Administrative System of the Marathas c23.s2.1

c23.s2.1

Every ruler needs reliable private secretaries and confidential clerks. Shivaji's Chitnis, Balaji Avji, was however more than a mere scribe. His counsel was sought on every question of weight and Malhar Ram Rao tells us that Shivaji had offered him a seat in his council. Bala Prabhu was not the only Lekhaka, there was another, his brother Nilo Prabhu. Expediency alone might have demanded the creation of these posts, but it is interesting to note that Malhar Rao should speak about the nature of their official duties almost in the same strain as Kautilya did in the 4th century B. C. while describing the work of the Lekhaka of his time. It is also worth noticing, that Kautilya should deem it necessary for the Lekhaka to possess ministerial qualifications. Says the great Mauryan statesman, "One who is possessed of ministerial qualifications, acquainted with all kinds of customs, smart in composition, good in legible writing, and sharp in reading shall be appointed as a writer (Lekhaka). Such a writer, having attentively listened to the king's order and having well thought out the matter under consideration, shall reduce the order to writing."⁸⁶ Do we not hear an echo of the above when Malhar Ram Rao Chitnis tells us: "The Chitnis Patra Lekhaka should write all royal correspondence and diplomatic notes. He should divine what is there in the king's mind and in various ways should cleverly put it into writing at once."⁹