Thus, Shahaji’s two sons had dealt crushing defeats to Bijapur forces on two fronts. But it was not solving the main problem that their father Shahaji was the prisoner of Bijapur Empire. They could not take any drastic step lest Bijapur empire should torture their father or ill treat him. It was an excruciating dilemma. Shahaji could even be beheaded if Bijapur got too annoyed. Shivaji was extremely anguished over this matter.
Then, he hit upon a brilliant idea.
Shivaji applied the rule ‘Enemy of the enemy is your friend’ practically in his situation. With his father’s experience with Mogul empire he had knowledge that Mogul empire dreamed of spreading its wings southwards but it was somehow not succeeding. Emperor Shahjahan wanted to destroy Bijapur empire of Mohammad Shah Adil to make it a part of Mogul Empire.
Among all the Muslim empires Moguls were closest to Hindus because of Emperor Akbar’s secular policies. Through marriages Moguls had forged alliances with Hindu royalties. Shahjahan himself was son of a Hindu princess. He had sent his son, Murad to south to create the ground for the expansion of Mogul Empire. He was contacting Hindu kings of the southern region to turn them into allies of Moguls and get footholds in the south. Murad had been camping in south for quiet some time.
Shivaji wrote a crafty letter addressed to Emperor Shahjahan and sent it to Prince Murad to be forwarded to Agra.
The letter said “I, Shivaji, son of Shahaji wish earnestly to present myself and my family in your exalted court to pay respect to the mighty Emperor of the great Mogul Empire. My father, Shahaji also wanted to come into the service of Your Highness some years ago by leaving the Bijapur court of Mohammad Shah Adil. But they didn’t like it when he tried to do so. He was infact arrested on the order of Bijapur Emperor and put in the prison. Since then my father is languishing in the prison and suffering their cruelties. Shah Adil forces have attacked me and my brother umpteen times. Our only crime is that we want to serve Mogul Empire. Their act is an indirect insult to the Mogul Emperor also. I need your immediate help and protection. If you kindly to get my father freed from the prison of Shah Adil of Bijapur. Then, I will do whatever Your Highness shall order me to.”
Prince Murad was overjoyed at reading the letter. Shivaji had already made a name for his cunning and bravery. Shivaji could prove a great asset for Mogul empire. He had already done a great damage to Bijapur empire by chipping away its territories and fort.
Without wasting any time Murad wrote an urgent letter to his father, Emperor Shahjahan to get Shahaji freed from the prison of Shah Adil to make Shivaji an ally. Shahjahan also saw the golden opportunity in it of making inroads into the southern region. He took it as his son’s master stroke.
Shahjhan immediately sent a messenger to Bijapur with a court note which said, “Shahaji is our man. Very unwisely you have put him in prison for little reason. Free him at once or you would pay dearly as we are moving our forces to your region.”
The note frightened the Bijapur Emperor. Mogul empire of north was the mightiest of all the Muslim empires. The other empires were in its awe. No one liked direct confrontation with Moguls. The Emperor of Bijapur at once sent a minister to the prison to meet Shahaji and mollify him. The minister apologized to Shahaji on behalf of Shah Adil. He was requested not to leave the services of Bijapur Empire. The minister promised that Shah Adil would pay adequate compensation to him for whatever hardship he had gone through due to misunderstandings. Shahaji was freed with due respect. The situation had dramatically changed.
Emperor Shah Adil gave dinner in honour of Shahaji and spoke, “Shahaji, forget the bygone episodes and mistakes. It was a result of a dreadful misunderstanding. Don’t leave us. From now on you will be treated like a royal personage. You are and will remain our friend and a valued soldier. But do us one favour. Ask you sons to return our Bangalore and Kondana forts.”
It pacified Shahaji. He wrote letters to his sons asking them to return the respective forts to the soldiers of Bijapur court.
For Shivaji it was a bad deal. Kondana fort was very important for Shivaji. It has the symbolic value of being the first real prize of his endeavour and the fruit of the valour of his soldiers. In anguish he lamented, “Enemies easily trick father. He does not realise what kind of sacrifices we make for our achievements. He is sometimes just stupid. Whatever lies those thieves tell him, he readily believes. It makes me angry. Because of him we lose what we gain. What a shame!”
His confidant Sonopant Dabeer remained silent while Shivaji cursed and ranted.
At last Shivaji asked, “Sonopant! Why don’t you speak?”
Sonopant said, “Please forgive me. I don’t agree to many things you said about Shahaji. He is our elderman, a father figure. We don’t know under what pressures and in what situation he is acting. Normally he will never do anything to harm us. He is an experienced old warrior and not a coward. We must not lose our heads and show disrespect to Shahaji. And then, we are not yet strong enough to challenge the empire of Bijapur openly. We are all buying time after all.”
Shivaji’s colour changed. He nodded his head and said, “Yes, my dear friend, you are right. I was thinking on a very narrow selfish lines. I value your frank talk and cool head. I am sorry and thank you for putting sense in me.”
Shahaji stayed in the service of Bijapur for four more years. For Bijapur he was kind of an asset and guarantee against his sons doing more damage to Bijapur. Shahaji knew this aspect also and wanted his sons to strengthen their positions. And Shivaji did just that. He made no move against Bijapur. He spent those years in augmenting his forces and digging in. Meanwhile, Shahaji knew that he had hurt his sons by making them surrender the forts they had won after great sacrifices, especially Kondana fort. He could feel Shivaji’s anguish. He wanted to convey the message to his son that he was sorry for causing him pain.
Two of Shahaji’s associates and comrades had been in prison with him. They were also freed along with Shahaji. Both of them were astute planners, warriors, political strategists and able administrators. They were Kanhoji and Lohokare.
After a deep thought Shahaji thought of a way to compensate Shivaji. He treated Kanhoji and Lohokare to a private dinner and discussed the Swarajya dream of Shiva. The two were excited about it and supported the idea euthusiastically.
Shahaji confided, “As you know it is impossible for me to get away from here. I must stay here to buy time for my Shiva. I want you to go to Shiva and help him realise his Swarajya dream. He badly needs the guidance of your wisdom and the experience.”
For the two the offer was an opportunity to redeem themselves by working for the cause of the Hindu society. They bowed their heads in respect to Shahaji and promised, “Sir, your wish is command for us. Contributing to the creation of Swarajya will be the ultimate honour for us. We shall do whatever possible we can. Rest assured.”
Shahaji wrote to his son—‘Dear son Shiva, I know how sad you are at the loss of Kondana fort, never mind. I am sending these two extremely valuable people to you to help you realise your dream to make up for the loss. They are worth hundred Kondanas. God bless you.’
Shivaji felt overwhelmed. He welcomed the two and assigned them to very important tasks. He was already busy developing his Swarajya area by laying roads, planting trees, sinking wells, setting up administrations and recruiting youngmen to enlarge his army. There were thousand things to do. In such a situation joining of his forces by Kanhoji and Lohokare was a great help.
Meanwhile, Shahaji was again sent to Karnataka by Bijapur court to improve the administration and general conditions there. It was good news for Shivaji because he could again raid Bijapur empire forts and treasuries as his father was at a safe distance.
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