The release of Hindi film Chhava starring Vicky Kaushal as Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj has resulted in a controversy over the historical role of the Shirke brothers. Based on a four decade old novel by Marathi writer Shivaji Sawant, the film shows the story of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj's fight against Mughal King Aurangzeb and his capture by Mughal commander Muqarrab Khan in a battle at Sangameshwar in 1689. Descendants of the Shirke family, major players in the film, say that the film portrays their ancestors Ganoji and Kanhoji Shirke as ‘traitors’, which they allege is historically inaccurate. Who are the Shirkes? The Shirke clan was one of the many Maratha royal families and was closely related to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s family. Piloji Shirke was a leader of the clan and Ganoji and Kanhoji were his sons. Piloji’s daughter Yesubai was married to Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj while Ganoji was married to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s daughter Rajkunwar. The film portrays that the Shirke brothers demanded land from Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, claiming that Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj had promised the same to Piloji. However, Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj did not relent, which led to both of them defecting to the Mughal side. They are shown to have revealed Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj location to the Mughals, and also to have guided them through a shortcut. The brothers are also shown to be present when Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj is captured in Sangameshwar. Why are Shirke’s descendants upset? The Shirke family has alleged that this portrayal of Ganoji and Kanhoji as traitors is historically inaccurate. Descendant Deepak Raje Shirke has said, “We want the real history to come to the forefront. There is absolutely no proof in history for what is shown in the film… It is a work of fiction and imagination. The novel, Chhava, by the late Shivaji Sawant, was published in 1979 and, without any basis, accused Ganoji and Kanhoji Shirke of betrayal.” What is the history? Rahul Magar, assistant professor at the History Department of Savitribai Phule Pune University, said that the reason Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj was in Sangameshwar is known. He explained, “It is clearly stated in Jedhe Shakavali (a chronicle of events by the Jedhe Deshmukhs) that a fight broke out between Kavi Kalash (Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj’s friend) and Shirke, and Kalash was forced to flee. On hearing this news, Sambhaji Raje decided to come to Sangameshwar.” Explaining the historical events from the Mughal side Magar says, “Aurangzeb sent a letter to Muqarrab Khan informing him of Sambhaji Raje’s location. But it seems like Muqarrab Khan already knew about this from his own spies, believed to be the Shirke brothers, and was on the way to capture Sambhaji Raje. When he went to Sangameshwar, he managed to avoid the Maratha army. Here too, it is believed that the Shirke brothers guided him. There are mentions in Mughal documents that the Shirkes were given a mansab. Due to this it is believed that Shirke must have helped Khan.” The Mughal Darbarache Batmipatra published by Maharashtra Rajya Sahitya Ani Sanskruti Mandal maintains a record of these Mughal documents. An entry from November 1, 1699, in Part-1 says that Kanhoji Shirke was a part of Mughal prince Bidar Bakht Khan’s army. Another entry from March 10, 1701 says that Kanhoji Shirke met Aurangzeb, and that Ganoji Shirke’s mansabdari was increased. Even though these entries are from after Sambhaji’s death, they show the Shirke brother’s connection to the Mughals. In a biography Shivputra Sambhaji, Kamal Gokhale writes that Ganoji along with other family members might have joined hands with the Mughals as early as 1682-83. However, Magar adds a caveat and says, “On the other hand, historians from the Mughal side like Niccolao Manucci and Ishwar Das Nagar say that Kavi Kalash was a Mughal spy. In conclusion, Sambhaji Raje was betrayed, but we get two different versions on who did so.”
