Administrative System of the Marathas c2.2

c2.2

It is commonly believed that this vast empire existed merely by plunder and robbery. An eminent English writer has described the Maratha generals as 'robbers, plunderers and scoundrels.' But it is very difficult to understand how an empire could last for over a century and half by robbery and plunder alone, unless it had a surer and firmer basis of good government. Grant Duff does not answer this question. Ranade had set himself to this task and his brilliant chapters on the administrative institutions of Maharashtra served as an eye-opener to many, but he was cut off by death before his task was fully accomplished.