DISCOVERING SHAHJI BHONSLE: THE FIRST ROYALE MARATHA | FATHER OF SHIVAJI | PLUNDERER TO KINGMAKER

Shahji Bhonsle, a pivotal yet often overlooked figure of 17th-century Deccan India, laid the foundation for the Maratha rise through his military prowess, administrative skill, and shifting alliances. Born into a modest Maratha family, he leveraged opportunities in the Nizamshahi and later Bijapur Sultanate, navigating the turbulent Deccan politics marked by Mughal expansion. His strategic acumen saw him controlling vast territories, installing a puppet Nizamshahi king, and later serving Bijapur in its southern campaigns, where he infused Maratha influence. Despite his service to Muslim rulers, his governance in Karnataka promoted Hindu culture and administration. His complex legacy includes accusations of aiding Islamic expansion while simultaneously strengthening Maratha identity. His son, Shivaji, surpassed him, creating an independent Maratha kingdom. Arrested by Bijapur due to Shivaji’s defiance, Shahji was later released but remained sidelined. His death in 1660 marked the end of his era, setting the stage for Shivaji’s rise against Mughal dominance.
Script Inspirations & Further Readings:
1. A History of the Mahrattas, volume 1 (James Grant Duff)
2. House of Shivaji studies and documents on Maratha history royal period (Sir Jadunath Sarkar)
3. Shivaji and His Times (Jadunath Sarkar)
4. Rebel Sultans: The Deccan from Khilji to Shivaji (Manu S Pillai)
5. New History of the Marathas, Vol. 1 Shivaji and His Line, 1600-1707 (Govind Sakharam Sardesa)
6. Marathas, Marauders, and State Formation in Eighteenth-Century India (Stewart Gordon)