The founder of the Maratha Empire, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj is a legendary hero. Recognized for his bravery, managerial skills and war strategies, Shivaji Maharaj is an exemplary leader. In memory of the great hero on his 342nd anniversary of death, here are some fascinating facts about the warrior king:
1. Shivaji was born in the Bhonsle Maratha clan of Shahaji and Jijabai on February 19, 1630, in present-day Maharashtra. His father was a Maratha general who served the Deccan sultanates.
2. According to various beliefs and accounts, Shivaji is named after Lord Shiva. However, scholars suggest that it was Shivai, a local deity after whom he is named.
3. Shivaji was formally crowned the Chhatrapati (Emperor) of his realm at Raigad in 1674.
4. He was a skilled commander and a brave warrior. He was exceptionally adept at guerrilla-style warfare and planned covert war operations. He was often called the “mountain rat” because of his art of covert warfare.
5. Although he was an avid student with deep knowledge of religious texts, including Ramayana and Mahabharata, he had no formal education.
6. He is also known for reviving Hindu political and courtly traditions. He promoted the use of Marathi and Sanskrit in administrative processes instead of the widely used Persian language.
7. He established the Council of Eight Ministers or Ashta Pradhan Mandal, an administrative and advisory council that advised Shivaji on various political and administrative matters.
8. He was the first native ruler of medieval India to build his own naval force and led his first full-fledged naval expedition in 1665.
9. He was a secular king and had many Muslims in his army and office such as Ibrahim Khan and Daulat Khan who were prominent in the navy and Siddi Ibrahim the chief of artillery.
10. He was a great champion of women’s rights and had passed rules prohibiting the desecration of women. Any crime against women was severely punished. His soldiers and officers were strictly forbidden to pick on women and they never allowed women to be captured.
11. Shivaji fell ill with fever and dysentery in 1680 and died on April 3 at the age of 52.
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