Chhatrapati Shivaji is a outstanding determine in Indian political and navy historical past.
November 10, 1659
The Marathas, led by Shivaji, awaited the arrival of the Adilshahi troops beneath General Afzal Khan of the Bijapur Sultanate at Pratapgarh Fort, perched on a hill in Satara, Maharashtra. A battle important in Indian navy historical past was about to ensue on the foothills of the fort.
Afzal Khan began from Bijapur and was on a quest to tackle the Marathas, he wished Shivaji to depart the fort and combat within the plains – an uphill battle didn’t favour him. On the foothills of the fort, a truce negotiation was known as however Afzal Khan tried to strangle Shivaji and stab him however he anticipated the transfer. The two engaged in hand-to-hand fight and Shivaji killed the Adilshahi normal along with his ‘wagh nakh’.
The victory at Pratapgarh was important in laying the roots of the Maratha empire. Fifteen years later in June 1674, Shivaji was topped the King of the Maratha Empire, giving him the title of Chhatrapati.
Legacy Of Chhatrapati Shivaji
November, 2024
On the 350th anniversary 12 months of Shivaji’s coronation, an exhibition within the coronary heart of New Delhi brings ahead the legacy of the Maratha warrior, the weaponry utilized by his forces and his contemporaries.
‘Shivkaleen Shastraratre’ – an exhibition at Indira Gandhi National Centre For The Arts (INGCA), Delhi – celebrates the legacy of Chhatrapati Shivaji and his navy acumen. The weapons from the seventeenth century take a customer to the early fashionable interval in historical past which noticed muzzles, handguns and swords collectively in motion earlier than the appearance of industrialization and the adoption of recent warfighting instruments.
Rakesh Rao, from CORE Heritage, the curator of the exhibition, spoke to NDTV, concerning the exhibition and defined intimately how these weapons had been utilized by troopers. “The Government of India and IGNCA determined to arrange a particular exhibition on the arms and armour from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s interval. We shortlisted 3,000 objects, preserved them and took 800 out of them and the weapons are on show on 15 boards to assist frequent folks to grasp the arms and armour from Shivakaal.”
Mr Rao has been preserving the heritage of armourers of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj for the final 40 years by way of his institute, CORE Heritage, which relies out of Pune.
Basic Arms and Armours of Marathas
They had been used particularly by the Marathas. The ‘wagh nakh’ – a category of weapon by Shivaji Maharaj to kill Afzal Khan – was additionally on show, together with Bichuwa, a dagger. Battleaxe, spear or Barchi and slingshot had been generally utilized by the Marathas, Mr Rao advised NDTV.
“Marathas had been farmers however beneath name from Rajaji, they joined the military with their slingshot, axe, sickle…Of all of the weapons, ‘Vita’ – a spear – is particular. You can throw it on the enemy and pull it out utilizing the rope which was tied to a soldier’s wrist. It’s some of the ferocious weapons utilized by Marthas and the one that used this weapon is named ‘Vitekar’. In the Maratha military, there was a bunch of ‘Vitekars’ who carried this weapon and had been thought-about to be some of the dreadful,” Mr Rao mentioned.
Vetikar – spear with a rope connected to at least one finish. Khanda is the weapon positioned above the sword with golden hilt.
“Khanda, a sword, derives its title from the Sanskrit phrase ‘Khand’ that means breaking into two elements. This sword can break an object into two in only one blow.”
This weapon (image under) was utilized by troopers to trigger blunt pressure harm to the enemy. It couldn’t pierce the chained armour however break the bone, rendering them incapable of preventing.
A Precious Sword On Display
The sword with a golden hilt is treasured because it’s one of many few gadgets on show that had been touched by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Mr Rao mentioned. During his coronation in 1674, Shivaji Maharaj gave this sword to his navy normal, Hambirrao Mohite. It is among the many six objects that had been as soon as touched by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
The sword on the acute left with a golden hilt was introduced to the Maratha normal Hambirrao Mohite.
‘Ghughi’ was a particular armour worn by the Marathas. It was made out of wool of sheep and goat. It was mild in weight and a sword or a dagger couldn’t minimize it. The generally used European chest armour was additionally on show on the exhibition.
Weapons for Children and Women
One of essentially the most intriguing components on show had been weapons for kids and girls. The use goes past simply preventing the enemy but additionally builds a legacy and status. It not solely included conventional weapons like swords, daggers and shields but additionally their contemporaries just like the muzzle weapons.
A curator mentioned that these weapons had been utilized by ladies and kids for his or her self-defence in case of a defeat by the enemy. It protected their honour and status. The lengthy barrel weapons with heavy recoil had been meant for girls and the quick barrel firearms for kids.
Mr Rao mentioned throughout that interval, handing weapons to youngsters at an early age was essential to impart coaching and get an understanding of the weaponry. If you possibly can’t respect your weapon then you possibly can’t be a great soldier, he mentioned.
Mr Rao is the thirteenth era of the Dhawade household whose members served as cannon-makers and particular bodyguards of the Marathas. His brother, Ashokrao, is an knowledgeable in medieval languages like Modi, Farsi and Persian and the letters from that period written in Modi, a script used to write down Marathi, had been additionally on show.
Union Minister of Culture and Tourism, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, additionally visited the exhibition and shared footage and mentioned, “The navy legacy of the Maratha Empire is an iron signature of India’s proud previous.”
मराठा साम्राज्य की सैन्य विरासत भारत के स्वाभिमानपूर्ण अतीत के लौह हस्ताक्षर हैं।
इंदिरा गांधी राष्ट्रीय कला केंद्र में लगी शिवकालीन शस्त्र प्रदर्शनी में जाकर आप भी ऐतिहासिक तलवारों, कवचों और शस्त्रों का अवलोकन कर सकते हैं। आज मैंने यहाँ अपनी उपस्थिति दर्ज कराई। मुझे गर्व की… pic.twitter.com/cRwT1b66d2
— Gajendra Singh Shekhawat (@gssjodhpur) October 21, 2024
“You also can go to the Shiva interval weapons exhibition at Indira Gandhi National Center for the Arts and see historic swords, armour and weapons. Today I registered my presence right here. I felt proud, you’ll undoubtedly really feel the identical.”
The exhibition, which additionally has a reproduction of the armour for ‘contact and really feel’ for guests, will culminate on November 10.
Chhatrapati Shivaji is a outstanding determine in Indian political and navy historical past. He can also be credited for realising the significance of a robust maritime pressure to guard the coast. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s fleet comprised 60 preventing ships and roughly 5,000 males. The rising Maratha naval energy throughout Shivaji Maharaj’s interval was the primary to safe the shoreline towards exterior aggression.
In 2022, his legacy impressed the brand new ensign of the Indian Navy which pays him tribute. The new ensign has the nationwide flag on the higher canton. A blue octagonal form with the nationwide emblem sits atop an anchor, superimposed on a defend with the navy’s motto.
The navy mentioned the blue octagonal form represents the eight instructions symbolising the Indian Navy’s multidirectional attain and multidimensional operational functionality.