The Education Society’s,

P. D. Karkhanis College of Arts & Commerce, Ambarnath

Introduction

On the day of Phalgun Vadya Tritiya in the shake year 1551, 19 Feb 1630 at the hill fort of Shivneri , Shivaji was born. He was a second son of Shahaji Bhosale and Jijabai He was brought up under the supervision of Jijabai and loyal Brahmin Guru Dadoji Kondev Dadoji Kondev made Shivaji an expert in soilder and an efficient Administrator Shivaji was also influenced religiously by Guru Ramdas

Administration

Shivaji’s administration was largely influenced by Deccan Administrative practices

he teritory over which Shivaji ruled was known as ‘ Swarajya’

Shivaji divided his teritory into several provinces

These provinces further divided into parganas and villages

Shivaji was assisted in his day to day affairs by his council of 8 ministers called Ashtapradhan

Each Minister was in charge of department called Ministry

Features Of Shivaji’s Administration

Shivaji divided his administration into 6 parts

Central Administration

Provicial Administration

Revenue System

Chauth or Sardeshmukhi

Judicial Administration

Army Administration

Provincial Administration

Shivaji divided his kingdom into 4 provinces

Each province were under the head called Mujumdar

Each province was divided into several districtsand villages called Subhas

The chief of the Subhas is called Subhedar

Subhedar was assisted by Karkun

Village chief is called Deshpande or Patel

Like center there was a council of 8 ministers called Prantapati

Revenue

Revenue was assessed after a careful survey and classification of lands based on yields and quality

2/5th of the produced was fixed as the share of the state which was payable in cash or kind Land in every village was measured and the produce was roughly assesed

On the basis of assesment , the cultivators were asked to pay 40% of their produce as land revenue

The Rayatwari system was introduced in which the revenue was directly collected from the farmers

Whenever possible , Shivaji abolished the Jagirdari system

Farmers had the option to pay the land revenue in cash or kind

The peasnts could pay the revenue in installments

Chauth & Sardeshmukhi

The accounts of the revenue officers began to be throughly checked

In the event of floods and famine, the state offered loans to the peasants

Shivaji introduced the collection of two taxes chauth and Sardeshmukhi

Chauth was 1/4th of the revenue of the district collected , was a military contribution paid towards off any attack of the Marathas

Sardeshmukhi was an additional tax of 10%as the hereditary Sardeshmukhi

Judicial Administration

The judicial administration was simple

The highest court was “ Hazar Majils” or court of king

Day to day administration was carried on by Village Panchayats and Village Patel

Army Administration

Army has 6 divisions cavalry, infantry, camel battalions , elephant battalions, artillery and navy

Cavalry divided into Bargirs and Shiledars

Bargirs were the soilders who use their horses and weapons of the kingdom

For every horse there is one Bargir For 25 Bargirs there is one Havaldar

Bargirs

For every horse there is one Bargir

For 25 Bargirs there is one Havaldar

For 5 Havaldars there is one Jumledar

For 10 Jumledars there is one Hajari

For 5 Hajari there is one Panch Hajari

On Panch Hajari there is one Sarnaubat

Infantry

Infantry was made up of foot soilders

For 10 soilders there is one Naik

For 5 Naiks there is one Havaldar

For 3 Havaldars there is one Jumledar

For 8 jumledar there is one Hajari

For all Hajari there is one Sarnaubat

Naval Force

Shivaji was the first Indian King to introduce Navy

He had 3 shipyards, hundreds of frigates and many sea forts

Shivaji built strong navy around Konkan and Goa coastal line to protect the sea trade

Shivaji built ships in towns such as Kalyan, Bhiwandi for navy as well as trade

Reforms in the Army

Reforms in the army

Regular army soilders served in the army for 6 months thereafter they worked in their fields

Cash payment soilders were paid in cash

Patrotism : Shivaji inspired soilders with patrotism

Branding of horses : Shivaji introduced the system of branding the horses and keeping the identification of soilders

Administration of Land Division

Guerilla warfare was used

Muslim soilders were also involved

Administration of land division : State , District , Taluka and Village is the division of land

Principles of Shivaji’s Administration

Swarajya should be given highest priority

Government servants should be paid in cash not through grants or jagirs

No post in the office , even the highest were to be heriditary

All post to be filled in on the basis of merit

Revenue collection was to be direct that is to be by the state

Ijara system of farming lands was abolished People of all caste were involved.All people irrespective of their caste and religon were to have same rights During the war and in the course of raids in the enemy territory , the women, children and religious places were not suffer any harm The finances of the state were to be managed and budgeted

Shivaji’s Administration & its Relevance with Modern Times

Even though Shivaji lived over 300 years ago, his administration is still in practice Ministerial system in Administration is still exists

Naval force introduced by Shivaji for trade and protection is still used

The very first Shopping Mall in the world is in Raigad only the difference driving force was rode a horse

Revenue system still in practice

Millitary Administration cavalry, infantry, camel battallions, elephant batallions still exists

Judicial system of Administration exists

Raigad

Bazar Peth at Raigad

References

Bhamre Jitendra : Marathyacha Etihas

Chawala Hitesh ; Shivaji Maharaj and His Management

Kulkarni A..R. ; Medieval Maharashtra

Kolarkar S. G.; Marathyacha Etihas

ShakeelAnwar M.D.; Maratha Administration

Shakeel Anwar M.D.; Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj : History , Biography, Administration

Sonal ; Salient Features of Maratha Administration

Takakhav N.S. ; The Life of Shivaji Maharaj

Conclusion

Shivaji was the First Indian Ruler in the Medieval age

He was a great warrior in the 17th century

Even though Shivaji lived over 300 years ago , his administration was quite relevant in Modern times

Shivaji with his good administration took Maratha Empire to its Zenith

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Ki Jai