Part 1: Early Life Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj
This is a life story of how a normal middle-class boy turned out to become the greatest king in India, How Shivaji became Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharajis the most loved and highly respected Kings in Maharashtra as well as around India. He was known to be a strong King who started the majestic Maratha Empire which at one point covered half of India. He was brave, intelligent and kind at the same time. People who love him say that he never died, and remain immortal in our hearts forever. But Was he a born ruler? No. Then how did he become “The Majestic Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj”? To understand this, we’ll have to go back to the the time after 1600. During that time, most of India was under the rule of Mughals and other Muslim rulers. Shahaji Bhosale - Father of the Chatrapati, was a High ranking military commander under a king named Adil Shah who ruled Bijapur. Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was born on 19th Feb, In the year 1630 in the fort of Shivneri Which is located near Junnar which today is known as Maharashtra.
Since Shahji was a high ranking officer in the military, during a young age Shivaji mostly remained away from his father. Shivaji’s early education was given by his mother “Jija bai” and Grandfather “Kondev”. His mother taught him about the Hindu religion and made him read Hindu texts, while his grandfather trained him with weapons and taught him war strategies. During his early life, Shivaji’s Grandfather Kondev thought that he’ll serve Adil Shah as a high ranking military commander like his father, but destiny had different plans. Right from his early days, Shivaji believed that rulers must be brave, intelligent, smart and kind at the same time. He didn't like the ideologies of Mughals and other Muslim rulers as the kings would force Hindus to convert to Islam, rape Hindu women, destroy Hindu temples, Hindus were forced to follow Islam rules, they could not follow Hindu rituals, Hindus suffered a lot that time.
Right from his childhood days he always had a vision of Hindutva and Hindu Rule across the whole country. This is what by the time he turned 16, in the year 1646 Chatrapati decided that he wanted to overthrow the Mughal and Islamic ruler in India and establish a Hindu Rule. So with the support of local farmers, He formed a small yet powerful military group called “Mavlis”. 16-year-old brave Shivaji later that year took control over TORNA, CHAKAN & KONDANA FORTS by bribing the Adil Shahi Commanders. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj always used to target these forts and capture them, because according to him when the fort is captured, the region around it automatically comes under their control. Later with the help of his military commander “Abaji Sondev” he seized the forts of THANA, KALYAN & BHIWANDI. After he took over these forts, Adil Shah was in deep shock and lost his temper. And to further stop Shivaji he decided to arrest his father Shahji Bhosale. Shah told Shivaji that if he did not stop capturing his territories, then Shah would kill his father. Shivaji agreed and did not attack any of Shah’s territories for the next 7 years. In these 7 years Shivaji did a lot. He made his army strong, he started contacting various leaders and basically made himself strong. After 7 years, Shivaji became very strong. To know what he did next, what happened to his father and how he expanded his kingdom, check out our next video.
