Shivaji is about to set an example to other Kafirs. You call yourself Alamgir, the conqueror of the world! Your bravery remains limited to imprisoning your father and killing your brothers by deceit. But you cannot tackle Shiva Bhosale; we must know it is beyond your strength.
These words by Parisian Emperor to Aurangzeb are enough to define who Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was.
Our History has a lot of Brave Kings in the Medieval Period, including Krishna Deva Raya, Whose story I mentioned in the previous Book review. History has forgotten him, but why can no one forget the name of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj?
Medha Deshmukh Bhaskaran's best-selling Book Challenging Destiny will help you to get this answer. Today I will give a brief review of that Book following these steps:
Initial Impressions of the Book
"We nighter completely understand Aurangzenb nor Shivaji." that is the central concept behind that book. That book tries to present a clear picture of these two contenders. A Strong villain is essential for exposing the real strength of the Hero. That is only possible when we read about Aurangzeb without biases and understand how powerful that man was.
That book makes the same effort. That book covers a parallel journey of Aurangzeb and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. By reading this, you can understand the front battle, mind games, and diplomacy between these two.
Some historic incident images, military graphs & hierarchy of states on systematic pages can give you a unique and more accurate feel while reading. That impressed me, so first, discuss something about the author.
Why is Medha Deshmukh Bhaskaran the most fitting choice to write that Book?
"Having been a freelance health columnist for Khaleej Times in the Gulf and Indian Express (Online) in India has taught me how to do thorough research on a subject - one simply cannot afford to report misinformed or unverified facts when it has to do with people's health and disease prevention." :Medha Deshmukh Bhaskaran
Medha is a microbiologist who has worked in marketing and business development for food and pharmaceutical companies in countries like Germany, India, and the United Arab Emirates.
In the Preface section, she reveals,
I have encountered Hindus, Muslims, Christians and Buddhists, and even atheists from different nationalities, pretty much from every corner of the world. Many eventually became good friends; some even helped me get up when I fell. This exposure has given me an unbiased heart to look at History without being judgemental.
Also, from 2000 onward, she started studying Mughal Maratha History as she felt passionate about it. More than a hundred books were referred to, forts visited, and discussions with historians, weapon experts, and others involved in the subjects continued.
Analysis of Challenging Destiny: A Biography of Chhatrapati Shivaji
Before the beginning of the book, the author did outstanding work by explaining the need for Swaraj. She gives some accounts of the foreign invasion, which later caused the Suppression of Hindus. Before reading the first chapter, one can understand that History wanted a savior like Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
It's a story that started around the period when Shahjahan was the ruler of the Mughal Empire and Shahji Bhosle (Father of Shivaji) was serving the position of Nizamshahi as a Jagirdaar. The book's first chapter tries to comprehensively analyze how Shahji became Jagirdar and got a unique position through his bravery and War campaigns, which makes other officers jealous of him.
Shahji Bhosle was working under Nizam Shahi, but two incidents shook him from the inside; the first one was the assassination of Lakhuji Jadhav (His Father in Law) in the court of Burhan Nizam Shah in 1629. Second was the abduction of young women from the Bhosle family by Mughal general Mahabat Khan.
The following year, Shivaji was born. The author tries to analyze Shivaji's motivation for Swaraj comprehensively: his motherJija Bai's inspiration, stories of Ramayan & Mahabharat, and many others. Using that motivation helped Shivaji build his Army of Mavals (Kolis of the Maval region). His father's part of Jagir helps him to get out of these.
After his first victory against Fath Khan, Shivaji did not stop and win his fort after fort. But things were controlled by a strategy led by Mirza Raja Jai Singh, which forced Shivaji to give his 23 forts out of 35 to Aurangzeb (Known as the Purandar Peace Treaty).
But is this the end of Shivaji's Journey? Hell No!
After his historical escape from Agra Fort, Shivaji makes his Coronation in Raigarh Fort. After that, Shivaji was no longer a rebel but a King of the Maratha Empire. He takes all his forts from the Mughals by fighting with 4x strengths.
His Dream comes ultimately true after 80 years of his death. When Sadashiv Rao Bhau entered the Red Fort and officially made this a part of the Maratha empire with his Army and the slogan "Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj ki Jai!"
Three Lessons from That Book
Portugues views on Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
When Adilshahi forces entered south Konkan in Shivaji's absence, Shivaji's Priority was to drive them out. A letter dated sometime in September 1667 from the ruler to the king of Portugal mentions:
"Shivaji is now our neighbor at Phonda- his cleverness, shrewdness, cunning, valor, agility, and military foresight can be compared only with Caesar and Alexandar."
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj abolished the slave trade.
After winning many regions in the south, Shivaji wrote a letter to the Dutch company, an excerpt of which goes:
"In the days of the Muslim Government, it was allowed for you to buy male slaves and female slaves here and to transport the same, without anyone preventing that. But you may not, as long as I am the master of these lands...in case you were to do the same and want to bring enslaved people abroad, my men will oppose that and prevent it in all ways.
What was Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's Strength?
Shivaji's Strenght -and Aurangzeb's weakness - lies in their respective leadership qualities and management styles.
Shivaji was the leader who inspired his subordinates to become leaders.
He did not create Maratha Power; that power had already been made, scattered in small centers throughout the country. He sought to unite it for a higher purpose by directing it against a common danger.
The audience I would recommend this book to
Nowadays, most Indians consider Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj' as a Maharashtrian Figure. That is the poorest form of Injustice that we did with this man. His Dream of Hindivi Swaraj was for all of India. His fight was not limited to any territorial border. The non-Maratha population must need to learn about him. But you required some everyday historical chronology events and terms to help you better understand this book.
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