CHRONICLE THE MARATHA STATE IAS ACADEMY A CIVIL SERVICES CHRONICLE INITIATIVE The emergence and growth of the Maratha his service to Bijapur. Shivaji spent his childhood state during the 17th century was an important under the protection of a Brahmin official called episode in the history of India. The Territory Dadaji Kondadev. While Jija bai built up the which include modern state of Bombay Konkan, character of Shivaji, Kond Dev trained him in Kandesh, Berar, part of Madhya Pradesh, and the art of fighting and administration.Shivaji part of Hyderabad state was Maratha state. The aimed to create an independent kingdom of his history of the rise of the Marathas is the history own right from the beginning of his career. His of the rise of an organized group of people primary aim was to carve out an independent inhabiting the territory of Maharashtra. kingdom for himself in Maharashtra.M.G. Different factors contributed in the rise of Ranade has cleared the aim of Shivaji by dividing Maratha nationalism and political power of the events of his life into four parts. During the first Marathas. The geographical condition of six years of his political career, Shivaji simply Maharashtra helped in the rise of the Marathas. desired to organize the neighbouring Maratha Larger part of Maharashtra is plateau where chiefs under him. He had to fight against Bijapur man has to struggle hard for his existence. This to active this purpose. During the course of next made Marathas courageous and sturdy. The ten years he encouraged Maratha nationalism plateau provided every facility for defence and attempted to extend the territory under his including the construction of farts at every hill rule. He fought against the ablest nobles of top-while it was difficult for Aurangzeb foreign Bijapur during this period and succeeded. He invader to get supplies besides the difficulty of came in to conflict with the growing power of movement with larger armies in an unknown the Mughals Towards the Deccan. He succeeded land. The plateau also provided good facility for against the Mughals as well. Between the period guerilla-warfare to the Marathas. The rise of the 1674-80 the legalized his kingdom, held his Marathas was the result of the efforts of entire coronation and assumed the title of Chatrapathi. Maratha people who on the basisONICLEONICLE ONICLEof unity of their Even during the period of Tutelage of Kunda languages, literature, community and homeland Dev, Shivaji started capturing hill forts near gave birth to Maratha nationalism and desired Poona against his wishes. At the age of 20 years to create and independent state of their own. he started his adventures on a wider scale. Many The Marathas developed the story spirit of CADEMYCADEMYCADEMYcourageous Maratha leader gathered round him. nationalism which made them the most In 1643 Shivaji captured the fort of the singhgarh powerful group of people in India.The saints of from Bijapur and then gradually the forts of Bhakti Movement in Maharashtra had AAspreadA Chaken,Purandar,Varanati,Torna, Supa, the idea of equality which helped for the growth Tikona, Lohgarch, Rairi were taken over.Shivaji of unity among in people. had won over many of his officers of Bijapur to his side by bringing them.The conquest of Javli The Marathas had important positions in the CHRCHRCHR made him in disputed master. administrative and military system of Deccan states. Although a number of influential Maratha Shivaji came into conflict with the Mughals families exercised local authority in some area, first in 1657. Aurangazeb had attacked Bijapur, the Maratha did not have any large well which sought his help Shivaji could realize that established state as Rajaputs had. The credit for it was in his interest also to check the power of setting up such a large state goes to Shahji the Mughals from penetrating in the Deccan. Bhonsali and his son Shivaji. Therefore he helped Bijapur and attacked south west territory of the Mughals. He looted Junar Shivaji: ShivajiIASIASIAS was born in 1627. He was and troubled the Mughals at several places. But the son of Shahji Bhonsle and Jija Bai.Shahji when Bijapur made peace with the Mughals, he Bhonsle acted as the king maker in also stopped raids on Mughals territory. With Ahammednagar. After its extinction, transferred Aurangazeb away in the north, Shivaji resumed Chronicle IAS Academy [117] his career of conquest at the expense of Bijapur. in order to isolate Shivaji. Marching to Poona, He captured Konkan. Bijapur now decided to Jai Singh decided to strike at the heart of Shivaji take stern action Afzalkhan who was a reputed territories fort purendar where Shivaji had commander of Bijapur was deputed for his task lodged his family and his treasure. Jai singh in 1659. With a large army, He tried to terrify closely besieged Purandar (1665) be acting off Shivaji by wholesale destruction of temples, all the Maratha attempt to relieve it. With the agriculture and populace with in his territories fall of the fart at sight, Shivaji opened negotiation Afzalkhan assured Shivaji that if he would come with Jai Singh. In 1665 the treaty of purandar to meet him in person and agreed to accept the was signed between two. The following terms suzerainty of Bijapur he would so given the were agreed upon. additional territory as Jagir. Shivaji got scant of 1. Shivaji surrendered 23 of his forts, and Afzalkhan and decided the pay him in the some territory which yielded annual revenue of coins. He agreed to meet Afzalkhan after a 4 lakhs of heen. solemn promise of his personal safety.Convinced that this was a trap. Shivaji went prepared and 2. Shivaji was left with only 12 forts and murdered khan in cunning but daring manner, territory which yielded annual revenue of Shivaji put his leaderless army to rout captured one lakh him. all goods and equipment including his artillery. 3. Shivaji accepted the suzerainty of the Flushed with victory, the Maratha troops Mughals. overran the powerful fort of Panhala and poured 4. Shivaji agreed to support the Mughals in to south Konkan and Kolhapur districts against Bijapur. making extensive conquest. 5. Shivaji agreed to pay forty lakhs of him too Shivaji's exploits made him a legendary the Mughals in 13 years. figure. His name passed from house to house and was credited with magical powers. People This term of the treaty embittered the relation flocked to him from the Maratha areas to join of Bijapur with Shivaji. In 1666 Shivaji went to his army. Meanwhile, Aurangazeb was Agra to meet emperor Aurangazeb, Jia Singh anxiously watching the rise of a Maratha power tempted Shivaji that there was every possibility so near the Mughal frontier. Aurangazeb of getting governorship of Mughals territory in instructed the new Mughal governor of Deccan, the Deccan if he would go to meet the emperor Shiasta Khan to invade Shivaji dominion.ONICLEONICLEONICLE At first in person. He assured Shivaji of his personal the war went bodly for Shivaji Shaista Khan safety.Shivaji visited Agra along with his son occupied Poona and made it his headquarter. Shambhuji. He was presented before the He sent army to capture Konkan from emperor by Ram Singh, son of Jai Singh. The Shivaji.The Mughal secured their contest on CADEMYCADEMYCADEMYemperor neglected his presence and offered him north Konkan. Driven into a corner Shivaji made a place to stand among the officers of the rank bold stroke. He infiltrated in to the camp of of 5,000 mansab. Shivaji felt humiliated and left Shaista Khan at Poona and at night attackedA the court immediately Ram singh kept Shivaji in AAAthe Jaipur Bhavan but virtually he was a prisoner Khan, killing his son, and one of his captains and wounding khan. This daring attack put the there, since Shivaji had come to Agra on Jai Khan in to disgrace. In anger Aurangazeb Singh assurance, Aurangazeb wrote to Jai Singh transferredCHRCHRCHR Shaista Khan to Bengal. Meanwhile for advice. Jai singh strongly argued for a lenient Shivaji made another bold move. He attacked treatment for Shivaji. But before any decision Surat and looted it in to his hearts content, could be taken, Shivaji escaped from detention. returning home laden with Treasure. There is no doubt that Shivaji's visit to Agra After the failure of Shaista Khan Aurangazeb proved to be turning point in Mughal relations deputed Raja Jai Singh of Amber to deal with with the Marathas Aurangazeb attached little Shivaji.Full military and administrative authority value to the alliance with Shivaji.For him Shivaji was conferredIAS on Jai singh so that he was not in was just a petty bhumia (land holders). In 1670 IASIASIAS AD Shivaji again started fighting against the any way dependent on the Mughal victory in the Deccan, unlikes his predecessors, Jia singh Mughals and succeeded in capturing many farts did not under estimate the Marathas. He made from among those which he had surrounded to careful diplomatic and military preparation. He by the treaty of Purandar. He conquered forts appealed to all the rivals and opponents of Shivaji like singhgarh, Purandar, Kalyan Mahuli etc. [118] Chronicle IAS Academy and successfully raided to the territories of the frequently transferred. Each of the ashta pradhan Mughals in Deccan. He also plundered Surat in was assisted by eight assistants diwan, 1670 for the second time. Thus with in a few Majumdar, Fadnis, Sabnis; Karkhanis, Chitnis, years; Shivaji captured many farts and territories Jamadar and Potnis. Chitnis dealt with all from the Mughals and Bijapur. diplomatic correspondences and wrote all royal letters. The Fadnis used to respond to the letters In 1674 Shivaji held his coronation, assumed of commanders of the forts.