Mahabali Shahaji Raje Bhosale and his Times

 The Statesman Who Laid Grounds for Hindavi Swarajya

Mahavir Ta Bans me bhayo ek avanis

Liyo birad Sisodiyo diyo Is ko Sees

(The One born/ belonging to the legacy of Mahavir, took the title 'Sisodiyo' as he had offered his Head to the Ishwar..)

Kaviraj Bhooshan has described the Sisodiya clan of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, in the 'Kulvarnan' in his magnum opus Shri Shivbhushan. 

Mahabali Shahaji Raje Bhosale, was the man, the legend who lived up to this legacy of Sisodiya. The legacy originated in the lands of Bappa Rawal, Rana Pratap's Mewar. The legacy of protecting independence, sovereignty, and Hindu dev-dharma who laid the grounds for Hindavi Swarajya in Maharashtra and Karnataka.

The book 'Mahabali Shahaji Raje Bhosale and his Times' authored by Pune based historian Guruprasad Kanitkar explores the life and legacy of the statesman, who inspired Shivaji Maharaj in Maharashtra and Vyankoji or Ekoji Raje in the south to establish Hindavi Swarajya. 

Guruprasad Kanitkar, a sound engineer by profession is closely associated with Bharat Itihas Sanshodhak Mandal, and follows the legacy of eminent historian, authority on Maratha history Shri Gajanan Bhaskar Mehendale. 

Bharat Itihas Sanshodhak Mandal, established by great historian V K Rajwade has produced great historians like G H Khare, T S Shejwalkar, Mahamahopadhyay Potdar, Babasaheb Purandare, Gajanan Bhaskar Mehendale who explored their own style of elaborating history, with one thing in common i.e. rely on primary evidences, sources of history. Guruprasad Kanitkar, and a bunch of young historians like him taking this legacy forward, and have brought the book on Mahabali Shahaji Raje. 

Guruprasad Kanitkar has learnt Farsi to read, decipher the Adilshahi, Moghul firman, letters and literary sources like Muhammadnama, Busatin-us-Salatin. He has hand over Modi script, essential skill required to read Maratha letters.

The primary sources to explore life and times of Shahaji Raje are 'Radhamadhav vilas champu' (Champu - A type of Sanskrit literature that is composed in prose and poetry.) by Jayram Pindye (edited and published by V K Rajwade), Shri Shivbharat by Kavindra Paramanand, The Sabhasad & Chitnis chronicles, Letters of Shahaji Raje, Adilshahi Firman, Muhammadnama, Busatin-us-Salatin, the wall inscriptions at Tanjore Shri Bruhadishwar temple, chronicles at Tanjore Marathas, British-Portuguese-Dutch reports, letters, Moghul firmans & letters among others. 

Statements, elaborations backed by evidences from primary sources of history makes this book an authentic document to explore Shahaji Raje and his legacy. 

The book begins with exploring the Sisodiya clan, which traces its origin to Shri Ram. After the fall of Chittorgarh to the forces of Allauddin Khalji, the Ranas of Mewar spread across the region. Rana Sajjansingh descended to the south in the year 1320 CE. He joined the forces of Hasan Gangu, who later on established the Bahamani kingdom. 

Sajjansinh got Jagirs in the Verul-Devgiri region of Maharashtra. One of his later descendants named Bhairoji or Bhosaji got the Jagirs in Mudhol region in modern day Karnataka. Their descendants Shubhkrushna and Karansinh continued with their endeavors for Bahamanis. During the period of 1460 CE Shubhkrushna delegated the responsibilities of Mudhol to Karansinh and settled in the Jagirs of Devgiri-Verul. 

They fought for the Bahamani forces. In one such battle to capture fort Khelna (now known as Vishalgadh in Kolhapur) in 1471, Karansingh used Ghorpad (Bengal Monitor Lizard) to tie ropes & climb the heights of fort and won. Karansingh lost his life in the battle, his son Bhimsing was rewarded with Jagirs and a Title 'Ghorpade' & 'Raja Bahadur'. 

In the later years, with expanding clan, rifts started growing between families at Mudhol and Devgiri. The family at Devgiri derived their surname Bhosale after Bhairoji or Bhosaji. The Bhosales of Devgiri changed the course of history in following decades. 

Shahaji, born to Maloji Raje, serving in the armies of Raje Lakhuji Jadhavrao of Nijamshahi, quickly rose to ranks in the forces with his military might and diplomatic skills under the tutelage of his father, uncle Vithoji, Lakhuji and Nijamshahi's able commander & administrator Malik Ambar. 

Shahaji proved his first independent military might in the battle of Bhatwadi. It was a tough period for Nijamshahi of Ahmednagar (Now Ahilya Nagar). Moghul emperors were keen to end Nijamshahi and take the region to Mogul fold. Adilshahi was trying to usurp its case to win the lands & leading their kingdom to the seas of Konkan. Shahaji, Lakhuji Jadhavrao were fighting a losing battle to keep Nijamshahi intact. The situations led to such circumstances that made Shahaji the de facto patron of Nijamshahi. 

This was the first attempt to become and autonomous king. Shahaji put minor Murtaja Nijamshah to the throne and started taking steps towards becoming an independent king. This effort lived a short life from 1629 to 1633 CE. Shahaji's forces and might could not bare the brunt of combined forces of Moghul & Adilshahi. It brought the end of Nijamshahi and Shahaji joined Adilshahi, sent to Carnatic. 

The Vijaynagar empire lost its might in the battle of Talikota in 1565 CE. It disintegrated and local Nayaks, Poligars became autonomous. They were having quarrels with each others over petty issues. Adilshahi took advantage of this political disorganisation to take over the Carnatic region. The last Vijaynagar king Shrirang Raya put up long but unsuccessful struggle to revive the might of Vijaynagar. 

The powerful forces of Adilshahi under Shahaji Raje, Afjalkhan (Whom Shivaji Maharaj slayed in 1659 CE at Pratapgadh) and other generals, their power and deceit failed every attempt of Shrirang Raya. However, Shahaji Raje played a double game. He integrated the entire Carnatic, signed informal treaties with Nayaks and practically became an autonomous ruler. 

It made Adilshahi and other generals furious, and they ordered the arrest of Shahaji Raje in 1648-49 CE. It was executed. The humiliating episode ended with handing over of Fort Kondhana (now known as Sinhgad near Pune) by Shivaji Raje, and Forts of Bengaluru & Kandarpi by elder son Sambhaji. Shahaji returned to Bengaluru and continued his actions. 

Baji Ghorpade of Mudhol, Afjalkhan had played deceitful role in this episode. Shahaji's son took revenge of this deceit, by marching Mudhol and killing Baji Ghorpade and slayed Afjalkhan in the battle of Pratapgadh. These incidents weakened Adilshahi to the core and they accepted the independence of Shivaji Maharaj. Adilshahi and Hindavi Swarajya signed a treaty in 1662-63 CE. Shahaji Raje played crucial role in convincing Adilshah to enter into such treaty. 

Shahaji's son Shivaji Maharaj went on to become founder and Abhishikta Chhatrapati of Hindavi Swarajya. His second son Vyankoji or Ekoji founded the Maratha kingdom in Tanjore. Maha Pandit Gagabhatta who carried out the Shiv Rajyabhishek proclaimed Shahaji during Pitru Smaran as the "Dushtancha Nirdalak ani Durbalancha Pratipal karanara, Rajkartavyacha Adarsh.." (Slayer of evil, Protector of vulnerable and Role Model of Kingship..) 

The Chitnis chronicle describes Shahaji Raje's quest for Swarajya and devotion to Hindu Dharma. He vowed to offer a Murthi of Khandoba made out of Gold at Jejuri, if Shivaji Raje attains success in his effort to find Hindavi Swarajya. A murthi was made in Carnatic, which later on brought to Jejuri and was offered at the feet of Khandoba. 

Shahaji Raje always had the quest to become independent king, form the 'Hindavi Swarajya'. He made unsuccessful attempts. But his thought, wisdom was carried through Jijabai and his able administrators like Sonopant Dabir, Kanhoji Jedhe, Dadaji Konddev in the mind of Shivaji Raje. He groomed Vyankoji himself. His sons achieved what he could not due to unfortunate circumstances of time. 

Eminent thinker Narhar Kurundkar stated that we should not study, analyze Shivaji's effort to establish Hindavi Swarajya in isolation. It has the strong foundation of Shahaji's quest, efforts and long term vision and a succession of Sambhaji's struggle to keep Swarajya intact from onslaught of Moghul forces of Aurangzeb.

Keeping this in mind, the book 'Mahabali Shahaji Raje Bhosale and his Times' by Guruprasad Kanitkar is a must read. There are numerous books, novels on the life and times of Shivaji Maharaj, Sambhaji Maharaj. This compilation of Shahaji's life is a welcome step took at the right time. 

It is essential to read, understand the actions of a statesman who laid the grounds for Hindavi Swarajya. This book fulfills this need. While singing the ballads of Shivaji Maharaj, we should be always grateful towards Shahaji Raje and Jijabai for sowing the seeds of Hindavi Swarajya, and is evident to cite Kavi Bhushan who concluded Shiv Baavani with, 

Kaasi hun ki kala Jati, Mathura Masit hoti, 

Agar Shivaji na hot, to Sunnat hot sabaki.. 

Published: Swarajya Magazine