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When Shivaji died at the age of 53, he had made himself an unconquerable hero, the creator and inspiring idol of a nation, and one of the greatest characters in the history of India. This was the achievement of a single short life, in the face of unparalleled obstructions and difficulties. And the contrast between his initial resources and his ultimate possession signally proves the intrinsic greatness of the man and his right to be acknowledged as the last constructive genius among the Hindus.
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He stands on a lofty pedestal in the hall of the worthies of history, not because he was a Hindu champion, but because he was an ideal householder, an ideal king, and an unrivalled nation-builder. He was devoted to his mother, loving to his children, true to his wivos, and scrupulously pure in his relations with other women. Even the most beautiful female capture of war was addressed by him as his mother. Free from all vices and indolence in his private life, he displayed the highest genius as a King and as an organiser. In that age of religious history, he followed a policy of the most liberal toleratian for all creeds. The letter which he wrote to Aurangzeb, protesting against the imposition ef the poll-tax on the Hindus, is a masterpiece of clear logic, calm persuasion, and political wisdom. Though he was himself a devout Hindu, he could recognise true sanctity in a Musslman, and therefore he endowed a Mahomedan holy man named Babie Yagut with land and money and installed him at Kelesi. All creeds had equal opportunities in his service and he employed a Muslim Secretary named Kazi Haider, who, after Shivaji's death, went over to Delhi and rose to the Chief Justice of the Moghal Empire. There were many Mahomedan Captains in Shivaji's army and his chief Admiral was an Abssinian named Siddi Misri. The Maratha soldiers had strict orders not to molest any woman or risk any Mahomedan Saint's tomb or hermitage. Copies of the Quran which were seized in the course of their campaigns were ordered to be carefully preserved and then handed over with respect to some Mahomedan.
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Shree Sudharmaswami Gyanbhandar-Umara Surat
www.umaragyanbhandar.com
| SR No. | 034490 |
| Book Title | Chatrapati Shivaji Charitra |
| Original Sutra Author | N/A |
| Author | Vaman Sitaram Mukadam |
| Publisher | Vaman Sitaram Mukadam |
| Publication Year | 1934 |
| Total Pages | 720 |
| Language | Gujarati |
| Classification | Book_Gujarati |
| File Size | 45 MB |