Chhatrapati Shivaji, a True Secular Leader

Chhatrapati Shivaji

Who does not know the legendary Maratha king Chhatrapati Shivaji who had successfully established his kingdom in western India when the country was under the reeling under Mughal invasion in seventeenth century? Shivaji was a true son of India who untiringly fought against the Mughal invaders to establish self rule. His patriotism, heroic adventures, warfare tactics and leadership qualities can be gauged from the following three quotes of the great Hindu monk, philosopher, yogi and spiritual leader, Swami Vivekananda who said; 

1. “He was a great king, reflecting true loyalty to India. He gave shape to future generations of Indians. He had a dream of uniting the kingdoms of India into Akhanda Bharat ”

2. “Shivaji was the greatest Hindu king that India had produced within the last thousand years; one who was the very incarnation of lord Siva, about whom prophecies were given out long before he was born; and his advent was eagerly expected by all the great souls and saints of Maharashtra as the deliverer of the Hindus from the hands of the Mlecchas, and as one who succeeded in the reestablishment of Dharma which had been trampled underfoot by the depredations of the devastating hordes of the Moghals”.

3. “Shivaji was one of the greatest national saviors who emancipated our society and our Dharma when they were faced with the threat of total destruction. He was a peerless hero, a pious and God-fearing king and verily a manifestation of all the virtues of a born leader of men described in our ancient scriptures. He also embodied the deathless spirit of our land and stood as the light of hope for our future”.

Chhatrapati Shivaji was born on 19th February, 1630 at Shivneri, near Junnar, Pune in a Maratha family. His father’s name was Shahaji Bhonsle and mother was Jijabai. His mother was a pious lady who made a great impact on his life. He was brought up in a religious atmosphere at home. His mother taught him stories from Ramayana, Mahabharata and religious teachings of Indian saints. In childhood he was taught lessons in warfare, archery and horse riding by his grandfather, an able administrator Dadoji Kondeo. Shivaji was married to Saibai Nikalkar on 14th May1640 at Pune's Lal Mahal.

Shivaji was a practical man and was well aware of prevalent social consciousness and religious & cultural fabric of the society. He was a great protector of Hindu dharma and was against cow slaughters.  As a protector of Hindu dharma, he constantly fought against Mughal sultans as he was well aware of the atrocities and crimes being committed by Mughal against native Hindus. Shivaji never wanted to be subjugated by Mughal Kings though at sometimes strategically, he halted his moves against them and waited for opportunities to come, to rise again. Shivaji was successful in establishing his rule in many states like Javli, Kinnar, Konkan, Kalyani etc. After capturing the states of Pratapgarh and Raigarhdurg, he declared Raigarh as the capital of his Maratha Kingdom.

Shivaji was greatly influenced by Saint Ramdas and Saint Tukaram. Saint Ramdas was his spiritual guru who inculcated in him deep sense of patriotism and liberation of his country from Mughal  invaders. The incidences of Shivaji's encounter with the General of Bijapur sultanate, Afzal Khan where Afzal Khan was paid in his own coin & got killed, his conquest of Bijapur sultanate and his adventurous escape from the captivity of Aurangzeb from Agra fort in a fruit basket are well known facts in the history. Shivaji was a successful strategist, planner, excellent leader and executor. He never allowed his enemies to unite and challenge him.

Now let us come to a hypothetical question about Shivaji. What if a person like Chhatrapati Shivaji lived today? Would he be a successful leader against the pseudo secular forces operating within the country? The question is very intriguing as in today's time, if one talks of Hindu unity, protection of cows, and protection of Hindu dharma, he is branded as a communal. In today’s time, majority of the leaders, including those from the grand old Congress party portrays themselves as the champions of minority communities, especially the Muslims and seek their votes during elections. They divide society in the  caste and community based sects and segments in the name of falsehood of secular politics. Even some senior leaders say that the first right on Indian assets is of that of Muslims. But on similar lines, no one can talk about simple welfare measures of Hindu community as such people would be immediately branded as communal. The constant provocation by these pseudo secular political parties to seek minority votes just to win elections and remain in power in post independence India has given rise to Hindu reactionary forces who also tries to polarize the society on communal lines. Shivaji would have never allowed it. Though he fought politically against Mughal invaders but per se, he was never against Muslim community. Shivaji, despite being a devoted Hindu, he showed great respect to all religions, including Islam and Christianity, and was unbiased towards other castes and communities. He believed in peaceful co-existence of all communities and faiths in his kingdom. Shivaji also believed in the merit and qualification of his people and promoted common men accordingly. Though majority of key positions in the governance were assigned to Hindus, but they included number of Muslims too. His policies promoted welfare of common people irrespective of his religion and caste. In Shivaji’s time, Indian education and Sanskrit language were well promoted. Shivaji also allowed his subjects full freedom of religion and he opposed any forceful religious conversion. After a conquest, Shivaji would see that the Muslim mosques and tombs were protected and taken care. Shivaji had his few most trusted generals in Haider Ali Kohari, Ibrahim Khan, Siddi Ibrahim and Daulat Khan.

Thus Shivaji, a true secular leader, who could see all religions and people of all faiths with the same eye, could have been certainly a successful leader in today’s time too. He would have successfully shown the pseudo secular politicians their due place in politics and would have never allowed the politics of India to be ruined on communal lines.

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