The popular movie Chhaava is bringing the story of Chatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj's bravery and sacrifice to a wider audience. When people discover about the atrocities "Chhaava" suffered while in the custody of Mughal dictator aurangzeb but refused to join Islam, the movie, which stars vicky kaushal as the legendary maratha fighter, is making them cry.
Social media is awash with tweets honoring Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj since the film's premiere, but little is known about the Marathas' valor in avenging the horrific murder of their beloved ruler.
The genius of "Hindavi Swarajya," Chhatrapati shivaji Maharaj, passed away, and the fervent Mughal monarch aurangzeb and his army celebrated, thinking that their long-held ambition of capturing the Deccan was finally within their grasp. However, Dharmaveer Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj's rise to power derailed their objectives. The Mughals were astonished and frightened by his intense opposition, which prevented them from realizing their goal of controlling South India. The Mughals continued to be confident despite his cruel execution and attempted to conquer the Deccan, but they were confronted by a unified and resolute maratha force.
Following the sacrifice of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, Marathas came together.
Aurangzeb subjected Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj to 40 days of horrendous torture before forcing him to convert to Islam. However, Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, a devout Hindu, decided to die rather than give up his faith. The violent killing of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj infuriated the Marathas, who began banding together. On the battlefield, women also carried firearms. The elimination of the ruthless Islamic monarch aurangzeb was the last objective left once all the divisions within the maratha Empire were eliminated.
Malhoji Dhorpade was one of the many valiant soldiers who served in the maratha Empire. When the valiant Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj and his small group of maratha soldiers were engaged in combat with Aurangzeb's Sipahsalar Mukarram Khan's massive Mughal army at the fort of Sangameshwar, another maratha warrior was also displaying valor at the same moment. Dhorpade Malhoji was his name. This courageous maratha became a hero in this conflict by murdering the Mughals. He did, however, leave the maratha Empire with a strong and enduring heritage. Santaji Dhorpade, Malhoji's son, was that surviving heritage.
Chhatrapati Rajaram's coronation and Santaji's bravery
Zulfikar Khan, a commander under aurangzeb, took control of Raigad, the capital of the maratha Empire, following the murder of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj. He imprisoned Yeshubai, the wife of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, and her son during this period. Rajaram Maharaj, the younger brother of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, succeeded him as Chhatrapati in 1689. Following his coronation, an effort was made to undermine the Mughals. Santaji was proclaimed the maratha Empire's commander-in-chief under Chhatrapati rajaram Maharaj.
Another maratha warrior was with Santaji. Dhanaji Jadhav was his name. After Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj's murder, aurangzeb and the Mughal army believed that the Marathas' morale would be crushed; however, rather than being crushed in spirit, the Marathas were now lusting for Aurangzeb's blood. The maratha troops' cries of "Har Har Mahadev" and "Jai Bhavani" caused the Mughal army to shudder.
For over 17 years, Santaji and Dhanaji Jadhav had kept the Mughals on edge. Their sole objective was to get rid of Aurangzeb. However, aurangzeb was only fleeing at this time.
The maratha Empire used Hindavi Swarajya to strengthen its dominance.
Following Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj's passing, shivaji Maharaj's Hindavi Swarajya descended into anarchy, and the entire empire was left in ruins. Sarasenapati Santaji was then instructed by Chhatrapati rajaram Maharaj to reestablish Hindavi Swarajya. The maratha Empire at the time lacked a sizable kingdom, money, and an army comparable to the Mughals. Senapati Santaji accomplished a significant milestone in the maratha Empire's history at that time by reviving Hindavi Swarajya.
When aurangzeb was forced to flee for his life by Marathas
According to Maharashtrian author Bashir Kamruddin Momin's book "Bhangale swapna Maharashtraache," Santaji unexpectedly assaulted Tulapur in august 1689, during the month of Shravan. With a sizable force, aurangzeb set up camp at Tulapur. The terrible assassination of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj took place here. In addition to Santaji, Dhanaji took part in this conflict. Both fighters used a few Marathas to attack Aurangzeb's camp.
In his account of the battle of Tulapur, Mughal historian Kafi Khan (Mohammed Hashim) claims that the Mughal warriors were terrified by Santaji's name alone. Any Mughal warrior who confronted Santaji was either captured or killed. The terror was so great that the Mughal army would go into disarray at the mention of his name alone. Terrified Mughal troops cried out, "Huzur, the Marathas are coming!" when the Marathas suddenly attacked Tulapur. The remainder of the army frantically raced to save aurangzeb while Santaji mercilessly routed the Mughal army on one side.
The Mughal camp had been deeply infiltrated by the Marathas. The Mughals had been so thoroughly slaughtered by them that aurangzeb had to escape for his safety. Although he had lived, the Islamic extremist king had brought shame to the Mughal Sultanate. According to several historians, aurangzeb had escaped to his daughter's tent during the maratha invasion. The two golden urns that were in Aurangzeb's tent were then severed by the Marathas, who then departed for Sinhagad.
Raigad was again assaulted by the Marathas following this episode. Following their victory against Itiyad Khan, the Marathas continued to advance. Zulfikar, a Mughal lord, is reported to have been residing at Raigad as well. Yeshubai, the wife of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, had been imprisoned by this same chieftain. After defeating Zulfikar's army, the Marathas arrived at Panhala with five elephants and priceless loot. By using the gorilla warfare tactic, the Marathas demoralized the Mughals in this fashion.
Mukarram Khan, who had deceitfully captured Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, was now in the driver's seat. Aurangzeb appointed Mukarram Khan as the subedar of Maharashtra's Kolhapur and Konkan provinces. The Marathas encircled Mukarram Khan's army in december 1689 and stacked the Mughals' corpses. Santaji killed Mukarram Khan after pursuing him in a bloody encounter. When the Mughal troops saw Mukarram's predicament, they captured him and retreated into the forest, where Mukarram Khan perished in pain. The Marathas exacted revenge for the death of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj by murdering Mukarram Khan.
Aurangzeb was fleeing in terror as well after all of these tragedies. He took refuge in the highlands of Sahyadri. Aurangzeb gasped for 27 years in a row as the Marathas appeared. Ultimately, aurangzeb passed away in maharashtra as a result of the Mughals' ongoing loss at the hands of the Marathas. He reportedly passed away in aurangabad, Maharashtra. It is important to note that aurangabad was renamed "Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar" by the maharashtra government.
The Mughal Empire as a whole, not just one individual, met its demise with Aurangzeb. The Mughals were so terrified of the maratha Empire's valiant troops that aurangzeb continued to flee from the Marathas until the very end, sparing his life in the process. The Marathas, on the other hand, were growing stronger every day.
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