Shivaji and His Times

Shivaji and his Times is a historical account of the first Chhatrapati of the Maratha empire, and the most heroic figure in Indian history, Shivaji Bhonsle. It is one of the earliest English-language modern biographical sketches of Shivaji, which covers his achievements and as well as his impact as a statesperson.

The author describes the topography of Maharashtra and a short history of the Maratha people. The work covers the early years, i.e. his childhood, the imprisonment of his father, Shahji Bhonsla, and the beginning of his political journey. It further deals with the famous incidents such as guerrilla attacks on Afzal Khan and Shaista Khan, his capture by Raja Jai Singh, encounter with the Mughal emperor Aurangzib, and the heroic prison escape from the Agra fort. His long struggles against the Mughals, and the subsequent decline of Adil Shahis, the Sidis of Janjira, the policies towards the English, which are an important phase in understanding the emergence of the Maratha empire are dealt with next. It concludes with Shivaji's campaigns in southern India and the Konkan region, the final years, his administrative cum economic policies, his personality, and his legacy in the Indian history.