Raigad /New Delhi : Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah today addressed a program held at Raigad Fort in Raigad, Maharashtra, on the occasion of the 345th death anniversary of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. On this occasion, many dignitaries were present, including Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar, and Union Minister of State for Cooperation Murlidhar Mohol.
Addressing the program Shri Shah also noted that Prime Minister Modi and the Maharashtra government are working towards having 12 historic forts recognized as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that it is a matter of great fortune to visit the historic Raigad Fort, where the golden throne of Hindavi Swaraj was established. He said that Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj ignited an immortal spirit across every corner of India and willingness to sacrifice one’s life for one’s religion, language, and Swaraj. Soon, the region of Maharashtra, which was surrounded by the Adilshahi, Mughal, and Nizamshahi powers, transformed into Hindavi Swaraj. In just a few years, the dream of Swaraj began to be realized from Attock to Cuttack, and across the country from Bengal to Tamil Nadu in the south.
Union Home Minister Shri Shah said that when Shivaji Maharaj was born, the people of the country were engulfed in deep darkness. The environment was such that even imagining the idea of Swaraj seemed impossible. Within just a hundred years after the fall of Devagiri, the decline of Maharashtra and the entire southern region had taken place, and gradually, speaking of one’s own religion and self-rule came to be seen as a crime.
But in such times, a 12-year-old boy, inspired by his mother Rajmata Jijabai, took a vow to once again raise the saffron flag from the Sindhu River to Kanyakumari. Shri Shah said that he has read the biographies of many great leaders from around the world, but such unshakable willpower, indomitable courage, unimaginable strategy, and the ability to unite every section of society to build an invincible army — no one did it like Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
Shri Shah said that Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj neither had fortune on his side, nor a powerful legacy, nor wealth or a large army. Yet, at a very young age, through his unbreakable courage and firm resolve, he inspired the entire nation with the mantra of Swaraj. In no time, he played a pivotal role in shattering the Mughal Empire, which had ruled for over 200 years.
When Shivaji Maharaj’s forces reached Attock, Bengal, Cuttack, and Tamil Nadu, then people across the land began to believe once again — that the nation, its religion, languages, and culture had been saved.
Union Home Minister said that the vision of making India the best in the world in every field was first laid down by Shivaji Maharaj. He added that today, 75 years after India’s independence, we stand tall before the world with pride, and we resolve that when India completes 100 years of independence, the country will achieve the number one position globally in every domain.
Shri Shah said that Rajmata Jijabai not only gave birth to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj but also inspired him to revive Swaraj, Swadharma, and Swabhasha. When Shivaji was still very young, it was Jijabai who instilled in him the idea of liberating the entire country and becoming the founder of a Hindavi Empire.
Shri Shah stated that Rajmata Jijabai imparted values and virtues to the young Shivaji, and Shivaji turned those values into a mighty banyan tree. He further said that after Shivaji, Sambhaji Maharaj, Maharani Tarabai, Santaji, and Tanaji continued to fight against the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb until his death. As a result, the man who called himself “Alamgir” (conqueror of the world) was ultimately defeated in Maharashtra, and his tomb remains here as a testament to that.
He further highlighted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, by making Shivaji Maharaj’s Royal Seal the symbol of our Navy, has declared to the world that our country and our Swaraj are fully secured.
Shri Shah also noted that Prime Minister Modi and the Maharashtra government are working towards having 12 historic forts recognized as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.