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.