Shivaji was born in 1630. His father Shahji was in Mughal service at that time. He then became an independent warlord and later joined Adilshah. He was given control of Bangalore by Adilshah. Sometime between 1637 and 1642, both Shivaji and his mother lived in Bangalore. He is believed to have stayed either at the Gowri Mahal or Gowri Vilas palace in chikpet area. Many temples, including Kadu Malleswaram temple are attributed to Shivaji’s family. When he was around 12 years old, Shivaji was brought back to Pune.
The picture is by Raja Ravi Varma.
Source: Shivaji, His life and times, Gajanan Bhaskar Mehendale

The octagonal shape of the Naval ensign is derived from the Raja Mudra (imperial Sign) of Shivaji Maharaj.
He understood the importance of a navy unlike most Kings of his time. By the time of his coronation in 1674 CE, he had built up a fleet of approximately 60 ships with 5000 men. The ships ranged from 30 to 150 tons. He avoided direct encounters with European fleets and used his navy to mostly ‘show the flag’ and keep them on their toes. He also collaborated with the Siddis of Janjira. Together, they snatched a large part of the Konkan coast from the Europeans. Shivaji built a string of 13 naval ports on the Konkan coast including very familiar names like Colaba, Alibaug & Sindhudurg. Some call him the ‘Father of the Indian Navy’.
The picture is the new octagonal ensign resembling the Rajmudra of Shivaji Maharaj.
Source: “The Sea Hawk: Life and Battles of Kanhoji Angrey’, Manohar Malgonkar

British interest in Bombay started growing in the late 18th century. The 2nd Battalion of Bombay Sepoys was created by the British in 1768. British were inspired by the nimbleness of the Maratha army. Another battalion was added soon. These battalions (nick named Jangi Paltan and Kali Panchwin) fought famous battles in Srirangapatnam, Kannur, Surat and Baluchistan. They were the precursors to the Maratha Light Infantry.
Shivaji Maharaj was handicapped by lack of artillery but he turned it into an advantage. He employed light cavalry which outsmarted the strong but slow Mughal army. The Maratha army was lightly equipped and could subsist on the scantiest of food. This made them highly mobile.
The English letter in 1664 remarked that Shivaji was in so many places at the same time that he seemed to have an airy body and added wings.
After World War II, Maratha Light Infantry uses the battle cry of “Bola Shri Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Ki Jai”
The picture is a painting of Maratha Light Infantry by Alfred Crowdy Lovett.
Sources: Valour Enshrined, M.G Abhyankar, Shivaji, His life and times, Gajanan Bhaskar Mehendale

During late nineties, colonial names were being changed in Mumbai. Bombay was renamed Mumbai. So was Bombay Municipal Corporation to BrihanMumbai. Victoria Terminus was renamed as Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus. VJTI was already more than 100 years old by then and was well known by its abbreviation. To retain the familiarity, the words “ Victoria Jubilee” were changed to “Veermata Jijabai,” the name of Shivaji’s legendary mother. The word Technical was also changed to Technological.
The picture is the sprawling VJTI campus in Mumbai.
Source: VJTI

Shivaji Maharaj constructed and reconstructed numerous forts. Out of his 50 years of (total 18,306 days) not-so-long life, Shivaji spent at least 8557 recorded days at one or the other fort. He was born in a fort, his two sons were born in forts, he was coronated in a fort and breathed his last in a fort. Shivneri, birth-place of Shivaji, is near Junnar town, about 85 kms north of Pune. Shivneri hill has a long history going back to the Satavahanas. It was strategically important as it stood astride the Nane Ghat pass through which traders reached the Konkan coast from where they went south and to foreign lands. Though Shivaji Maharaj was born here, he had to surrender the fort to the Mughals and could not take it back in his lifetime.
Source: Gunakar Muley, ‘Forts of Maharashtra’; Centre For Cultural Resources and Training

Shivaji Maharaj scored a historic victory against Afzal Khan, commander of the Bijapur Adilshahi forces. Afzal Khan and Shivaji met at the base of Pratapgarh fort, 145 kms south of Pune for a peace meeting. Both suspected that they could be killed in the meeting. Shivaji Maharaj had concealed a “wagh nakh” (tiger claws) and a dagger in his palm. As Khan tried to strangle him and stab him during an embrace, Shivaji Maharaj disemboweled him with the claws.
The Wagh Nakh is a claw-shaped dagger designed to be concealed in the palm to slash skin and muscle. It has four or five curved steel blades on a crossbar. The 21st Battallion (Special Forces) has the nickname Wagh Nakh. The battalion was carved out of Maratha Light Infantry.
The picture of the famous encounter is by the legendary artist Sawlaram Haldankar.
Source: Gunakar Muley, ‘Forts of Maharashtra’; Centre For Cultural Resources and Training

Surat was the richest Mughal city. It earned several lakh rupees from customs duties alone. Shivaji Maharaj attacked Surat. His aim was to reduce its importance as a commercial base and hit at the root of the Mughal pride. For three days the city was looted. The Mughal subedar was unable to protect it. Shivaji used the loot to repair and strengthen his forts as well as to build sea forts. Padmadurg near Janjira, Sindhudurg, Suvarnadurg and Vijaydurg were built/ strengthened with this money.
Picture Credit: Bal Krishna
Source: Footsteps of Marathas, Uday Kulkarni

In 1665 CE, Purandar fort, near Pune, was besieged by the mighty Mughal forces. They were under the command of Jai Singh, the Jaipur king and the renowned Dilir Khan. Murar Baji Prabhu, the gallant commander of the fort, was killed. Shivaji Maharaj surrendered 23 of his 35 forts to the Mughals and retained the remaining 12 under the treaty of Purandar. He also agreed to visit Agra as a Mughal vassal. It was a strategic retreat negotiated with a sympathetic Rajput general. His subsequent visit to Agra and escape is legendary.
Purandar was recaptured by Shivaji in 1670 CE. At the fort, a statue of Murar Baji Prabhu has been installed in memory of his gallant defence.
The picture is of Jai Singh and Shivaji Maharaj at Purandar, by Mueller.
Source: Gunakar Muley, ‘Forts of Maharashtra’; Centre For Cultural Resources and Training

Raja Venkoji was the half brother of Shivaji Maharaj. He conquered Thanjavur on behalf of Bijapur Sultanate in 1676, but then established his own independent State. Thanjavur was an extremely fertile coastal plain with its own sea ports. It was a prize acquisition.
During his Dakshina Digvijay, Shivaji made a treaty with Golconda, visited Srisailam, attacked Ginjee fort and Vellore. He camped just north of Kollidam river near Thanjavur and invited Venkoji for discussions. Shivaji claimed a share of his father’s jagir as Thanjavur was part of Bangalore jagir which was given to Shahji. Fearing that Shivaji would arrest him, Venkoji fled back to Thanjavur. Shivaji is believed to have been upset that his half brother misunderstood his intentions. He did not invade Thanjavur but took over the territory north of Thanjavur.
Under Maratha rule, Thanjavur was the fountainhead of culture, music, drama and literature for over a century. The rajas, especially Serfoji, were true patrons of arts.
The picture is of Maratha palace at Thanjavur, P Jegannathan, Wikimedia Commons
Source: Shivaji and his times, Jadunath Sarkar

Persian was the language used in administration during Shivaji’s times. At that time seals of Hindu noblemen in the service of Muslim Sultans were ordinarily in Persian. Even the Seals of Shahji, Jijabai and Dadaji Kondadeo, too, were in Persian.
Shivaji Maharaj sought to introduce Sanskrit and Marathi as the official language of administration. The Rājyavyavahārakośa is a 17th-century Sanskrit dictionary commissioned by him to Persian and Arabic administrative terms with Sanskrit equivalents. This was an element of his self-rule philosophy. Raghunatha Pandita Amatya created the dictionary. It contains 1380 terms. It must be noted that some persian words continued to be used during his reign.
The picture is the Sanskrit seal of Shivaji.
Source: Shivaji, His life and times, Gajanan Bhaskar Mehendale

Prior to Shivaji’s time, tax collection was by intermediaries. They collected at whatever rate they liked and gave a share of the tax to the emperor. Shivaji Maharaj did away with these intermediaries, zamindars, deshmukhs, and desais. Tax was levied at a fixed rate. Tax collectors were paid a salary. However, this system did not work fully as planned.
Similarly, Shivaji also did away with the practice of fiefdoms maintain their own army. He created a professional army (about 30,000 to 40,000 men) and paid a salary. However, they were required to spend 8 months in invasions and live off the proceeds of the invaded land.
The painting is by the legendary M.V Durandhar, Shivaji on his way to Purandar fort
Source: Shivaji and his times, Jadunath Sarkar

The concept of a free nation first came when Shivaji said he fought for Swarajya – self rule. Shivaji had a clear idea of what is freedom – it has to be political, cultural, religious and economic, all of which were denied to Indians under the Shahi and Mughal rulers. Shivaji’s kingdom was called Swarajya.
The term Swarajya was made legendary when Tilak declared in 1916 that “Swaraj is my birthright and I shall have it.” This eventually led to the Congress resolution in 1930 for Purna Swaraj or total independence, as opposed to limited autonomy that was being offered by the British.
The map is the foundation of Shivaji’s Swarajya at the time of his death (1680) and the full extent of Maratha empire at its peak (1759). Picture Credit: Gajanan Bhaskar Mehendale
Source. The Maratha Century, Dr. Uday Kulkarni