Why Fadnavis wants a Shivaji memorial in Agra to rival Taj

Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis’s plans of a grand memorial for Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in Agra is an assertion of history in a city long associated with the Mughals. Made on the 395th birth anniversary of the Maratha warrior king, the announcement is significant not just as a tribute but as a reclamation of a site where Shivaji was once imprisoned by Aurangzeb — the sixth Mughal emperor, known for his expansionist policies, religious orthodoxy, and prolonged military campaigns.The proposed site, Kothi Meena Bazaar, is deeply linked to one of the most dramatic episodes of Shivaji’s life — his captivity and daring escape from Aurangzeb’s court in 1666. Fadnavis, speaking at the event, framed the memorial as a statement: “People come to Agra to see the Taj Mahal now, but in the future, they will come to see this memorial.” However, the plan comes amid a political storm in Maharashtra, where Aurangzeb’s legacy has become a flashpoint in contemporary debates over history and identity.Shivaji’s escape from Agra has been immortalised in history and folklore, symbolising both his personal defiance against Aurangzeb and the larger assertion of Maratha sovereignty. The decision to place a memorial in Agra aims to ensure this episode remains permanently enshrined in public consciousness.Shivaji in Agra: The history behind the memorialIn 1666, after a series of military campaigns and a reluctant truce with the Mughals under the Treaty of Purandar, Shivaji traveled to Agra, expecting to secure better political terms. Instead, he was humiliated at Aurangzeb’s court, demoted in status, and placed under house arrest.What followed was one of the most audacious escapes in Indian history. Disguised as a laborer carrying sweetmeat baskets, Shivaji evaded Mughal security and embarked on an arduous journey back to Maharashtra. His return and the resurgence of his empire dealt a severe blow to Aurangzeb’s ambitions in the Deccan, marking a turning point in the Mughal-Maratha conflict.By the mid-17th century, Shivaji had established himself as a formidable warrior. In 1659, he killed Afzal Khan, the general of the Bijapur Sultanate (Adilshahi). In 1663, he led a daring attack on Shaista Khan, the Mughal Subahdar of Bengal, in Pune—an operation that wounded the governor and humiliated Aurangzeb. Enraged, Aurangzeb initially considered personally leading an expedition to the Deccan but instead assigned the task to the seasoned Rajput general Mirza Raja Jai Singh.Jai Singh launched an aggressive campaign in March 1665. Within three months, Shivaji recognized he could not sustain the battle indefinitely and agreed to negotiate. The Treaty of Purandar, signed in June 1665, forced him to cede 23 of his 35 forts and nearly two-thirds of his territory to the Mughals.As part of the agreement, Jai Singh assured Shivaji that a visit to Aurangzeb’s court could secure his reinstatement as viceroy of Mughal Deccan, with resources to expand his power. To reinforce these assurances, Jai Singh took a solemn oath guaranteeing Shivaji’s safety, while his son Kumar Ram Singh personally vouched for it at the Mughal court. Convinced, Shivaji set out for Agra in March 1666, accompanied by his seven-year-old son Sambhaji, seven trusted officers, and a 4,000-strong escort.Shivaji’s captivity and escapeOn May 9, 1666, Shivaji reached the outskirts of Agra, where Aurangzeb was holding court. Three days later, he was granted an audience with the emperor, an event meticulously documented by historian Jadunath Sarkar in Shivaji and His Times.The setting was Aurangzeb’s 50th lunar birthday. The grand court was filled with nobles, generals, and retainers. Expecting an honorable welcome, Shivaji was instead placed among third-tier nobles—an intentional slight by Aurangzeb. Outraged at the insult, Shivaji protested, but his words were ignored. Soon after, he was placed under house arrest in a mansion, effectively making him a prisoner.Realising he had little hope of release through negotiation, Shivaji devised an elaborate escape plan. Feigning illness, he began sending large baskets of sweets as offerings to courtiers and religious figures. As this became routine, the guards grew accustomed to it and stopped inspecting the baskets carefully, providing the perfect opportunity for his escape. On August 19, 1666, Shivaji and his son concealed themselves inside two such baskets and were smuggled out of the heavily guarded premises. He then took a circuitous route through Mathura, Allahabad, Benares, Gaya, and Puri before finally returning to Rajgarh in December 1666.medium nocaption118985982Why Aurangzeb is a hot political issue todayIn recent weeks, Maharashtra has been engulfed in debates over Aurangzeb’s legacy, the renaming of cities, and the broader ideological contest over historical memory. Adding to the fervor is the controversy surrounding Chhaava, a newly released film on Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, which has drawn backlash over alleged historical inaccuracies. Critics, including Maratha historians and political leaders, argue that the film misrepresents Sambhaji Maharaj’s image. Facing mounting pressure, the filmmakers have also agreed to remove the contentious scene of a Lezim dance sequence featuring Shivaji, but debates over artistic liberty and historical accuracy persist.Earlier this month, Samajwadi Party (SP) MLA Abu Azmi ignited further controversy by arguing that Aurangzeb’s conflicts with Shivaji and Sambhaji Maharaj were political rather than religious. His remarks sparked outrage, with Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde denouncing them as “treasonous”, while the BJP and Shiv Sena demanded an apology. In response, Azmi was suspended from the Maharashtra Assembly for the remainder of the budget session.Meanwhile, BJP leaders, including Udayanraje Bhosale — Shivaji’s descendant — have called for Aurangzeb’s grave to be removed from Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar (formerly Aurangabad). Fadnavis acknowledged these sentiments but took a cautious stance, stating: “We all believe the same, but something needs to be done by law as it is a protected monument.”Digging up the pastAll this is also not new for Agra, a city defined by its rich Mughal past, which has seen a series of renaming and memorialisation efforts in recent years. The proposed Shivaji memorial is the latest attempt to reframe the city's historical narrative. In 2020, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath renamed the under-construction Mughal Museum in Agra as the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Museum, arguing: “How can our heroes be Mughals? The very name of Shivaji will invoke a feeling of nationalism and self-esteem.”The decision sparked debates, with some historians arguing that Agra’s Mughal heritage should not be sidelined, while others welcomed the move as a long-overdue recognition of Shivaji’s historical significance. Critics also pointed out that the Jat Mahasabha opposed renaming the museum after Shivaji, arguing that the Jat ruler Maharaja Surajmal, who played a key role in the region, was a more fitting historical figure for the honour.The new memorial at Kothi Meena Bazaar follows this pattern of historical re-contextualisation, which has become an imprimatur of BJP’s politics in the last few years. While the move is undeniably a tribute to Shivaji’s enduring legacy, it is also a statement — one that challenges the exclusive association of Agra with the Mughals and seeks to place Maratha history on the same pedestal.