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Shivaji was born in an age when the honour and chastity of women, the sanctity and security of temples, the sacredness of private property, the privacy and the inviolability of word and promise were hardly respected by those in power. It was an age when respects for parents and regard for brothers were not shown by rulers. It was also a period of economic misery in the land. There was no security of livelihood. There was no regular system of Government conducted according to any system of recognised laws. Ruler's absolute and uncontrolled will prevailed. No system of citizenship was recognised. It was a period of personal despotism of rulers and officers unrelieved by any sense of justice and any feeling of security. It was a mixture of tyranny in politics and bigotry in religion in which a large class of citizens enjoyed no protection of life, liberty and property. There were no settled rules of warfare, no stability of alliances and no regard for treaties. In short it was an age of Aurangzeb. Rajput bravery failed to check this.
Shivaji tried to set new and higher standards in each of these matters of government, citizenship, administration, religion and welfare of the people. His greatness lies not only in his personal character and genius but in his achievements in the midst of evil forces which opposed him from without and from within. Considering his times and the work he undertook to achieve, he is unequalled in the history of India as a ruler and organiser, as & patriot and statesman. His letters to his officers and relations, to Jaysing and Aurangzeb show his aims and ideals. They are embodied in the establishment of Swarajya.
Prof. S. W. Pumtambekar.
(Benares Hindu University).
Shree Sudharmaswami Gyanbhandar-Umara, Surat
*
Shivaji's Ideals-Shivaji founded the great Maratha Empire but in doing this he was actuated by very lofty ideals. He introduced the system of ruling by a Cabinet. This reform may not appear to be very extraordinary and striking to the modern student of History. But any one who can cast back his eyes three hundred years before and examine the constitutions of those times existing
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| SR No. | 034490 |
| Book Title | Chatrapati Shivaji Charitra |
| Original Sutra Author | N/A |
| Author | Vaman Sitaram Mukadam |
| Publisher | Vaman Sitaram Mukadam |
| Publication Year | 1934 |
| Total Pages | 720 |
| Language | Gujarati |
| Classification | Book_Gujarati |
| File Size | 45 MB |