Question

Examine the essential features of Maratha administration under Shivaji.

Answer 1

Instructions:
The answer to this question should be divided into four parts:

• Talk about Shivaji’s three circle administration.
• Mention about the rural areas controlled by deshmukhs.
• Talk about how maintenance of an army was an important part of Shivaji’s administration.
• Mention about the Ashtapradhan.

Solution:

• Shivaji’s administration comprised of three circles. The first circle or the central one was the Swaraj. The second circle was of regions which were under the suzerainty of Shivaji, but the administration was carried out by someone else. In the region which covered the third circle, the only objective was to loot.
• In rural regions, deshmukhs had the control over twenty and hundred villages. Patil was the headman of a village. He was helped by a village accountant who maintained records, known as Kulkarni.
• Shivaji paid great attention to the army and the training of its personnel. The backbone of Shivaji’s army in the beginning was the infantry. The cavalry eventually grew. The soldiers were handpicked by Shivaji, backed by the assurance of a soldier in service. The forts were well-maintained and highly secure.
• The Ashtapradhan were the eight ministers that Shivaji designated for the kingdom, each handling an important portfolio. Thus, Peshwa was the prime minister, mazumdar was the finance minister, sacheev was the secretary, waqia-navis was the interior minister to name a few.