Shivaji Maharaj as a Strategist: History of Maratha Armed Forces & Intelligence and relevance today - PART 2
Shivaji Maharaj has been compared by Europeans with great war leaders. Portuguese viceroy-compared him with Ceaser, Alexander, the British compared with Hannibal
NewsBharati 07-Jun-2023 12:36:36 PM
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Statue of Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was installed by the Maratha Regiment, near the LOC (Pakistan Border) last year in Kashmir at 14,800 feet above the sea level, making it the tallest place ever place to house a statue. Installation of the statues of Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in Kashmir – is a significant step towards the establishment of the civilizational identity of the region.Earlier a statue was also installed on the Indo China border ahead of Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh.
Few important aspects are covered in Part 2 of my article.
- Brief History of Marathas.
- Organization Shivaji Maharaj Cavalry, Infantry,Artillery,
- Maratha Weapons
- Growth of Shivaji Maharaj Army,
- Shivaji’s Army administration
- Forts As Impregnable Defences
Brief History of Marathas
Marathas were Sub sect of Hindu community ,stout fighters of Chalukya king in 7th century c.e . Maratha dynasties of ancient pre Muslim period were Chalukyas (500 c.e. to 750c.e.), Rashtrakutas (750 c.e. to 978 c.e. Yadavas or Jadhavs (1175 c.e. to 1318 c.e.). Marathas first clash with Muslims came in 1314 c.e under Ramdev Rai Yadav ruler Devagiri(Daulatabad) lost to invaders and became mercenaries of Muslim overlords.
Prior to Shivaji Maharaj ,Marathas were mercenaries and revenue collectors of Muslim rulers with shifting loyalty. Shivaji Maharaj under influence of his mother from the Yadav clan became first Hindu to openly revolt and defy Muslim rule .Shivaji Maharaj defied Adilshah rulers of Bijapur and Mughul ruler Auranzeb by capturing number of forts using stealth and guerrilla tactics. After large number of skirmishes ,gurreila warfare ,victories ,treaties and , escapes ,Shivaji Maharaj was crowned king of Marathas on 6th of june 1674.
Organization Shivaji Maharaj Cavalry, Infantry, Artillery
25 horsemen were commanded by Havaldar.5 Havaldars came under Jumledar.10 Jumledar came under a Hazari. 5 Hazari came under Pach Hazari. 5 Panch Hazari came under Sarnaubat.
Infantry also was similarly organized.10 soldiers were commanded by Naik, 5 Naiks under Havaldar & similar organization as in cavalry thereafter.
The army was well organized- planning was done minutely, could form various battle formations,was flexible, plans were executed audaciously. Units were permanent, and had better team work,
As the warfare was of extreme mobility, artillery was not considered as an important arm.Also Marathas lacked the facilities for the production of artillery. Principal source of equipment remained European settlements, especially the French. The French had supplied Shivaji Maharaj with 88 guns ,3000 mound of ammunition . The British also have had supplied him with some guns.
Weapons used by his Army were mostly made locally but there are reports of some highly skillful local blacksmiths being used to manufacture higher quality of arms.
Maratha Weapons
The terrain also made them use light weaponary .Ofcourse, with increase in their military power, their gureilla style often made way certain amount of sophistication in their weaponry.
- Some of the weapons traditionally used by the Marathas were the variants of swords like the talwaar, the firangi, the khandaa, the paataa .
- Variety of daggers like the kataar, the shamsher,the jaambiya .
- the bhaalaa (spear), dhanushya baan (bow and arrows), kurhaad( battle axe), parshu (axe variant), gadaa / gurz (mace) or unique weapons like the waagh nakh (tiger claws).
Weapons modified to suit the Maratha style of martial art
These weapons were made as per the designs borrowed from the Rajputs, the Mughals,the Persians,the Afghans and the Europeans. But were often modified to suit the Maratha style of martial art.
Lohar Khana to manufacture weapons was established in Pune under Bhima Lohar whose outstanding manufacturing skills were recognised by Shivaji Maharaj.
His personal bodyguards were excellent users of traditional Marathas weapons.
Jiva Mahala his bodyguard saved Shivaji Maharaj from a sudden attack from Sayyad Banda during encounter with Afzal Khan.Jiva severed Sayyad Bandas hand with his Dand patta. Baji Prabhu Deshpande also used Dand Patta very effectively while stopping Siddi Johar at Pawankhind.
The Marathas also used weapons like muskets, matchlocks, firangi swords, clubs, bows, spears, daggers, etc. Other commonly used weapons were Dandpatta,Vita,Bothati, Talwar,Bhala, Jambia,( दांडपट्टा, विटा, बोथाटी, तलवार, भाला, जांबिया,) Body armour, helmet Arab swords by the Infantry.
Cavalary used bow and arrows ,spears,Matchlock is a type of firearm wherein the gunpowder is ignited by a burning piece of rope that is touched to the gunpowder by a mechanism that the musketeer activates by pulling a lever or trigger with his finger.
Patta was considered to be a highly effective weapon for infantrymen against heavily armoured cavalry.
Intelligence Gathering was World Class
Intelligence head was Bahirji Jadhav who had developed efficient system of intelligence collection. Shivaji Maharaj considered collecting intelligence as his command task. At times he himself gathered intelligence as against Afzal khan and his Surat raid he acted as Faqir, His sources in Mughal/Adilshahi court worked well. He knew their intentions, movement and battle plans.
Growth Strength of Shivaji Maharaj Army
His army started with 4000 soldiers,which kept on increasing. During middle of his tenure it was 45000, cavalry and 60000 infantry. At the peak it reached a figure of 105 thousand cavalary. His cavalry used local horses who were tough and could operate in the semi mountainous terrain of Sahyadri and they could also live off the land, unlike the cavalry of Mughals which required 5 to 6 kg of ration every day. The cavalry also rode the Bhimthadi horse, which was developed by crossing Arabian and local horse breeds.
He also established many workshops, depots called as Karkhanas and Mahals to store ammunition, taking care of elephants, camels, horses, depots for storing artillery ammunition and weapons, depots for storing tents, medicines, storing water and rations. These were masterpieces of Ordanance management.
His infantry was Swift, tough and capable of moving at fast speed in the mountainous areas.
Many of his soldiers were part time soldiers who were farmers during the cropping season and took to soldiering during campaigning season. This reduced the cost of standing Army tremendously. Maratha soldiers were also hardy and were used to living off the land. In fact there was no maintenance lines or logistics as far as the Maratha Army was concerned. Every common citizen was a soldier, when required and every soldier was also spy who could collect intelligence in his area and keep watch on inimical activities.
In his Kingdom all government officials including soldiers were paid directly by the government either in cash or on the orders of government from the treasury.This was indeed a revolutionary method found nowhere in India.His many ministers included Sarnaubat or commander-in-chief. The well known Sarnaubats include Netaji Palkar, Pratap Rao Gujar and later Hambir Rao Mohite.
Shivaji’s Army administration
Shivaji’s army organisation was very efficient. His army was very patriotic, well trained, efficient and extremely mobile.Shivaji introduced the following reforms in the army:
He maintained a regular army. In the traditional military organisation, the soldiers served army for six months and thereafter, they worked in their fields. Now the soldiers were to serve around the year.He inspired the soldiers with patriotism.He recruited the soldiers on merit.He introduced the system of branding the horses and keeping the identification of the soldiers.He enforced strict discipline.He trained his soldiers in the guerilla warfare.
Forts As Impregnable Defences
Forts played a significant role both in defence and offence in the 17th century India. Should an invading Army march ahead without first gaining control of a fort on the route or in the proximity, it was taking great risk of letting the Marathas attack and disrupt its lines of communication and supplies.
If Mughals were intending to prosecute a protracted campaign, they had to neutralize the forts especially the large ones on the route.For that they had to lay siege to the fort and capture them. While such thing could be done if there is only one or two important forts but the challenge arose when the number was more and the Mughal army had to be divided into several small parts to lay a siege to these forts and would be exposed to attack in detail .On the other hand laying a siege and awaiting capitulation would slow down the advance, giving Maratha time to prepare for the campaign. Thus the forts facilitated in slowing down the advance of the invading Mughal Armies.
The Forts performed the most important job of keeping surveillance over the area around and acted as impregnable diffences when the enemy attacked. They acted as firm bases for the cavalry and the infantry to carry on attacks against the advancing Mughal Army.Most forts had many secret ways out which help the Maratha army to attack the Mughals from different and unexpected directions. Forts helped Shivaji Maharaj to alternate between offensive and defensive operations. They were tactical Masterpiece of defences .The forts had to be captured many times as they blocked the axis of maintenance. They acted as line of defences against the invading Armies.
Shivaji Maharaj was very keen on acquiring, building,& repairing forts. He captured them by surprise attacks.(attack on Kondana fort).He used the forts in involving Mughals in siege warfare which tired them out.(siege of Purander fort).He deceived the enemy by escaping from Panhala fort to Vishalgad.
Shivaji Maharaj As a Strategist
Depending upon the situation he carried out Offensive & defensive phases.During the offensive phase he captured as many forts before Mughal field army arrived.
The strength of Mughal Army lay in their heavy cavalry and artillery however artillery was cumbersome and hampered strategic mobility .Shivaji Maharaj turn this to his advantage by skillful deployment of light cavalry. The Maratha Army was lightly equipped and free from cumbersome supply system. It lived off the land and could subsist on scantiest of food. It was their greater hardiness and superior discipline which gave them remarkable mobility. With his mobility he could force the battle on his term,as it enabled him to seek out weak spots and strike with decisive effect. He confused the enemies by his swift and unpredictable movement. They became exhausted in fruitless pursuit. His cavalry raids deep inside enemy territory conclusively proved how the Mughal Army was helpless and defenseless against his striking forces.
World Class Military Leader
Shivaji Maharaj has been compared by Europeans with great war leaders. Portuguese viceroy-compared him with Ceaser, Alexander, the British compared with Hannibal.
Famous historian “Arnold Tyburn” says, that if Shivaji was born in our country, we would have remembered him forever and danced with him on our heads.
Shivaji Maharaj showed that the tree of Hinduism was not dead, that it could arise from beneath the seemingly crushing load of centuries of political bondage ,exclusion from administration, legal repression and could still grow into a nation state and lift its head to the skies.
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BRIG Hemant Mahajan
Passionate writer on National Security related issues, Brig Hemant Mahajan YSM (Retd) is M Sc, M Phil in Defence Studies. He joined IMA Dehradun in July 1973 and passed out as a Commissioned Officer on 15 June 1975. He was commissioned into 7 MARATHA LIGHT INFANTRY. He has served extensively in Counter Insurgency Operations in Insurgency and Terrorist prone areas of Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab and North East and has taken part in all important operations undertaken by the Army since 1975.
Brig Hemant Mahajan served in Jammu & Kashmir, in the deserts of Rajasthan, in Super High Altitude areas of Kargil and Leh, forward areas of Arunachal Pradesh. He was deployed in Punjab in ‘Operation Avert’. He was also involved in maintaining peace post ‘Operation Bluestar’ days in Punjab in the worst affected district of Gurdaspur, Taran Taran and Amritsar.He served in the areas of Darjeeling, Kurseong, Siliguri and Sikkim. He commanded his battalion 7 MARATHA LIGHT INFANTRY in Operation Rakshak in the most difficult areas of Poonch and Rajouri during the times of highest militancy. His unit was responsible for stopping terrorists from Pakistan into Jammu and Kashmir. His unit was awarded Unit Citation, 18 gallantry awards including YSM (gallantry) for the officer.