Administrative System of the Marathas c14.s3.16

c14.s3.16

deducted from his salary. Their pay was never allowed to fall in arrears as in the Peshwa days. As Shivaji was strictly punctual in his payment, it was not necessary for him to offer very high salaries. "For the lower officers and men the pay varied from Rs. 9 to 3 for the infantry, and Rs. 20 to 6 in the cavalry, according to the higher or lower rank of the soldier or trooper."¹⁹ Officers and privates of Shivaji's army were liberally rewarded for distinguished service in war. Wounded soldiers got a special allowance according to the nature of their wounds. Widows and orphans of soldiers who fell in active service were liberally pensioned by the state and the latter, if major, were enlisted in the royal army. In any case they could expect to enter Shivaji's army whenever they attained majority and in the mean time they were sure of a suitable maintenance.²⁰ Shivaji assembled all his soldiers after the destruction of Afzal's army and rewarded them in the usual manner. "The sons of the combatants, who had fallen in the action, were taken into his service. He directed that the widows of those who had no sons, should be maintained by (a pension of) half their (husband's) pay. The wounded were given rewards of two hundred, one hundred, fifty or twenty-five Hons per man according to the nature of their wounds. Warriors of renown and commanders of brigades were given horses and elephants in reward. Some were sumptuously rewarded with (ornaments like) bracelets, necklaces, crests, medallions, ear-rings and crests of pearl. Such were the presents conferred on men. Some were rewarded with grants of villages in mokasa." This practice of rewarding soldiers for meritorious services, and maintaining their widows and orphans by adequate pensions, was continued throughout the Peshwa period.