Administrative System of the Marathas c23.s15.10

c23.s15.10

The resemblance between these regulations of Kautilya and Sukra and those of the Marathas is too striking to be dismissed as accidental. The Marathas were Hindus, their rise had been preceded by the revival of Hinduism of a living liberal and militant type, and they had inherited the old traditions of the land with the indigenous faith, it is therefore but fair to acknowledge that their land revenue system was nothing but an evolution of the old Hindu system, transmitted almost in its entirety by the Muhammadans. The Muhammadans no doubt made a change here and an addition there, but that did not materially affect its real character, and to look at it whether under the Muhammadans or the Marathas is but to recognise it as the time honoured system that prevailed in Mauryan and possibly pre-Mauryan India.