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Shivaji - A True Raja

History has been very un-kind to one of the greatest leaders and administrators to have ever ruled - Shivaji.

As a student who passed matriculation from the local state board in Maharashtra , we were taught on the life and the times of Shivaji, the Maratha empire and his legacy. But beyond the dates, events and many a tales and anecdotes that form a part of the history curriculum and local folklore - Shivaji left behind a unique model , a model that could unite a large population cutting across caste and religion to achieve a larger goal, a model that set a benchmark in governance, administration and reform.

Here a few salient aspects of the Shivaji's model of governance 

1) Organize - Shivaji started off with barely 2000 troops but ended up with an army of more than a lakh. From a local presence in Maharashtra, the Marathawada kingdom at its peak spanned 4% of the subcontinent. Shivaji's reached out to all sections of society irrespective of caste, religion and organised them to march towards the goal of 'Hindavi Swaraj'.

2) Culture as a 'glue' - How could Shivaji unify people of different sections of society towards a single goal. The glue was culture. While caste and religion divides , culture unites. Promotion of local   languages such as Marathi and Sanskrit in place of Persian, protection of cows who were not only  revered by the people but also economically supported a family in tough economic times were some of the measures deployed by Shivaji.

When Aurangzeb imposed a tax on Hindus who wanted to visit temples, Shivaji wrote to Aurangzeb which not only explained our culture but also spelled out for the very first time the idea and a working model of secularism.

3) Focus on Security - No prosperity is possible without a secure environment. From innovative guerrilla tactics to the development of India's first navy, local defence capability received a significant boost under Shivaji's tenure.

4) Institutionalise Governance - Shivaji institutionalised governance by making appointments on merit and by getting people to actively participate in the development of the kingdom. In possibly the very first deployment of public private partnership, people of the kingdom were actively involved in building road networks, irrigation canals. Every citizen was made to feel like a equal stakeholder in the running of the administration.

As a new government takes charge, there can be no better role model for our PM other than Shivaji and there is can be no better model of governance and development than outlined by his administration.

Shivaji was not just a freedom fighter, he is a cultural icon and a true Hindu Nationalist.




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