Rajaram Chhatrapati

Shrimant Rajaram Shivaji Raje Bhonsle Chhatrapati Maharaj (1670-1700 AD) was the younger son of the first "Chhatrapati" Shivaji, stepbrother of the second "Chhatrapati" Sambhaji, and took over the Maratha Empire as the third "Chhatrapati" after his brother was tortured and killed by the Mughal Emperor, Aurangzeb in 1689. He had a very short reign, during which he was furiously pursued by the Mughals.

Early life

He was pampered by his mother and liked by all due to his docile nature. He was declared "Chhatrapati" at the age of 10 by a faction of the court after Shivaji's death. However, Sambhaji prevailed and assumed the throne. Sambhaji put others to death but brought up his brother as a prince. Future events proved this. He was very cultured and accommodative.

Escape from Mughal siege

As Mughals started laying siege to the region around Raigad, the brave widow of Sambhaji, Rani Yesubai and her diplomat Ramchandra Pant Amatya sent young Rajaram to the stronghold of Pratapgad through Kavlya ghat. The Maratha army fought fiercely with Mughals and led the new Maratha King, Rajaram to escape through Kavlya ghat to the town of Jinji (sometimes anglicised to "Ginjee") in present day state of Tamil Nadu and its fort via Pratapgad-Vishalgad forts. [http://dsal.uchicago.edu/reference/gazetteer/pager.html?objectid=DS405.1.I34_V02_475.gif] Details of this escape are known from the poetical biography of Rajaram viz 'Rajaramcharit' written by his Rajpurohit Keshav Pandit in Sanskrit.

iege of Gingee for 7 years

Aurangzeb deputed Gajiuddin Firoj Jung against Marathas in the Deccan, but specially sent Zulfikar Khan to capture Gingee fort which was captured in 1698. Rajaram tried to counter with a siege of the town of Berar, but was checked by Prince Bedarbakht and Zulfikar Khan and had to return.

Generals Santaji and Dhanaji

Though Rajaram was not able to move out of Jinji, his generals Santaji Ghorpade and Dhanaji Jadhav continued to harass the Mughal army through guerrilla tactics. Kafi khan wrote about them that whenever mughal horses used to refuse to go to the water to drink water, it was feared they had seen Santaji and Dhanaji.

Santaji Ghorpade whose father Senapati Mhaloji Ghorpade died in the battle of Sangmeshwar along with Sambhaji, was directed by Sambhaji to Raigad to rescue the queen and Rajaram. The gallant man, true to the words given to his master secured the release of Rajaram from the siege of Raigad.

With the plight of Rajaram, the rout of the Marathas was almost complete. Aurangzeb was at his zenith of power. But then the brave Santaji on his own forded the River Bhima even though it was flooded, attacked the very centre of the Mughal camp. Aurangzeb who at that time was reading the Holy Koran was saved due to magnanimity of the marathas.

Santaji is credited with the defeat of at least three major Mughal chiefs. One Mughal general Kasim Khan was so badly defeated that he committed suicide. By brilliant tactics of cavalry, Santaji wreaked havoc right from the Pune to the Tanjore region. Unfortunately he fell out with Rajaram and Dhanaji Jadhav. He was killed when he was alone taking bath by one Nagoji Mane. The severed head of Santaji was presented to Aurangzeb for reward. Such was the tragic end of one of the most distinguished general of cavalry in the contemporary India.

Death

Rajaram died of an unspecified illness in 1700 at fort Sinhagad in present day Maharashtra, perhaps due to his weak constitution. Thereafter the Maratha empire suffered a power vacumn until the release of his nephew, Shahuji in 1707. In the interim, Rajaram's wife, Tarabai ruled the empire as regent for her young son. Eventually, Shahuji succeeded Rajaram as the fourth "Chattrapati"

actually there was certain kind of misunderstanding going on between santaji and dhanaji.which resulted in the death of santaji ultimately.

An estimate

Rajaram was a cool minded person. He was quite patient and practical. During the time of crisis he remained as a rallying point of Maratha resistance. He remained confined to Jinjee fort for 9 years itself indicates his mental strength and the sheer will to continue the cause. Due to his locking position in Jingee fort, he had to give more authorities to his generals which slowly eroded the strong position of the king. However considering the task before him, he did his job well. He built a temple at Sindhudurg in the memory of his father.

ee also

*Chhatrapati
*Maratha Empire
*Bhonsle family ancestry
*Khando Ballal

References

* [http://dsal.uchicago.edu/reference/gazetteer/pager.html?objectid=DS405.1.I34_V02_475.gifImperial Gazetteer of India] , v. 2, p. 440.