'Shivaji and his times' is one of the finest works of indefatigable Jadunath Sarkar. It is a remarkable biography of Shivaji based on letters, memoirs and contemporary records without exaggerating his deeds or misdeeds.
When the bigotry of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb was crossing all the limits of barbarism itself that time the Maratha country was glowing in the adventures and audacity of Shivaji. It was tough to establish a Kingdom even in normal times and it was almost impossible to establish a Kingdom in face of fierce opposition of the great Mughal Empire and powerful Kingdom of Bijapur. Shivaji founded the first Hindu Kingdom north of Tungabhadra 350, years after Yadavs of Devagiri, by fighting on all fronts against Mughal Empire, Bijapur Kingdom, Siddis of Janjira and Danda-Rajpuri and fellow Maratha chiefs. He was the most liberal ruler of India. When Aurangzeb was imposing notorious Jizya tax on Hindus and destroying Hindu temples, Shivaji was granting alms to people of all religions. He never molested Muslims and never desecrated their places of worship. His conduct towards captured women was equally just and for this even his bitter foes admired him.
He was military genius and great strategist. The way he outmaneuvered Bijapuri general Afzal khan has now become subject of ballads, his escape from Mughal confinement is equally legendary. He was ably supported by a great generations of generals and administrators like Moropant Pingle, Tanaji Malsure, Suryaji Malsure, Bajiprabhu Deshpande, Netaji Palkar, Pratap Rao and others.
After his death in 1680 his Kingdom faced brutal invasions by Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb and Marathas took some time to defeat these invasions and transform their Kingdom into a powerful Empire reaching to the banks of Indus.
As they say behind every successful man there is a woman and in case of Shivaji that woman was honorable Jijabai, a great mother who gave this country a nation builder.
This book is also full of stories and i would like to mention one such story:
(Shivaji was conversing with Qutb Shah, the king of Golconda Kingdom in late 1670s)
To Qutb Shah's question, "How many famous elephants have you?"
Shivaji answered by parading several thousands of his well-built Mavle infantrymen and saying, "These are my elephants."
Mockingly, Qutb Shah asked:
“Will they fight with our elephants?”
Shivaji said: “Let us put them on the field tomorrow.”
The next day, Qutb Shah had his most ferocious elephant brought, and fielded him in the grounds of Golconda. Shivaji Maharaj asked one of his men, Yesaaji Kank, to fight with the elephant. Yesaaji threw his blanket on the ground, and jumped into the arena with a sword in hand. He cut off the trunk of the elephant and killed the elephant.
Shivaji answered by parading several thousands of his well-built Mavle infantrymen and saying, "These are my elephants."
Mockingly, Qutb Shah asked:
“Will they fight with our elephants?”
Shivaji said: “Let us put them on the field tomorrow.”
The next day, Qutb Shah had his most ferocious elephant brought, and fielded him in the grounds of Golconda. Shivaji Maharaj asked one of his men, Yesaaji Kank, to fight with the elephant. Yesaaji threw his blanket on the ground, and jumped into the arena with a sword in hand. He cut off the trunk of the elephant and killed the elephant.
Highly Recommended (10/10)
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