[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Polity, law and society](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity) › [Administrative System of the Marathas](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sen-1923) › c2 # Administrative System of the Marathas c2: Preface to the First Edition Administrative System of the Marathas c2 - **Language:** English ### Preface to the First Edition ### [c2.1](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sen-1923.c2.1) Shivaji, born in 1627, captured Torna in 1646 and died in 1680 at the comparatively young age of fifty-three. Before his death he had founded a mighty Hindu kingdom in defiance of the Sultanates of Bijapur and Golkonda, then tottering to their fall, and the Chaghatai, miscalled Mughal Empire, then at the zenith of its power under Aurangzib Alamgir. Within a decade of its founder's death, the infant Maratha power was faced with a serious crisis. The son and successor of Shivaji was captured and decapitated and the infant heir to the throne became a Mughal prisoner. Further expansion was out of the question, the very existence of the kingdom was threatened. The Marathas undeterred by the power, wealth and prestige of the empire engaged in a life and death struggle which ended in their favour. With the return of Shahu to his paternal kingdom opened a new era of conquest and expansion. The Maratha horsemen reached the extreme North-Western frontier of India, their horses drank the water of the Indus and the empire extended from sea to sea. The Maratha empire was apparently still in its full vigour when a conflict with a Western power brought about its disruption and fall. The last Hindu empire of India passed away after a chequered existence of 170 years. ### [c2.2](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sen-1923.c2.2) It is commonly believed that this vast empire existed merely by plunder and robbery. An eminent English writer has described the Maratha generals as 'robbers, plunderers and scoundrels.' But it is very difficult to understand how an empire could last for over a century and half by robbery and plunder alone, unless it had a surer and firmer basis of good government. Grant Duff does not answer this question. Ranade had set himself to this task and his brilliant chapters on the administrative institutions of Maharashtra served as an eye-opener to many, but he was cut off by death before his task was fully accomplished. ### [c2.3](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sen-1923.c2.3) A comprehensive work on the administrative system of the Marathas was wanting, but materials for such a work had been fast accumulating. The scholarly labours and the patriotic devotion of Sane, Rajwade, Khare, Parasnis and a host of less known, but not less sincere, workers had brought to light such a mass of original documents, that it is a veritable Solomon's mine and the very first descent took me in the midst of treasures of high value and I felt my labour amply rewarded. I got the answer I had been seeking. ### [c2.4](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sen-1923.c2.4) The Marathas were not mere robbers and plunderers. From their original documents I found that they had an excellent set of regulations for their own empire. Further investigation convinced me that these regulations and administrative institutions were not their own inventions, they had inherited them from their Hindu and Muhammadan predecessors. The administrative system of the Marathas is thus of surpassing interest. It explains the causes of the disruption and downfall of the last Hindu empire, it gives a history of the survival and development of the old Hindu administrative system, it supplies an important and interesting illustration of interaction of Hindu and Muslim principles on each other, and it helps us to understand the growth of the present British Indian administrative institutions, partly engrafted as they are on older Hindu and Muhammadan systems. This is indeed the justification for publishing this work which the toil of the last five years has produced. ### [c2.5](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sen-1923.c2.5) The work, I know, has its limitations. It is an account of the Maratha Government and its evolution, without a strict chronological treatment. A serious student will here, I hope, find ample indication as to where to turn for more information. It may be objected that the Hindu political philosophers quoted in Book III were mere theorists and probably they did not describe the institutions, laws and regulations actually prevalent in their times. But my aim has been to indicate the origin of the Maratha institutions, and the real character of the Hindu works on polity do not concern me at all. If they dealt with theories alone, the Maratha institutions illustrate quite well how many of these theories were put into practice. There will be found repetitions, but my excuse is the convenience of the reader, and as the subject is somewhat technical, I thought it better not to tax his memory with unfamiliar terms to an excessive degree. Lastly, a comparison with English institutions has been found necessary. The Marathas have suffered in the estimation of modern students, because their institutions have been judged by the standard of modern times and that is why I have thought it necessary to compare their laws and regulations with those of contemporary Europe. England has been specially selected for the simple reason that we are best familiar with her history, past and present, not because I have any bias against her. It may be that I have my unconscious bias for my own country, and unconscious prejudice against the rest; but I have always tried not to indulge in any such feeling. ### [c2.6](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sen-1923.c2.6) To Sir Asutosh Mookerjee, Vice-Chancellor of the Calcutta University and President of the Post-Graduate Councils, I am specially grateful for the facilities and encouragement I have uniformly received from him. Seven years ago, just after completing my college education, I approached him with a scheme of research work. Inspite of his onerous duties of various kinds, he not only gave me a kind and patient hearing, but that inspiring encouragement which a young man needs so much before commencing a serious work with which he has not been hitherto familiar. When I left for Jubbulpore in 1916 to join the Robertson College there, I little thought that I should be able to prosecute my studies under the fostering care of my own \*alma mater\*. In 1917 I was appointed a University Lecturer. The Library then offered very little facilities for any serious work in Maratha History. Sir Asutosh promptly sent Rs. 500 to the late Prof. H. G. Limaye of Poona to purchase published source books of Maratha History for the University Library, and it is needless to say that but for the facilities he had uniformly given me, I could not have carried on my work. ### [c2.7](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sen-1923.c2.7) Prof. H. G. Limaye would have been delighted no doubt to receive my published work had he been alive to-day. In him I have lost a true friend, teacher and guide. ### [c2.8](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sen-1923.c2.8) The first training, in the use of original documents, I got from my teacher Principal R. B. Ramsbotham, M.B.E., M.A. He has laid me under further obligations by revising my manuscript and giving me valuable suggestions. He has taken an interest in this work that an affectionate teacher alone can take in that of a pupil. ### [c2.9](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sen-1923.c2.9) I am indebted to Prof. D. R. Bhandarkar, Carmichael Professor of Ancient Indian History and Culture, Calcutta University, Prof. R. C. Majumdar, now of the Dacca University, Dr. B. M. Barua, Rai Bahadur B. A. Gupte, Mr. G. S. Sardesai, Sardar Tatya Saheb Mehendale, Mr. D. V. Potdar, Mr. Henry Beveridge, late of the Bengal Civil Service, and Prof. J. N. Sarkar of Patna, for many useful information and suggestions. I should also take this opportunity of acknowledging the kind assistance I got from Messrs. T. K. Buxy, T. V. Mone, B. C. Watchmaker, D. G. Matange, and G. R. Tamhankar all of the Robertson College, Jubbulpore. Mr. W. S. Rowlands, then officiating Principal of the Robertson College, enabled me to devote more time to my researches by reducing my lecture work. ### [c2.10](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sen-1923.c2.10) I have to thank the Oxford University Press and Rao Bahadur D. B. Parasnis for permission to reproduce the portraits of Shivaji, Sambhaji and Rajaram. The portraits are from the Parasnis collection and have been reproduced from 'A History of the Maratha People' by Kincaid and Parasnis. Rao Bahadur Parasnis has also permitted me to reproduce two portraits from his \*Poona in Bygone Days\*. For two blocks I am indebted to the proprietor of the \*Masik Basumati\* of Calcutta. ### [c2.11](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sen-1923.c2.11) The tedious but nevertheless useful work of compiling an Index has been carefully done by my friend and colleague Mr. Tripurari Chakravarti, M.A. And last, but not the least, I am deeply indebted to Mr. A. C. Ghatak, B.A., Superintendent of the Calcutta University Press, for assistance of all kinds over and above what he is expected to render in the ordinary discharge of his official duties. ### [c2.12](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sen-1923.c2.12) I could not mention Professor Takakhav and Mr. Keluskar's voluminous life of Shivaji Maharaj in my introduction to Book I. I have in the meantime gone through Lal Kavi's \*Chhatraprakash\* which does not seem to contain much that is of use to a student of Maratha History. ### [c2.13](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sen-1923.c2.13) I wish I could add an introductory chapter to discuss the sources of Book II but ill health and lack of time prevented me from doing so. Diacritical marks cause unusual delay and have not therefore been used in the text, but their use in the glossary will, it is hoped, remove to a - certain extent, the inconvenience caused by this omission. These defects will be removed if the book ever goes through a second edition. ### [c2.14](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sen-1923.c2.14) SENATE HOUSE; CALCUTTA, 18th February, 1923. ### [c2.15](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sen-1923.c2.15) S. N. S. ## Linked texts (1) - [Chatraprakāś](https://indike.org/pramana/in.vernacular.hindi.itihasa.chatraprakas) — Lāl Kavi, Hindi --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sen-1923.c2](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sen-1923.c2) · Pramāṇa