Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis paid tribute to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj on his birth anniversary on Wednesday, hailing him as a management guru and an able administrator who set an example of running a welfare state.
Those who try to insult Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj will be shown their “real place” and the state will not forgive them, Fadnavis told reporters after paying homage to the Maratha king at Shivneri Fort in Pune district.
Shivaji Maharaj not only established ‘Swarajya’, but also ignited a sense of national pride, he said.
छत्रपती शिवरायांचे विचार अंगीकारण्याचा संकल्प घेण्यासाठी ही यात्रा आहे.
यह यात्रा छत्रपति शिवाजी महाराज के विचारों को अपनाने का संकल्प लेने के लिए है।
(‘जय शिवाजी-जय भारत’ पदयात्रा | पुणे | 19-2-2025)#Maharashtra #MYBharatPadyatra #ShivajiMaharajJayanti pic.twitter.com/5oZyiC5yPU
— Devendra Fadnavis (@Dev_Fadnavis) February 19, 2025
The legendary warrior king was born on February 19, 1630, in Shivneri in the district’s Junnar tehsil.
Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar attended various programmes to mark Shivaji Maharaj’s birth anniversary, including the ‘cradle ceremony’ at the Shivneri Fort.
गडागडाचे चिरे हरपले सह्याद्रीचे कडे
बाळा तुझियासाठी मावळे मर्द मराठे खडे
आज उगवला सूर्य नभी नव्या नवलाईचा
झुलवा पाळणा पाळणा बाळ शिवाजीचा…
मुख्यमंत्री देवेंद्र फडणवीस यांनी छत्रपती शिवाजी महाराजांच्या जन्माने पावन झालेल्या किल्ले शिवनेरी येथे शिवजन्मोत्सवात त्यांचे बालरूप… pic.twitter.com/z3sfbUgwGX
— CMO Maharashtra (@CMOMaharashtra) February 19, 2025
A large number of followers of the Maratha king also gathered at the fort to take part in his 395th birth anniversary event.
Addressing the gathering at the fort, Fadnavis said Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was not just a warrior, but also an able administrator who set an example of running a welfare state.
“He was a management guru in the truest sense,” the chief minister added.
Fadnavis said that setting foot on the land of Shivneri evokes the inspiration of ‘Swarajya’, and it is this very spirit that draws people to this place time and again.
“When many kings and kingdoms accepted Mughal rule, Mata Jijau envisioned Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj as the leader who would end the exploitation and tyranny, guiding the people towards Swarajya,” he said.
“With the determination and values instilled by his mother, Shivaji Maharaj united people from all communities, wielded his sword, and built an army of Mavalas. He not only established ‘Swarajya’, but also ignited a sense of national pride,” the CM said.
Fadnavis stressed the importance of preserving Shivaji Maharaj’s forts, saying they hold a greater significance than temples.
“We are working tirelessly to ensure the conservation of these forts by removing barriers. A task force has been created to clear encroachments from all these sites. Come what may, these encroachments will be removed,” he asserted.
The CM also announced that 12 forts from Maharashtra have been nominated for UNESCO’s World Heritage Site status under an initiative taken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“In the coming days, a team of the Maharashtra government, led by minister Ashish Shelar, will make a presentation highlighting these forts as exemplary architectural marvels at the UNESCO event in Paris,” he said.
Deputy CM Ajit Pawar, in his speech at the Shivneri Fort, said special attention was being given to the restoration work of Shivneri, the birthplace of the Maratha king.
“All these forts in the state are places of inspiration and we derive power and energy from them, and the state government is giving special attention to their restoration,” he said.
He also emphasised Shivaji Maharaj’s legacy and his inspirational influence on people. “Lakhs of people visit here (Shivneri Fort) today to pay their respect every year. Several forts of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj are the inspiration for all the citizens. We will ensure no lack of funds for the development of all the forts of Shivaji Maharaj. The good governance and social justice of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj are still an inspiration for us to work accordingly,” Pawar said.
Ekanth Shinde said there are many ideals for youth, but Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj will be the greatest ideal for generations to come.
“By putting tilak of soil from Shivaji Maharaj’s fort, we pledge to work for the development of Maharashtra till our last breath and last drop of blood. The birth anniversary of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj is celebrated even in foreign countries. It is also being celebrated in UP’s Agra,” he added.
The CM then joined Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Dr Mansukh Mandaviya in leading a ‘Jai Shivaji, Jai Bharat’ march in the city.
They marched along with 20,000 MY Bharat Youth Volunteers, highlighting Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s valour and courage. The march covered a 4km-long scenic route, starting from COEP College Ground and culminating at Fergusson College.
शिवगर्जनेने पुणे शिवमय!
छत्रपती शिवाजी महाराज यांच्या जयघोषाने ‘जय शिवाजी-जय भारत’ पदयात्रेचा पुणे येथे शुभारंभ!#Maharashtra #Pune #ShivajiMaharajJayanti #MYBharatPadyatra pic.twitter.com/8Rl8SNP3cW
— @OfficeOfDevendra (@Devendra_Office) February 19, 2025
रयतेच्या राज्याच्या निर्मितीसाठी छत्रपती शिवाजी महाराज यांच्या मार्गावर मार्गस्थ… आम्ही स्वराज्याचे मावळे!
(‘जय शिवाजी-जय भारत’ पदयात्रा | पुणे | 19-2-2025)@mansukhmandviya @khadseraksha @mohol_murlidhar @YASMinistry#Maharashtra #Pune #ShivajiMaharajJayanti… pic.twitter.com/LlViQnjlNx
— Devendra Fadnavis (@Dev_Fadnavis) February 19, 2025
Later, Fadnavis also inaugurated the second phase of ‘Shivsrushti’, a historical theme park dedicated to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, at Ambegaon Budruk.
चरितं शिवराजस्य विजयश्रीविराजितम्।
वीराद्भुतरसं पुण्यं रामायणमिवापरम्॥
Inauguration of second phase of ‘Shivsrushti’ at the hands of CM Devendra Fadnavis at Ambegaon, Pune
मुख्यमंत्री देवेंद्र फडणवीस यांच्या हस्ते आंबेगाव, पुणे येथे ‘शिवसृष्टी’च्या द्वितीय चरणाचे लोकार्पण… pic.twitter.com/aEgHJYKAVD
— CMO Maharashtra (@CMOMaharashtra) February 19, 2025
शिवरायांचे आठवावे रुप…
कै. पद्मविभूषण, महाराष्ट्रभूषण शिवशाहीर बाबासाहेब पुरंदरे यांच्या संकल्पनेतून साकार होत असलेल्या ‘शिवसृष्टी’च्या दुसऱ्या चरणाच्या लोकार्पण कार्यक्रमात मुख्यमंत्री देवेंद्र फडणवीस यांनी आशिया खंडातील सर्वात मोठ्या अशा या थीम पार्कची पाहणी केली. यावेळी… pic.twitter.com/W7DfZ8ZhhJ
— CMO Maharashtra (@CMOMaharashtra) February 19, 2025
