What do you think?
Rate this book
Shivaji: India's Great Warrior King
"Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, the legendary seventeenth-century Maratha warrior who audaciously took on the Mughal empire at the height of its powers under Emperor Aurangzeb, and became a beacon of inspiration well after his death for those fighting for Indian independence, is one of the most compelling figures of early modern India. This is his definitive biography, relying on a vast variety of Marathi language sources overlooked in standard English works and enriched by author Vaibhav Purandare’s deep knowledge of the rugged terrain and culture of the region. With a wealth of evocative detail, it charts the dizzying story of this self-made military hero who started out as a teenage rebel of great precocity and daring, and ended up crowning himself king of an independent Maratha state after changing the political map of his native Deccan.
Especially relevant for our times is Purandare’s erudite and insightful exploration of whether Shivaji was a Hindu icon, as many have labelled him, or a secular figure, as others have chosen to call him, or something altogether more complex and thought-provoking. This biography corrects many falsities and myths, and it is the only book you need to read about one of India’s greatest heroes.
Especially relevant for our times is Purandare’s erudite and insightful exploration of whether Shivaji was a Hindu icon, as many have labelled him, or a secular figure, as others have chosen to call him, or something altogether more complex and thought-provoking. This biography corrects many falsities and myths, and it is the only book you need to read about one of India’s greatest heroes.
320 pages, Paperback
Published August 22, 2022
48 people are currently reading
247 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
February 28, 2024
What can I say, Purandare’s write well about Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s history. A beautiful, well written and brilliantly researched book chronicling the life of the dear “जाणता राजा”
Many people are unaware of him, and many have reduced him to a mere regional hero but infact he was more than that. His life is an inspiration and Maharashtra, Maharashtrians and Bharat owe a lot to him.
Many people are unaware of him, and many have reduced him to a mere regional hero but infact he was more than that. His life is an inspiration and Maharashtra, Maharashtrians and Bharat owe a lot to him.
November 18, 2022
He was no doubt the greatest King of India.
Read
September 17, 2022Shivaji:India’s Great Warrior King
Author: Vaibhav Purandare
Published by: Juggernaut Books
Genre: History/Biography
Pages: 320. (261 pages in text, rest in notes, citations, bibliography and index.)
MRP: Rs.799/-
Thank you @juggernautbooks for a media copy.
Disclaimer: I have the utmost respect for Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and mean to provide him with the proper designations and salutations that he deserves. However, I have in places referred to him as Shivaji, not because I mean any disrespect towards him, but because of ease of reading.
History has divided Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj into various segments. Some Say that he was establishing a secular state or simply a Maratha empire in that region of the sub-continent. The author has arrived at a conclusion that “Shivaji was not out to establish a secular or non-religious kingdom, nor was he bent on founding a Hindu theocratic state. He was establishing a Hindu polity-one that was broadly inclusive, tolerant and all-encompassing and at the same time drank deep on the foundation of Hindu culture and civilization. “ He never demonstrated any personal dislike of Muslims or their faith; instead, he continued grants to mosques given before his time and explicitly told his soldiers to treat holy men of the faith and their holy text , with respect.
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj has been a leader that most Indians are proud of. As they should be. But according to some from the Lutyens’s gangs, he was limited to being a ‘regional leader from Maharashtra’. When Aurangzeb Road was renamed in New Delhi to Dr Abdul Kalam Road, Ramachandra Guha, the “historian” wrote an article, that there should be no road renamed after Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.( The way backward and a way forward - Hindustan Times). The reasons that he gave were,
1. It shall feed into the majoritarianism that has been a creepingly dangerous presence in our body politic.
2. He was essentially a regional figure. (Do note: The man who birthed an empire from Peshawar to Plasie , is being called a regional figure.). These expressions of Maratha pride make some sense in regional contexts; less so in the capital of our large and diverse country.
3. He was a lord in the age of feudalism. Endorsed caste hierarchies and consolidated scriptural and social practices which led to the subordination of women.
When the article was published, i.e., September 9th, 2015. There already existed three roads in Delhi after Shivaji. So much for fact-checking. Shivaji was by no mean or form, a “regional leader” and as the author of this book concludes, Shivaji was not, at all, a theocratic Hindu leader. He was indeed proud of his heritage and Hindu identity and endorsed it as much as he could, being he was the first one to make the official language of his seal, in Sanskrit, unlike even his parents, Shahaji Bhosale and Jijabai, whose seals were in the well-established norm of the Persianate Age, Persian. Tagore, Tilak and even Nehru agreed that Shivaji Maharaj was the symbol of a resurgent Hindu Nationalism. But Shivaji’s Hindu state was for Hindu’s and non-Hindu’s alike and did not conceive of any difference in treatment between the two. He even had Non-Hindu’s in high ranking positions in his Army and Navy. Coming to the point on “endorsed caste hierarchies and social practices which led to subordination of women”. There’s this one incident the author mentions about a case which comes to him, a lower caste woman had been sexually assaulted by a higher authority and caste village Patil. the Patil was the village headman and the most important Vatandar of the village. His main duties were to be the collector of revenue, as well as being the head of police and justice. So after conducting investigations, he found the Patil to be guilty and ordered capital punishment (which was not so uncommon, at the time).
While reading the book, through the subtext you will get to know about the origins of several Maharashtrians surnames of today, such as Kulkarni, Deshmukh, Patil etc. Also much about Maharashtra’s geography and topography of those days. The author’s surname itself is ‘Purandare’ , and Purandar is quite a historically important place, especially in this book. I can’t help but wonder.
Shivaji’s father Shri Shahaji Bhosale, was a jagirdar under several different rulers at different times. He served under the Ahmadnagar Sultanate (The Nizam Shahi(which ceased to exist)), the Mughal Empire , and ultimately the Bijapur Sultanate (the Adil Shahi). Mohammad Adil Shah had pronounced three openly discriminatory regulations against Hindu’s, who formed the majority of his state’s population.
1. Only Muslims could be appointed Governors in the provinces, while Hindus could be given clerical and non-executive posts; no executive responsibilities, and no governorships would go to the Brahmins and the other Hindu’s, for they were disturbers of the land and the faith.
2. All efforts must be made to propagate the rules of Islam, with no infidel being allowed to insult, oppress or claim equality with a weak Muslim. Muslims who injured infidels ,on the other hand, need only be admonished orally ‘but never… punished in any way for the sake of the infidel’
3. Muslims were told to refrain from participating in ‘infidel celebrations like Holi, Diwali, Dusshera’ because these were ,’bad’, though as a concession, these celebrations were not banned, so the Muslims couldn’t object to them or obstruct them either.
Shivaji , from a young age could not but be aware of all of this. He shoes to make a statement. When he started issuing orders in his own name at the age of 16, only as an administrator of his father’s jagir, his chose Sanskrit as the language, against the Persian which was the norm in those days. He started out as a natural Rebel, the son of a jagirdar militating against well established system of doing and arranging things, and then he began moving inexorably in only one direction: of freeing his land from the culture of oppression, suppression, harassment and ignominy heaped by the many sultanates and the mighty empire of the Mughals who had their original home on the steppes of Central Asia. The rest of Shivaji’s life-with all its victories, defeats , compromises , adjustments, retreats- has to be seen in the light of this clarity of thinking and intent he demonstrated at the age of 16.
The book looks at several myth’s that have acquired popular and legendary status, but it separates fact from fiction and presents the real Shivaji of history, whose life is so filled with Drama that it scarcely requires further embellishment in the form of made-up tales.
Shivaji was brutal to his enemies at the time. The author tells his tale in chronological order one major enemy after the other. Fatah Khan, The More’s of Jawali, Afzal Khan, Adil Shah, Mughals (Aurangazeb), Siddhi Jauhar , Shaista Khan, Jai Singh and I’m sure I’m missing some. The battles are written terrifically and keeps the reader hooked. All the Victories and defeats alike. All the major events like his infamous battle with Afzal Khan , his historic escape from Panhalgad fort, his state of mind while signing the Treaty of Purandar , all are described in great detail. As I had initially complained on social media that the length is too short and that I want to read more, while that would have been nice, to know more about perhaps the context that lead Shivaji to raid Surat and some other gaps in the story, and one other event, when Sambhaji, Shivaji’s son decided to deflect to the Mughals for a brief while, though covered , that decision seems to not have been discussed. But the book doesn’t lack in detail any way otherwise and doesn’t miss any major event in the Maharaja’s life. The way the author writes about his life, one can’t help but awe.
The book definitely works as a definitive biography, albeit with some gaps in the storyline. The author has provided enough credible citations wherever necessary and from all sides of the spectrum. Overall a very enjoyable read. Will highly recommend everyone to pick up this book. Especially the younger generation who are interested in history but are intimidated by big thick books with hard vocabulary. This book is very easy to read. It reads like a breeze.
Author: Vaibhav Purandare
Published by: Juggernaut Books
Genre: History/Biography
Pages: 320. (261 pages in text, rest in notes, citations, bibliography and index.)
MRP: Rs.799/-
Thank you @juggernautbooks for a media copy.
Disclaimer: I have the utmost respect for Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and mean to provide him with the proper designations and salutations that he deserves. However, I have in places referred to him as Shivaji, not because I mean any disrespect towards him, but because of ease of reading.
History has divided Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj into various segments. Some Say that he was establishing a secular state or simply a Maratha empire in that region of the sub-continent. The author has arrived at a conclusion that “Shivaji was not out to establish a secular or non-religious kingdom, nor was he bent on founding a Hindu theocratic state. He was establishing a Hindu polity-one that was broadly inclusive, tolerant and all-encompassing and at the same time drank deep on the foundation of Hindu culture and civilization. “ He never demonstrated any personal dislike of Muslims or their faith; instead, he continued grants to mosques given before his time and explicitly told his soldiers to treat holy men of the faith and their holy text , with respect.
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj has been a leader that most Indians are proud of. As they should be. But according to some from the Lutyens’s gangs, he was limited to being a ‘regional leader from Maharashtra’. When Aurangzeb Road was renamed in New Delhi to Dr Abdul Kalam Road, Ramachandra Guha, the “historian” wrote an article, that there should be no road renamed after Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.( The way backward and a way forward - Hindustan Times). The reasons that he gave were,
1. It shall feed into the majoritarianism that has been a creepingly dangerous presence in our body politic.
2. He was essentially a regional figure. (Do note: The man who birthed an empire from Peshawar to Plasie , is being called a regional figure.). These expressions of Maratha pride make some sense in regional contexts; less so in the capital of our large and diverse country.
3. He was a lord in the age of feudalism. Endorsed caste hierarchies and consolidated scriptural and social practices which led to the subordination of women.
When the article was published, i.e., September 9th, 2015. There already existed three roads in Delhi after Shivaji. So much for fact-checking. Shivaji was by no mean or form, a “regional leader” and as the author of this book concludes, Shivaji was not, at all, a theocratic Hindu leader. He was indeed proud of his heritage and Hindu identity and endorsed it as much as he could, being he was the first one to make the official language of his seal, in Sanskrit, unlike even his parents, Shahaji Bhosale and Jijabai, whose seals were in the well-established norm of the Persianate Age, Persian. Tagore, Tilak and even Nehru agreed that Shivaji Maharaj was the symbol of a resurgent Hindu Nationalism. But Shivaji’s Hindu state was for Hindu’s and non-Hindu’s alike and did not conceive of any difference in treatment between the two. He even had Non-Hindu’s in high ranking positions in his Army and Navy. Coming to the point on “endorsed caste hierarchies and social practices which led to subordination of women”. There’s this one incident the author mentions about a case which comes to him, a lower caste woman had been sexually assaulted by a higher authority and caste village Patil. the Patil was the village headman and the most important Vatandar of the village. His main duties were to be the collector of revenue, as well as being the head of police and justice. So after conducting investigations, he found the Patil to be guilty and ordered capital punishment (which was not so uncommon, at the time).
While reading the book, through the subtext you will get to know about the origins of several Maharashtrians surnames of today, such as Kulkarni, Deshmukh, Patil etc. Also much about Maharashtra’s geography and topography of those days. The author’s surname itself is ‘Purandare’ , and Purandar is quite a historically important place, especially in this book. I can’t help but wonder.
Shivaji’s father Shri Shahaji Bhosale, was a jagirdar under several different rulers at different times. He served under the Ahmadnagar Sultanate (The Nizam Shahi(which ceased to exist)), the Mughal Empire , and ultimately the Bijapur Sultanate (the Adil Shahi). Mohammad Adil Shah had pronounced three openly discriminatory regulations against Hindu’s, who formed the majority of his state’s population.
1. Only Muslims could be appointed Governors in the provinces, while Hindus could be given clerical and non-executive posts; no executive responsibilities, and no governorships would go to the Brahmins and the other Hindu’s, for they were disturbers of the land and the faith.
2. All efforts must be made to propagate the rules of Islam, with no infidel being allowed to insult, oppress or claim equality with a weak Muslim. Muslims who injured infidels ,on the other hand, need only be admonished orally ‘but never… punished in any way for the sake of the infidel’
3. Muslims were told to refrain from participating in ‘infidel celebrations like Holi, Diwali, Dusshera’ because these were ,’bad’, though as a concession, these celebrations were not banned, so the Muslims couldn’t object to them or obstruct them either.
Shivaji , from a young age could not but be aware of all of this. He shoes to make a statement. When he started issuing orders in his own name at the age of 16, only as an administrator of his father’s jagir, his chose Sanskrit as the language, against the Persian which was the norm in those days. He started out as a natural Rebel, the son of a jagirdar militating against well established system of doing and arranging things, and then he began moving inexorably in only one direction: of freeing his land from the culture of oppression, suppression, harassment and ignominy heaped by the many sultanates and the mighty empire of the Mughals who had their original home on the steppes of Central Asia. The rest of Shivaji’s life-with all its victories, defeats , compromises , adjustments, retreats- has to be seen in the light of this clarity of thinking and intent he demonstrated at the age of 16.
The book looks at several myth’s that have acquired popular and legendary status, but it separates fact from fiction and presents the real Shivaji of history, whose life is so filled with Drama that it scarcely requires further embellishment in the form of made-up tales.
Shivaji was brutal to his enemies at the time. The author tells his tale in chronological order one major enemy after the other. Fatah Khan, The More’s of Jawali, Afzal Khan, Adil Shah, Mughals (Aurangazeb), Siddhi Jauhar , Shaista Khan, Jai Singh and I’m sure I’m missing some. The battles are written terrifically and keeps the reader hooked. All the Victories and defeats alike. All the major events like his infamous battle with Afzal Khan , his historic escape from Panhalgad fort, his state of mind while signing the Treaty of Purandar , all are described in great detail. As I had initially complained on social media that the length is too short and that I want to read more, while that would have been nice, to know more about perhaps the context that lead Shivaji to raid Surat and some other gaps in the story, and one other event, when Sambhaji, Shivaji’s son decided to deflect to the Mughals for a brief while, though covered , that decision seems to not have been discussed. But the book doesn’t lack in detail any way otherwise and doesn’t miss any major event in the Maharaja’s life. The way the author writes about his life, one can’t help but awe.
The book definitely works as a definitive biography, albeit with some gaps in the storyline. The author has provided enough credible citations wherever necessary and from all sides of the spectrum. Overall a very enjoyable read. Will highly recommend everyone to pick up this book. Especially the younger generation who are interested in history but are intimidated by big thick books with hard vocabulary. This book is very easy to read. It reads like a breeze.
February 5, 2023
Everyone knows that Shivaji was great!! But only few know why exactly! This book is exactly to know that why! Brilliant read!!
November 27, 2023
super book. first time i read so much in details about Shiva ji. what a brave man.. dushman ko ghar me ghus kar marna koi unse sikhe. i read some where that in his will Aurngjeb mentioned that he couldnt capture shivaji and it was his biggest failure.
its a pity that he died too young at 50. had he lived say up to 70 , India's history would have been different.
its a pity that he died too young at 50. had he lived say up to 70 , India's history would have been different.
January 28, 2023
Having read quite a few biographies of Shivaji, found this to be an interesting and modern take. While the book does not throw up any surprises, by virtue of its recency it manages to strip away a lot of inaccuracies found in the earlier biographies. The language is easy to read and the gripping, inspiring narrative makes it unputdownable.
April 29, 2023
A marvellous survey of the life of Shivaji, written in the contemporary English idiom of our times. The basic inspiring story — of the son of a Bijapuri general (and important jagirdar of the key domains of Pune and Bangalore) who inherited a small area in Pune as a 10 year old, but went on to found a remarkable Hindu nation-state that extended across almost all of peninsuslar India south of the Narmada — is well told by Vaibhav Purandare. One wonders whether his surname is linked to the great Purandar fort that was one of the key arenas of conflict and triumph in Shivaji’s career. Shivaji’s life is one of almost superhuman bravery and audaciousness; making all this read as if it’s commonplace takes some doing!
My only mild criticism is that the author is trying too hard (no doubt at his publisher’s urging) to make the case that Shivaji was ‘secular’. He was no doubt fair in his treatment of non-Hindus, but it is silly to downplay the fact that Shivaji very consciously sought to establish a Hindawi Swaraj, starting from his use of Sanskrit in his personal seal (when he was a mere teenager) to his conscious rehabilitation and refurbishment of Hindu mandirs and other holy sites throughout his career, and his choice of Gaga Bhat of Kashi (Varanasi) to consecrate his coronation in 1674.
Shivaji’s inspirational career marked the start of the revival of Bharatiya (Indic) civilisation. He applied the precepts of Chanakya’s Arthashastra in his incredibly innovative but ultimately Dharmic approach to governance (starting with strictures against mistreatment of women by any of his employees). This aspect is mentioned by Purandare, as are the amazing steps he took to establish a stable administration based on permanent appointments, and create a conducive and peaceful backdrop for citizens to live meaningful lives, including settling previously uninhabited areas. These were innovations that overturned the Mughal-era depredations of extreme taxation (which were made much worse by Aurangzeb) by instead focusing on improving the lives of the ruled. These are hinted at in the book. But we don’t get an adequate picture of the enormous impact Shivaji had on fundamentally altering the course of modern Indian history.
My only mild criticism is that the author is trying too hard (no doubt at his publisher’s urging) to make the case that Shivaji was ‘secular’. He was no doubt fair in his treatment of non-Hindus, but it is silly to downplay the fact that Shivaji very consciously sought to establish a Hindawi Swaraj, starting from his use of Sanskrit in his personal seal (when he was a mere teenager) to his conscious rehabilitation and refurbishment of Hindu mandirs and other holy sites throughout his career, and his choice of Gaga Bhat of Kashi (Varanasi) to consecrate his coronation in 1674.
Shivaji’s inspirational career marked the start of the revival of Bharatiya (Indic) civilisation. He applied the precepts of Chanakya’s Arthashastra in his incredibly innovative but ultimately Dharmic approach to governance (starting with strictures against mistreatment of women by any of his employees). This aspect is mentioned by Purandare, as are the amazing steps he took to establish a stable administration based on permanent appointments, and create a conducive and peaceful backdrop for citizens to live meaningful lives, including settling previously uninhabited areas. These were innovations that overturned the Mughal-era depredations of extreme taxation (which were made much worse by Aurangzeb) by instead focusing on improving the lives of the ruled. These are hinted at in the book. But we don’t get an adequate picture of the enormous impact Shivaji had on fundamentally altering the course of modern Indian history.
July 14, 2025
-The Story of a King-
Review of 'Shivaji: India's Great Warrior King'
Quote Alert
"𝐒𝐡𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐣𝐢 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐬𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐰𝐝 𝐞𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐩𝐢𝐭𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐞𝐬. 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐝 𝐡𝐢𝐦 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐨𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐬. ��𝐞 𝐚𝐥𝐬𝐨 𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐨𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐡𝐢𝐦𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞-𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐩 𝐡𝐢𝐦𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐟𝐮𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝.𝐎𝐧𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐬 𝐚 𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐚𝐬 𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐥𝐲 𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐩𝐭 𝐚𝐭 𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐢𝐦𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐚𝐬 𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐚𝐭 𝐥𝐚𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐛𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐥𝐲 𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐞𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐲 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐬."
Shivaji is a historical account of the legendary seventeenth-century Maratha warrior, knitted together piece by piece by Vaibhav Purandare after reading hundreds of Marathi, Hindi and English documents gleaned by many historians after years of search. Fiercely popular in Maharashtra, he was the king who once audaciously took on the Mughal empire at the height of its powers under Emperor Aurangzeb. Today, he is one of the most compelling figures of early modern India.
But what makes Shivaji such a prominent figure even after centuries, so much so that he is appropriated by political parties, mostly for their own gain? Is it the reason that he himself, in the time when Marathas were mere warriorsnin the armies of Sultans and not kings, declared himself Chhatrapati Shivaji?
This book charts the story of this self-made military hero, right from the time of his birth in a secluded fort. Purandare, like an adept historian, also debunks various myths related to Shivaji, even the ones popularized by mainstream cinema and even some popular historians.
He writes: "One of Shivaji's most remarkable achievements was the building of his own naval feet. He was alone among his contemporaries in recognizing the importance of the seas and demonstrated a political and strategic vision in this regard that all the other rulers sorely lacked."
The book is detail-orienter and minutely looks at every event, every happening with a magnifying lens. It's for you if you're a history buff.
Review of 'Shivaji: India's Great Warrior King'
Quote Alert
"𝐒𝐡𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐣𝐢 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐬𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐰𝐝 𝐞𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐩𝐢𝐭𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐞𝐬. 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐝 𝐡𝐢𝐦 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐨𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐬. ��𝐞 𝐚𝐥𝐬𝐨 𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐨𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐡𝐢𝐦𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞-𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐩 𝐡𝐢𝐦𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐟𝐮𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝.𝐎𝐧𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐬 𝐚 𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐚𝐬 𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐥𝐲 𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐩𝐭 𝐚𝐭 𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐢𝐦𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐚𝐬 𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐚𝐭 𝐥𝐚𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐛𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐥𝐲 𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐞𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐲 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐬."
Shivaji is a historical account of the legendary seventeenth-century Maratha warrior, knitted together piece by piece by Vaibhav Purandare after reading hundreds of Marathi, Hindi and English documents gleaned by many historians after years of search. Fiercely popular in Maharashtra, he was the king who once audaciously took on the Mughal empire at the height of its powers under Emperor Aurangzeb. Today, he is one of the most compelling figures of early modern India.
But what makes Shivaji such a prominent figure even after centuries, so much so that he is appropriated by political parties, mostly for their own gain? Is it the reason that he himself, in the time when Marathas were mere warriorsnin the armies of Sultans and not kings, declared himself Chhatrapati Shivaji?
This book charts the story of this self-made military hero, right from the time of his birth in a secluded fort. Purandare, like an adept historian, also debunks various myths related to Shivaji, even the ones popularized by mainstream cinema and even some popular historians.
He writes: "One of Shivaji's most remarkable achievements was the building of his own naval feet. He was alone among his contemporaries in recognizing the importance of the seas and demonstrated a political and strategic vision in this regard that all the other rulers sorely lacked."
The book is detail-orienter and minutely looks at every event, every happening with a magnifying lens. It's for you if you're a history buff.
June 21, 2023
“Hey Hindu-Shakti Sambhuta Diptitam Teja, Hey Hindu-Tapasya Puta Ishwari Oja, Hey Hindushree Soubhagya Bhutichya Saja, Hey Hindu Nrusimha Prabho Shivaji Raja” – Veer Savarkar
My favorite superhero is not a fictional character. He rose from the Sahyadri, the greatest son of Bharat Mata, saved the land from cruel invaders and wrote an entirely new history. He was the holder of the royal umbrella- Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
There are many theories about him- some people portray him as an anti-Muslim communal king and some people portray him as an “secular-liberal” king. But he was none of them. He built a “Hindavi Swaraj” or “Hindu Swaraj” which would protect the Hindus from cruel fanatic Islamic invaders, but it contained a pluralist state which would not discriminate people based on cast, creed and faith. The tone of this book is very neutral.
This book debunked many allegations against Raje. Ramachandra Guha alleged that he was a casteist and anti-women. But this book proved him totally wrong as Raje was highly anti-discriminatory and he had ordered to chop-off the legs and hands of a village patil for raping a woman. A Bengali separatist newspaper Anandabazar Patrika and a left-leaning newspaper The Tribune portrayed him as an enemy of the Bengalis. But in the Introduction of this book, the author proved that many eminent Bengalis like Bhudev Mukhejee, Aurobindo Ghosh, Bipin Chandra Pal and Rabindranath Tagore had idealized him.
So, the book starts with Raje’s birth in the Shivneri fort. Then it states his rising up as a great leader and building the Swaraj. His dream of the Swaraj led him to the court of Aurangzeb and his great escape from Agra. He led his people to glory which made him immortal. His reforms as a ruler gave his people relief from many burdens. His good conduct to the women (even of the enemy camps) and his love for his nation made him lovable to people after hundreds of years after his death.
I am requesting everyone to read this to know about the Greatness of this beloved king and his bravery, sacrifices and nationalism.
My favorite superhero is not a fictional character. He rose from the Sahyadri, the greatest son of Bharat Mata, saved the land from cruel invaders and wrote an entirely new history. He was the holder of the royal umbrella- Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
There are many theories about him- some people portray him as an anti-Muslim communal king and some people portray him as an “secular-liberal” king. But he was none of them. He built a “Hindavi Swaraj” or “Hindu Swaraj” which would protect the Hindus from cruel fanatic Islamic invaders, but it contained a pluralist state which would not discriminate people based on cast, creed and faith. The tone of this book is very neutral.
This book debunked many allegations against Raje. Ramachandra Guha alleged that he was a casteist and anti-women. But this book proved him totally wrong as Raje was highly anti-discriminatory and he had ordered to chop-off the legs and hands of a village patil for raping a woman. A Bengali separatist newspaper Anandabazar Patrika and a left-leaning newspaper The Tribune portrayed him as an enemy of the Bengalis. But in the Introduction of this book, the author proved that many eminent Bengalis like Bhudev Mukhejee, Aurobindo Ghosh, Bipin Chandra Pal and Rabindranath Tagore had idealized him.
So, the book starts with Raje’s birth in the Shivneri fort. Then it states his rising up as a great leader and building the Swaraj. His dream of the Swaraj led him to the court of Aurangzeb and his great escape from Agra. He led his people to glory which made him immortal. His reforms as a ruler gave his people relief from many burdens. His good conduct to the women (even of the enemy camps) and his love for his nation made him lovable to people after hundreds of years after his death.
I am requesting everyone to read this to know about the Greatness of this beloved king and his bravery, sacrifices and nationalism.
July 5, 2023
Shivaji (India's Great warrior king) by
@vaibhav.purandare
1 must say, this book is an absolute gem when it comes to understanding the grandeur of the Maratha Empire. The writing is not only smooth and engaging, but also incredibly well-researched, providing a deep and comprehensive understanding of the life and achievements of Shivaji Maharaj. It goes beyond just narrating his story, delving into the perspectives of historians who have studied and written about this legendary figure. The storytelling in this book is masterful, effortlessly transporting the reader into the fascinating world of Shivaji Maharaj and the Maratha Empire.
Whether you're a history enthusiast or simply curious about this remarkable era, this book is a must-read, offering profound insights and a rich tapestry of the Maratha Empire's legacy.
@vaibhav.purandare
1 must say, this book is an absolute gem when it comes to understanding the grandeur of the Maratha Empire. The writing is not only smooth and engaging, but also incredibly well-researched, providing a deep and comprehensive understanding of the life and achievements of Shivaji Maharaj. It goes beyond just narrating his story, delving into the perspectives of historians who have studied and written about this legendary figure. The storytelling in this book is masterful, effortlessly transporting the reader into the fascinating world of Shivaji Maharaj and the Maratha Empire.
Whether you're a history enthusiast or simply curious about this remarkable era, this book is a must-read, offering profound insights and a rich tapestry of the Maratha Empire's legacy.
December 1, 2023
Author Vaibhav Purandare’s “Shivaji: India’s Great Warrior King” is the kind of historical literature that I thoroughly enjoy. This is a factual, evidence-backed piece of writing with a somewhat dry prose - which might not be everyone’s cup of tea but is right up my alley when it comes to reading history books; especially those focused on the 17th and the 18th century Indian history. What makes this book even better is the complete lack of caste-based jingoism and political undertones. In other words, it tells the history of the great Chhatrapati based on the available verified sources and not a fancily embellished fairytale. Having read quite a few books about the Chhatrapati and the Peshwas, I was pleasantly surprised to still find a few new tidbits here and there about the great king. Definitely recommended if you are a history buff.
June 20, 2024
I am trying to learn history, I am not a historian myself. For such a person I believe it would be very hard to create criterion to judge a biography. I am not dissatisfied by the author’s work thus 5 stars.
was aware about Chhatrapati before reading the book but certainly reading this book gave me better insights into his life and so much more information than what the general public already knows. The writing is easy to comprehend and it makes the experience less boring. One thing I really appreciate is how the author drew a proper landscape about India before the birth of Shivraj and the impact he had on people. Something I wish he would have done would be to quote several other primary sources as they would give a better idea of how people during that age thought.
Hope this makes sense.
was aware about Chhatrapati before reading the book but certainly reading this book gave me better insights into his life and so much more information than what the general public already knows. The writing is easy to comprehend and it makes the experience less boring. One thing I really appreciate is how the author drew a proper landscape about India before the birth of Shivraj and the impact he had on people. Something I wish he would have done would be to quote several other primary sources as they would give a better idea of how people during that age thought.
Hope this makes sense.
April 25, 2024
Jay Bhawani, Jay Shivaji! Though Shivaji Maharaj and his chronicles had been a bread of butter of Maharashtra State Board history curriculum which I underwent, this book was truly refreshing. Firstly, it seemed well researched and well balanced too. I couldn't find any biases directly and the author took the effort to cross check any hypothesis across sources on either sides (Maratha and outsiders). This like other historical non-fiction books is heavy to read with multiple sub plots and characters but it offered many new insights on the the benevolant and secular ruler's attempt to carve out an independent state for the people of his region.
January 16, 2024
The Author Vibhav Purandare has researched well to perhaps note the actual journey of one of the Mose elite and rather the greatest Warrior of all times.
Well scripted !!!
Certainly a good read. Lovely book cover which makes it a perfect coffee table book!!
Well scripted !!!
Certainly a good read. Lovely book cover which makes it a perfect coffee table book!!
June 23, 2023
By far the best biography of Shivaji Maharaj that I have come across in English!
October 4, 2024
Superbly penned by vaibhav sir..
October 24, 2025
Super super book! Loved the importance given to details about the maratha rebellion of the 17th century. The flow of the chapters was smooth. Loved reading it!
August 4, 2023
Book can be described as a brief history of Shivaji Maharaj, author does a good job of chronologically listing down major events that shaped not only Maharashtra but India as a whole. Being a Maharashtrian, was nice to learnt a lot of new things which was bypassed by our textbooks. Though there are hints of author’s biases in some sections it doesn’t hamper the overall flow of the book. Recommended for everyone interested in the complex history of the Maratha kingdom.
March 16, 2025
By far the best book on Shivaji Maharaj written in English language. Having read books on Shivaji Maharaj in Marathi, one gets a feeling that Shivaji Maharaj is an otherworldly, godly figure rather than a historical entity. It is difficult to chaff away fact from fiction. The claims in Sabhasad, bakhars and powada are taken at face value.
This book, on the other hand, is very nuanced. The author quoted verbatim from various historical sources, which puts sense of authenticity to the commentary. The book also throws light on the social and political setting during which Shivaji Maharaj created a kingdom. When reader understands this backdrop, then the achievement of this great king can be appreciated.
It is often said “history without geography is like painting without canvass”.
The author makes the statement come alive by setting various historical events in the backdrop of his commentary on geography of the places. With this, the strategic and tactical genius of Shivaji Maharaj is laid bare.
Highly recommended!
This book, on the other hand, is very nuanced. The author quoted verbatim from various historical sources, which puts sense of authenticity to the commentary. The book also throws light on the social and political setting during which Shivaji Maharaj created a kingdom. When reader understands this backdrop, then the achievement of this great king can be appreciated.
It is often said “history without geography is like painting without canvass”.
The author makes the statement come alive by setting various historical events in the backdrop of his commentary on geography of the places. With this, the strategic and tactical genius of Shivaji Maharaj is laid bare.
Highly recommended!
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews