SHANKARAJI NARAYAN SACHIV
“This man accompanies RamchandraPant. He is conversant of the regions of Maval; from Shirval to Wai-Satara. He displays great valour and is equally an able leader. He has built a good force and won back the forts from Mughals. People of Mawal comply with him. RamchandraPant Aamatya mainatins good confidence in him”
Rajaram Maharaj before fleeing to Jinji had accredited a flimsy work of the Maratha administration to the four best people in his court viz. RamchandraPant Amatya, Dhanaji Jadhav, Santaji Ghorpade and Shankaraji Narayan.
Born in the year 1665 (Julian Date) into a family that served the Maratha administration since two generations, his grandfather and father served Shahaji Maharaj while his stay at Bengaluru. Later during the reign of Shivaji Maharaj his father Naro Mukund was handed over the post as a Sabnis of fort Sudhagad. Being watchful and vigilant since childhood, Shankaraji became well conversant with the people and geography of the Maval. Shankaraji grew in the domain of the Sahyadris, hearing the valour tales of the people residing here.
Shankaraji’s participation in the work of Swarajya commenced from the year 1677 when Peshwa Moropant Pingale acknowledged his righteous potential and appointed Shankaraji to work under him. He was soon engrossed by HukumantPanha Ramchandra Amatya.
During the reign of Sambhaji Maharaj (1680-1689) Shankaraji was awarded the title of Rajadnya (Deputy Minister) for his excellent showcase of valour and skills. He participated in almost every campaign that Sambhaji Maharaj undertook.
RAJARAM MAHARAJ AND SHANKARAJI:
After Sambhaji Maharaj was assassinated in year 1689, Rajaram Maharaj fled to Jinji. He rested the fragile responsibility of governance over the shoulders of RamchandraPant Amatya and Shankaraji Narayan . Dhanaji Jadhav was appointed under Shankaraji while Santaji under Amatya.
Shankaraji says “Master (Rajaram Maharaj) has elected me as a Sardeshmukh of the region from Raigad to the Kokan Coast. He has dispersed the army into two. While RamchandraPant Amatya possesses half the army, the other half is under me.”
Shankaraji then gathered his soldiers and along with RamchandraPant Amatya launched attacks on the nearby Mughal forces.
· Initially he captured Wai and Rajgad.
· Thereafter jointly with Amatya he captured the forts of Pratapgad, Rohida,Torna, Purandar, Rajgad etc.
· Aurangzeb’s General Sheikh Nizam was defeated by him near Sangameshwar.
· He attacked Sarjah Khan near Satara and vanquished his army.
· Captured Siddhagad located near Bhimashankar through his subordinate Gunaji Sawant.
SHANKARAJI NARAYAN SACHIV:
Rajaram Maharaj delighted with all these victories conferred upon him the post of Sachiv (Secretary) in the month on October 1690 (Julian Date) giving him the charge of entire Kokan Coast. In the year 1694 he captured Korigad. Being very happy with his work Rajaram Maharaj bestowed upon him the title of ‘Madar-Ul-Mahal’ which literally means ‘pillar of the kingdom’.
Rajaram Maharaj breathed his last on Sinhagad fort in the year 1700. After his death TaraRani (Rajaram Maharaj’s wife) continued the fight against Aurangzeb and Shankaraji became one of the closest advisors to her. He helped her to enable her son (Shivaji II) to occupy the vacant throne. In 1707 after the death of Aurangzeb, Shahu Maharaj was released from years of captivity.
Shahu returned to Swarajya and a civil war between Shahu and Tarabai commenced. Shahu Maharaj then appealed Shankaraji to join his party. Shankaraji who throughout his life stayed loyal to his master now refused to change his loyalty. As days went by he fell into a great wistful dilemma as to whose side to serve on and not been able to withstand this mental adversity he finally ended his life in the month of November 1707. Aurangzeb in the past 25 years had won his every major war by using the greatest weapon of all the time i.e. the weapon of treason. Some of the major losses to Swarajya during these years had been from the people who turned disloyal to their motherland while some of the greatest and glorious victories should be accredited to people like Shankaraji Narayan Sachiv who stayed loyal to their oath, to their master amidst the most arduous situations.
-JANHAVI DATAR
REFERENCES:
Shivputra Chhatrapati Rajaram – Dr. Jaysinghrao Pawar
Marathi Riyast (Part 2) – G.S. Sardesai
Marathyanche Swatantrasamar – Puranik
Gr8. Janhavi, keep it up. Well said.
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