Administrative System of the Marathas c8.s4.21

c8.s4.21

⁴⁰ "Pralhad Niraji, on whom the high title of Regent (Pratinidhi) was conferred and who thus stood *outside and above the cabinet of eight ministers (Ashta Pradhan)*" (History of Aurangzib, Vol. V, p. 26). The opinion of so distinguished a scholar certainly deserves more than a passing notice, but we have been spared the task of refuting him, as he seems to have reconsidered the question and changed his view when he writes at another place, "To provide posts for all his most influential servants, the normal council of eight ministers was expanded by adding two more men. The *Hukumat Panah* and the *Pratinidhi*." (History of Aurangzib, Vol. V, p. 195), Thus he admits that it was a council and the number of councillors was by no means rigidly fixed.