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Showing posts with the label Chattrapati Shivajii

The Idea of Independence

Independence is not merely about a free country, a flag or a democracy or a monarchy as the power seat of a region. It is a feeling and a choice. Entitlement to one’s own opinion and rights. Often, a reason to reform. Independence is about individuality and mass. As we grow up, we often write essays on “My Inspiration.” The word inspiration is, in reality, deeper than we understand at that young age and is more often than not merged with our childhood ideas of an ideal man, an idol, or someone who helps us, namely, our own teachers or parents. Some of the students even mug up essays that tell the tales of the lives of Swami Vivekananda or Mahatma Gandhi. But it takes us years, or even perhaps a lifetime, to be mature enough to know and understand the true meaning of inspiration and idol. When we do, it is then that we choose ones that appeal to our morals, thoughts and souls. I remember Independence Day as a child. Every 15 th  of August used to be about our locality dressed up in ...

The First Maratha Queen

This story is a fictitious representation of the life of Saibai Nimbalkar. There is very little historical information on her. Saibai Nimbalkar came into the prominent household of the Bhosales as a gratitude gift from her father to his for saving his life. She was a nine-year-old girl being married to the eleven-year-old warrior son of a noble.  Her S asubai (mother-in-law)   always treated her like a daughter and helped her learn her duties in the household. She was the ultimate word in his life, and she spent her days helping her son run the state as well as managing the household. He was learning to become a warrior. He was waiting for the day he could join his father and brother on the battlefield. Her dreams were smaller. Decorating the Palace with colourful  rangoli  or helping her  sasubai  braid and decorate her hair could make her happy. She waited for him patiently with the food every day as he practised his sword skills and told her tales of his...