May 26: A Herculean assignment has been accomplished in the publication of a comprehensive life-sketch of Maratha warrior and national hero Shivaji Maharaj.

Shri Raja Shivachhatrapati is written by Pune-based historian Gajanan Bhaskar Mehendale who started his research 25 years ago. The first section (1,080 pages) of the first volume, published by the author himself, hit the stands recently. The second part will be completed next February. Mehendale is proposing to write two more volumes, although he has voiced doubts about his ability to finish the task in his lifetime.

His objective, authentic and detailed biography of Shivaji started as a failed attempt to pen a mini 100-page monograph on the subject. The book deals with Shivaji's birth (Feb 19, 1630) in the fifth chapter. The author has dedicated the first chapter to the mention of reference sources and archival material he has used. For instance, Mehendale has listed the contemporary archival centres where he obtained ancient records, literary devices, correspondence and manuscripts in diverse languages like Farsi, Marathi, Hindi, Portuguese, English, Dutch and French. Copies of some of these letters have been reproduced. And the footnotes virtually span the entire page. Chapters on the political scenario of Shivaji's era, especially the Mughal and European settlements, are illustrated with coloured maps of the Indian sub-continent. One of the maps shows the 17th century communication-transport lines in the Deccan plateau. It is interesting to see the 17th century map of Mumbai with the special mention of Chatrapati Shivaji Terminus.

The third chapter is dedicated entirely to Shivaji's father, Shahaji Raje Bhonsale . Shivaji's contemporary Adilshah of Bijapur 's invasions are mentioned in great detail in the fourth chapter. The chapters on Shivaji deal with his relationships with Aurangzeb and the East India Company. The first section of the book ends with the dramatic climax of the assassination of the Adilshahi chieftain Afzal Khan, who was sent to kill Shivaji. In each chapter, the author has stuck to bare historic facts without adding any subjective analysis. This is significant as many previous attempts to write an authentic biography of Shivaji Raje have failed. More commendable is the fact that unlike the demi-god status conferred on Shivaji by shivshahirs (poets), this book looks at the leader as a historical figure.

The author says in the foreword, ``I don't mean disrespect when I don't use any honorifics while writing about the leader. I just called him Shivaji because I wanted to distance myself from the protagonist.

"A historical biographer should maintain this distance. The biographer should be free of all prejudices. I did not wish to sing paens, and I do not even have that kind of literary command.''

Interestingly, the author did not indulge in any pre-launch publicity for his book, nor did he seek any monetary assistance by way of scholarships while he tirelessly travelled all over India for archaeological proofs to back his research.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.