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Shivaji #1
300 Brave Men
Land of the Marathas, Western India, 1641-1660
The Indian sub-continent is ruled by three tyrannical Sultanates... the powerful Mughals in the North, and the Shia rulers – Adilshah and Qutubshah in the South. The native population, suppressed for centuries, is subjected to slavery, bigotry, injustice and even torture. Through generations of subservience, the very idea of freedom has been wiped from their minds.
As incessant battles rage between the Sultanates, the soldiers who fight and die on the battlefields are mostly Marathas, sons of the soil. Villages and crops are repeatedly razed by the invading armies, men killed in both peacetime and war, their women abducted. Maharashtra, once a prosperous land ruled by competent native rulers and inhabited by peaceful people, has been reduced almost to a wasteland.
In this dark era, the sixteen-year-old son of an Adilshahi jagirdar stands up to declare: I shall not serve, and neither shall my people! The dream of a free State and an identity for his people smouldering in his heart, he dares to rebel against the powerful Sultan, Adilshah. He begins with nothing... no army, no weapons and an empty treasury. Yet he achieves what no soldier, chieftain or king has ever achieved in defiance of the imperialists who rule.
300 Brave Men is the incredible story of Chhatrapati Shivaji Raje Bhosale, a legendary warrior-king, guerrilla fighter, brilliant tactician and clever diplomat. But above all, a remarkable human being.
You have read history... now read his story...
The Indian sub-continent is ruled by three tyrannical Sultanates... the powerful Mughals in the North, and the Shia rulers – Adilshah and Qutubshah in the South. The native population, suppressed for centuries, is subjected to slavery, bigotry, injustice and even torture. Through generations of subservience, the very idea of freedom has been wiped from their minds.
As incessant battles rage between the Sultanates, the soldiers who fight and die on the battlefields are mostly Marathas, sons of the soil. Villages and crops are repeatedly razed by the invading armies, men killed in both peacetime and war, their women abducted. Maharashtra, once a prosperous land ruled by competent native rulers and inhabited by peaceful people, has been reduced almost to a wasteland.
In this dark era, the sixteen-year-old son of an Adilshahi jagirdar stands up to declare: I shall not serve, and neither shall my people! The dream of a free State and an identity for his people smouldering in his heart, he dares to rebel against the powerful Sultan, Adilshah. He begins with nothing... no army, no weapons and an empty treasury. Yet he achieves what no soldier, chieftain or king has ever achieved in defiance of the imperialists who rule.
300 Brave Men is the incredible story of Chhatrapati Shivaji Raje Bhosale, a legendary warrior-king, guerrilla fighter, brilliant tactician and clever diplomat. But above all, a remarkable human being.
You have read history... now read his story...
- GenresHistory
604 pages, Paperback
Published September 1, 2017
23 people are currently reading
192 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
February 19, 2018
Finished reading and reviewing this today, on Shivaji Jayanti :)
300 Brave Men tells the story of Chatrapati Shivaji, one of the bravest kings of India, from the yr 1641, when he was just eleven years old to yr 1660.
This book is nail-biting, to say the least and succeeds in instilling a great sense of pride for this Maratha king. He was all of 15 when he, along with his then, small band of men took an oath devoting his life to 'Swarajya'.
That he was a master strategist and had great foresight helped him win numerous battles even when he was outnumbered. He was a fair, secular king immensely loved by his people. His mother, Jijabai, who raised him single-handedly is an inspiration in herself. I love the relationship that Shivaji shared with her.
This is a very well written book and makes you feel like you're watching all the action unfold live!
For me, the best parts of the book are Shivaji's victory over Afzal khan and the battle of Gajapur Pass (after which the book is named).
One of the best books I've read this year :)
#harharmahadev #jaishivaji
300 Brave Men tells the story of Chatrapati Shivaji, one of the bravest kings of India, from the yr 1641, when he was just eleven years old to yr 1660.
This book is nail-biting, to say the least and succeeds in instilling a great sense of pride for this Maratha king. He was all of 15 when he, along with his then, small band of men took an oath devoting his life to 'Swarajya'.
That he was a master strategist and had great foresight helped him win numerous battles even when he was outnumbered. He was a fair, secular king immensely loved by his people. His mother, Jijabai, who raised him single-handedly is an inspiration in herself. I love the relationship that Shivaji shared with her.
This is a very well written book and makes you feel like you're watching all the action unfold live!
For me, the best parts of the book are Shivaji's victory over Afzal khan and the battle of Gajapur Pass (after which the book is named).
One of the best books I've read this year :)
#harharmahadev #jaishivaji
September 15, 2017
this was an excellent read..beautifully written..made the time period and the characters come alive..eagerly waiting for part 2
Read
April 5, 2020Excellent portraying of characters
December 18, 2017
A nicely written book by Gautam Pradhan. The story is having historical facts and fiction. 300 Brave Men is the story of Chhatrapati Shivaji Raje Bhosale Shivaji Maharaj an Indian warrior king. A fighter and nice human being. This book will take you back to 17th Century of India. The book is part of trilogy. A historical story simply told by Gautam Pradhan.
I love 300 Brave Men... It is more than just a story ... it is a strong story about the power of loyalty. It is an extraordinary novel. I now have to wait for the second edition...
The overall message of this piece of literature is what makes it a worthy read even if its delivery was a little pedantic at times. The historical context it provides is tremendous. This is a classic I’m very glad I read. The overall message of this piece of literature is what makes it a worthy read even if its delivery was a little pedantic at times. Good stuff, and worthy read.
I love 300 Brave Men... It is more than just a story ... it is a strong story about the power of loyalty. It is an extraordinary novel. I now have to wait for the second edition...
The overall message of this piece of literature is what makes it a worthy read even if its delivery was a little pedantic at times. The historical context it provides is tremendous. This is a classic I’m very glad I read. The overall message of this piece of literature is what makes it a worthy read even if its delivery was a little pedantic at times. Good stuff, and worthy read.
January 3, 2018
compared to other books on Shivaji this is a less comprehensive account of shivaji's rise to power and ends in the year 1660, However the book is interesting because it discussed in great detail, the methods used to over power a more powerful and wealthier enemy, and how years of atrocities were the main reasons why the maratha people chose to rebel and side with Shivaji, who had a small army. It also provides a detailed account of the AdilShahi and Mughal rule in India. In particular it describes how Aurangzeb won the throne of the mughal empire by killing his brothers Dara Shikoh, Murad, a method which has been adopted by R&AW,cbi, ntro and indian security agencies in present day india to ensure that all positions of power are held by their puppets .
November 16, 2017
A very well written book on one of the wisest kings in the whole world, and undoubtedly the greatest king in India. 300 brave men takes you back into the 17th century India and explains the story of the Great Chhatrapati Maharaj who started the Maratha kingdom by capturing his first fort at the tender age of 15 by using diplomacy and strategy. A truly captivating story written in a simple yet appealing manner which makes it hard for us to imagine that it's being written by a debutant author. This book should be read by everyone so that more people know about Shivaji and his story. I am really hoping for 2nd part to be released soon.
September 24, 2017
Exceptionally well written, captivating recount of Maratha history
Such a rush reading this book! Gautam’s captivating and action-packed writing helped me visualize the details of Shivaji’s life and the events at the beginning of the Maratha history. What a powerful leader and patriotic warrior! The details of the hold-off by the 300 is just breathtaking and heart wrenching at the same time. Very aptly titled book. I am dying to read the next one!
Such a rush reading this book! Gautam’s captivating and action-packed writing helped me visualize the details of Shivaji’s life and the events at the beginning of the Maratha history. What a powerful leader and patriotic warrior! The details of the hold-off by the 300 is just breathtaking and heart wrenching at the same time. Very aptly titled book. I am dying to read the next one!
June 10, 2019
Excellent work on Veera Shivaji
The author gave a Time machine, though we couldn't participate, we could feel as if a live match, the places mentioned in the book, can be googled to get their glimpse.
Govt can recommend this book to school students to escalate patriotism
The author gave a Time machine, though we couldn't participate, we could feel as if a live match, the places mentioned in the book, can be googled to get their glimpse.
Govt can recommend this book to school students to escalate patriotism
February 28, 2018
Awesome read with so many nice details and descriptions
July 8, 2018
One of the best books i have read 👍
The style of writing takes the reader back to those times.the author has brought out a wonderful imaginative description .
The style of writing takes the reader back to those times.the author has brought out a wonderful imaginative description .
January 30, 2020
Amazing, brilliant writing by Gautam Pradhan. The book will keep you mesmerised throughout and it feels very difficult to stop once you have started.
March 4, 2020
Must read
Beautifully written book about one of the great sons of India. It's really hard to put it down. While reading you feel like part of the history.
Beautifully written book about one of the great sons of India. It's really hard to put it down. While reading you feel like part of the history.
July 8, 2021
This is a historical fiction based on the life of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, who was an Indian ruler and a member of the Bhonsle Maratha clan. Shivaji carved out an enclave from the declining Adilshahi sultanate of Bijapur that formed the genesis of the Maratha Empire. In 1674, he was formally crowned the Chhatrapati (emperor) of his realm at Raigad.
This is the first book in the series. According to the author, this book is not an attempt to write a biography instead to tell the story from the point of view of a young man desperate to shake off the tyrannical rule of the Sultan and give to Marathi people an identity of their own.
In my opinion, I found the writing extremely engaging and once you start reading it, you would not like to miss anything if you love historical novels. Also what I loved was that even though it's a big book, the plot is not unnecessarily stretched and required descriptions of people, their appearance, the sculptures and forts are well defined. The plot is fast-paced and the book is very well executed, like you will find a brief character description at the beginning and there are a lot of maps for better understanding.
I will recommend this book to all who love historical fiction or in general love history or would like to know about Shivaji. It may take some time to finish this book but it is worth reading so do check it.
This is the first book in the series. According to the author, this book is not an attempt to write a biography instead to tell the story from the point of view of a young man desperate to shake off the tyrannical rule of the Sultan and give to Marathi people an identity of their own.
In my opinion, I found the writing extremely engaging and once you start reading it, you would not like to miss anything if you love historical novels. Also what I loved was that even though it's a big book, the plot is not unnecessarily stretched and required descriptions of people, their appearance, the sculptures and forts are well defined. The plot is fast-paced and the book is very well executed, like you will find a brief character description at the beginning and there are a lot of maps for better understanding.
I will recommend this book to all who love historical fiction or in general love history or would like to know about Shivaji. It may take some time to finish this book but it is worth reading so do check it.
October 18, 2023
This book is a great start to the trilogy. While it is being marketed as historical fiction, I found it to be more like a docu-series, as it reads like a history book in most parts. I feel the dramatization of events and character building could have been better. There isn't a single character which stands out or you root for. Shivaji still feels like the mythical being as he is portrayed these days.The connect feels amiss.
Having said that, the book is written well. It is quite a detailed account. The author has done good research as it's apparent from the notes. I am surely going to complete this trilogy. I would recommend this book to readers who want to know more about the great man, Shivaji
Having said that, the book is written well. It is quite a detailed account. The author has done good research as it's apparent from the notes. I am surely going to complete this trilogy. I would recommend this book to readers who want to know more about the great man, Shivaji
September 26, 2025
The story of Shivaji Raje - ever since I saw Chhava in the theatres, I’ve been intrigued with the battle for Swarajya, and how it all began. The author, Gautam Pradhan, makes it as much of a compelling storyline built from folklore as much as sticking to facts, and that makes 300 Brave Men an amazing read! Full 5 stars for the narrative, and the bringing out of the bravery, valor, sacrifice, hope and destiny that the Marathas have to fight against their oppressors!
February 20, 2023
“𝙄, 𝙎𝙝𝙞𝙫𝙖𝙟𝙞 𝘽𝙝𝙤𝙨𝙖𝙡𝙚, 𝙙𝙤 𝙨𝙬𝙚𝙖𝙧 𝙞𝙣 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙣𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙇𝙤𝙧𝙙 𝙈𝙖𝙝𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙫 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙙𝙖𝙮 𝙄 𝙨𝙝𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙙𝙚𝙫𝙤𝙩𝙚 𝙢𝙮 𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙜𝙤𝙖𝙡 𝙤𝙛 𝙛𝙧𝙚𝙚𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙢𝙮 𝙢𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙎𝙪𝙡𝙩𝙖𝙣 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙖𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙎𝙬𝙖𝙧𝙖𝙟𝙮𝙖. 𝙄 𝙨𝙝𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙨𝙬𝙚𝙧𝙫𝙚 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙥𝙖𝙩𝙝, 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙣 𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙤 𝙙𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙝. 𝙄 𝙨𝙝𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙥𝙪𝙩 𝙢𝙮 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙧𝙮 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙢𝙮 𝙥𝙚𝙤𝙥𝙡𝙚 𝙗𝙚𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙢𝙮𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙛 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙢𝙮 𝙛𝙖𝙢𝙞𝙡𝙮. 𝙄 𝙨𝙝𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙩𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙞𝙨 𝙛𝙧𝙚𝙚! 𝙏𝙤𝙙𝙖𝙮, 𝙗𝙚𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙇𝙤𝙧𝙙, 𝙄 𝙥𝙡𝙚𝙙𝙜𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙪𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙚 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙢𝙮 𝙈𝙖𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙝𝙖 𝙗𝙧𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙙𝙚𝙫𝙤𝙩𝙚 𝙢𝙮𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙛 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙜𝙤𝙖𝙡!”
⚔️The book - 1st in the Shivaji trilogy - dramatizes 20 years of Chatrapati Shivaji Raje’s life, from the year 1641 to 1661.
1641 AD, Maharastra. When the natives, subjected to slavery, bigotry, injustice, and torture under the rule of the Mughal in the north and the Adilshahi and the Qutubshahi in the south, are suppressed for centuries and forget the taste of freedom, Shivaji Raje Bhosle, a young boy of an Adilshahi jagirdar dreams of creating a free state. How he craved out a chunk of land from Adilshahi Sultanate and successfully defend it from the Mughal incursions with a small army is the story.
⚔️There are many Marathi books written on Shivaji Maharaja, but what makes this one different is that firstly it was written in English in a modern narrative style and secondly instead of portraying the historical events, it explores the mind of a boy who shakes off the Sultanate tyrannical rule to bring Swarajya. The plot is well executed, the balance between historical facts and fiction is perfectly maintained and the historicity of the story is clarified in the author's note at the end.
⚔️The author's writing is so impressive that it was hard to believe it was his debut novel. The immense research he had done to make this book as historically accurate as possible seeps through every page. The history and dynamics of Marathas, Mughals, and Adilshahi are shown in an appalling way and a lot of maps are shared for a better understanding of the topography. The action sequences and the various warfare tactics used to fight an outnumbered army were topnotch and the use of native words brings a homely feeling to reading.
⚔️Shivaji's characterization as a legendary warrior-king, guerrilla fighter, brilliant tactician, and clever diplomat was perfect. But as a human how was he and what were his personal thoughts, feelings, trials, and tribulations while he lived is also beautifully portrayed here. His relationship with his parents, wives, friends, and comrades is explored. Apart from Shivaji, there is a large troupe of characters and to remember them a list of characters is given at the beginning of the book.
⚔️The book ends with the conclusion of the battle of Gajapur Pass, where Baji Prabhu Deshpande along with his 300 Malvis stopped the Adilshahi army to provide Shivaji a safe passage to the Vishalgarh. There is an uncanny similarity between this battle and the battle of Thermopylae, so the name 300 brave men is apt.
Overall, 300 Brave man was a masterpiece and I'm hooked for book 2. Anyone who loves history should definitely read it. If you like Babasaheb Purandare, Ranjit Desai, Medha Deshmukh Bhaskaran and Alex Rutherford's writing then you're surely gonna love it. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
𝙈𝙮 𝙍𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐(5/5)
⚔️The book - 1st in the Shivaji trilogy - dramatizes 20 years of Chatrapati Shivaji Raje’s life, from the year 1641 to 1661.
1641 AD, Maharastra. When the natives, subjected to slavery, bigotry, injustice, and torture under the rule of the Mughal in the north and the Adilshahi and the Qutubshahi in the south, are suppressed for centuries and forget the taste of freedom, Shivaji Raje Bhosle, a young boy of an Adilshahi jagirdar dreams of creating a free state. How he craved out a chunk of land from Adilshahi Sultanate and successfully defend it from the Mughal incursions with a small army is the story.
⚔️There are many Marathi books written on Shivaji Maharaja, but what makes this one different is that firstly it was written in English in a modern narrative style and secondly instead of portraying the historical events, it explores the mind of a boy who shakes off the Sultanate tyrannical rule to bring Swarajya. The plot is well executed, the balance between historical facts and fiction is perfectly maintained and the historicity of the story is clarified in the author's note at the end.
⚔️The author's writing is so impressive that it was hard to believe it was his debut novel. The immense research he had done to make this book as historically accurate as possible seeps through every page. The history and dynamics of Marathas, Mughals, and Adilshahi are shown in an appalling way and a lot of maps are shared for a better understanding of the topography. The action sequences and the various warfare tactics used to fight an outnumbered army were topnotch and the use of native words brings a homely feeling to reading.
⚔️Shivaji's characterization as a legendary warrior-king, guerrilla fighter, brilliant tactician, and clever diplomat was perfect. But as a human how was he and what were his personal thoughts, feelings, trials, and tribulations while he lived is also beautifully portrayed here. His relationship with his parents, wives, friends, and comrades is explored. Apart from Shivaji, there is a large troupe of characters and to remember them a list of characters is given at the beginning of the book.
⚔️The book ends with the conclusion of the battle of Gajapur Pass, where Baji Prabhu Deshpande along with his 300 Malvis stopped the Adilshahi army to provide Shivaji a safe passage to the Vishalgarh. There is an uncanny similarity between this battle and the battle of Thermopylae, so the name 300 brave men is apt.
Overall, 300 Brave man was a masterpiece and I'm hooked for book 2. Anyone who loves history should definitely read it. If you like Babasaheb Purandare, Ranjit Desai, Medha Deshmukh Bhaskaran and Alex Rutherford's writing then you're surely gonna love it. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
𝙈𝙮 𝙍𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐(5/5)
April 9, 2021
•Historical novels fascinate me with the brave characterization, tantalizing battlefield and victories. Chhatrapati Shivaji is one of my favourite historical figures. It is a very well written book on one of the wisest kings in the whole world, and undoubtedly the greatest king in India.
•300 brave men is book 1 of a trilogy in which the author sets out to trace the transformation journey of this sixteen year old boy to a competent and able Maharaj.
•The narration starts with the eleven year old Shivaji whose acute sense of judgement and valiance is manifest in his words and actions from a very early age. His war strategies and their execution make it all the more interesting. You get a detailed picture of how difficult life was during that time and also about the persona of Shivaji and the qualities that he had.
•The author has used easy language throughout the book, which makes it a quick read. Beautiful narration makes it even more engaging.
•The historical context it provides is tremendous. This is a classic I’m very glad I read. Highly Recommending this magnificent novel to know more about India's powerful warriors.
•300 brave men is book 1 of a trilogy in which the author sets out to trace the transformation journey of this sixteen year old boy to a competent and able Maharaj.
•The narration starts with the eleven year old Shivaji whose acute sense of judgement and valiance is manifest in his words and actions from a very early age. His war strategies and their execution make it all the more interesting. You get a detailed picture of how difficult life was during that time and also about the persona of Shivaji and the qualities that he had.
•The author has used easy language throughout the book, which makes it a quick read. Beautiful narration makes it even more engaging.
•The historical context it provides is tremendous. This is a classic I’m very glad I read. Highly Recommending this magnificent novel to know more about India's powerful warriors.
November 8, 2020
It is always a pleasure to read Maratha history in Marathi but author brings forth the story of bravery and wits in English with elegance and poise. The book has been written in a lucid language and it explores the golden years of Maratha history.
March 4, 2020
Brilliant book. Fast paced and while reading through you can feel as if you were part of history as well. You get a detail picture of how difficult life was during that time and also about the persona of Shivaji and the qualities that he had that endeared him to his followers so much. Jai Shivaji ... Jai Bhavani!
August 28, 2020
#qotd❤️ If you could choose your own nickname, what would it be?
【E】【v】【e】【n】 【i】【f】 【t】【h】【e】【r】【e】 【w】【e】【r】【e】 【a】 【s】【w】【o】【r】【d】 【i】【n】 【t】【h】【e】 【h】【a】【n】【d】【s】 【o】【f】 【e】【v】【e】【r】【y】【o】【n】【e】【,】 【i】【t】 【i】【s】 【w】【i】【l】【l】【p】【o】【w】【e】【r】 【t】【h】【a】【t】 【e】【s】【t】【a】【b】【l】【i】【s】【h】【e】【s】 【a】 【g】【o】【v】【e】【r】【n】【m】【e】【n】【t】【.】
I had read Shivaji Maharaj Stories in schools but never I had so much attachment to this great Man but after reading this book I can so co-relate to the Struggle and life of this Man. Feels As If I am seeing this Man living with my own eyes. Smiling with him, crying with him. deepest of the emotional moments In the life of Maharaj has been written with so many Vivid details data u feel like witnessing them at the moment.
Hard to keep down the book once it's in Ur hands.
I have read ( 300 BRAVE MEN ) by @booksbygautam It's a wonderful book. It is simply written - very little hyperbole... brings out the true Shivaji the person as also the king. Shivaji's strategy, cunning, bravery, humanism, patriotism and keen intellect are on display for all to see. His yearning for Hindva Swaraj and the focus he brings among the people and galvanises them for the cause is amazing. Not a gripping book in the conventional sense as the book is written in a fairly straight forward narrative which moves from event to event and can even look a bit disjointed & loosely strung. But this is still a good read just to know Shivaji... the great Maratha for sure!
I definitely recommend this book to all the book lovers and those interested in the stories of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, this is a book which is not only well written but also loaded with numerous facts and references. This book justifies its title and shows how Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj challenged his destiny to become the greatest personality of his time
【E】【v】【e】【n】 【i】【f】 【t】【h】【e】【r】【e】 【w】【e】【r】【e】 【a】 【s】【w】【o】【r】【d】 【i】【n】 【t】【h】【e】 【h】【a】【n】【d】【s】 【o】【f】 【e】【v】【e】【r】【y】【o】【n】【e】【,】 【i】【t】 【i】【s】 【w】【i】【l】【l】【p】【o】【w】【e】【r】 【t】【h】【a】【t】 【e】【s】【t】【a】【b】【l】【i】【s】【h】【e】【s】 【a】 【g】【o】【v】【e】【r】【n】【m】【e】【n】【t】【.】
I had read Shivaji Maharaj Stories in schools but never I had so much attachment to this great Man but after reading this book I can so co-relate to the Struggle and life of this Man. Feels As If I am seeing this Man living with my own eyes. Smiling with him, crying with him. deepest of the emotional moments In the life of Maharaj has been written with so many Vivid details data u feel like witnessing them at the moment.
Hard to keep down the book once it's in Ur hands.
I have read ( 300 BRAVE MEN ) by @booksbygautam It's a wonderful book. It is simply written - very little hyperbole... brings out the true Shivaji the person as also the king. Shivaji's strategy, cunning, bravery, humanism, patriotism and keen intellect are on display for all to see. His yearning for Hindva Swaraj and the focus he brings among the people and galvanises them for the cause is amazing. Not a gripping book in the conventional sense as the book is written in a fairly straight forward narrative which moves from event to event and can even look a bit disjointed & loosely strung. But this is still a good read just to know Shivaji... the great Maratha for sure!
I definitely recommend this book to all the book lovers and those interested in the stories of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, this is a book which is not only well written but also loaded with numerous facts and references. This book justifies its title and shows how Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj challenged his destiny to become the greatest personality of his time
November 16, 2020
“I shall not serve, and neither shall my people” said a sixteen year old son of an Adilshahi jagirdar, whom we now know as Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
300 brave men is book 1 of a trilogy in which the author sets out to trace the transformation journey of this sixteen year old boy to a competent and able Maharaj. From the time when Shivaji faces his smiling father for the first time to befriending the Mughals to liberate his father from the atrocities of Adhilshah, the evolution of a great warriror is meticulously carved by the author. With the Adilshah finally recongnising Shivaji’s territories and a ceasefire being effected, the beginning of Swarajya of the Marathis is marked.
The narration starts with the eleven year old Shivaji whose acute sense of judgement and valiance is manifest in his words and actions from a very early age. His war strategies and their execution make it all the more interesting. The plot is propelled by a very lucid language. Moreover, to make our comprehension easier, the author provides a map of erstwhile Maharashtra and a cast of the major characters for our reference, before the narrative begins.
This book imbibes within itself hoards of historical facts and details. So much so, that sometimes I felt overwhelmed to absorb so much information. I cannot imagine the diligence that the author invested to write this book. It took me by awe to know that a research of more than 10 years went into the production of this trilogy. This was a brilliant and insightful read. If you are a lover of historical fiction or a fan of Shivaji Maharaj, then this is a must read for you.
300 brave men is book 1 of a trilogy in which the author sets out to trace the transformation journey of this sixteen year old boy to a competent and able Maharaj. From the time when Shivaji faces his smiling father for the first time to befriending the Mughals to liberate his father from the atrocities of Adhilshah, the evolution of a great warriror is meticulously carved by the author. With the Adilshah finally recongnising Shivaji’s territories and a ceasefire being effected, the beginning of Swarajya of the Marathis is marked.
The narration starts with the eleven year old Shivaji whose acute sense of judgement and valiance is manifest in his words and actions from a very early age. His war strategies and their execution make it all the more interesting. The plot is propelled by a very lucid language. Moreover, to make our comprehension easier, the author provides a map of erstwhile Maharashtra and a cast of the major characters for our reference, before the narrative begins.
This book imbibes within itself hoards of historical facts and details. So much so, that sometimes I felt overwhelmed to absorb so much information. I cannot imagine the diligence that the author invested to write this book. It took me by awe to know that a research of more than 10 years went into the production of this trilogy. This was a brilliant and insightful read. If you are a lover of historical fiction or a fan of Shivaji Maharaj, then this is a must read for you.
December 7, 2020
Book Review🍂
Historical Novel
'300 Brave Men' by Gautam Pradhan
'300 Brave Men' by Gautam Pradhan is a magnificent story of India's warrior king Chhatrapati Shivaji. Imagine yourself in the 17th century India, ruled by Sultans, Mughals and Shia rulers, imagine a warrior like Shivaji, his powerful ideas and political adroitness which would challenge the powerful rulers!! Magnificent!
Historical novels fascinate me with the colossal setting, brave characterization, tantalizing battlefield and enthralling victories. Chhatrapati Shivaji is one of my favourite historical figures. His prudence and pragmatic attitude are distinctive.
The plot of '300 Brave Men' revolves around Shivaji's early life, his ideologies and his life in the battlefield. The story starts with Shivaji meeting his father Shahaji in the young age. Shivaji's cleverness and brilliance flabbergast his father. At the same time, Shivaji views the immoral deeds committed in the kingdom.
The rulers tyranny humiliates the morals of the citizens, Shivaji gives strict punishments for those who assault women and innocents. His sensible judgement captivates the people. The story moves with the fast paced, gripping narration, the characters are sketched in an impeccable way.
The language is refined and adorned with the exotic emotions. Gautam Pradhan has clearly inscribed a profound historical novel. Recommending this magnificent novel to know more about India's powerful warriors and their prowess.
Historical Novel
'300 Brave Men' by Gautam Pradhan
'300 Brave Men' by Gautam Pradhan is a magnificent story of India's warrior king Chhatrapati Shivaji. Imagine yourself in the 17th century India, ruled by Sultans, Mughals and Shia rulers, imagine a warrior like Shivaji, his powerful ideas and political adroitness which would challenge the powerful rulers!! Magnificent!
Historical novels fascinate me with the colossal setting, brave characterization, tantalizing battlefield and enthralling victories. Chhatrapati Shivaji is one of my favourite historical figures. His prudence and pragmatic attitude are distinctive.
The plot of '300 Brave Men' revolves around Shivaji's early life, his ideologies and his life in the battlefield. The story starts with Shivaji meeting his father Shahaji in the young age. Shivaji's cleverness and brilliance flabbergast his father. At the same time, Shivaji views the immoral deeds committed in the kingdom.
The rulers tyranny humiliates the morals of the citizens, Shivaji gives strict punishments for those who assault women and innocents. His sensible judgement captivates the people. The story moves with the fast paced, gripping narration, the characters are sketched in an impeccable way.
The language is refined and adorned with the exotic emotions. Gautam Pradhan has clearly inscribed a profound historical novel. Recommending this magnificent novel to know more about India's powerful warriors and their prowess.
November 24, 2021
I am a passionate reader when it comes to history , as after reading I realise there is much more than we are aware about . This book is the first one in the trilogy and is a chock - full of insights of Shivaji’s life , one of the wisest king from 1641 to 1660 and takes in account the events of the Maratha Empire .
The story features Shivaji when he was just 15 and he captured his first fort and takes us on the journey which made him the powerful warrior. The war strategies , his victories over the enemies is quite interesting to read . Shivaji started with nothing , no army , no weapons yet he achieved what he wanted to . The book also descripts about the Adil shahi and Mughal rule in India .
One can readily see how much research is done by the author , the book offers detailed description with specifics of the time period . Talking about the book cover and the title, the title chosen by the author is thoughtful and goes well with the plot . The cover is simple . Characters are descripted well. And before finishing the review , I would say that it is quite difficult to put down in words how much I enjoyed reading this book . I would describe this as unputdownable .
Definitely recommend to everyone
The story features Shivaji when he was just 15 and he captured his first fort and takes us on the journey which made him the powerful warrior. The war strategies , his victories over the enemies is quite interesting to read . Shivaji started with nothing , no army , no weapons yet he achieved what he wanted to . The book also descripts about the Adil shahi and Mughal rule in India .
One can readily see how much research is done by the author , the book offers detailed description with specifics of the time period . Talking about the book cover and the title, the title chosen by the author is thoughtful and goes well with the plot . The cover is simple . Characters are descripted well. And before finishing the review , I would say that it is quite difficult to put down in words how much I enjoyed reading this book . I would describe this as unputdownable .
Definitely recommend to everyone
December 14, 2020
So the books I'm gonna recommend to you guys today is something that I enjoyed reading alot because I love reading historical books and it's totally based on that.
Disclaimer: lengthy read (600+ pages)
Basically I enjoy reading books which are on our Indian history and more over on our great leaders. They inspire us a lot and we learn alot from them.
So the book is "300 BRAVE MEN" BY @booksbygautam .This book is all about CHHTRAPATI SHIVAJI and we all admire him. He is one of the greatest kings of India.
We all had read or heard about the great SHIVAJI. You might have also watched the television serial based on him but the reason I have picked this book is that I love to read more than one perspective of one story. And I'm admirer and lover of Indian historical books.
This one is quite big read. This book is of 600+ pages.The cover is beautiful no doubt in that. Writting style is really good and the language is very easy and basic.
The best part about this book and also my favourite is the narration. Outstanding narration it's like you can imagine every scene in front of your eyes. And that's just amazing.
While reading this book it was like a time travel for me. As I can feel and understand everything whatever author was saying and I think the reason is great research behind this masterpiece.
This is the 1st part of trilogy on Great SHIVAJI and now I'm waiting for the next book of this series.
Disclaimer: lengthy read (600+ pages)
Basically I enjoy reading books which are on our Indian history and more over on our great leaders. They inspire us a lot and we learn alot from them.
So the book is "300 BRAVE MEN" BY @booksbygautam .This book is all about CHHTRAPATI SHIVAJI and we all admire him. He is one of the greatest kings of India.
We all had read or heard about the great SHIVAJI. You might have also watched the television serial based on him but the reason I have picked this book is that I love to read more than one perspective of one story. And I'm admirer and lover of Indian historical books.
This one is quite big read. This book is of 600+ pages.The cover is beautiful no doubt in that. Writting style is really good and the language is very easy and basic.
The best part about this book and also my favourite is the narration. Outstanding narration it's like you can imagine every scene in front of your eyes. And that's just amazing.
While reading this book it was like a time travel for me. As I can feel and understand everything whatever author was saying and I think the reason is great research behind this masterpiece.
This is the 1st part of trilogy on Great SHIVAJI and now I'm waiting for the next book of this series.
March 7, 2021
Book: “300 Brave Men”
Rating: 4/5
Author: Gautam Pradhan
'300 Brave Men' by Gautam Pradhan is a splendid story of India's warrior king Chhatrapati Shivaji. I always wanted to read more and more about the Chhatrapati Shivaji and I’m happy to read this book to get more knowledge. The plot of '300 Brave Men' revolves around Shivaji's early life, his principles and his life in the battlefield. One could simply envision everything while reading the book because Author has put his heart and soul in the writing.
Author has done terrific job with research purpose, each and every detail of the character is outstanding. The language used by the Author is lucid so every reader can enjoy this one. Although, the book is bit lengthy but you will relish every bit of it.
I wish such historical books are more and more in the market so the youths are aware of historical facts. Kudos to the Author for coming up with “300 Brave Men”
I would like to thank the Author for providing me the review copy for an honest review. Wish to read more and more books from the Author. If you are a reader who loves historical books than this would perfectly match your choice.
#BookReview
#BookReviewer.
Rating: 4/5
Author: Gautam Pradhan
'300 Brave Men' by Gautam Pradhan is a splendid story of India's warrior king Chhatrapati Shivaji. I always wanted to read more and more about the Chhatrapati Shivaji and I’m happy to read this book to get more knowledge. The plot of '300 Brave Men' revolves around Shivaji's early life, his principles and his life in the battlefield. One could simply envision everything while reading the book because Author has put his heart and soul in the writing.
Author has done terrific job with research purpose, each and every detail of the character is outstanding. The language used by the Author is lucid so every reader can enjoy this one. Although, the book is bit lengthy but you will relish every bit of it.
I wish such historical books are more and more in the market so the youths are aware of historical facts. Kudos to the Author for coming up with “300 Brave Men”
I would like to thank the Author for providing me the review copy for an honest review. Wish to read more and more books from the Author. If you are a reader who loves historical books than this would perfectly match your choice.
#BookReview
#BookReviewer.
September 1, 2020
300 Brave Men - Chhatrapati Shivaji Story is an awesome historical novel by Gautam Pradhan.
The book is all about the India's greatest warrior king, Chhatrapati Shivaji and birth of Maratha Empire. The book lengthy as it contains around 600 pages but, it kept me glued till the end. The author has magnificently narrated the whole story. I could visualise the scene in front of my eyes and I felt that I witnessed every scene. The author has wonderfully arranged all the events. This is the first part of the trilogy. The author has written some magnificent things from his point of view. This book is just fabulous from all the aspects and didn't let me down for a single moment. The author's efforts to research for this book and present it in such a nice form. I am glad that I read this book of legendary warrior king, Chhatrapati Shivaji Raje Bhosle. You should definitely read his story once.
Overall, it's a very nice book in historical fiction genre. This book is recommended to all those who love reading about history and avid readers.
The book is all about the India's greatest warrior king, Chhatrapati Shivaji and birth of Maratha Empire. The book lengthy as it contains around 600 pages but, it kept me glued till the end. The author has magnificently narrated the whole story. I could visualise the scene in front of my eyes and I felt that I witnessed every scene. The author has wonderfully arranged all the events. This is the first part of the trilogy. The author has written some magnificent things from his point of view. This book is just fabulous from all the aspects and didn't let me down for a single moment. The author's efforts to research for this book and present it in such a nice form. I am glad that I read this book of legendary warrior king, Chhatrapati Shivaji Raje Bhosle. You should definitely read his story once.
Overall, it's a very nice book in historical fiction genre. This book is recommended to all those who love reading about history and avid readers.
July 1, 2021
The book '300 Brave Men' is a historical fiction novel and it's the first book of a trilogy that portrays the epic story of the famous king, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and The Maratha Empire. In this book, the author has explained the extraordinary life of the king during the year 1641 to 1661.
Historical fiction is one of my favourite genres and therefore I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. Even though I had read about the mighty king Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj earlier, I was not much aware of his life events, his family, the battles he had fought, etc. This book has given me a clear insight about the various events and historical moments that happened during that particular period.
From this book, it is evident that the author has done thorough research regarding the life and history of the mighty king and I truly appreciate the author for developing such a wonderful book based on the topic. Even though it's a time consuming read, it's definitely worth the time it takes to finish the book. Also, the language used is really simple and lucid. The narration style is pretty interesting and the author has clearly explained the various traditions and systems that prevailed during those times in a detailed yet interesting way.
Overall it was a wonderful read. I would like to recommend this book to everyone who likes historical fiction and would like to know more about the King Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
Historical fiction is one of my favourite genres and therefore I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. Even though I had read about the mighty king Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj earlier, I was not much aware of his life events, his family, the battles he had fought, etc. This book has given me a clear insight about the various events and historical moments that happened during that particular period.
From this book, it is evident that the author has done thorough research regarding the life and history of the mighty king and I truly appreciate the author for developing such a wonderful book based on the topic. Even though it's a time consuming read, it's definitely worth the time it takes to finish the book. Also, the language used is really simple and lucid. The narration style is pretty interesting and the author has clearly explained the various traditions and systems that prevailed during those times in a detailed yet interesting way.
Overall it was a wonderful read. I would like to recommend this book to everyone who likes historical fiction and would like to know more about the King Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
March 23, 2023
A Life that was more interesting than fiction !!!
As a child, I have always been fascinated by the life of Shivaji Maharaj. Reading 300 brave men has only elevated it further.
Virtues like justice, friendship , loyalty and love are brilliantly portrayed in Gautam Pradhan's style of writing. He definitely keeps the reader engrossed with how Shivaji's life is depicted. While we should understand that all that is written may not be true and is subject to debates but overall this book does provide you an anecdote of the life that he would have lived...a Life interesting than fiction....
As a child, I have always been fascinated by the life of Shivaji Maharaj. Reading 300 brave men has only elevated it further.
Virtues like justice, friendship , loyalty and love are brilliantly portrayed in Gautam Pradhan's style of writing. He definitely keeps the reader engrossed with how Shivaji's life is depicted. While we should understand that all that is written may not be true and is subject to debates but overall this book does provide you an anecdote of the life that he would have lived...a Life interesting than fiction....
March 22, 2018
The book fails to make an impact because the drudgery of reading through such a long volume of work feels tiresome.
Full Review: https://antorjatikbangali.wordpress.c...
Full Review: https://antorjatikbangali.wordpress.c...
December 6, 2020
This book will change your life
This is one of the best and well researched history book written. Language is very brilliant and the story play also unique. Must read. Chattrapati Shivaji Maharaj ki Jai.
This is one of the best and well researched history book written. Language is very brilliant and the story play also unique. Must read. Chattrapati Shivaji Maharaj ki Jai.
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