Gadkari pays tribute to Rajmata Jijau on her death anniversary
Synopsis
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari offered a humble salutation to Rajmata Jijau Maa Saheb on her death anniversary (tithi), honouring the mother of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj as the founding inspiration of Hindavi Swarajya. The tribute reflects the BJP's consistent engagement with Maharashtra's Maratha historical legacy.
Key Takeaways
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari paid tribute to Rajmata Jijau Maa Saheb on her death anniversary on 9 July 2026 .
The tribute was posted in Marathi on X and described Jijau as the 'प्रेरणास्रोत' (source of inspiration) behind Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj .
Rajmata Jijabai is credited with instilling the values that shaped the concept of Hindavi Swarajya — indigenous self-rule in the Deccan.
Gadkari, a senior BJP leader and former party national president, is from Nagpur, Maharashtra , and has a long record of honouring Maratha historical figures.
BJP leaders routinely issue public tributes on Maratha-era anniversaries as part of the party's cultural outreach in Maharashtra .
Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari on Thursday, 9 July 2026, offered his respects to Rajmata Jijau — the mother of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj — on her death anniversary (observed as per the traditional tithi calendar), calling her the inspirational force behind the founding of Hindavi Swarajya.
Context
Gadkari posted in Marathi on X, offering what he described as a 'विनम्र अभिवादन' ('humble salutation') to Rajmata Jijau Maa Saheb on her punyatithi (death anniversary as per the Hindu lunar calendar). The post identified her as the 'प्रेरणास्रोत' ('source of inspiration') to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, who laid the foundations of Hindavi Swarajya — the concept of indigenous self-rule in the Deccan.
Rajmata Jijabai, popularly revered as Jijau Maa Saheb, is celebrated across Maharashtra as the architect of Shivaji Maharaj's character, values, and vision of a sovereign Maratha state. Her influence on the 17th-century Maratha Empire's founding ethos remains a cornerstone of Maharashtra's historical identity.
Policy Backdrop
Senior BJP leaders, particularly those from Maharashtra, have made it a consistent practice to publicly honour Maratha-era figures on their jayantis and punyatithis through social media. These tributes are seen as an expression of cultural affinity with the region's pre-colonial heritage and align with the party's broader emphasis on indigenous governance symbols.
Gadkari, a senior BJP leader and former national president of the party, is himself from Nagpur, Maharashtra, and has long maintained a public posture of reverence toward the Maratha historical legacy. Such commemorations are observed both on the Gregorian calendar date and the traditional tithi, which can differ each year.
Stakeholders and Impact
The tribute carries resonance among the Maratha community and the wider population of Maharashtra, where reverence for Jijau and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj transcends political lines and is embedded in cultural and civic life. Public figures across the political spectrum participate in such commemorations.
For the BJP, consistent engagement with Maratha historical memory serves to reinforce the party's cultural credentials in a state that has historically been a competitive electoral battleground. Gadkari's stature as a senior Union Minister lends additional visibility to such gestures.
What's Next
State-level commemorative events and government programmes tied to Maratha history are typically organised around such anniversaries in Maharashtra. Public tributes from central and state leaders often coincide with cultural gatherings, exhibitions, and community events honouring Rajmata Jijau's legacy. Whether any formal government announcement accompanies this tribute cycle remains to be seen.
Point of View
His voice carries institutional weight that elevates such gestures beyond routine social media activity. The consistent use of tithis — rather than only Gregorian dates — signals deliberate outreach to communities rooted in traditional calendrical observance. In a state where Maratha identity is both a cultural touchstone and an electoral variable, such tributes function as soft political currency.
NationPress
9 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Rajmata Jijau and why is she important?
Rajmata Jijabai, also known as Jijau Maa Saheb, was the mother of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. She is revered as the moral and intellectual force behind Shivaji's founding of the Maratha Empire and the concept of Hindavi Swarajya, or indigenous self-rule in the Deccan region.
What is Hindavi Swarajya?
Hindavi Swarajya refers to the concept of self-rule or indigenous sovereignty championed by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in the 17th century. It represented the establishment of a Maratha-led independent polity in the Deccan, free from Mughal and Adilshahi dominance.
Why did Nitin Gadkari post a tribute to Rajmata Jijau?
Gadkari posted the tribute on the occasion of Rajmata Jijau's death anniversary, observed as per the traditional Hindu tithi calendar. As a senior BJP leader from Maharashtra, he regularly honours Maratha historical figures on such occasions.
What is a punyatithi?
A punyatithi is the death anniversary of a revered person, observed according to the Hindu lunar calendar. The tithi date can fall on a different Gregorian calendar date each year, which is why it is specifically noted as 'tithinusar' (as per tithi) in such tributes.
How does the BJP engage with Maratha historical legacy?
The BJP, particularly its Maharashtra leaders, consistently issues public tributes on jayantis and punyatithis of Maratha-era figures such as Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and Rajmata Jijau. This is part of a broader strategy to signal cultural affinity with Maharashtra's pre-colonial heritage and the Maratha community.
