Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj not just a name but an ideology: Home Minister Amit Shah

The Union Home minister claimed that Shivaji Maharaj coined 'Swaraj' (independence) not to extend his sphere of influence but to free the country from the Mughal dynasty. His successor took forward the idea.

Maratha warrior Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was not just a name but an ideology as his inspiring life story taught generations to practise one's language and religion with pride, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Sunday.

He said that Shivaji's life taught the people to be prepared to lay down one's life in discharging his moral duties and defending 'Swaraj'.

"This theme park will not just depict the inspiring lifestory of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj but will also convey his life lessons and teachings to future generations. His teachings would inspire people to practice their own language and religion with pride and be ready to sacrifice one's life for 'swaraj'," ANI quoted Shah as saying.

The minister claimed that the theme part would also help realise the dreams of Babasaheb Purandare, an author and poet better known for his works on Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. "The theme park would feature holography, project mapping, miniature motion simulation, 3d-4d technique, light and sound technique. All this would revive the history and motivate not just the people of Maharashtra but the entire country," he added.

The Union Home minister claimed that Shivaji Maharaj coined 'Swaraj' (independence) not to extend his sphere of influence but to free the country from the Mughal dynasty. His successor took forward the idea.

"The idea behind Swaraj was not to take the glory of the Maratha empire across the country. From Cuttack, Gujarat to Bengal, the Mughals reigned supreme everywhere. It was Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj who freed Gujarat from the Mughals and propogated his message of Swaraj. In 1680 Smabhaji Maharaj, Rajaram Bhonsle I, Maharani Tara Baii, Chhatrapati Sahu 1, and all the Peshwas took forward the ideology of Swaraj," said Shah.

He said during his rule, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj also repaired and reconstructed the temples and places destroyed by the Mughals. "Prime Minister Narendra Modi is following on the same fath of restoring temples and building new ones. A temple of Lord Shri Ram is being constructed at Ayodhya while the Kashi Vishwanath corridor is also being re-developed. The Somnath temple is also being re-developed. Peshwa Baji Rao, Peshwa Nana Saheb, Peshwa Madhav Rao, and Ahilyabai Holkar followed the path of Shivaji Maharaj and worked for re-development of temples during their rule," he said.

"He was the first ruler to incorporate an administrative system and even put together the Ashtha Pradan Mandal -- Peshwa, Amatya. Mantri, Vakiya, Sacheev, Chivnis, Sumant, Dabir, Senapati, Pandit and Nayadhish. It shows how he focused he was for Swaraj (independence) and Suraaj (good administration)," said Shah.

Shivaji Jayanti, the birth anniversary of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, a ruler who carved a niche for himself with his guerrilla tactics is being celebrated today.

Shivaji is well-known for his innovative military tactics that centred around non-conventional methods leveraging strategic factors like geography, speed, and surprise to defeat his more powerful enemies. Chhatrapati Shivaji is known as a torchbearer of good governance and as an accomplished administrator.