Volume II,Issue IV, March 2026
Volume-II, Issue-IV, March, 2026 |
Received: 20.03.2026 | Accepted: 21.03.2026 | ||
Published Online: 31.03.2026 | Page No: | ||
DOI: 10.69655/atmadeep.vol.2.issue.04W. | |||
শিবাজীকালীন মারাঠা জাতির আমোদ-প্রমোদ
ও অবসর যাপনের ইতিকথা: রাজব্যবহারকোশের আলোকে একটি বীক্ষণ
শ্রাবন্তী কাঞ্জিলাল, গবেষক, ইতিহাস বিভাগ, বিশ্বভারতী, শান্তিনিকেতন পশ্চিমবঙ্গ, ভারত |
Shrabanti Kanjilal, Research Scholar, Department of History, Visva-Bharati, Santiniketan, West Bengal, India | ||
ABSTRACT | ||
The mainstream
history of India is full of wars, military activities, and social and political
activism of its rulers. The rise and fall of empires have also been understood in
terms of racial affinity, cultural values, character of the leader, etc. The
history of the Maratha Empire, which was established and nurtured under the
dynamic leadership of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, is one such case. It will
not be an exaggeration to suggest that Maratha history revolves primarily
around Shivaji's political ideology and his relentless wars against the mighty
Mughals, showcasing the Maratha military strategy, tactics, and logistical
organisation. He united the Marathas for a purpose and infused them with an
unprecedented zest for the establishment of Swarajya by achieving
political independence from the Mughals. The unavailability of contemporary
sources is the main obstacle in writing their story. Marathi sources mostly
focus on the court activities. In the absence of written and archival records,
it is difficult to reconstruct the mundane lives of the hardy people of the
Maratha race, who displayed exemplary courage and a willingness to sacrifice
for their leader and for Swarajya. Drawing on a contemporary Sanskrit
source, the Rajvyavaharakosha, this paper attempts to outline the day-to-day
life and activities of the Marathas. The aim is to show how the war-hardened
Marathas kept themselves motivated and prepared afresh for the challenges
ahead. This paper notes the various types of amusement and leisure activities
the Maratha people engaged in, viz., the consumption of intoxicants, hunting
expeditions, visiting brothels, engaging in various games and sports, and
playing different musical instruments. It
is argued that spending leisure time with pleasure was an integral part of
Maratha culture during the seventeenth century, a dimension that has not been
adequately highlighted in academic writings on the Marathas. | ||
Keyword:
|