Revolution in military organisation

Shivaji's genius is most evident in his military organisation which lasted till the demise of the Maratha empire. He was one of the pioneers of commandoactions, "Ganimi Kava" a term used for such a warefare, (though the term "commando" is modern).[14] Shivaji was responsible for a lot of changes in military organization. These include -

* A standing army belonging to the state called paga;
* All war horses belonged to the state; responsibility for their upkeep rested on the Soveriegn.
* Creation of part time soldiers from peasants who worked for eight months in the field and supported four months in war.
* Highly mobile and light infantry and cavalry were his innovations and they excelled in commando tactics;
* The introduction of an centralized intelligence department, a potent navy, and regular chain-of-command;
* Introduction of field craft viz. Guerrilla warfare, commando actions, swift flanking attacks;
* Innovation of weapons and firepower, innovative use of traditional weapons like tiger claw or 'Baghnakh'. 'Vita' was a weapon invented by Shivaji;
* Militarisation of almost the entire society, including all classes, with the entire peasant population of settlements and villages near forts actively involved in their defence

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Battle of Sinhagad

Kondana fort, on the outskirts of Pune, was still under Mughal control. Uday Bhan Rathod, the fort keeper, led an army of about 1500 Rajputs and Mughals for the protection of the fort. On February 4, 1670 Shivaji deputed one of his most senior and trusted generals, Tanaji Malusare, to head a mission to capture Kondana. Tanaji Malusare surveyed the fort and its defenses for some days. The fort was extremely well guarded. One very sheer cliff caught Tanaji's eye. This side was least guarded as one could not possibly imagine climbing the fort from this steep side. Tanaji decided to scale this cliff to enter the fort. He used a monitor lizard(known as ghorpad in Marathi named "Yeshwanti" with a rope tied around its body for climbing this cliff on a moonless night.[citation needed] Perhaps this was the first time in the history of wars where a lizard was used to climb a fort.[citation needed] As the advance party reached the top, they threw ropes for others to climb. Meanwhile...

शिवरायांचा आठवावा साक्षेप

शिवराय हे धर्मनिरपेक्षतेचे नायकच नव्हे , तर महानायक होते. आज ते सामाजिक परिवर्तनाचे प्रतीक बनायला हवे होते.पण , त्यांच्या राजवटीला धामिर्क परिमाण देऊन त्यांना ' मुस्लिमविरोधी हिंदूधर्मरक्षक ' बनवले जात आहे.आज देश कधी नव्हे एवढ्या धर्मचक्रव्यूहात सापडला आहे. धर्माच्या नावाने मत्सरभावना वाढीस लावल्या जात आहे. राजकीय सत्तेसाठी धूर्त मंडळी धर्माचा वापर करून दंगली करताहेत. आणि हे करताना ' शिवाजी महाराज की जय ' म्हणून घरांना आगी लावतात हे फारच क्लेशकारक आहे. शिवरायांला कट्टर धर्मश्ाद्ध ठरवून , त्यांच्या विचाराची मोडतोड करून समाजात विष पेरण्यात धूर्त मंडळी यशस्वी होत आहेत. शिवाजी महाराज हे धर्मनिरपेक्षतेचे नायकच नव्हे , तर महानायक होते. त्यांच्या राजवटीला धामिर्क परिमाण दिले जात आहे. ते मुस्लिमविरोधी व हिंदूधर्मरक्षक होते , असे सांगण्यात येत आहे. पण , शिवराय कधीही मुस्लिमविरोधी नव्हते. त्यांच्या पदरी , तेही मोठमोठ्या हुद्द्यांवर अनेक मुसलमान सरदार , वतनदार होते. त्यांच्या तोफखान्याचा प्रमुख इब्राहिम खान होता , आरमाराचा प्रमुख दर्यासारंग दौलत खान होता , अंग...

Introduction:-

Shivaji Shahaji Bhosle (Born:February 19, 1630, Died: April 3, 1680), commonly known as Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj (Marathi: छत्रपती शिवाजीराजे भोसले) was the founder of the Maratha Empire. Shivaji was younger of the two sons of Shahaji Bhosle and Jijabai. His father, Shahaji was a Maratha general who served at various occasions the Bijapur Sultanate, Deccan sultanates and the Mughals. Shivaji with his ideology of Hindavi Swaraj (freedom for Hindustan) decided to directly challenge Bijapur Sultanate rule and eventually the Mughal empire, to establish the Marāṭhā Sāmrājya or the Maratha Empire. Shivaji succeeded in establishing control of major portion of western India during his lifetime. . At its peak the Maratha Empire rule spread across most of the present day India. Shivaji’s ideology of Hindavi Swaraj and subsequent expansion of the Maratha Empire, was partly responsible for re-establisment of Hindu rule and its re-emergent assertiveness throughout the mainland of present day ...

!! Raja Shivchhatrapati !!

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