Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj

News: The cultural department of the Maharashtra government organized a series of programs to commemorate the 350th anniversary of the coronation of the great Maratha king Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.

Who was Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj?
 Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was the founder of the Maratha Empire in western India in the 17th century. He is regarded as one of the greatest warriors and administrators of Indian history.
 He fought against the Mughal Empire and established a strong and efficient administration based on the principles of justice, welfare and security for his subjects.
 He was crowned as the King of Marathas n 1674, at Raigad. He took several titles such as Chhatrapati, Shakakarta, Kshatriya Kulavantas, and Haidanva Dharmodhharak.

What was his administration like?
 His revenue administration was based on the Kathi system of land measurement (pattern of Malik Amber). He abolished the Jagirdari system and replaced it with the Ryotwari system, in which the peasants paid taxes directly to the state. He also implemented two taxes called Chauth and Sardeshmukhi, which were levied on the territories that were not under his direct control but acknowledged his sovereignty. Chauth was one-fourth of the land revenue and Sardeshmukhi was an additional one-tenth of the land revenue. He also appointed revenue officials such as Amatya, Deshmukh, Deshpande, Patil and Kulkarni to collect and audit the taxes.
 His political administration was based on a centralized monarchy; in which he was the supreme sovereign. He appointed eight ministers, known as Ashtapradhan, who were responsible for various aspects of governance such as finance, military, foreign affairs, justice and religion. The ministers were not hereditary or permanent, but were appointed and removed by the king at his discretion. They were also expected to lead military campaigns when required.
 His military administration was based on a disciplined and well-trained army, which consisted of cavalry, infantry, artillery and navy. He paid cash salaries to his soldiers and gave revenue grants to his chieftains. He was an expert in guerrilla warfare, which involved swift and surprise attacks on the enemy using the terrain and speed as advantages.
 He also built a strong navy and dockyards to protect his coastal regions from foreign invaders and to promote trade.
 Shivaji revived Hindu traditions and promoted Marathi and Sanskrit.
 He ensured Competent civil rule and was a compassionate king for his people.

What are some ethical lessons we can learn from him?
 Shivaji Maharaj was proud of his culture and heritage, and he revived Sanskrit and Marathi as official languages of his court. He protected temples from invaders and he never forced anyone to convert.
 He was a champion of women’s rights and dignity. He issues strict orders to never harass any women during their raids.
 He was a pragmatic ruler who knew how to deal with adversaries. He wasn’t shy to use diplomacy, deception or force to achieve his goals. But, he never compromised on his principles.
 He fought against injustice, oppression, and tyranny, and established a sovereign state based on the ideals of Swarajya (self-rule) and Sushasan (good governance).