Chhatrapati Shivaji

The Story

Born in 1630 in the hill fort of Shivneri, Shivaji grew up under the guidance of his mother Jijabai, who filled him with the tales of the heroes of the epics and the dream of swarajya — self-rule. From his youth he began to seize the forts of the Deccan from the Bijapur sultanate, one by one, building the nucleus of his kingdom.

His life was a series of daring exploits: the escape from the court of Bijapur's ruler in a basket of sweets; the night attack on the Mughal general Shaista Khan in his own camp; the legendary raid on the treasure of Surat; and the escape from Agra, where Aurangzeb had imprisoned him, disguised as a sadhu. His wit was as sharp as his sword.

He was formally crowned Chhatrapati in 1674 with Vedic rites, and built a state remarkable for its justice: a navy that challenged foreign powers, forts that dotted the Sahyadris, and a rule that respected the peasants and the people of every community. He died in 1680, leaving an empire that his successors would carry to the gates of Delhi itself.