| This exhibition will
show the unique place of Chhatrapati Shivaji in
the history of India, at a time when Hindus were
experiencing great oppression and humiliation :
their temples were being broken, and they were being
discriminated against in various forms, such as
in the matter of charging custom duties, restrictions
on their fairs and festivals, their dismissal from
government posts, large-scale conversions as a part
of openly declared policy of the Mughal State, imposition
of the religious tax Jiziya for being a Hindu, and
these discriminatory acts were going almost unchallenged
though the Hindus formed more than bout 80% of the
country.
Shivaji, who was endowed with talents of the
highest order and a clear vision, was the only
one who stood-up to the injustice. He had also
an inspiring and endearing personality which spontaneously
commanded respect, loyalty and the highest sacrifices
from his devoted soldiery and peasants.
This exhibition is relevant today because Shivaji
embodied all the qualities that politicians should
possess today, but do not have: he was just, firm
and stood for the weak; he was an honest and able
administrator; he confronted the enemy and was
not cowed into submission; he was devoted to Mother
India who appeared to him as Bhavani; he was ruthless
with his enemies, but spared women, children and
his own people ; he would go to both Muslim and
Hindu saints and endowed mosques as well as temples.
This wonderful exhibition on India’s eternal
hero is brought to Mumbai by FACT, an organization,
which is non-political, non-religious and non-affiliated
to any group. Let the spirit of Shivaji float
on India again and deliver her from her present
enemies.
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