A Proud Maratha

Maharani Lakshmibai The British East India company had arrived as traders and transformed into an aggressive military organization in India, aimed at dominating and conquering the nation. They defeated Siraj ud Daulah at Plassey in 1757 ane established a stronghold in Bengal. This was followed by the defeat of the Indian coalition of Shuja ud Daulah and Shah Alam II at the Battle of Buxar. The only power left to resist the British were the Marathas. After 3 Anglo Maratha wars, the Peshwa, Bajirao II was finally deposed and exiled to rule over a small town called Bithoor. This marked the end of the Maratha dominance in India and the British emerged as the masters of the Indian subcontinent. The other Maratha chiefs like Shinde and Holkars remained subservient to the British and retained a high standard among their foreign Overlords. Peshwa Bajirao II The Peshwa had a trusted subordinate named Moropant Tambe. Moropant Tambe had been the Peshwa's civil minister dur...

शिवभक्त प्रत्येक मराठी माणसाच्या ओठांवर एक नाव कायम असतं - छत्रपती शिवाजी महाराज. आपण स्वतःला शिवभक्त, महाराज भक्त म्हणतो! चांगली गोष्ट आहे! पण शिवभक्ती म्हणजे नेमकी काय गोष्ट असते ह्याचा कोणी विचार केला आहे का? आजकल कपाळावर चंद्रकोर लावणं, महाराजांसारखी दाढी वाढवणं, रुद्राक्ष आणि कवड्यांची माळ धारण करणं हीच शिवभक्तीची परिभाषा झाली आहे. "जय भवानी, जय शिवाजी" याची घोषणा करून लोकं स्वतःला शिवभक्त म्हणतात! अर्थात महाराजांचा जयजयकार करणं काही चुकीचं नाही! गर्व असलाच पाहिजे आपल्याला की असा राजा ह्या भूमीवर होऊन गेला. पण फक्त गर्वच असावा? लोकांना आजकल माहीत आहे ते महाराजांचं एक योद्धा सारखं रूप. अफझलखान वध, शाहिस्तेखान याची फजिती, सुरत ची लूट - या गोष्टी ऐकून लोकांना महाराजांच्या युद्ध नितीबद्दल बरीच माहिती मिळते. पण महाराजांचं आयुष्य फक्त युद्धांपूर्ती नाही होते हे कोणाला कळतंय! शिवभक्त होण्यासाठी फक्त महाराजांच्या युद्धाचा अभ्यास करणे पुरेसे नाही. त्यासाठी महाराजांचे चारित्र्य, त्यांचे गुण, त्यांची बुद्धी - या सगळ्यांचा अभ्यास सुद्धा तेवढाच महत्वाचा आहे. आजकल लोकं स्वतःच्...

It was due to the efforts of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj that Hindvi Swarajya was established. Unfortunately, Maharaj died soon after his coronation and a power vacuum was formed. Maharaj was succeeded by his eldest and most capable son, Chhatrapati Sambhaji raje. Here we will learn more about his life and his achievements. Sambhajiraje was born on 14 May, 1654 on the fortress of Purandar. His mother was Saibaisaheb, the chief queen of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Unfortunately, Shambhuraje lost his mother when he was just two years old. We cannot imagine the sorrow he went through during this phase. During those troubled times, a woman named Dharau became the foster mother of Shambhuraje. She fed him her own milk and looked after him as if he was her own child. Shambhuraje was a loving child and was doted upon by the other queens of Shivajiraje. His education was overseen by Rajmata Jijau saheb. Teachers were invited from various parts of the country to teach the young prince. Soon...

Hinduism - A modern term used to refer to Sanatan Dharma - a way of life which has been in existence for 1000s of years. It is this very concept that has been a torch to show a path to the world about kindness and righteousness. Sanatan Dharma has been teaching us the doctrines of Karma (duty), moksha (salvation), tapasya (meditation) over the years and it's a matter of great pride that the West is accepting these ideas and trying to follow this great path. But the sad part is that in our own country Bharat - the birthplace of Sanatan Dharma, the religion has suffered the most. It all started with the invasions by the Afghans, Turks and the Persians who had a religious aim to convert and destroy the "Kaafirs" (Infidels who don't believe in Islam). What began as a conquest soon turned into looting, rapes, murders, slavery and forced conversions. The most notorious of these invaders was Mahmud of Ghazni, a chieftain of the city of Ghazni. He launched multiple inv...

आज मी एका किल्ल्यासोबत जुळलेल्या आठवणी प्रस्तुत करत आहे. आमच्या गावच्या घरापासून २० मिनिटांवर सिंधुदुर्ग किल्ला आहे. मालवणच्या बंदरावर आमच्या काही नौका असायच्या. गावी गेल्यावर दररोज रात्री मी आणि माझे आजोबा, कै. सुरेशराव वासुदेवराव वराडकर, आम्ही दोघे गडावर होडीने जायचो. किल्ल्यामध्ये प्रवेश करताना मुख्य दरवाज्यातून आत जाण्यात एक वेगळीच शान वाटायची. जणू आपण स्वतः इतिहासाच्या एका साक्षीदाराच्या कुशीत जात आहोत! गडामध्ये प्रवेश करून काही अंतरावर एक निसर्गाचा चमत्कार पाहायला मिळायचा. एकाच झाडातून दोन नारळाची झाडे निघाली होती. ते पाहून प्रकृतीच्या अद्भुत कलेची ओळख झाली. पुढे जाऊन, आपले दैवत - श्री छत्रपती शिवाजी महाराजांचे देऊळ लागायचे. तिथे जाऊन, आपल्या शूर, पराक्रमी आणि जनकल्याणासाठी झटणाऱ्या राजासमोर स्वतःचे डोके टेकून जो आनंद लाभायचा तो अद्भुतच! काही वेळ तिथे बसून आजोबांकडून इतिहासाच्या गोष्टी ऐकायचो. अफझलखान वध, शाहिस्तेखान याची फजिती, बाजीप्रभू देशपांडे यांचा पराक्रम - या सगळ्या गोष्टी आम्ही सर्वप्रथम त्या मंदिराच्या पायरीवर बसून ऐकल्या होत्या. त्यानंतर आम्ही रात्रोच्या अंधकारात, ए...

आम्ही रचलेली शिव अभंगवाणी ३०० वर्षांचे पारतंत्र्य, सहन करीत होता महाराष्ट्र, वाली त्याचा कोणी, उरला नाही भूवरी। मराठी वीर सरदार जे, सेवक होते मुघलांचे, आत्मसम्मान त्यांचा, नष्ट होता जाहला। प्रजा मात्र बिचारी, अत्याचारास कंटाळलेली, भीक मागत होती देवापाशी, एका रक्षकासाठी। १९ फेब्रुवारीच्या दिवशी, १६३० साली, दुर्ग शिवनेरीवरी, जाहले जन्म तयाचे। जिजाऊ जधावरावांची, शहाजीराजे भोसल्यांची, संतान होती ही, श्री शिवाजी नावाची। दादोजी, सोनोपंतांचे, ज्ञान घेऊनि सारे, जाणते झाले आपुले, बाळ शिवाजी राजे। वयाच्या १६व्या वर्षी, तोरणा गड घेऊनि, स्वराज्याचा आरंभ, केला महाराजांनी। राजगड, प्रतापगड, पुरंदर, जिंकले गेले यानंतर, महाराजांच्या वेगाला, कोण रोखू शकेल! फिरले डोके मुघलांचे, विजापूरच्या आदिलशाहचे, धाडले राजेंविरुद्ध, कपटी, क्रूर अफझलखानास। मंदिर त्याने फोडीले, पंढरपूर, तुळजापुराचे, प्रतापगडावर भेटुनी तुम्ही, खानाचा वध केला हो। जिंकला किल्ला पन्हाळा, हरविले रुस्तमजमानास, पण अडकलात वेढ्यात आपण, सलाबत सिद्दी जोहरच्या। बाजीप्रभूंच्या बलिदानामुळे, निघालात आपण सुरक्षितपणे, गाठला...

The Maratha Empire had already expanded upto Delhi during the time of Peshwa Bajirao Ballal. Malwa, Gujrat, parts of Bundelkhand and Rajputana were already under the Maratha rule. Bajirao Peshwa was succeeded by his eldest son, Balaji who was also known as Nanasaheb. Nanasaheb had the support of the major generals like Malharrao Holkar, Ranoji Shinde, Vitthalrao Vinchurkar and Pilaji Gaikwad. One of the major commanders, Raghoji Bhosale was against the Peshwa but that thing was sorted out when Raghoji Bhosale was sent on an expedition to the Eastern province of Bengal. Nana Saheb had a younger brother, Raghunathrao, who was a better commander than most. His cousin, Sadashivrao Bhau was an expert in Civil affairs and administration. Ahmed Shah Abdali In 1756, Ahmed Shah Abdali invaded the Northern regions of India and captured Delhi with support from the Rohilla Chief, Najib ud Daulah. Abdali installed Alamgir II on the Mughal Throne but left the true power in the hands of Naji...

Bundelkhand is the region between present day Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. The region was initially controlled by the Chandela Rajputs till the advent of Mughal rule after which they remained as nominal chiefs of the area. In the 16th century, Rudra Pratap Singh founded the city of Orchha and became the first Raja of Bundelkhand. Sher Shah Suri tried to take the kingdom but died while besieging the fort of Kalinjar. Later, during the reign of the Mughal emperor Akbar, Bundelkhand was added to the Mughal dominions with the Bundelas serving as generals in the Mughal army. A Map showing Bundelkhand Champat Rai Bundela was a Mansabdar with a command of 12000 men in the service of Mughals. An incident occurred which insulted his pride and he declared independence from the Mughal rule. The Mughals reacted to this with a strong force and in desperation, Champat Rai agreed to surrender and left the fort after the enemy commander guaranteed his safety. But as soon as the...