1

SHIVAJI – A MILITARY GENIUS

1. Shivaji carved an independent kingdom in Deccan with his extraordinary military

exploits fighting against the might of Mughal and Adilshahi Empire. His leadership
kindled the hearts and minds of common people for struggle against oppression
and tyranny.
2. Prior to birth of Shivaji, the economic and social condition of masses was in
rundown state with absence of law and order in the region. Deccan principality was
intermittently ruled by the Nizamshahi(Capital at Ahmednagar), Adilshahi(Capital at
Bijapur) and Mughals. The British and Portuguese were then mere traders with little
influence to qualify themselves as any significant power.
3. Shahaji, father of Shivaji, held jagir in and around Pune province. He was a
reputed warrior and noblemen. He tried his hand at running a state independently
through a young Nizam prince for nearly four years but failed subsequently. Finally he
settled as a noblemen at Adilshahi court for rest of his life. Shahaji relocated his wife
Jijabai and young son Shivaji to manage their jagir in Pune.
4. Shivaji with trusted band of hardy locals from areas around Pune started
spreading his wings by conquering forts in Sahyadri ranges by surprise and
collaboration. His youthful zeal and activities were initially disregarded as minor unrest
by Adilshahi and Mughals. However the flame ignited by Shivaji amongst Marathas
not only lifted them from obscurity but also spurred them to become major power
in Indian subcontinent from 17th to 19th century.
5. Shivaji’s military campaigns are characterized by daring and sheer
audaciousness. He has been wrongly categorized as guerilla leader wherein he
was exactly opposite and can be termed as earliest proponent of manoeuvre
warfare.
6. Shivaji successfully fought Adilshahi and Mughals and defeated them by superior
planning and superb execution. He mastered all operations of war by way of advance,
defence, attack and special operations. The special operations conducted in form of
raids, ambushes, cliff chop assault, escape and evasion can be illustrated as
legends in annals of military history. His vision and foresight for security of coastline
 2

and seas impelled raising of Navy laying, building new sea forts and repairing of old sea
forts. Shivaji can be truly called as ‘Father of Indian Navy’.
7. Shivaji’s military tactics and his campaigns when extrapolated with modern day
parameters of military rationale have defied all propagated dictums. He always defeated
numerically superior and well equipped enemy.
8. Hence, it is important to carry out military analysis of Shivaji’s battles to
understand strategy and tactics which delivered disproportionate victories against
daunting enemy. It is also important to ascertain the application of lessons of his
strategy and essence of military tactics in current geo strategic context against potential
adversaries.

Aim

9. The aim of this paper is to analyse the military campaigns of Shivaji in context of
operations of war, strategy and manoeuvre warfare.

Scope

10. The scope of the paper is as follows:-

(a) Political landscape and broad timelines.

(b) Shivaji’s military campaigns in context of operations of war.

(c) Military strategy and military organisation of Shivaji.

(d) Manoeuvre and guerilla warfare.

(e) Shivaji as military leader.

(f) Relevance in today’s context.

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Political Landscape and Broad Timelines

11. Political Landscape Prior to Shivaji’s Activism-Year 1645.

 4

12. Broad Times – Life of Shivaji.

Shivaji’s Military Campaigns in Context of Operations of War

13. Terrain. Sahyadri was a veritable mountain range running North to South
with an average altitude from 3000-4000 feet above sea level. The patch of land
between Sahyadri range and Arabian sea was called Konkan with its width from 50-150
km. Several mountain and sea forts existed in the region giving it an unmatched
defensibility. People of the land were simple and hardy. The climate of the region was
moderate, however during rains, Sahyadri and Konkan received heavy rainfall. The
topography of area of Shivaji’s exploits is as below:-
 5

SAHYADRI
RANGE

DECCAN
PLATEAU
KONKAN

Shivaji in his lifetime fought over more than 150 major and minor battles against
different enemies. The most significant of them which hold lessons for future are as
listed:-

(a) Attack.

(i) Defeat of Afzalkhan. Afzalkhan was a mighty sardar of

Adilshah who accepted the gauntlet to kill Shivaji. With a force of 15,000
troops he came to Wai, hectic diplomatic activities ensued and meeting
was planned at Pratapgarh. Afzalkhan tried to stab Shivaji during the
meeting and was in turn slayed by Shivaji. Thereafter Adilshahi troops
were routed in the battle. The 1plan of attack was as follows:-

1
No details available. Information available is entwined into contemplated military plan.
 6

(aa) Phase 1. Prepositioning of forces in jungles of Jawali on

09 Nov 1659. Forces of 2Jedhe and Bandal with 1500 soldiers each
at around Par. 1000 soldiers of Shilimkar to occupy blocking
position at Bochegoli Pass. 1000 soldiers with Netaji Palkar at rear
camp at Wai.

(ab) Phase 2. On 10 November 1659, Shivaji to meet

Afzalkhan at Pratapgarh at around 1100h.

(ac) Phase 3. On pre-arranged signal, Jedhe to attack troops

at Pratapgarh base, Bandal and Shilimkar at Par and Netaji Palkar
at rear camp of Afzalkhan at Wai.

(ad) Phase 4. Exploitation till Panhalgarh, till Kudal in Konkan

and laying waste the territory of Adilshahi till Dharwad, Gadag and
Tikota.

(ii) End State. All four phases were successful except Netaji Palkar
couldn’t attack rear camp at Wai. Three pronged thrust was launched in
Konkan, along the country and deep in enemy territories. In a period of 18
days the forces moved nearly 200 km towards Panhala fort and nearly 300
km along Konkan coast. Netaji Palkar laid waste the areas in Adilshahi
territory.

(iii) Analysis. Shivaji’s diplomatic victory lured able military general

like Afzalkhan into Jawali. The rout in the battle was forgone conclusion.
Shivaji displayed tremendous physical prowess in killing Afzalkhan
thereby winning the hearts and minds of his soldiers and population.

2
Jedhe, Bandal, Shilimkar and Palkar were alike to formation commanders.
 7

(iv) Broad Plan of Attack.

 8

(v) Exploitation.
 9

(vi) Battle of Salher. Shivaji fought many battles in open when it

was inescapable and won it with effortlessly against Mughals and
Adilshahi.

(aa) Terrain. Salher lies 80 km North of Nasik and

dominates routes to Surat, Burhanpur and Aurangabad. Area
around Salher fort is broken ground.

(ab) Troops. 40,000 troops of Bahadur Khan of Mughals

invested the fort of Salher. Marathas under Moropant and Pratap
Gujar mustered 25,000 troops.

(ac) Deployment of Mughals. 3In order to lift the siege the main
threat of Shivaji’s forces was from South. Bahadur Khan must have
favoured defensive box formation with some reserves placed inside
for contingency.

(ad) Attack Plan. Marathas keeping in view the terrain must have
assaulted with cavalry from South being plain and thereafter with
Infantry from East and West being broken ground.

(ae) Outcome. Decisive victory to Marathas and Mughal

forces routed. Both sides suffered 10,000 casualties.

Salher Fort
5,000
Mughals likely to have
Infantry placed 10,000 troops
along each side of box
5,000
Infantry

10,000 cavalry 5,000

Reserve
s
3
No records are available. The visualized deployment and battle is based on terrain analysis.
 10

(b) Defence.

(i) Siege of Chakan Fort. Chakan lies about 25 km north of Pune.

Its defences comprised a small fort built in stones. The walls were
surrounded by a ditch. The fort held out for 56 days against the
onslaught of Mughal army.

(ii) Siege of Purandar Fort. Mirza Raja Jai Singh laid siege to the
fort on 31 Mar 1665. Murar Baji the fort commandant fought valiantly and
held the fort till 11 Jun 65. The fort with its garrison fought valiantly for
63 days against the might of Mughal Army. The fort was surrendered to
Mughals as part of treaty of Purandar.

(iii) Analysis. It dawned on Mughals and Adilshahi too that

capturing forts through siegecraft was a long drawn battle and costly in
terms of manpower and resources.

(c) Strategic Withdrawal. The treaty of Purandar concluded by Shivaji;

ceded 23 out of 35 forts and lands appertaining to them, with annual revenue of
400,000 4hons. In statecraft sometimes withdrawal is meant to gain time and
ward off immediate danger of survival rather than face complete
annihilation. Hence Shivaji conceded strategic withdrawal.

(d) Analysis. The forts surrendered and retained clearly bring out a
pattern of mix of ceded and retained forts in central and southern parts of his
kingdom. Such deployment must have facilitated strict monitoring of enemy
activities and easy recapture with firm bases available in form of own forts.
The forts ceded, forts retained and forts already in possession as won from
Adilshahi and not included in the treaty are shown as below:-

4
One Hon = Rs 3.75
 11

MUMBAI

BACKGROUND COLOUR OF BOX

RED– FORTS CEDED
BLUE– FORTS RETAINED
YELLOW – FORTS NOT INCLUDED
 12

(e) Advance. Shivaji led a campaign from Raigarh – Belgaum - Hyderabad

– Vellore and Gingee from October 1676 to December 1677. A 2,200 km of
advance was undertaken with an aim to dominate ill administered Adilshahi
territories. Shivaji with this campaign of more than year duration gave depth
to his independent kingdom from West to East Coast. Before undertaking
this mega campaign he signed peace treaty with Mughals and Qutubshah as part
of diplomatic manoeuvre so that he his Southern campaign is unhindered. In this
14 months long Karnataka campaign, Shivaji annexed the territory
estimated to yield 20 lakhs of hon a year and included a hundred forts
taken or built by him. Gingee was made the administrative head-quarters to
control the area.
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(f) Ambush – Battle of Umbar Khind. Kartalab Khan Sardar of

Shaistekhan was tasked to capture North Konkan. He took an unconventional
route for crossing Sahyadris. The route was across Kurvande pass which was
narrow and a virtual trap. Shivaji ambushed 10,000 Mughal troops with just 2,000
soldiers. Kartalab Khan begged for life and safe passage.

LIKELY ROUTE
FROM PUNE TO
NORTH KONKAN

APPRECIATED AMBUSH SITE

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(g) Raid.

(i) Raid on Shaistekhan’s Camp. Shaistekhan was mughal sardar

who was sent by Aurangzeb to subjugate Shivaji. In order to impose fright,
Shivaji planned and executed a daring raid in his camp. Around 200 men
led by Shivaji infiltrated in the Shaistekhan’s camp and killed several
men and Shaistekhan barely managed to save his life. Frightened
Shaistekhan immediately left Pune.

(ii) Raid on Surat. Mughal campaigns were laying waste the area
of his independent kingdom and people had to suffer with every campaign.
The land and resources available within Shivaji’s kingdom were limited to
sustain his army, build and maintain forts and also look after its
population. Surat was the richest jewel of Mughal Empire. Shivaji
meticulously planned and executed the raid on Surat. The first sack of
Surat amounted Rs 10 million and second sack amounted to Rs 6.6
million.

(h) Cliff Chop Assault – Sinhgad. Sinhgad located 20 km South West of

Pune is a formidable fort with steep ramparts. It was manned by Uday Bhan
Rathod of Mughals with a garrison strength of 1,200. Tanaji Malusare assembled
500 of his special forces at the base of Sinhgad. The cliff chop assault was led
initially by two infantry soldiers who fixed the ropes, 300 of infantry reached the
top when their presence was detected and fierce battle ensued. Tanaji lost his
life but the fort was captured.
 15

(j) Great Escape from Agra. Shivaji was insulted by Aurangzeb

during their meeting at Agra. He was taken away from the meeting and thereafter
put under detention. Maratha territory lay 1500 km away and Aurangzeb had no
intentions of releasing him. Shivaji dexterously planned his escape by feigning
illness, giving alms to poor, saints and ministers in large baskets and escaped in
the same baskets towards Mathura. He left his son Sambhaji at Mathura with
some relatives. Shivaji escaped on 17 August 1666 and reached Rajgarh 12
September 1666, a distance of nearly 1500 km was covered in 25 days,
averaging about 60 km a day. His son Sambhaji later joined him in November
1666.

AGRA

15OO KM
IN 25 DAYS

RAJGAD FORT

(k) Escape from Panhalgarh. Shivaji with aim to divert enemy effort
away from his kingdom decided to stay at Panhalgarh. Siddi Jauhar of Adilshahi
with 40,000 troops invested Panhalgarh. Shivaji contemplated that with heavy
monsoons and help from Netaji Palkar to break the siege, would defeat Siddi
Jauhar of Adilshahi. Despite heavy monsoons, Siddi Jauhar manned the siege
without any let up for three months. Netaji Palkar who came to lift the siege was
 16

unsuccessful. As a ruse, on 12th July 1660, Shivaji sent his emissary to decide on
the terms of surrender to Siddi. This act lulled Siddi’s troops into letting down
their guard. On 13 July 1660, at midnight Shivaji escaped from Panhalgarh along
with 600 soldiers. His escape was detected by some spies of Siddi Jauhar and
pursuit commenced. Baji Prabhu Deshpande with 300 soldiers held Gajapur pass
and didn’t allow Siddi’s troops to cross. Shivaji had to fight his way through to
enter Vishalgarh on 13 July at 2100h after travelling 64 kms in 21 hours in
monsoon season.

VISHALGAD

PANHALGAD

Strategy and Military Organisation.

14. Concept of Defence. Forts formed the hub or core of defences for Shivaji’s
kingdom. They acted like defensive pivots to dominate the entire area against enemy
offensives.

15. Concept of Offensive. The tenets of manoeuvre warfare were used to defeat
numerically superior enemy. Light cavalry with their rapid and swift movements
achieved total surprise to outmanoeuvre the enemy forcing him either to surrender or
face complete annihilation.

Grand Strategy

16. Shivaji’s life can be divided in three phases:-

(a) Initial Days till Defeat of Afzalkhan. Shivaji’s grand strategy was to
awaken the people to the concept of freedom and independence. His nascent
kingdom needed space which was conquered by way of forts and its
 17

surrounding land. Survival against the military threats from Adilshah was
the foremost concern.

(b) Defeat of Afzalkhan to Coronation. Shivaji’s grand strategy in this

phase was to extend his kingdom astride Sahyadri Range and along coastline by
raising a Navy and sea forts. He adopted manoeuvre warfare thorough
diplomacy, superior planning, daring and rapid mobile thrusts using all
operations of war to psychologically paralyze and defeat enemies.

(c) Coronation till Death. Shivaji’s grand strategy in this phase was to
consolidate his kingdom and give depth to his kingdom from West to East
coast.

Military Strategy

17. Diplomacy to Shape the Battlefield. Shivaji used diplomacy to the hilt to
divide Adilshah, Mughals and Qutubshah. He also leveraged the British and Portuguese
for own benefit. He feigned surrender and signed treatises only to further the cause of
establishing an independent kingdom. Diplomacy was used as a tool to shape the
battlefield for military conquests.

18. Broad Military Strategy. His military strategy is characterized as follows:-

(a) Forts as Defensive Pivots. The mountain terrain and forts made the
Mughal and Adilshahi horse cavalry redundant and prevented them from
overrunning territory. The capture of forts through siege craft was not only difficult
but also time and troop intensive operation.

(b) Navy and Seaforts for Defence of Coastline. Shivaji build various
seaforts and raised an entire Naval fleet to maintain security of coastline and
seas. He personally led a Naval expedition for raid on Basrur in Adilshahi
province.

(c) Superior Intelligence network. Shivaji in his entire military career

was never surprised by any enemy. He kept close intelligence of his enemy
 18

through his spies and agents. His intelligence about Afzalkhan, Shaistekhan and
Surat contributed largely towards success in operations.

(d) Avoid Battles in Open Terrain. Shivaji didn’t have the wherewithal like
artillery, large strength and sustenance to fight battles in open terrains. Such
battles were costly in terms of manpower losses and resources hence were
avoided.

(e) Avoid Siege Craft to Capture Forts. Shivaji avoided lengthy

operations which entailed isolating and investing forts. However he preferred
cliff chop assault operations which yielded results in quicker time frame
with less loss of manpower and resources.

(f) Commando/Special operations. Shivaji extensively used ambush

and raids to paralyse the enemy thereby psychologically dislocating enemy and
forcing him to fight a losing battle.

(g) Light Cavalry Operations. Shivaji’s cavalry moved 50 miles a

day as there was little or no logistics tail. His cavalry was self-contained as
there were three horses amongst two soldiers. Enemy columns were elaborate
with administrative echelons which made their movement of slow and tardy. Thus
he exploited swift manoeuvres to outpace the enemy thereby defeating them.

(h) Seek Battles in Ground of Own Choosing. Shivaji always

carefully selected the ground for giving a fight to his enemies. Luring of Afzalkhan
in Jawali and ambush of Kartalab Khan are classic examples of seeking battles
in ground of own choosing and achieving total annihilation of enemy forces.

19. Tactics. Shivaji always defeated a large army with small forces with
wolf-tactics. The forces were divided in three or four parts. Enemy horse cavalry would
attack one part of this army which looked weaker. Thereafter Shivaji’s forces feigned
flight and let enemy pursue. The other parts of the Army then overwhelmed the pursuing
force from flanks or rear thereby defeating them. Thus enemy was defeated piece
meal over numerous independent actions in a wide area, instead of one set-piece
battle.
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20. Military Organisations of Shivaji. Shivaji’s Armed Forces was divided into
cavalry, infantry and navy. There was very little artillery pieces as they restricted the
speed of his offensive forces. However some artillery pieces were held on the forts for
defensive battles.

(a) Cavalry. Total Divisions – 12 held. There were 25 troopers in each

cavalry troop or Havala under a Havaldar. Five troops formed a squadron or
Jumla under a Jumledar and ten Jumlas a cavalry regiment under a Hazari. Five
such regiments were organized in a cavalry division. Shivaji had during his peak
career about 60000 cavalry.

CAVALRY
DIVISION

CAVALRY CAVALRY CAVALRY CAVALRY CAVALRY

REGIMENT REIMENT REIMENT REIMENT REIMENT

JUMLA/
SQUADRON(5)

TROOPS(5)

25 X
TROOPERS

(b) Infantry. Shivaji’s infantry was INFANTRY

DIVISION
organized into sections of ten men, each
placed under a Naik. Five sections formed INFANTRY
BATTALION(10)
an infantry platoon or Havala under a
Havaldar. Two or three such platoons made INFANTRY
COMPANY(10)
an infantry company or Jumla under a
Jumledar. Each infantry battalion consisted INFANTRY
PLATOONS(3)
of ten such companies under a Hazari.
SECTIONS(5)

10 MEN PER
SECTION
 20

Shivaji had during his peak career about 40000 cavalry or approximately three
Infantry Division.

(c) Navy. Shivaji’s navy comprised, about 100 warships, mostly galbats each
was manned by 25 to 30 seamen and 20 to 25 soldiers and was sometimes
armed with a small cannon. Gurabs were larger ships from 150 to 300 tons
burden propelled by sails only. Gurabs were armed with five cannons six to nine
pounders and manned by 50 to 60 seamen and same number of soldiers.

Manoeuvre versus Guerilla warfare

21. Tenets of Manoeuvre and Guerilla Warfare.

Guerilla warfare Manoeuvre warfare

Strength Small and large irregular Conventional forces like
forces infantry and cavalry
Sustenance On local population Self contained
Defence No static or fixed Forts as defence pivots
defences
Attack No decisive battles but Seeking advantageous
series of minor position and inflicting defeat
engagements through surprise and
dislocation
Command Localised Decentralised
Organisation Loose Established structure
Objective Harass and weaken large Inflict defeat in battle through
forces manoeuvre
Primary aim People seeking to Destruction of enemy
emancipate themselves strength and resources
Operations Small and multiple and Organised as part of regular
varying in its forms forces
Effects Wearing down the Causing psychological
government machinery paralysis within decision
makers
Gains Local Disproportionate dividends
against numerically superior
enemy

22. Manoeuvre Warfare. It is the type of warfare where own forces move
rapidly to position of advantage so as to surprise the enemy causing psychological
paralysis on the minds of its ranks. Thereafter, enemy reads the developing situation
 21

only to see grim consequences of military annihilation. At such moment the

dismal condition forces him to flee from the battlefield or is subject to
annihilation through easy attrition. At strategic level, manoeuvre warfare is to affect
the decision makers to give up its plan and reconcile to the will of the opponent.

23. Analysis. Shivaji was not a guerilla leader however he can be termed as
the earliest proponent of manoeuvre warfare. Shivaji always defeated larger enemy
strength with smaller forces. If we extrapolate the above tenets with the military
campaigns of Shivaji it clearly brings out that he adopted manoeuvre as his basic
philosophy for operations. During Afzalkhan Campaign he sprung surprise on the
enemy and defeated a numerically superior force. Siege of Chakan and Purandar
displayed positional warfare adopted as part of regular army tactics and not the one like
a guerilla. During advance to Karnataka, an Army of 60,000 cavalry and 40,000 infantry
moved 2,200 km to establish his dominion as far as Gingee and Vellore. Treaty of
Purandar wherein Shivaji ceded 23 forts to Mughals is an event characterized between
opposing military leaders and not guerillas. The special commando operations like raid
on Shaistekhan and Surat, ambush at UmbarKhind and cliff chop assault at Sinhgad
bring out conventional nature of operations unlike any guerilla operations. Hence
Shivaji was like any other famous military captains of conventional warfare and
not a guerilla leader.

Shivaji As Military Leader

24. His achievements as a military leader can be as elucidated:-

(a) People. Shivaji changed the mind and psyche of common people to
rise against Mughals and Adilshahi. He inspired them by setting personal
example and leading from front against every conceivable danger. His men
sacrificed their lives without a blink of an eyelid which helped to build a
kingdom from scratch. He emancipated the masses with self pride and
independence in time period when it was unheard of in centuries old
slavery ridden society. The seeds sown by Shivaji developed into mighty
empire under Peshwa who ruled entire India.
 22

(b) Topography. Shivaji understood the terrain of Sahyadri mountain

ranges which offered him ready defences in forms of forts. These forts were hub
of his kingdom around which he led his offensives in enemy territories.

(c) Initiative. Shivaji took all military initiatives to expand his kingdom. He
was always active with his forages into enemy territory and kept on harassing the
enemy.

(d) Master Strategist. Shivaji used manoeuvre approach by way of superior

planning, flawless execution resulting in total surprise and defeating numerically
superior enemy. His intelligence network used enemy flaws and weaknesses and
converted them in own strength.

(e) Wolf Tactics. Shivaji devised innovative tactics of feigned

withdrawal and thereafter piecemeal destruction of large force by numerically
less force.

(f) Diplomacy. It was used as a tool to shape battlefield. He merged

statecraft with military.

(g) Leading From Front. All bold and daring operations were undertaken
with Shivaji himself leading his troops sharing equally all privations of his troops.

(h) Soldier’s Welfare. All families of dead soldiers were given pension of
50% of last pay. All wounded soldiers were taken care of by administration.
Shivaji was also liberal in rewarding all those soldiers who displayed courage and
bravery in battlefield.

(j) Failures. Shivaji had several reverses wherein he lost battles to

enemy. However, this did not deter him from undertaking offensives by learning
from the previous failures.
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25. Shivaji’s Life Achievement. From Nothing to an Independent Kingdom.

Shivaji’s Kingdom

Vyankoji, Shivaji brother

Kingdom

Portuguese Colony

Relevance in Today’s Context

26. Two Front War. Despite being a small independent kingdom, Shivaji waged
war on two fronts and successfully defeated the might of two empires. Intermittent
peace treaties were part of adopted diplomacy to lull established enemies like Mughals
and Adilshahi. Today India is saddled with two adversaries Pakistan and China who are
likely to thrust two front war. India needs innovative approach to subjugate both
countries through all elements of national power. Diplomacy must be used extensively
to divide and negate its collusive threat. India must adopt manoeuvre approach to
outwit both the enemies.
 24

27. Brutal Pragmatism. Shivaji was realistic in taking war to enemy country,
plundering wealth for sustaining his army and was not involved in utopian concepts of
peace and idealism laced foreign policy. It is important for India to be pragmatic and
responsive to the geo strategic compulsions of the region.

28. Alliances. Despite being small in its size in comparison to Adilshahi and
Mughals he never made alliances or relied on either on them to further his cause
of independence. Strength of nation emanates from its leaders and people. India
retaining its strategic autonomy in present world order is the correct way ahead which
needs to be supported by commensurate capability development.

29. Shivaji’s or Indian Way of Warfighting. The essence of Shivaji’s

conquests can be seen in manifestations of German Blitzkrieg and Israeli armoured
thrusts that also defeated numerically larger force with rapid and swift manoeuvres.
Military leadership need to study Shivaji’s campaigns in details to understand his grasp
of geo political settings and responses so as to come up with innovative solutions to be
systematized as Indian Way of Warfighting.

Conclusion

30. Shivaji’s conquests when compared to world famous captains may not be that
large in scope and victories. However, what distinguishes Shivaji above all is the
matter of fact he started from absolute zero and established an independent
kingdom amidst all enemies. There are very few parallels in history wherein sustained
military triumphs against enemy three times larger strength were translated into political
victories. He established rule of law with no religious bias against any community. His
forethought in raising of Navy for security of seas and giving depth to his kingdom by
expanding from West to East coast makes him a unique visionary. His contemplation
came true when Gingee served as capital of Rajaram, son of Shivaji during Aurangzeb
campaign in South. Maratha power not only survived but later thrived to become an
empire.

31. Military history brings out the past only to spur current from not repeating the
same mistakes and act as a guide for future. Shivaji and other Indian military leaders
 25

had laid the foundation of Indian way of fighting which needs to be further
promulgated by way of policy guidance for Indian Armed Forces. It is now the
responsibility of our generation to adopt his military sagacity and manoeuvre approach
to meet the current geo strategic challenges.

(Words – 4249)

Bibliography

- Mehendale, Gajanan Bhaskar. Shivaji His Life & Times Param Mitra Prakshan -

2012. This book has been used as reference book for all dates and facts.

- All maps have been created using Google Maps with actual locations.

- All plans, analysis and inferences are based on terrain analysis and common

military knowledge as no relevant data is available.