The history of India is full of stories of countless heroes and gallants. Their deeds of bravery, gallantry, chivalry, and heroism have left indelible marks. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj is one of those Indian heroes who has been acknowledged as the most worthy and remarkable personalities.
What can we learn from Chattrapati Shivaji Maharaj
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, through his works, has proved the saying of Wordsworth, who wrote: “The Child is the father of the man.” He was very promising, shrewd, intelligent and patriotic right from his childhood. As a matter of fact, his mother was his first teacher who directed the early life and living of Shivaji Maharaj. He came to be known as a fearless fighter, a brave soldier and a great patriot of India.
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj spent his whole life in battles, wars, & fights. It was to extend the kingdom or to earn money to meet expenses of administration or raising & expanding the army.
Today, on the occasion of his birth anniversary, let’s take a look at what we can learn from this great king.
An effective organizer:
Shivaji Maharaj will always be known as one of the greatest organizers in history. By the dint of his remarkable powers, he collected together the scattered Marathas. Thus turned them into an organized formidable force.
An efficient general and military strategist:
He was a successful general and knew well how to strike at the enemy. As a result of his strategies, he was able to face the mighty armies of the Sultans of Bijapur and the Mughals.
Brave soldier:
He was very daring and was prepared to take calculated risks.
Respect for others faith:
His treatment with the followers of other faiths was very fair. Even a great critic of Shivaji like Khafi Khan has observed about him that he had “made it a rule that whenever his followers went plundering, they should do no harm to the mosques, the Book of God (Quran) or the women of anyone.”
An inspiring leader:
His influence on account of his inspiring leadership grew so rapidly that his staunch enemy Aurangzeb himself had to admit “My armies have been employed against him for nineteen years and nevertheless his (Shivaji’s) state has always been increasing.”
Conclusion:
Chattrapati Shivaji Maharaj welded the Maratha race into a mighty nation. He achieved all this in the teeth of the opposition of mighty powers like the Mughals, Bijapur and the Portuguese in India. As J.N. Sarkar, the great historian said, “He welded the Marathas into a mighty nation.”
We have such a great example of a self-made person, who fought with all the odds all his life and won almost all the battles. His enemies were much, much stronger than him but he never got scared or lost confidence in his own power and his people. We need such heroes today who can guide masses.
Today’s leaders are slowly losing touch with common people. There is a huge communication gap between these leaders and the common people whom they are supposed to lead. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was different. He did whatever was necessary for the people of his kingdom even if it meant risking his own life. We need to see such commitment and loyalty in today’s leaders. Hence in today’s world, it’s important to remember people like Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj to help evoke the spirit of true leadership.