08-04-2006, 07:05 PM
(This post was last modified: 08-04-2006, 07:11 PM by Bharatvarsh.)
Ok I am posting the following from "Advanced History of India - Vol I" by R.C Majumdar, I will post the pages dealing with Shivaji, the entire book can be found at:
http://dli.iiit.ac.in/cgi-bin/Browse/scrip...e=5010010000260
I will make the posts when I have time so I will be updating the thread constantly (by the way there are a lot of spelling mistakes in the HTML version and the other versions which allow copy pasting but you should be able to figure out the correct words if you have basic grasp of Indian history):
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->AURANGZEB 'iLAMGtR 505
B. Shimji's Career
Shiv&j! was born in the hill-fort of Shivner near Juixnar in 1630, as the writers of.one Bchool hold, or in 1627, as some modern historians say.1 Shahji removed to his new jaglr with his second wife, leaving Shivaji and his mother Jija Bal tinder the guardianship of an able Brahma#a, Dadaji Khonddev. Neglected by her husband, Jija Bai, a lady of virtuous temperament and extraordinary intellect, infused into her child's mind high and inspiring ideas by reciting stories of heroism, spirituality and chivalry in paat ages, and stimulated his zeal in defence of religion. "If ever great men owed their greatness to the inspiration of mothers", wrote Ranade, "the influence of Jija Ba! was a factor of prime importance in the making of Shivajfs career.3* The influence of Dadaji Khonddev also combined to make him bold and enterprising. We do not know if Shivaji received any formal literary education, but he grew up as a brave and adventurous soldier, "inspired by a real desire to free his country from what he considered to be a foreign tyranny, and not by a mere love of plunder". His early intimacy with the hillmen of the Maval country, ninety miles in length and about twelve to fourteen miles in breadth along the Western Ghats, was of immense value to him in his subsequent years, as the MavaJis turned out to be "his best soldiers, his earliest comrades, and his most devoted commanders". Through his mother, he was descended from the Yadava rulers of Devagiri, and on his father's side he claimed descent from the brave Sisodias of Mewar. Thus the sentiment of glorious heredity, and the influence of early training and environment, combined to rouse in the young Maratha soldier aspirations for founding an independent kingdom. He chose for himself a "career of independent", which, though full of risk, "had undreamt-of advantages to compensate for the risk, if only he could succeed".
The growing weakness of the Deccan Sultanates, and the prolonged campaigns of the imperialists in the north, greatly favoured the rise of the Maratha power. In 1646 Shivaji captured the fortress of Torna, five miles east of which he soon built the fort of fiajgarh. After the death of Dadaji Khonddev (1647), who probably did not approve of these risky enterprises, Shivaji acquired many forts from their hereditary owners, or the local officers of Bijapur, by
8ark»r*» Shivfyi* p. 25; JXH., 1927, pp. 177-97. Mr. Dasaratba Sbanna has brought to light (J.J&O.R.jJ?., June, 1934) a contemporary record of Shivljl's birth (toot is, » horoscope of Bhiv&jl preserved in the Bikaaer Fort Library}* According to which Shiv&jl waa born in Samvat 1680.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->506 AN ADVANCED HISTORY OF INDIA
force, bribery or trickery, and also built new ones. He thus came to possess a considerable estate, protected by a long chain of hill. forts. He had to suspend offensive operations against Bijapur for a few years (1640-1656) as his father was put under arrest by the Bij&pur Government and was released on condition of his son's good behaviour. But he utilised this time in consolidating his conquests, and in January, 1656, annexed the small Maratha principality of Javiij by having its semi-independent Mar&tha prince, Chandra Rio More, done to death by one of his agents. The extent and revenue of Shivajf s heritage were by this time more than doubled. He came into conflict with the Mughuls for the first time in 1657, when, taking advantage of Aurangzeb and his troops being engaged in the invasion of Bijapur, he raided the Mughul districts of Ahmadnagar and Junnar and even looted the city of Junnar. Aurangzeb promptly reinforced his officers in that part and Shivaji was defeated. When 'Adil Shah concluded peace with Aurangzeb* Shiv&jl also submitted to him. Aurangseb never trusted Shivaji, but he patched up the peace as his presence in the north became necessary owing to his father's illness. Shivaji next turned his attention to the North Konkan, captured Kalyan, Bhiwandl and M&hull, and proceeded m far south as Mahad.
Temporarily relieved from internal strife and immediate Mughul invasion, the Sultan of Bijapur decided to destroy the power of Shivaji once for all, and sent a large force against him, early in AJD. 1659, under Afzal Khan, one of the foremost nobles and generals of the kingdom, "to bring back the rebel (Shivaji) dead or alive1*. Afzal Khan reached Wai, twenty miles north of Satir§, within a fortnight. Failing to bring Shivaji out of his strong* hold of Pratipgarh, the Bijapur general opened negotiations with Mm through a Maratha Brahma$a, named Krish$aj! Bhaskar, and invited him to a conference. Shivaji received the envoy with respect, and appealed to him in the name of religion to disclose the real intention of Afzal KMn. Moved by this, Krishijaji Bhaskar hinted that the Bijapur general had mischief in his mind, which was confirmed by what Shivaji learnt from Gopinath, his own envoy to Afzal. This put Shivaji on the alert, and he proceeded to meet Ms adversary in a conference, apparently unarmed but with concealed weapons and clad in armour, with a view to meeting craft with craft if necessary. It has been unanimously alleged by the Mar&thas that, as the two embraced each other, the strong and stalwart Muslim general held the short and slim Maratha chief *s neck in his left arm with "an iron grip'* and with his right hand tried to thrust & dagger into the body of Shivaji, whose hidden armour,<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--> AURANGZEB 'iLAMGlE 507
however, saved him from harm. Shiv&jl immediately killed Afzal by rending Ms body with his baghnakh or gloves with steel claws. With the help of his troops, who were lying in ambush, he defeated the leaderless Bijapur troops and plundered their camp. Khafi Khan and Duff charge Sbivajl with having treacherously murdered Afzal Kh&n, who, in their opinion, did not first try to strike Shiv§jl. But Mar&tha writers have justified SMvajf s treatment of Afzal as an act of self-defence against the attack of the Bijapur general. The contemporary factory records accord with the statement of the Maratha chroniclers.
Shiv&jl next entered the South Konkanand the Kolhapur district. But in July, 1660, he was invested in the Panhal§ fort by a Bijapur force under Sid! Jauhar and was forced to evacuate it. He was soon confronted with a new danger. Sh&ista KMn? the new Mughul governor of the peccan, commissioned by Aurangzeb to suppress the Mar§tha chief's activities, occupied Poona, captured th© fort of Ghakan and drove away the Marathas from the Kalyan district. But SMv&j! soon patched up a truce with the Bijapur State, through the intervention of Ms father, who still held a position of importance there. Thus he became free to turn his whole attention to the Mughuls. After about two years* desultory fighting, he secretly entered into Sh&ista KMn's apartments in Poona with some attendants on the 15th April, 1663, " surprised and wounded the Mughul viceroy of the Deocan in tie heart of Ms camp, in his very bed-chamber, within the inner ring of hia body-guards and female slaves", slew his son, Abul Fath, one captain, forty attendants and six women of his harem, and then went safely away to the neighbouring stronghold of Singhagarh. The Mughul viceroy lost Ms thumb and barely escaped with Ms life. This daring exploit immensely increased the prestige of SMv&jl, who soon performed another feat, not less adventurous than the one described above. During the period 16th?20th January, 1664, he attacked and sacked Sur&t, the richest seaport on the west, without hindrance, as tha governor of the placq had taken to his heels instead of opposing him. The Maratha chief decamped with rich plunder exceeding ten million rupees in value. Only the local EngMah and Dutch factories successfully resisted him and escaped being plundered.
Indignant at these repeated reverses, which greatly affected Mughul prestige and influence in the Deccan, Aurangzeb sent, early in 1665, Jay Singh, B&j& of Amber, and Dilir Kh&n to the Deccan with an expeditionary force to punish SMvijI, Jay Singh, a tactful and br&ve general, who combined with varied military<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
http://dli.iiit.ac.in/cgi-bin/Browse/scrip...e=5010010000260
I will make the posts when I have time so I will be updating the thread constantly (by the way there are a lot of spelling mistakes in the HTML version and the other versions which allow copy pasting but you should be able to figure out the correct words if you have basic grasp of Indian history):
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->AURANGZEB 'iLAMGtR 505
B. Shimji's Career
Shiv&j! was born in the hill-fort of Shivner near Juixnar in 1630, as the writers of.one Bchool hold, or in 1627, as some modern historians say.1 Shahji removed to his new jaglr with his second wife, leaving Shivaji and his mother Jija Bal tinder the guardianship of an able Brahma#a, Dadaji Khonddev. Neglected by her husband, Jija Bai, a lady of virtuous temperament and extraordinary intellect, infused into her child's mind high and inspiring ideas by reciting stories of heroism, spirituality and chivalry in paat ages, and stimulated his zeal in defence of religion. "If ever great men owed their greatness to the inspiration of mothers", wrote Ranade, "the influence of Jija Ba! was a factor of prime importance in the making of Shivajfs career.3* The influence of Dadaji Khonddev also combined to make him bold and enterprising. We do not know if Shivaji received any formal literary education, but he grew up as a brave and adventurous soldier, "inspired by a real desire to free his country from what he considered to be a foreign tyranny, and not by a mere love of plunder". His early intimacy with the hillmen of the Maval country, ninety miles in length and about twelve to fourteen miles in breadth along the Western Ghats, was of immense value to him in his subsequent years, as the MavaJis turned out to be "his best soldiers, his earliest comrades, and his most devoted commanders". Through his mother, he was descended from the Yadava rulers of Devagiri, and on his father's side he claimed descent from the brave Sisodias of Mewar. Thus the sentiment of glorious heredity, and the influence of early training and environment, combined to rouse in the young Maratha soldier aspirations for founding an independent kingdom. He chose for himself a "career of independent", which, though full of risk, "had undreamt-of advantages to compensate for the risk, if only he could succeed".
The growing weakness of the Deccan Sultanates, and the prolonged campaigns of the imperialists in the north, greatly favoured the rise of the Maratha power. In 1646 Shivaji captured the fortress of Torna, five miles east of which he soon built the fort of fiajgarh. After the death of Dadaji Khonddev (1647), who probably did not approve of these risky enterprises, Shivaji acquired many forts from their hereditary owners, or the local officers of Bijapur, by
8ark»r*» Shivfyi* p. 25; JXH., 1927, pp. 177-97. Mr. Dasaratba Sbanna has brought to light (J.J&O.R.jJ?., June, 1934) a contemporary record of Shivljl's birth (toot is, » horoscope of Bhiv&jl preserved in the Bikaaer Fort Library}* According to which Shiv&jl waa born in Samvat 1680.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->506 AN ADVANCED HISTORY OF INDIA
force, bribery or trickery, and also built new ones. He thus came to possess a considerable estate, protected by a long chain of hill. forts. He had to suspend offensive operations against Bijapur for a few years (1640-1656) as his father was put under arrest by the Bij&pur Government and was released on condition of his son's good behaviour. But he utilised this time in consolidating his conquests, and in January, 1656, annexed the small Maratha principality of Javiij by having its semi-independent Mar&tha prince, Chandra Rio More, done to death by one of his agents. The extent and revenue of Shivajf s heritage were by this time more than doubled. He came into conflict with the Mughuls for the first time in 1657, when, taking advantage of Aurangzeb and his troops being engaged in the invasion of Bijapur, he raided the Mughul districts of Ahmadnagar and Junnar and even looted the city of Junnar. Aurangzeb promptly reinforced his officers in that part and Shivaji was defeated. When 'Adil Shah concluded peace with Aurangzeb* Shiv&jl also submitted to him. Aurangseb never trusted Shivaji, but he patched up the peace as his presence in the north became necessary owing to his father's illness. Shivaji next turned his attention to the North Konkan, captured Kalyan, Bhiwandl and M&hull, and proceeded m far south as Mahad.
Temporarily relieved from internal strife and immediate Mughul invasion, the Sultan of Bijapur decided to destroy the power of Shivaji once for all, and sent a large force against him, early in AJD. 1659, under Afzal Khan, one of the foremost nobles and generals of the kingdom, "to bring back the rebel (Shivaji) dead or alive1*. Afzal Khan reached Wai, twenty miles north of Satir§, within a fortnight. Failing to bring Shivaji out of his strong* hold of Pratipgarh, the Bijapur general opened negotiations with Mm through a Maratha Brahma$a, named Krish$aj! Bhaskar, and invited him to a conference. Shivaji received the envoy with respect, and appealed to him in the name of religion to disclose the real intention of Afzal KMn. Moved by this, Krishijaji Bhaskar hinted that the Bijapur general had mischief in his mind, which was confirmed by what Shivaji learnt from Gopinath, his own envoy to Afzal. This put Shivaji on the alert, and he proceeded to meet Ms adversary in a conference, apparently unarmed but with concealed weapons and clad in armour, with a view to meeting craft with craft if necessary. It has been unanimously alleged by the Mar&thas that, as the two embraced each other, the strong and stalwart Muslim general held the short and slim Maratha chief *s neck in his left arm with "an iron grip'* and with his right hand tried to thrust & dagger into the body of Shivaji, whose hidden armour,<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--> AURANGZEB 'iLAMGlE 507
however, saved him from harm. Shiv&jl immediately killed Afzal by rending Ms body with his baghnakh or gloves with steel claws. With the help of his troops, who were lying in ambush, he defeated the leaderless Bijapur troops and plundered their camp. Khafi Khan and Duff charge Sbivajl with having treacherously murdered Afzal Kh&n, who, in their opinion, did not first try to strike Shiv§jl. But Mar&tha writers have justified SMvajf s treatment of Afzal as an act of self-defence against the attack of the Bijapur general. The contemporary factory records accord with the statement of the Maratha chroniclers.
Shiv&jl next entered the South Konkanand the Kolhapur district. But in July, 1660, he was invested in the Panhal§ fort by a Bijapur force under Sid! Jauhar and was forced to evacuate it. He was soon confronted with a new danger. Sh&ista KMn? the new Mughul governor of the peccan, commissioned by Aurangzeb to suppress the Mar§tha chief's activities, occupied Poona, captured th© fort of Ghakan and drove away the Marathas from the Kalyan district. But SMv&j! soon patched up a truce with the Bijapur State, through the intervention of Ms father, who still held a position of importance there. Thus he became free to turn his whole attention to the Mughuls. After about two years* desultory fighting, he secretly entered into Sh&ista KMn's apartments in Poona with some attendants on the 15th April, 1663, " surprised and wounded the Mughul viceroy of the Deocan in tie heart of Ms camp, in his very bed-chamber, within the inner ring of hia body-guards and female slaves", slew his son, Abul Fath, one captain, forty attendants and six women of his harem, and then went safely away to the neighbouring stronghold of Singhagarh. The Mughul viceroy lost Ms thumb and barely escaped with Ms life. This daring exploit immensely increased the prestige of SMv&jl, who soon performed another feat, not less adventurous than the one described above. During the period 16th?20th January, 1664, he attacked and sacked Sur&t, the richest seaport on the west, without hindrance, as tha governor of the placq had taken to his heels instead of opposing him. The Maratha chief decamped with rich plunder exceeding ten million rupees in value. Only the local EngMah and Dutch factories successfully resisted him and escaped being plundered.
Indignant at these repeated reverses, which greatly affected Mughul prestige and influence in the Deccan, Aurangzeb sent, early in 1665, Jay Singh, B&j& of Amber, and Dilir Kh&n to the Deccan with an expeditionary force to punish SMvijI, Jay Singh, a tactful and br&ve general, who combined with varied military<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->