Today is the last day of Kaliyugabd 5115 or Shaka 1935, tomorrow the new year begins. This day marks not only the end of year but also the martyrdom of Sambhaji Maharaj, elder son of Shivaji. History hasn’t been kind to him and many people ...know him as the elder son of Shivaji who squandered what was earned by his father.
He was 23 years old when Shivaji Maharaj passed away in 1680 and had to face lot of internal conspiracy before getting himself coronated. Within a year Aurangzeb arrived in Deccan to crush the freedom movement of Marathas. Aurangzeb saw it as a golden opportunity with untimely demise of their inspirational leader and new king at helm. Mughal empire was the biggest in Asia with frontiers from Afghanisthan to Bengal and Kashmir to Deccan. The emperor landed in Deccan with 7 lac infantry, 3 lac cavalry and unlimited finances to crush a kingdom which comprised few districts of Maharashtra and had 1/20th to 1/10th army. Aurangzeb also allied with Adilashahi, Qutubshahi, Siddis of Janjira and Portuguese of Goa to give a final death blow to Swarajya.
He selected a weak fort of Ramshej near Nasik to start his campaign so that he can start a winning trail. But so indomitable was the will of Marathas that the simple and so called weak fort fought for 6 years without giving in to the Mughal might. The big Mughal generals and all their glorious campaigns were foiled under the leadership of Sambhaji. The situation turned so dire that what was a few months campaign turned into years and Aurangzeb couldn’t return to Delhi and nor he could achieve a victory. The emperor in a fit of rage threw his crown and took an oath of not to wear it till he had killed the son of kafir.
To give a moral boost to the Mughal army he attacked Adilshahi and Qutubshahi whom Sambhaji was trying to protect as an alliance against increasing Mughal influence in Deccan. The shahis collapsed due to treachery and now the whole weight fell upon the fledgling Swarajya. A Mughal general attacked Sangameshwar where Sambhaji was halting for inspecting some works and was captured. His calmness and steadfastness in face of inhuman torture which can’t be described will be inspirational for generations to come. (you can see my last year post or blog for his torture)
Fast forward to today and while talking to a friend he said that I won’t be able to vote because of some personal work. It is due to countless sacrifices of people like I described above that we have got this divine right to vote. Isn’t it our kartavya to at least pay our part otherwise it is an insult to all those martyrs and the sacrifices they made of their families and ultimately lives so that we could see this HAPPY DAY !!!!
PS: I did’n t vote for 2 general and state elections and I am ashamed of it.
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