Administrative System of the Marathas c18.s8: 4. The Kulkarni
Administrative System of the Marathas c18.s8
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4. The Kulkarni
c18.s8.1
Next to the Patil in rank came the Kulkarni; invariably a Brahman, he was the Patil's clerk and the village record-keeper. He shared with the Patil the risk of imprisonment and oppression at the hand of the enemy and unprincipled government officials. Even in ordinary times the Patil and the Kulkarni had to suffer imprisonment for arrears of rent although all the villagers had joint responsibility for regular payment. Thus the Patil and the Kulkarni of Mauja Kingaon were imprisoned for an arrear of Rs. 1,925 and were not released until they had managed to collect Rs. 1,600.¹⁴
c18.s8.2
¹⁴ P. D., Vol. III, pp. 262-263.
c18.s8.3
In time of political trouble the Patil and Kulkarni had to stand surety for the good conduct and loyalty of their co-villagers. Madhava Rao Narayan asked Narsing Rao Janardan Dhaigude to take from the Patils and Kulkarnis security for the loyalty of the Shiledars of their respective villages.¹⁵ "If there are more shiledars in your Taluka take the Patil and Kulkarni of the villages as security for their not going to serve the rebel Sardars." In addition to these responsibilities the Patil had another unpleasant duty. He had to help distinguished personages when they passed through his village. Sometimes the Patil himself had to carry their luggage on his own shoulders like an ordinary cooly in case he failed to find out Bigaris from his village. Of course his responsibility came to an end automatically as soon as he reached the boundary of the next village.
c18.s8.4
¹⁵ Rajwade, M. I. S., Vol. X, p. 96.