Alright folks, upon request a brief #THREAD on Shivaji and caste.
Trigger Warning -- If you're into #Hindutva, think that the past somehow justifies your present-day bigotry, or hate historians, please, don't read further.
Trigger Warning -- If you're into #Hindutva, think that the past somehow justifies your present-day bigotry, or hate historians, please, don't read further.
Shivaji was a 17th-century Maratha warrior who won himself a kingdom.
He was most well-known in his day for his guerrilla warfare tactics, which were remarkably effective against the numerically superior but bulky Mughal army.
He was most infamous for his caste problems.
He was most well-known in his day for his guerrilla warfare tactics, which were remarkably effective against the numerically superior but bulky Mughal army.
He was most infamous for his caste problems.
Shivaji was born a shudra, in a world where caste mattered.
Shivaji could win a land-based kingdom on the battlefield. But you cannot use weapons to raise your status in the social hierarchy of caste. Shivaji wanted to be a kshatriya, the proper caste, many say, for rulers.
Shivaji could win a land-based kingdom on the battlefield. But you cannot use weapons to raise your status in the social hierarchy of caste. Shivaji wanted to be a kshatriya, the proper caste, many say, for rulers.
So, what's a shudra king to do? Shivaji turned to the one community that stood a chance at massaging his caste problems: Brahmins.
Shivaji handsomely paid a Benares Brahmin, Gagabhatta, to do a couple of things in this department...
Shivaji handsomely paid a Benares Brahmin, Gagabhatta, to do a couple of things in this department...
Gagabhatta invented a lineage for Shivaji going back to the Sisodiya Rajputs.
Shivaji then underwent an elaborate ceremony where he reclaimed his "rightful" (read: newly invented) kshatriya status and proclaimed himself chhatrapati (emperor).
Shivaji then underwent an elaborate ceremony where he reclaimed his "rightful" (read: newly invented) kshatriya status and proclaimed himself chhatrapati (emperor).
We still have the Sanskrit text invented for Shivaji's caste "recovery." It's pretty remarkable.
Shivaji did other stuff to project himself as a Brahmin-supporting kshatriya. A text he sponsored titled Suryavamsa (also known as Shivabharata) is dripping with this sentiment.
Shivaji did other stuff to project himself as a Brahmin-supporting kshatriya. A text he sponsored titled Suryavamsa (also known as Shivabharata) is dripping with this sentiment.
How did Rajputs feel about Shivaji?
Shivaji went to Aurangzeb's court in 1666 and made a scene, bucking Mughal-Rajput court protocol. Many Rajputs viewed Shivaji as uncouth.
We miss this dynamic when we talk about "Hindus" as a cohesive community in premodernity.
Shivaji went to Aurangzeb's court in 1666 and made a scene, bucking Mughal-Rajput court protocol. Many Rajputs viewed Shivaji as uncouth.
We miss this dynamic when we talk about "Hindus" as a cohesive community in premodernity.
Where does all this leave us? Regarding the past --
Shivaji's story is a great place to see how caste mattered in early modern India.
Understanding Shivaji involves thinking beyond the modern Hindu-Muslim binary.
Shivaji's story is a great place to see how caste mattered in early modern India.
Understanding Shivaji involves thinking beyond the modern Hindu-Muslim binary.
Regarding the present--
The historical Shivaji bears little resemblance to the mythical Shivaji that modern-day people so often project. But that myth is fragile.
That's why I had to censor information about Shivaji's caste background in the Indian edition of Aurangzeb.
The historical Shivaji bears little resemblance to the mythical Shivaji that modern-day people so often project. But that myth is fragile.
That's why I had to censor information about Shivaji's caste background in the Indian edition of Aurangzeb.
Folks, if you're the Shivaji-is-a-modern-hero boat and you read this far:
(1) Take a breath; I'm just a historian doing her job.
(2) Consider why you're so threatened by history. Maybe the stories in which you invested your emotions and identity are about you, not the past?
(1) Take a breath; I'm just a historian doing her job.
(2) Consider why you're so threatened by history. Maybe the stories in which you invested your emotions and identity are about you, not the past?
Footnotes:
On censoring Aurangzeb and Shivaji: historytoday.com/history-matter…
I wrote on Shivaji, caste, and Brahmins a bit here: cup.columbia.edu/book/the-langu…
Unabridged Shivaji chapter (from Pakistani ed. of Aurangzeb): static1.squarespace.com/static/5fd8d19…
On censoring Aurangzeb and Shivaji: historytoday.com/history-matter…
I wrote on Shivaji, caste, and Brahmins a bit here: cup.columbia.edu/book/the-langu…
Unabridged Shivaji chapter (from Pakistani ed. of Aurangzeb): static1.squarespace.com/static/5fd8d19…
In other news, I'll be off Twitter for the rest of the day.
Remember -- History doesn't really care about your feelings. And no matter how loud you shout, how vile of language you employ, or how much you threaten, the facts don't change.
Remember -- History doesn't really care about your feelings. And no matter how loud you shout, how vile of language you employ, or how much you threaten, the facts don't change.
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