Administrative System of the Marathas c18.s12.24

c18.s12.24

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