The Military System of the Marathas, with a Brief Account of Their Maritime Activities c9.20

c9.20

But he had to provide against another danger, that of vested interest. A *Havaldar* or a *Sabnis*, if posted at the same place for a sufficiently long time, could, if he was so inclined, easily form a party of his own. The Bijapur Government recognised the hereditary rights of some officers called *Naikwaris*. These often created trouble and sometimes prevented the admission of a new governor into the forts for months, if their interest was in any way adversely affected.¹ Shivaji, therefore, transferred his officers from one fort to another, as his civil governors were frequently transferred from one district to another, and his ministers from one office to another, and, as in the army and civil departments, he recognised no hereditary rights in the forts. Every officer was appointed by the king to serve during his pleasure and his sons or relatives had not the least claim to the office left vacant by his death.