350th Anniversary Of The Coronation Of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj:
Celebrations marking the 350th anniversary of the coronation of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj recently began at the Raigad fort in Maharashtra.
- Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was the founder of the Maratha Empire in western India.
- He was born on February 19, 1630 to Shahaji Bhosle and Jijabai in the fort of Shivneri, near the city of Junnar of the Pune district.
- With his valor and great administrative skills, Shivaji carved out an enclave from the declining Adilshahi sultanate of Bijapur.
- It eventually became the genesis of the Maratha Empire.
- He was known as the Father of Indian Navy, Shivaji was the first to realise the importance of having a naval force, and therefore he strategically established a navy and forts at the coastline to defend the Konkan side of Maharashtra.
- He was a secular ruler who was very accommodating of all religions. He had numerous Muslim soldiers in his army.
- Shivaji was a dependable supporter of women and their honour. Anyone under his rule caught violating woman’s rights was severely punished.
- He had a council of ministers (Asht Pradhan)to advise him on the matters of the state but he was not bound by it.
- He was called as the ‘Mountain Rat’ and was widely known for his guerrilla warfare tactics.
- He was called so because of his awareness in geography of his land, and guerrilla tactics like raiding, ambushing and surprise attacks on his enemies.
