The Autobiographical Echoes in Śivarājyodayam: S.B. Warnekar’s Reflection in Shivaji’s Biography

Abstract

Dr. Shridhar Bhaskar Warnekar (1918–2002) was a renowned scholar from Maharashtra, who worked as a professor of Sanskrit at Nagpur University. Throughout his academic career, he was involved in various projects promoting Sanskrit language and literature. However, Warnekar also contributed to this field as a poet. Although he is an author of numerous Sanskrit works, his magnum opus is unquestionably Śivarājyodayam.  It is an epic poem in 68 cantos that depicts the life and accomplishments of the Maratha king Shivaji (1630–1680). For this immense work, Warnekar received the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1974. Shivaji remains a significant figure in the cultural landscape of Maharashtra and beyond. He is a symbol of independence, relentlessness and pride in Indian heritage, and he continues to inspire artists, intellectuals and politicians. Śivarājyodayam is one of many literary chronicles of the life of Shivaji, however, a detailed analysis of the work reveals some autobiographical traces that reflect Warnekar’s personal experiences, values and beliefs. The paper focuses on the relationship between a biography and its author, and explores how Warnekar’s portrait of Shivaji serves not only as a poetic tribute but also as a mirror of his own ideals and autobiographical traces.