Editor’s Note
The first two parts of this article have already been published. In this concluding part, the writer finally focuses on the timeless lessons that are still relevant today. Shivaji’s strategies and methods remain central to intelligence operations. It was evident to the great Maharaja that good intelligence was the most crucial factor in winning battles, giving him a place among the few peers in history.
The Original Guerrilla: Shivaji’s Warfare Tactics and Intelligence Networks
Escape from Agra
Shivaji could even escape from Aurangzeb’s house arrest in Agra. The city was foreign to Shivaji, and a 1,000-strong army surrounded the jail under an able commander.
As per the agreement with Moghul General Mirza Raja Jaisingh and a letter from Aurangzeb (March 1666 AD), Shivaji had to visit Agra with a limited contingent. Yet Bahirji had sent out advance parties to monitor developments and help escape from Agra if and when the situation worsened. Shivaji was insulted at Aurangzeb’s Darbar and put under house arrest. In a daring and audacious move, he escaped by hiding in sweetmeat crates and then journeyed to Deccan disguised as a Gosavi. His escape route spanned 700 miles through Aurangzeb’s territory, a perilous journey that he managed using Bahirji’s network of safe houses and escorts.
Jalna/Mastgadh/Vishram Gadh (1679 AD)
After ransacking the Moghul marketplace, Jalna and capturing Mastgadh Fort, Shivaji was confronted by the Moghul army of Rajasthan.
Khan was defeated and captured, but in the process, two Moghul armies, Sardarkhan and Kishen Singh, surrounded the Marathas from three sides. At this critical time, Bahirji rescued Shivaji. For 72 hours, Bahirji’s agents and scouts led the Maratha army and Shivaji through mountain trails and passes to Patta Fort near Akola, overcoming the strategic challenges posed by the Moghul armies.
As Grant Duff vividly recounts, ‘Shivaji was once again under attack by the Moghuls, this time with a reinforcement led by Kishen Singh, one of the grandsons of Mirza Raja Jey Singh. This division effectively cut off Shivaji from the pass he was heading towards, and his army was ill-equipped to face such a formidable force. However, the superior intelligence of one of Shivaji’s guides, Jasooses, proved to be a game-changer. He led Shivaji across the hills through a pass unknown to the Mughals, gaining them several crucial hours and ensuring their safe arrival at Putta.’
Shivaji, with his loot and army saved from encirclement, took a period of rest at the fort. This significant event led to the fort being renamed Vishramgadh, marking the last recorded feat of Bahirji and his spies.
Maharaja Shivaji died on April 3, 1680, at Raigadh after a brief illness. Since the capture of Torna in 1646, Bahirji had remained by Shivaji’s side for 34 years, leading the Marathas’ intelligence network.
Some striking observations of Grant Duff on Shivaji Maharaj are reproduced below;
‘Sivajee was undoubtedly the most extraordinary person, and however justly many of his acts may be criticised, his claim to the high rank in the pages of history must be admitted.
Sivajee was patient and deliberate in his plans and ardent, resolute, and persevering in their execution. He always preferred deceit to open force when both were in his power.
But to sum up all, let us contrast his craft, pliancy, and humility with his boldness, firmness, and ambition; his power of inspiring enthusiasm while he showed the coolest attention to his interests; the dash of a partisan adventurer, with the order and economy a statesman; and lastly, the wisdom of his plans which raised the despised Hindoos to sovereignty and brought about their accomplishment when the hand that had framed them was low in the dust.’
Grant Duff, no partisan of Shivaji, has objectively revealed Shivaji Maharaj’s unparalleled genius.
Intelligence units
Shivaji Maharaj, a master of strategic warfare, meticulously planned his battles, leveraging his highly capable ‘intelligence’ machinery to gather all the necessary details before engaging his enemies. This strategic brilliance often left his adversaries surprised, leading both his supporters and enemies to attribute his successes to ‘magical powers’.
Grant Duff’s accounts provide intriguing insights into the Bahirji network, a key figure he aptly describes as the ‘Head Spy’, underscoring this individual’s pivotal role in Shivaji Maharaj’s intelligence operations.
All Maratha forces were divided into ‘Jumlas’ and smaller formations or units. (Panch Hazari jumla – 5000 men for infantry and 6250 for cavalry.) Every formation had intelligence units, ‘His system of intelligence was the greatest check on every abuse or embezzlement,’ says Grant Duff – ‘Every Joomla, Soobeh, and Punch-hazard had an establishment of news- writers and avowed spies, besides the secret intelligencers. Sivaji’s head spy was a Mahratta named Byherjee Naik, to whom, some of the Bramins readily admit, he owed many of the discoveries attributed to the goddess Bhowanee.’
Kartoji (later called Prataprao) Gujar would arrange foraging parties to gather intelligence on advancing enemies (especially during the Mirza Raje Jaisingh campaign) before evolving a response.
The cavalry, Pagah (household troops), was a deliberate intermix of Bargirs (horse riders on state-given horses) and Shiledars (own horses). This unique composition served a dual purpose: maintaining discipline and gathering crucial information. Shivaji, as described by Grant Duff, ‘had a proportion of his pagah intermixed, to overawe the disobedient, and to perfect his system of intelligence, which abroad and at home, penetrated into a knowledge of the most private circumstances, prevented embezzlement, and frustrated treachery.’ This system of intelligence was a key factor in Shivaji’s ability to maintain control and prevent internal conflicts.
The spies used bird whistles as their sign language and had coded scripts, too. Most of them were adept at various disguises, such as Gosavis, Sadhus, Bairagis, artisans, astrologers, etc. There are many anecdotes about Maharaja Shivaji’s disguises and travels within his kingdom to fathom public opinion.
Chanakya, the ancient Indian political strategist, would have been immensely proud of the intelligence system established by Shivaji, the Maratha warrior king, and efficiently operated by Bahirji’s agents and scouts.
Lessons Relevant Today
- People’s intelligence: Every citizen must report matters or indications that may affect national security.
- Humint (human intelligence or intelligence gathered from live sources) is still crucial even in high-tech environments. E.g., Hamas attack on Israel succeeded because humint was neglected. However, mechanics of operations need to change as technology improves.
- No campaign/ operation without prior recce; intelligence should lead to an operation, which, in turn, should yield more intelligence. On numerous occasions, Grant Duff and JN Sarkar mention that all important events and campaigns of Shivaji were preceded by recce or were based on ‘intelligence’, which is already available.
- Need for a built-in mechanism to check government excesses or internal subversion.
- We need to carry all sections of society with us.
(Emperor Aurangzeb’s Will and Testament: (JN Sarkar) ‘The greatest pillar of government consists in keeping information about everything that happens in the kingdom.’)
Thus, even the emperor, Shivaji’s sworn enemy, appreciated the need for an intelligence system to govern the empire properly.
The history of Shivaji Maharaj would be incomplete without the accomplishments and stories of Bahirji, his agents, and his escorts. It is a rarity in history that figures like Bahirji and Shivaji, the only national figure and spymaster, recognised the importance of intelligence networks and repeatedly used them as a force multiplier.
Jayant Umranikar
