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Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj was the eldest son of the great Maratha warrior Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. He was born on 14 May 1657 at Purandar Fort in Pune, Maharashtra and belonged to the Bhonsle dynasty. Sambhaji Maharaj had dedicated his life for the country and Hindutva since his childhood days like his father.
Sambhaji Maharaj lost his mother Sai Bhonsle when he was only two years old. After which, he was brought up by his grandmother Jijabai. He took interest in politics from a very young age. He later became an inspiration for the whole country.
Sambhaji Maharaj had become skilled in the art of war and diplomacy by living in the battlefield with Chhatrapati Shivaji since childhood. He fought 120 battles with the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb and Aurangzeb had to face defeat in all. The Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb, the most powerful enemy of the Marathas at that time, played a major role in ending the rule of Bijapur and Golconda from India.
After the death of Shivaji Maharaj in the year 1680, Rajaram, son of his third wife Soyrabai, was placed on the throne. At that time Sambhaji was imprisoned in Panhala. At the same time, when Sambhaji got the news of Rajaram’s coronation, he captured the fort by killing the fort of Panhala fort. After this, Sambhaji also captured Raigad Fort on 18 June 1680 and arrested Rajaram, his wife Janaki and mother Soyrabai.
At the same time, on January 16, 1681, Sambhaji Raje’s formal grand coronation took place at Raigarh Fort in Maharashtra. Aurangzeb was further disturbed by this news. After the death of Shivaji, Aurangzeb felt that he would now be able to easily capture the Raigarh fort. Distressed by Sambhaji Raje’s bravery, Aurangzeb had vowed that he would not put his kimonsh (turban) on his head until Chhatrapati Sambhaji Raje was caught.
On the other hand, his supporters were dissatisfied with Rajaram not getting the throne. After which, through a letter, he requested Aurangzeb’s son Mohammad Akbar to attack Raigarh and make it a part of the empire. Mohammad Akbar was familiar with the bravery of Sambhaji. Due to which he sent that letter to Sambhaji. Enraged by this treason, Chhatrapati Sambhaji gave death sentence to all his traitor feudal lords. Taking advantage of this, Akbar ran south and took shelter of Sambhaji and used all his strength against Sambhaji.
Sambhaji defeated the Portuguese in 1683. After this he was living in Sangameshwar for some official work. But on the day when he was about to leave for Raigarh, some villagers told him their problem. Seeing the problems of the villagers, he kept only 200 soldiers with him and ordered the rest of the soldiers to go to Raigarh. Taking advantage of this and betraying Sambhaji, his brother-in-law Garudji Shirke along with Mughal Sardar Mukran Khan attacked Sambhaji with five thousand army from a secret route.
Please tell that this was the way that only Marathas knew. Sambhaji Raje and his 200 soldiers tried to fight the Mughal army but were unable to do so. After which Sambhaji was taken prisoner along with his special friend poet Kalash. On the other hand, upset and angry with Sambhaji, Aurangzeb crossed all limits of cruelty and inhumanity. Aurangzeb cut off both their tongues, gouged out their eyes and killed them on 11 March 1689.
According to historians, Aurangzeb had asked Sambhaji Maharaj to convert to Islam. Even after being subjected to severe torture, Sambhaji stood his ground and refused to convert. His supreme sacrifice and strategy to win the war made him a symbol of greatness for generations to come.
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