Shivaji... just a Maharashtrian Hero???

3M gets irritated when Chhatrapati Shivaji is referred to as “Marathi/ Mahrashtrian Hero”. We have to realise that his impact was far wider and that his embryonic Maratha Empire went on to dismantle the centuries old Mughal Empire in less than half a century from his death.

But it is interesting to know that even at its peak, Shivaji's kingdom covered less that 20% of current day state of Maharashtra... essentially hugging the Sahyadri mountain range! Post coronation, he realised that his fledgling kingdom will require strategic depth in case of an all out Mughal attack. So he embarked on a southern conquest which is popularly known as “Dakshin Digvijay”. This foresighted action ensured that the Maratha capital was shifted to Gingee in Tamil Nadu by his son Rajaram during Aurangzeb’s ‘War of 27 Years’!

The above map shows that Shivaji’s kingdom (Hindavi Swaraj) was spread in current day states of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh & Tamil Nadu... and you still look upon Shivaji as "just a Maharashtrian Hero”???