Shivaji Maharaj's Armed Forces, Ordnance Management, Military Strategy: RELEVANT TODAY (Part 3)
Forts helped Shivaji Maharaj to alternate between offensive and defensive operations. They were tactical Masterpiece of defences.
NewsBharati 12-Jul-2023 18:30:44 PM
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Following will be covered in this article:-
- Forts As Impregnable Defences
- Shivaji Maharaj Navy
- Shivaji Maharaj As a Strategist
- Shivaji Maharaj And His Ganimi Kawa Tactics
- Application Shivaji Maharaj Ganimi Kawa Today/Conventional War
- System Shivaji Maharaj Created Lasted For 200 Years After His Death.
- World Class Military Leader
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 by engaging Mughals in siege warfare which tired them out (siege of Purandar fort). He deceived the enemy by escaping from Panhala fort to Vishalgad.
Offensive Operations Against The Mughal Forts
While capturing Mughal forts Shivaji used swift ,sudden ,night cliff assaults to surprise the enemy and capture forts in one night operation. Best example is that of Kondana which was captured by “Tanaji Malusare” in one night. Compare this with Siege Warfare of the Mughals of three to four months to capture fort of Purandar. In fact Shivaji Maharaj recaptured 23 force in less than 8 months after escape from Agra.
Ordnance Management In Forts
Small forts were built to secure treasury and storing grains. They also gave security to important persons from sudden enemy attacks. Large forts on the border served at the store house for ordinance and supplies for an invasion of neighbouring territories. For want of space siting, construction maintenance, Administration and command and control of the forts is not covered in detail.
Shivaji Maharaj's Navy
In order to strengthen his military hold, Shivaji built a strong Navy which was necessary not only to defend his coastal assets but also to promote sea trade. Shivaji built ships in towns such as Kalyan, Bhivandi, and Goa. His Galiot vessels were manned by 25-30 seamen & 30 soldiers-sailed/rowed & Gurabs weighed 150-300 tons.He had a navy of 100 warships at the end. Shivaji Maharaj also built number of forts at sea such as Sindhudurga and established Swaraj at sea also.
The British historians have said, thank god Shivaji was born on the land. If he was born at sea or on the coastline, the British would have never been able to capture India.
Generalship Shivaji Maharaj And His Place In the History
Shivaji Maharaj combined complete political and military authority and his statesman ship enabled his general ship skills to accomplish outstanding results.
Shivaji Maharaj As a Statesman
Shivaji Maharaj exhibited religious tolerance. He undermined enemy by hitting at his faultlines. He showed great opportunism-attacked enemy when he was divided. He never fought three front war against the Mughals, Adilshahi and Qutub Shahi and tackled them one after another. He obtained strategic depth for Swarajya against Mughals by campaigning in the south.
He exhausted his main enemy by attacking Mughals with long lines of communication, used space ,cavalry & forts where Mughal met their end. He was rare Indian king who Understood value of sea power. His relations with Europeans was window to outside world, to understand modern world.
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.
Shivaji Maharaj And His Ganimi Kawa Tactics
He harrased ,exhausted Mughals by encircling them,struck from flanks, rear with surprise raids.He followed indirect approach.He concentrated forces at the point of decisions.
Guerrila tactics(Ganimi Kawa) were used by him because of less army and resources. He interrupted enemy lines of communications, carried out ambushes, attacks on outposts,there by tying the army in protecting itself. His soldiers lived on local resources.The key problem for Mughal was how to seek him, maintain contact and destroy Maratha army. For Ganimi Kawa peoples support is necessary. Strategy was to exhaust Mughals by operating in small groups.Shivaji Maharaj followed combination of conventional war/guerilla war tactics.
Application Shivaji Maharaj Ganimi Kawa Today/Conventional War
All wars with China and Pakistan have been fought in mountains. Strategy and tactics used by Shivaji Maharaj is still very relevant there. Pickets on LOC with Pakistan and LAC with China are like forts of Shivaji Maharaj.Tactics of raid on Shahiste Khan in Pune are regularly used by the Indian Army commandos in Kashmir and Northeast on terror camps.
In 71 war-cutting line of communications to Dhaka laid to surrender of Pakistan army. Cliff assaults carried in Kargil war remind you of capture of Sinhgarh fort.Defending border post in battle of Longewala, or in battle of Basantar 1971 war reminds you of defence of Purander fort by Murarbaji Deshpande.
The most vital factor of any successful battle has always been the valour of individual soldiers and units/fmns.It is the ‘man on the battlefield’ that will tilt the scale in war.Every action large or small is decided by what happens up there on the line, where men take the final chance with life and death.
The Maratha soldiers fought with lot of bravery and courage in the face of all odds.They were led by Shivaji Maharaj and many Prati Shivaji Maharaj from the front which is lead to outstanding victories.
The same tactics are followed by the young officers, the company commanders and battalion commanders of Indian Army today against the Pakistan, China, the terrorists and the insurgents.
The tradition of swift march is even followed today and the Maratha light infantry moves at 140 steps per minute faster than the other Infantry Battalion of the Indian Army who move at 120 steps per minute.
Conclusion
Shivaji Maharaj combined many strategies and war tactics to achieve and sustain Swarajya. He adopted different strategies at different times and didn’t shy away from learning from his mistakes. One of the best practices was ‘never repeat one’s mistakes’. Shivaji Maharaj realised very early in his career that in order to devise sound military strategies one had to be familiar with the geography of one’s kingdom. He toured extensively and through that accomplished an important goal of winning over a loyal group of followers and supporters who had complete faith in him and were ready to lay down their lives for ‘Swarajya’.
Guerrilla warfare was a hallmark of Chhatrapati Shivaji’s military strategy. It was very appropriate to the topography of most regions in Maharashtra. This strategy aimed at avoiding pitched battles but engaged in tactful operations. The descriptive label attached to such form of war was Ganimi Kava. In recognition of his greatness, in independent India, his name became the Indian army's Maratha Regiment's battle cry.
System Shivaji Maharaj Created Lasted For 200 Years After His Death
The system that Shivaji Maharaj created lasted for another 200 years after his death.Succeded by son Sambhaji who fell in Mughul hands ,rule passed from Rajaram,Tarabai ,To Shahu .Combined fighting finally destroyed the Mughals who had ruled India for hundreds of years. Aurangzeb died lonely death in Aurangabad, Maharashtra while fighting Marathas.
Appointment of Balaji Vishwanath as prime minister and Kanhoji Angre admiral of Maratha navy saw rise of first Peshwa and beginning of new post Chatrapathi era.Heights of Maratha power in north was reached under Balaji Vishwanath and son Baji Rao I with decisive victories over Mughuls and others.Succeded by Nanasaheb Peshwa the Maratha crossed Attock for guarding the Khyber Pass.
Defeat in the third battle of Panipat was considered disastrous by many historians but it ensured that no raider there after came to attack India again from Khyber pass.What was lost during the battle of Panipat was made up under the Peshwas and his successors. Brief spark in Mahadaji Shinde and Nana Phadnavis was shown post Panipat.
The very fact that the Maratha Kingdom created by Shivaji Maharaj lasted for next 200 years after his death, showed as to what a great Indian king he was.Marathas were the last rulers who succumbed to British rule post third Anglo –Maratha War 1817.
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.
“Prince of Wales” while inaugurating Shivaji Smarak said that, he was one of the biggest Warriors and I am honoured to inaugurate his Memorial.
“Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose” had said that in the Indian history it was only Shivaji who still shines in my mind like a bright sun. He should be a hero for the whole of India.
Italian historian “Nikolai Manuchi” says that Aurangzeb was the most powerful king in India. He won everywhere but could not defeat Shivaji. He had to leave his capital Delhi and spend 19 years of his life in trying to destroy the Maratha kingdom. The Maratha Kingdom was not destroyed but Aurangzeb and Mughals were definitely destroyed forever.
Famous British historian “Grand Duff” says that Shivaji could only be compared with either “Alexander the Great” who conquered the world or Napoleon Bonaparte who conquered Europe.
Shivaji Maharaj through his personal example showed that the Hindu race could build a nation state, defeat enemies, conduct their defences against aggressors, they could protect and promote literature , art commerce and industry. They could maintain navies and ocean going fleets of their own and conduct naval battles on equal terms with the foreigners.
He taught the modern Hindus to rise to the full stature of the growth. 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.
Shivaji Maharaj was a military genius who evolved Indian way of fighting war and defeated the enemies with Indian weapons.All facets of his personality needs to be studied and followed by every Indian. Shivaji Maharaj has been confined to state of Maharashtra as a hero of Marathas for too long. He was not only a hero for Marathas but he was hero for entire India.
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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.