Radhika, you have raised some very interesting questions. I will try to answer as per my knowledge of the history of that time. I will probably go into lot more details than you have asked for! Well you asked for the information! 😆
You might be surprised to know Shahaji Raje was the first one to start the Swarajya campaign even before Shivaji's birth. However, Shahaji Raje was not successful and his resistance was defeated twice. Once before Shivaji's birth and once after when Shahaji Raje fought Mugals first for Nijamshahi and then on his own for 2 years. Jijabai was fully supportive of Swarajya movement of Shahaji Raje. (All this is also shown in the Marathi serial Raja Shiv Chhatrapati) Hindavi Swarajya was a cherished dream of both Shahaji Raje and Jijabai.
If you remember, I had made a thread about the circumstances prevailing at the time of Shivaji Maharaj's birth
Link here
https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/topic/4798700
Shahaji Raje had left Jijabai in the care of elder son Sambhaji's in-laws and Jijabai was at Shivneri fort where she gave birth to Shivaji. Sambhaji their elder son had gone with Shahaji Raje.
Shahaji Raje visited Jijabai and infant Shivaji sometime after the birth, but he did not have steady life and so Jijabai Shivaji were kept on Shivneri only.
After Shahaji Raje got some stability he sent Dadoji Kondadev his trusted specially chosen man to take responsibility of Jijabai and Shivaji. Shahaji Raje told them to shift to his jagir in Pune and it was Dadoji Kondadev who again reconstructed Pune newly (Pune was burnt down completely by Murar Jagdev).
When Jijabai, young Shivaji and Dadoji with some select men reached Pune, they had to live in tents at first. A Ganapati Idol was found near river and a Temple was constructed which is Kasba Ganapati Temple the presiding deity of Pune even today. During Ganapati Utsav Kasba Ganapati has the first right in the procession.
Lal Mahal - Shivaji's residence was constructed near Kasba Ganapati temple and surrounding that Pune was developed. Dadoji started young Shivaji's teaching and he used to take him everywhere with him when he visited the interior Maharashtra.
In this time Shahaji Raje had married Tukabai and got another son Ekoji. He was establishing himself in Bengaluru.
After Shivaji Sai marriage (which took place after Shahaji Raje gave his permission, he was supposed to attend but could not at the last min) Shahaji Raje sent for Jijabai Shivaji to go to Bengaluru.
The entire Bhosale family was reunited in Bengluru where Shivaji's marriage to Soyrabai took place on Tukabai's insistence. Shivaji Raje used to go to darbar with Shahaji Raje. Sambhaji Raje and Shivaji Raje got along very well, he used to call Sambhaji - Dada Maharaj. Sambhaji was also a brave warrior and he was a poet also. It is said he used to write poetry in Sanskrit!
However, even at such young age Shivaji Maharaj did not like the constrictive rigid formal atmosphere of Bengluru, he was raised in the free open atmosphere where he interacted freely with everybody, the mavlas and village folks. He resented bowing to Adilshahi customs. I think there were 2-3 instances where some minor incidents happened which led to Jijabai and Shivaji realizing they did not want to stay in Bengluru.
Jijabai did not want Shivaji to be raised under Adilshahi (Muslim) culture influence. Shivaji was happier in Pune and so Shahaji and Jijabai decided to stay separately. There was no acrimony, rather Shahaji Raje understaood Jijabai's concerns. Shahaji Raje Jijabai both still held their Swarajya dream.
It is said that Shahaji Raje said he will raise Sambhaji and she will raise Shivaji, let us see how they grow up. Before leaving Bengluru, Shahaji Raje very generously bestowed the Pune jagir on young Shivaji. Along with Dadoji Kondadev, some more prominent hand picked men like Shamrao Nilkanth, Balkrishna Dixit were entrusted with the responsibility of looking after Pune under Shivaji.
Shivaji Maharaj took oath of Swarjya at Rohideshwar Temple at the age of 15 on 15th April 1645. He took Rohida, Torna, Kondhana (later named Sinhagad), Purandar forts and defeated Fattekhan in next 2-3 years.
Shahaji Raje was always in touch by letters, messages, emissaries and he was fully supportive. He wanted Sambhaji to win over Karnataka and Shivaji Maharaj - Maharashtra.
Shahaji Raje was arrested by Adilshahi in 1648 for Shivaji and Sambhaji's battles against them (Baji Ghorpade entered into Shahaji's chambers when he was sleeping and attacked and arrested, he was paraded insultingly by Afzalkhan and presented before Adilshah).
Sambhaji Raje was on a campaign then. He had taken over Bengluru and won Kandarpi fort.
Shivaji Maharaj, Jijabai and advisors were gravely concerned. If Shivaji Maharaj had to surrender everything he had won to free Shahaji Raje it would have meant losing Swarajya battle before fully starting.
Shivaji Maharaj the great tactician that he was - he sent letter to Mugal Shahjade Murad in Ahmedabad, with a hand of friendship and showed a desire for meeting. Shivaji Maharaj wrote he was concerned for his father's safety as Adilshahi had unnecessarily arrested him. Shahjade Murad responded promptly and their growing communication led to worry in Adilshahi. Shahjade Murad sent letter to Shahaji Raje saying Shivaji Maharaj is desiring of friendship with Mugals and Shahjade Murad was requesting Adilshahi to free Shahaji Raje and had sent "poshakh (clothes/manvastra)". Adilshahi could not stop this letter!
Adilshahi was worried about Shivaji Maharaj getting Mugal support so after negotiations a compromise was reached. They freed Shahaji Raje and in exchange Shivaji Maharaj surrendered Kondhana fort and Sambhaji surrendered Bengluru and Kandarpi.
Sambhaji Raje had got a son meanwhile. While on a campaign to take Kanakgiri fort with Afzalkhan, Sambhaji was betrayed by Afzalkhan and was killed. Jijabai was devastated by this news. Saibai was pregnant and when she delivered a son, Jijabai named him Sambhaji after her first born son.
After the arrest incident, not to put any restrictions on Shivaji Maharaj and not to risk Shahaji Raje's safety, Shahaji Raje declared that Shivaji Maharaj did not listen to his advice and behaved with an independent mind.
Adilshahi sent Afzalkhan with a huge army against forging Maratha Empire and to capture Shivaji. Shivaji Maharaj killed Afzalkhan and defeated his army. It was not just a defeat but also revenge for Afzalkhan's betrayal of Sambhaji and treatment of Shahaji Raje after his arrest.
Yes Shahaji Raje always stayed with Adilshahi. He put forward the idea that all the states in South - Adilshahi, Nizamshahi, Kutubshahi should stay together and support Shivaji Maharaj and they should not let Mugals enter into South.
After various large defeats at hands of Shivaji Maharaj, Adilshahi came to conclusion that atleast a cordial relationship with Shivaji Maharaj was in their best interest. Shahaji Raje was encouraged to visit Shivaji Maharaj and to get him to agree to join Adilshahi.
Shahaji Raje visited Maratha Empire for the first time in 1661-62 and was eagerly and warmly welcomed on Rajgad. He admitted to Jijabai that she raised Shivaji Maharaj and gave her full credit. Shahaji Raje fully supported Hindavi Swarajya and advised Shivaji Maharaj to be wary of Aurangzeb. He came on the pretext of wanting to get Shivaji Maharaj to join Adilshahi but of course he did not suggest any such thing.
Shivaji Maharaj bowed at his father's feet and said whatever he has earned it is at his father's feet, for his service. While leaving Shahaji Raje blessed Shivaji Maharaj and assured him he will be successful in dealing with Shaistakhan.
It is very interesting how Shivaji Maharaj kept Shaistekhan interested with conciliatory gestures and letters so that Shahaji Raje's visit could go off without any disturbance!
Shahaji Raje went back to Adilshahi, and he was killed in a riding accident in 1664, while Shivaji Maharaj was on Surat campaign. Jijabai wanted to go sati but Shivaji Maharaj reached Rajgad in time and stopped her.
Incidentally Baji Ghorpade who had arrested Shahaji Raje was from Mudhol and Jijabai never forgot this betrayal of her husband by Ghorpade. She sent a letter to Shivaji Maharaj reminding this when he was on campaign in that area and he attacked Mudhol and killed Baji Ghorpade.
If only Shahaji Raje, Sambhaji Raje (Sr.) and Shivaji Maharaj had joined forced and fought for Hindavi Swarjya, who knows what might have happened. However, as Abhay wrote so beautifully, history is a tale of what ifs!
So Shahaji Raje was an absentee father most of Shivaji Maharaj's life but he was always a moral support blessing dream of Hindavi Swarjya. Shahaji Raje was lucky enough to see the dream turned into reality by his son Shivaji Maharaj.
Originally posted by: Marathi_Mulgi
awesome post abhay though reading it slowly
and addition of kavi bhushan was gr8 info! did u saw RSC title song by kavi bhushan? shared on thread how small shivaji.between read abt akbar n his daughters marriege akbar was liberal but no hindu was that liberal to accept muslim wife! had read it while reading n searching for MP at MP show time! and morever muslim convert when girl when they marries her and if girl marries other religion then boy had to convert himself in muslim! akbar was liberal so he din't but jodha burried n had tomb! whereas nargis had tomb even she was wife of sunil dutt!ps don't want to hurt anyone its own opinion! will edit this if anyone had objection!
Originally posted by: _goofyCat_
Good to see an update on this thread after long 😊
That seems to be interesting series of events around 1710-1711. I hope we get to see this in the show.How unfortunate that the likes of Shivaji, Sambhaji, Balaji, Baji had to fight with their own people !!
comment:
p_commentcount