Challenging Destiny: A Biography of Chhatrapati Shivaji By: Medha Deshmukh Bhaskaran

Time spent reading: 12 Hours 30 Mins

Just like diamonds, some personalities have many facets to them. Each time someone is willing to look earnestly and with true dedication they will find some new aspect or a fresh light in which to view the subject, such like they never done before. Born and brought up on Maharastra, Chhatrapari Shivaji Maharaj is one such diamond that I personally will try look at with all earnestness whenever I get the opportunity.

“When peace demands despair and shame, war remains the only option that is most humane”

Short Summary

It will be silly of me to sit down and try to summaries the story of one the world’s most powerful personalities and leaders in a blog page when people with far superior intellect than me have failed to so even in 350 pages. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was born with good fortune, he was the son of a well-respected, able and rich father. He was handsome, blessed with natural health and accounting to his father’s wealth, prestige situation on life he was going to inherit a large Jaagir and a place in the court of honour one Hindustan’s biggest empire.

Raje however grew up with different ideas, spurred on by his dotting and capable mother as well as the guiding hand of his teacher and guide Dadaji Kondev.

He saw the treachery, cunning and hatred in the hearts of the rulers that time mainly the Adilshahi, Qutub shahi and the Mughuls. He also saw the way they treated his father a favorite in Adilshahi courts for his bravery valour and his dedicated service to the cause of expansion of the Adil Shahi empire. It is no wonder the Raje followed on his mother’s advice and decided to fight for Swaraj for his people from the horrible oppressions of its Muslim leaders.

The 17th Century was dotted with continues war between the empires of the time. The Mughuls in the North and the Adilsahi, Qutubsahi along with other small Hindu rulers in the south. The Mughuls were rich and powerful, they had the biggest army of the world at and at that time at the peak of its power around the time Raje was born the King of the Mughuls has so much wealth that he could have bought the 3 richest people of todays time just with his own money not having to depend of borrowing from various people who were under his own partonage.

Raje had nothing… no money, no army, no forts nothing. His destiny stood against his goal. Brutal wars, incessant oppression, and physical and spiritual carnage in the name of religion had broken the spirit of his people, people in his Jagir had run away. Darkness engulfed the subcontinent. All one needs to drive away darkness is remember to turn on the light. Raje was one of those who remembered this, he saw the good in his people. He had no money…he under the guidance of Dadaji Kondev encouraged the farmers to come back and till the soild, he gave them incentives to grow crops and made his regions florish. He had to army…he uplifted the spirit of his fellow men and from the likes of the Mavlas and other local people withing his jagir he aroused such confidence, dedication and decipline that the Marathas were the first people who brought the Mughul Saltanat to its knees.

A warrior and thinker far ahead of his times, Raje rose and rendered a rousing dream - respect and dignity for human life, economic equity, and empowerment. His vison not just as a war strategist but also statesman is unparalleled for that time or any time since then.

My Review

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj is an enigma that many people have tried to understand. Many have dedicated their lives to try and comprehend without a doubt the greatest Maratha to have lived. I however feel that no one person can truly understand such a charismatic personality. Many therefore according to me have put out their hand; grasped at something in the air and come up with some essence of what the complete truth must be. This book by Medha Bhaskaran is one piece in the jig-saw puzzle board of what truly should be the personality of a Chhatrapati.

Medha Bhaskaran has gone about doing her job very differently that most other. She has not develled on the romance of the idea of Raje but has tried to recreate him through the various reference and citations from other pieces of work from renowned historians. There is nothing that she has written which cannot be crossed checked or confirmed. This make the book invaluable for a history buff or as reference point for future endeavors. Its is very hard to write about Historical facts and include a narrative in it, to her credit the writers does an exceptional job keep the underlying narrative of the subjects destiny alive throughout the book. The writer has done a commendable job to include such thrilling accounts of Raje’s life like his battle strategies, his vision in forming the first naval force by an Indian ruler and the bravery and sacrifice of his people.

The writing is fluent once you get used to the numerous citations and cross references which are irritation when you first begin. My other grouse is that the footnotes and reference should have been written right at the end of the page instead of at the end of the chapter. The language is simple to understand and follow, the pace of at which the story flows is very good. The reference of work from other writers is a treasure for some one looking to read about Raje’s life as much as once can to genuinely try and understand the person. The names of some of the Muslim Jagirdars and other men of courts are very similar, so once gets confused about whom one is reading at some point. At just about 350 pages the length of the book is just perfect for a weekend read and will leave you some time for reflection.

Growing up in Maharastra we have all grown up listening to stories of Raje from very young age. The writer also made some brilliant observations to add context to events that have happened over 400 years ago. Her comparision between the attack on Laal Mahal by Raje and his men and the attack on Osama bin laden by the American Navy seal commandos is brilliant. Just shows what vision, audacity, planning and courage was required to carry on such a mid night attack in the heart of the enemy camp and in the case with Raje, without night vision googles. So attached are we to the great leader that even after listening about such stories in numerable times, they still bring us joy an exhilaration.

Two instances written in this book had the hair on my neck standing when the read about them for the first time (1) That the Portugese translated Maharaja’s Biography including his war strategies in Protugese and that was given to every solider in their rank (2) In a letter written by the British it mentions . “That Shivaji is an excellent war strategist is unarguable but that he is a brilliant statesman is beyond any doubt”

My Take

When I was reading the art of war by Sun Tzu, I was reminded so much about Raje and really found nothing novel in that book. It seems that Raje had used every strategy mentioned in the book at some point or the other to vanquish his enemies and bring SWARAJ to his people.