From Shivaji’s Statecraft to Modern Policy: A New Cultural Renaissance

The National Conference on “Chhatrapati Shivaji’s Statecraft and the Lessons for Modern India” held at Srisailam became a powerful convergence of ideas, scholarship, and patriotism. Organized in collaboration with the Indian Council of Historical Research (ICHR), Sree Shivaji Sphoorti Kendram, and the Mythic Society, Bengaluru, the conference brought together eminent historians, thinkers, and academicians from across India to rediscover the administrative genius of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and its relevance to modern governance.

Dr. Vinay Sahasrabuddhe, President of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations, graced the occasion as the Chief Guest, alongside Shri Sunil Ambekar, Akhil Bharatiya Prachar Pramukh of the RSS, and other distinguished guests. In his keynote address, Dr. Sahasrabuddhe emphasized the urgent need to establish an International Study and Research Centre at Sree Shivaji Sphoorti Kendram, Srisailam. This, he said, would enable in-depth research on Shivaji’s model of governance and his contribution to the revival of the national spirit in the 17th century. The vision, he noted, was to make Chhatrapati Shivaji not just a historical hero of India—but a global icon of good governance, courage, and ethical leadership.

The conference saw participation from 33 academic delegates representing major universities including the University of Hyderabad, Central University of Punjab, Guru Ghasidas University (Bilaspur), Central University of Karnataka, and Rashtriya Sanskrit Vidyapeetha (Tirupati). Ten research papers were presented, each delving into various facets of Shivaji’s administration, his strategic diplomacy, decentralized governance, inclusivity, and welfare-driven policies. These discussions illuminated how Shivaji’s ideals, rooted in cultural consciousness and administrative wisdom, can guide modern policy-making.

The deliberations culminated in a forward-looking roadmap:

• To consolidate all presented papers into a comprehensive compendium.

• To encourage academic research linking Shivaji’s governance systems to contemporary public policy.

• To pursue the establishment of an International Centre for the Study of Chhatrapati Shivaji at Srisailam.

The event received an overwhelming response, with participants unanimously recognizing that Shivaji’s governance model offers timeless lessons in leadership, resilience, and cultural rootedness. His statecraft, marked by people-centric administration, ethical taxation, religious harmony, and military foresight, continues to inspire modern India’s journey toward Atmanirbharta (self-reliance) and good governance.

As Dr. U. M. Chaudhari of the Samskruti Foundation highlighted, the spirit behind this conference was not merely academic, it was civilizational. The aim is to bridge the wisdom of India’s past with the challenges of the present, creating a Bharat that is culturally confident, administratively efficient, and globally respected.

This National Conference, part of the broader vision of the Samskruti Foundation’s Samskruti Adhyayana Kendra, marks the beginning of a new cultural renaissance—one where historical insight fuels modern innovation, and where Chhatrapati Shivaji’s legacy continues to inspire the building of a stronger, self-aware India.