Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis paid heartfelt tribute to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj on his birth anniversary at Shivneri Fort in Pune on Thursday.
He said, “When many kings and princely rulers of this land were bowing at the feet of the Mughals, Jijamata brought up Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. While doing so, she taught him that he had to free this land from Mughal rule and establish Swarajya…”.
Talking about Shivaji Maharaj, Fadnavis recalled his devotion to the nation, supreme leadership and strong ideals. Recalling the legacy of Shivaji Maharaj, he said that he encouraged his soldiers to fight for God, the nation and the general public.
He said “As you all know, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj united people from different communities and created a powerful army which established Swaraj. Shivaji Maharaj declared, ‘This is not my state; this is the people’s state.’ He told his soldiers that the war they were fighting was not for them personally, but for God, nation and religion and to liberate the common people from Mughal tyranny…”
Fadnavis said Shivaji Maharaj established a state where there was equality and rights for all, where there was no place for injustice and oppression and where women were safe. He said, “He created such an ideal system of governance that people all over the world were left wondering how one ruler could achieve so much…”.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had nominated Shivaji Maharaj’s 12 forts, including Shivneri Fort, for World Heritage Site status. After this, 27 countries of the world unanimously recognized these forts as world heritage sites, Fadnavis said.
Further, the Chief Minister urged that the nation should follow the footsteps of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj for the development and upliftment of all sections of the society.Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was a 17th century Indian warrior king who founded the Maratha Empire. He is considered one of the greatest warriors in Indian history. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s birth anniversary is celebrated every year on 19 February.
