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The Shirke is a Maratha clan, found largely in Maharashtra and bordering states of India. Shirke word derives from Sanskrit word "Shir", which means head. Remainder suffix "Ke" must have derived later from Urdu language, which means apostrophe "s". Hence, Shirke can be translated as Head's. Baburao Govindrao Shirke was an Indian businessman, who was awarded with one of the highest civilian awards Padma Shri in 2003. Often Rao or Raje is added before the surname Shirke, which was the title padvi given to their specific family.

Inspite, before & after the independence of India many families from diverse background in Maharashtra used the surname Shirke to show the social prestige that they had gained with hardship. Similar to the great Indian jurist Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, who had written the constitution of India, who had changed his surname for the good reason.

History

The Shirkes are Chitpavashanvit Kshatriya (चित्पवशान्वित कोकणस्थ क्षत्रिय), who had held Deshmukhi rights in the areas of coastal Konkan in present day state of Maharashtra and some inland areas of Western Maharashtra during 15th century under the Bahamani Sultanate and in 16th and 17th century under the successor Deccan sultanates of Adilshahi and Nizamshahi^[1] During the Bahamani era, the seat of Shirke fief was at Khelna (Vishalgad).^[2] The Shirkes intermarried with the Surves and kept command over their regions. In the mid 17th century, Shivaji, the founder of Maratha empire got the Surve and Shirke to join him by force or by forming marital alliances. Rani Saguna bai, Maharani Yesubai, Rani Sakvar bai were married to Bhosle family for three generations during this period & held the most prestigious positions of rani & maharani of the maratha empire. ^{[citation needed]}

Ikshwaku Lineage

The Shirke family has been the descent of Ikshwaku Sri Rama dynasty, Suryavansh. The ancestors of Shirke family were well versed in Krishna Yajurveda. The Shirke family's Kulaswamini Shirakai has had been the Kanchipuram Kamakshi. In Kanchipuram Kanchi temple Maharaj Dasharatha performed "putra kameshti yajnya" for having powerful sons, which has been mentioned in the Ramayana bala kanda & Kamakshi Vilasam text. Shirakai & Kamakshi both have been famously represented as the head of the Sree Devi in shakta sect. Though the records of Adi Shankaracharya had been pacifying the fearsome idol of Kanchi Kamakshi during his lifetime are with the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham.

The connection of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham with Raigad fort Gadaswamni Shirakai devi had been one of the major reasons that Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj decided to make Raigad as the capital of Maratha Empire.

The Shirke has been the close relatives of 17th Bhosale rulers, Shahaji, Shivaji, Sambhaji, and Rajaram. The marital relationship between Shirke & Bhosle has been maintained up until now.

Contribution to Maratha Empire

The false involvement of Shirke family into the capture of Chatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj can be understood when it is seen that the son of Sambhaji Maharaj, Shahu I married to Sakuvarabai Shirke. In addition, just after the death of Chatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, when the bloodshed of Chatrapati Sambhaji was still haunting the conscious of Maratha kingdom, at such time Rajaram Maharaj ascended the throne out of no choice. Yet again, Chatrapati Rajaram Maharaj trusted the help of Shirke family to escape himself safely to the Jinji fort. Both these indecents confirm that Shirke family wasn't involved in the betrayal and in fact they have been the close trust worthy arm force of Bhosle family & the maratha empire. Therefore, it has to be understood that Shirke has been one of the integral & trustworthy part of Maratha Intelligence Cell called Ganimi Kava.

The Shirkes had been the commander in chief of Maratha naval force. In 17th century 300 naval ships controlled the western coast of India by the naval commander in chief Sri. Shankarrao Raje Shirke.

In December 2023, the prime minister Modi led government of India has honoured the contribution of Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj & his advanced marine navy, therefore changed the current ensign of Indian navy that which gains the inspiration from the centuries old maratha navy.

The contribution of Shirke family towards the Swaraj has been unprecedented. Yet, later during the Peshwa Raj the Marath's history has been deliberately tampered for the wasted interest by few Bramhins like Annaji Datto & Ranganathan. The death of Sambhaji Maharaj is one of such historic incidents.

The death of Chatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj

François Martin (Pondicherry), a French man had mentioned in his diary the culprits of Sambhaji Maharaj's capture. Martin's diary says that the close Bramhnis betrayed Sambhaji Maharaj, hence the Sambhaji was captured by Mughal army, thereafter the whole south India was in a major chaos at the time. Martin's french diary dates the incident on page 'Mars 1689' is available on the internet archive. The original copies of the diary is safe in Paris museum at the moment.

The Shirke family was one of the very few, who recovered the brutally damaged body of Chatrapati Sambahji Maharaj & passed the presentable body for the final cremation. Being sensitive towards Maharani Yesubai's emotions for her husband Chatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, who was the son in law of Sri Pilaji Raje Shirke. Those Shirke family members, who recovered the body of Maharaj changed their family name to "Shivale" forever, means the one who stitched.

London, House of Commons

The Shirke family was in relation with and confidantes of the Raja Pratapsinha Bhosale of the short lived Satara state. Raja Pratapsinha had sent a keen member of the Shirke family to London to plead Raja Pratapsinha case of restoring him to the power in 1839.^[3]

References

^ Kulkarni, G.T. (1992). "Deccan (Maharashtra) Under the Muslim Rulers From Khaljis to Shivaji: A Study in Interaction, Profesor S.M. Katre Felicitation". Bulletin of the Deccan College Research Institute. 51/52: 501–510. JSTOR 42930434.
^ Shanti Sadiq Ali (1996). The African Dispersal in the Deccan: From Medieval to Modern Times. Orient Blackswan. pp. 45–46. ISBN 978-81-250-0485-1.
^ Sumitra Kulkarni (1995). The Satara Raj, 1818-1848: A Study in History, Administration, and Culture. Mittal Publications. pp. 25, 33. ISBN 978-81-7099-581-4.

@@ Line 25: / Line 25: @@
 [[François Martin (Pondicherry)]], a French man had mentioned in his diary the culprits of Sambhaji Maharaj's capture. Martin's diary says that the '''close Bramhnis betrayed Sambhaji Maharaj''', hence the Sambhaji was captured by Mughal army, thereafter the whole south India was in a major chaos at the time. Martin's french diary dates the incident on page 'Mars 1689' is available on the internet archive. The original copies of the diary is safe in Paris museum at the moment.
-The Shirke family was one of the very few, who recovered the brutally damaged body of Chatrapati Sambahji Maharaj & passed the presentable body for the final cremation. Being sensitive towards Maharani [[Yesubai]]'s emotions for her husband Chatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, who was the daughter of Sri Pilaji Raje Shirke. Those Shirke family members, who recovered the body of Maharaj changed their family name to "'''Shivale'''" forever, means the one who stitched.
+The Shirke family was one of the very few, who recovered the brutally damaged body of Chatrapati Sambahji Maharaj & passed the presentable body for the final cremation. Being sensitive towards Maharani [[Yesubai]]'s emotions for her husband Chatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, who was the son in law of Sri Pilaji Raje Shirke. Those Shirke family members, who recovered the body of Maharaj changed their family name to "'''Shivale'''" forever, means the one who stitched.
 === London, House of Commons ===