Administrative System of the Marathas c18.s12: 2. The Deshmukh's Rights and Perquisites
Administrative System of the Marathas c18.s12
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2. The Deshmukh's Rights and Perquisites
c18.s12.1
The Deshmukh's office, like that of the Patil, was very lucrative. The following remarks of Elphinstone are interesting : "The Daishmook's profits are very great; generally, I am told, about five per cent. not only on the Revenue, but on the land; five acres in each hundred for example, will belong to the Daishmook, and a twentieth of the collections besides: and various claims in kind, as a pair of shoes, every year from each shoe-maker, a portion of ghee from those who make that preparation, etc., etc." "It seems to be thought, that they (Deshmukh and Deshpande) cannot sell their Offices (though Patails and Coolcurnees can) and it is even doubtful, if they can sell their fees, though they may pawn them. Their land they can certainly sell." Whether they could sell their fees or not we do not know but that at least on one occasion the Deshmukh's fees were transferred by a *bakshishnama* is certain. The deed in question has been published by Mr. V. K. Rajwade. According to this document, the Deshmukh got only two per cent. of the revenue and not five per cent. as Elphinstone says. As it recounts all the rights and perquisites of Deshmukh and Deshpande watans, a part of it at least is worth quoting.
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1. The custom is to pay Rs. 3 from each village; out of that the Deshpande will take Re. 1 and you should take the remaining Rs 2.
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¹ Elphinstone, Report, 2nd edition, pp. 21-22.
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² Rajwade, Sources of Maratha History, Vol. X, p. 114.
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2. The Shirpav from government should be taken by you first and by the Deshpande afterwards.
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3. On the documents relating to watan, etc., you should put your signature, and by the side of your signature the Deshpande will put his.
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4. Presents should be placed before the government officer by you first, and the Deshpande should make his presents after you.
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5. Betel leaves from government as well as from others should first be taken by you and by the Deshpande afterwards.
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6. As for other Manpan, etc., pertaining to the watan you should accept them first and the Deshpande afterwards.
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7. In the aforesaid Kasba, there is a plot for the Deshmukhi watan. You should erect a building there and live therein.
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8. Take the customary dues of green vegetables from markets in the different villages and in the aforesaid Kasba, etc.
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9. You should enjoy old inam land both *jirayat* and *bagayat*.
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10. Take the customary bundle of fuel from the Mahars from each village at the time of the festivals.
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11. Take from each village *til* at the time of Sankranti and *ghi* at each Shradh ceremony performed.
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12. Two *bhets* (presents) should be taken by you and your representative employed for the work of the aforesaid Pargana.
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13. Take one blanket annually from every village where Dhangars work their looms.
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14. Take shoes from the shoemakers at the rate of a pair per year per village.
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15. Take the customary *sayvan* dues from the said Kasba.
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16. The sweepers of the mosque of Shaha Daval Pidar pays Rs. 3 per year as *tabruk*; out of that Re. 1 belongs to the Deshpande; you should take the remaining two.
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17. The bread money from each village should be divided equally between you and the Deshpande.
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18. The musician should be rewarded by you first and then by the Deshpande.
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19. Of the miscellaneous dues for miscellaneous work, you should give one-third share to the Deshpande and keep for yourself the remaining two-thirds.
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20. Of the dues to the government in connection with the Pargana, the Deshpande should pay one-third and you two-thirds.
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It is therefore clear that the remuneration of the Deshmukh and the Deshpande was in every way analogous to that of the Patil and the Kulkarni, and was paid by the people of their Pargana and not by the government. Their interest was therefore, closely bound up with that of the people, and for the sake of public interest, it seems that women were sometimes considered unfit to hold these offices, although the affairs of great military fiefs were often under the charge of ladies. Umabai Dabhade was often addressed by the Peshawa on matters of great political weight and we all know how skilfully the famous Ahalya Bai managed the helm of the state bark during the political storm of those times. Public opinion as voiced by the Panch of Sarkar Junnar had decided in 1772-73 that "No Deshpande watan should in future be continued in the name of a famale." 8
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⁸ The circumstances of the case are as follows: In the year 1768-69, Girmabai, widow of Krishnaji Hari Deshpande, represented that there had been no lineal descendant in her family for 4 or 5 generations, and that it was therefore usual in the family for the widow to adopt a son and have the watan continued in her adopted son's name: that her adopted son had agreed to enter her name along with his, but after sometime he had omitted to do so. Her adopted son Bhagvant Rao died leaving a boy of five or seven years, and his officers refused to recognise the authority of the lady. The lady, therefore, urged that her joint authority with the boy should be recognised, and the prayer was granted. The unreasonable interference of the lady, however, led to mismanagement, and three years later we find Amrit Rao petitioning the government that some measures for good management should be taken. He also pointed out that if the claim of Girmabai was recognised by the government as a principle, the same claim would be made after her death by Amrit Rao's step-mother. The government appointed a Panchayat for decision, and they gave their verdict entirely in favour of Amrit Rao. They decided that not even a moiety of power should be surrendered to Girmabai, her name however should be continued in documents so long as she lived, but in future no watan should be continued in the name of a female. P. D., Vol. VII, pp. 112-113.