Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj: Finally Getting His Due in Modern India?

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, the legendary Maratha warrior and architect of Swarajya, has long held a revered position in the hearts of Indians—especially in Maharashtra. But for decades, the space given to him in mainstream Indian history narratives, particularly school textbooks, remained limited and often misrepresented. Today, that is changing. Thanks to widespread public demand, scholarly re-evaluation, and deliberate policy reform, Shivaji Maharaj is finally being restored to the center of India’s historical consciousness. But the larger question remains: Is this recognition now complete and balanced, or is there still ground to cover?

A Shift in Textbooks: Recognition in New NCERT Curriculum

One of the most significant developments in recent years is the overhaul of NCERT textbooks, the backbone of school education in India. The updated curriculum, introduced as part of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, seeks to decolonize Indian history and provide a more indigenous perspective.

In these new textbooks, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj features far more prominently than in earlier editions:

  • His rise, coronation, and administration are given independent and focused chapters, not simply listed under the “regional kingdoms” after Mughal emperors.
  • The concept of Hindavi Swarajya, which previously received minimal explanation, is now treated as a revolutionary civilizational idea rooted in self-rule, dharma, and native values.
  • His battles—such as the ones at Pratapgad, Sinhagad, and Purandar—are not just presented as military victories but are placed in the context of resistance against foreign domination.
  • Importantly, the updated NCERT content also details Shivaji’s administrative brilliance, such as:
    • Establishing a navy, rare among Indian rulers of the time.
    • Promoting Marathi and Sanskrit over Persian in governance.
    • Implementing merit-based promotions, taxation reforms, and people-centric justice.

This increased academic focus signals a course correction, recognizing Shivaji Maharaj not as a footnote to Mughal grandeur but as a sovereign visionary who redefined Indian polity.

Beyond Books: Public and Political Acknowledgment

The resurgence of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s legacy isn’t confined to textbooks. Across India, and especially in Maharashtra, there has been a growing movement to honor him in public memory, monuments, governance models, and political discourse.

  • Airports, universities, roads, and awards are being named after him — including the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT).
  • The Shiv Smarak, a colossal statue in the Arabian Sea near Mumbai, is under construction. Once completed, it will be one of the tallest statues in the world, symbolizing his enduring legacy.
  • National leaders across political parties frequently invoke his name — not just in Maharashtra politics, but in Parliament, army events, and campaigns — often as a symbol of nationalism, administrative excellence, and civilizational pride.

Unlike in the past, where his legacy was regionalized or politicized narrowly, today his image has transcended boundaries to become a pan-Indian emblem of courage, justice, and cultural resurgence.

Popular Culture and Mass Awareness

Cinema, digital media, and television have played a critical role in making Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s story accessible to new generations. Films like Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior (2020), starring Ajay Devgn, became massive box-office hits while reviving national interest in Shivaji’s military acumen and moral code.

Web series, animated history explainers, and documentaries on YouTube in multiple Indian languages are helping students, youth, and even global audiences engage with his life, not as a mythologized warrior, but as a strategic, ethical, and forward-thinking ruler.

This media revival has also corrected several historical myths—such as portraying Shivaji as anti-Muslim or parochial—by highlighting how he protected Muslim women, recruited Muslims in his navy and army, and upheld pluralism without compromising his Hindu civilizational identity.

What Makes Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s Legacy Unique?

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s greatness lies in his ability to balance vision with action, dharma with diplomacy, and idealism with practicality:

  • At a time when India was dominated by Turko-Persian courts and European colonial ventures, Shivaji created a governance model rooted in Bharatiya traditions, language, and ethics.
  • He emphasized administrative reforms over conquest — strengthening local economies, protecting farmers, and building a naval fleet to secure trade routes.
  • He demonstrated remarkable respect for women — punishing any violation during wartime and ensuring honor and safety for women in captured territories.
  • His coronation in 1674 was a civilizational statement — not just political — declaring that Bharat could rule itself without relying on foreign customs or validation.

This multi-dimensionality makes Shivaji Maharaj far more than a Maratha king — he is, in fact, a civilizational hero whose ideas resonate even today.

Where Recognition Still Falls Short

Despite increased representation in textbooks, media, and politics, some gaps remain:

  1. Global Recognition:
    Shivaji Maharaj is still largely unknown in global academic and historical circles. Unlike figures such as Alexander, Napoleon, or even Akbar, his name rarely appears in Western discussions of great world leaders — a result of colonial-era omissions that India has yet to challenge forcefully.
  2. Centralization in School Curricula:
    While newer NCERT books have improved, state boards vary significantly. Some still offer limited or outdated portrayals. A consistent, balanced national curriculum is needed to prevent selective interpretations.
  3. Underutilization as a Governance Model:
    Though his policies are admired, modern Indian governance doesn’t yet draw enough from his administrative systems — such as local self-government, accountability structures, or cultural integration in policy.
  4. Politicization Risk:
    There’s a growing concern that Shivaji’s name is being used for political polarization rather than inclusive historical reflection. His legacy should unite Indians across caste, region, and religion — not divide them.

Conclusion: Recognition, Yes. Completion, Not Yet.

There’s no doubt that Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj is now receiving far greater recognition than at any time in post-Independence India. His reintroduction into mainstream education, public consciousness, and policy discussions is a victory for historical truth and cultural pride.

But truly giving him his due will require:

  • Globalizing his story through academic exchange and international recognition.
  • Mainstreaming his governance philosophy in public policy.
  • And most importantly, teaching future generations to see him not as a warrior of the past, but as a guide for India’s future.

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was not just a king. He was an institution — of justice, self-respect, strategic statecraft, and indigenous strength. India has begun to acknowledge him, but the journey toward full civilizational restoration of his legacy is still ongoing.

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