Rajmata Jijabai
The mother of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, who rebuilt Pune and raised her son with the dream of Swarajya.
Quick facts
- Pune link:
- Rebuilt Pune, lived at Lal Mahal
- Known for:
- Mother of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj
Life
Jijabai was the daughter of Lakhuji Jadhav of Sindkhed and the wife of Shahaji Raje Bhosale. When Shahaji Raje went to serve in the south, Jijabai lived in Pune with young Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
Rebuilding Pune
Pune had been destroyed in war. Jijabai helped bring people back to the town, and tradition says the first plough on the burnt land was a golden one. She looked after the Kasba Ganpati temple and the town around Lal Mahal.
Her legacy
She told Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj the stories of the Ramayana and the Mahabharata and taught him justice and courage. She is remembered across Maharashtra as Rajmata, the mother of the kingdom. She died in 1674, shortly after Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's coronation.
More in Pune's Pride
-
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj
The founder of the Maratha kingdom, who spent his childhood in Pune at Lal Mahal with Rajmata Jijabai.
-
Mahatma Jyotirao Phule
The great social reformer who, with his wife Savitribai, opened schools for girls and fought against caste discrimination in Pune.
-
Savitribai Phule
India's first woman teacher of modern times, who taught girls in Pune despite insults and attacks. The University of Pune is named after her.
-
Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak
The fiery freedom fighter whose words "Swaraj is my birthright" moved the country. He made Pune a centre of the freedom movement.
-
Gopal Krishna Gokhale
The moderate leader and teacher at Fergusson College whom Mahatma Gandhi called his political guru. Founder of the Servants of India Society.
-
Maharshi Dhondo Keshav Karve
The reformer who worked all his life for the education of women and widows, and founded India's first university for women. Bharat Ratna, 1958.
Sources: Written by PuneDiary. Facts checked 10 October 2026.