The book Sambhaji by Vishwas Patil translated into English by Vikrant Pande was with me for long. @indicaacademy has delivered it under their 1000 Reviewer programme; the sheer length of the book- more than 500 pages and not knowing what to expect was the barrier. The interest was fuelled when the erstwhile Shiv Sena government in Maharashtra announced the renaming of Aurangabad as Sambhaji Nagar. It was one of their last decisions on June 29, 2022, before Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray resigned.
I have lived in Mumbai since 2004 and have often heard about Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. I have hardly heard people referring much to Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, the Maratha king, who never lost a battle, never knelt before the Mughals and kept the Hindu Swaraj flag flying despite some who sold their souls for money.
SAMBHAJI, THE BOOK
Sambhaji Maharaj, the Second Maratha Chhatrapati, succeeded the great Shivaji Maharaj at a very young age. From the time of his coronation till his death, he fought the Mughals for eight consecutive years. During this period, none of the Maratha Fort was ever captured by the Mughal army led by their king- Aurangzeb. He was just 32 when he was captured and assassinated.
The book, as the name suggests, is about Chhatrapati Sambhaji, his life and his battles. His thinking and his passion for the Hindu Swaraj.
It is a fictional biographical account of Sambhaji, presenting an observer’s point of view into his journey – from birth, love and care of parents to coronation battle to his death. It helps to see through the mind of Sambhaji Maharaj and his life. His resolve to honour the dream of his father. His team of advisors, along with the traitors and the damage they inflicted.
SAMBHAJI SIDE IMPACT.
I have always planned but never been to Rajgarh Fort or the Janjira Fort, and I have made road trips coming down the steep slopes at Sahyadri, Mahad. Places that I now see in a different light. The book helps visualise these places, battles, and the lead characters.
I plan to visit Rajgarh Fort, and next time around won’t come back from a Kashid-Murd trip without visiting the famed Janjira Fort. History would have been different if Shivaji Raje or Sambhaji Raje had won this fort. I do hope that Maharashtra will build strong Shivaji and Sambhaji tourist circuits.
UNPUTDOWNABLE
It is simply an unputdownable book. Worked into multiple standalone linear 22 episodic chapters for you to take pauses in between. However, while reading, I was so curious to know what happens next that this book of more than 500 pages took less than three days between my busy schedule to complete.
I missed a representative map of Maharashtra in the book- a comparative map for the reader to visualise directions and action, spaces and the cities or the forts mentioned in the story.
NET-NET
Sambhaji – the book is exciting, engaging, and brilliantly transcreated (I prefer that to a typical translator) by Vikrant Pande. The book has impressed me, and I plan to read the two other books by Vishwas Patil. Mahanayak- Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, and Panipat – the Third Battle of Panipat.
I must appreciate Vikrant Pande, the trans-creator, for his excellent work. In absence of this brilliant transcreation, I would have missed out on the brilliant work of Vishwas Patil.
I recommend you to read the book. And I do hope that the English transcreation will widen the readers for Vishwas Patil’s work in Marathi and many more to experience the fabulous writing and efforts of Vikrant Pande.
I rate Vishwas Patil as a better storyteller than Aish Tripathi, Ashwin Sanghi and Anand Neelakantan. If you are comfortable reading in Marathi, I will push you to read the Marathi original version.
Is MAHARASHTRA TOURISM MISSING A TRICK?
The Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation has developed a network of properties and destinations from beaches to forts and temples to the yatra. However, it is not unjustified to say that they have failed to connect the dots and create circuits. Even the Ashta Vinayak circuit is not developed to its potential. Forget the Sambhaji Raje circuit; surprisingly, there is no circuit on Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj for interested parties and the local population. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and Sambhaji Raje tourist circuits can help people better know and appreciate the history and keep their pride high.
The book Sambhaji by Vishwas Patil brought me to the history and the bravery of Sambhaji Raje. As a person, it created enough curiosity and interest to visit a few trademark geographical highpoints – but when one checks on the internet, there is no tourist circuit by private or Government operators fulfilling what can be a huge latent need.
Triva Aurangabad And Sambhaji Nagar
Aurangabad was founded in 1610 by Malik Ambar, the Siddi general of the Nizamshahi dynasty of Ahmadnagar. The city was named Khirki or Khadki at the time. In 1626, Malik’s son Fateh Khan changed the name to Fatehpur. In 1653, the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb invaded Deccan, made Fatehpur his capital, and renamed it Aurangabad. On May 8, 1988, Sena head Balasaheb Thackeray announced the city’s renaming to Sambhaji Nagar after Sambhaji Maharaj. In 1995, the Aurangabad Corporation passed a resolution to do so. Just before resigning on June 29, 2022, the Shiv Sena government decided to rename Aurangabad Sambhaji Nagar.
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