“Janata Raja” (The Wise King) is a dramatic enactment of the rise of Chhatrapati Shivaji (1630-1680 AD) to become the ruler of an independent, Hindu kingdom in western India. The incidents in the life of Shivaji take place in the Mawal region of Maharashtra state, a mountainous terrain east of the Vindhya mountains.

In the 17^th century, Mawal was ruled by the Sultanates, consisting of Adilshahi kingdom based in Bijapur, Nizamshahi kingdom in Ahmednagar, and Kutubshahi kingdom of Golkonda. The Marathas of Mawal were continually subjugated by Muslim marauders, who razed their farms, burned their crops, and abducted their women at will.

Shivaji’s father Shahaji was a brave sardar (general), switching loyalties between Adil Shah and Nizam Shah. Shivaji’s mother Jijabai was alerted to Muslim oppression when her own sister-in-law was abducted by a Muslim sardar and she had to be released with the payment of a large ransom. Jijabai’s desire for revenge was heightened when her father and two brothers were murdered by Nizam Shah in full view of his darbar on Devgiri fort.

Jijabai inculcates the idea of swarajya, an independent Mawal, in her young son, Shivaji. As he grows up, Shivaji becomes a powerful warrior and raises an army of hardy Mawal soldiers. He uses guerilla tactics to conquer numerous forts held by the Sultanates and Mughals, and even kills Afzal Khan, a powerful Adilshahi sardar, in a treacherous encounter. Shivaji was also able to apply a cunning strategy to defeat Mughal General Shaista Khan and cut off three of his fingers in a close encounter.

Under the tutelage of Jijabai and his teacher, Dadaji Konddev, Shivaji became a just ruler, protecting even his Muslim subjects, and punishing corrupt officials under him, including his own prime minister. Despite being aware of the duplicitous nature of the English, Shivaji protects an English mother and her children during his raid against Surat.

When Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb sends a massive military force under Rajput Prince Mirzaraje Jaisingh, Shivaji has to concede to a truce and cede 23 forts back to the Mughals. He also has to agree to visit Agra with his son Sambhaji and attend Aurangzeb’s darbar as a mere mansabdar (a lowly military rank). Shivaji refuses to bow to Aurangzeb and is arrested. Shivaji achieves a miraculous escape by hiding himself and Sambhaji in large baskets used to carry sweetmeats to be distributed to the poor.

Upon returning to Mawal, Shivaji embarks on a new military campaign to regain the forts ceded to the Mughals through the aid of his tough corporals such as Tanaji Malusare and Konda Farzand.

The play concludes with Shivaji’s spectacular coronation, when he assumed the title of Chhatrapati. Shivaji is reluctant to take the throne, because he believes swarajya is the people’s kingdom. But he’s convinced to become king by Pandit Gagabhatt and his mother Jijabai. Gagabhatt was witness to Aurangzeb’s destruction of the Vishweshwar temple in Kashi (Banaras) and viewed Shivaji as the protector of Hindus against the tyranny of the Mughals. As Shivaji walks up to the throne, he takes each step in remembrance of his brave, martyred sardars. With the coronation of Shivaji, the people of Mawal rejoice in song and dance.

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