Loyal associates and organisational skill
A good captain builds a team in which every player gives his all. Maharaj gathered loyal associates in the same way.
Organisational skill is the art of bringing people together to work for one aim. Surajya is a kingdom that seeks the welfare of all.
Key idea 1 : Escape from many dangers — While founding Swaraj Maharaj faced many dangerous events like the meeting with Afzalkhan, the siege of Panhala, the raid on Shaistakhan and the escape from Agra; each time he came out safe.
Key idea 2 : Associates who risked their lives — Jiva Mahala, Shiva Kashid, Bajiprabhu Deshpande, Murarbaji Deshpande, Tanaji Malusare, and in the escape from Agra Hiroji Farjand and Madari Mehtar worked for Swaraj risking their lives.
Key idea 3 : Care for associates — Maharaj cared for his associates. Kanhoji Jedhe was with the work of Swaraj from the start; when he fell ill in old age Maharaj told him not to neglect medicines or treatment.
- Easy : What is Surajya? — A kingdom of the welfare of all.
- Medium : Who went in disguise from Panhala? — Shiva Kashid.
- Exam-type : Who risked their lives in the escape from Agra? — Hiroji Farjand and Madari Mehtar.
In the figure: Maharaj and his devoted associates.
When Kanhoji Jedhe was old and ill Maharaj asked him not to neglect his treatment. Such care itself builds loyalty. (as per the textbook; check with the textbook)
Baji = pass; Shiva = disguise; Murar = Purandar; Tanaji = Sinhgad.
Maharaj did not found Swaraj alone; the loyalty of associates had a big share.
Memory clue: Associates = strength; care = loyalty.
Spot the difference
| Associate | Occasion | Deed |
|---|---|---|
| Bajiprabhu Deshpande | Towards Vishalgad | Held the enemy at the pass |
| Shiva Kashid | Siege of Panhala | Dressed like Maharaj |
| Murarbaji | Purandar | Defended the fort |
Practice questions
- 1What is Surajya?
- 2Write four dangerous events in Maharaj’s life.
- 3Who helped in the escape from Agra?
- 4What does the textbook say about Kanhoji Jedhe?
- 5What benefit did Maharaj get from his organisational skill?
- 6What was the result of caring for associates?
- 7Write three associates and their deeds.
- 8How do you help a friend in need? Write.
Show answers (try them yourself first)
- 1A kingdom of the welfare of all.
- 2Meeting with Afzalkhan, siege of Panhala, raid on Shaistakhan, escape from Agra.
- 3Hiroji Farjand and Madari Mehtar.
- 4He advised him not to neglect treatment while ill.
- 5He got loyal associates and Swaraj survived.
- 6Associates began to work risking their lives.
- 7E.g. Bajiprabhu — held the pass; Shiva Kashid — took a disguise; Murarbaji — defended Purandar.
- 8E.g. helping in studies, staying beside in trouble.
Care for the ryot and the army policy
How bad we would feel if someone trampled our crop! Maharaj gave strict orders that soldiers must not harm farmers.
Ryot means the common people of the state. Army discipline means soldiers following rules and not troubling the people.
Key idea 1 : Care for the ryot — During Shaistakhan’s campaign Maharaj told the Deshmukh of the Rohida valley to visit every village and shift people to safety below the ghats; he warned him not to delay a moment, or the Mughals would capture people and the blame would fall on the Deshmukh.
Key idea 2 : Policy about the army — Maharaj kept strict discipline in the army. He arranged for salaries to be paid on time and in cash and set aside the jagir system. Wealth collected in campaigns had to be deposited with the Government. Brave soldiers were honoured; families of fallen soldiers and the wounded were looked after; surrendered enemy soldiers were treated well.
Key idea 3 : The letter of 1674 — In a letter written to his military officers in 1674 Maharaj said that people must not be harassed by taking grain, fodder and vegetables by force, or they would leave their homes. If war breaks out in sowing-growing-reaping season farmers lose a great deal, so soldiers were prevented from such acts.
- Easy : How were soldiers paid? — On time and in cash.
- Medium : What to do with wealth gained in campaigns? — Deposit with the Government.
- Exam-type : What was the Deshmukh of Rohida to do? — Move people to safety.
In the figure: Care for the ryot and the soldiers.
In the letter sent to the Deshmukh of the Rohida valley Maharaj told him to move the ryot to safety and not to delay even a moment. (as per the textbook; check with the textbook)
Cash salary, booty to the Government, no harm to fields.
Maharaj did not let soldiers keep booty; it had to be deposited with the Government.
Memory clue: Happy ryot = happy state.
Spot the difference
| Matter | Maharaj’s policy | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Salary | Cash, on time | Soldiers contented |
| Jagir | Set aside | State control over army |
| Farmers | No harm to farmers | Trust of people |
Practice questions
- 1Who is the ryot?
- 2What warning did Maharaj give the Deshmukh of Rohida valley?
- 3Explain Maharaj’s policy on army discipline.
- 4Why was cash salary given instead of jagirs?
- 5What orders were there in the 1674 letter?
- 6What happens if soldiers take vegetables from fields by force?
- 7How did Maharaj treat surrendered enemy soldiers?
- 8How is waste managed in your area? Write.
Show answers (try them yourself first)
- 1The common people of the state.
- 2Move people to safety; no delay or the blame will be yours.
- 3Salary in cash on time, booty to the Government, honour for the brave, care for families.
- 4So that the state controls the army and the soldiers remain contented.
- 5Do not trouble the people or they will leave their homes.
- 6Farmers will starve and leave their homes.
- 7Treated them well.
- 8E.g. collection, segregation and processing (Gram Panchayat/Municipal body).
Tolerance and the inspiration of freedom
In class children of different religions study together and celebrate each other’s festivals. In Maharaj’s state too all religions got equal respect.
Tolerance means respecting another’s religion. Inspiration of freedom is the spirit of not accepting dominance of any foreign power.
Key idea 1 : People of all religions — The Adilshah, Mughals and Siddis, who were Islamic powers, were Maharaj’s enemies; but he considered Muslims in Swaraj his subjects. At the meeting with Afzalkhan Siddi Ibrahim was a trusted servant; Siddi Hilal was a sardar; Daulatkhan was an important naval officer.
Key idea 2 : Religious policy — In conquered enemy territory Maharaj continued the facilities given to Muslim places of worship. The contemporary historian Khafi Khan writes that Shivaji had framed strict rules that soldiers should not harm a mosque and, if they got a copy of the Quran, should hand it over with reverence to a Muslim.
Key idea 3 : Inspiration of freedom — The special value of Maharaj’s efforts is freedom. His aim was an independent, sovereign existence not accepting the dominance of any other power. When Chhatrasal, who served the Mughals, met Maharaj, Maharaj inspired him to build an independent kingdom in Bundelkhand.
- Easy : Who was Siddi Hilal? — A sardar in Maharaj’s army.
- Medium : Who was Khafi Khan? — A contemporary Mughal historian.
- Exam-type : What did Maharaj inspire Chhatrasal to do? — Build an independent kingdom in Bundelkhand.
In the figure: Tolerance and inspiration of freedom.
What happened before Chhatrasal’s meeting with Maharaj? The Bundela sardar Chhatrasal was fighting on the Mughal side; later he felt his role was wrong and met Maharaj in the Deccan. Instead of keeping him, Maharaj advised him to go to Bundelkhand and fight for his own people.
What happened after Chhatrasal’s meeting with Maharaj? Chhatrasal built his kingdom in Bundelkhand and set up rule at Panna in 1675. About fifty years later, in 1729, when in trouble from the attack of the Mughal sardar Bangash, he asked Peshwa Bajirao for help and gave him a third of his kingdom.
All faiths equal; mosque = no harm; freedom = no dominance of anyone.
Maharaj’s fight was not against any religion; it was against dominance by foreign powers.
Memory clue: Swaraj = for all; mosque = safe.
Spot the difference
| Person | Role | Importance |
|---|---|---|
| Siddi Ibrahim | Trusted servant | Associates of all faiths |
| Siddi Hilal | Sardar | Place in army |
| Daulatkhan | Naval officer | Strength of navy |
Practice questions
- 1What is tolerance?
- 2Write the names of Muslim officers in Maharaj’s army.
- 3What has Khafi Khan recorded?
- 4How do we know Maharaj’s religious policy was tolerant?
- 5Where did Chhatrasal meet Maharaj and what did Maharaj tell him?
- 6Why did Chhatrasal have to go to Bajirao for help?
- 7Explain the value of Maharaj’s work as a source of inspiration of freedom.
- 8How are festivals of all religions celebrated in your school? Write.
Show answers (try them yourself first)
- 1Respecting another’s religion.
- 2Siddi Ibrahim, Siddi Hilal, Daulatkhan.
- 3Shivaji framed rules not to harm mosques and to hand over the Quran with reverence to Muslims.
- 4He continued facilities of places of worship; there were Muslim sardars and servants.
- 5In the Deccan; he inspired him to build an independent kingdom in Bundelkhand.
- 6He was in trouble from the attack of the Mughal sardar Bangash.
- 7An independent existence without accepting dominance of any foreign power.
- 8E.g. celebrating Eid, Diwali, Christmas together.
Greatness and inspiration for later generations
Why do we call someone great? Not just for victories, but for thoughts and conduct. Maharaj’s greatness was likewise all-round.
An ideal is a model worth following. Maharaj was intelligent, knew many languages and scripts, and had many qualities like leadership, management, foresight, devotion to truth and equality.
Key idea 1 : His qualities — Because of the teaching of Jijabai and Shahajiraje the values of Swaraj and ethics were deeply instilled in him. His nature blended character and strength, generosity and valour. He punished severely those who misbehaved with women; he cared for farmers, artisans, soldiers and traders alike.
Key idea 2 : New thinking and fine details — At that time there was religious opposition to crossing the seas, yet Maharaj built sea forts like Sindhudurg and raised a navy. He also took back into their own religion persons who had converted, though there was opposition. He ordered that vegetables must not be taken by force from farmers’ fields and restricted the cutting of trees. He also ordered that garbage on a fort be burnt in an allotted place and vegetables be grown on its ash.
Key idea 3 : Inspiration in later times — Maharaj was a source of inspiration in the national movement. Mahatma Jotirao Phule composed a powada on him in 1869; Lokmanya Tilak awakened the nation through Shivajayanti; Lala Lajpat Rai wrote a book; the Tamil poet Subramanya Bharati and Rabindranath Tagore wrote poems; Sir Jadunath Sarkar praised his work in his book; Pandit Nehru said Maharaj did not belong to Maharashtra alone but to the whole Indian nation.
- Easy : When did Phule compose the powada? — 1869.
- Medium : Who awakened the nation through Shivajayanti? — Lokmanya Tilak.
- Exam-type : What was to be grown on the ash of garbage? — Vegetables.
In the figure: Maharaj’s life and later inspiration.
What happened before Shivaji Maharaj’s death? On 6 June 1674 he was crowned Chhatrapati at Raigad.
What happened after Shivaji Maharaj’s death? He died at Raigad on 3 April 1680. Aurangzeb came to the Deccan in 1681 expecting a quick victory, but the Marathas fought on for 27 years, until his death in 1707.
Phule 1869; Tilak Shivajayanti; Nehru = of the nation.
Maharaj was not only a warrior; he was also a sculptor of a new ethical and cultured society.
Memory clue: Warrior + administrator + sculptor = ideal.
Spot the difference
| Person | Contribution | Medium |
|---|---|---|
| Mahatma Phule | Praise of Maharaj | Powada |
| Lokmanya Tilak | National awakening | Shivajayanti |
| Rabindranath Tagore | Praise of efforts for Swaraj | Poem |
Practice questions
- 1Write five qualities in Maharaj’s personality.
- 2Which work did Maharaj do despite opposition to sea travel?
- 3What was Maharaj’s policy about cutting trees?
- 4What did Pandit Nehru say about Maharaj?
- 5Why was Maharaj a source of inspiration in the national movement?
- 6What order did Maharaj give about garbage on forts?
- 7Why is it necessary to grow trees?
- 8List the places in your area named after famous personalities.
Show answers (try them yourself first)
- 1Intelligence, knowledge of languages, leadership, foresight, truthfulness, equality (any five).
- 2Built sea forts and raised a navy.
- 3Restrictions were placed on cutting trees.
- 4Maharaj belonged not to Maharashtra alone but to the whole Indian nation.
- 5Because his work inspired freedom against foreign power.
- 6Burn it in an allotted place and grow vegetables on the ash.
- 7They purify air, bring rain and protect soil.
- 8E.g. Gandhi Road, Tilak Nagar, Ambedkar Chowk.