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either in the West or in the East shall have to recognise that this was undoubtedly a great constitutional innovation. Despotism was in the accendant in those times. The Divine right of Kings was an article of faith both of the rulers and the ruled. That 'king can do no wrong' was accepted as a gospel truth. Under such circumstances Shivaji founded a system of Governing his country through the machinery of a Cabinet. Instead of depending entirely on his own sweet will as is the way of all antocrats he evinced a desire to rely upon the collective wisdom of his Councillors.
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His name has become a house-hold word of respect and veneration amongst all Marathi speaking people. It is here intended to show the greatness of this preeminent statesman so far as the constitutional character of his rule is concerned. The many Wars he successfully fought, the impregnable hill-forts which he built and maintained as bulworks of defence commanding vast regions in the plains, his manoeuvres frustrating the machinations of the Bijapur and Delhi Empires, the system which he introduced in his military organisation, the Navy which he created and kept up in a highly efficient condition, his policy of land revenue settlement, each one of these deserves a special treatment and is worthy of being cherished as indicative of the eminent genius of this glorious patriot.
The great saintly adviser Ramdas had preached to his Royal disciple the time honoured advice viz. ' agitation becomes a power when coupled with selfless devotion and a moral basis.' Shivaji realised the truth of this advice and acted upto it throughout his life.
Prof. G. R. Abhyankar
પૂજ્ય શ્રી શિવાજી છત્રપતિ મહારાજ મેં જે ભારી ગુણ થે ઉનકા અનુકરણ કરના ઈસ દેશ કે પ્રત્યેક આર્ય વા હિન્દુ પરિવારકા મુખ્ય કર્તવ્ય હેના ચાહિયે.
૧. શિવાજી મહારાજ વીર અર્જુન સમાન પરમ નિર્ભય શૂરવીર છે.
૨. હિન્દુ ધર્મરક્ષક શિવાજી યોગીરાજ કૃષ્ણદેવ મહારાજ સમાન યુદ્ધ તથા રાજનીતિકે પૂર્ણ મર્મજ્ઞ હોને સે સદા વિજય હી પાતે રહે.
Shree Sudharmaswami Gyanbhandar-Umara, Surat
www.umaragyanbhandar.com