Chhatrapati Shivaji is a distinguished determine in Indian political and navy historical past.
November 10, 1659
The Marathas, led by Shivaji, awaited the arrival of the Adilshahi troops beneath Normal 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 needed Shivaji to go away the fort and combat within the plains – an uphill battle didn’t favour him. On the foothills of the fort, a truce negotiation was referred to as however Afzal Khan tried to strangle Shivaji and stab him however he anticipated the transfer. The 2 engaged in hand-to-hand fight and Shivaji killed the Adilshahi normal together 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
On the 350th anniversary of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, 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 Nationwide 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 EDNBOX, concerning the exhibition and defined intimately how these weapons had been utilized by troopers. “The Authorities 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 widespread individuals to know 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 is predicated out of Pune.
Fundamental 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 informed EDNBOX.
“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’ll be able to throw it on the enemy and pull it out utilizing the rope which was tied to a soldier’s wrist. It is probably the most ferocious weapons utilized by Marthas and the one who used this weapon known as ‘Vitekar’. Within the Maratha military, there was a bunch of ‘Vitekars’ who carried this weapon and had been thought-about to be probably the most 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 identify 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 beneath) was utilized by troopers to trigger blunt drive damage to the enemy. It couldn’t pierce the chained armour however break the bone, rendering them incapable of combating.
A Valuable Sword On Show
The sword with a golden hilt is valuable because it’s one of many few objects on show that had been touched by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Mr Rao mentioned. Throughout his coronation in 1674, Shivaji Maharaj gave this sword to his navy normal, Hambirrao Mohite. It’s 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 offered 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 Kids and Girls
One of the vital intriguing parts on show had been weapons for youngsters and weapon. The use goes past simply combating 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 girls and youngsters 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 youngsters.
Mr Rao mentioned throughout that interval, handing weapons to kids at an early age was essential to impart coaching and get an understanding of the weaponry. If you cannot respect your weapon then you’ll be able to’t be soldier, he mentioned.
Mr Rao is the thirteenth era of the Dhawade household whose members served as cannon-makers and particular bodyguards of the royal households. His brother, Ashokrao, is an professional in medieval languages like Modi, Farsi and Persian and the letters from that period written in Modi, a script used to jot down Marathi, had been additionally on show.
Union Minister of Tradition 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 may also go to the Shiva interval weapons exhibition at Indira Gandhi Nationwide Heart for the Arts and see historic swords, armour and weapons. Right now I registered my presence right here. I felt proud, you’ll undoubtedly really feel the identical.”
The exhibition, which additionally has a duplicate of the armour for contact and really feel for guests, will culminate on November 10.
Chhatrapati Shivaji is a distinguished determine in Indian political and navy historical past. He’s additionally credited for realising the significance of a powerful maritime drive to guard the coast. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s fleet comprised 60 combating ships and roughly 5,000 males. The rising Maratha naval energy throughout Shivaji Maharaj’s interval was the primary to safe the shoreline in opposition to exterior aggression.
In 2022, His legacy impressed the brand new ensign of the Indian Navy which pays him tribute. The brand 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 protect 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.