Leadership lessons from Shriman Yogi Shri Chhatrapati ShivajiMaharaj

Google the word ‘leadership’ and one will find thousands of articles on this topic and thanks to artificial intelligence, you may even receive calls from universities offering courses in this field. So much information is available in today’s time, if we want to perceive anything, still we find if difficult and kind of never-ending learning in this field.

Now think about the situation 400 years back, there were no business schools, no online learning platforms, no social media. Main sources of learning were books and mentors (or elderly). Still, leaders in those times were much better than our current superficial leadership skills. When we think we cannot please anyone in life and thus we shouldn’t even try, there was a man, a legend, a leader who have changed India’s situation for centuries to come, whose actions are still cherished. Read his stories and your chest will be swollen with pride.

If you are still not converted, if you still belong to same caste, religion or community, thank that man. If you are a woman and able to step out freely, thank him. If you are no longer worried about slavery, be grateful to him. His name is Shri Chhatrapati (Lord of the throne) Shivaji Maharaj. Let us revise some valuable lessons from his life:

1) Having a goal which is larger than life

Just at the age of 16 years, Raje was clear about his goal — to get Swaraj. When his father himself was employed under Adil Shah Government, when Mughals and Nizams both were successfully expanding their boundaries, having a goal like this was a difficult rather impossible thing for many Jahangirdars, but Raje set and spend most of his life for this goal.

This was the reason he did everything with long term vision. No doubt, we also set goals and achieve them, but what after that? We become so much habituated to praises and appreciations, initial days are best but they don’t come alone. It is followed by arrogance, pride and then boredom and then mid-life crisis. All these things happen to us because we have very short-term goals.

So, if you really care about yourself, don’t chase smaller things. Think Big!

2) Start with small, but do start!

Too much of planning and then no time or willingness for execution, has become a norm now. Raje started his mission by attacking Rohideshwar fort, the easiest fort to be captured. At times it is important to just start, complete first action, then decide on second activity, work on it and continue.

I often come across people who want to do so many things in life, but when it comes to taking action, they get scared. Be like Raje, you don’t need to do fancy thing first, start with smallest possible activity first.

3) Watch people around you

Raje was very good at analyzing good in people. Once, there was a villager named Bheema, he came to palace for collecting his prize for killing wolves in Raje’s territory. An obscure blasksmith, who were just aspiring to get his prize, Raje realized his true power. He had killed three wolves just with a stick. Bheema became the reason, Raje decided to involve common man in his army.

Then there was another man named Shiva. Once Raje saw him lifting stuck chariot by his hands, he immediately realized Shiva’s strength and used it against one of the powerful enemy — Afzal Khan. Though, Shiva was mentally not capable for taking instant decisions, Raje told him clearly what needs to be done and he did it.

This is the power of a great leader, to analyze good and to make use of it.

4) Have a team

Since young age, Raje started involving people from all backgrounds, different castes, age groups to his inner circle. He knew about his mission very well, when elderly gave him wisdom, younger ones accompanied him in fights. And this is applied for our home also.

Raje always used to pardon his enemy and give them chance to become friends. He used to keep close eye on his peshwas too.

Once he said — I cannot have thousands eye to look after everything. That’s why I have you, advisors, friends, family, peshwas, army, mentors.

This is a basic rule, don’t run after doing everything. Delegation is the most important part of leadership.

5) Be confident

There is a great saying in hindi — Sabse Bada Rog, kya kahenge Log.

When Raje started to acquire forts nearby Pune, his own mentor Dadoji Konddev thought, it’s a mere bravado. Raje accepted it and then he didn’t involve Dadoji in Swaraj work, he kept him occupied in office duties at Palace. It is not necessary that everyone will believe you, everyone has their own opinion or perception of looking at things. Don’t feel imposter, it is just their opinion. Just be confident enough in your actions.

6) Be a role model

Team is never much different than its leader.

When Babaji Nimbalkar came with a complaint that no one is ready to marry his son, because of his conversion to Muslim and then back to Hindu. Raje understood the situation. His wish used to be command, no one could have refused his orders, but instead of forcing others to follow rules, he proposed Babaji to accept his own daughter — Sakhubai as his daughter in law. His actions always used to be wholehearted, complete.

7) Stand against norms

Vatandari (slavery) was a big issue in society at that time, his own peshwa’s used to enjoy that luxury. Raje stopped that practice.

When Muslims used to convert Hindus forcefully, as per Brahmins there was no way to convert them back to Hindus. Understanding the criticality of situation, Raje convinced Brahmins to convert people back to Hindu.

Wife of defeated party in war used to be the most suffered one, winner used to send them to their Harams. Raje never did that, that’s why he was always respected even by his enemies. Have your own rules!

We can count and count and count on so many of his qualities. After all, he was Shriman Yogi — a yogi who looked to Swaraj as God’s mission, who knew the power of Karma yoga, who worked for people, who devoted his life for the betterment of society. It is difficult to be like him, but we can at least try to implement some lessons from his life.

Raje, you will always be remembered for leadership you have shown….