​6 books on Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s life and rule​

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj or Shivaji was the founder of the Maratha empire. Born in 1630, he was formally crowned the Chhatrapati of his realm at Raigad Fort in 1677. One of the greatest warriors of his time, he was known for his bravery and valour. April 3rd marks the death anniversary of the great Maratha king. On his death anniversary, here we list down six books about Shivaji one can read to understand his life and rule.

​Photo: Canva
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​Published in 2019,‘Shivaji and His Times’ by Jadunath Sarkar chronicles the life of Chatrapati Shivaji, his rise to power, his role in Indian independence, etc. The book begins with a brief introduction to the geography of Maharashtra, then moves on to the description of the people of that land, and then traces the rise of Shivaj’s father Shahji Bhonsle. The book then explores the life of the great Maratha king, Shahji Bhonsle’s son Chatrapati Shivaji.

Photo: Orient Blackswan Private Limited​

Published in 2017, ‘Shivaji: The Great Maratha’ is written by Ranjit Desai and translated by Vikrant Pande. It is an immersive saga of the foundations of the Maratha empire and its founder. The book explores the life of the great Maratha, beginning from his childhood years, and also narrates the grand epic of the Maratha empire.


Photo: HarperPerennial

Published in 2018, ‘Challenging Destiny’ by Medha Deshmukh Bhaskaran is a detailed biography on Shivaji’s life. The book narrates the tale of the Maratha king through the lens of how he fought his unfavouring destiny and yet proved to be one of the greatest warrior kings. The book was originally published in Marathi but it is also available in English.


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Published in 2016, 'Shivaji- His Life and Times' By Gajanan Bhaskar Mehendale is a comprehensive account of Chatrapati Shivaji’s life. The book is an authentically researched biography and is packed with maps drawn with the most state-of-the-art methods, footnotes and bibliography. It explores Chatrapati Shivaji’s life as a statesman, administrator, king, and warrior. The book covers Shivaji’s life and time along with the strategic and administrative intelligence and excellence.

Photo: Param Mitra Publications

Published in 2015, 'Shivaji the Grand Rebel' by Dennis Kincaid focuses on the warrior king's brave valours and accounts of legendary valorous encounters like those with the Adil-Shahi Sultanate and the menacing Aurangzeb. The Grand Rebel is an epic saga of an Indian warrior king whose tales of victory and valour have been inspiring the nation for centuries. The book gives a respected account of the life of the warrior king. Kincaid has also focused on the great administrative skills of the king.

Photo: Rupa Publications India

Published in 2022, 'Shivaji: India's Great Warrior King' by Vaibhav Purandare is a definitive biography of the legendary 17th century Maratha warrior king. The book is different from other books on Shivaji Maharaj, as for the book’s research Purandare has heavily relied on a vast variety of Marathi language sources which are often overlooked in other standard English works on his life. The book explores the focal question of whether Shivaji was a Hindu icon or a secular king. In this book, Purandare has also debunked a number of myths about the greatest warrior king.

Photo: Juggernaut Publication