Shahaji

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Shahaji Bhosale was the eldest son of Maloji Bhonsale of Verul (present-day Ellora, Maharashtra). He brought the house of Bhosale into prominence. The princely states of Kolhapur, Satara and Thanjavur are Bhosale legacies. If Shivaji the great was the founder of the Maratha Empire, it was his father Shahaji who started the Marathas on that path.

By the late sixteenth century in central India, while religious and racial bigotry continued to be a feature of many Islamic rulers, cold realism dictated that capable locals from the majority Hindu community needed to be given positions of responsibility. One of the most enlightened Islamic rulers of the age was Ibrahim Adil Shah of Bijapur, who not only appointed many Hindus to key positions, but also changed the official court language from Persian to Marathi.

Maloji was childless for a long time. Two sons were born to him after seeking blessings from a famous Sufi pir of the time, named Shah Sharif. In honour of the pir, Maloji named his sons Shahaji and Sharifji. Maloji was a capable soldier and eventually became an independent Jagirdar in the court of Adil Shah.

[edit] Early career

Shahaji was an extremely ambitious and capable general. He excelled in the battle of Bhatvadi near Ahmednagar, in which Nizamshahi forces defeated Mughals. At various points of time he allied himself with the Adilshah of Bijapur, the Nizamshah of Ahmednagar and the Mughals. His ultimate ambition was to set up an independent kingdom.

He tried on two occasions, first one after the brutal murder of Lakhuji Rao Jadhav and second in 1636. The second attempt was a formidable challenge. Shahajahan dispatched a force of 48,000 to reduce Shahaji and his ally AdilShah. Under such mounting attack AdilShah sued for peace. With the withdrawal of AdilShah's support, Shahaji could not hold much against the Mughals. His possessions were reduced quickly. In the fort of Mahuli he was besieged. Portuguese did not offer any help from naval side due to fear of the Mughals. Thus locked from land and sea, Shahaji was forced to sue for peace. He surrendered and handed over puppet minor Nizamshah to Mughals. He was inducted into Adilshahi. As a precaution Shahajahan ensured that Shahaji was posted in deep south so as not to pose any challenge to Mughals. He finally became one of the top generals in the Adilshah's army, accepting a Jahagir in his court, being based in Bangalur (Present day Bangalore in Karnataka). This is one phase of Shahaji's life.

[edit] Crisis phase

After this military defeat, his second phase started. He sent his wife Jijabai as Queen Regent their younger son Shivaji to Pune to manage his jahagir of Pune,Their elder son Sambhaji and another son Vyankoji from his second wife stayed with him at Bangalore. Shivaji and Sambhaji both emerged as accomplished generals. Meanwhile young Shivaji started capturing territory controlled by Adilshah around Pune. AdilShah,alarmed by the activities of Shivaji in particular, captured Shahaji and had him thrown into prison as he suspected that Shahaji encouraged Shivaji.Two expeditions were sent simultaneously against Shivaji and Sambhaji. They defeated Adilshahi forces. Shivaji meanwhile approached Mughal Emperor Shahjahan for the job. Fearing another Mughal campaign against Bijapur, Adilshah released Shahaji from prison. However the elder son Sambhaji was killed during an expedition due to the treacherous role of Afzal Khan. Later Shivaji killed Afzal Khan. Similarly Shahaista Khan had defeated Shahaji in his second attempt. Shivaji in a daring attack defeated him and forced him to retreat. Thus these events proved that Shahaji had taken a sensible decision in keeping Shivaji in the original stronghold barring which, like Shahaji, he would have been imprisoned or killed like his elder brother. This period of crisis was overcome by sacrifice and personal bonds of this royal family. Shahaji actively supported Shivaji in his earlier enterprises, like the campaign against Afzal Khan.

Shahaji died c. 1665 while on a hunt, after falling off his horse.

[edit] Legacy

Shahaji had two sons by Jijabai, Sambhaji and Shivaji. Sambhaji was killed while on a military expedition in Karnataka. Shahaji had one son Vyankoji or Ekoji by his second wife, who came from the Mohite family. Vyankoji later ruled over the independent Maratha kingdom of Thanjavur. Shahaji groomed all his sons as good administrators and men of culture and taste, Shivaji in the Pune region, Sambhaji in Banglore, and Vyankoji in Thanjavur region. Shivaji encouraged farming and cultivation, similarly Vyankoji also dug canals in Thanjavur and promoted farming activities. Both were good administrators. Like Shahaji they were scholars and warriors. Shahaji had caused a champukavya. At Bangalore, literary activities got a filip. His court poet Jayram Pindye had written Radha madhav vilas champu in flowery Sanskrit. His literary traditions were carried on by his sons, and had strong influence on the mind of Shivaji and the Thanjavur branch. Thanjavur branch continued till modern times.

Shahaji's dream of an independent kingdom was made a reality by his second son, the great Shivaji Maharaj.