Veer Shivaji’s great escape from Aurangzeb’s jail in Agra

Veer Shivaji maharaj was winning the areas after areas in Gujarat, Vindhyachal, Madhya Bharat and Rajasthan and arresting the muslim governors and the land revenue collectors one after the other, and establishing further his own sovereign rule there and appointing his own governors namely Gaikwad in Baroda and Gujarat, Holkar in Indore, Sciendia in Gwalior and Peshwas in Maharastra and central India; this had disturbed emperor Aurenzeb to the last limit. He lost all his temperaments and patience due to the growing victories and leadership of Shivaji. All his communications and the transfer of riches and treasures with the south Indian nawabs was cut off by Shivaji. He was terrorized with the idea of losing his regime in India. Ultimately he took the shelter of Mirza Raja Sawai Mansingh of Jaipur who was also his courtier, to make a move of friendship with Shivaji. He sent him to Maharashtra to bring Shivaji to Agra by any means.

Mansingh met Shivaji and offered a hand of friendship from Auranzeb’s side and also offered a big post or RUTBA in his court at Agra. Shivaji, first of all, demoralized him by pointing out his helplessness and disobedience in mughal army who used to dismantle the temples of India and killing the Indian Hindu population in villages. Man Singh had no answer and explanation to the question and kept quite. Still Shivaji respected a guest to his state and agreed to his terms of accompanying him to Agra. They proceeded towards Agra. Son of Mansingh, Raja Ram Singh was accompanying them. On the other side Shivaji also took his son. In the way, at khandwa Raja Mansingh expired and directed his son to escort Shivaji and his team to Agra and he also explain the agreed terms of Shivaji to Auranzeb.

In Agra, in the court of Auranzeb, Shivaji was presented. His minor son was also there in the court. Auranzeb was sitting on the high throne and the rest everyone were standing. Shivaji was also given the standing position in the second row of the officers. The first row was of the officers who had the status or RUTBA of more than 30 thousand horses with them. Shivaji was made to stand in the second row who had 30 thousand horse’s army under them. Shivaji objected this status, as he had the status of his own more than 30 thousand horses in his own state and that status was not promised and was not offered in the court but Raja Ram Singh pointed out to Shivaji to keep silence and wait, till the time, he is not recommended to Auranzeb. In the court Auranzeb wasted his time uselessely consulting his molwis and mullas and the others on very ordinary topics and the useless discussions with the courtiers. Much more time was wasted in such a nuisance.

Shivaji was tired of standing with his son and waiting some attention of Auranzeb. Being tired and exhausted, ultimately, he came out of the row and left the court without permission of Auranzeb and took a seat behind the court hall. Auranzeb became very furious on this disobedience and unetiquetted manner of Shivaji. He bursted into anger and lost his senses and temperament and rosed

on his feet and gave a very loud order of arresting Shivaji and putting him into jail with his son.

According to the court’s etiquette all his weapons and swords were taken away previously from him before entering into the court, so his army took over him easily and he was put under arrest. He was sent to the ‘Sadar Kotwali’ building of Agra which had a very strong walls and high gates. A very cruel ‘Kotwal’ was given the charge of keeping a watch on Shivaji. The main gate of that building was more than 25 feet high from that height a man cannot dare to jump. In the ceiling of the gate there were strong hooks on which a cot was hanging with a rope on which Shivaji was tied upon and on his finger a ring was put on the stretched hand which was hanging out of cot and which was supposed to be visible from the ground all the time. The ropes were tied up around Shivaji and the cot, Only once or twice a day that cot was loosen down in the day to do the loo activities. This continued till further order.

On the strong recommendations of Raja Ramsingh to Aurangzeb Shivaji’s son was released and dispatched to Maharastra. Shivaji’s strong gang of eight warriors remained in disguised around the Sadar Kotwali. Shivaji pretended of some disease and illness to the Kotwal and asked him to convey his wish to Auranzeb to distribute some sweets to the poor as a gesture. The request was accepted by him. The friends of Shivaji arranged for big quantity of sweets in big boxes for distribution among the poor. The Kotwal was requested that the boxes of sweets should be touched by Shivaji himself as a custom. All the incoming and outgoing boxes were strictly checked. One day, a very confidential and loyal warrior friend of Shivaji put himself in place of Shivaji and he wore the ring on his hand. The short heighted and elastic body of Shivaji was made to hide into the boxes of sweets. That particular box was taken out of the boundaries of Kotwali on the shoulders of labourers. The ropes were pulled over to lift the cot to the ceiling of the gate. For some hours the ring was in view of the soldiers who were standing on the ground and later on after some hours when the cot was brought down to the ground they found that the man who was lying on the cot was not Shivaji. They immediately executed that person into pieces.

Immediately out of the Sadar Kotwali building Shivaji came out of he box and along with his seven strong friends rushed to the Yamuna river. Which had chilling water. The air was also very cold and the strong breeze was blowing. Nobody can think of escaping through the river route in that cold season. Shivaji and his fellows swam through the furious river fastly to the other side of the river and rushed towards Mathura. Because they knew the usual tactics of search and following to Maharastra will begin, so they discarded that route which was beyond the imagination of Auranzeb’s army.

While on foot journey, they reached to Mathura, they knocked a door which was the in- laws house of one of his friends. He explained them their intentions and asked for some very simple clothes of Sadhues and got themselves bald and without loss of time this gang (team) of Sadhus proceeded towards Banaras. Later on, this gang of brave soldiers but humble Sadhus reached Chennai and from South India to pune in 1 year.

One day when Mata Jijaji was sitting in balcony of her palace in a very sad mood she saw a sadhu begging for some alms from her. Blessing her with the long life of his son Shivaji. She was extremely amazed to hear the voice of Shiva but she din’t recognized the sadhu. But later on she got an instinct of calling that sadhu inside the palace, it was her surprise he was Shiva.

This was a great act of bravery, planning, loyalty and the sacrifice. This was a great blow to the security of Mughals and this was the high time for Mata Jijabai to arrange for the coronation of the great warrior son Veer Shivaji.

Since then Shivaji climbed on the throne which had a chhatra. Therefore, we recognize him as Cshhatrapati Shivaji.

Narrated by Shri.Khandekar ji- my rev. teacher in D.A.V.High School,Ajmer in 1945 and

Compiled by: Shivraj Goyal,

A/101, Chitrakut CHS.

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Grandfather of Shivaji

It is a practice in ruling classes of Rajasthan only the eldest son is declared as king after his father's death.the other son's are serving their elder brother,in the capacity of DARBAI.Either they have to accept the designation or have to quit the boundaries of the elder brother's kingdom.These unaccepted brother's earned their livelihood by adopting a profession of dacoity,loot or serve some other king of some other states.As these Rajput's are very expert in the art of fighting they soon gain a status of their own or become the respectable commander's of the armies of other kings.
One great such Rajput character who was second son of his father(name unknown) came to Maharastra and served a Maratha monarch near pune.very soon he became a respectable commander in the court of his master.On one social function the maratha monarch organized a get together function in which their families were also to be invited.at that time Shivaji's father was of the age of five years and he accompanied his father.When other honorable commander's were busy in their discussions their children were playing in the court yard.The daughter of that maratha monarch which is known by the name of Jijabai and was also of the age of five was also playing with the other children.Their activities were also observed by their elderly people of the court.on seeing the togetherness of Jijabai and the father of Shivaji the monarch remarked that what a great couple is this (IN DONO KI JODI KITNE SUNDAR LAG RAHE HAI).On this remark the grandfather of Shivaji objected and asked his master that couple word is used only be used for husband and wife.So you honor your word and marry my son with your daughter.The monarch was very upset on the question and asked him either you gain some status as the owner of some land or forget this idea at all.
Immediately he resigned from his post and came out of his state and later on within some years he established his own small kingdom.After that he met his old employer and made him aware of his present status.The monarch was very sincere to his wordings and married both the children.
But Jijabai had a great superiority complex with her husband and still considered him as a servant's son of her father.Meanwhile Shivaji was born and Jijabai returned to her father's palace and remained there.Shivaji's father couldn't stand her attitude and left for some good service elsewhere and perhaps got to the nawab of Bijapur.There he married again and had another son.
Jijabai was of a very firm and brave character and she brought up her son shiva like a great warrior and gave all the knowledge of warship and leadership to this tiny boy of 5feet height with a broad chest and high courage.The boy shiva was very active spirited and clever.He never confined to the boundaries of the palace of her maternal grandfather and used to come down the hill of the fort and used to play with the strong and courageous boy's of the poor parents.A very fearless gang was created by shiva which was very similiar in character and had a great love for giving some relive to the suffers and the downtrodden.All the members of the gang was expert in horse riding climbing the rocks and used to do horseriding for the whole night and used to go miles together.From the very start these brave men were aware of the paths and vallies of sahyari region.
The sub leutinets of Bijapur nawab's army who were given the charge of the fortresses of the region known as KILEDARS were very notorious and cruel in their deeds.They used to come down their forts and were looting the masses of their riches food and girls.Shivaji was much annoyed of their activities and the general harassment to the public by these powerful high ups.Shivaji used a particular reptile which was commanly known as GOHELI.They used it as an anchor and it used to climb over the vertical cliffs of the forts and long ropes were tied to it.Shivaji used to climb over these forts by this route as it was not guarded that properly as the maingates were closed down after their acts.The GORILLA war tactics were beyoned their imagination either they were highly injured by him and his gang or used to leave the forts and the slaves were released to go to their kins.This brave attitude of Shivaji won the hearts of the general masses of the region.
Jijabai asked Shivaji that the people are cooperating with you but how will you bear the expenses of their food and armoury unless you have a treasure under your command.So you should go to the small governers to give you the revenues.Shivaji acted upon the advice and approached these collectors who refused to cooperate as this revenue was deposited with Bejapur nawab.they also remarked on shivaji that you are not the king rather you are a leader of what is known as DALITS.The whole matter was brought up in front of Jijabai and she asked him to create a terror and fear in the hearts of these revenue collectors by cutting their fingers that they dare not to deny your command in future.
The effort yeilded the results and the revenues were directed in the treasury of Jijabai as these revenue collectors refused to cooperate to the nawab of bejapur.In the later period shivaji gained the true popularity to the masses he also organised them under the flag of jai maharastra and he became the voice of the people as he relived them of their miseries.
Later on he proceeded to the areas of gujrat,madhya pradesh,gwalior upto ajmer and freed the masses of the tyranny of the muslim rulers.He gave the charge of the areas won by him governing to his leutinets or samanths like holkar to indor,sindyas to gwalior,peshwas to maharastra and baroda to gaikwad.
His aim was to get India free from the foreign invaders his own people deceived him and also he had a very short life span.
this write up is based on the stories of shivaji narrated by shri khandekar a school teacher in dav high school ajmer.(compiled by shiv raj Goyal)
the next writeup will be based on the escape of shivaji from agra jail.