Shivaji Maharaj and His Management Skills

Shivaji Raje Bhosle popularly known as Chhatrapati Shivaji was the son of Shahaji Raje
Bhosleand Jijabai. Shivaji's birth date has been a matter of controversy but recently a consensus
has been reached and is deemed to be 19 February 1630.

LEADERSHIP TRAITS

Fair administration
Shivaji established a fair administration of income tax and employed civilians to collect the
taxes. He also established the system of affordable loans for farmers in need. We Learn takes a
cue from his administrative skills, not only for the way he handled his citizens, but especially for
the way he efficiently managed his administration smoothly.

Despised Discrimination
Shivaji promoted common people based on their qualifications. Naturally a majority of his
officers were Hindus, but a number of Muslims also held key positions: chief of artillery, chief of
navy as well as diplomats. When Shivaji visited Agra to attend Aurangzeb’s 50th birthday
celebration, his most trusted body guard was Madari Mehtar – a Muslim teenager!

Ahead of Time Thinking

Shivaji Maharaj was the king who always thought ahead of the time.

While making any plan or decision he thinks about the impact of that decision in the future.

And probably most of the time he was having the solution for upcoming problems so he is
known as the ideal person for his ahead time thinking

Support To Traders
Shivaji promoted commerce by providing businessmen with choice locations at discount prices
as well as tax concessions. His motto was, Sahukar he to rajyache bhushan (Business people are
jewels of a nation).

Origin of the cabinet

Shivaji was an efficient ruler and administrator and ruled by a just and firm hand. His
government had concepts that we know by now like the Cabinet known as Ashtapradhan
Mandal, foreign affairs known as Dabir and also an internal intelligence wing.

War Tactics

The Navy
Shivaji was the first Indian king to cultivate navy in addition to acquiring land. He had 300
shipyards, hundreds of frigates and many sea forts. He controlled over 300 miles of coastline.

"He is known as ‘Father of the Indian Navy.’

Guerilla Warfare
He pioneered Ganimi Kava or guerrilla tactics, which leveraged strategic factors like
demographics speed, surprise and focused attack to defeat his enemies. In comparison to the
great Mughal Empire, Shivaji had a smaller army and thereby was obliged to wage guerilla
warfare to help overcome this great imbalance.

Other Management Skills Of Shivaji Maharaj

Administration Skill

Rational Decision

Making

Communication Skill
Motivation

Innovations

Minimize Risk

Establishing The Sequence Of Activities

Proper Judgments

Patience

1. An effective organizer:
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Shivaji is known as one of the greatest organizers in history.

By dint of his remarkable powers, he collected together the scattered

Marathas and turned them into an organised formidable force.
 image source: facts-about-india.com/image-files/shivaji-maratha.JPG

2. An efficient general and military strategist:

He was a successful general and knew well how to strike at the enemy.
As a result of his strategies, he was able to face the mighty armies of
the Sultans of Bijapur and the Mughals.

3. A skillful diplomat:
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He never let his enemies unite against him. He got his father free from
the Sultan of Bijapur on account of his diplomacy. His freedom from
the detention of Aurangzeb at Agra speaks volumes of his diplomacy.

4. Brave soldier:
He was very daring and was prepared to take calculated risks.

5. An enlightened administrator:
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Shivaji was an administrator of great ability and practical vision. He

personally looked after the working of various departments. He was
ruthless with those officers who indulged in corruption and
oppression.

6. Respect for others faith:

His treatment with the followers of other faiths was very fair. Even a
great critic of Shivaji like Khafi Khan has observed about him that he
had “made it a rule that whenever his followers went plundering, they
should do no harm to the mosques, the Book of God (Quran) or the
women of anyone.”

7. An inspiring leader:
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His influence on account of his inspiring leadership grew so rapidly

that his staunch enemy Aurangzeb himself had to admit “My armies
have been employed against him for nineteen years and nevertheless
his (Shivaji’s) state has always been increasing.”

8. An obedient son:
Shivaji loved his parents greatly. He was extremely devoted to his
mother Jijabai. He worshipped her like a goddess and obeyed her
command.

9. A dutiful disciple:
Shivaji had a great respect for his gurus.

10. Regenerator of the Hindus:

Shivaji attempted to generate a new spirit of pride among the Hindus.
He however, was also very particular to maintain the honour of
Muslim women and the holy Quran.

11. A benevolent ruler:

Shivaji worked for the welfare of his subjects.

12. Shivaji as the maker of Maharashtra:

Shivaji welded the Maratha race into a mighty nation and he achieved
all this in the teeth of the opposition of mighty powers like the
Mughals, Bijapur and the Portuguese in India. As J.N. Sarkar, the
great historian said, “He welded the Marathas into a mighty nation.”