Shahji Bhonsle
Topic: The Marathas · NCERT: Class 8, Ch 3 "The Marathas"
Meaning
Shahji Bhonsle was a Maratha general of the Bhonsle clan. He was the father of Chhatrapati Shivaji. He served the Deccan sultanates of Ahmednagar and Bijapur, so he was often away from home. His family held a jagir at Pune. A jagir was land a ruler gave as a reward for service. The holder collected its taxes to support himself and to help the king when needed.
Example
Shivaji was born in 1630 to Shahji and Jijabai. He grew up on the Pune jagir, raised by Jijabai and trusted officials. The Deccan sultans kept fighting each other there, and he saw how much the common people suffered. This shaped his idea of Swarajya, or self-rule. Shivaji's seal called him "the son of Shahji".
Don't confuse with
- Shahu: Shahu was Shivaji's grandson (Sambhaji's son) and a later Chhatrapati. Shahji was Shivaji's father.