Among many other issues in the Maharashtra assembly elections, the names that were mentioned frequently were Veer Savarkar, Shivaji Maharaj and Balasaheb Thackeray. Balasaheb Thackeray's successors were contesting elections against each other and claiming who was his rightful heir. In 1968, a similar 'Who's the Right One?' Such a dispute took place between two Congresses. The 2024 tussle with the Nationalist Congress remained the same. If in a democracy the voter is considered to be the judge, then he has given the verdict. But Shivaji Maharaj was the great hero of the 'Hindavi Empire'. Much has been written and spoken for and against them. The views of British and left-wing historians also remained one-sided and the likes of Jadunath Sarkar were caught up in it. However, later he admitted that I did not have enough material of this Mahanayaka and therefore could not do justice. The important thing is that Shivaji, who was born on April 6, 1627, Shaka Samvat 1549, on the north night of Vaishakh Shukla Pratham, is still alive in Indian society after all these years! His heroic stories, his fierce battles and victories against the Mughal Empire, his administration, his great dream of a Hindu Empire create a grand feeling and give an outlook on Indian politics. So many famous dignitaries have applauded Shivaji. Gandhiji, Lokmanya Tilak (he even started Shivaji Utsav to give strength to the national freedom struggle) Lala Lajpat Rai, Ramanand Chatterji, K. F. Nariman, Prince of Wales, Pvt. Altekar, Sayaji Rao Gaikwad, Jadunath Sarkar, Kanaiyalal Munshi, Kaka Kalelkar, Justice Ranade, Chintamani Vaidya, Pandit Satvalekar, Veer Savarkar, Bhai Parmanand, Hon. S. Golwalkar, Doctor Hedgewar… this list is also incomplete. Barrister Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the leader of the Home Rule Movement, was also one of them! Much has been written on Shivaji. One of them was Rabindranath Tagore. Excerpt from his poem: Some century away, on an unknown day/We don't know today/Where on a mountain peak, in such a dense forest/O Shivaji Maharaj/The thought may have occurred to you/That scattered India, under the banner of one religion,/ One, intact? The first voluminous and inventive book in Gujarati was written in jail. Vamanrao Mukadam was conceived since 1930. Unfortunately this name has been erased. Vamanrao, who started his freedom struggle career from Panchmahal, was a prominent figure in Gujarat at that time. Dharasana Satyagraha, Annie Besant's Home Rule, Hindu Mahasabha, Gandhiji, Sardar Vallabhbhai, Indulal Yagnik, Thakkarbapa etc. Had he remained in politics, he had the ability to provide leadership to Gujarat. Yerwada Jail, Nasik Jail, Sabarmati Jail, Visapur Jail… The book he wrote 'Mahapratapi Chhatrapati Shivaji' in imprisonment with hard labor everywhere. Its publication received a foreword from Munshi and greetings from Gandhiji. This book published while sitting in Godhra was dedicated to Thakkar Baba. Eighty years later, that rare and inaccessible book has become available again. The common thread of Indian society and literature is that what happens in Bengal is reflected in Gujarat. Sharadbabu's banned Bengali novel 'Pather Dabi' (Right of Path) was first published with a Gujarati translation. … and Shivaji was born in the Sahyadri mountain range, his son was born in Saurashtra! In 1930, Zhaverchand Meghani wrote 'Shivaji's Halardu'. How is its beginning like a living picture? 'Chandlo rose in the aura, the child came to Jijabai, the mother swayed the child, the dhannan dungara spoke! Shivajine ninderu na've, Mata Jijabai zhulave…' and then one after another the future speech…. 'Dove, run, parrot-stick, turn it aaj, te di' tare haat re'vani, rati bobol bhavani!' And in the last link the revelation of Bhavi Shivraj… 'Sui Leje Mara Kesari Re! Look at your Hindwana, wake up, come, baby, tie your hand to me, wake up, come, take the blood of my hero, take Shivaji's sleep, mother Jijabai Jhulawe…' One person is special, Shivaji Maharaj. Two poets – one from Bengal, the other from Saurashtra – compose a poem on him, and a freedom fighter depicts his life in jail. This is the sovereignty of literature and culture!
Image Credit: (Divya-Bhaskar): Images/graphics belong to (Divya-Bhaskar).
Sahaj Dialogue: 'Make the scattered Bharat Bhoomi one, intact…'
