Administrative System of the Marathas c8.s5.1

c8.s5.1

Outside the council but in no way inferior to the eight ministers was the Chitnis or Secretary. Just below the pradhans had stood Bal Prabhu Chitnis, and Nil Prabhu Parasnis,⁴⁹ at the time of Shivaji's coronation. The Private Secretary of an autocratic king naturally enjoys great influence and is a power behind the throne. Balaji Avji, Shivaji's chitnis was a man of exceptional ability. Not only did he perform the ordinary duties of his office, but he had been further entrusted with the exceedingly delicate task of taking down the behests of the great goddess Bhavani communicated through Shivaji's mouth.⁴¹ It is said that Shivaji had actually offered him a seat in the council, but the modesty of the great Prabhu statesman stood in his way.⁴² The duties of his office are thus enumerated by Malhar Ram Rao Chitnis. "The Chitnis Patra-lekhak will write all royal letters and diplomatic correspondence. Divining what is in the king's heart he should at once cleverly put it into writing discussing the various aspects of the case. He should write in such a manner that what is generally accomplished by war and great exertion, should be achieved by means of letters only. He should write answers to the letters that may come."⁴³ In the memorandum published by Rao Bahadur Sane we come across the following entry under Chitnis: "He should write all official letters and papers of the State. He should write answers to diplomatic letters.