Administrative System of the Marathas c20.s11: 15. Treatment of Political Prisoners
Administrative System of the Marathas c20.s11
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15. Treatment of Political Prisoners
c20.s11.1
But it should be remembered that no prisoner could demand any privilege as a matter of right. They had to depend entirely on the favour of those in authority and not infrequently had to pay for it. Sakharam Hari Gupte, a faithful friend and adherent of Raghoba, was very inhumanly treated in the prison. He was loaded with heavy irons, he was kept in unhealthy places, and ultimately ill health, bad food and unusual rigours of the prison life brought about his death. His wife had left no stone unturned in order to secure the government permission for nursing her husband in the prison. She spent her all and paid heavily for the favour which was granted to others. But when the favour was finally purchased her husband needed no nurse He was out of all troubles.
c20.s11.2
But the political prisoners were ordinarily well-treated. Good arrangements were made for their boarding and lodging, as well as for other comforts, although they were strictly watched, and their communication with the outside world, and sometimes with their own warders, was strictly prohibited. Mr. Ranade has made mention of the rigour with which the supporters of Raghoba Dada and the pretender were treated. But we have to remember what trouble these men gave to the state. The Maratha statesmen were not naturally cruel. The pretender was not thrown under the feet of an elephant until he had fled from his prison and endangered the security of the government. The ordinary soldiers of his party were leniently treated, as were some of the adherents of Sumer Singh, the murderer of Narayan Rao.
c20.s11.3
It is a pity that we know very little about the internal management of prisons under the Peshwas. In Europe philanthropists and reformers like John Howard and Elizabeth Fry visited the prisons and exposed their horrible condition. Unfortunately, however, no such graphic accounts of the Maratha prisons have come down to us. In England we are told, "the people were made worse in prison. They left it better instructed in crime than when they entered." We do not know what the effect of a term of imprisonment was upon the morals of a Maratha offender. But whilst the denizens of Enghlish prisons in the 18th century were mostly small debtors, it appears that the prisoners in Maratha hill forts were mostly criminals, and some attempts were made to secure their moral welfare. Kashi, wife of Trimbakji Chawan, left her home and began to practise adultery. She was sent to be imprisoned in the fort of Sarasgad with instructions that strict watch should be kept over her to prevent her immoral practices.⁴²
c20.s11.4
⁴² D. P., Vol, VIII, p. 190.
c20.s11.5
The offenders convicted for adultery were always imprisoned at different places, so that the man could never in future meet the woman.
c20.s11.6
Some extra precaution, it seems, was taken in the case of Brahman prisoners. The death or suicide of a Brahman was commonly believed to bring calamity upon the country. Brahman prisoners tried to secure their release by threats of suicide, and were therefore put under a very strict watch.
c20.s11.7
The greatest defect in the Maratha system was that the prisoner had hardly any right. He might be very leniently treated and he might suffer from all sorts of hardships. Everything depended on the nature of his offence, his rank and wealth; but ordinary offenders escaped uncommon hardship on account of their obscurity.