Reflections from Raigad: A Journey into the Heart of History
- Shrikant Soman
- 6 days ago
- 7 min read
Reflections from Raigad: A Journey into the Heart of History
Study Tour led by Prof. Atharva Bedekar | 19–20 April 2025
Our recent study tour to Raigad Fort, guided by the insightful and passionate Prof. Atharva Bedekar, turned out to be an unforgettable expedition—both physically demanding and intellectually enriching. Over two intense days, 19th and 20th April 2025, we immersed ourselves in the rich layers of archaeology and history embedded in every stone and pathway of this legendary fort.
Visiting Raigad was not just a journey—it was a teerthayatra, a sacred pilgrimage.
The very first sight of Raigad in the early hours of 19th April was nothing short of awe-inspiring. As the morning sun slowly revealed the contours of the fort, perched majestically on its steep mountain base, I stood silently—overwhelmed. It was as if royalty, grandeur, and defiance had taken shape in stone. The fort appeared magnificent, colossal, and regal—all at once.
The first glimpse of Raigad from its base was awe-inspiring—magnificent, gigantic, and royal, all at once.
The mountain didn’t just stand before me; it seemed to communicate. With its silent strength, it both challenged and invited me—daring me to ascend its slopes, while simultaneously offering its ancient lap as a cradle of stories and legends. A wave of emotion swept over me—a strange yet familiar stirring in the heart. It was as though I had been there before. A sense of déjà vu enveloped me, making the moment deeply personal and beyond the realm of mere sightseeing.
As I stood before the samadhi of Maharaj, I felt his living presence so deeply that a calm silence took over my being.
What followed was a rigorous, almost meditative, journey—an exploration not only of architecture and terrain but of time itself. Each bastion and passage whispered tales of valour, vision, and resilience. The fort, once the capital of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s Hindavi Swarajya, still echoes with the spirit of a dream that was far ahead of its time.
Raigad is not just a fort; it is an emotion. And through this journey, it has etched a permanent mark on my inner landscape.
That mountain did not merely challenge my body to climb—it invited my soul to remember.
As I ascended further into the fort’s embrace, a profound sense of homecoming settled in my heart. It may sound unusual to some, even fanciful—but for me, it was unmistakably real. I felt as though I belonged to this land… as though I had once stood upon these very stones, breathed this same invigorating mountain air, and witnessed, with wide eyes and trembling spirit, the thunderous events. In the quietude of my inner world, the past came alive. I saw the vibrant courts of power, the strategic councils of war, and the unwavering resolve of a king who dared to dream beyond his time. Raigad was not just a monument—it was a vastu in the truest, sacred sense: a living structure that once radiated the energy of sovereignty, vision, and sacrifice. I found myself silently reimagining history as it must have unfolded here—moment by moment.
To know Shivaji, we must go beyond the numbers—beyond the forts, the battles, and the army.
And this was no ordinary history.
The epicenter may have been this lone mountain fort, but the tremors of its courage and conviction travelled far and wide—reverberating across the valleys, through the heartlands, reaching distant shores, and stirring the soul of Bharatvarsha itself. Raigad did not merely shake a hilltop; it awakened a sleeping nation.
His mission was to awaken a sleeping nation—to light the fire of freedom in the hearts of the ordinary.
But it was in front of the samadhi of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj that I was most deeply moved.
Standing in the solemn presence of the great king’s resting place, an ineffable silence descended upon me. I felt as though I had entered a sanctum—a sacred, living space where time stood still. The physical world dimmed around me, and I was drawn inward. Overwhelmed by reverence, a deep calm swept over me. And from that stillness, a sudden, almost primal urge arose in my heart—to sing the national anthem.
Not out of formality, but out of love. Out of honour. Out of bhakti.
For Shivaji Maharaj was not merely a sovereign of the Marathas or a hero of Maharashtra—he was a flame that lit the torch of national pride, of Swarajya (self-rule) and Surajya (good governance), centuries before these ideas took political shape. He was, and remains, a guiding light for all of India.
Shivaji’s resilience was his real crown—his ability to rise from apparent defeat and scale even greater heights.
At that moment, I realized that Raigad is not merely a destination for the historian—it is a pilgrimage for the soul.
In front of the samadhi of Rajmata Jijabai at Pachad, at the base of Raigad Fort, I had yet another deeply moving experience—of a different kind, yet equally profound.
Jijabai is not merely remembered as the mother of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. She is revered as Jijamata—the mother of Maharashtra. Her role in shaping the destiny of Swarajya cannot be overstated. With unwavering resolve, visionary foresight, and motherly affection tempered by fierce wisdom, she nurtured the young Shivaji, moulding his mind and spirit for the colossal task that lay ahead. Her guidance, moral courage, and constant support were the quiet force behind the storm that would later rise as the Maratha Empire.
His life is a beacon in the night, guiding us through confusion, reminding us that true greatness is forged, not inherited.
As we stood before her samadhi, a sacred hush fell upon our group. No words were spoken, and none were needed. Each of us, in our own silent way, bowed inwardly in gratitude—to the mother of a great king, and to the great mother of a nation’s conscience. Time seemed to pause.
The entire space was enveloped in a mantric stillness. The air itself seemed to resonate with a subtle energy, drawing our attention inward. It was a place not just of memory, but of shakti—a field of strength, grace, and quiet dignity. Just as Raigad Fort embodies power and governance, Pachad radiates nurturing strength and the spiritual foundation upon which that power once stood.
If we truly wish to honour Shivaji Maharaj, we must walk his path and work to rebuild Bharat in the spirit of Swarajya and Surajya.
Visiting Raigad was, for me, not just a journey—it was a teerthayatra, a sacred pilgrimage.
It was more than climbing a fort or retracing the steps of history. It was an inner ascent—one that recharged my spirit, reignited my convictions, and filled me with a renewed sense of purpose. Standing on that historic land, where dreams of Swarajya once took flight under the visionary leadership of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, I felt a spark deep within—an awakening.
When the mission is righteous and the spirit unwavering, every summit is within reach.
This was not nostalgia; it was a call to action.
The torch of Swarajya and Surajya that Maharaj carried so valiantly through his life now feels entrusted to us. His work remains unfinished, his vision still beckoning from the horizon. I felt infused with a new energy, a fresh enthusiasm to contribute—however modestly—to the noble task of rebuilding Bharat, of restoring her dignity, strength, and selfhood.
Today, the path may seem steep. But remembering Shivaji—who conquered mountains of adversity—no climb is too daunting.
This experience brought with it clarity—of mind and of mission. It lit a path before me.
In these times, when shadows of confusion, apathy, and disillusionment seem to cloud our collective spirit, Shivaji Maharaj stands tall—a blazing beacon in the dark night. His life continues to inspire, to guide, and to remind us that greatness is not inherited; it is forged through courage, vision, and unwavering commitment to the greater good.
Shivaji’s greatness cannot be measured merely in numbers—the vastness of his kingdom, the size of his army, the forts he built, or even the battles he won. To truly understand Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, we must look beyond these visible milestones. We must journey into the deeper essence of his vision, his resolve, and the silent revolution he kindled in the hearts of his people.
Let us carry his flame—not as a memory, but as a movement.
Shivaji had a mission—not just to establish a kingdom, but to awaken a nation. At a time when generations had resigned themselves to living under foreign tyranny, he dared to dream of freedom. He planted the seeds of Swarajya in the soil of despair and nourished them with unmatched courage and clarity of purpose. His vision was not vague idealism—it was precise, actionable, and infused with a deep understanding of dharma and governance.
His greatness lies not only in the victories he claimed, but also in the apparent setbacks he endured. Whether during his diplomatic captivity under Aurangzeb, when he was compelled to surrender many of his forts, or when he faced internal strife within his own family—each of these trials revealed not defeat, but an extraordinary resilience. Time and again, Shivaji rose from adversity—not merely to regain what was lost, but to ascend to even greater heights, with greater wisdom.
To truly honour this legendary son of Bharat, we must walk the path he carved—not in word alone, but in spirit and action. We must reignite the torch of Swarajya and Surajya, lighting the way for a just, equitable, and self-reliant nation.
Today, that path may seem steep and strewn with challenges. But if we remember Shivaji, who scaled the literal and metaphorical mountains of resistance and hardship, no climb appears too daunting. His life teaches us that when the mission is righteous and the spirit unwavering, every summit is within reach.
Let us then carry his flame—not as a memory, but as a movement.
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