The Military System of the Marathas, with a Brief Account of Their Maritime Activities c9.13

c9.13

In every fort there were three officers of the same status and conjoint authority. Of course they had their special departments and responsibilities but in everything of the least importance touching the fort they had to consult one another. The chief of these three officers was the *Havaldar*. He was the head of the garrison, the *Sabnis* was in charge of the accounts in general and the muster-roll in particular and the *Karkhannis* was mainly responsible for commissariat work. But their duties were so adroitly apportioned and so cleverly adjusted that nothing could be accomplished without the knowledge of all the three. The *Havaldar* was specially entrusted with the keys of the fort. It was his personal duty to see the gates bolted and locked after nightfall and he alone could open them at daybreak. But this work could not be delegated to anybody else, and Shivaji had particularly enjoined his *Havaldars* not to open the gates at night on any account. Malhar Ramrao Chitnis says that Shivaji had put the reliability of his *Havaldars* to the severest test. He went out on a tour of inspection, approached a fort at night, and asked the commandant to admit him. Some *Havaldars* were caught unawares, they thought that the law-maker was above his law and admitted Shivaji into the fort. They were sternly censured and degraded. But the *Havaldar* of Panhala successfully withstood the test. He was in turn cajoled and threatened, he was told that his master was being hotly pursued by his Musulman enemies, and he was in grave personal danger, but nothing could induce him to deviate from Shivaji’s regulations. He would provide for the personal safety of his prince, but the gates of the fort he would not unlock before the appointed time. The next morning he threw himself on the mercy of Shivaji who applauded his sense of duty and promoted him on the spot.¹