THE ROAR UNHEARD : CHHATRAPATI SHIVAJI BHONSLE ( PART -1)

How often do we come across men of grit and character? How often do we flip the annals of history and come across rulers who could be bestowed with the responsibility of the country? At a point in time when dark clouds of Islamic forces hailed supreme and persecution was at its peak, a cry in the Maharashtrian district of Shivneri, crackled as though it was chosen to rattle the Islamic forces and liberate the land, the  man who fought for the culture and established a Hindu Empire, the pride of Marathas- Chhatrapati Shivaji, not known to many as Shivaji Bhonsle. As mercenaries, the Bhonsles settled in districts of Maharashtra owing their sword and allegiance to the Muslim rulers who ruled there. Much of the Deccan was annexed by the Adil Shahi Dynasty, who too accepted the suzerainty of the Mughals. The Adil Shahi Sultanate ruled majorly over the Bijapur district of the present day Karnataka, Bijapur was earlier a part of the Bahamani Kingdom, which had broken into five comparatively weak states - Bijapur, Golconda, Ahmednagar, Berar, and Bidar. Shivaji's grandfather, Maloji owed his allegiance to the state of Ahmednagar and married the daughter of a prominent courtier. In 1594 Shahaji, Shivaji's father was born. He met the same fate as other young boys in those days. At the young age of 5, he was betrothed ( betrothal did not imply marriage till many years later, or even if the marriage ceremony is performed the couple  return to their own homes till they reach a proper age to live together) on the auspicious festival of Holi at the house of the wealthy landowner, Lakhoji, who threw open the gates of his estate to other fellow Hindus on days of festivity. After five to six years of marriage, Shahaji and his young wife Jijabai had their first son named, Shambhaji. Shahaji followed his father's footsteps in the service of Ahmednagar. However in 1636 the kingdom collapsed and Shahaji was enlisted in the armies of Bijapur, thus Shahaji prepared for his new journey with his son, leaving not only his land but his wife and their second son in her womb. Jijabai took refuge in Shivner, a fort in the hill country. Jijabai often contrasted her father's comfortable mansion with a poor cottage where she now lived. Happy in her temporary security Jijabai prepared for the birth of her child, in dreams she heard voices prophesying fame for her child as yet unborn. On April 16th, Jijabai Gave birth to Shivaji. Away from the comforts, Shivaji spent much of his childhood in forests, grazing cattle and questioning his mother on religion until stars shined in the sky. Jijabai told him stories of valor and courage of Rama and Arjuna which made a lasting impression on Shivaji's mind. Shahaji re-united with his wife and son later on but was forced to send his son far away because he had turned out to be a grand rebel causing nuisance and hindrance in the effective ruling of the Bijapur kingdom. Shivaji, when sent off to his ancestral land, was entering his teenage, considering his son's future, Shahaji, employed a brahmin called Dadaji Kondev to tutor Shivaji on subjects of administration, warfare, military, and religion. Dadaji was not only a saint and scholar but also an able administrator who had worked resiliently to restore the city of Pune to its former prosperity.  He raised a mansion for Shivaji and his mother. They called it Rang Mahal. Years passed by and Shivaji was growing to manhood, he was stout but strongly built and had unusually long arms, a handsome face, and fine eyes, resolute and unwavering in his intentions but he never let out his plans to anyone.  Dadaji saw in him a promising youth who could be sure of fine service in the Muslim Government. Shivaji and his mother often talked about an Independent Hindu state but at that point, to any man of the world this would have seemed fantastic- a delightful dream, but no doubt, but an obvious impossibility, who knew that the talks were soon going to be the reality. The fate of the country was yet to change.

*To prevent the subject from turning bland due to its depth, the following blog would be posted in several parts for the convenience and interest of the reader.