Thread by @jeysundhar_d

Since today is the day of #ShivajiMaharaj's coronation and becoming #ChhatrapatiShivajiMaharaj, tempted to do a thread on his Madras/Chennai connection.

So, as we know #ShivajiMaharaj's coronation was held in a glorious ceremony on 6 June 1674. This was important as without the ceremony, Shivaji did not hold any "kingly" title.

After his coronation, Shivaji became #ChhatrapatiShivajiMaharaj. He also was given the titles of Shakakarta (Creator of an era) and Haindhava Dharmoddhaaraka (Protector of the Hindu Dharma).

The political message that these titles would have sent out cannot be overstated. Neither the Mughals, nor the Portuguese were delighted at the turn of events.

The coronation was a watershed event. Shivaji however, continued with his ambitious expansion. He went on an aggressive campaign, subduing various kingdoms of the time.

Of interest to us in this thread, is #ShivajiMaharaj's southern campaign. In 1677, 3 years after his coronation. Shivaji invaded Karnataka and moved further south towards Vellore and Gingee.

Now, a slight detour at Gingee and the famous Gingee Fort. Verifiable accounts dating back to the 12th Century Cholas indicate its antiquity and strategic importance.

Having passed through Vijayanagar and the Nayaks, in 1677, the fort was under the control of Bijapur Sultanate. Shivaji captured the fort and the Marathas subsequently added to its defences.

Back to #ShivajiMaharaj . Check this image. Not so uncommon to have a painting/print of Shivaji praying to the Mother Goddess. But notice the script at the bottom of the picture.

Those lines in Tamil proudly say that #ChhatrapatiShivajiMaharaj visited the temple on 3.10.1677. What temple is this? Who has placed the painting there?

Check the top of the picture. The garland covers text that reads "The Madras Mahratta Association". This is the Kalikambal Temple in Chennai (formerly Madras).

Now, there's a very interesting story behind this. Before we get there, a few questions.
Did Shivaji come to Madras? YES
Did Shivaji visit the Kalikambal temple? We don't know, but it is highly likely that he did.

The British sitting in the safe confines of Fort St. George were gathering intel about Shivaji's movements in the South and his capture of Vellore and Gingee,

As is the case with greatness, Shivaji's reputation went much before him. The British authorities were getting more and more nervous as Shivaji's forces got closer.

At this point of time, the Agent of Madras was a chap named Streynsham Master. Master had a bit of history with Shivaji. This dated back to Master's own days in the East India Company's Factory at Surat.

Shivaji had conducted repeated raids in Surat. In 1664 and 1670, the city had been plundered by the Marathas. On the 2nd instance (1670), Master had been part of the Council of the Factory in Surat.

His defences had protected the Factory in 1670. But he had been witness to what #ShivajiMaharaj and his forces were capable of. These stories had made Shivaji a living legend for anyone who heard Master narrate his Surat stories.

But when Shivaji actually camped outside the city, he sent emissaries seeking "cordial stones and counter-poisons", both medicinal requirements. He also offered to pay for it.

The English obliged, but did not press for payment. A few days later, the request was repeated and was met, again without seeking payment.

The third time, Shivaji, probably trying to see how far the English would go to propitiate him, asked for English engineers.

The Company, thanks to Streynsham Master, knew what Shivaji was capable of and could do to forts. Not wanting to strengthen his capabilities, they politely declined the offer.

And this is where it gets interesting. Fort St. George braced for an attack. But that never came. Shivaji had departed. But the story isn't over yet.

Historians generally hold that Shivaji never entered Madras proper. However, local lore has it that Shivaji did enter the city. Not just enter, he came very close to Fort St. George as well.

Some even claim that Shivaji wanted to assess the defences and preparedness of the English, and entered the city incognito, at night.

And while he was there, he paid a visit to the Kalikambal Temple on Thambu Chetty Street. The temple was apparently re-located to that place in 1640 (it is originally supposed to have been much close to the sea).

Now, do we have anything that can add weight to this story? Yes, we do. The Thambu Chetty Street where the temple sits on, is located in a part of Chennai called George Town (even today).

The temple itself is less than 3km from Fort St. George where the Company's defences lay. So, there's a likelihood that Shivaji indeed came to check the defences and en route visited the temple of his beloved Goddess.

So, there is a very high chance that the picture of the Madras Mahratta Association is based on a historic incident. We may probably never know.

What we do know is that for the remainder of his life, Shivaji did not attack Chennai. Well, not that Shivaji anyway. Wait, what? Yes, this brings us to the 2nd part of this thread.

Chennai and the rest of Tamil Nadu would be captured eventually, by two Shivajis. One was not born Shivaji, yet became known only by that name. The other, was born a Shivaji, but is known by another, more popular name.

Almost 250 years after #ShivajiMaharaj passed away, a child was born in Viluppuram, south of Chennai. This child, named Ganesan at birth, would be immortalised as Sivaji Ganesan!

Ganesan entered the field of arts through theater. His formidable memory and clear diction with Tamil (despite lack of a formal education) made him a hit on the stage.

Ganesan's performance of #ShivajiMaharaj at Devar Hall in Trichy was so engrossing that EV Ramasamy (known as Periyar) watching the show gave him the title Sivaji Ganesan.

Thus, as #ShivajiMaharaj became #ChhatrapatiShivajiMaharaj this day in 1677, Villuppuram Chinnaiya Ganesan became Sivaji Ganesan!

Sivaji would re-live his theater role again, when it would be videographed. Here's the clip! Wonder what historian @MulaMutha thinks of this performance! @aparanjape

Thank you @sridharkswamy for the clip in the previous tweet.
Sivaji Ganesan's film repertoire would eventually make him the first Indian actor to be awarded the Chevalier title of France.

This is 1674. 1677 is when #ShivajiMaharaj visited Madras. The coronation was in 1674. Thank you @amolnane55 for spotting it.

A collage of some of the roles brought to life by Sivaji Ganesan!

Now we come to the 3rd Shivaji of today's thread. A man born as a Shivaji, but known for most of his life by another name!

Shivaji Rao Gaekwad was born on 12 December 1950. He too would rise through the ranks. Starting as a conductor, his interest in acting would push him to the theater plays and into the lap of Tamil cinema.

He would be blessed with the Midas touch of a debut in a K Balachandar movie. Yet, he would have an unenviable debut role, as a dying cancer patient in Aboorva Raagangal.

An iconic scene that would later be seen as the doors of fame opening for Shivaji Rao Gaekwad aka Rajinikanth.

While it is more popularly known that Rajinikanth's birth name was Shivaji Rao, it is less well known that the name Rajinikanth, given to him by KB, was a character played by our 2nd Shivaji, Ganesan.

This was Sivaji Ganesan as Barrister Rajinikanth. The movie may not have become as well known in our times, but the name of the title character was inherited and immortalised by Shivaji Rao.

Rajinikanth would capture the hearts and minds of at least 3 generations of film goers. From an actor, he would become a "Superstar" and a phenomenon, in the truest sense of the word.

Since we started the thread with Shivaji the first, let's end it with him, or rather something that attempted to look like him. A personal touch to the thread on #ShivajiMaharaj

Inspired by the legendary exploits of #ShivajiMaharaj, a 5-year old took to the sword, although in a fancy dress competition in school. Let's end the thread with what was chanted that day on stage.
JAI BHAWANI!!!