16. Swarajya to Empire (Maratha Period)

16. Swarajya to Empire (Maratha period) as Sant Nirmalaba (निर㔮ळाबाई), Sant Muktabai, 16.1 Contribution of Sants Sant Janabai, Sant Kanhopatra and Sant 16.2 Foundation and Expansion of Bahinabai Siurkar also belong to this period. Swarajya The sants, created a sense of belonging 16.3 Maratha war of independence among people toward their native region, 16.4 Administrative system established language, literature, and culture. They gave by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj message of equality to people. Their teachings 16.5 Release of Shahu Maharaj were based on the principles of humanity. 16.6 Peshwa period They preached harmonious community life, 16.7 Art, architecture, literature unity and love. Their efforts created social 16.8 Trade, industries and social life awakening. Their teaching helped people to survive situations like foreign invasions, draughts or other natural calamities. Their Alauddin Khalji defeated the Yadavas of devotional songs became a source of a great Devgiri and the rule of Delhi Sultans began moral support for people. Their work created in south India. After Khalji, the Tughluq and a sense of self-esteem among the people of Bahamani kingdoms ruled over Maharashtra. Maharashtra. Later Bahamani kingdom was disintegrated 16.2 Foundation and Expansion of into five parts. Among them, Nizamshahi and Swarajya Adilshahi ruled parts of Maharashtra. The th Mughals turn their attention to south India. In the first half of the 17 century, As a result, Nizamshahi came to an end. Nizamshahi and Adilshahi had established This was the general political scenario during their rule in Maharashtra. Many eminent 17th century, when Chhatrapati Shivaji Maratha sardars flourished under their rule. Maharaj established Swarajya marking the They held Jahagirs in the remote regions of rise of Maratha power. the Sahyadris. The difficult terrain of Sahyadri allowed them to operate independently. 16.1 Contribution of Sants Shahajiraje Bhosale was a prominent sardar Superstition and rituals ruled at large in in the Nizamshahi kingdom. After the end of the medieval Indian society. People had Nizamshahi rule, become fatalistic and inert. They had become he accepted the inert. The condition of the common people rank of a was miserable. These were the times when Mansabdar* in the sants in Maharashtra made efforts to the Adilshahi bring the masses back to life. court. Shahajiraje In Maharashtra, the tradition of sants, was valiant, which began with Chakradhar Swami, Sant courageous, wise Namdev, Sant Dnyaneshwar, Sant Eknath, and well-versed Sant Tukaram and Samarth Ramdas. It was in the science of continued by sants coming from various statehood. He strata of the society. For example Sant had successfully Chokhamela, Sant Goroba, Sant Sawata, handled many Shahajiraje Sant Narhari, Sant Sena, Sant Shaikh Adilshahi Muhammad etc. Similarly women sants such expeditions in Maharashtra, Karnataka and 117 Tamil Nadu. The provinces of Pune, Supe, Shirwal, Indapur and Chakan were given to Shahajiraje as Jahagir. He personally aspired to establish Swarajya. He is regarded as the visionary of Swarajya. *A military officer who maintains his own division of soldiers. He sent his son Shivajiraje and his wife, Veermata Jijabai from Bengaluru to Pune along with his loyal and capable associates. Veermata Jijabai encouraged Shivaji Maharaj to fulfil the dream of Shahajiraje of establishing Swarajya. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj She was a visionary and an efficient Maharashtra, valour of the local Mawalas, Veermata Jijabai administrator. She the administrative and military experience constantly guided her son in the mission of gained by the Maratha sardars while working establishing Swarajya and provided him with with Nizamshahi and Adilshahi and above excellent education necessary for the king of all these the able leadership of Shivaji Swarajya. Maharaj could make it possible. The concept of Swarajya was visualised After joining the Adilshahi court, Shahaji by Shahajiraje and it was turned into reality Maharaj entrusted the administration of his by Shivaji Maharaj. Shivaji Maharaj laid the Jahagirs at Pune, Shirwal and Supe region foundation of Swarajya from the Mawal (pargana) to Shivaji Maharaj. Yet the forts region. Several factors like topography of located in those Jahagirs and nearby areas were in the custody of Adilshahi court. The one ‘who owns the forts owns the land’ was For Additional Information : The the ruling of the day. Hence Shivaji Maharaj Mawal region is a mountaineous terrain and began with capturing the forts in the vicinity is not easily accessible. The vallyes at the of his jahagirs. He took over the fort of foot of Sahyadri ranges in Maharashtra are Torana and laid the foundation of Swarajya. known as ‘Mawal’ and the local people of Shivaji Maharaj established the first capital Mawal are known as ‘Mawalas’. The of Swarajya at the fort of Rajgad. Chandrarao Mawalas in the army of Shivajiraje played a More proved to be a hindrance in Shivaji great role in establishing Swarajya. Shivaji Maharaj’s efforts to create Swarajya. Shivaji Maharaj had created a feeling of trust and Maharaj successfully took over Javali. After affection in their minds. Shivaji Maharaj set this victory the activities of Shivaji Maharaj himself on the task of establishing Swarajya in Konkan were escalated. Realising the with the support of these Mawalas. Many of danger of the increasing activities of Shivaji his close associates like Kanhoji Jedhe, Maharaj, the Bijapur court sent their powerful Tanaji Malusare, Netoji Palkar, Baji General Afzalkhan to curb the increasing Pasalkar, Baji Prabhu Deshpande, Murarbaji power of Shivaji Maharaj. Deshpande etc. were from the Mawal region. Shivaji Maharaj had anticipated the 118 For Additional Information : In the year could later build war ships on their own. Till 1657 C.E., after conquering Kalyan and 1675 C.E., Shivaji Maharaj had four hundred Bhiwandi, the boundaries of Swarajya extended small and big ships in his fleet. During the upto the coastline. The British and the French second sack of Surat, Shivaji Maharaj brought were involved in Salt trade. Shivaji Maharaj those ships to the coast of Surat and loaded wanted to establish control over the sea waters. the huge booty on them acquired from Surat. However, he did not have any knowhow of It is apparent that Shivaji Maharaj wanted to building war ships. The Portuguese were afraid establish complete control over the land as of the Siddis. Shivaji Maharaj assured the well as on the sea. Shivaji Maharaj was the Portuguese to fight the Siddis. In turn, Shivaji first to have the foresight to create his own Maharaj sent some selected fishermen with the navy. Hence, he is known as the ‘Father of Portuguese ship builders named Rui Leitao the Indian Navy’ Maynak Bhandari, Viegas and his son Fernao Viegas and got Daulatkhan, Kanhoji Angre were experts of twenty war ships built with their help. These Marine war strategies. fishermen were the people, who once trained, intentions of Afzalkhan, who had taken up the Shaistakhan had no alternative but to hastily challenge of killing Shivaji Maharaj. He met leave Lal Mahal. Shivaji Maharaj gained Afzalkhan at Pratapgad. As expected more confidence and he attacked Surat, the Afzalkhan attempted treachery but Shivaji prosperous economic capital of Aurangzeb Maharaj was well prepared and killed and collected a large booty. Enraged by this, Afzalkhan in self defence. Afzalkhan’s huge Aurangzeb sent his powerful sardars Mirza army was set on the run and huge booty and Raje Jaising and Diler Khan to attack weapons were collected left behind by them. Swarajya. They captured many forts in the This made Swarajya’s treasury richer. Swarajya. Shivaji Maharaj had the wisdom After Afzalkhan’s defeat, the Bijapur to comprehend the situation and decided to court sent Siddi Jauhar to attack Swarajya. retreat tactically by signing the ‘Treaty of He seized the fort of Panhala and closed all Purandar’. According to the treaty, Shivaji posibilities of escape for Shivaji Maharaj. In Maharaj had to present himself before this difficult situation Shiva Kashid, a loyal Aurangzeb at Agra, along with his son servant of Swarajya, disguised himself as Sambhaji Maharaj. Aurangzeb acted Shivaji Maharaj and made it easy for Shivaji treacherously and put Shivaji under house Maharaj to escape. When Siddi came to arrest. Shivaji Maharaj very cleverly misled know the truth he killed Shiva Kashid. Thus the guards and escaped from Agra. Shiva Kashid sacrificed his life for the cause Soon after returning to Swarajya Shivaji of Swarajya. Bajiprabhu took up the task of Maharaj conqured the forts which were held blocking Siddhi Masud’s path in Ghodkhind by Aurangzeb. and stop him in his chase of Shivaji Maharaj. To announce the sovereign and Bajiprabhu was succussful in doing this. He independent status of Swarajya it was fell dead only after receiving the news of necessary to make it official. Realising this Shivaji Maharaj reaching Vishalgad safely. Shivaji Maharaj decided to get himself At the time of ascending the throne, coronated. With his coronation as a sovereign Aurangzeb was aware of the ambitious plans king the provinces under his rule assumed the of Shivaji Maharaj. He sent his maternal status of an independent kingdom. After uncle Shaistakhan on an expedition against coronation he began the Karnataka expedition. Shivaji Maharaj. Shaistakhan camped in Lal However, he did not live long after the Mahal in Pune. Shivaji Maharaj who knew victory in the south. He passed away on 3rd Shaistakhan’s intentions manage to enter the April 1680. His untimely death caused an Lal Mahal and cut off Shaistakhan’s fingers. irreparable loss to Swarajya. 119 16.3 Maratha war of independence thirty years. After the death of Chhatrapati Shivaji While leaving for Jinji, Rajaram Maharaj Maharaj, Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj was entrusted Ramchandrapant Amatya, coronated as the king of Swarajya. During Shankaraji Narayan Sachiv, Santaji Ghorpade his reign, a constant conflict continued with and Dhanaji the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb.

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