Shirke

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 educated in Kirshna 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 Sambhaji Maharaj can be understood when we see the son of Sambhaji Maharaj, Shahu I married to Sakuvarabai Shirke. After the death of Sambhaji Maharaj, Rajaram ascended the throne. Yet, Rajaram Maharaj took the help of Shirke family to move safely to Jinji. These two indecents confirm that Shirke family was not involved in the betrayal and in fact close trust worthy relatives of Bhosle family. 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 dominant naval force of Maratha Empire. In 16th century over 300 naval ships controlled the western India by Sri. Shankarrao Raje Shirke. The contribution of Shirke family towards the Swaraj has been unprecedented. Yet, later during the Peshwa Raj the Marath's history has been purposefully 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 Smabhji Maharaj

François Martin (Pondicherry), a French man had mentioned in his diary the culprits of Sambhaji Maharaj's capture. Martin's diary says that close Bramhnis betrayed Sambhaji Maharaj, hence the Sambhaji was captured by Mughal army, therefore 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.

London, House of Commons

The Shirke family was in relation with and confidantes of the Raja Pratapsinha of the short lived Satara state. He also sent a member of the Shirke family to London to plead his case of restoring him to 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.