Here is the challenge Sawant sets for himself: You already know the ending. In 1689, Sambhaji Maharaj was captured and brutally executed by the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. History records the torture—the plucking out of eyes, the tearing of nails, the final beheading.
Shivaji Sawant spent years researching historical documents, bakhars (chronicles), and family letters. What he discovered contradicted the popular narrative. Through this novel, Sawant sought to correct the historical disservice done to the second Chhatrapati of the Maratha Empire.
Chhava by Shivaji Sawant: Why This Marathi Classic Still Roars Across Generations
Whether you are a history buff or a lover of epic literature, Chhava by Shivaji Sawant is an essential read. It is a hauntingly beautiful tribute to a man who lived like a storm and died like a god, ensuring that the "Cub" would forever be remembered as a "Lion" in his own right.
Sawant, in his author’s note, defends himself by stating: "I am a novelist, not a judge. My duty is to imagine the truth of the heart, even if I cannot prove the truth of the event."