Originally posted by: RadhikaS0
Hi Everyone
Hi Radhika π I am so glad to see your wonderfully written long post. I hope you will become a regular member of PB forum.
You have read my post about Shivaji Maharaj, he still lives in the heart of every Marathi manoos (personπ). There are so many legends to look upto and be proud of.
Also there are so many well researched and written historical books to read and learn from.
I have taken time to soak in the highly detailed posts on this thread. Want to thank every one who has contributed to this awesome thread - your level of reading and understanding of Maratha history is laudable. I don't know many regions where folks are so well-versed in and proud of their past!
I have started getting an inkling of the vast ocean that Maratha history is. Hope to learn more from all of you. π
The show is doing well and the cast is doing a brilliant job of bringing those historical legends to life with their natural acting. The sets, the costumes and the jewelry - everything is quite realistically recreated. More importantly, going by this thread, the AUTHENTICITY of the story line is IMPRESSIVE. Hopefully, this will continue beyond 6 months.
I can't say I have perfectly understood everything here. Quite messed up about who's who. So many Sambhajis, Shivajis etc. Hopefully this will get cleared up as time passes. π
I am sharing a few doubts here. If anyone could explain these, it would be lovely.
P. Triambak I believe is the advisor to Tararani. He is shown in the serial to be interested in ensuring that Tararani's son Shivaji Raje doesn't learn anything much and remains ignorant of state affairs / administration. Possibly he believes this way the power will stay in his hands and Raje will be a puppet king. How true is this depiction?
I think someone well versed in history of that time is better equipped to answer.
My interpretation of his character in serial is he is just jealous of Balaji's rising status and the trust Tararani has started putting in Balaji. There were scenes where Tararani and he were shown trying to teach Shiva Raje and his methods were totally unsuccessful! So maybe he is trying to thwart Balaji rather than harm Shiva Raje.
Why did Shahaji Raje and his elder son Sambhaji not join Shivaji Maharaj in his campaign for Swarajya? Why did they stay in Bengaluru, away from it all? Shahaji had been in the service of the AdilShahi and NizamShahi before Shivaji came of age. Did he remain in their service later too? I read on this thread that he gave Adilshahi a free hand in dealing with Shivaji for conquering forts. Incredible! Why was Shahaji not with his son? Did he have misgivings about his capability to win Swarajya? Was he afraid of the vengeance of the muslim rulers in neighbouring kingdoms?
What is the lifestory of Shivaji's elder brother? While we know about his step-brother, why is so little mentioned about his elder brother?
Why did Shahaji leave Jijabai behind? Why didnt he take her with him to Bengaluru?
Will reply to these 3 questions in a separate post (net slow).If Shivaji Maharaj was upset with Netaji (?)'s shifting loyalty to the Mughals, how much more he would have been devastated when his own son Sambhaji shift his allegiance to them. Sambhaji's character is hard to understand. How he could join the ranks of the enemies of his father and he even led the enemy to the Maratha treasure! Even if he was a wayward youth, surely he should have had known better than to hand over the treasures of his kingdom on a platter to the Mughals? He redeemed himself after becoming the king, especially in his death, but Shivaji Maharaj was not around to see this change in him. He must have died a heartbroken man, wondering what would happen to his empire with one son highly temperamental and the other yet a child and far too many conniving queens and ministers. What things people do for power / throne π
In any empire, it's mostly just one king who reaches a pinnacle. After that, it's just a matter of time before the downslide begins and lust for power not only breaks up the empire but the royal family too.
The promise that Shahuji made to Aurangzeb that he would not let anything happen to the Mughal empire is just another example of the Hindu custom of being too noble / chivalrous for their own good. Why would anyone promise to safeguard the enemy empire when that enemy was hellbent on destroying his homeland? Was he so brain washed by the Mughals during his stay with them that he gave them so much consideration? Actually this mentality continues in India even today. It's an amazing thing that the Maratha empire grew to great proportions inspite of the various errors of judgement by different people in its history. Probably because the Mughals were themselves on a downswing with no great intellectual tacticians to lead them.
No doubt the promise Shahuji made to Aurangzeb was unbelievably short sighted and certainly not the one that Shahuji should have lived upto! He was in captivity for years, his father Sambhaji Raje was brutally tortured and killed by Aurangzeb, surely any promise made should have been a political tool and not something to follow in reality after his freedom.
I guess Abhay can answer Shahuji's reasons better!
Radhika, Marathas might have been unorganized or rather in disarray after Sambhaji Raje's death and Shahuji's capture but there was one uniformity. They all believed in Hindavi Swarajya - in Shivaji Maharaj's dream and each in their own way continued the fight. There were periods where they were not paid salaries or there were setbacks, however this did not stop them. In Balaji, Bajirao, Nanasaheb and later Madhavrao Peshwe they found able leaders to lead them.
If Mugals were on downswing them so were Marathas after Sambhaji Raje but they rose once again under Bajirao, because nobody stopped fighting.
The Maratha women deserve a thorough round of applause for being self-confident, sharp, and taking a keen interest in matters of the state. Some of them may have grey shades like Soyrabai but at least they were individuals with strong identities and minds of their own. Hopefully we will get to see each of these women in depth in the show, just as we can see Tarabai or Radhabai.
To think Jijamata almost single handed raised Shivaji Maharaj and she supported him at every step.
Yesubai was Shivaji Maharaj's favorite he considered her his daughter not daughter-in-law. I remember reading he gave her certain administrative responsibilities and authorities not giving them to Sambhaji Raje.
Tararani was another daughter-in-law of his, who single handedly kept on the fight against Mugals.
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