Administrative System of the Marathas c14.s1.10

c14.s1.10

⁷ It may be incidentally mentioned here that the Konkanastha had not yet come to the forefront in Maratha politics and most of Shivaji's principal Brahman officers belonged to the Deshastha section. The keen intelligence of the Shenvis had already espied a bright prospect in another quarter and they had in large number entered the Portuguese service. With their characteristic literary aptitude, they mastered European tongues before long and acted as interpreters for European merchants of all nationalities. It is not clear whether their persecution had begun so early. In any case prudence demanded that Shivaji should recruit his officers from all the principal castes, and conciliate them all.