Shivaji: The Great Guerrilla

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Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was an extraordinary military leader. He had to build his power starting from scratch. How did the young man decide what he needed to do, what was his motivation, whom did he consult, whose counsel he depended on; are all a matter of greater research and study from the military point of view. How did he collect his initial band of followers, how he gained their fealty, how did he plan and execute his expeditions; are matters of great interest.

We know through the research of renowned scholars about the execution of his campaigns but the concept, organisation, preparation and the administrative support that these required and were provided are an area that needs further military evaluation.

Colonel Ramrao Deorao Palsokar was born on 22 February 1920 at Palso near Akola. After his early schooling at Akot, he studied in Akola and later obtained a B.Sc. Degree from Nagpur University having studied in King Edward College at Umraoti.

The Second World War was raging at that time and the British Indian Army was in dire need of officers. The UTC was an obvious feeder stream and young Ram Palsokar, saw this as an opportunity to improve his social and financial prospects. He was selected and after training at the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun he was commissioned in 1944. Immediately he was inducted into Burma where he saw action. In early 1945 he was taken prisoner by the Japanese and made a daring escape for which he was awarded the Military Cross. After the war was over, he chose to stay on in the Army and after independence saw action in Kashmir in the 1947-48 and the 1965 wars as well as service in Nagaland. In between he had attended the Defence Services Staff College and by the time he retired in 1969 he had acquired a reputation as a military historian and a writer.

After retirement, he settled down in Pune and due to his military history endeavours had become well-known in the academic and newspaper fraternity. He took to writing as a full-time occupation, he started writing Regimental histories. In the process he acquired a wide-ranging knowledge of Indian military matters and history. He was always academically inclined and writing suited his personal aspirations.

Till the end of his life he was always busy in writing. In late 1997, his last book the regimental history of the Sikh Light Infantry was ready and published posthumously. Even today he is remembered for his wide-ranging knowledge and writing abilities as is shown by the latest reprint of his book, Shivaji - the Great Guerrilla.

I have written this book primarily for the Defence Services officers who wish to study the strategy and tactics of Shri Chhatrapati Shivaji, one of the greatest guerrillas history has ever known. I have devoted the first chapter of the book to the 'Essentials of Guerrilla War' so that the student can assess for himself if Shivaji was truly a great guerrilla. I have tried to analyse the campaigns and battles of this outstanding general in the light of the Principles of War. A detailed study of the battles will show how Shivaji made full use of guerrilla tactics till he established a firm base and then took recourse to conventional fighting.

Whilst describing the battles I have laid emphasis in the political and military situations preceding the battles, preparations for the battles and subsequent execution in different phases including exploitation. Wherever necessary I have given detailed description of the ground and drawn fairly accurate maps to give the student an idea of the terrain in which Shivaji humbled his enemies. If students desire to study some of the battles on a sand model, they will be able to do so with the help of the maps drawn in the book. There are many places which are mentioned in books on Shivaji but not pin-pointed in maps. I have obtained their locations from the gazetteer and shown them wherever necessary.