Administrative System of the Marathas c21.s1: 1. The Navy
Administrative System of the Marathas c21.s1
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1. The Navy
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The Maratha was more familiar with the rugged hills of his native land than with the stormy sea that washed its broken coast. But the genius of Shivaji had early perceived the importance of naval power not only as an effective arm of war, but also as an instrument for the extension of oversea trade. Scott Waring says, "Sevajee in his irregular incursions into the Konkan had beheld with admiration the powerful settlements, for so they must have appeared to him, which had been formed upon the coast. He aspired to participate in so profitable a commerce and while spreading his ravages throughout Konkan, found leisure to add to the fortifications of Rajapoor, Seven-droog and Colaba." And again, "Sevajee from the commencement of his power had justly estimated the value of the maritime possessions and the greater part of his attention had been directed to the attainment of so desirable an object. The completion of his plans was entrusted to Moropant his principal minister." Although he had enough to do on land, he succeeded in organising a fleet, and a Muhammadan officer was placed in charge of Shivaji's navy. It accomplished very little excepting some fighting with the Siddis. In 1670 a large Portuguese ship was captured near Daman by the Maratha fleet.
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The Maratha naval power saw its zenith under the Angrias, but as they were practically independent of the Peshwas, the Angria's fleet does not fall within the scope of this work. Under the Peshwas the navy formed a regular department. It had its headquarters at Vijayadurg and Bassein, and the revenue of several Mahals was granted for the naval establishment. We shall here notice two points only in connection with the naval policy of the Peshwas.
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Long before the birth of Admiral Mahan the Peshwas had realised the necessity of the growth of a commercial navy for the development of naval power and we actually find Balaji Baji Rao seriously thinking of employing trained sailors of merchantmen in times of war on an increased pay,¹ and Madhava Rao II enlisted fifty private Mahagiris in 1774-75.² And although the principle of using hereditary officers or Darakhdars as a check upon their official superiors was at first used in the administration of naval affairs, it had to be given up in recognition of the necessity of undivided command and guidance in the navy. The principle, however, was not abandoned all at once. In a letter of Madhava Rao I (1765-66) to Admiral Ananda Rao Dhulap we find the first recognition of the necessity of undivided command. Madhava Rao I did not recall the Darakhdars of the navy but he appointed Jagannath Narayan the civil head of the navy to supervise and control the work of the Darakhdars on a salary of Rs. 2,000 a year. While the Admiral (*Subhedar* of the *Armar*) was the military head of the navy, the Amin was its civil head; and he was generally responsible for such work as accounts, muster-roll, purchase of provision, etc. It is noteworthy that in this letter mention is made of the naval power of the Europeans. "The Europeans are hostile at sea and negligent men should be removed and really good men should be procured."³
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¹ P. D., Vol. III, pp. 185-87.
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² P. D., Vol. VI, p. 194.
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³ P. D., Vol. IX, pp. 340-341.
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In 1781-82 the second Madhava Rao recalled the Darakhdars of the navy, as admiral Ananda Rao Dhulap could not pull on well with them, and the entire charge of the navy was entrusted to Dhulap.¹ The letter conveying the above order, instructs Ananda Rao to fit out 19 ships; 3 pals, 3 ghurabs, and 13 gallibats, for an expedition.
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¹ P. D., Vol. VI, pp. 195-196.
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The Maratha fleet was generally employed for checking piracy, collecting Zakat from merchant-men coming to and going from Maratha ports, and also for taking possession of wrecks within territorial water. These last belonged as a right to the Peshwa's government, but the English had obtained an exemption by treaty for their own ships as well as for ships belonging to merchants of Bombay. Sovereignty over territorial sea was therefore recognised and exercised. The Admiral granted passports to merchant-men sailing within his jurisdiction.