shivaji

This is a shot that I took of Shivaji Maharaj, as he is called by all, outside the International Airport of the city which is called the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport!

Shivaji, to this state of Maharashtra, is and will always be a complete hero in all ways. His heroic deeds and events were, at his time, and even now discussed and exampled by all. Shivaji Bhosle was born in 1630 and lived till 1680 and was the founder of the Maratha Empire in Western India way back in 1664!

There is a very famous story of Shivaji's intellect and how he used it always during his wars and escapes. In 1666, Aurangzeb summond Shivaji to agra, along with his six year old son Sambhaji, on the occasion of his fiftieth birthday, after he was arrested by the Mughals. Aurangzeb's plan was to send Shivaji to Khandahar, modern day Afghanistan to consolidate the Mughal empire's north-western frontier. However in the court, Aurangzeb made Shivaji stand behind mansabdars (military commanders) of his court. Shivaji took offense to this seeming insult and stormed out of court and was promptly placed under house arrest, under the watch of Fulad Khan, Kotwal of Agra.

From his spies, Shivaji learned that Aurangzeb planned to shift him to Raja Vitthaldas's Haveli and then to possibly kill him or send him to fight in the Afghan frontier. As a result Shivaji planned his escape. The entire plan of escape is by far the best example of excellent analysis, planning and execution in Indian history. He feigned almost fatal sickness and requested to send most of his contingent back to Deccan. Thereafter, on his request, he was allowed to send daily shipments of sweets and gifts to saints, fakirs, and temples in Agra as offerings for getting well.

After several days and weeks of sending out boxes containing sweets, Shivaji hid himself in one of the boxes and managed to escape. Sambhaji, his six year old son, had been smuggled out a couple of days earlier. Shivaji and his son fled to the Deccan disguised as sadhus (holy men). Some accounts claim that after the escape, rumours of Sambhaji's death were intentionally spread by Shivaji himself in order to deceive the Mughals and to protect Sambhaji!!

Shivaji was formally crowned Chhatrapati (the chief or king of Kshatriyas). It is because of this heroic deeds of his that this state and its people totally admire him and have named many places, including the main Airports, Railway Stations and other important locations after him.

Heroes always live...they can never die...

For Shivaji...