Historical Great Escape of Shivaji Maharaj

The first Muslim attack on Akhand Bharath in the year 712 CE was by Arabs led by Mohammad Bin Qasim, which was countered by Raja Dahir, who ruled Sindh from his capital Devar (The present day Karachi). Since  the invasion of 712 CE,  many Hindu Kings repelled the Islamic attacks; Bappa Rawal is prominent among them, the present day Rawalpindi is named after him. King Lalitaditya Muktapida, King Bhoja and other Hindu kings resisted their entry for a few hundred years.  Shivaji Maharaj has a special place in the history of Bharath Desh because he rose to be a powerful Hindu emperor when the darkness and Hindu suppression has engulfed the country.

Shivaji Maharaj was a great war strategist, military genius, a true leader with empathy, was a great visionary and lived by setting an example. What sets Shivaji Maharaj apart from other Hindu Kings is that he remains a legendary historical figure, evokes and provokes an emotional attachment with every Hindu. That is why he is called ‘Hindu Samrat’ or ‘Hindu Hriday Samrat’.

Shivaji Maharaj, for easy purpose is referred to as Shivaji.  After the Purandar Treaty on 11^th June 1665, Shivaji was invited to come to Agra on the 50^th birthday (Lunar) of Aurangzeb (He) on 12^th May 1666 to display the wealth acquired by looting Hindu Kingdoms and Temples, by holding a grand celebration to dazzle the vassal kings, high- ranking Mansabdars, and the new annexees.  He ordered Mirza Jai Singh to send Shivaji to his court, and was even ready to bear the expenses of Shivaji’s Journey. Mirza was also interested to send Shivaji away from the Deccan for quite some time, because Jai Singh was always under the suspicion that ‘what if Shivaji joins hands with Adil Shah, just like how Jai Singh joined hands with the Mughals’. It was a difficult task for Jai Singh to convince Shivaji to go to Agra with his son, who was also a Mughal Mansabdar. It is also said that Mirza Jai Singh had made a promise to Shivaji that Aurangzeb would help Shivaji in tackling the Siddis of Janjira and might consider appointing Shivaji as the Subedar of the Deccan. Since Deccan came with heavy costs to the treasury of Aurangzeb, installing Shivaji as a Viceroy of Deccan would help Aurangzeb save the costs and also conquer the south of Bharath.

Shivaji Maharaj might have thought that if he goes to Agra and pretend to be the loyalist of Mughals, he would achieve a few objectives.

1. Peace would return to the riot-torn Deccan region
2. Shivaji would get more time to re-build his military capabilities
3. As a Mughal Viceroy (Subedar), he can conquer the Nizams
4. He would get access to Mughal’s military

Later Shivaji could rebuild his military and revolt against the Mughals to establish the Mighty Maratha Empire.

Before even Shivaji decided to go Agra, Aurangzeb wrote  two letters dated 25^th Dec 1665 (Ref: Medha Deshmukh, P;204) and another one on 5^th April 1666, inviting him to come to Agra while praising him for his bravery, strategy and service, and also assured his safe return.

Shivaji known for his far-sightedness, was suspicious about Aurangzeb’s cunning, deceitful and wicked nature, Shivaji understood that anything could happen in Agra; he also anticipated that he may be arrested or asked to surrender the rest of his forts, or he may be tortured or executed as well. So, Shivaji Maharaj made a master- plan, he made a surprise visit to all his remaining forts, alerted them and also made them independent.  He made sure that all the taxes, revenues, and other income sources to the treasury and even Military departments or administration would carry on independent of him, while also preparing his commanders not to obey the Mughals. Shivaji made his mother Jija Bai Ji as his regent, Moro Pingle as Peshwa (Prime Minister) and Niloji Sondev as Majumdar (Treasurer). Here we can observe the surnames of a few sections of the society from Bengal & Assam like Majumdar, earlier derived mostly from their professions.

Finally, the day of Shivaji’s journey to Agra has arrived, he set forth on 5^th  March, 1666 (Ref: P205) along with his most trusted vakeel Raghunath, a noble person, his lieutenants and military of 350-400 men, personal security (Jiva Mahalya) and his childhood friends Yesaji Kank, Tanaji Malusare, Sambhaji Kaoji, Senapati Pratap Rao Gujjar, Bahirji Naik (Shivaji’s Spy chief) etc. Braving the summer, Shivaji Maharaj arrived at the outskirts of Agra  on 11^th May 1666. He first reached Aurangabad, where Saf Shikan Khan, Governor of the city, humiliated Shivaji by not receiving him properly, Shivaji taught him a lesson and finally Saf Shikan Khan arrived to receive him. This shows Shivaji’s way of getting things done, even if things do not go as planned, his spontaneous and quick decision-making had made him a strong Hindu leader of all ages.

Shivaji’s arrival in Agra had turned into a series of errors; Jai Singh’s son Ram Singh was incharge of receiving Shivaji Maharaj, but hasn’t discharged his duty properly, which led to some confusion.  Shivaji’s procession reached Mulukchand’s sarai on the outskirts of Agra on 11 May 1666. Shivaji and his son Sambhaji were taken to Aurangzeb’s court; Shivaji’s gifts to Aurangzeb were 1000 mohurs and gold coins, and other nazars and nisars.  Shivaji may have expected a big welcome in the court of Aurangzeb, but infact he was treated with disrespect. Shivaji Maharaj was made to stand behind Mansabdars holding  5000 sawars, one of them was Maharaja Jaswant Singh Rathod.

Shivaji then had done what no one had done before, he walked away from Aurangzeb’s court by raising his voice fearlessly, the old Mughal protocol and etiquette was broken by Shivaji Maharaj, and it was considered a crime demanding a grave punishment.  When Ram Singh took Sambhaji to Aurangazeb’s court, he presented Sambhaji with a robe-of-honor, jewel-decked dagger and some other inams. But as soon as the Anti- Jai Singh lobby started insisting on grave punishment to Shivaji, warning that other Hindu landholders and governors might also revolt and raise swords against the Mughal empire. Aurungzeb ordered Kotwal Fulad Khan, Police chief, to deploy guards and besiege Mulukchand’s sarai to keep Shivaji under house arrest. He also made Rad Andaz Khan incharge, who was known for his remorseless brutality and extreme fanaticism. Jai Singh’s son Ram Singh was frightened with all these developments, he was afraid that if Shivaji is harmed his father’s promise would be broken, Rajputs’  prestige would go downhill, and the mighty Marathas might revolt and eliminate his father. He immediately rushed to Md Amin Khan’s (Mir Jumla’s son, the paymaster general to Aurangzeb), saying that he should be killed first before the cruel Aurangzeb tries to slay Shivaji Maharaj, as Jai Singh guaranteed Shivaji’s safety. Ram Singh was then made to sign a security bond that if Shivaji escapes or plays any mischief, Ram Singh will be held responsible.  Thereafter Aurangzeb ordered Ram Singh to take Shivaji to Kabul to check the rebels under the lead of Rad Andaz Khan. Ram Singh again reminded his father’s promise that Aurangzeb can’t go against Rajputs as his military consisted of 60% Rajputs.

In the meanwhile Shivaji started sending expensive gifts to the high and mighty persons of Agra including the Grand Wazir, Jaffar khan and Md Amin, for issuing his travel papers, Shivaji knew that cash and Jewelry can change anyone’s mind. He also offered huge sums to Aurangzeb asking him to let him go to his home and not to Afghanistan.  Shivaji also said he would return his forts as per the treaty and offered to fight for Aurangzeb’s cause, though the Mughals were skeptical about Shivaji’s moves.

In the meanwhile due to inclement weather, Shivaji developed high fever, he was administered with several herbs and the treatment continued for several weeks; during this time, Shivaji Maharaj has sent almost all his military and was left with only few men and his son, who was under the care of Ram Singh.  Shivaji requested Aurangzeb to let him go on account of ill- health, whereas Aurangzeb asked Shivaji to return the remaining forts. Shivaji then said he wants to become a monk at Varanasi. Suspicious Aurangzeb replaced Rad Andaz Khan with Bahadur Khan, who was more dangerous than the former, to fulfill Shivaji’s wish.

Here comes Shivaji’s sharp political mind. He immediately chalked out a plan of escape and asked for a loan amount of 66000 rupees and signed all the required papers for the approval.  He stated his wish of sending fruits, sweets and flowers to many Brahmins, religious sanyasis, beggars and to poor people, his list including high-ranking ministers in Agra, police men and to Fulad Khan as well. Very soon merchants brought massive baskets of fruits, sweets, flowers, dry fruits, etc., which on daily basis were sent out of the Serai, where Shivaji was house arrested, he also asked Ram Singh to bring his son to him. Suspicious Falud khan used to check Shivaji on hourly basis. Shivaji also pledged his bracelet, so that he can continue giving fruits, sweets, flowers, dry fruits, etc. He waited till Aurangzeb went to forests for hunting.

On 22^nd July 1666, a ceremony took place at Serai. Shivaji gifted two of his elephants, his palanquin, cash and other items to Kavindra Paramanand who came to visit Shivaji in Agra.  (Kavindra Paramanand played a key role in Shivaji Escape. He was stationed 30kms away from serai along with elephants, horses and other Maratha men).  Shivaji invited everyone to the feast, including Falud khan. As Aurangzeb planned a 3-day hunting trip, on 13^th Aug 1666, he ordered that Shivaji be shifted from Serai and Rad Andaz Khan would be incharge. On 17^th Aug 1666, Falud Khan was shocked to find Shivaji’s room empty, it came as a big jolt and a great humiliation to Aurangzeb.

The Escape:

As a daily routine, Shivaji began sending out large baskets filled with sweets, daily fruits, dry fruits and flowers supposedly for distribution among the Brahmins, religious Sanyasis and poor. Initially, the Mughal guards checked these baskets thoroughly, but over the time, they became lax as they saw nothing suspicious. Having known about Aurangzeb’s plan to execute Shivaji Maharaj at Gwalior fort, Shivaji made an escape plan. On the day of the escape, Shivaji and his son hid inside two massive baskets. The baskets were carried out by his trusted men; the guards were now accustomed to the routine and did not check the baskets thoroughly, thus allowing Shivaji and his son to be smuggled out of the fort.  Shivaji and his son got out of the baskets after reaching a small village, they quickly changed into disguises to avoid detection, and made their way out of Agra.

Journey Back to the Deccan:

Shivaji’s loyalists were waiting at a camp, 30kms away from serai on horses, they took Shivaji and Sambhaji  in two separate directions, he left Sambhaji with relatives of Moro Pingle.  Shivaji traveled incognito to avoid any Mughal patrols, he traveled 45 kms northwest of Agra through Mathura, Varanasi, Gaya, Bijapur and finally made to Raigad. During this journey he dressed himself as a sadhu, a Brahmin and it is also said that he tonsured his head to avoid the Mughal search party. Shivaji and his son embarked on a challenging journey back to the Deccan. They traveled through various routes to evade Mughal forces, and with the help of local allies and his exceptional knowledge of the terrain, Shivaji successfully returned to the safety of his strongholds in the Deccan.

Aftermath

Shivaji’s escape from Agra was a significant blow to Aurangzeb’s prestige. The event not only demonstrated Shivaji’s resourcefulness but also severely embarrassed the Mughal Emperor, who had underestimated the Maratha leader. The escape reinvigorated the Marathas, who saw their leader’s survival as a divine sign of their cause’s righteousness. Shivaji continued to resist Mughal expansion and eventually crowned himself Chatrapathi in 1674, establishing the mighty Maratha Empire, which would become a major Hindu power in Bharat.

Yashwanth Ramesh Gollapinni