Thane: President Pranab Mukherjee today paid rich tributes to Shivaji and said the great Maratha warrior achieved success in life without any formal education or training in statecraft.
It was sheer dedication of his people and importance Shivaji gave to them that made him so popular a ruler in the medieval India, Mukherjee said after inaugurating a full-size statue of the 17th century warrior at Kalwa here.
The statue has been installed under an initiative taken by NCP leader and local MLA Jitendra Awhad. “In the past, the teachings of Shivaji and systems put in place by him were ignored. Hence, our country went into the hands of East India Company and later came under British rule. “Had we listened and followed his teachings, we would have not suffered,” Mukherjee said.
In his speech, the President traced the life history of Shivaji and said three people - his mother Jijabai, Sant Tukaram and guru Ramdas - and their teachings had a huge impact on him.
