| Shahaji Bhosle | |
|---|---|
| Full name | Shahaji Raje Bhosle |
| Born | 18 March 1594OR 1602[1] |
| Died | 23 January 1664[2] |
| Place of death | Hodigere near Channagiri Davanagere Dist |
| Predecessor | Maloji Bhosale |
| Successor | Shivaji (son of Jijabai) founded Maratha Empire, Venkoji (son of Tukabai) became Raja of Tanjore |
| Wives | Jijabai Tukabai Narsabai |
| Offspring | Sambhaji, Shivaji, Ekoji, Koyaji, Santaji |
| Royal House | Bhosle |
| Father | Maloji Babaji Bhosale |
Shahaji Raje Bhosle (Marathi: शहाजी राजे भोसले) was an early exponent of guerilla warfare. He was the eldest son of Maloji Bhosale of Verul (present-day Ellora, Maharashtra). He brought the house of Bhosle into prominence. The princely states of Tanjore, Kolhapur and Satara are Bhosle legacies. He was father of Shivaji, the founder of the Maratha Empire.
Islamic ruler Ibrahim Adil Shah of Bijapur, appointed Hindus to key positions and 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. [3]. Maloji was a capable soldier and eventually became an independent Jagirdar in the court of Adil Shah.
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Maharaja Shahaji was an extremely ambitious and capable general. At a young age, Maharaja Shahaji had achieved a lot. He was well known not only for his military and leadership skills but also as a Man who kept his word. Maharaja Shahaji had not lost a single battle in his entire life which made him the prominent Maratha legend who was treated even at par with Nizam and Adilshah.
Maharaja Shahaji had defeated quite a number of eminent commanders of Mughals, Adilshah and Nizamshah. Maharaja Shahaji was prominent in the whole of Hindustan (India) for he had not lost a single battle in his lifetime and had always prevailed no matter what the circumstances. Mughal, Adil, Nizam Sultanates were leaving no stone unturned to get Maharaja Shahaji on their side. When Maharaja Shahaji was serving in the Adilshahi court, he was awarded the title of Farzand (someone placed much higher than a chief commanding an army of 10,000) which was equivalent to the designation of a Prince. Thus, Maharaja Shahaji was highly revered in the Adilshahi court.
The battle of Bhataudi was fought in 1624 in Ahmednagar, Maharashtra between forces of Maharaja Shahaji, Nizam and the combined forces of Mughalshahi and Adilshahi Sultanates. Shah Jahan had ordered his commander-in-chief Lashkar Khan to finish off Nizamshahi. Accordingly, Lashkar Khan with an army of 120,000 (1.2 lakhs) marched on Ahmednagar. The Adilshahi Sultanate had also agreed to help the Mughals. Adilshahi army amounted to no less than 80,000 Men. Thus, a massive army of 200,000 (2 lakhs) walked on Ahmednagar. On the other hand, Maharaja Shahaji had an army of 20,000 at his disposal. Maharaja Shahaji had assigned 10,000 of these, the task of protecting and defending the Ahmednagar fort and town. The remaining 10,000 were with Maharaja Shahaji.
Such a huge army required huge amount of food and water. Thus, both Mughal and Adil forces were encamped on the bank of the Mehkari River. It flowed North-South. The river had a dam to conserve water, as Ahmednagar experienced water shortage. However, during this period, there had been good amount of rainfall. The river had abundant water and was filled to the brim. Maharaja Shahaji came up with a brilliant idea. With utmost care, cracks were developed in the dam. It was the time of night; the whole Mughal and Adil encampment was fast asleep. Suddenly, water started gushing out of the dam from each of the cracks. Mughals and Adils were clueless about what was happening. It was, as if a huge wall of irate water was running over the Mughals and Adils.
Everyone started running helter-skelter to save their lives. There was chaos and confusion. The whole encampment was flooded with water. Clothes, rations, arms, ammunitions, cannons and cattle everything drowned. Dead elephants were seen floating in the water. Many were taken as prisoners. As many as 25 renowned, Mughal and Adil chiefs were imprisoned by Maharaja Shahaji. It was a huge win for Maharaja Shahaji, after which Maharaja Shahaji became well known.
At various points of time Maharaj Shahaji allied himself with the Adilshah of Bijapur, the Nizamshah of Ahmednagar and the Mughals. His ultimate ambition was to set up an independent Maratha kingdom. He tried on two occasions, first one after the brutal murder of his father-in-law Lakhuji Rao Jadhav (father of Jijabai) and second in 1636. The second attempt was a formidable challenge.
In the meantime, Jahan Khan, the wazir of Nizam killed Nizam on the reasoning that the Nizam was an incapable and unwise ruler, who couldn’t take appropriate decisions and was easily deceived by some people. Jahan Khan greeted Maharaja Shahaji with open hands and asked Maharaja Shahaji to join him. Maharaja Shahaji started leading Nizam’s forces. However, at that time, the Mughal forces on the order of Shah Jahan had slain all the men in relation to Nizam and also killed two pregnant women. This was done to finish off the Nizamshahi, as there wouldn’t be any Male heir to the throne of the Nizam. However, Maharaja Shahaji, in order to protect Nizamshahi decided to crown a child named Murtuza, who was in relation with Nizam, as the next Nizam. Maharaja Shahaji assured Murtuza’s mother that he would not be harmed and vouched for his safety.
Shahajahan dispatched a force of 48,000 to reduce Maharaji Shahaji , Nizam and his ally Adilshah. Under such mounting attack Adilshah sued for peace. With the withdrawal of Adilshah's support,Maharaja 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. In this war, Maharaja Shahaji fought till the last. But, unfortunately Nizam Murtaza, the little kid, was being kidnapped by Mughals and for the purpose of saving the life of Nizam, it became necessary for Maharaja Shahaji to make compromise. This compromise finished Nizamshahi. Maharaja Shahaji , on the condition of protecting the life of little Mourtaza Nizam at any condition, handed him over to Shahajahan. Nizam was taken away by Shah Jahan to Delhi. 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 Jagir in his court, being based in Bangalur (Present day Bangalore in Karnataka). This is one phase of Shahaji's life.
In 1638, a large Bijapur army led by Ranadulla Khan and accompanied by Shahaji defeated Kempe Gowda III and Bangalore was given to Shahaji as a jagir.[4][5] Shahaji successfully led the Bijapur army to many victories against the Rajas of southern India. Instead of punishing or executing them, Shahaji reprieved all the Rajas. The Rajas thus developed healthy relations with Shahaji and offered military support to Shahaji whenever required.[6]
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 jagir of Pune, their elder son Sambhaji and another son Venkoji 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, deceitfully captured Shahaji and imprisoned him as he suspected that Shahaji encouraged Shivaji. Two expeditions were sent simultaneously against Shivaji and his elder brother Sambhaji, who defeated Adilshahi forces. Shivaji meanwhile approached Mughal Emperor Shahjahan asking for help against Adilshah. 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, Shaista Khan had defeated Shahaji in his second attempt. Shivaji in a daring attack severed three of Shaista's fingers and forced him to retreat.
Thus these events proved that Shahaji had taken a sensible decision in keeping Shivaji in the original stronghold of Pune barring which, like Shahaji, Shivaji 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. Sensing treachery by Afzal khan, Shahaji was waiting near Bijapur with his army of 17,000. He had warned Badi Begum of Adilshah that, if Afzal Khan and his Adilshahi forces killed Shivaji by deceit, then there wouldn't remain even a brick of the Adilshahi kingdom.
Shahaji died c. 1665 while on a hunt, after falling off his horse.
Shahaji had two sons by Jijabai, Sambhaji and Shivaji. Sambhaji was killed while on a military expedition in Karnataka.He was cremated in Hodiggere town of channagiri taluk of Davanagere district of karnataka. Shahaji had one son Venkoji(Ekoji I) by his second wife, who came from the Mohite family. Venkoji 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 Venkoji in Thanjavur region. Shivaji encouraged farming and cultivation, similarly Venkoji 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 fillip. 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.
जगदिश विरंचिकु पूछत है, कहो सृष्टी रची, रखे कोन कहा । शशि वो रवि पूरब पश्चिम लो, तुम सोय रहो सिरसिंधु महां । अरु उत्तर दच्छिन रच्छनकों इत साहजि हैं, उत साहजहाँ ॥
Shahaji's dream of an independent kingdom was made a reality by his second son, the great Shivaji Maharaj.
Ramdinwar Anil V