaji’s object was only to save himselffrom the Mughal menace for the time being.The Shahi Government was in a positionto trouble Shivaji at this time. Golcondawas admittedly friendly to him. Both theStates were far from being “powerful” andif anything, they could not be “potentiallyhostile” in the face of the well-knownMughal designs on their very existence.Potentially, they were going to be the greatRaja’s subordinates allies. This was the“born strategist’s” strategy.

Shivaji’s motive in this distant campaignwas not mere plunder but extension of histerritory. Some idea of this motive canalso be gathered from his remarkable letterto Maloji Rai Ghorpade written fromHyderabad in March 1677 wherein he urgeshis countrymen to bury the past andcombine against the Adil Shahis. There helays down the principle that the landbelonged to the natives and no foreignerand had any right to encroach. When theplan was finally formed, Shivaji the Greatwho left nothing to chance, made hisdiplomatic and other preparations and asusual his diplomacy completely triumphedagainst the Mughl Viceroy of Deccan.

Bahadur Khan had no stomach for any morewar with Shivaji the Great. The neutralityof the Deccan Viceroy was purchased “bygiving him a large sum of money, part ofwhich would appear publicly and a partprivately. That which was publicly receivedwas styled tribute by the Mughals – anappellation to which Shivaji reconciledhimself, even at this stage of hisindependence, by comparing it to “the oilcake to his milch cow”.

Having thus arranged for the security ofhis kingdom the Great Shivaji madeadequate arrangements for the security ofhis Kingdom during his long absence toKarnatic. Moro Trimbak Pingle (Peshwa)was entrusted with the general care ofthe kingdom as Regent and Annaji Dattowas specially to look after the Konkandistricts from Kalyan to Phonda, “stronggarrisons and a large body of disposableinfantry” being placed in his charge. Hewas also directed to assist the Peshwa.

The Deal

Finally, an alliance was made with Golkondaand the close friendship and cooperationof Qutub-shah was secured. Golconda hadalready promised Shivaji an annual tributeof one lakh of hun for the defence of therealm. A shrewd diplomat, Prahlad Niraji,had been posted at Hyderabad as Marathaenvoy. Shivaji the Great expected to getfrom Golkonda the expenses of thecampaign and wrote to his envoy to arrangefor a friendly interview between him andQutub Shah who was at first afraid of sucha personal meeting, but on Prahlad Niraji’ssolemn oath in support of Shivaji’s honestyof purpose he agreed to receive him.


Shivaji the Great then started from Raigadin January 1677 at the head of 30,000horses and 40,000 infantry carefullyabstaining from plunder and maintainingperfect discipline among his vast hordeproceeded on his march with utmostregularity.

Madanna Pandit came out some distanceto receive his distinguished guest and theday after his arrival Shivaji the Great hadan interview with Qutub Shah. The twomonarchs held a friendly consultation forthree hours and Abdul Hasan was sofavourably impressed by the Maratha King’spersonal magnetism, character, ability, andthe strength and discipline of his army thathe readily granted whatever the latterwanted. A secret offensive and defensivealliance was concluded. The Sultan agreedto pay a subsidy of 3,000 hun a day andto send an army of 5,000 men to cooperatein the conquest of Karnataka. A train ofartillery with its equipments was alsosupplied and probably a large sum of moneyas advance payment of the stipulatedsubsidy. In return for this Shivaji the Greatseems to have promised the Sultan a share“of such parts of his conquests in Karnatakaas had not belonged to his father Shahaji”.

The Patrimony

After a month spent at Hyderabad in makinghis arrangements, Shivaji the Greatmarched due south, towards Krishna. Thefortress of Jinji, which afterwards becamefamous as the seat of the MarathaGovernment under Rajaram, was takentogether with the Kolar and Bangaloredistricts. These districts formed a part ofthe ancestral territory and Venkoji in great

despondency was forced to agree to thesurrender of half of his possessions to hismasterful brother. The only opposition thatShivaji the Great met with was from SherKhan but he was enveloped and wascaptured with his entire army. Thus thiscampaign was a complete success. Theboldness of its design and neatness of itsexecution place the Great Maratha captain,remark Kincaid and Parasnis, in the frontrank of the World’s greatest generals. LikeCaesar, in Spain “he came, he saw, heconquered”. “With two enemies, one oneither flank, and a doubtful ally on his lineof communications, he had crossed Indiafrom west to east and back again fromeast to west. In the course of 18 monthsat a distance of 700 miles from his base hehad conquered a territory as large as hisformer kingdom. While a single reversewould have been fatal, he had not sufferedeven a single check. Victory hadsucceeded victory ; town had fallen aftertown. As he sent he organised twoconquests ; and when he returned toRaigad, as he now did, his new possessionswee securely bound together, from sea tosea by a line of fortified strongholds heldby garrisons brave to the death anddevoted to his cause.”

A Friend in Need

Bahadur Khan, the Viceroy of Deccan, wasrecalled as his truce with Shivaji the Greatwas not approved of by Aurangazeb andDiler Khan was ordered to carry out thecombined attack on Golkonda, true to theEmperor’s policy of exhausting DeccanStates. But the invaders were met by anoverwhelming force and were compelledsoon to retreat. Diler Khan then quarrelled


with his Bijapur allies and Siddi MasaudKhan, the new regent, sent an urgentmessage to Shivaji the Great piteouslybegging him to come to the rescue ofBijapur in its dire need. Shivaji therefore,returned to Deccan by way of Bellary,which he took enroute. He had no wish tosee his ancient foe fall a victim to theMughals, particularly because the Mughalsat Bijapur would be troublesome andpowerful neighbours. He therefore, madea diversion in their favour and sendingforces to ravage Mughal territory,eventually forced Diler Khan to retreat. Asusual Shivaji the Great was carrying allbefore him, when suddenly at Raigad adisease of the knee brought on a violentattack of fever. Worn out by constantexertion in the cause of his country andreligion, the great warrior succumbed tohis illness and passed away on the 5th April1680.

“Kshatriya Kulawantas MaharajSimhasanadheeswara Raja ShivaChhatrapati Ki Jai.”

(From The Rise and Fall of the MarathaEmpire by R.V.NADKARNI)

WELL over six months hadpassed since Shivaji startedhis southern campaign. But no

contact had been established between thetwo brothers and though it was a matterof courtesy on Venkoji’s part to extend aninvitation and a welcome to his illustriousbrother, he chose to ignore it completely.

Shivaji waited for sometime before he madethe first move. He then sent word toVenkoji, asking him to send some of hiscourtiers as envoys, to open negotiationsregarding their father’s properties. GovindBhat, Kakaji Pant, Nilaba Naik, Rangoba Naikand few others came over, upon receipt ofthe letter, to meet Shivaji. To these menShivaji said, “I deserve a share of theproperty that was enjoyed by my father.It is going to be thirteen years since myfather’s death, and so far Venkoji made nobid to share the jagir with me. I think Ihad been patient long enough and sincethe first move towards a legitimatediscussion of the patrimony had not beentaken by Venkoji, I feel I am justified insuggesting the division now. I want youpeople to report my views to my brotherand advice him to act accordingly”.

Venkoji’s aides found nothing objectionablein the proposal. Maharaj wrote a letter tobe handed over to Venkoji, asking him tocome and meet him in person to discuss

ADVICE TO VENKOJI


matters in detail and sent his own envoywith Venkoji’s men.

The party went back to Tanjore andreported to Venkoji, and Shivaji’s menpresented him with the letter Shivaji wrote,inviting him for a talk. Though he dislikedthe idea of parting with his territories,Venkoji agreed to meet Shivaji andnegotiate regarding the property. He setout along with Kakkaji Pant, JagannathPant, Kanher Pant, and two of his half-brothers, Pratapji Raje and Bhivji Raje, andproceeded to meet Shivaji, followed by atwo thousand strong cavalry. WhenMaharaj came to know of the arrival ofVenkoji he came from his camp and thebrothers met in a Shiva temple at a placecalled Tirupatora, six miles from Shivaji’scamp and they cameback together toThirumal Wadi camp. Shivaji extended awarm welcome to the party and gave themgenerous gifts. Venkoji stayed with Shivajifor eight days.

Giving them time to settle down, Shivajiopened the negotiations after sometime.Addressing Venkoji, he said “Look, both of

us have equal right to share theproperty that was left to us by ourfather. So far you have enjoyed it allby yourself, while I waited for you tomake the first move and offer me myshare. But you do not seem inclinedto do so. Hence I had to make thisunpleasant demand on you. From yourown properties, and from territories youmight have captured, I ask for noshare. But the jagir of our father mustbe shared by us equally.” Venkoji didnot wish openly to defy Shivaji, andleft the camp without Shivaji’s

knowledge.

Shivaji’s efforts to settle matters amicablywere in vain, and he now had to adopt anaggressive attitude. He decided to takeby force the area north of river Koleran ashis share of the patrimony. His half-brother,Santaji Raje too joined him, and Shivajigave him command of a regiment of onethousand strong cavalry.

When Shivaji came up to Torgal, he heardthe eventful news that Venkoji hadattacked Santaji Raje near Ahiri and wasdefeated by Santaji. Maharaj went furtherand captured all the property that Venkojiacquired from Adil Shah. Venkoji reinforcedhis army and came back to Ahiri with ahuge battalion of four thousand strongcavalry and ten thousand strong infantry.Santaji Raje, Hambirrao Mohite andRaghunath Pant had already been stationedthere. Venkoji attacked them with hisreinforced army and himself faced SantajiRaje and defeated him and Raghunath Pantand Hambirrao also had been forced toretreat. The three commanders realisedthe effect these defeats would have on


the morale of their army and decided toattack at night suddenly. Venkoji’s army,tired and resting after the great battle,was caught unawares by the sudden attackfrom all sides. A furious battle ensued inwhich Venkoji’s army was badly mauled,but Venkoji managed to escape and reachTanjore.

Shivaji was much pained by theunnecessary bloodshed and loss of preciouslives caused by Venkoji’s fool-hardiness andhostility and sent him yet another message,beseeching him to come to his senses andagree to the partition of the patrimony.

A truce between Shivaji and Venkoji wasbrought about by Raghunath Pant, and thebrothers came to an agreement regardingthe division of property, after which Shivajireturned from Karnataka to his kingdom.

Thereafter, however, Venkoji’s dispositiontotally changed. He lost all interest instate affairs, and started spending longperiods in meditation and deep thought.He neglected the administration of hisestate and left it almost completely in thehands of his officials, who started takingadvantage of the situation for their personalends. Shivaji learnt of this situation forthe first time and immediately wrote a letterto Venkoji. Having taken a share of thepatrimony it now became imperative forhim to accept the responsibilities of an elderbrother. He wrote a long and affectionateletter to Venkoji, reminding him of his dutiesas a ruler. It ran thus : “I am muchdepressed to learn that of late you arenot taking any interest in the affairs ofyour state and that you are spending mostof your time in meditation. For us, who

have taken the mantle of kingship, theprotection of our subjects is the only formof asceticism acceptable. In fulfilling ourduties to our subjects, we shall beprogressing towards salvation. If you leaveall affairs in the hands of your officials,they might misuse their powers and harassthe innocent public. As their ruler it isyour duty to protect them fromharassment, and not contribute to it. Comeout of this depression and discharge yourduties as a ruler, and conquer furtherterritories and free our people from alienrule. Therein lies your dharma, and I hopeyou will realise it.”

The letter seemed to have had some effecton Venkoji, for he emerged from hisdejection and state of inaction, and onceagain applied himself to the administrationof his estate.


FREEDOM was his breath andTyranny his enemy. Whatmattered to him if the enemy was a

Moghallai or a Deccani ! Was he only theson of a vassal of Bijapur bent upon carvingout a petty Kingdom ? Was he only aVisionary dreaming of the impossible ? Couldhe be simply called an Adventurer labouringon the ladder of chance ? Diminutive inform and destructive, terrible in action, hisspirit ! Was he not the embodiment of theSpirit of the Gita ? Quail not, fail not andfight for the Freedom of Bharath and itsideals of Vedic Karma and Dharma. Thissummed up the excellence of this immortalSon of Bharath, Chattrapati Shivaji Maharaj,who laid the foundation for a Free Bharath! Are you moaning for resources ? Man –made resources, - resources never madeMan – that was Shivaji. Brain or Brawn ?- Brain made Brawn and moved it – thatwas Shivaji ! Rama killed Ravana in Lanka.But the Mahratta bearded the Terrors,worse than Ravanas, of North and South –with Rama’s name on his lips and heart !Was he not the pet chela of Samartha,the incarnation of Hanuman – SamarthaRamadas ? Did he not sit under the feetof this great Guru and imbibe the spirit ofthe Ramayana ? Was he not chosen bythis great Siddha Purusha to lay thefoundation for sweeping out the hyenasthat ate and gnawed at the vitals of VedicDharma ?

What a Time, the critical psychologicaltime, was the advent of this great one,Shivaji ! Marauders had come throughKhyber and Bholan. Did they come withculture of nobility ? They came with swordmoved by brutality, moved by the lust forblood, loot and women ! Had they anystake in the country they invaded andburnt ? These alien marauders gave theirsuccessive onslaughts in waves and theyreturned to tell stories of the richness andbeauty of the Indo-Gangetic valley, thewealth rolling on the plains for the picking,and of the disunited, emasculated and vainRajahs and Chieftains. This inflamed freshhordes of barbarians, until at last themarauders failed to return to their landsbut settled down like swarms of locusts –and alas the green verdure of Vedic Dharmaand Vedi living were no more ! Here andthere were some dried roots of the ancientculture and civilisation with nobody towater, and which nobody dared to water !

The sons of the soil became second classcitizens, if not political and social Pariahs.These Kafirs became fit to be looked upon– when their heads were shaved andconverted at the point of the sword.Security or insecurity of life ! Life andproperty; of their women, kith and kin, werethe security ! True some of these Hinduslaves were gilted and embroidered as marksof their slavery, in positions in the Serviceof the Invader-Settler. The marauders

CHATTRAPATI SHIVAJI MAHARAJ THE FOUNDER OF FREE BHARATH

By YOGACHARYA S. SUNDARAM


came not to be considered as such – theyattained the respectability of natives. Theyforgot their barren hilly tracts and parchinghomes, west and farther west. Theybecame Emperors. Their Empire extendedall over. Some rulers were, however, reallygreat and sought a synthesis, which wasdemoted and defeated in privacy.

Shah-in-Shah Aurangazeb came to theImperial Throne. He thought his ancestor’srule was soft and stupid. They did notreach the harvest big for the Faithful,because they gave room to pusillanimity.But did he take advantage of the talentsand loyalty of the Kafirs ? Had he notfamous and trusted Generals andAdministrators, from this class ? Did henot send a famous General to subdue torebellious Deccani Chieftains, who hadbecome Sultans in their own right andclaimed Kingdoms ?

Shivaji was born in these times inKarnataka. His father Shahaji administereda Jagir here. He was a soldier of fortunefor the Sultan of Bijapur. What a wonderfulmother Shivaji had in Jija Bai ! Did she notmould her son in the Vedic way of thoughtand living ? Shivaji drank not only mother’smilk flowing from her bosom, but the milkthat was surcharged with all that was greatand sustaining to the soul. She wasreligious and cultured, an ideal of Vedicwomanhood. She told him stories of theRishis and the Yogis. She talked to him ofthe Puranas and all that was great in VedicCivilisation that was gone, murdered. Hebecame fit to listen to the great Samarthaand imbibe valour, religion and the greatexploits of the incarnations of the VedicPantheon. This intake went deep. It went

to form his Brawn and Brain. Teenage cameand he looked about. The Fire of Freedomsparked and blazed to destroy those thatheld the sons of the soil as their slavesannihilating their religion and their very spiritand culture, making them serve with grassin their mouths. His hatred and disgustspread to the humbled chieftains, with noguts to fight for their religion or for theirtyrannised fellow beings. They served therulers with their sword and cunning toenslave, burn and loot their fellow sons ofthe Vedic soil. They had apparently nomoral courage and faith of conviction toresign and fight those that built mosquesout of the destroyed temples. They didnot rebel when their idols were broken.Their chicken hearts acquiesced. Theirlullaby was ‘what if Rama ruled or Ravanaruled’ !

What about Shivaji’s own father, who hadpledged his sword and loyalty to these alienrulers who talked the language of thesword, fire and rape ? Shivaji attainedteenage. Did he dedicate thereafter hislife for the faithful following of his father inhis footsteps ? His answer is there veryplain and bold for anyone but the blind toread. Mother was there with him. Therising Blaze of Freedom, freedom to driveout the invaders to establish the MagnaCarta of Vedic religion and living,substituted itself in the place of a father.

He rose in secret revolt. He gathered abouthim petty chieftains of like mind, and beganattacking the far-flung limbs of the AdilShahi Kingdom, of the Sultan of Bijapur,the biggest of the Deccani rulers and themost severe headache to the Moghul Tiger.He gnawed away small villages, smaller forts


and formed the nucleus of the FreedomForce with swords raised for the protectionof the Vedic Dharma. He became the petof the Mavalis, the hardened, the spirited,the clever and the valiant Mahrattas, andtheir Hero, a boy Hero. Shivaji gnawed atthe toes and toe-nails of the Kingdom ofBijapur with the irrepressible and incorrigibletenacity of the Rat. Cats were afraid togo near and have a close look at this Rat.The Sultan was in a rage. He was furiousand the only possible thing he could dowas to abuse this pigmy, calling him amountain Rat. This name spread later toMoghul Capital and that Tiger could laterhave only empty growls of fury.

Jija Bai, the great mother, whosupplemented Shivaji’s brain, was also hissolace, incentive and refuge, and thesource of his indefatigable moral energy.Shivaji’s irritants to the Sultan increased.Protests and anger to the father, Shahaji,a commander in the Sultan’s army availednothing. Shahaji denied responsibility, asusual. He left the Sultan to deal with hisson as the Sircar thought fit. A greattreasure, the richest and most priced andperhaps most needed for the Bijapur Darbarwas passing through the pass of Wei. Withthree hundred horsemen, Shivaji attackedafter ambushing the thousand strongescort. He looted the entire treasure ofMullana Ahmed and added the firearms tohis scarce armoury. The Sultan heard. Hegot enraged. But he could only cry Bismillah!

The capture of the Treasure and Armsincreased the sinews of War for Shivaji.Wai and its surrounding strategic areascame under the control of Shivaji. Thiscut the arm of Bijapur across to Konkan.

Hearing of this great victory, more Mavalisand more Mahrattas joined him. Womenand the old and the elders praised him asthe Defender of Vedic religion and Liberator.There were cries of Jai Shivaji all around.Cries of Jai Shivaji echoed and re-echoedin the mountain forests and spread to theplains. What was his strategy whatsucceeded so well ? How did hesuccessfully beard the lion of Bijapur in itsden ? Was he Hannibal, Hannibal of theEast ? Greece and Sparta and the Aeigian,small surroundings to play with and tacticsagainst hoards of barbarian army – thatwas Hannibal’s glory ! Shivaji excelledHannibal. He was facing the sophisticatedarmies of Bijapur and under talented warveterans. The Western Ghats, what couldhave Hannibal done here ?

Is he to be compared to NapoleonBonaparte ? Where is the comparison withthis great Idealist – Shivaji seeking toredeem his Holy Land from the alienmarauders and free Bharath to its destinyof the Ancient Vedic Culture and UniversalCivilisation !

Terror of the regular army, Shivaji hadnone. Numbers on the field neverintimidated him. Lack of equipment – whyworry so long as the enemy has it – to besnatched away by his tactics and heroism! Was he not the originator of the GuerillaWar ? The modern cowardly terrorist hasmade this name stink – the Guerilla !Shivaji was elusive. He was there whereone seldom expected. He had no capital.If an army was sent to capture him anddestroy his strongholds, he shifted andalways found another and a better and amore formidable one. When the Sultan’s


army went away or became lethargic, heswooped on them, and regained thestronghold. He never harmed women andchildren and the old. His respect and regardextended to the peace-loving followers ofIslam. He never insulted that religion orany religion. In his civilised behaviour henever made any mistake or difference onthe ground of religion. Shivaji took root,no wonder in the Mahratta’s hearts and‘Jai Shivaji’ became the war cry andFreedom cry of the oppressed anddowntrodden. He had a hawk’s eye forthe enemies’ weakness. His ears were openwide to the strength and weakness of theenemy. His personal exploits of braveryentering into the enemy’s camp in disguise,befooling and wounding them, have goneinto history. How could Bijapur catch thisvalorous Eel ?

Shivaji’s warriors under the able leadershipof Yesaji Rao went as far as AhmednagarFort and returned with plenty of loot.Shivaji rose to the status of being regardeda King in his domain of conquest. Hiskingdom was regarded as Vedic Samrajya.He had his capital at Rajghar. There a sonwas born to him. He held a ten-day Darbarthere.

Petty chieftains all around and the peoplepaid Nazar. He had his Peshwa,Administrators, Courtiers and Darbaris.Names famous in the history of Maharashtra– Moro Trimbak Pingle, Neelo Sondev,Majumdar, Netaji palkar, Chari-Nowyath,Abaji Sondev, Gangaji Mangaji, surroundedhim. The conquest of Junnar fort and theloot of its enormous treasures, and thenews of Shivaji’s Darbar added fuel to the

fire, in the Royal Court of Bijapur, and flamedthe anger against this vassal’s son.

The Sultan of Bijapur was ill. The BegumSahabe was in charge of the palace andadministration. She discharged the stateduties with vigour and capacity. Shivaji’sexploits swallowing up the whole of Konkanexposed Bijapur and its rule to ridicule.Engaged in a life and death struggle withthe Moghuls and its armies, Bijapur hadnot had the time and energy to look upand deal with this upstart, Shivaji. Oneby one the chieftains who had forgottenthe existence of Bijapur and its authoritytaking advantage of the Moghul wars, werebrought to their knees, and the forgottentributes began to flow in again. More Jagirs’heads bent on the earth at the Darbar ofBijapur. The commanders and generals ofBijapur with snobbish bravery of successin their petty wars against erring vassals,beat their chests and twirled theirmoustaches, that they would bring to bookthis mountain Rat. They just waited forthe command of the Rani Saheba for thispetty crushing mission.

With all her administrative capacity, BegumRani Saheba, too, began to be consciousthat after all her rule was that of thePurdha. In spite of boasts and pompouschallenges outside, none of the nobles andcommanders came forward to her, tosuppress this Shivaji and bring him boundhand and foot. Rumour had multiplied thewarrior might of this Jagirdar’s rebelliousson. Afraid to beard him in the mountainghats and fortresses, the cowardice of theBijapur Lords also chose to acquiesce inthe exaggerations. Shivaji’s conquests ofKalyan Biwandi did not encourage these


brave commanders of Bijapur to ventureafter Shivaji. A ten thousand foot-soldierarmy of his was multiplied to a sixtythousand. Cavalry competed with that ofBijapur. The Begum called for a specialDarbar. Her speech was contemptuous ofthis rebel and made light of the campaignof his capture. As if expecting that thewhole Darbar would rise to volunteer forthis puny task, she wanted the Generals,anyone up. The moustaches were havingan unusually downward look and the handsof these brave generals were foldedcarefully on their laps, lest by mistake theyshould go up accepting this petty task !

The Begum rose in anger and cried ‘Fie’ onher nobles and military brass hats. Unableto tolerate her insulting innuendos, oneman, fat and tall, veteran of several wars,famed for cruelty and plunder and fanaticaldestruction of the infidels, boastfully cameforward. He bowed to carpet, to theBegum, and beating his chest, vowed thathe would bring this Rat in just that time –and he snapped his finger ! This wasAbdulla Battri, popularly known as AfzalKhan. From the chest his hands rose tohis moustache. He twirled, and pointed it.Afzal Khan was praised for his loyalundertaking of this all too simple a task !He was given the freedom to take suchmilitary as he wanted to proceed withoutdelay.

Afzul Khan came home. He slouched onhis cushions. He did not answer even hisservant for dinner. He murmured to himselfand cursed the Darbar and the Begum. Hewas a soldier. He had fought innumerablepetty wars. He got commendation fromthe Darbar for his exploits with the Moghuls.

His military sense told him that he hadunnecessarily boasted and the camp ginagainst this formidable Mahratta whochallenged this kingdom, might be hisundoing. This cruel man, inhuman, andbreaker of innumerable idols – stone Godsof the Kaffirs and their ancient temples,unsparing of the Hindu chieftains andpeople, could not suppress the forebodingwhich insisted in clouding him, against evenall reason that he could summon. He failedto turn up at the palace, leaving thePurdah ruler to fret and fume.

The day after he accepted the riskyassignment in bravado, his elephantsuddenly died. The next day his war horsebroke its knee and was shot. To crown allthese ill-bodings, his long time war swordbroke by striking against a wooden panelwhen he was jumping and practising. Thesebad omens of the infidels caught hold ofthis faithful-brave and made him extremelydepressed. His spirit fell low to measurehis feet. The Begam Saheba sent aperemptory and angry summons to this herowho undertook to crush this mountain Rat.The great Khan could not delay any longer.He stood before the ruler with all his fineryand customary boast and trimmedmoustache.

The upshot was the historical event of hiscampaign against Shivaji, with an army ofpure cavalry under brave subalterns. Thehonour evaded by Nawas Khan, Kutub Khanand Gond Govinda Rao and others fell ratherheavily on this cruel warrior. Did he feelstrongly that he was going to meet hisfate – death ?


It took only just a few weeks for thisseasoned warrior to devastate the usurpedterritories, loot and burn them and put tothe sword and fire this Rebel’s subjectsand his rebellious onetime Jagirdars of hisDarbar. Shivaj’s hilltop hideouts andfortress strongholds fell one by one. Notdaring to risk facing this experienced cavalryin front line battle, Shivaji thought it wiseto move from his fort, taking the flower ofhis army with him, putting up only a delayingand rear-guard action. He was pushing onand on into the depths of the Ghats andmountain fastnesses.

It was a victory march for Afzul Khan. Whatgrand victories ! Slaying defenceless men,women and children, warrior swordstarnished red and rusted by innocent blood! He reached Pandarpur the City Holy ofHolies, the Temple of Lord Pandurang.Gruesome horrors and vandalismperpetrated by himself and his followershave made darker the darkest pages ofhistory. He pulled down the Temple walls,stone by stone. Not a hut was left in thisVedic pilgrims’ heaven. Flames rose, smokeengulfed the skies and unanswered criesfor succour split the air drowning the‘Whoopees’ of the marauders in theirmassacre. Thousands who sat and tookrefuge in the temple were put to the swordand their brains shattered by maces.Hundreds perished in tragic, spiritual calmbefore their fond Lord Vittal, chanting hisname, to the very last until mutilated deathsealed their lips. The idol of Pandurangwas smashed to smithereens. The GrandVictory achieved, this reputable heroamong heartless brutes, marched on

striking terror everywhere and camped atthe village of Wei.

The Begum had advised him to use cunningagainst this wily Mahratta, and kill orcapture him by treachery and then put hishenchmen to the sword and fire. Hervassal, this Afzal Khan, was only too proneto this advice. His ever present shadow ofbad omens at the start, prevented him fromthinking of frontal assaults on theStronghold of Shivaji.

Shivaji had retired to the fortress ofPratapgad. It remains even now as it wasbefore, the Fort of Glory :

Eagle Ho ! do thou fly as high

Build thine nest in the sky as high

Eagle nosed son of Bharath beat you there

Robbed your glory of eery heights, hisfortress there.

Bridle paths wound to steep steps

Steep steps stumbling, broke in-steps,broke in-steps

Looking down dizzy depths, shied the eyes

Heroes Nest-a speck for distant eyes.

Afzal Khan, the fantastic terror fromBijapur’s Hell

Swore and cursed the Maharatta,

Hound of Hell

His prey had climbed into this fortress sky


Perfidy in heart, he climbed to the nestmidnight

Hyena, he, met this Mountain Fox

Climbed Afzal’s head, pole on rocks

Passing this place, panting en route,

The Fortress wells revealed Bhavani’s Suite.

Here, had valour for succour prayed

Here, has eternal Glory Shivaji’s stayed

Here and see here Divine Grace

Dissolving all in Time and Space.

In a room of this Fortress Jija Bai wasreading the Gita. She was alone. Suddenlythe door opened. Shivaji, her dear son,entered. Where was her son’s usual calmface and confident demeanour ! What didshe see in his eyes ? Not the flashingsparks of the hero. Sorrow seemed drippingfrom the eyelids. He suddenly knelt,unbuckled his sword and placed it on herlap :

“Oh Mother Dear ! What a heroic motherfor the worm of a son ! Like a cur with itstail looped behind the legs, I have run awayfrom place to place, Fort to Fort,abandoning our dear subjects, men, womenand children of the Vedic faith. Theirhomes are burnt. Their fields aredestroyed. Am I their protector ? Havethey not dared the Anger of the Beasts ofBijapur because they listened to me ? Whyhave I not died with them ? I am not fit tolive, thou jewel of Vedic Womanhood. You

gave me this body. I am not fit for thisbody that took birth in thy holy and heroicwomb. Free me Mother. Avenge mycowardice. Cut this head with this swordand reign to eternity as the Heroine ofDharma.”

He knelt and placed his bared neck andbent it to touch the ground. Tears flowedfrom the eyes of Jija Bai and mixed withthe tears flowing out of Shivaji’s eyes. Herbody trembled once. But her voice wascalm and sharp.

“Arise my stupid son ! Where did you getthis confusion ! You have retired in thebest of strategy to draw the enemy tobattle in a place and time of your choice.Millions perished in Kurukshetra ; did thePandavas commit suicide ? Pursue yourstrategy, son ! Draw this fattened tiger ofBijapur still closer to your fortress net.Dispose your army to encircle and hide.Go and bring my grandson to me !”

Shivaji wiped his eyes, girdled his sword,got up and marched out of the room. Didhis face disclose determination ?

Afzal Khan had marched his army along thebanks of the rivers Bheema and Nira. Hehad marched West. He had entered PaltonDistrict, near Wei. In the village of Malvadihe had camped. He sent his commandersaround for capturing shaky Deshmukhs ;to kill and loot and bring him gold andtreasure to pay his soldiers and meet theexpenses of war. They struck terror andleft no temple standing and no homeunburnt. Afzal Khan got unexpected help.Apart from the self-seeking, disgruntled,cowardly Deshmukhs, a prized ally camefrom the family of Chandra Rao More.


Chandra Rao was the head of the HavaliJagir. This had grown vastly by petty warsand additions, by killing the surroundingJagirdars and capturing their territory. Thisfamily developed a great hatred for Shivaji,whose growing popularity and powerformed an eyesore and a heart-burn. Theysuccessfully prevented the expansion ofShivaji’s excursions South. About threeyears earlier, by stratagem Shivaji hadgained access to their residence andmurdered the head of their family andseized by the sword their Jagir and annexedit to his suzerainty. The members of thisfamily and their friends joined Afzal Khangladly and offered him all help to fightShivaji. Afzal Khan had heard that Shivajiwas camping at Pratapgad. That Pratapgadhas been fortified and secret Mavalibrigades were hiding in the hide-outs ofthe mountain ranges was no news to AfzalKhan. He had expected from Shivajinothing less. His spies lost no time inbringing information about Shviaji’s militaryresources. The army brought by the Khanwas no doubt better trained and richer insophisticated war experienced than thehordes of Shivaji. But he gnashed his teethin rage and disappointment, when he foundthat he had no choice but to fight Shivajion locations of his choice. His bettertrained army would have chance of foolingor foiling the Mavali braves, whose hideand seek and hit and run, were best suitedto annihilate the untrained in the mountainwarfare of the Ghats. The sniping, suddenshooting, the unexpected onslaughts byenemy cavalry vomited by hidden ravinesand steep hill emplacements – thesethoughts sent a shudder through his spine.

Agitation, confusion and hesitation werenot confined to Bijapur Camp. Shivaji hadcalled a Durbar of his trusted lieutenants,put before them the situation and wantedtheir counsel. All of them were brave menof war, talent, scars and sacrifice. Butnone of them advised Shivaji for a fight.They recommended a peace overture atthis critical time to the Khan of Bijapur.Wriggling out and turning about could beleft for future situations.

Shivaji was propitiating his Divine MotherBhavani at the temple Pratapgad, his family

deity. The rituals were over. The gatheringof devotees had dispersed. Night coveredin dark canopy the Fort and forests. Shivajientered the sanctum sanctorum alone. Heremained there for a few minutes. He cameout. He walked there in erratic steps infront of the temple. His agitation wasapparent. He entered again and stood inthe presence of Bhavani. He turned roundand bolted the door inside. He faced theDivine Mother Bhavani again. His eyes didnot wink. His eyes burned. Tears did notflow. He came close to Her feet. He knelt.He placed his forehead on the flowers of


Her feet. He spoke. His voice was steadybut steely. He talked of Vedic Dharma, itsfollowers, the fanatic marauding andmurderings his strenuous efforts toannihilate these and establish Freedom forBharath and its Vedic followers, the sonsof the soil. Now the fate of Pandarpurhung over Pratapgad. To fight was to bedefeated and his ambitious efforts and allthe innocents to vanish in blood and fire.To yield, was also to bring the same fate.These men of the Faithful had little faith inremaining faithful to their word.

Is she going to repeat the horror ofPandarpur ? Well, Shivaji, did not want tolive to witness. Shivaji placed his head onthe Bali Peeta, the offering Stone. Heplaced his neck over that. He drew outhis sword and held it raised over the neckin his right hand and spoke.

“Mother here is your gift, Bhavani-ki-Talwar.Let this do its last act of glory. My headas sacrifice to you to save the heads andhonour of all those still under the flag ofVaidika Dharma !”

The sword swung down. But it neverreached its target. As if struck off bysomebody, it jumped off the fingers andclattered down to the floor of the sanctum.Shivaji shouted in pain and stood up. “OhMy Lord Gurudev ! Thou here !” He placedhis forehead at the feet of SamarthaRamdas standing, wearing kaupin ( a littleloin cloth) with a coarse torn sack clothon his shoulders. The Siddha Purusha’seyes were blazing. This Raghuvir, GreatOne, how did he come into this boltedsanctum ! Shivaji had swooned away. Thegreat Samartha touched him, lifted him and

embraced his pet chela, Shivaji. Heregained consciousness at the touch ofhis Guru. The Guru made the Chela sit byhis side on the strewn altar of flowers.Shivaji was calm. Tears rolled down onthe faces of both. They forgot theWitness. Mother Bhavani seemed to smileand bless. A thrill and ecstasy pervadedthe Sanctum. The Samartha took fromthe offering a plantain. He peeled it. Heput small pieces into the mouth of Shivaji.Like a dream-child he swallowed. Ramdas: “Whose property is your body and lifeand everything ?” Shivaji : “ Oh My Lord !they all belong to thy sacred all mercifulSelf.” Ramdas : “You are a liar ! If thinebody was mine how did you dare to severeit?”

They laughed like two children. Samartha: “My Mother Creates, Sustains andDestroys. Who are you to question andrespond ? Are you the shaper of destinies? Do your duty. What does your enemyunderstand ?” Shivaji : “The language ofthe sword and the courtesy of kicks ?”“Then make him understand !” The GreatOne disappeared as he came.

History has recorded the sequence. AfzalKhan sent a Brahmin Emissary with a letter.It contained soft words of praise andpromises of protection for everything andeverybody, if only Shivaji entered his out-stretched arms of honour and friendship.Shivaji understood this language very well.And he responded. He sent his Brahminemissary with his message : Shivaji wasshivering from head to foot at the sight ofMighty Army and the Mightier Battari. Hisfright prevented him from going down tothe Great Khan. Why not meet half-way


up Pratapgad ! ‘Shivaji and Afzal to comeunarmed but for a danger of dignity andeach to have a couple of unarmedbodyguards.

Krishnaji Bhaskar the emissary; of the Khanwas coaxed by the appeals of Shivaji toreveal the real intentions of the Khan,deceit, murder and destruction.

At a decorated pavilion, the puny Mahrattaand the giant Afzal met. Their bodyguardshad stopped away at a distance. Shivajigot into the outstretched arms in deceitfulembrace. It was action in the speed oflightning. With the left arm holding thefigure of Shivaji, with his right arm the Khandrew his dagger and plunged it into theMahratta’s back. The mountain fox hadanticipated. The dagger blunted by thechain mail armour inside slipped and fell.The Khan slipped the head of Shivaji intohis armpit and pressed it like a vice. Shivaji’sbody shuddered. He was choking fast.

With the warrior’s presence of mind, heplunged the steel claws worn on his leftfinger, hidden by the loose sleeves, intothe side of Khan, and with the right handdrove his dagger into the Khan’s perfidiousheart, Khan’s grip slipped and he fell downin death throes. The body-guards clashed.Yesaji, the giant commander bodyguard ofShivaji, felled the bodyguard, Syed Banda,of Afzal. He cut off the head of the

General of Bijapur and raised iton a pole !

A gun boomed from PratapgadFort. Pandemonium was letloose. Shivaji’s Cavalry sweptdown the fort with cries of “JaiShivaji !” This cry had its echoall around. Late into the nightand in the early hours, the battle,nay massacre of Bijapur’s armywent on. The war of Freedomwas won. Bijapur crumbled. Onits defeat and ashes rose thegreat kingdom of Vedic Dharma.The foundation was laid for a freeBharath.

The Moghuls went the way of Bijapur. Thewhite man came. But the spirit of Shivajisurvived and entered millions of hearts in1857 and in the twentieth century. Tacticschanged to suit the honeyed words andsoft emasculation of the White Invader.

BHARATH became FREE and is FREE ! JAIBHARATHI !


A YOUNG girl leapt into the dancingflames that consumed the remainsof her lord and master. The stricken

father stood overwhelmed by grief at twobuds that were nipped by the cruel handof time before they could fulfil their lifemission. Yet had he not done his little bitto lighten the load of his sorrowing brethren? Had he not won the hero’s laurels ?

Yes, through the embers that were nowfast dying out, the father traced the heroicsaga of his son. Who was he ? What wasthe terrible role that he had enacted, thatthe curtain had so abruptly been rung down? This then is the burden of this tale.

Koppal was a stronghold of Deccan with avery strong fort, commanded by twopowerful Pathan brothers named HussainKhan Miyana and Abdur Rahiman KhanMiyana. The brothers were notorious fortheir high-handedness and inflicted untoldinjury on the people of the area. Theirbigoted fanaticism resulted in thedestruction of temples and religiousinstitutions. People dumbly submitted toall the injury and insults inflicted on them.They had no hope but to send up ferventprayers to the Almighty to alleviate theirmisery.

Now it seemed that the Good Lord hadheard their prayers and responded. Thesemiserable minions of Koppal learnt one finemorning that Shivaji, the great defenderof the common man had come to

Karnataka. People realised that this wasa silver lining in their thickly overcast sky.So they set out one day, to explain toGreat Shivaji about their miserable plightat the hands of these two brothers. Atlast, the emissary of a chosen few silentlysped to Shivaji’s camp. The wily Khanbrothers came to know of this and pouncedon the families of these representativesand tortured them.

Undaunted, these men told their tale ofwoe to Shivaji and sadly requested him torelieve them from the clutches of the cruelmasters. Shivaji listened to them verypatiently and swore to put an end to thetyrannical rule of Adil Shah in that area.He sent Hambirrao Mohite with a large armyto attack the Pathans . Two young boystook part in this campaign, namely NagojiJedhe and Dhanaji Jadhav. Nagoji hadinherited all the valour and daredevilcourage from his valiant grandfather. Hisfather, Sarje Rao also accompaniedHambirrao Mohite.

Hambirrao marched with his army towardsSampgaon. The Miyana brothers alreadyknew of the attack, but, having a mightyforce at their command, they were notperturbed in the least, and confidentlyprepared to counter the attack.

As Hambirrao reached Yelburga near LingaSagar along with his army he saw massiveclouds of dust rising from the hoofs of anapproaching cavalry. He at once realised

SACRIFICE


that the enemy had mustered morestrength and the Marathas had little or nochance against them. He knew thereputation of the Miyana brothers, whowere very brave and strong. There wasno turning back now. With their war cryof ‘Har Har Mahadeo’ the Marathas chargedforward, determined to fight to the lastand inflict a heavy toll on the Khanbrothers. It appeared as though theirdetermination lent extra strength to theentire army and the fury with which theMarathas attacked the ranks of the Khanbrothers created panic. The calculatedoffence planned by the Khans was foiledand now they had to grope their way outof the enemy lines.

The Marathas broke into the Khan’s armyand were coming close to the Khan himself.The Pathan soldiers were in panic. TheKhan realised that he was trapped andordered his mahout to turn his elephantback. Nagoji saw Hussain Khan’s move forthe escape and strode fast towards theKhan and struck a severe blow with his

javelin on the temple of the elephant, whichsank to the ground, trumpeting in fury andpain. The boy who was hardly old enoughto be out of his playground now recklesslythrew himself at his enemy in the battlefield. Also, such valour was not destinedto flower to its full glory in manhood andan arrow from the Khan’s hand struck adeadly blow on his tender forehead, piercinghis skull, and sending him reeling to theground.

Though the boy fell, the torch was takenon by other hands and before the Khancould even think of retreating, Dhanaji andHambirrao Mohite pounced upon him andtook him captive. The laurels of the battlewere of little comfort to the Marathas whomourned the death of the young lad. SarjeRao stood in stunned silence by his dyingson. His was the glorious happiness ofhaving fathered so valiant a son. This thenwas the funeral pyre into which his youngwife leapt to unite in another world withher heroic partner.


THE Coronation of Chhatrapati Shivajitook place in 1674. After hisceremony he assumed lofty titles to

signify his full sovereignty. Even after theassumption of the royal title of Chhatrapati,he could not be considered as an Emperor,as his dominion hardly extended beyond200 miles in length and far less in breadth.In the west coast, the Siddis and thePortuguese were his enemies. In the east,the tottering Sultanates of Bijapur andGolkonda remained sometimes as a threatand at other times as an opportunity. Thenorthern gates were ably blocked fromShivaji’s expanding ambitions by the forcesof the Mughals. Only the South offeredhim a valuable chance. Shivaji’s brotherVyankoji was ruling the south fromThanjavur.

The compelling reason of Shivaji’s idea ofconquest of the south was the imperativeneed of money. The coronation ceremonyhad already emptied the treasury.Construction of forts, his naval programmeand the raising of huge armies drained hisvast resources. In 1676 Shivaji completedhis plan of an expedition to the south.Historians differ with regard to twoimportant questions : first, as to themotive which compelled Shivaji to undertakethis expedition, and second, as to theperson responsible for it.

As for the motive, three reasons may beadduced. Some are of the opinion thatShivaji’s main object was to plunder the

rich provinces of the south. Othersconsider that the expedition was plannedto punish Vyankoji into submission and toclaim his share of his ancestral propertyleft by his father. The creation of a HinduPad Padshahi by uniting all the Hindupowers of South India was the mostimportant reason why Shivaji thought ofthe South.

As to the person responsible for it, opinionsagain differ. Some name RaghunathHanumante. Others argue that MadannaPant, the Minister of Kutub Shah was theauthor of the scheme. They might havecontributed towards the success of theenterprise, but the initiator of this planwas Shivaji himself. He was the solearchitect of his fortunes.

The political condition in the southernstates at this juncture offered him the greatopportunity. In the Mysore region, ChikkaDeva Raya was at war with ChokkanathaNayak of the kingdom of Madurai. TheMarathas of Thanjavur and Chokkanathawere at loggerheads. Bijapur Sultans weresupposed to be the nominal rulers of theseparts. But as the central authority atBijapur became weak, its governor atGingee and Walikandapuram began toquarrel with one another. Golkonda triedits level best to profit at this confusedstate of affairs in the south, Madanna Pant,the Minister of Golkonda was waiting foran opportunity for building up a Pant-Hinducoalition in the south. Raghunath

SHIVAJI IN THE SOUTH

PROFESSOR R. ANNAMALAI


Hanumante the guardian of Vyankojiaccepted the idea of Madanna Pant.Meanwhile Hanumante’s interference in theadministration was disliked by Vyankoji. Asa result, he was compelled to leaveThanjavur and traced his steps to Shivaji’scourt. Hanumante’s persuasion succeededin getting the willing support of Akkannaand Madanna to Shivaji. The Bakhars,Chitnis and Shiva Digvijaya assert that theobject of Shivaji’s expedition was to obtaina part of his father’s jagirs in the Karnaticfrom Vyankoji. But the main object of theexpedition of Shivaji in the south seems tobe conquest and annexation andestablishment of Hindavi Swarajya.

English records try to paint this expeditionof Shivaji as a campaign of plunder. Butfrom Sabhas one learns that during theexpedition Shivaji took the greatest careto see that his soldiers refrained fromplundering the inhabitants of the land andcausing damage to them. Sabhas mentionsthat “the Raja (Shivaji) entertained in hisheart the desire of conquering theKarnataka from the Tungabhadra Valley tothe Kaveri”. He wanted to take control ofPondichery, as it was in the hands offoreign powers.

The Course of the Expedition

By the end of the year 1676 Shivaji startedhis southern expedition with 20,000 cavalryand 40,000 infantry. Raghunath Narayanand Janardhan narayan assisted him withtheir knowledge about the topography ofthe Karnatic. Firstly, Shivaji had gone toBhagya Nagar (Hyderabad) to befriend theKutub Shah of Golkonda. When he visitedBhagya Nagar he was given a royalreception. The Golkonda Sultan offered

him men and money to co-operate withShivaji in his design of the conquest of thesouth. Leaving Bhagya Nagar in March1677, Shivaji marched southwards towardsShri Sailam, where he worshipped ShriBhavani. Leaving Shri Sailam, Shivajipassed through Tirupati and Kalahasti andhalted at Peddapolam for sometime. Hehad already sent an advance contingentof 5,000 strong cavalry throughKancheepuram to Gingee. The commandersof the fort were won over by diplomacyand Gingee was taken. He constructednew ramparts around Gingee, dug ditches,erected towers, created basins withperfection.

His next attack was on Vellore which wasdefended by another Muslim commander.Shivaji was not able to take Vellore, andleaving the siege operations in the handsof Narahari Rudra marched southwards tomeet Sher Khan Lodi, the Bijapur Governor.After 14 months Vellore was taken byShivaji’s troops. Sher Khan Lodi had hisseat of Government at Walikandapuram.The Maratha forces under Shivaji were metby him at Tiruvedi (South Arcot District).Lodi found it difficult to contain theMarathas and tried to escape toTevanapatam. Shivaji chased him toBhuvana Giri. His men Captured Valdur,Tevanapatam and several other forts ofSher Khan. He gave up the struggle andmade peace with Shivaji (July 1677).

After his victory over Sher Khan, Shivajicamped for sometime with his army atTirumal Vadi on the banks of the riverColeroon. Chokkanatha’s envoy came fromMadurai to meet Shivaji. A sum of 6 lakhswas paid to make peace with Shivaji.


Vyankoji was invited to see Shivaji, andthe latter went as far as Tirupatora toreceive his brother. Vyankoji was askedto give major portions of his jagirs toShivaji, which declined. Shivaji wasnaturally angered. Fearing retribution,Vyankoji took to his heels and Shivajidirected his troops to take possession ofthe Thanjavur kingdom. Later, Shivajiexcused Vyankoji. Shivaji conquered allthe country belonging to Sher Khan anddeprived Vyankoji of all his open territorieson the side of Coleroon. Only Vellore andArni continued to defy Shivaji. Theconquered parts were governed byRaghunath Narayan as Minister andHambirrao as Commander-in-Chief.

Shivaji left the Coleroon base forWalikandapuram where he stayed for a shorttime. From Walikandapuram, he went toTundumugurti and received presents fromthe Dutch at Tevanapatam. His army tookthe fort of Elevanasur from Vyankoji. Shivajiwent to Vriddhachalam to worship LordShiva in the great temple there. Headvanced to Srirangam and worshippedLord Ranganatha (August 1677). Shivajiwas in Vaniyambadi in September 1677.Soon he plundered Porto Novo andadvanced as far as within two days marchfrom Madras. Arni had surrendered toShivaji by this time.

Shivaji visited Madras on October 3, 1677.In Thambu Chetty street in Madras, thereis a Kali temple (Amba Bhavani) in whichShivaji is supposed to have worshippedGoddess Bhavani. Shivaji offered land giftsto this temple.

Between 1676-80, Chennai Kuppam(Madras) was called Maratta Town whenShivaji visited Madras. Before coming toMadras he had already conquered PortoNovo, Gingee and Kancheepuram. Themarch of Shivaji threatened the English.They took shelter within the Fort of St.George at Madras Kuppam. The Englishwanted to oppose Shivaji, but the heroicattack of Shivaji compelled them to takeshelter within the Fort of St. George (basedon Love : Vestiges of old Madras in threevolumes). The Brass cup chariot could beseen even to this day in the temple atThambu Chetty Street, under repair. TheChariot was drawn in the days ChhatrapatiShivaji.

Shivaji had spent more than ten months inthe south. At this juncture Aurangazeb,the Mughal Emperor began to attack thesouth. Convening a grand council of allhis Ministers, Shivaji resolved to return toRaigad. The homeward journey of Shivajicommenced in Novermber 1677. “The fortsof Kolhar and Balapur were captured. Thecountry was conquered. Some forts werebuilt. Turbulent polegars were destroyedand reduced to dust.” After placing theconquered territories under RaghunathPant, Shivaji passed through Koppal,Lakshmeshwar, Sampgaon and captured thefort of Belvadi. He reached Panhala in April1678.


TIKWANPUR, a small hamlet, wasdestined to raise its humble headin pride at the greatness of its

children, for it was in this village that thefamous poet Bhushan, who achievedimmortality for himself and the Chhatrapatithrough his literary compositions, was born.Born in a Brahmin family with a culturaland literary background, not only Bhushan,but also his two brothers, Moti Ram andChintamani, developed great skill in poeticcompositions. Moti Ram was the court poetat Aurangazeb’s durbar and was eager tointroduce Bhushan to Aurangazeb. And soit happened that one fine morning Bhushanstood in the presence of the MoghulEmperor who asked him to recite a pieceof poetry. Bhushan was a young man well-known for his straight-forward and franknature, and the poem he recited very muchreflected these qualities :

Calling yourself a Jahanpana,

You sit in Imperial splendour

Upon the Delhi throne

But, O mighty Aurangazeb : know ye,

Your glory is tainted,

Besmirched is your grandeur

By the deeds of treachery

Through which you ascended

This seat of Moghul supremacy.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Imprisoned Shah Jahan stares mutely

At his beloved in Taj Mahal

Of an ungrateful son.

And your brothers shrink away

From the sinful shadow

Of yours ; you who detested sharing

A mere kingdom and a throne

With one that shared your very blood –Dara.

What do earthly bonds of brotherhoodmean,

To one like you who designed deceit,

To Murad Baksh under oath of Koran ?

Such unpalatable truth had no appeal forAurangazeb. Yet, he pretended to bepleased by the poem, and asked Bhushanto recite another verse. The next versedid little to assuage the sting of the firstone. In it Bhushan compared Aurangazebto a cat pretending to do penance after ameal of several rats !

It was very surprising that in spite of suchimpertinence Aurangazeb did not inflict anypunishment on the poet. But, Bhushanknew the consequences of such conductonly too well. He realised that Aurangazeb,perhaps, had designs to punish him in theworst possible manner, sometime later orin due course, and he quit Agra immediately.

SHIVAJI REWARDS THE POET BHUSHAN


He went to Chhatrasa, the King of Orchchawho was a man of culture, sincerelyreligious and God-fearing. Chhatrasaladvised Bhushan to go further to the southand contact Shivaji who was the only rulerthat was more than a match for Aurangazeband his court the only place where Bhushanwould be welcomed without the fear ofthe Emperor’s displeasure.

When Bhushan finally reached Shivaji’sresidence, it was past evening. Shivajiwas engaged in the evening worship, the“Sandhya rites”. He was informed that aBrahmin poet from the north had come toseek refuge under him. Shivaji immediatelyordered him to be admitted with duerespect. After a formal chat Shivajirequested Bhushan to recite some of hisverses. In his rich, glorious voice the poetsang out :

As Indra majestic on clouds aloft,

As Varuna to the deep fire infernal,

As dispenser of dharma of Raghu’s line,

On ego-drunk demon Ravana,

As winds on gathering clouds,

As angry Siva on indulgent Kama,

As raging fire, a scourge to trees shornshor,

As lion does reign supreme on décor’delephant tame,

As sun-light to darkness of distress andsobs,

As tiny Krishna – Lord and Victor ongroaning Kamsa subdued,

So, to the Mlechcha hoards – no doubt isShivaraja – the brave !

After hearing the verse Shivaji drew a lineon the ground, and said, “Once morePanditji.”

Bhushan recited the verse again.

“Once more.”

Bhushan repeated it, once more.

“Go on.”

Bhushan went on repeating the verse andShivaji drew a line after each recitation.

After repeating the very fifty one times,when Shivaji asked Bhushan to repeat, thelatter could no longer control his temper.He said, “Shivaji, it appears my poetry doesnot interest you and you are making fun ofme by making me repeat it like a parrot.”

Shivaji gave a hearty laugh : He said, “OhBrahmin, I had decided to present you thesame number of villages as the number oftimes you repeated the poem. After allyou a Brahmin and could not contain yourtemper. I just wanted to see how longyour patience will hold.” So saying, Shivajigot up and embraced the poet, praisinghis verse highly for its charm and offeredhim permanent refuge in his kingdom.


HENRY witnessed the coronationceremony of Shivaji with greatinterest. He was observant of

every detail, quick to discover anythingrevealed or suggested in any countenance,any act. People gathered in large numbers,and their rejoicing and happinessproclaimed in no uncertain terms that theyloved this man who, from a rugged soldierof a tiny guerilla band, had risen to themighty generalship of a huge army and wasnow being crowned as an Emperor. Suchlove from a people could be won by a Kingonly when he happened to be an able andjust administrator. “Now, if only I couldknow some details about Shviaji’sadministrative system, I could comprehendthis phenomenon of a man much better,”Henry mused.

He turned to Shenvi, “Could you pleasetake me to someone who would enlightenme about the administrative systemadopted by Shivaji Maharaj ? It wouldinterest me greatly” he said.

Shenvi thought for a while and recollectedsomething. He asked the foreigner to followhim. It was evening, and the rush ofworking hours was fast diminishing, as mostof the workers on the fort of Raigarh hadfinished their duties and left for their homes.Shenvi thought it was an appropriate timeto contact Chimnaji Aoji, the Phadnis – theofficer next to the Secretary. ChimnajiAoji was resting in his court-yard whenHenry and Shenvi arrived. He welcomed

them warmly, and made enquiries aboutthe purpose of their visit.

Shenvi replied politely,

“This gentleman wishes to know about oursystem of administration, the differentdepartments and their functions, etc. Ithought you would be the proper personto enlighten him, so I have brought him toyou.”

Chimnaji reflected for a while and said “Well,gentleman, I shall certainly give youwhatever information I can. But, I am afraidI will have to withhold certain facts whichare confidential and are not within mydiscretion to disclose.”

Shenvi interpreted the conversation toHenry and the latter nodded his agreement.Then he turned to Chimnaji and asked :

“Will you kindly explain your system ofGovernment ?”

Chimnaji explained, “As you know, Maharajbeing the sovereign Emperor is the supremecontrolling authority. There is a council ofeight Ministers to assist him, known asAshta Pradhan Mandal headed by MoropantPingale who is the Prime Minister of Peshwa.The Ministers are allocated differentportfolios.”

“Could you please give me a brief accountof your civil and military administration ?”

SHIVASHAHI OR RAMARAJYA ?

MUKUND PARKHI


“You see, our Kingdom is divided into threezones called ‘Prants.’ Each of them isgoverned by a Sarkarkun, who is equivalentto a Council Minister in rank. Each Prant issub divided into Subhas, with a Subedar-in-charge of each Subha and a Mazumdaris appointed. Besides the Mazumdar eachSubha has a Karkun (Clerk) to help him inofficer work.

“A Subha is further divided into Mahals –revenue paying units, with a Havaldar incharge of a number of villages andParaganas which comprised a Mahal. Patil,Deshmukh, Kulkarni and Yardis are differentdesignations denoting the officers of theVillage. They are exempt from land revenueand their offices are more or less hereditaryin character.

“Now let us discuss the militaryadministration. The army consists ofcavalry and infantry. Senapati or theCommander-in-Chief is a member of ourCouncil of Ministers. Our cavalry hasSarnobat, Panchhazari – commanding 5,000horsemen, Hazari – 1,000 horsemen,Jumledar, Havaldar and Bargir as the officersin that order. Similarly, the same patternis followed in infantry except that a Naikreplaces a Bargir. In addition, a civilianofficial called Sabnis is attached to thearmy. There is a separate band ofbodyguards appointed to attend on theMaharaj.

“The navy consists of two squadrons of avariety of ships – viz., gurabs, tarandes,tarus, galbats, sibads and bagar. There isa Sarnobat for the navy also. We have aspecial administrative system for the forts.The officers of the fort are Havaldar,

Sarnobat and Sabnis, besides the Karkhaniswho is given charge of stores. Paiks, Naiks,gunners and archers are posted at differentpoints on the forts.”

Chimnaji paused. Henry, listening intently,now came out with his next question “

“Could you explain to me the revenuesystem, its collection and disbursement ?”

Chimnaji continued “

“I am sure you are aware that our mainsource of revenue is agriculture. Thequality of the land, its extent and the extentof yield per year are all taken intoconsideration for fixing up a revenue ceilingupon every farmer. The farmers whopossess first class land, lands withperennial water supply come first. Thenext best lands are taxed at a slightly lowerrate. In any case, the actual yield ismeasured from the standing crop and thetax is collected accordingly. The Patil isheld responsible for the collection of landrevenue. If by mistake, more is collected,credit is given for the next year and tothat extent the land revenue collected isreduced.

“In case of famines or other conditionsresulting in the loss of crop, if reported intime, our land authorities are authorisedto give remission according to thecontingency. It is necessary to tell youthat our Maharaj is very particular that allthe intermediaries are eliminated incollection of land revenue and we establishcontact directly with the cultivators.”

“Wait a minute,” before the topic wasconcluded a doubt was raised by Henry:“What do you mean by intermediaries?”


Chimnaji seemed to be delighted with thisquestion. He continued : “Formerly wehad the zamindari system, where thezamindars used to loot the actualcultivators, submit wrong figures to thegovernment and enjoy an unauthoriseddiscount. Maharaj had eliminated thezamindars as also the watandars, thegenerals who were offered a number ofvillages to take care of by a Sultan, or aself-styled Badshah. Our village officerslike Deshmukh and Desai visit every villagefor on-the-spot-assessment, taking intoconsideration all the factors involved andmaking sure that the farmer does not suffer.Maharaj has shrewdly kept a separaterecord to see whether these village officialspay the correct amount of revenue out ofthe total collection. Thus there is a watchkept on these village officials.”

“Marvellous” exclaimed Henry in fullappreciation. Chimnaji continued :“Besides, land-revenue we also getsubstantial revenue from our variousexpeditions, tributes that are imposed onaliens and so on. The budget for eachyear is prepared with the help of the PrimeMinister and details are worked out withmeticulous care, allotting the amounts toeach department taking into considerationpriorities. The expenditure is determinedunder four heads viz. 1. Expenditure onCivil Administration, 2. On MilitaryAdministration, 3. On Agriculture andIndustries and 4. Expenditure on the RoyalFamily. Civil Administration involves thelargest share of our revenue, as a hugenet-work of employees throughout thecountry are paid from the Public Exchequer.

“Military Administration also require largefunds. The payment of men, upkeep ofhorses, maintenances of arms andammunition, of forts and ships etc., are tobe met from the same source. ShivajiMaharaj is very keen on the developmentof agriculture, as it is the major source ofour revenue. We advance loans to needyfarmers in the form of bullocks, seeds andother kinds of agricultural equipment, andno interest is charged on the advance. Thenew cultivators get bigger loans asencouragement even for their maintenancetill the harvest season. The officers areasked to meet the farmers and needypeople directly and to attend to theirrequirements.

“The state also spends liberally on diggingcanals and their maintenance as also onother sources of water supply to thecultivable land.

“We have a ship-building industry atKalyan-Bhivandi, and we use the timberreadily available nearby. Ware-houses aremaintained to store grains and goods forexport and market, and they are sold onlywhen they fetch good money. Then wehave a mint at Raigarh itself.

“We also have to expend large sums forbuilding new forts, repairing old ones andin the construction of various otherbuildings, shopping centres and templeswithin the forts. Our Kingdom has no lessthan two hundred and forty and strongholdsright now.”

“What about the personal expenses of theking and his family ?” asked Shenvi.


“Yes, that is also a part of publicexpenditure. But, probably you know ourMaharaj is a very simple man. He did notspend much on himself except on theoccasion of the coronation, when he wascompelled to. Yes, there is always someexpenditure for the queens, their children,construction of palaces, buildings, halls,temples, etc. The same head of accountis also used for the residentialaccommodation for the ministers as well.Then there are elephants, horses, body-guards and trusted men of Maharaj to betaken care of. The amount allotted forMaharaj’s personal expenses also includesthe funds spent on charitable deeds, suchas grants to learned people, religiousinstitutions of not only the Hindus, but alsoof other faiths and to the poor and needy.”

Henry seemed quite satisfied with theexplanation of Chimnaji, which he thoughwas to the point. But his curiosity did not

let him remain quiet and he asked him afurther question.

“What remuneration do your governmentofficials receive ?” Chimnaji tried toevade by saying, “Quite sufficient”Henry was not prepared to lose theinitiative from his hands and questionedagain.

“Why do you say quite sufficient ? Letus know how much amount constitutes‘quite sufficient’ for you ?” Chimnajiyielded and replied.”

“You see, I shall not go into details, butI can give you some figures. The PrimeMinister earns 15,00 Huns an year andAmatya 12,000 Huns an year. The other

Ministers get 10,000 Huns an year. TheSecretary gets 6,000 Huns an year whiletheir soldiers in the ranks draw between10 and 200 Huns per annum. The Mazumdar,Sarnobat Hasabnis and Havaldar drewbetween 36 and 150 Huns. Now have Icleared all your doubts ? I hope I havegiven you a clear picture of ouradministrative system”, concluded Chimnajiin all politeness.


NOT satisfied with a completeaccount of the administrationHenry now wished to know about

society, the customs, religious festivals,education, status of women and otheraspects of the State.

“Though I admit that your administra-tionis grand it may not give content-ment tothe people. The people are required tofunction as a society and when you thinkof society, your social needs becomeprimary and important. You see, you havecertain religious festivals and customs, andgood or bad. Again, society needsentertainment, education and so on. Wouldyou kindly enlighten me on these points ?”

Chimnaji replied : “You are aware that oursociety, our social needs and customs arebased on our ancient traditions. If we peepinto the past we can see that Yadavas(200 B.C. to 1271 A.D.) ruled over thispart of the country. Mahadev Rai Yadavaspent all his life to make this part,Maharashtra, rich in every way,economically, culturally and socially. Hissubjects respected him, not only for hisdeeds of valour but also for his generosityand kindness.

“During his time Maharashtra shone throughits golden age. He built many temples,maintained a large army, for the protectionof this State, and patronised poets,astronomers, doctors and other learnedmen. All were happy during his regime –people celebrated festivals like Dassara,

Deepavali and Varsha Pratipada. The verysame customs and same festivals are stillin vague. Maharaj patronised learned menand he has made education compulsory.We celebrate Dassara on a mass scale,treating it as a day of victory. Besidesthis, people attend religious fairs held atdifferent places to commemorate the lifeof some saints. Women who were onceafraid of coming out of their houses nowfreely participated in the festivals. Gonewas the fear that they had of beingdishonoured.

Educational Institutions are run out ofPublic funds. Our Minister of Education isPandit Rao, who attends to all matterspertaining to education as well as religion.Maharaj encouraged young writers byrewarding them for their writings.Raghunath Hanumante has recently writtenthe Rajya Vyavaharakosha, a volumedealing with political terms and their usage.Similarly Krishna Jyotishi has brought out atreatise on astrology named ‘KaranKaustubh’ Gaga Bhatta wrote ‘Sivarkodaya’,wherein he explained the duties of thepeople and Paramananda and Bhushan, bothof them poets of high order, have composed‘Siva Bharat’ and ‘Siva Bhushan’respectively. All these scholars enjoy royalpatronage.

“That is an account of the cultural life ofour State. To make it complete I wouldmention one special feature. We have ourbards or wandering minstrels who compose

HENRY ASKS FOR MORE

MUKUND PARKH


songs that will rouse the martial spirit ofthe people and inspire deep patriotism inthem. Then, there are also troupes ofsinger-cum-dancers, who move from villageto village, entertaining the people with theirsongs called ‘Lavnis’.

Now that you are curious to knowsomething of our customs let me tell youthat our customs are the same as theywere years and years ago. Social customsare the same all over India, but our Maharajsees to it that no custom violates thehuman aspect of life.”

“You said that the women can go aboutfreely without any fear now. Yes, certainlyit is commendable. But could you tell meexactly what is the status of women underShivaji Maharaj ?” Henry queried.

Before Shivaji’s times women sufferedgreatly. Not only the Sultan’s men buteven our own people often took advantageof their weakness. Women were treatedas mere objects of enjoyment. Maharajwith the great respect that he has for hismother looks upon all women as the veryincarnation of Bhavani, the Mother Goddess.Disregard shown to women by any man inhis kingdom infuriates him and suchoffenders receive capital punishment. So,you see, women are highly respected andtreated with true regard by one and all.They have no longer any fears of beingharassed.

“I am indeed grateful to you for thepatience you have shown in explaining allthese things to me. It is heartening toknow that chivalry is not dead and thatyour Maharaj embodies in himself all thatis noble and great. Rare indeed is one

who is extolled by his subjects, even whilehe is alive. Now could you spare a fewmore moments ?’

“I thought that I had told you all that youwanted to be said” replied the patientChimnaji.

“With this final request I shall wind up.Could you give me a brief account of thewelfare schemes that he has brought ?”

“Many are the schemes that ShivajiMaharaj has formulated for the welfare ofhis people. All of them are meant to benefitsome section of society or the other. Beinga warrior he gives awards for gallantry.Soldiers who have lost their lives areposthumously rewarded and theirdependants are well cared for.

“In times of peace he turns his attentionto the consolidation of his newly acquiredterritory. He has canals for irrigation. Thefarmers are well cared for. Measures aretaken against the unjust extortion ofmoney from poor farmers. Transport ismade easy by construction andimprovement of roads.

“Cutting down of trees was strictly banned.As a result a number of orchards andgardens have flourished during his time.In fact, the gardeners were encouragedand rewarded for their pains. Consequentlyfamine is a very rare occurrence inMaharaj’s realms.”

“I would just ask one more question, andthen I shall not trouble you any further.Could you enumerate the reasons whyShivaji Maharaj has become so widelypopular ?” said Henry.


“I was sure to answer to your question isalready there in the account I had so fargiven” said Chimnaji with a smile.“Nevertheless there are a few specialassets of our Maharaj that add to his glory,and I will enumerate them for you. We areall captivated by his superior personality,his alluring smile, polite manners, anddetermined will. We admire his character.

“He never takes credit for his own success.He attributes them to the Lord who madehim rule over the empire. His sense ofjustice is very high with no room for anybias in it. He is the trusted friend of thosewho come to him in friendship, and he isalso the most perplexing rival to thosewhom he suspects of evil designs againsthimself or his people. He is very simple inhis habits of life. He lives like an ordinarysoldier, eating and sleeping as they do.His courage is extraordinary. He infusesthe same in his colleagues andsubordinates. He commends and rewardsacts of valour instantaneously. This helpshim in winning people over to him. At thesame time his hand falls heavily on traitorsand cowards, and he does not hesitate togo to the extreme in punishing them.

“His respect for his mother, preceptors andelders in general is noteworthy. Similarlyhis religious tolerance has earned theesteem of the Muslim community inparticular. We have a countless number ofMuslim soldiers, cavaliers and sailors, someof them holding very high posts, and Muslimsaints and monasteries are given generousgrants.

“He has created a number of employmentopportunities, through schemes for the

construction of new forts and repair andmaintenance of the old ones ; for ship-building, for erection of factories etc.These activities require countless skilledand unskilled labourers like masons, black-smiths, carpenters, etc. He alsoencourages cultivation of new lands andoffers loans to fresh cultivators. Theconstruction of new forts andestablishments of new colonies result inopening new marketing places. Naturallyall types of trade flourish under the benignprotection of the Chhatrapati.

“Finally, because of his exemplary characterhe can always hold the scales of justicefor nobody can really entertain grievanceson account of his punishments, no matterhow severe they might be. It is hischaracter, that has made his subjectsfearless and at the same time law-abiding.The poor do not suffer ill treatment fromthe rich. He is acclaimed by our people asa monarch of the lofty eminence of SriRama, and we feel his kingdom is indeedRamrajya again.”

Chimnaji thus concluded his longexplanation and his eyes glistened withmoisture as he spoke with emotion of hisbeloved king, Henry too was deeply moved.


IN contrast to the splendour ofShivaji’s court on ceremonialoccasions, the Maratha armies

presented a spectacle of Spartansimplicity. Fryer summed them up roundlyas “-accustomed to fare hard, journey fastand take little pleasure.” In fact, “theylooked like our old Britains, half naked, andas fierce.” But the same critic admittedtheir superiority in some respects to theMussalman armies in being “of a roughertemper, more hardy and less addicted tothe soft vanities of music, pomp orstateliness.” Unlike the soldiers of theMoghul armies they were subject to severediscipline and disobedience often resultedin death. No women were allowed into thecamp. This wholesome provision, un-precedented in that age in Asia or in Europe,gave to Shivaji’s forces a mobility hithertounknown in Indian war-fare.

For an impression of a Maratha camp oncampaign we may return for a moment tothe sensitive Captain Broughton (whosecomments on the Marathas will beremembered) “On marching days thequarter-master general moves off at anearly hour, and, upon reaching the ground,where the army is to encamp, he plants asmall white flag, to mark the spot wherethe tents of the commander are to bepitched and which collectively are termedthe Deeoree. The flags of the differentBazaars are then fixed as they arrive,always in the same situation to each other

and in as straight a line as the ground willadmit. The shops for the troops’ provisionscalled Doakans, are pitched in two linesrunning parallel to each other and they formone grand street from from the front tothe rear of the army. The different chiefsen-camp to the right and left of theprincipal street.

At the door of every tent is a fire, thesmoke of which spreads throughout thewhole camp where it serves to keep thepeople warm, to drive the flies away fromthe cattle and to put out the eyes of allthose who are unused to so gross anelement.”

The fastidious captain is describing thecamp of a Maratha field-army at fullstrength . But in many of Shivaji’scampaigns only cavalry were used and theirbivouacs were very different. Speed wasthe main quality desired of the Marathahorsemen. An anonymous Englishman,writing in 1788, said that he had seenbodies of fifty to sixty thousand Marathahorses advance across the country formany days in succession at the rate offifty miles a day. The average mount was,he notices, “a lean, ill-looking animal, butlarge-boned.” His rider wore no defensivearmour except a quilted jacket and “all hisbaggage and necessary food werecontained in a small bag tied upon thesaddle. The food of the rider consists of afew cakes already baked, a small quantityof flour and rice and some salt…….that of

FARE HARD AND JOURNEY FAST


the horses, balls of black peas mixed withgarlic and hot spices. These balls theymake use of by way of a cordial to restorethe vigour of their horses after fatigue.”

In contrast to the infantry regiments, “tentsare very rarely used by the cavalry. Eventhe officers have frequently nothing but asmall carpet to sit and lie upon, and thewhole baggage of the General is carried onone Camel. The rider, having provided forhis horse, sits down then to his owntemperate meal, and after having finished,he lies down perfectly contented by theside of his horse, and when called by thesound of the Nagara, or the great drum, isat once ready to mount.” These greatdrums boomed out at dawn, and in thethin mist the camp sprang to instantactivity. A light meal was taken by themen squatting round a wood fire. In theshort time the camp was broken up andthe whole force had disappeared leavinghardly a trace of its bivouac. The sameanonymous Englishman noted how fond theMaharajas were of their horses and howcleverly they trained them. “By beingconstantly with the riders, who are fondof caressing and talking to them, theyacquire the intelligence and docility of moredomestic animals. They are taught to stopwhen in full gallop and or turn roundinstantly upon their hind legs as upon apivot.

The cavalry arm was divided into Regularsand Irregulars. In the regiments of Regularsthe troops were provided with a horse eachand received twelve rupees a month aspay. The Master of the horse receivedabout eight hundred rupees. The Irregular

Cavalry were less, well paid and had toprovide their own mounts. Rations were,both to Western and contemporary Moghuleyes, scanty. But then Shivaji himself onlyate one small meal a day.

The infantry was not provided with salariesbut were paid in kind all except Shivaji’sGuard, composed of two thousand pickedhill men who were well paid and smartlyinformed.

There was nothing of the feudal levy orcasual militia about Shivaji’s army. Militaryservice was regarded as a rare privilegeand aspirants had to prove they wereworthy of it. New soldiers were onlyadmitted to the service after a personalinterview with Shivaji and two soldiersalready in Shivaji’s employment had to standsurety for the recruit.


Meena and Usha : Good morningSir.

Teacher : Good morning.Welcome to you.

Meena : Sir, Usha and myself have beenyour students in Sanskrit, and is it not ourright to see you and pay our respects toyou ?

Teacher : No doubt about it. But, Meena !You have now passed your M.A.examination with flying colours, and Usha!You have just got the first prize in theAnnual examination of Junior B.A. I offermy congratulations to both of you. I metyour father the other day and he hasalready given me sweets.

Usha : Sir, we are glad that you rememberus so well and show great interest in us.

Teacher : Well that is my duty. But youhave not answered my question so far.There must be some purpose in seeingme early in the morning.

Meena : Sir, you have guessed rightly.You know that this year we are celebratingthe 300th Centenary of Shivaji’s Coronationthroughout the country.

Teacher : That is true. It is only in thefitness of things to commemorate thatgreat event and try to emulate that giftedleader of the 17th century. But this is

primarily the topic for a historian, not for aSanskritist like me.

Usha : Sir, we know that you have greatinterest in history.

Meena : Moreover, we do want to knowwhether there are any works on Shivajiwritten in Sanskrit.

Teacher : Meena, that is a pertinentquestion. There are many works in Sanskritthat deal with Shivaji’s adventurous life.After all he had been a source of inspirationnot only to the people of Maharashtra butalso to the people of our country in general.

Usha : Sir, If Shivaji has been the idol ofthe people of his times, he must have beenlooked upon as God even during his life-time ?

Teacher : Usha, you have rightly guessed.Kavindra Paramananda, one of hiscontemporaries has written a long poemnamed Shiva Bharatha and has treatedShivaji as an incarnation of God Siva andconsiders his life to be on par with theepic, Mahabharatha.

Meena : Sir, You said that this is a longpoem. May we know its extent ?

Teacher : Why not ? Shiva Bharatha iswritten in the old Puranic style and consistsof 32 Adhyayas.

SANSKRIT WORKS ON SHIVAJI

By DR. M. D. PARADKAR


Usha : This shows that the intended extentwas originally much more than the one thatis available.

Teacher : Exactly. The story of Shivajibegins actually in the sixth chapter wherethe date of his birth namely Saka 1551 iscorrectly given.

Meena : How far is this author true tohistory ?

Teacher : Quite a significant question.Along with the date of his birth, KavindraParamananda has rightly given the date ofthe slaughter of Afzal Khan which happensto be Saka 1581 i.e. 1659 A.D. The detailsof this event namely ‘Vikram Samvatsar,Month of Margashirsha, 7th day in the brightfortnight at noon’ also indicate the author’sprecision in this matter.

Usha : Sir, would you consider Kavindra tobe a historian ?

Teacher : Certainly now. He must havebeen an eye-witness to certain events andhas described them in detail. His idea indepicting Shivaji as being helped byGoddess Tulja Bhavani is essentially Puranicand Omission of the historical event of BajiPrabhu’s heroic Saga cannot be consideredas laudatory. It must be admitted that hefaithfully depicted Shivaji’s proficiency inwar-fare and has been true to the vigilantspirit of Shivaji which stood him in goodstead.

Meena: Sir, is there any other work writtenby Shivaji’s contemporary ?

Teacher: Parnalaparvatagrahanakhyana byJayaram Pandya is another work whichadequately eulogises Shivaji’s victory over

Panhala fort in 1672 A.D. This work, thoughsmall in size, successfully indicates thecleverness of Shivaji’s assistants such asKondaji, Ganaji, etc., who brought the fortunder their control by suddenly invading itduring a dark night and taking the enemyby complete surprise.

Usha: Sir, it has been said that Shivajiencouraged writing original works inSanskrit. Is it true ?

Teacher: Quite true. At Shviaji’s behesthis Minister Raghunath Hanumante prepareda work named ‘Rajya vyavahara kosha’ .This work, possibly written in 1676-77 A.D.was intended to substitute Persian andforeign works in Polity (i.e. Rajanit) byoriginal Sanskrit words.

Meena : Sir, this makes Shivaji a pioneerin this field as well.

Teacher : Yes, that is true. The astrologerKrishna wrote his Karanakaustubha, and thecelebrated Gaga Bhatta prepared hisShivarkodaya on Dharmashastra mainly dueto the encouragement and inspiration givenby this far-sighted ruler. Gaga Bhattaconsiders ‘Shivarkodaya to be the vertebralcolumn of the glory of Shivaji’.

Usha : This speaks well of Shivaji as areal patron of learning and culture.

Teacher : Usha, you have rightly said it.Even today it would be profitable to borrowa leaf from Shivaji’s book.

Meena : Thank you sir for giving such avaluable information. But we have to askone more question.

Teacher : Why one only ? Meena, youare free to ask a dozen.


Meena : Sir, you have spoken of ancientworks on Shivaji. Are there some Sanskritworks of this type composed during themodern days ?

Teacher : A very good question, indeed !Meena, it is not quite proper to say thatSanskrit works are not written in moderndays. Eulogy of illustrious kings has beenthe theme of many a Sanskrit work, andhow can Shivaji be an exception ?Purushottama’s Shivakavyam and the Shivajicharitam by the Bengali poet KalidasVidyavinod are works in the 19th century.Shivarajaviryaam composed in prose by thefamous poet Ambikadatta Vyas has turnedinto six editions. Ambikadatta Vyas waseulogised as Bana of the 19th Century,primarily due to his style full of longcompounds. Pandit ShripadashastriHasurkar of Indore has published ChatrapatiShivaji Maharaj Charitam. This happensto be the second book in the author’sBharata-ratna-mala.

Usha : Sir, I am now inspired to ask whetherthere is any work on Shivaji in Sanskritwritten recently?

Teacher : Here also, the answer is in theaffirmative. Shivarajyodayam byDr.S.B.Vernekar from Nagpur, a Mahakavyaof 68 Cantos depicts the life of Shivaji upto the event of his coronation in 1674.This work published in 1972 can be said tobe the crowning glory of this sphere. Ithas now been given an award by SahityaAkademi, and it abounds in passages whichhave a quality of a quote.

Meena : Will you be kind enough to quotea few lines so that we may commit themto memory ?

Teacher:By all means. It will be sufficient.

Meena : Sir, quite sufficient for the present.We have learnt so much today. We cannotadequately thank you for this great favour.

Teacher : Dear Meena, Dear Usha, I havedone my duty. Have I not taken theopportunity of paying my humble homageto Shivaji, the great inspiring ruler of the17th century ?

Meena-Usha : Good-bye, Sir.

Teacher : Good-bye. Do convey myrespects to your father and mother.


FOR many years Muazzammaintained cordial relations withShivaji without the knowledge of his

father Aurangazeb. In fact, he went sofar as to aid Shivaji’s men against the cruelplans of his father.

Thirteen years later Muazzam sat quietlyin his luxuriously decorated Shamiana. Hehad been living in the same tent for severalmonths now. It was fringed with gorgeousbrocades. The muslim curtains insidesilently proclaimed their exorbitant costs.Soft satin cushions of every conceivablecolour, delicately embroidered, were strewnover the mattress of imported silk. A‘hucca’ was kept close. The decanter onthe stool which stood beside the cushionswas half empty. Probably, it remained sofor quite some time. The court dancerhad been waiting in her parlour for hours,but she received no summons fromShahzada. His personal assistant darednot disturb him. Shahzada was not livingin 1679. He had geared himself back intothe past. A series of events swiftly movedbefore his half-closed eyes.

“I don’t know why, but I always had alonging to see Shivaji Raje. I have heard alot of him. His magnificent personality, softbut very expressive smile, politeness andmodesty in speech and his art of usingright words at right places. All thesequalities together had captivated me. Atonce I decided that I should forge friendshipwith this man. I did not care what myfather thought. But why ? I can very wellkeep it secret. I was told to meet Sambaji.He was the exact replies of his father, with

the same dress, the same gait, and thesame mannerisms. I was very pleased,indeed. Bound by an agreement with myfather, Sambhaji was to remain under mewith a regiment of five thousand soldiers.Sambhaji was too young then to takecharge, so the regiment was taken care ofby Niroji Aoji and Pratap Rao Gujar, two ofthe most able generals of Shivaji Raja.

“Sambhaji left for Rajgarh and I presentedhim with elephants, horses and costumesat the time of his departure. Pratap RaoGujar and Niroji Aoji remained atAurangabad with me. They were soeloquent in their praises of Shivaji that Ibecame his ardent follower. I admit franklythat though I loved him and respected himI was also afraid of him. That is the reasonwhy I tried to maintain friendship with him.Although my father considered Shivaji ashis enemy, I could not do so. Though Iwas aware that even Shivaji was capableof treacherous acts, I could not help lovinghim.

“Ah ! to think of those days : Irecommended Shivaji’s name to my fathera number of times. He deserved to be a‘King’. After my continuous efforts, myfather bestowed upon him the title of ‘Raja’.I did not forget to forward my note withmy father’s letter. I don’t know what Shivajihimself must have thought about it.

“Those days are gone. Niroji and PratapRao met me often. We talked, laughedand dined together.

ALWAYS ON THE ALERT


“And then one day I got news that myfather wanted me to arrest Pratap Rao andNiroji. I was shocked by the order. Wewere friends and this friendship had grownduring our long stay in the same camptogether. The order did not stop at that.My father wanted all the five thousandMaratha soldiers to be slaughtered andrupees one lakh recovered from them asransom. This was foul treachery. I couldnot control myself. I invited both PratapRao and Niroji to a secluded spot andbriefed them. The actual message wasexpected within the next two or threedays. So, I told them to de-camp at once.

“When the actual message came from myfather I had to bluff him. I wrote to himthat the Marathas had vanished a weekago. Had I known the message earlier Iwould have tied both of them and broughtthem to Delhi, and would have slain all thesoldiers. My father trusted me, and Shivajiwas grateful for my help.

“It sounds funny, but the fact is that Icould never cope with Diler Khan, thegeneral my father sent along with me, butfound myself agreeing with Mirza Raje. ThisDiler Khan was always suspicious. Afterthe incident of proposed treachery towardsthe Marathas, they have grown moreannoyed with my father and have brokenthe truce agreement. They have nowrenewed their attacks. Within the last fourmonths they have recaptured most of theforts which were given up to us under theagreement. Under such circumstances,Diler Khan does not listen to me. He avoidsme like fire. I was obliged to write abouthis disobedience to my father. I had noalternative but to attack him.

“But then, these Marathas have beenplaying havoc these days. They haveplundered Surat. They assaulted Khandeshand Berar. They have taken an enormousamount of loot of gold, silver and diamonds.They have captured our men and takenaway our horses, elephants, arms andammunitions. All these things arehappening before my very eyes. I havebeen taken to task by my father a numberof times for having a soft corner for Shivaji.I have been rebuked for not defeating theMarathas even once. He suspects that Iam in league with Shivaji. No doubt, I hada soft corner for Shivaji once. But, now Iam a different Muazzam. Not the one thatShivaji knew thirteen years ago. My fatheris right. Shivaji has broken all his promises.He had been assisting the Adil Shah againstmy father. This can never be tolerated byme. Now, I have found that I have wrongedmy father.

“But I can certainly pay him off, and makegood for failing my father in the past. Iam sure, Shivaji still thinks that I need hishelp in case I revolt against my father.This is a fine opportunity to make use of.Let me stage a mock revolt. But, let meplan it in consultation with my colleagues,get Shivaji to my own Shamiana and ……….”

A few days later, Muazzam was returningfrom a hunting expedition alone. He wastired. He was very eager to reach his camp.He was thirsty too. And suddenly, he sawan old man with a white beard and a turbanon his head, slightly bent, approaching himwith a jar in his hand. He stopped Muazzamand said, “Khan Saheb, will you pleaseoblige me ?” The old man asked politely.


Muazzam got down from his horse. Heasked the old man, “What is it that youwish to offer me ?”

“Nothing Sir, it’s just a little milk ! I cansee that you are very tired and thirsty.This is all that a poor man like me canoffer,” said the old man as he held a jarfull of milk before Muazzam. Muazzam wasvery grateful for this thoughtful gesture.He drank the milk in one gulp but wassurprised to see a note at the bottom ofthe jar. He removed the paper from thejar and read it, “I, Shivaji, present this jarof milk and if there is anything else I cando for you, I am at your service.”Muazzam’s brow was bathed in sweat andhe looked up. Where was the old peasantthat brought the milk ? He had vanished.

The meaning of the whole incident did not,however, escape Muazzam’s notice.

WHO was it that spoke throughShivaji? Was it Goddess Bhavani,whose temple the Bijapur

commander had once desecrated in order

to humiliate Her and pour scorn on herdevotees ? Was it the very one who hadrevealed Herself to Shivaji’s grand-fatheryears before and predicted the birth of agreat son in the line ?

The same voice had forecast the triumphof Shivaji and the end of Afzal Khan at onetime and the final collapse of the MoghulEmpire at another. That such words shouldcome out of Shivaji was impossible. Hemust have been possessed by some spirit.Of this, the people around were sure. Atsuch times they looked more closely at theirchief who seemed to be in a deep trance.Then, gradually, he came out of it andbecame normal. The difference betweenthe man in trance and the Shivaji that theyknew, became quickly apparent to allaround him ; more so when he spoke oncemore in his normal voice.

I

The Scene : Pratap Garh Fort.

Occasion : Meeting with Afzal Khan

He pulled himself up, raised his right handin salute to all of them and repeated, “Iam ready to meet Afzal Khan.” Before hemoved forward, he urged his men to havefaith in him, for he believed he would notfail in his mission. He would return to them,but if the will of Providence decreedotherwise, they must carry on the workwhere he had left it. “You, my trusted

THE BENEDICTION


men, must take over where I have begunfor you. You know the goal ahead. Pursueit and rest not until you achieve ourobjective. May God help you and may Hehelp me, too.”

Earlier, Shivaji thought that he would,perhaps, have to live months before themenace of Afzal Khan disappeared from thearea. His mind was full of the details hehad to attend to, before making his finalmove. Courageous thoughts of victoryalternated in his mind with fears of defeat.He worked hard during the day. He sleptbut little at night.

It was, according to the legend, after onesuch exhausting day that he retired to hisbed late at night. Sleep overtook him soon,wiping out the troubles from his mind. Thenaround two o’clock of the early morning avision appeared to him, as crystal clear asit had appeared to his grand-father, MalojiBhonsle. It was the vision of the samegoddess, Bhavani. She stood before him,appearing in the familiar setting of her owntemple at Tuljapur. The temple wasdesecrated but amidst the ruins She stood,Her eyes peering at him. Then she spoke,at first not so much with the sound of hervoice as by silent movement of Her lips.Do not falter, She seemed to say. The, hebegan to hear the words, “Be calm. Haveconfidence in your God who will lead youto victory. Your enemy will bite the dust.”With a jerk, drenched with sweat and fullof excitement, Shivaji awoke. There wasno Bhavani standing before him now, buthe was sure she had been there. Thedream was a true one.

If the Khan’s presence in the neighbourhoodhad disturbed Shivaji, this luminous dreamdisturbed him even more. But in a differentway, for the disturbance was likeexcitement after a moment of great danger.

Shivaji sat up in his bed. He tried to shakeoff his sleep sot that he could rememberthe vision he had seen and remember thewords She had spoken. “Bhavani Devi hasspoken to me,” he said aloud, waking upthe guards who had been sleeping outsidehis room.”

“Sarkar,” they came rushing to him,believing he had called them.

“Nothing,” he said. “It is nothing. Youcan go to sleep again.” But his men knewsomething had happened and they lingeredbeside him. Then he told them. “Do youknow who came to visit me in my sleep ?”,he said to the guards.

“Bhavani Devi came,” he murmured. Inhis eyes there was a faraway look theyhad not seen before.

“Bhavani Devi” ! one of them exclaimed.“Yes, She alone could come, no one else.”

Shivaji did not speak any more, for hisguards were hardly the people with whohe could discuss such a holy vision. “Goto sleep,” he told them and with that hetoo lay down to rest.

The guards left the room. “Sarkar has beendreaming,” One of them made bold to say.

“This Afzal Khan would give anyone asleepless night,” another added.

The hours of the night moved on, Shivajislept in snatches, for he was anxiously


waiting for the morning to come, when hecould share his dream with those who couldbetter understand its full import andinterpret its meaning. The guards weremen of great loyalty but of little mind

By day-break he was up and attending tohis morning toilet. Then he sent amessenger to where his mother wassleeping, to inquire from her maid-servantsif she were awake. “When she hasawakened, I want to see her,” he sentword. Not long after, Jija Bai came rushingin, her eyes, still full of sleep. “What is it,what is it?” She asked, believing it wasthe latest news of Afzal Khan.

“Ai, I was sleeping soundly last night. Avision appeared before me.”

“Bhavani !” Jija Bai immediately uttered.

“Hoi,” Shivaji replied.

Jija Bai knelt down, and, with her handsfolded, touched the floor. Then she boweddown and touched the floor with herforehead. “Bhavani Devi !” She said inawe, as she rose. For the first time shetried to touch the feet of her son, althoughnormally this is the respect paid to an elder,not to a son. Shivaji protested firmly atthis gesture from his mother. “You are myDevi.” He said, bowing down to salute herin the usual way.

“My son,” she said with a broad smile onher face, “but now you are Bhavani’s childalso. That is blessed a thousand fold. Idon’t mind if she claims you as hers. I willgladly take the second place. But tell menow, how did she come to you ?”

The dream was still vivid in Shivaji’s mind.He could see the goddess as clearly as hecould see his mother before hi. Evenclearer, for in the dream the light waspowerful, while now, at the moment therewas the mist of dawn. He described thedream to his mother, how the goddesslooked and all that she said.

There was a calm at Pratap Garh thatmorning and in his heart, earlier ruffled byAfzal Kha, there was peace once again.Not often do mortals experience thepresence of a great spirit near them. Onlyon those who have, it has an electrifyingeffect, which a recital of the incident maynot fully convey. There was no need formore conferences on the attitude to beadopted towards Afzal Khan. Bhavani hadcharted his course of action. He was nowto do as his own judgment guided him, forthe words of the goddess must fulfillthemselves, no matter what line of actionwas to be chosen. Unbelievable as itseemed to military strategists of the time,this little mountain squirrel was filled witha new strength to meet an enemy whoseemed a hundred times his size.


“I am moving off for Pratap Garh today,”he told his mother.

“As you think fit, son,” she replied, andgave the traditional blessinga mother gives to adeparting son. A tearcoursed down to her cheeks.She brushed it aside.

When all arrangements hadbeen made, the humble wordwas sent to Afzal Khan thatShivaji was ready to receivehim. The General could nowleave Wei to come to Javli.

Near Koyna, where todaystands the great hydro-electric project ofMaharashtra, Afzal Khanhalted for the night. Here,some of the Pathans fromthe Khan’s forces began to feel unhappyabout the move their commander wasmaking. They cautioned him but AfzalKhan, preferring to rely on the judgmentof his Brahmin envoy, dismissed this cautionas unnecessary. Just as Shivaji had notdisclosed his inner-most thoughts to hisentourage, so Afzal Khan had kept his realintentions to himself. As he closed his eyesand pondered on the future, the Khan couldsee Shivaji in chains dancing in the streetsof Bijapur, as he had promised his DowagerQueen he would make him do. But thePathans continued to be worried abouttheir Khan’s under-estimation of the littleMaratha. They were not willing to trustthe “mountain rat.” “You never know howthese rats behave,” they said to oneanother.

There was an exchange of messagesbetween Shivaji and the Khan. As AfzalKhan came nearer to Javli, he heard fromhis envoy that Shivaji had proposed that

their meeting should takeplace with more than twocompanions in attendanceon either side. As themeeting was to take placeon an open plain, there wasno need for any troops oneither side.

The Brahmins envoyflattered the Khan more andmore as the time for themeeting drew near, and witheach round of flattery theKhan appeared to bedisarmed of everyprecaution he might havethought of taking.

There was another last minute exchangeof messages, for Shivaji learned that theKhan was accompanied by Sayed Banda, avery accomplished warrior. At Shivaji’srequest the Khan agreed that this soldierwould stand at a distance from the placeof the meeting.

There was a strange thing noticeable inShivaji that morning for on the eve of theaccrual meeting with the Khan, soon afterhe had his bath and had done his puja, heappeared to be in a trance. His courtiersbegan to get a little worried. Theywondered whether some deity hadpossessed him. His eyes looked vacantand there was a fixed gaze in them. Hewas looking through the people thatmorning and not at them, and he wasspeaking words which could not have been


his own. Shivaji spoke with a voice differentfrom his own. Its usual mellowness haddisappeared. It was a richer, full-throatedvoice, which they had not heard before.It was a voice of command mixed withprophecy, altogether an awe-inspiringvoice, uttering the doom of Afzal Khan.

II

Time : The days before the Coronation

The Scene : The Shrine at Pratapgad

The coronation ceremonies lasted nearly amonth. First Shivaji visited the temple ofthe Mother Goddess at Pratapgad. Hepresented the shrine with an umbrella ofpure gold, forty-two pounds in weight.Then, accompanied by a few followers, heentered the temple and passed many daysabsorbed in vigil and prayer. Whileprostrate in prayer before the altar he fellinto a trance, and from his mouth a faintthin voice, which those present declaredmust have been that of Mother GoddessHerself, began to prophecy the futurehistory of the Maratha State, the finalcollapse of the Moghul Empire, the entryof the Marathas into Delhi, the twenty-seven generation rule of Shivani’sdescendants and finally the voiceconcluded, “The scepter shall pass into thehands of a strange people with red faces.”

III

The Scene : The Temple at Sri Saila.

Occasion : Shivaji’s Pilgrimage

Now, for the last time we see Shivajisilently slipping away slipping away fromhis soldiers and crossing the river Krishnaaccompanied only by Hanumante and just

unpresumptuous ascending the peaks ofSri Saila. Perhaps, the festivities atHyderabad had wearied him with their falseglitter. Once again the age-old yearningfor a recluse’s life possessed him. Kneelingin the silence and gloom of the great shrinehe broke down. He lamented that he shouldhave to pass his life in palaces and camps,whereas he was only happy when aloneand at prayer. For ten days, he remainedin the temple fasting and in constantprayer. Hanumante grew restive andanxious. He began pleading, urging him torejoin the army ; the Karnataka lay openfor his conquest and time was precious.Shivaji cried bitterly : “But I am happyhere. This is where I belong. If I cannotlive here, at least let me die here,” andsaying so he drew his sword. Again thesame look ……….the fixed and hypnotisedgaze……..focussed on someone who wasbeyond common comprehension. She hadappeared again, Shivaji was Her choseninstrument. It was not yet time for him tomerge ……Urgent Call……..The call of duty……..Even renunciation had to wait. Yes,he had to abide by Her command.

Hers was the power that guided and blessedthis monarch from time to time. His skilland mastery of detail, daring courage andfore-sight would appear super-human. Hestruck Shaishtakhan a blow, “whosecleverness of design, neatness of executionand completeness of success created inthe Moghul court and camp as much terrorof his prowess and belief in his possessionof magical powers as his coup against AfzalKhan had done among the Bijapuris.”“Shivaji’s prestige as an incarnation ofSatan (?) against whose entrance no place


was considered to be proof rose very high.The whole country talked of his super –human feat with astonishment and terror.”

What was the effect of it all on the authorof these tricks ? He remained through itall a humble son, a devour pilgrim and aloyal servant of his suffering brethren. Thepomp and splendour of his kingly life irkedhim and he longed at moments to be backin the solitary silence of the forgottenshrines where he could lose himself. Atsuch a moment the warrior’s armour, shieldand sword slipped off from his shouldersand he stood before that very Bhavani,the Mother Goddess whose true son hewas, in the robes of a recluse. He wastruly Her instrument. All the wars that hefought were truly fought in the spiritexpressed by the Gita,

“There lives a Master in the hearts of men,

Maketh their deeds, by subtle pulling ofstrings

Dance to what tune He will.”

Since this was the inspiration of his actionswhich were at times chivalrous, noble andsublime, and at others blood drenched fieryand cruel, how could a common mindcomprehend him ? Yet, why should wewonder at the world’s lack ofcomprehension ? “The strong alone canunderstand strength : it is not the barn-door fowl but the elephant thatunderstands the lion.”

LEGENDS ANDTHEIR MEANING

IT is said that Lord Krishna freedsixteen thousand and one hundredmaidens from the clutches of the

demon Narakasura. On another occasionSri Krishna covered the Sun by hurling hisfamous Sudarshan Chakra in order to createthe il lusion of Sun-set to confuseJayadratha, then suddenly removed thesame and pointing his finger he said toArjuna, “This is the Sun and Jayadratha ishere.” What divine intercession to spareArjuna’s life which would have beenotherwise lost due to the most difficultvow he had taken !

Hanuman leapt across the mighty ocean insearch of Sita. He plucked Dronagiri fromthe Himalayas in order to save Lakshmana’slife. In the battle between Lava-Kusha onone side and Rama on the other, the arrowsshot by the young princes always droppednear the feet of their father and weretransformed into flowers, which fell in ashower over the young heroes. Sita wentthrough the ordeal of fire to prove herpurity. Though Sri Rama cut off all theheads of Ravana, yet he remained alive.In the end, he had to remove the nectarfrom Ravana’s heart to destroy him.

These are some of the examples from ourepics that speak of a mystic truth wovenaround the fantastic feats of heroes. Thepresent turns into the historic past and


It is necessary to focus our attention onthe main aim of a legend or an anecdote,and reject its trappings of apparentexaggeration. The story woven around anincident is a mere covering of the truththat it tries to convey. Take for example,the famous exclamation of Shivaji Maharajwhen he heard about the death of TanajiMalusare. “The fort has been capturedbut I have lost a lion,” cannot be literallytaken to mean that Tanaji Malusare hassuddenly been metamorphosed into a lion.Similarly, when Shivaji Maharaj becameover-conscious of his might while the workon a fort was in progress, Ramdas Swamiappeared before him and took out a livingfrog trapped in the cavity of a stone, tohumble him. This saved him from developingan ego that he was all powerful and thathe was the supporter of many people. Thispride would have been a flaw in anotherwise noble character.

It is a well-known legend that Shivaji feltthe presence and assurance of MotherBhavani whenever he was on the brink ofperil. Her assurance at such times wasuttered through Shivaji’s mouth. Thoseexamples only denote his exceptionallyexcellent qualities. Of course, the legendserves the purpose of an ornament in whichthe gem of truth serves the purpose of alocket. The locket alone indicates the truthbut only when it is placed in the setting ofa perfect ornament does its brilliance shine.

This then is how one could explain whyLord Krishna had liberated sixteen thousandand odd maidens. Here the main aim lay intheir freedom from slavery. In fact, he setthe first example of Shuddhi by acceptingall of them into the Yada Dynasty. This

history becomes a legend as years passby. We find that a number of anecdotesand legends shroud the lives of heroes.This creates an aura of mystery, whichhowever in no way detracts from thegreatness of such lives. Stories weavethemselves around greet men even duringtheir life time. They are at first recognisedand glorified by their great deeds, thengradually novel ideas and interpretationsare projected round their great deeds,which finally turn them into legends. Thisis the order in which a legend or ananecdote takes shape.

It is an indisputable fact that the greatnessof a man remains wedded to his name. Theflames that kindle the fire of sublimity inthem are projected through myths andlegends. Yet, through all the rich tapestryof legendary detail the basic fabric itself isclearly seen by the discerning eye. It isneither hidden nor dimmed by the intricacyof design or delicacy of execution.

The noble behaviour of Shivaji Maharajdepicted in the anecdote of the daughter-in-law of the Subedar of Kalyan onlyindicates his chivalrous attitude towardswomen. Even if there are people whodeclare it to be a mere tale, they cannotoverlook the nobility of Shivaji Maharaj thatit projects. Legends and anecdotes alwaystry to project the great deeds of heroeswho seem to be perpetually balancing onthe razor’s edge of perfection. Even theirapparently insignificant actions gather ahalo of glory and these verily are the warpand woof of a legend. How could we rejecta fact as a mere legend just because weare unable to establish its historic truth ?


point of view seems to be more realistic.In the legend of Jayadratha’s death, it willbe more appropriate to assume that SriKrishna used his super human powers toconfuse Jayadratha and thus protectArjuna, his devotee.

The real meaning of Hanuman’s crossingthe ocean should be attributed to hisuntiring efforts in the pursuit of his goal.In the same way, his fetching mountDronagiri should be interpreted as anillustration of the super-human possibilitiesthat a devotee is capable of. Hanuman’sfame rests not merely in his deeds of valour.The halo of mysticism around this figure ofHanuman indicates his eagerness to fulfillall his tasks with exemplary courage andswiftness.

In the legend of the arrows transformedinto flowers the sheer poetry of human loveis brought out to perfection by the pen ofthe poet. That Sita’s fiery ordeal is not alegend is proved even today by the firewalkers where the one pre-requisite isabsolute continence or chastity. Even firethen refuses to burn.

Even in the recent past, we come acrossthe “electric touch” experienced by SwamiVivekananda when Ramakrishna kept hishand on his head. We are given tounderstand that Swamiji had experiencedthe same feeling a number of times.Certainly, he was a person blessed by theLord. We may take it, that the incidentsin Swamiji’s life indicate his extraordinarypersonality. There is an anecdote aboutthe prison life of Lokmanya Tilak. It is saidthat all the trees around his prisonblossomed all through his stay there, but

became barren as soon as he left theprison. This paints a pretty picture ofLokmanya and his noble intentions.

Therefore, in the reading of such lives ourefforts should be directed to separate thegrain from the chaff and this should bedone with a penetrating mind and a feelingheart. Only then will we be able to graspthe real importance of such sublime lives.

One more point that needs to be stressedhere is that legends and anecdotes depictthe various aspects of great souls only.They do not pertain to ordinary people.These lives afford the maximum scope foridealistic and mystic tales to be wovenaround them. It is therefore very essentialthat dry analysis based on reasoningcannot get at the real meaning of thelegends.

Instead, it is essential, nay most imperativeto draw the correct meaning from them,through very wide perspective, with anopen mind and an idealistic approach. Thenonly will we able to derive the real meaningof anecdotes and legends.


Shortly after the marriage ofRajaram, Shivaji fell ill. Aboutthe nature of Shivaji’s illness

Sabhasad states only that “after a fewdays the king fell ill with fever”. The 91Kalmi Bakhar mentions the nature of thefever as Navajwar which could be typhoid.

As Shivaji saw his end drawing near, hecalled his Councilors near him. Sabhasadwho might have been present on theoccasion mentions Nilopant Prahlad Niroji,Gangadhar Janardhan, Abaji, Hiroji, SuryajiMalusare and others. In his narrationSabhasad has shown that Shivaji spoke ofthe coming events, predicted Sambhaji’serective behaviour, the invasion of theMoghuls, the near destruction of theMaratha State and its revival by Rajaram.He also speaks of the last utterances ofShivaji :

“Do not grieve. This is a world where deathis inevitable. All who are born in this worldhave to depart. You should now composeyour mind. You may now withdraw. I willnow meditate.”

Having sent the people out the king hadhis bath with Ganges water, applied sacredash to his body, put on the Rudraksha,and through Yoga breathed his last. Itwas on Chaitra Shudha Purnima, Saturday(3rd April 1680).

T he twilight of the empire builder

Crept into the palace,

With mourning feet And filled it

With an eerie silence.

Decked in holy beads and ochre-robes

Upon the hard bed of renunciation

Lay the grand rebel,

His restless soul at rest,

Submissive in peaceful acquiescence

To the dictates of the Mightiest Emperor.

Basil leaves cooled his feverish limbs,

Mother Ganges caressed his brow,

The ears in which for years echoed

The thunder of drums and the battle cry

‘Har Har Maha Deo’

Now faintly heard the soft humming

Of Vedic chants and the Holy Name.

Softly the sounds faded,

The mind that relentlessly designed

A hundred campaigns now sunk

SHIVAJI’S LASTILLNESS AND DEATH,

3RD APRIL, 1680

THE TWILIGHT HOURSATYA


Into the rest of oblivion.

The brilliant light died out of those eyes

That flashed sparks of fury

And spelt rebellion

At the very word ‘Alien’.

The tongue that charmed,

Convinced and beguiled

Enemies into traps

And princes into coups,

Now silently rested

Over the single emerald

In the mouth that uttered

The first freedom call.

The face that inspired

Brave men to braver deeds

Now was shrouded,

And through a peep-hole,

A few drops of holy water

Tried feebly to wet

The parched, uncaring lips.

Upon a simple bier

Sped the rugged soldier

On his last campaign

To report and serve

The Conqueror of the World

Beyond the Nothingness.

Naked trees and dry grass

Scorched by the April sun’s fury

Proclaimed in mournful solemnity

The widowhood of a Nation.

Upon the pyre lay the Maratha King

With his head towards the north reclining ;

The head that bowed to none

Now lay in gentle submission

At the feet of the Great King of Kings

Who reigns supreme, in yonder Himalayas.

Stars peeped out of the darkening sky,

To take a last glimpse at the passing hero,

And tiny flames gathered together

Like the little states he combined

Into a mighty flame

That tinted the night sky,

A glowing orange plume

Spreading over the horizon

Like the ochre flag that fluttered

Over his beloved nation.

In Delhi rose the Moghul Emperor

And spelt an enemy’s tribute

To a mighty warrior –

“The great captain is no more”.


Wear thou thy majesty inviolate.

Earth’s glories free of humaneyes un-seen,

Earth’s kingdoms fade to aremembered dream,

But thine henceforth shall be a power supreme,

Dazzling command and rich dominion,

The winds thy heralds and thy vassals all

The silver-belted planets and the sun.

Wherever the radiance of thy coming fall

Shall dawn for thee her saffron foot-cloth spread,

Sun-set her purple canopies and red,

In serried splendour, and the night unfold

Her velvet darkness wroughtwith starry gold

For kingly raiment, soft as cygnet down.

O, King ! thy kingdom who fromthee can wrest ?

What fate shall dare un-crown thee ?

Oh ! God born-lover whom (Man’s) love doth gird

An armour with impregnable delight

Of Hope’s triumphant keen flame-carven sword ?

SAROJINI NAIDU

WHO SHALLUN-KING THEE?

Final Sivaji

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Transcript of Final Sivaji