Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's Statue Unveiled In Sindhudurg, Maharashtra

The statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was unveiled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Rajkot Fort in Sindhudurg, Maharashtra.

• The program organized on Navy Day 2023 was addressed after Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled the statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.

Navy Day 2023 Program:

• Navy Day is celebrated every year on 4 December.
• The 'Navy Day 2023' celebrations at Sindhudurg pay tribute to the rich maritime heritage of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, whose seal inspired the new Naval Ensign that was adopted last year when the Prime Minister inaugurated the first indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant .
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced on Navy Day that now the names of the ranks of the Indian Navy will be changed as per Indian tradition and culture.
• The Prime Minister also talked about increasing the number of women in the armed forces.

About Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj:

• He was born on February 19, 1630 in Shivneri Fort in Pune district in present-day Maharashtra state.
• He was born to Shahaji Bhonsle, a Maratha general who held the jagirs of Pune and Supe under the Bijapur Sultanate, and his mother was Jijabai, a devout woman whose religious qualities had a deep influence on him.
• He demonstrated his military zeal for the first time in the year 1645, when while still a teenager, he successfully gained control of Torna Fort under Bijapur.
• He also captured Kondana Fort. Both these forts were under the control of Adil Shah of Bijapur.

Important battles of Chhatrapati Shivaji/Maratha Empire:

• Battle of Pratapgarh, 1659 – 

This battle was fought between the forces of Maratha king Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and Adil Shahi commander Afzal Khan at the fort of Pratapgarh near the city of Satara in Maharashtra.

• Battle of Surat, 1664 - 

This battle was fought between Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and Mughal Captain Inayat Khan near the city of Surat in Gujarat.

• Battle of Purandar, 1665 – 

This war was fought between the Mughal Empire and the Maratha Empire.

• Battle of Sinhagad, 1670 - 

This battle was fought at the fort of Sinhagad near the city of Pune in Maharashtra between Tanaji Malusare, the commander of Maratha ruler Shivaji Maharaj, and Udaybhan Rathod, the Mughal army chief under Jai Singh I.

• Battle of Sangamner, 1679 - 

This battle was fought between the Mughal Empire and the Maratha Empire. This was the last war in which Maratha king Shivaji fought.

Titles:

• He assumed the titles of Chhatrapati, Shakkarta, Kshatriya Kulvant and Handava Dharmadhar.

Administration under Shivaji:

Central Administration:

• He established a centralized administration with a council of eight ministers (Ashtapradhan) who were directly responsible to him and advised him on various matters of state.
• The Peshwa, also known as the Chief Pradhan, originally headed the advisory council of King Shivaji.

Provincial Administration:

• Shivaji divided his kingdom into four provinces. Each province was divided into districts and villages.
• Like the Centre, there was a committee or council of eight ministers. In which Sar-e- was 'Karkun' or 'Prantpati' (head of the province).

Revenue Administration:

• Shivaji abolished the Jagirdari system and replaced it with the Ryotwari system and changed the status of hereditary revenue officers known as Deshmukhs, Deshpandes, Patils and Kulkarni.
• The revenue system was inspired by Malik Ambar's Kathi System, in which each piece of land was measured by a rod or kathi.
• Chauth and Sardeshmukhi were other sources of income.

Death:

• Shivaji died in Raigarh in the year 1680 and his last rites were performed in Raigarh Fort. Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti is celebrated every year on 19 February in memory and honor of his courage, war strategy and administrative skills.

Read More- 

Brief history of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's wars