Shivaji Maharaj in Contemporary Discourse: Leadership, Legacy, and the Politics of Representation

Abstract The legacy of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj continues to occupy a central place in contemporary public discourse, particularly in Maharashtra, where his leadership is frequently invoked as a normative model of governance, authority, and political ethics. While historical scholarship presents Shivaji Maharaj as a complex ruler who balanced military strategy with administrative innovation, social responsibility, and ethical restraint, contemporary representations often emphasise selective and simplified aspects of his legacy. This paper examines how such representations operate within modern discourse and how they shape prevailing understandings of leadership and governance.Adopting a methodology of critical distance, the study approaches Shivaji Maharaj not as a static historical figure but as a discursive site through which power, legitimacy, and moral authority are continually negotiated. The analysis is situated within an interpretive frame that distinguishes between the Dominant Other and The Oppressed as analytical categories rather than fixed social identities. Through this lens, the paper explores how certain interpretations of Shivaji Maharaj’s legacy attain normative dominance, while alternative, plural, and ethically grounded readings are marginalised or rendered invisible.Rather than engaging in partisan or ideological debate, the paper focuses on the structural consequences of selective remembrance, particularly its implications for social cohesion, governance ethics, and pedagogical practice. It argues that the uncritical appropriation of historical legacy risks transforming a nuanced model of leadership into a one-dimensional symbol of power. By revisiting Shivaji Maharaj’s legacy through a critically reflective and non-partisan lens, the paper underscores the importance of preserving historical complexity in contemporary discourse, especially within democratic and diverse social contexts.