CELEBRATING THE LEGACY OF CHHATRAPATI SHIVAJI MAHARAJ

To celebrate the 395^th birth anniversary of the great Maratha warlord and visionary leader, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, KAASH Foundation in association with Arts, Commerce & Science College, Onde, planned a chain of meaningful events within Vikramgad, Palghar District, on 19^th February 2025. The event was not just a dedication to the legacy of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, but it was also an opportunity to promote education, culture, and community development.

The Arts, Commerce & Science College is located in the tribal village of Onde in Vikramgad. The institution was established in 2002 to provide quality higher education to the local populace of this area. It has played an instrumental role in bringing them into the mainstream of overall development and upliftment. About 95 percent of the students studying at the college belong to the weaker sections of society i.e. Scheduled Tribes (STs) and are first-generation learners. It is the only degree college in Vikramgad to cater to these students’ needs and almost 700 students are presently pursuing their higher education from the college.

The event began with an enthralling procession in commemoration of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and was followed with a theatrical performance by the students of the college. Through a skit, they presented Shivaji’s life, struggles, military strategies, and triumphs.

A defining moment of the day was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between KAASH Foundation and Arts, Commerce & Science College, Onde.

Encouraging intellectual and artistic expression, an Essay Writing and Drawing Competition was also conducted, allowing students to delve into the life and legacy of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. The essay competition was centred around ‘The Military Strategies of Shivaji Maharaj’ and the ‘Concept of Swarajya’, enabling participants to analyze and articulate the strategic brilliance of the great ruler. Simultaneously, the drawing competition provided a visual exploration of ‘Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and His Forts’.