Vishal Infotech

Shivaji Raje Bhosle (February 19, 1627 – April 3, 1680), commonly known as Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj (Marathi: छत्रपती शिवाजीराजे भोसले) laid the foundations of the Maratha Empire. Shivaji Maharaj was younger of the two sons of Shahaji Bhosle and Jijabai. His father, Shahaji was a Maratha general who rendered military services at various times against the Bijapur Sultanate, Deccan sultanates and the Mughals.^[3] Shivaji Maharaj espoused the ideology of Hindavi Swarajya (Indian Self Rule) and took a solemn oath in a Hindu temple with his friends and soldiers to directly challenge the foreign rule of the Bijapur Sultanate and ultimately the mighty Mughal empire. Shivaji Maharaj succeeded in establishing control of a well defended segment of the present state of Maharastra in western India, during his lifetime.^[4].

Shivaji Maharaj’s ideology of Hindavi Swarajya and subsequent expansion of the Maratha Empire, was partly responsible for re-establisment of Hindu rule and its re-emergent assertiveness throughout the mainland of present day India after being ruled and dominated by various Muslim dynasties for several centuries. The ideology of Hindavi Swarajya was in part the inspiration that propelled the succeeding generation of Marathas to establish independent kingdom in India prior to their eventual defeat by the British Empire. This ideology was neither directed against Islam nor aimed toward propagation of Hinduism.^[5] Shivaji's vision was for a united India, that would not yield to attacks by oppressive rulers.

Shivaji Maharaj established and set up a competent civil rule with the help of well regulated and disciplined military and well structured administrative organizations. The then prevalent practices of treating women as war booty, destruction of religious monuments, slavery and forceful religious conversions were firmly opposed under his administration. Shivaji Maharaj himself was a religious, devout and tolerant Hindu who worshipped with deep faith. Shivaji Maharaj innovated rules of military engagement of that era. He pioneered Ganimi Kava (in Marathi), or guerrilla tactics, which leveraged various factors like demographics, speed, surprise and focused attack. In comparison to his enemies, Shivaji Maharaj had a smaller army and thereby was obliged to wage guerilla warfare to help overcome this great imbalance.^[6]

A large portion of his kingdom was a coastline and he secured it with a potent navy under his commander, Kanhoji Angre. He was very successful in keeping foreign naval ships, particularly Portuguese and British, under check. For his foresight of establishing one of the first large scale naval presence he is referred to as the "Father of Indian Navy".^[7] Building and securing seaside and land based forts played an important role in Shivaji Maharaj’s military history. Shivaji's attention to coastal and naval defence delayed the eventual establishment of British rule and trade along India's west coast.