Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj Jayanti

• Sambhaji was the second Chhatrapati of the Maratha Empire who ruled from 1681 to 1689.
• His rule was largely shaped by the ongoing wars between the Maratha kingdom and Mughal Empire as well as other neighbouring powers such as the Siddis in Mysore and Portuguese in Goa.
• In 1689, he was captured, tortured, and executed by the Mughals.

Sambhaji inherited the governance system created by Shivaji.

• The administration of the state was managed by Sambhaji with the help of Chandogamatya and the council of eight ministers.
• According to P.S.Joshi Sambhaji was a good administrator who gave impartial justice to his subjects.

Measures against drought

• His policies of water storage, irrigation and developing crop patterns show about his progressive policies.
• Sambhaji provided grain seeds, exemptions in taxes, oxen for agricultural work and agricultural tools to the farmers in the drought situation.

Encouragement to agricultural activities

• He encouraged people to cultivate more and more land.
• The government of Sambhaji gave promises of safety to the Marathas who gained independence from the Mughals and asked them to carry out their previous work of cultivation in their territories.
• He also made efforts to cultivate more wasted or barren lands.

Religious policy

• Sambhaji, his ministers, and officers took interest in supporting the cultural and religious activity in the state.
• They honoured and encouraged learning by granting land, grains, and money to scholars.

Literary contributions

• Sambhaji was sophisticated, educated, and well-versed in a few languages other than Marathi.
• There are several books by Sambhaji, most notable is Budhbhushanam which is in Sanskrit and three other known books Nayikabhed, Saatsatak, Nakhshikha are in the Hindi language.

Innovations

• He introduced jackets made from leather for his soldiers to ensure protection from lethal arrows fired by the Mysore army during his campaign against Mysore.