Shivaji

by Ranjit Desai

  ‘Maharaj,’ Raghunathpant said sadly, ‘the Muslims are proud of their religion. The Europeans too cross the seven seas and propagate their religion but we Hindus seem indifferent to our own faith.’

  Raje’s face was resolute as he surveyed the ruins. He said, after a pause, ‘Demolish the mosques and reinstall our deities. I want a beautiful arch and a thousand-pillared hall in the temple built with the bricks of the fallen Samotti Perumal temple. I shall not be at peace till the deities are reinstalled.’

  Hambirrao and Janardanpant could not believe their ears. Janardanpant asked, ‘Won’t this hurt the Muslims?’

  ‘Did they think of this when they demolished the temples? Tolerance to other religions does not mean being indifferent to our own. We have gotten used to ignoring the demolition of our temples or empires such as Vijayanagara. We don’t even feel ashamed when our women are dishonoured. We use our servile cowardliness to justify our honourable life. It has become second nature to us to be passive. We don’t hate the Muslims—we have many of them in our armies. The Muslims could have built a mosque anywhere. They had no reason to destroy our temples and build mosques on top of them. I cannot tolerate that. I want you to execute my order without further delay.’

  The mosques were demolished and the construction of the temples began at a frantic pace. In the meanwhile, Raje shifted his base to the banks of Godavari near Tiruwadi and sent an invitation to meet Ekoji Raje, who ruled nearby Thanjavur.

  #

  Ekoji was reluctant to meet Raje, worried that he may have plans to dominate his kingdom. He first sent his emissaries to get a better understanding of Raje’s intentions. Satisfied that the proposed visit was merely to meet each other, he agreed to it.

  Within two days of the agreement, Ekoji Raje decided to pay a visit. The nearby temple of Shiva in Tirupatota, a couple of kilometres from Raje’s camp, was fixed for the venue. Ekoji arrived, accompanied by Shahaji Raje’s stepsons, Bhivaji Raje and Pratap Raje. Ekoji was of medium height and slightly overweight. His demeanour spoke of prosperity—he wore diamond-studded rings and he had tucked a fig leaf in his turban. The brothers hugged each other. After a darshan at the temple, Raje invited Ekoji to the camp.

  After a few days of rest and entertainment, Raje found a suitable time to broach the topic. He said, ‘Raje, you are younger than me but we are sons of the same father. I came to your territory, but you chose not to help me when I was fighting Sher Khan. Do you not trust me?’

  Ekoji did not reply. Raje continued, ‘As an elder brother, I could have demanded half of Maharaj saheb’s jagir but you did not volunteer my share on your own. I did not want to embarrass you by asking for it. See the way I have developed the Pune jagir, once burnt down by Murar Jagdev. It is now a kingdom. Should you not do the same?’

  ‘You built the kingdom with the help of your men. Isn’t it admirable that I continue to hold on to my jagir in a foreign region?’

  ‘Ekoji, my spies have informed me well. It is Sher Khan’s gratitude that allows you to run the jagir. I want you to quit your job in Adil Shah’s durbar and join me.’

  Ekoji was upset. He had not expected Raje to be so blunt. Raje continued, ‘Join me as my brother and not in a feudal allegiance. I want you to be the Jagirdar of a Maratha kingdom. It would be a happy situation if we can co-exist together, wouldn’t it?’

  ‘What if I refuse?’

  Raje was taken aback by Ekoji’s comment. He said, his voice taking on an edge, ‘I am only advising you as an elder brother, but I would like you to be polite. In the Mahabharata, a family feud flared up and destroyed everyone. If you remain a servant of Adil Shah, I will treat you in a manner that will lead to your destruction. Think it over, and don’t be rash.’

  Ekoji, though thoroughly frightened, maintained a straight face. After a few days, Raje met him again and said, ‘Ekoji, my kingdom is spread from the banks of Narmada to that of the Tungabhadra. But one thing is missing—you!’

  ‘Me?’

  ‘Your presence will be a symbol of remembrance of the elder Maharaj. I am told that the elder Maharaj has left behind twelve tokens. I would love to have my father’s tokens or rather, I demand them.’

  Ekoji felt relieved that he could probably avoid joining Raje by giving him the tokens. But he was surprised when Kakajipant, his Peshwa, rejected the idea. Ekoji asked, ‘Why do you say that?’

  ‘This is a new strategy of Shivaji’s. He managed to capture Purandar by coming in as a guest. The way he killed Afzal Khan was also deceitful. He took charge of Gingee but is yet to give Nasir Muhammad the promised fifty-thousand jagir.’

  ‘But I am promising him the tokens and not the jagir,’ Ekoji countered.

  ‘Why is Shivaji so attached to Shahaji Raje’s ensigns? Don’t be fooled by this—he asks for the tokens today. He will ask for the jagir tomorrow.’

  ‘What do you suggest then?’

  ‘He may have subdued the Adil Shahi and Qutb Shahi kingdoms but the Mughals are still a power to reckon with. Shivaji’s kingdom is a bubble on water, and it will burst someday. Those who join hands with him will suffer his fate. We are better off being alone and faraway from the Mughals. It is better that we avoid getting trapped in politics.’

  Ekoji was worried. He did not know what course of action to take. He said, a little perplexed, ‘I will return to Thanjavur and then decide.’

  ‘You will not be able to do that.’

  ‘Why?’

  ‘Do you think Shivaji is going to let you return so easily?’

  ‘Am I a prisoner here?’ Ekoji demanded, his face turning red with anger.

  ‘It seems that way to me,’ Kakajipant answered.

  Ekoji did not wait a single moment longer and with a single horseman for company, he rode to the safety of Thanjavur that night.

  Raje could not believe that Ekoji had run away. He summoned Kakajipant, Jaganathpant and the two stepbrothers, Pratap Raje and Bhivaji Raje. ‘Is it true that Ekoji Raje has run away?’ he asked Kakajipant.

  ‘Yes,’ Pant said, a little boldly.

  ‘Why would he do that? Was he worried about being arrested? I don’t want the tokens. I asked for them only as a remembrance of my father. What a pity he has run away.’

  Dejected that his brother did not believe him, he let out a deep sigh and said, looking at Kakajipant, ‘You are his senior advisor. What did you tell Ekoji?’

  ‘I …’ Kakaji hesitated.

  ‘I am sure it was not his idea to run away. You know I can take over Thanjavur just sitting here, don’t you? But you probably did not think of it. You can go now,’ Raje said, dismissing him with a wave of his hand.

  Ekoji’s men were sent off to Thanjavur after due gifts of ornaments and royal clothes.

  #

  Ekoji’s disappearance was a disappointment to Raje and he issued orders to annex Shahaji Raje’s jagir to his kingdom. Raje was also able to annex many other territories to his kingdom as he moved towards Thanjavur. The news from Raigad was disturbing. Internal bickering among the Adil Shahi sardars was making the Pathans stronger. Aurangzeb, realizing that Bahadur Khan had not been successful, had asked Diler Khan to take charge.

  ‘Since he has not arrived in the Deccan yet, we need to wind up our campaign and go back as soon as possible,’ Raje mused.

  It had been a month since Ekoji Raje had run away when Santaji Raje, Shahaji Raje’s stepson, came visiting, and Shivaji was pleased to receive him. They sat chatting when Santaji broached the topic of Ekoji. ‘I am told he did not obey you.’

  ‘He was not happy with what I said.’

  ‘I had asked Ekoji to meet you the moment I heard of your arrival in Karnatak. But knowing Ekoji’s attitude, I did not come along and Bhivaji and Pratapji accompanied Ekoji.’

  ‘Santaji, you must know that being allied with me means facing a new challenge each day. Are you prepared for that?’

  Santaji eyed Raje as he brushed his whiskers with the back of his wrist. He said, ‘I cannot waste my t
ime here anymore.’

  ‘You must know that I don’t hand out jagirs.’

  ‘Who wants a jagir? Just make me a cavalryman and that is enough!’

  Raje hugged Santaji and said, overwhelmed with emotions, ‘I am happy to have you on my side, Santaji. Why do you want to be an ordinary soldier when you should command a thousand men?’

  Raje offered him a mansab of a thousand and inducted him into his team.

  #

  The Marathas brought the territories of Kolar, Hoskote, Balapur and Shire from Shahaji Raje’s jagir into the Maratha kingdom. After going back to Tiruvannamalai to install a Shiva linga there, Raje celebrated deepotsava, the festival of lamps, on a full moon day.

  The troops annexed Ekoji’s territory north of the River Kaveri. This yielded an annual revenue of twenty lakhs. A few officials were appointed to manage the territory. Leaving seasoned generals like Hambirrao, Santaji Bhosale and Vithal Atre to look after these new territories, Raje decided to return to Raigad.

  ‘Ensure that the territory is established properly. And don’t pardon Ekoji if he tries to misbehave. Let everyone know that we will not tolerate any hostility.’

  Within a week of Raje’s departure, an infuriated Ekoji launched an attack. Santaji, with six thousand cavalry and foot soldiers, confronted his troops, and they clashed at Amboria. After a pitched battle, Santaji had to retreat, and Ekoji’s troops celebrated their victory.

  Feeling insulted and worried that he had let Raje down, Santaji launched a counter-attack on the Thanjavur camp. The enemy, caught unawares, ran helter-skelter. Santaji managed to wrest a thousand horses among other loot, and this brought Ekoji to his senses. Raghunathpant started negotiations with Ekoji to keep him occupied. In the meanwhile, Raje wrote a strongly-worded letter to Ekoji:

  ‘… I am on my way to Raigad and I am told that you are being wrongly advised by the Muslims and attacking your own people. However, I am willing to forget the past. You have enjoyed the jagir for thirteen years, and it is time that you entrusted the administration to us and gave us half the money, jewellery, elephants and horses in the jagir. If you agree, you will be given the Panhala district till the banks of Tungabhadra and a revenue of three lakhs annually. I am appealing to you as your elder brother. I want you to accept these terms and be happy. Else, the consequences will be disastrous …’

  #

  Raje kept moving towards Raigad, and at that time, they heard that Bahlol Khan had died and Siddi Masood had been made the prime minister of the Adil Shahi kingdom. There were also rumours of Diler Khan’s plan to march on the Bijapur kingdom. Raje decided to reach Panhala soon.

  The developments in Bijapur were interesting for Raje. Moropant came to meet Raje at Panhala while Hambirrao reached from the south.

  ‘We have had great success in south right up to Vellore. We now have boundaries touching the Tungabhadra River,’ said Hambirrao.

  ‘We are prepared to take on larger responsibilities now,’ Moropant added.

  ‘I like your confidence but we cannot be complacent. Siddi is a deceitful fellow and Diler Khan has now come to the Deccan. In my life, I have had two very powerful enemies; one was Mirza Raja Jai Singh and the other, Diler Khan. I cannot forget the treaty of Purandar. Mirza Raja is no more but Diler Khan is very cunning. I came back in a hurry when I heard that he had been sent here or our kingdom would have extended right up to Kanyakumari.’

  ‘We can rout Diler Khan, no doubt,’ Hambirrao said.

  ‘I know that. But the matter will not end there. Aurangzeb, one day or the other, is sure to come down to the Deccan himself. We will have to fight the real might of Mughals then. Whoever wins that battle will be the emperor of India. We have to finish off the Mughals and install the idol at the Kashi Vishwanath Temple, and we still have a long way to go. We cannot rest till then.’

  ‘We have some bad news, Raje,’ Moropant said. ‘Trayambak Dabir passed away.’

  ‘When did that happen?’ Dabir was one of Raje’s eight ministers and Raje’s great counsellor.

  ‘A year ago, in Shivapur.’

  ‘It is unfortunate he is no more when we need him the most. But things have been managed well in my absence over the past one and a half years. Our administration is very strong, thanks to people like you.’ Changing the topic, Raje asked, ‘How is Sambhaji?’

  Moropant was quiet and realizing that something was amiss, Raje asked, ‘Go on, Moropant. Don’t hesitate.’

  ‘He is quite popular in Shringarpur. In fact, he has given concessions in taxes and the people are happy. But this has led to a deficit in the treasury. Annaji’s decisions are not approved by Yuvraj.’

  ‘And …?’

  ‘I am told he has been initiated to a throne as an independent ruler by the poet Kalash.’

  ‘I don’t understand.’

  ‘I heard this from reliable people, Raje.’

  ‘It is an empty mind working overtime.’

  ‘Raje, we are told he is being influenced by some people of the Shakta sect.’

  ‘I see!’

  ‘But there is good news; you are going to be a grandfather soon!’

  ‘That is really good news,’ Raje said, smiling. ‘Let us go to Shringarpur and see the progress there. We will first have a look at the work at the Padmadurg Fort at Rajpuri and then return to Raigad via Shringarpur.’

  #

  At Rajpuri, the English envoy came to pay his respects. The chief of Raje’s navy, Daulat Khan, was also present. Raje said, addressing Daulat Khan, ‘I am getting reports of the trouble Siddi is creating in our kingdom, kidnapping Brahmins and enslaving them. We cannot wait any longer—I want you to gather all the forces you want and defeat Siddi at any cost. I cannot allow his atrocities any longer.’

  Daulat Khan assured Raje that he would take action immediately. Raje said, putting his hand on his shoulder, ‘Your confidence reassures me. Let me know whatever you need, and I shall arrange for it.’

  After a week at Rajpuri, having inspected the fort, Raje moved towards Shringarpur. It was the hot summer months, and travel through the humid Konkan region was taking a toll on everyone.

  Sambhaji, having heard from the advance party of Raje’s arrival, came a few miles ahead of the town to give Raje a rousing welcome.

  As they entered the haveli, Raje asked Sambhaji in a low voice, ‘Is it true? Am I going to be a grandfather?’

  All Sambhaji could manage was an embarrassed look. Raje laughed loudly as he patted Sambhaji on the back. Sambhaji was seeing Raje in a good mood after a long time. As they entered the inner chambers, Yesubai came in and managed to bow slightly, her advanced pregnancy making it difficult for her to bend. Yesu looked charming, her pregnancy having added a glow to her face. Seeing Raje staring at her, she fiddled awkwardly with her pallu.

  Raje said, affectionately hugging her, ‘My dear, I hope you are keeping good health.’

  ‘Yes, Aba saheb.’

  ‘I have missed you ever since I left Panhala. I am going to see my grandson now. I cannot wait!’

  ‘A granddaughter, not a grandson,’ Pilaji said, standing a little behind Yesubai. Pilaji was a little embarrassed, having blurted out. He corrected himself saying, ‘This is what Kalash tells us!’

  Raje smiled. ‘Such predictions may come true. Girl or boy, we will be equally happy. If it is a girl, I will believe that Bhawani has been born here.’ During meals, Raje said, ‘Yuvraj, I was in Karnatak but my mind was here all the time. I was getting constant information about the activities here.’

  Sambhaji, Kalash and Umaji Pandit paused to see what Raje would say next. Their faces were tense. Raje continued, ‘I am told you have composed poetry in Sanskrit, thanks to Umaji and Kalash. I am pleased to hear it!’

  The tension in the room was diffused and the meal continued with laughter and small talk. The next morning, as Raje sat in the makeshift office, he asked poet Kalash, ‘How do you see my astrological position at this moment?’

  ‘Your future is
bright, Maharaj. I had predicted your win in Karnatak. It has come true!’

  Seeing Hambirrao laugh loudly, Kalash asked, a little miffed at the insult, ‘Maharaj, I hope you do believe in horoscopes?’

  ‘Yes, I do believe in the position of stars and planets and I enjoy religious ceremonies and make it a point to visit shrines during my campaigns.’

  Kalash was relieved to hear that. Sambhaji came and touched Raje’s feet. And much to his surprise, Raje made him sit next to him, and said, ‘Now I must treat you with all the respect due to a king. You have crowned yourself; and hence you are neither a son nor a Yuvraj anymore.’

  ‘Aba saheb!’ Sambhaji said, staring at Moropant angrily.

  Raje’s expression changed. He said, as he looked at Kalash and Umaji Pandit, ‘It is not Moropant’s fault. It is you who got yourself crowned as a king without informing anyone. And Kalash, you are supposed to be his advisor. How could you suggest something like this?’

  Licking his lips nervously, Kalash said, ‘Maharaj, he was insistent. I had no choice.’

  ‘What does that mean? Is he the new Chhatrapati? Will he now take over my kingdom?’

  ‘He was worried and wanted to use this as an insurance against a possible death sentence in the future.’

  ‘Wah!’ Raje erupted, his voice dripping with contempt. ‘You forget that he is my son and a future king. If decisions had been taken only in a legal framework, he would not have been alive today.’

  Raje’e eyes were filled with tears. He said, keeping his hand on Sambhaji’s back, who was getting restless by the minute, ‘Shambhu, why do you fear that you may be sentenced to death someday?’

  Sambhaji touched Raje’s feet in reply. Raje continued, ‘You are my son, Shambhu. I want you to succeed before I die. You may have been guided by people for whom rites and rituals alone are important, but merely adhering to those does not bring a king to victory.’

  ‘I apologize, Aba saheb! I made a mistake.’

  ‘It does not matter if you made a mistake. To err is not a crime. I am here to rectify it. Promise me—you will err only to the extent that I can correct. The ryots are happy that you waived off their taxes but you must know that a kingdom runs on revenues. You are going to be a father now and you need a greater sense of your responsibilities. But I don’t want to dabble in your affairs—you must manage those yourself.’