Question

Who risked their lives during the escape of Maharaj from Agra?
A. Hiroji Farjand
B. Madari Meheter
C. Both A and B
D. None of these

Answer 1

Hint: Shivaji was an Indian warrior king who had taken over most of the parts of India. Mughals on the other hand were threatened and apprehended as he was proving too powerful to be defeated. Therefore emperor Aurangzeb devised methods to defeat and captured him and as a result invited him to come to the royal court at Agra.

Complete answer: Shivaji Bhosale is better known as Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was an Indian king and ruler of the Maratha clan. He had expanded his civil rule with the help of well structured administrative organisations and military. He introduced new military tactics and guerrilla warfare methods that helped in attacking to defeat enemies. This threatened the Mughals and led Mughal emperor Aurangzeb to invite him to Agra. Shivaji was suspicious of the emperor's intentions but accepted the invitation and arrived at Agra with his eldest son. When Shivaji arrived at the court emperor Aurangzeb did not even look at him and he was made to stand in the third row of the courtiers which was an insult, dishonour and disgrace to the stature as a king. To show his disagreement Shivaji walked out of the court. Shivaji was put under house arrest and was not allowed to leave Agra. However, on Shivaji's request, some of his fellow men were released. For three months the condition did not change and then finally Shivaji planned an escape plan. Shivaji and his son escaped the guest house by hiding in the baskets and moved towards Mathura. By leaving his son in trusted hands of his ally he shaved his moustaches and beard and finally after 60 days he reached Rajgad. Hiroji Farjand and Madari Mehta helped Shivaji by sleeping in the place of Shivaji Maharaj and his son.

Note: Thus this is how they managed to escape from the Mughal guesthouse. It is believed that Ram Singh from the court of the Mughal Empire helped them to escape the emperor could not prove the same but they demoted the position of Ram Singh in the royal court. Also, it was on the call of Jai Singh to ratify the peace treaty with the Mughals that he invited Shivaji to Agra.