Shivaji – The Man
Shivaji, was every inch a typical Maratha. He was
short and slight, with long arms, small hands and aquiline nose,
a pointed beard and a fair complexion. He had piercing eyes and
a resolute face, handsome and intelligent but hard and feline.
He was an excellent swordsman and horseman.
As a person, he was brave and chivalrous. He fought
desperate battles against enormous odds. Shivaji’s hands
were not stained with blood of kindred, like Aurangzeb. He respected
women, mosques and non-combatants. To stop promiscuous slaughter
after a battle, to release and dismiss with honor captured officers
and men were no meager virtues. Shivaji was a sincerely religious
man. He believed himself constantly guided and inspired by goddess
Bhavani. He was the disciple of saint Ramdas and a great admirer
of saint Tukaram. His deeds have definitely become a source of
never ending inspiration. Chhatrapati Shivaji is still remembered
as a man of substance and has also become the synonym of it.
Shivaji – The King
Shivaji, the great warrior raised first Maratha
army with a capability of a general. His army consisted of Mavli,
the hill tribe, who were neither trained nor civilized. He trained
them and made them the backbone of his force. Shivaji’s army
included other communities also. His administrative skill is seen
in the fact that he could always keep them united. Shivaji assured
that in each garrison there should be mixture of castes.
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Shivaji tried to demolish the rigid caste structure of the society. He showed equal love for the so-called untouchables as well. He invited them to join his army and promoted the able ones to high positions and offices. They too reciprocated with even vigor and service. Many of them gave up their lives fighting for Swaraj. Shivaji set an example to all Hindus that belonging to the same faith they should not hate one another. He also opened the gates of temples for the Hindus who were forcibly converted to Islam but now were willing to return to the faith.
Shivaji was also a great reformer. During his reign he did both civil and economical reforms. The Civil System introduced by Shivaji resembled the system of government, which was obtained in India since the time of the Mauryas and which continued in practice under British Government. Village and district officers managed the districts, as the system is still prevalent. The chief difference was the absence of the present day elaborate judicial system. Civil cases were decided by the local Panchayat and criminal cases by the Sastras, as interpreted by the Nyayadhish (Judge). The central government consisted of the Heads of Departments, who formed a Cabinet. It was called the Ashtapradhan or Council of Eight and they directed the policy of the State in general. |
The chief cause of unrest in India was usually
economic and it was Shivaji’s economic reforms, which chiefly
commended him to the people. In this he owed much to the percept
and example of the just and righteous Dadaji Kondadev. Taxes were
framed out, and people had to pay their dues regularly. Shivaji
effected two great lasting reforms. Firstly, assessment of the
tax was to be made on the state of the crop, so that in time of
famine the taxes were practically nil. Cattle, grain, seed and
money were advanced on liberal terms to encourage farming. Secondly,
all tax-farming was peremptorily stopped and tax was collected
only under the supervision of the officials of the central Government.
The later Maratha rulers unfortunately did not adhere to this
wise and statesman-like regulation. He had strictly instructed
his soldiers : “No harm should come to the people whom you
meet on the way. Their standing crops should not be touched.”
