The Dynasties of the Kanarese Districts of the Bombay Presidency from the Earliest Historical Times to the Musalman Conquest c10.171

c10.171

Of the ministers of the Sátára rájás two only retain any position. The Pratinidhi, whose office was not one of the eight created by Shiváji, but was made by Rája Rám in A.D. 1680 for Pralhád Niráji, his chief adviser, who accompanied him to Jinji. The office was supposed to entitle the holder to take precedence of the Asht Pradháns. The first of the present family who attained distinction was Parashrám, Trimbak. He brought himself into notice as a subordinate of Rámchandra Pant, the officer in charge of the Sátára territory during Rám Rája’s absence at Jinji, and was made Pratinidhi in A.D. 1700 by Tárábái; having opposed Sháhu on his return, he was deprived of his office in 1708, but restored in A.D. 1720. His son Shripat Ráo, who was Pratinidhi from A.D. 1720 to 1747, was the able opponent of the Peshwás, and his brother and successor Jagjivan attempted to prevent the transfer of power to them in A.D. 1749; he was, however, no match for his crafty rival, and lost a considerable portion of his jáhgir near Sátára. The family continued to hold a large part of the eastern districts of Sátára, which they had originally recovered from the Mughals, till the rebellion of the young chief, already mentioned, in A.D. 1806. He was restored to the portion of his estates that remained in A.D. 1818, when a treaty was made with him, and he was placed under the rája of Sátára. The Pratinidhi is now like the other jáhgirdárs under the charge of the Collector of Sátára. His possessions consist of the Atpádi Mahál in the Mán desh, and a number of detached villages. His gross yearly income is about Rs. 2,00,000. The Pant Sachiv was one of the Asht Pradháns, and the office became hereditary like most of the others instituted by Shiváji. The founder of the present line was Sankráji Náráyan Gaudekar, who was appointed to the post in A.D. 1698 by Rám Rája. He distinguished himself by recovering the country round the source of the Níra from the Mughals, and it has been ever since held as the jáhgir of his family. He also had in his possession Sinhgad and Purandhar. He was among the chiefs who opposed Sháhu, but when he committed suicide in A.D. 1712, his son Náru was confirmed in the post. Purandhar was given by the Pant Sachiv to Báláji Vishvanáth Peshwa in A.D. 1714 in return for his services in releasing the young chief from Damáji Thorát; and Sinhgad was exchanged for Tung and Tikona in A.D. 1750. A treaty was entered into with this chief in A.D. 1818, similar to that made with the other jáhgirdárs; and he too is now under the Collector of Sátára. His estate of Bhor is an extensive but hilly tract lying along the Gháts to the west of Poona; its area is about 1500 square miles, and its gross yearly revenue is about Rs. 3,75,000, a good deal of which is derived from the chief’s assignment on the revenue of certain districts called the Sahotra Amal. The Dábháde family rose into importance under Sháhu, and in 1716 Khanderáo Dábháde was made Senápati. The chief scene of his exploits was Gujarát, where he gained a firm footing. His son Trimbakráo was one of the opponents to the rise of the Peshwás, but he was defeated and killed at the battle of Dabhoi in A.D. 1731 by Báji Ráo. Though his child Yashvantráo was made Senápati in his place, the family never recovered their former position, but were supplanted by their subordinates, the Gáikwárs, the present rulers of Baroda. The representative of the Dábhádes now holds only the two villages of Talegaon and Induri, some twenty miles north-west of Poona.