Latest news with #ChhatrapatiShivaji
Time of India
an hour ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Unesco tag for Maratha forts, Marathi classical language status sharpen focus on Marathi pride
BJP celebrating the announcement (TOI) NEW DELHI : Unesco's inclusion of 'Maratha Military Landscapes' in its World Heritage List has added another layer to the Centre's push for Maratha heritage and identity, coming as Maharashtra heads for crucial local body elections later this year. The recognition of 12 Maratha forts — 11 in Maharashtra and one in Tamil Nadu — follows the Centre's grant of classical language status to Marathi ahead of the 2024 Maharashtra assembly polls, a long-pending demand that became central to the BJP-led alliance's victory, political observers said. The opposition has hit out at what it calls 'headlinegrabbing cultural optics' designed to mask governance lapses. The cultural thrust was also evident when the Indian Navy dropped the colonial-era St George's Cross in 2022 for an ensign inspired by Chhatrapati Shivaji. PM Modi on Saturday described the Unesco listing as a moment of national pride. 'Every Indian is elated with this recognition. These Maratha military landscapes include 12 majestic forts, 11 of which are in Maharashtra and one in Tamil Nadu. When we speak of the glorious Maratha empire, we associate it with good governance, military strength, cultural pride and emphasis on social welfare. The great rulers inspire us with their refusal to bow to any injustice. I call upon everyone to go visit these forts and learn about the rich history of the Maratha empire,' Modi posted on social media. Earlier, when Modi unveiled the Navy's redesigned ensign in Sept 2022, he had said, 'Till now the identity of slavery remained on the flag of Indian Navy. But from today onwards, inspired by Chhatrapati Shivaji, the new Navy flag will fly in the sea and in the sky.' BJP's calibrated emphasis on Maratha symbols reflects a larger strategy of cultural nationalism being woven into state politics. By granting Marathi classical language status ahead of the 2024 assembly elections and now amplifying Unesco's recognition of Maratha forts, it has sought to embed itself in the emotive terrain of Maharashtra's regional pride. For BJP, which has historically faced challenges in breaking the Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress stronghold over the 'Maratha pride' vote, these gestures are a bid to redraw the political map and secure urban and semi-urban Marathi voters. Yet critics argue such symbolism risks crowding out governance debates on agrarian distress, urban infrastructure gaps and unemployment, issues that resonate in local polls. The classical language status for Marathi, granted in early 2024, had been a longstanding demand from cultural bodies and political groups for over a decade. Earlier govts cited procedural hurdles, but NDA cleared the proposal months before state elections, helping it tap into a potent mix of linguistic pride and historical identity. With civic polls due, heritage and identity are again becoming political battlegrounds.
Indian Express
an hour ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Knowledge Nugget: Why are the Maratha Military Landscapes relevant for the UPSC exam?
Take a look at the essential events, concepts, terms, quotes, or phenomena every day and brush up your knowledge. Here's your UPSC history, art and culture current affairs knowledge nugget on the Maratha military landscapes. (Relevance: UNESCO World Heritage sites are a crucial part of the UPSC syllabus. Additionally, the Maratha Empire is an important topic. In the past, UPSC has asked various questions related to the Maratha Empire. For example, in the Prelims exam of the Combined Geo-Scientist 2025, a question was asked on this topic. Therefore, it is essential to cover this topic from both the history and art & culture perspectives.) At the 47th Session of the World Heritage Committee (WHC), India's official nomination for the 2024-25 cycle, the Maratha Military Landscapes, is inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. In this context, let's know about the Maratha Military Landscapes and Chhatrapati Shivaji. 1. The Maratha Military Landscapes include 12 forts of Chhatrapati Shivaji, including forts of Salher, Shivneri, Lohgad, Khanderi, Raigad, Rajgad, Pratapgad, Suvarnadurg, Panhala, Vijay Durg and Sindhudurg in Maharashtra, and Gingee Fort in Tamil Nadu. 2. The decision to include them was taken on Friday (July 11) during the 47th session of the WHC held in Paris. This is India's 44th property to receive the recognition. 3. Regarding the latest addition to the World Heritage List, the Culture Ministry said it reflects India's enduring cultural legacy and highlights the country's diverse traditions of architectural brilliance, regional identity, and historical continuity. 1. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj (1630-1680) carved out an independent Maratha kingdom from various Deccan states in the 17th century. He was born to a general who served different Deccan Sultans throughout his life. 2. Shivaji was keen on expanding his father's fiefdom of modern-day Pune into an independent Maratha state. During that time several Sultanates like Bijapur, Golkonda and Ahmadnagar and the Mughals were competing for the control of the Deccan. 3. With the rise of Mughal power, these Sultanates would become tributaries to the Mughal Empire with the rulers and ruling clans being given positions in the Mughal court. However, they continued to quarrel among themselves. 4. Shivaji's conflict with the Adil Shahi Sultanate of Bijapur began when he was only 16. He would spend the rest of his life fighting various opponents. This is how he went on to lay the foundation for the Maratha Empire. This empire stretched across large parts of the Indian subcontinent and rule till the 19th Century. 5. His first direct encounter with the Mughals was during Aurangzeb's Deccan campaigns of the 1650s. As Aurangzeb went North to fight for the Mughal throne, Shivaji was able to seize further territory. 6. In 1664 he attacked the port of Surat (now in Gujarat) and plundered one of the richest and busiest commercial towns of Mughal India while the local governor hid in a nearby fort. 7. Aurangzeb noticed that the legend of Shivaji and the physical sphere of his influence was growing. So he sent a 100,000-strong, well-equipped army under Raja Jai Singh I to subdue him in 1665. After putting up a valiant fight, Shivaji was besieged in the Purandar hill fort. 8. He was taken to Aurangzeb's court in Agra in 1666. He presented Aurangzeb with various gifts, but he felt slighted at the treatment he received in return, and made his displeasure clear in open court. Aurangzeb put him under house arrest in Agra. Far away from home and help, Shivaji realised he needed to escape to save himself and his territories. The story of Shivaji's subsequent escape is now part of common lore. 9. The popularly told story involves an elaborate plan, under which he began daily distribution of alms to brahmans. The alms would be sent from his home in Agra in large, covered baskets. 10. After some time, the Mughal guards became lax about checking the contents of the baskets that daily left his house. One day, Shivaji slipped into one of the baskets, and put his young son, Sambhaji, in another basket. It was in these covered baskets that Shivaji and his son left Agra, right under the noses of the Mughals. 11. Aurangzeb chose not to start an immediate conflict with Shivaji again. Instead, he offered Shivaji the title of Raja and guaranteed his authority in the Maratha lands as long as he acknowledged the supremacy of the Mughals and maintained truce. 12. By 1669, Shivaji had regrouped and raised an effective army. Using his old guerilla tactics, he would swiftly descend into static Mughal and Bijapuri strongholds, looting and pillaging the shocked Mughals. In 1674, he crowned himself Chhatrapati, officially creating an independent Maratha kingdom. 13. At the time of his death, he held around 300 forts over an area that stretched across the Konkan coast, from Surat to near Goa, and was overlooked by the strategic Western Ghats. 1. Crucial to Maratha military strategy were hill forts. Unlike the plains of Northern India, suited to conventional battle with large standing armies, the terrain of the Maratha country was different. With the Arabian Sea on one side, the Konkan plains in the centre and the Western Ghats overlooking the plains, in the 17th century much of the region was covered in thick jungles. 2. The Maratha icon was born and raised in the hill fort of Shivneri (around 100 km from Pune), given to Shivaji's grandfather by the Sultan of Ahmadnagar in lieu of his services as a military commander. Shivneri is a typical hill fort found in the Western Ghats – a small but strong fortification, atop a hill overlooking the surrounding terrain. 3. Growing up in the hills and valleys around Pune, Shivaji understood the salience of hill forts in controlling the land. Over his storied life, he captured multiple such forts, including Torna (when he was only 16), Rajgadh, Sinhagadh and Purandar. 4. Early in his life, Shivaji realised that the key to holding power in the Deccan (or for that matter, many places in India in that era) was to capture and hold important forts. Thus, his strategies would be centred around taking control of forts in strategic locations, often on hilltops. He also repaired and built new forts as his sphere of control increased. 5. Warfare in such terrain is qualitatively different, with large conventional armies prone to getting bogged down. Thus, as Shivaji began to consolidate and expand his influence in the region, his strategies evolved to be significantly different from the common military doctrine of the time. 6. Marathas forces would strike quickly and retreat to the many hill forts of the region. These forts were designed such that the approach to them was tricky, often treacherous, to large groups of men. Consequently, these were perfect defensive positions where either the bigger armies would not bother to attack or would have to sacrifice their strength in numbers if they did choose to attack. Hill forts also were constructed such that they were perfect vantage points to keep a lookout for any threat. Consider the following statements with reference to the Maratha Military Landscapes: 1. It includes 12 forts of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. 2. All forts part of Maratha military landscapes are located in Maharashtra. 3. It is India's 43rd property inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. How many of the statements given above is/are correct? (a) Only one (b) Only two (c) All three (d) None (Sources: Knowledge Nugget: How is 'Chhaava' or Sambhaji Maharaj important for UPSC Exam?, Knowledge nugget of the day: Chhatrapati Shivaji) ALSO READ: How Shivaji became the voice of multiple social causes by Adrija Roychowdhury Subscribe to our UPSC newsletter. Stay updated with the latest UPSC articles by joining our Telegram channel – Indian Express UPSC Hub, and follow us on Instagram and X. 🚨 Click Here to read the UPSC Essentials magazine for June 2025. Share your views and suggestions in the comment box or at Roshni Yadav is a Deputy Copy Editor with The Indian Express. She is an alumna of the University of Delhi and Jawaharlal Nehru University, where she pursued her graduation and post-graduation in Political Science. She has over five years of work experience in ed-tech and media. At The Indian Express, she writes for the UPSC section. Her interests lie in national and international affairs, governance, economy, and social issues. You can contact her via email: ... Read More
Time of India
9 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
UNESCO tag for forts sharpens political focus on Marathi pride
New Delhi: UNESCO's inclusion of 'Maratha Military Landscapes' in its World Heritage List has added another layer to the Centre's push for Maratha heritage and identity, coming as Maharashtra heads for crucial local body elections later this year. The recognition of 12 Maratha forts — 11 in Maharashtra and one in Tamil Nadu — follows the Centre's grant of classical language status to Marathi ahead of the 2024 Maharashtra assembly polls, a long-pending demand that became central to the BJP-led alliance's victory, political observers said. The opposition has hit out at what it calls "headline-grabbing cultural optics" designed to mask governance lapses. The cultural thrust was also evident when the Indian Navy dropped the colonial-era St George's Cross in 2022 for an ensign inspired by Chhatrapati Shivaji. You Can Also Check: Mumbai AQI | Weather in Mumbai | Bank Holidays in Mumbai | Public Holidays in Mumbai PM Modi on Saturday described the UNESCO listing as a moment of national pride. "Every Indian is elated with this recognition. These Maratha military landscapes include 12 majestic forts, 11 of which are in Maharashtra and one in Tamil Nadu. When we speak of the glorious Maratha empire, we associate it with good governance, military strength, cultural pride and emphasis on social welfare. The great rulers inspire us with their refusal to bow to any injustice. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like American Investor Warren Buffett Recommends: 5 Books For Turning Your Life Around Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo I call upon everyone to go visit these forts and learn about the rich history of the Maratha empire," Modi posted on social media. Earlier, when Modi unveiled the Navy's redesigned ensign in Sept 2022, he had said, "Till now the identity of slavery remained on the flag of Indian Navy. But from today onwards, inspired by Chhatrapati Shivaji, the new Navy flag will fly in the sea and in the sky." BJP's calibrated emphasis on Maratha symbols reflects a larger strategy of cultural nationalism being woven into state politics. By granting Marathi classical language status ahead of the 2024 assembly elections and now amplifying Unesco's recognition of Maratha forts, it has sought to embed itself in the emotive terrain of Maharashtra's regional pride. For BJP, which has historically faced challenges in breaking the Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress stronghold over the "Maratha pride" vote, these gestures are a bid to redraw the political map and secure urban and semi-urban Marathi voters. Yet critics argue such symbolism risks crowding out governance debates on agrarian distress, urban infrastructure gaps and unemployment, issues that resonate in local polls. The classical language status for Marathi, granted in early 2024, had been a longstanding demand from cultural bodies and political groups for over a decade. Earlier govts cited procedural hurdles, but NDA cleared the proposal months before state elections, helping it tap into a potent mix of linguistic pride and historical identity. With civic polls due, heritage and identity are again becoming political battlegrounds.
New Indian Express
19 hours ago
- New Indian Express
Villupuram's historic legacy shines through UNESCO heritage site announcement
VILLUPURAM: Gingee Fort, one of South India's most formidable and historically rich forts, located 40 kilometres from Villupuram has officially been inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site on Saturday. Hwajong Lee, an expert from the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), visited the site on September 27, 2024 for the assessment. The inclusion comes as part of a broader recognition of 12 forts associated with Maratha emperor Chhatrapati Shivaji's Military Landscapes. While 11 of these forts are located in Maharashtra, Gingee Fort stands as the only one outside the state, highlighting its strategic significance during the Maratha reign. The UNESCO recognition not only validates the fort's architectural and cultural significance but also opens new avenues for tourism and economic development in the district. District Collector Sheik Abdul Rahman told TNIE that this paves way for the district administration to develop commercial outlets at the site for foreign and other state visitors. 'With the panchayat, and Tamil Nadu Tourism departments the administration will uplift the Fort area in Gingee town to increase revenue through tourism' he said. As the heritage site now stands poised to welcome a global audience to explore its remarkable legacy, the maintenance of the sites need improvement. Sources stated that the toilet facilities at Krishnagiri (Queen's Fortress) gate of the Fort are locked and drinking water facilities were not available. However, in the Rajagiri (King's Fortress) gate, toilets were available for free but drinking water had to be bought from the shops. During May this year, TNIE reported on the issue that left visitors suffer during the summer vacations. Similarly, the site offers a tedious trek 800 metres uphill through rock stairs and occasional porches on either side of the hills to rest. The site lacks sign boards directing the way forward, pitstops, steep hills and other significant alerts for the trek. However, a detailed site description inscribed on a metal plate is displayed at the foothills, by ASI. .
Indian Express
04-07-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
‘Operation Sindoor finest example of defending Swaraj, envisioned by Chhatrapati Shivaji': Union Minister Amit Shah
Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Friday that Operation Sindoor, targeting terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir, is the finest example of a fight put up by forces and leadership to defend Swaraj – the self-rule envisioned by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Shah was addressing a gathering at the National Defence Academy (NDA) where he unveiled the equestrian statue of Bajirao I, the seventh Peshwa of the Maratha empire. The bronze statue is located next to the Cadet's Mess at the NDA. In his speech, Shah said, 'Whenever a feeling of despair occupies my mind, I always think of young Chhatrapati Shivaji and Bajirao Peshwa. And then the feeling of despair vanishes. If they could do it in such adverse conditions, it is our duty to do it when the current situation is conducive'. Shah further said, 'The responsibility of creating an India of Chhatrapati Shivaji's imagination lies with 140 crore Indians. When it was time to fight to establish Swaraj – self-rule, we fought. When a fight is required to defend the Swaraj, our forces and leadership will definitely do it. And Operation Sindoor is the finest example of it.' The home minister also interacted with the cadets and officers of the NDA after the unveiling ceremony. Shah, during his one-day visit to Pune, will take part in multiple events, including the inauguration of Jayraj Sports and Convention Centre in Kondhwa Budruk. He will also visit the Balasaheb Deoras Hospital at Khadi Machine Chowk and attend the ground-breaking ceremony of PHRC Health City on Wadachiwadi Road.
