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Shivaji's political ideals were such that we might accept them even to-day without any change. He aimed at giving his subjects peace, universal toleration, equal opportunities for all castes and creeds, a beneficent, active and pure system of administration, a navy for promoting trade and a trained militia for guarding the homeland. Above all, he sought for national development through action and not by lonely meditation nor by straining the throat on platforms. Every worthy man-not only the natives of Maharastra, but also recruits from other provinces of India, who came to Shivaji, was sure of being given some task which would call forth his inner capacity and have the way to his own rise to distinction, while serving the interest of the State. The activities of Shivaji's Government spread in many directions and this enabled his people to attain to a full and varied development, such as all modern civilized States aim at.
All this national expansion proceeded from the initial energy of one man. Shivaji was the central power-house of the new Maharastra. He had, I admit, the supreme royal gift of quietly judging every man's character and capacity and choosing the best instrument for every task that he wanted to be done. But he was a slef-taught man, he never visited any great capital, court or camp.
His administrative and military systems perfectly suited to his country and age were his own creation. Unlike Ranjitsing or Mahadji Sindhia, he had no French adviser or lieutenant. Every thing proceeded from his own heart and brain. Therefore, the historian of Shivaji, at the end of a careful study of all the records about him in eight different languages is bound to admit that Shivaji was not only the maker of the Maratha nation, but also the greatest constructive genius of medieval India.
શિવાજી મહારાજના એક વિરલ મહાપુરુષ હતા. સત્તરમા સૈકાના આ જાગીરદારના પુત્રનું જીવન આવા પ્રકારની અસામાન્ય પ્રતિભાથી પ્રકાશતું હેાય એ માની શકાય એવી વાત નથી. પણ હવે તા તે તવારીખની કથા છે. ઇતિહાસની વાત છે એટલે શિવાજી મહારાજના ભારેમાં ભારે અને કટ્ટામાં કટ્ટા વિરાધીને પણ આ સત્ય સ્વીકારેજ છૂટકા છે.
Shree Sudharmaswami Gyanbhandar-Umara, Surat
www.umaragyanbhandar.com
