Master of the Seas: Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s Naval Vision, A Tribute on Birth Anniversary

Swarajya on Water: The Naval Genius of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj! When we think of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, images of hill forts, guerrilla warfare, and fearless cavalry often come to mind. But there’s another powerful chapter of his legacy that deserves equal recognition, his visionary naval strategy. Long before India had a formal navy, Shivaji Maharaj understood something many rulers overlooked: control the seas, and you control your destiny. Why the Sea Mattered in the 17th Century In the 1600s, India’s western coastline was not peaceful territory. The Arabian Sea was dominated by powerful forces the Portuguese, the British, the Dutch, and the Siddis of Janjira. These foreign powers controlled trade routes and often interfered in regional politics. Most Indian rulers focused only on land-based defense. Shivaji Maharaj thought differently. He realised that Swarajya (self-rule) would remain incomplete without maritime strength. Coastal security was not optional, it was essential. The Birth ...

Soham Halder

• 1 week ago
• 4 minutes read