[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [General history and culture](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general) › [A History of the Mahrattas](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.grantduff-1826) › v1.c7.178 # A History of the Mahrattas v1.c7.178 A History of the Mahrattas v1.c7.178 - **Language:** English ### [v1.c7.178](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.grantduff-1826.v1.c7.178) The word Deshmukh is derived from Marāthi desh, ‘country’ or ‘district,’ and Sanskrit mukh or mukhya, ‘leader.’ The Deshmukh was the chief police and revenue authority of a district containing a certain number of villages. The word Deshpāndē, or Deshpāndyā, is similarly compounded of desh and pāndē, which is based upon the Sanskrit pāndu, ‘white-coloured,’ the great Pāndava family of upper India, and hence is equivalent to ‘ruler.’ The Deshpāndē was the hereditary revenue accountant of a district, and in some parts of Telingana acted independently of the Deshmukh, discharged the same duties and enjoyed the same privileges. (Wilson, Glossary of Indian Terms.) - [Previous: v1.c7.177](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.grantduff-1826.v1.c7.177) - [Next: v1.c7.179](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.grantduff-1826.v1.c7.179) - [Up: v1.c7](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.grantduff-1826.v1.c7) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.grantduff-1826.v1.c7.178](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.grantduff-1826.v1.c7.178) · Pramāṇa