Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj

🛡️ The Rise of the Maratha Power: A Vision Realised

In the first half of the 17th century, Maharashtra was divided politically but brimming with potential. Two powerful Deccan Sultanates — Nizamshahi of Ahmednagar and Adilshahi of Bijapur — ruled over this land. Within their courts, many Maratha sardars (military chiefs) held jagirs (land grants) in the rugged Sahyadri mountain ranges. Though they operated under Muslim sultanates, a growing undercurrent of self-rule — Swarajya — had begun taking shape in their minds.

Among them stood out Shahaji Raje Bhosale, a skilled Maratha sardar who initially served the Nizamshahis. When that kingdom fell, he tactfully switched allegiance and accepted a mansab (official rank) under the Adilshahis. But he nurtured a deeper dream — of a Hindu Swarajya governed by dharma, justice, and independence. While Shahaji envisioned it, it was his son Shivaji who turned it into a living reality.

🌄 Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj: Founder of Swarajya

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was born in 1630 at Shivneri Fort, nestled in the hill country of the Mawal region — a land of difficult terrain, but rich in courage. From this soil, he began a journey that would transform him from a jagirdar’s son to one of India’s greatest empire-builders.

His formal coronation in 1674 at Raigad Fort marked the founding of the Maratha Empire — not just politically, but symbolically, as a rejection of centuries of foreign rule and a revival of indigenous kingship.

⚔️ Military Innovation: Guerrilla Warfare

Shivaji Maharaj knew he could never match the Mughal or Bijapuri forces in sheer numbers or equipment. Instead of conventional warfare, he embraced Guerrilla tactics — ambushes, sudden raids, hit-and-run strategies. Operating from the rugged Sahyadris, his nimble army used the land as an ally.

This warfare was not just a necessity; it was an art. By mastering surprise and mobility, Shivaji turned every mountain pass into a battlefield and every fort into a symbol of resistance.

⚓ Father of the Indian Navy

Realising that controlling the seas was as crucial as holding forts, Shivaji built a strong naval force — the first significant Indian ruler after antiquity to do so. He fortified the Konkan coast, built naval bases, and challenged foreign powers like the Portuguese and Siddis. That is why he is rightly called the “Father of the Indian Navy.”

🤝 Religious Tolerance

Despite being a devout Hindu, Shivaji never persecuted other faiths. His administration upheld religious tolerance. He respected Muslim saints, protected mosques, and punished those who harassed non-Hindus. His idea of Swarajya was not communal but ethical and inclusive — deeply rooted in Rajdharma.

🏹 Early Conflicts: Bijapur Campaigns

1. Battle with Afzal Khan (1659)

Recognising Shivaji’s growing assertiveness, the Bijapur Sultanate dispatched its formidable general Afzal Khan to eliminate him. But Shivaji Maharaj had anticipated treachery. At Pratapgad, in a tense personal meeting, Afzal Khan attempted to stab Shivaji under the guise of diplomacy.

But Shivaji, wearing hidden armor and carrying a concealed wagh nakh (tiger claws), counter-attacked and killed Afzal Khan in self-defence. This was not just a tactical victory — it was a turning point that catapulted Shivaji into legend.

2. Siege of Panhala and the Sacrifice of Shiva Kashid

Next, Bijapur sent Siddi Jauhar, who besieged Panhala Fort and blocked Shivaji’s escape routes. In this dire moment, a humble servant named Shiva Kashid disguised himself as Shivaji, allowing the real Shivaji to flee. When the deception was uncovered, Shiva Kashid was executed — a supreme example of loyalty to Swarajya.

3. The Heroism of Baji Prabhu Deshpande

During the escape to Vishalgad, Baji Prabhu Deshpande held back Siddi Masud’s pursuing army at Ghodkhind (later called Pavan Khind) with a small contingent. He continued fighting until he received the signal that Shivaji had reached safely — and only then did he allow himself to fall, mortally wounded. These stories became immortal narratives of sacrifice in Maratha folklore.

🕌 Shivaji vs the Mughals

1. Attack on Shaistakhan (1663)

After becoming emperor, Aurangzeb appointed his maternal uncle Shaistakhan as governor of the Deccan to suppress Shivaji. Shaistakhan established camp in Lal Mahal, Pune, believing himself to be invincible.

But in a daring night raid, Shivaji stormed the mansion, wounded Shaistakhan, and killed his son — despite tight security. This audacious act shattered Mughal prestige in the region.

2. Plunder of Surat (1664)

Shivaji then turned his attention to the rich Mughal port city of Surat — the empire’s commercial lifeline. His attack on Surat in 1664 was swift and calculated. He returned with immense wealth, shaking the Mughal economy and confidence.

🤝 Treaty of Purandar and Visit to Agra

Alarmed, Aurangzeb sent generals Mirza Raja Jai Singh and Diler Khan, who laid siege to Purandar Fort in 1665. After prolonged resistance, Shivaji pragmatically chose to negotiate and signed the Treaty of Purandar, which involved:

• Visiting the Mughal court in Agra, along with his son Sambhaji.
• Surrendering several forts to the Mughals.

But the Mughal court betrayed its promise. Shivaji was placed under house arrest. In one of the most legendary escape stories of Indian history, Shivaji and Sambhaji slipped away disguised in fruit baskets — a move that left Aurangzeb red-faced and the Mughal empire humiliated.

After returning, Shivaji reconquered many forts he had surrendered — proving that diplomacy could be a temporary retreat, but Swarajya remained the goal.

⚱️ Death and Legacy

Shivaji Maharaj passed away on 3rd April 1680. His death at the age of just 50 was a catastrophic loss to the Maratha state. But what he left behind was not just a kingdom — it was a vision. A vision of Swarajya rooted in dharma, justice, military innovation, and inclusive governance.

Even Aurangzeb, in his later years, would find the Marathas to be the most unyielding resistance he ever faced. Shivaji Maharaj had planted the seed of a power that would outlive empires.

✍️ Concluding Thought for UPSC Aspirants

The rise of Shivaji Maharaj is not just a chapter in political history — it is a case study of strategic brilliance, ethical leadership, and cultural assertion. For a UPSC aspirant, understanding his journey is essential not just for facts, but for appreciating how regional resistance reshaped the subcontinent.