After annexing the Purandar and other major forts of Shivaji Raje , Mirza Raja Jai Singh, the great Rajput king who could assist raje in the mission of achieving Hindavi Swaraj but chose to surrender to the supremacy of the Mughal Rat Aurangzeb and enjoyed the pleasures of being a servant rather than raising tight fists against the Islamic Fanatic , however with the help of Diler Khan ,his massive cavalry, world class artillery and the white beard signifying years of experience on the battlefield lead him to victory over the only force which dared to Rebel against the Mughal imperialism - The Maratha Empire. This conferred upon the Raje a do or die situation where in he had to agree to be under the subservience of Aurangzeb or loose all the leftover forts regardless of the fact that they had no strategic importance.
In order to accept Aurangzeb's hegemony Raje had to send someone with Mirza Raja Jai Singh to give assurance to the emperor at Agra as a Mansab. It was a tough decision for him as sending any of his trusted and learned generals would cause impediment and would mean to loose the hope of reigniting the fire of Hindu-Pad-Padshahi when the right opportunity knocked at door. With a heavy heart he chose his young lad ,Sambhaji,a boy of 10 or perhaps 12 to accompany Jai Singh,on his assurance,Raje agreed to do so because of the courteous and magnanimous treatment he received in Jai Singh's Camp after his (raje) defeat. Shivaji instructed Sambhaji to refer Jai Singh as his grandfather for he was nearing 60.
A royal Farman from Agra was brought forward to Shivaji instructing him to appear before the Emperor's throne with pride engulfed and a sorrow heart Shivaji had no other choice but to accept the Farman and mark his presence at the royal court. Accompanied by his few generals emperor's representative Jani Baig and Mirza's trusted aide Tej Singh Kachawa he reached Agra on June 11 ,1666.
Upon his entry in the premises of the court he saw many of his co religionists present in the Durbar paying obeisance to Aurangzeb in the formal Turkish(Mugalish) way infuriated Raje but all he could do was stare while the General who lead him to the palace of the emperor did the same as others. Shivaji's heart sank as he could not bear the scene for the emotions took over him taking him down the road of doubt which captured his expansive mind like the black clouds before incessant rain , was this what he struggled for so long? Were these the people for whom he sacrificed his peace and love of family? Raje consoled himself and payed obeisance to the emperor in the traditional Maratha way. However the emperor was not satisfied with this for the person standing infront of him was the same who person pricked him like a thorn for time immemorial and all he could do was sit and watch. Aurangzeb instructed Singh to tell the Maratha King to pay salutations in the same way as his co-religionists , Raja Jaswant Singh did persuade him but the pride and love for his motherland infuriated Raje which was visible on his face,it could be seen by everyone present at the court , the general tried to sway him for he knew this rustic behaviour would incur heavy repercussions on him. However Raje vehemently opposed it and refused to do so and called upon the emperor by speaking to Jaswant Singh in a tone which was audible throughout the hall. Throats of the courtesans , concubines went dry when the man opposed the Royal emperor while he was powerless and had no armoury to defend himself for the next scenario in everyone's figment of imagination was hanging , persecution of Raje in the courtyard. However everyone gasped when Aurangzeb did not react to it for he was shook to the core looking at the mighty courage of whom he thought as a puny Maratha Rat. Emperor instructed that he be taken care off and be given a royal treatment. This surprised all present at the court but no one dared to oppose it , what took everyone by a blow was rather a dirty trick of cheap diplomacy , though it was presented as a royal treatment Raje was not allowed to leave Agra for three months , a jail superficially laced as Emperor's hospitality.
Shivaji and his son were given a room but Sambhaji was a Mansab hence, was not allowed to be with him at night and was permitted to meet him only at a stipulated time. While in the hospitality of the emperor all Raje could think of was his mother Jija Bai and his wives who were there far away from him, looking after the ruins. Day after day went by and Shivaji's impatience grew for he wanted to escape the clutches of Aurangzeb ,even though he looked after all his needs, provided him royal food which Raje gracefully denied and requested for simple food of grams and some vegetable cuisine. Raje began to plot for his escape and dramatised a severe sickness. Sambhu Raje met his father while no one else was in the room except for the guards patroling the gate ,he whispered the entire plan into Sambhaji's ear and as an obedient son he agreed to do whatever was told to him.
The dramatisation of sickness took a serious turn and the physicians attended him day and night along with a masseur who was a young chap who barely entered his teen, Raje took note of it and kept offering him sweets and a few coins each time he took his service. The next step was impressive, Shivaji requested the emperor to allow the distribution of fruits ,sweets and food to beggars and saints for it was a religious belief that doing so relieves the sufferer from his disease. Aurangzeb agreed to do so , Shivaji's generals, daily carried huge quantities of food outside the gates of the palace in huge baskets to be distributed amongst the needy. One fine day Shivaji decided to use his tact and bribed the young lad and ordered him to shove cushions and bolsters on the mattress and place his turban on the top of it and conceal it with a silk quilt covering the cushions and bolsters except for the turban which would create a facade of him laying on the mattress. He requested to meet his son , he was allowed to do so. Both father and son quickly jumped inside the basket for it was his trusted generals who were carrying the food but today had their beloved king on their shoulders. The generals made brisk moments and rushed out of the gates and before anyone knew both Raje and Sambhu were out of the gates of the palace. All of them shaved their beards and quickly donned tathered clothes given to them by their co-religionists who lived in the nearby villages for Shivaji was their only hope of liberation. His generals advised and sensing the danger that once the news was disclosed to emperor he was sure of being followed by galloping horses and muscular generals ,Shivaji could not risk his son's life,with the help of a brahmin priest, he requested to keep his son protected until he returned , even though Sambhu belonging to the warrior class the brahmin agreed to do so for he felt this was a matter of protecting their king who was their only ray of hope against the imperialist.
Before anyone could realise anything and get things under control Shivba flew to his mother , the reunion was emotional, both mother and son cried incessantly , when Raje narrated the entire scenario to Jija Bai,the old lady who was also a skilled administrator exclaimed , "Wah Raje, It was a Great Escape".
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