Chhatrapati Shivaji is a prominent figure in Indian political and military history.
November 10, 1659
The Marathas, led by Shivaji, awaited the arrival of the Adilshahi army under Afzal Khan, a general of the Bijapur Sultanate, at the Pratapgarh fort in the hills of Satara, Maharashtra. An important battle in Indian military history was about to take place at the foot of the fort.
Afzal Khan started from Bijapur and was trying to fight the Marathas, he wanted Shivaji to leave the fort and fight in the plains – an uphill battle did not favor him. At the base of the fort, a truce was called but Afzal Khan attempted to strangle Shivaji and stab him but he had anticipated the move. Both engaged in hand-to-hand combat and Shivaji killed the Adilshahi commander with his ‘tiger claw’.
The conquest of Pratapgarh was instrumental in establishing the roots of the Maratha Empire. Fifteen years later in June 1674, Shivaji was crowned king of the Maratha Empire with the title of Chhatrapati.
Legacy of Chhatrapati Shivaji
On the 350th anniversary of Shivaji’s coronation, an exhibition in the heart of New Delhi brings forward the legacy of the Maratha warrior, his army and the weapons used by his contemporaries.
‘Shivakaline Shastratre’ – an exhibition at the Indira Gandhi National Center for the Arts (INGCA), Delhi – celebrates Chhatrapati Shivaji’s legacy and his military prowess. Weapons of the 17th century takes visitors back to the early modern period of history which saw muskets, handguns and swords in action together before the advent of industrialization and the adoption of modern warfare tools.
The exhibition’s curator, Rakesh Rao of CORE Heritage, spoke to NDTV about the exhibition and explained in detail how these weapons were used by soldiers. “Government of India and IGNCA decided to organize a special exhibition on arms and armor from the time of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. We shortlisted 3,000 items, conserved them and brought 800 of them and the weapons are on display in 15 boards to help the general public. To understand arms and armor from the Shiva period .”
Mr. Rao has been preserving the heritage of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s armorers for the past 40 years through his institute, Core Heritage, which is based out of Pune.
Basic weapons and armor of the Marathas
They were especially used by the Marathas. ‘Wagh Nakh’ – a class of weapons used by Shivaji Maharaj to kill Afzal Khan – was on display along with the middle, a dagger. Battleaxes, javelins or burchis and catapults were commonly used by the Marathas, Mr. Rao told NDTV.
“The Marathas were peasants but at the call of Rajaji, they joined the army with slingshots, axes, sickles… Among all weapons, the ‘vita’ – the spear – is special. You can throw it at the enemy and take it out. The use of a rope tied around a soldier’s wrist is the most terrible weapon used by the Marthas and the person who wields this weapon is called.’Witekar’ was a group of ‘Witekars’ in the Maratha army who carried this weapon and Considered the most terrifying,” Mr. Rao said.
Vetikar – Spear with a rope attached to one end. A khanda is a weapon mounted on a golden hilt above a sword.
“Khanda, a sword, derives its name from the Sanskrit word ‘khand’ which means to split in two. This sword can cleave an object in two with a single blow.”
This weapon (pictured below) was used by soldiers to severely injure the enemy. It could not pierce chained armor but could not break bones, rendering them unable to fight.
A precious sword on display
The golden-hilted sword is precious as it is one of the few objects that Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj touched, Mr. Rao said. During his coronation in 1674, Shivaji Maharaj gave this sword to his military general Hambirrao Mohite. It is one of the six objects that were once touched by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
A sword with a golden hilt on the extreme left was awarded to the Maratha general Hambir Rao Mohite.
‘Ghughi’ was a special weapon worn by the Marathas. It was made from sheep and goat wool. It was light in weight and could not be cut by a sword or knife. Commonly used European chest armor was also on display at the exhibition.
Arms for children and women
One of the most interesting elements on display were the weapons for the children and the weapons. Experimentation not only fights enemies but also builds legacy and reputation. These included not only traditional weapons such as swords, daggers and shields, but also their contemporaries such as muzzleloaders.
A curator said that these weapons were used by women and children for self-defense in case of enemy defeat. It protected their honor and reputation. Long barreled guns were for women and short barreled guns for children.
Mr. Rao said that during that period it was necessary to train the children in handing over weapons and understanding of weapons at an early age. If you can’t respect your weapon you can’t be a good soldier, he said.
Sri Rao Dhwade is the 13th generation of a family whose members served as cannon makers and special bodyguards of the Marathas. His brother Ashokarav Modi is well-versed in medieval languages such as Farsi and Farsi, and letters written in Modi, a Marathi writing script of the time, were also on display.
Union Culture and Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat also visited the exhibition and shared pictures, saying, “The military legacy of the Maratha Empire is an iron signature of India’s glorious past.”
The legacy of the Maratha Empire is rooted in India’s self-respecting past.
You can also peruse historical swords, armor and weapons by visiting the Shiva period weapons exhibition at the Indira Gandhi National Art Centre. I enter your phone here today. I’m proud… pic.twitter.com/cRwT1b66d2
– Gajendra Singh Shekhawat (@gssjodhpur) October 21, 2024
“You can also visit the Shiva period weapons exhibition at the Indira Gandhi National Art Center and see historical swords, armor and weapons. Today I registered my presence here. I feel proud, you must feel the same.”
The exhibition, which includes a replica of the armor for visitors to ‘touch and feel’, will end on November 10.
Chhatrapati Shivaji is a prominent figure in Indian political and military history. He is also credited with realizing the importance of a strong naval force to protect the coast. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s fleet consisted of 60 warships and about 5,000 men. The growing Maratha naval power during the period of Shivaji Maharaj was the first to protect the sea coast against external attacks.
In 2022, his legacy inspired a new Indian Navy flag that pays tribute to him. The upper canton of the new flag has the national flag. A blue octagonal shape with the national emblem sits above an anchor affixed to a shield with the naval motto.
The Navy said that the blue octagon shape represents the eight directions which represent the Indian Navy’s multi-directional reach and multi-dimensional operational capability.