Administrative System of the Marathas c23.s13.17

c23.s13.17

1. Forced labour. *Begar* or *Beth Begar* as it is called by the Marathas, was certainly one of the most obnoxious, as it was one of the oldest, of these exactions. It is to the credit of the Peshwa Madhava Rao I that he finally abolished it not only on paper but in practice too, as Grant Duff tells us, although it had the sanction of most of the Hindu law-givers of old. Father Manu authorises the king to make mechanics, artisans, and Shudras work for him one day in a month. "Mechanics and artisans, as well as Shudras who subsist by manual labour, he may cause to work (for himself) one (day) in each month" ¹⁷ Vishnu also lays down that "Artizans (such as blacksmiths), manual labourers (such as carpenters), and Shudras shall do work for the king for a day in each month.¹⁸ According to Shukra, "The king should make the artists and artisans to work once in the fortnight."¹⁹ In the Sudhana Kinnaryavadan of the Bodhisattavadana Kalpalata the king Mahendra Sena is made to observe that in no king's dominion can the subject escape forced labour, the king's dues and the king's punishment.²⁰ Forced labour is mentioned by Youan Chwang also, but he says that it was very sparingly imposed.²¹ Lewis Rice says that from inscriptions it appears that towards the close of the thirteenth century forced labour formed one of the imposts levied by Hoysala kings on their subjects.²² It was in vogue under the Muhamadan rulers both in Northern and Southern India. *Begar* is somewhat analogous in principle to the feudal practice that demanded that the tenant should for certain days in the month work in his lord's field, and we need not be surprised if it still survives in some parts of the country. But *begar* is not the only heirloom that the Maratha rulers inherited from their predecessors.