Shiv Charitra For Children

(Optional Coloring Book)

An Introduction to Bravery, Responsibility, and an Ideal King

Some stories are told to entertain children.
Some are told to inform them.
And a rare few are told to shape how they understand courage, power, and values.

Shiv Charitra for Children is one such book.

This is not a traditional colouring book.
It is not a textbook.
And it is not a simplified legend.

It is a Shiv Charitra—the life journey of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, written specially for young minds, and presented in a form that allows reading, reflection, and optional colouring to come together naturally.

At its heart, this book is a continuous story. Shivaji Maharaj’s life unfolds as a flowing narrative—from his birth at Shivneri and the guidance of Jijabai, to the awakening of Swarajya, the building of forts, moments of restraint and sacrifice, the coronation, governance, and the enduring legacy he left behind. The story can be read from beginning to end like a proper book, without interruption. Even if a child never colours a single page, the book remains complete and meaningful as a story.

The illustrations are not placed as separate activities. They are woven gently into the narrative—like pauses for the mind—allowing children to absorb the moment, the emotion, and the dignity of the characters. Colouring is offered by choice, not by compulsion. Some pages invite colouring. Some invite quiet reading. This respects the truth that Shivaji Maharaj’s life contained joy, seriousness, restraint, and sacrifice—and not every moment calls for the same response.

A thoughtful design choice further supports this balance. The illustrations use light shading, guiding children who choose to colour while already setting the emotional tone of the scene. Faces—especially that of Shivaji Maharaj—are drawn with calm, dignity, and emotional balance, avoiding caricature or exaggeration. Hair and beard are shown in natural black, preserving historical respect and gently reminding young readers that some elements are part of identity and legacy, not decoration.

The events in this book are rooted in historical records, respected biographies, and accepted traditions, with folk narratives clearly treated as such. The writing does not glorify cruelty, exaggerate violence, or dilute truth. Instead, it focuses on values that defined Shivaji Maharaj’s leadership—courage guided by intelligence, strength balanced with restraint, respect for women, care for people, and responsibility in the use of power.

While the book is deeply rooted in Hindu cultural values, it makes one truth clear: good values do not belong to one religion, language, or region. Any child, anywhere in the world, can learn from leadership that protects the weak, disciplines itself, and rules without cruelty.

This is not a book meant to be finished and forgotten.
It is meant to be kept, revisited, and understood more deeply as a child grows. Some pages may remain uncoloured. Some may be coloured years later. That itself becomes part of the child’s journey.

Shiv Charitra for Children is an invitation—
to read,
to reflect,
to colour if one wishes,
and to grow with the story of a king who showed that true bravery lies not only in battle, but in dignity, restraint, and responsibility.