Maharashtra Board Class 7 History Chapter 7 The Administration of the Swaraj PDF Download

7. The Administration Of The Swaraj

Shivaji Maharaj founded Swaraj. He had himself crowned. After the coronation, Maharaj accomplished 'Dakshin Digvijay', the conquest of the South. The Swaraj expanded comprising large areas of Nashik, Pune, Satara, Sangli, Kolhapur, Sindhudurg, Ratnagiri, Raigad and Thane districts of Maharashtra. It also included parts Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu States. To ensure the smooth management of the affairs of the Swaraj and to ensure people's welfare, Shivaji Maharaj set up an efficient administration. We shall get some information about it in this chapter.

Ashtapradhan Mandal (Council Of Eight Ministers)

At the time of his coronation, Shivaji Maharaj appointed a council of eight ministers. The administration was divided into eight departments. A Head was appointed for each department. These eight Heads of department constituted the Ashtapradhan Mandal. Maharaj alone had the power to appoint a minister or to remove him from his position. The ministers were answerable to Maharaj for the administration of their respective departments.

Shivaji Maharaj selected the Council on the basis of their merit and achievements. He did not give them jagirs, vatans or gifts or fiefs. They were paid handsome salaries instead.

Teacher's Note

Shivaji Maharaj chose good ministers based on their skills. This is like today when schools choose good teachers based on their qualifications and experience.

Exam Trick

Remember: Eight ministers = Ashtapradhan. 'Ashta' means eight in Sanskrit. Just count the eight ministers in the table to remember this word easily.

Points To Remember

Shivaji Maharaj had a council of eight ministers for different departments.
Ministers were chosen based on their merit and achievements.
Ministers got good salaries, not land or gifts.
Maharaj alone could appoint or remove any minister.
Each minister was answerable to Maharaj for their work.

The Policy Regarding Agriculture

Agriculture was the main occupation in villages. Maharaj knew the importance of agriculture. That was why he paid attention to the welfare of farmers. He entrusted the responsibility of organizing the land revenue system to his capable and experienced office bearer Annaji Datto. He warned the officers that they should not collect more revenue than the amount that was fixed. He encouraged peasants to bring uncultivated land under cultivation. If the crop was lost due to excessive rains or drought, or if an enemy army had devasted the area of the village, remissions were granted in land revenue and other taxes. Maharaj had instructed his officers to provide peasants with bullocks, ploughs and good seeds for sowing.

Teacher's Note

Shivaji Maharaj helped farmers when crops failed. This is like the government today giving help to farmers when there is bad weather or drought in villages.

Exam Trick

Remember: Maharaj = farmer's friend. He gave seeds, bullocks, and ploughs to help farmers grow more crops. This helped the whole kingdom grow stronger.

Points To Remember

Maharaj cared for farmer welfare and their success.
Officers were told not to collect too much tax from farmers.
Maharaj helped farmers bring new land under farming.
Farmers got free seeds, bullocks and ploughs from Maharaj.
If crops failed, Maharaj gave tax relief to farmers.

Village Economy Of That Period

Agriculture was the backbone of the rural economy. In villages, many occupations developed to supplement agriculture. Artisans in the village produced goods and fulfilled the needs of the local people. In this sense, a village was a self-sufficient unit. Farmers gave a definite share from their produce to artisans. This share was called 'Baluta'.

Teacher's Note

In old villages, farmers gave a share of their crops to blacksmiths, potters and carpenters. These people made tools and pots that farmers needed. This was a fair exchange system called Baluta.

Exam Trick

Remember: Baluta = share. Farmers shared their crops with artisans. A village was self-sufficient because all jobs needed were done inside the village.

Points To Remember

Agriculture was the main support of village economy.
Villages had artisans who made goods for the people.
Farmers gave a share of crops to artisans called Baluta.
Villages were self-sufficient and did not need outside goods.
Many different jobs developed to support farming.

Trade And Business

Maharaj knew that a kingdom does not prosper without an increase in trade. Merchants bring novel goods as also certain necessities into a kingdom. Goods become available in plenty. Trade prospers adding to wealth. The view that Maharaj took of merchants is seen in the Ajnyapatra where merchants are described as follows: 'Merchants are the ornaments of the kingdom and the glory of the king.'

It was the policy of Maharaj to protect industries. An excellent example of this is the salt industry. He protected the salt industry in Konkan. At that time, traders imported salt from the Portuguese territory and sold in Swaraj. That affected the local trade in Konkan areas. So, Maharaj charged heavy duty on the salt imported into Swaraj from the Portuguese territory. The intention was that the salt imported from the Portuguese territory would then cost more and as a result, its import would decrease and the sale of the local salt would increase.

Teacher's Note

Maharaj protected local salt makers by putting tax on foreign salt. This is like India today protecting local industries by putting tax on foreign goods so that Indian goods sell more.

Exam Trick

Remember: Merchants = kingdom's beauty. Maharaj protected local businesses by making imported goods costly. This way, local people bought local salt and became richer.

Points To Remember

Maharaj valued merchants and trade for the kingdom's wealth.
He protected the local salt industry from outside competition.
He put heavy tax on imported salt from Portuguese areas.
This made imported salt expensive and costly.
Local salt sellers then sold more because their salt was cheaper.

The Military Organisation

There were two main divisions of the army of Shivaji Maharaj: infantry and cavalry. In the infantry there were officers such as the Havaldar, Jumledar, etc. The chief of the infantry was called Sarnobat. He was the highest officer in the infantry.

In the cavalry, there were two types of cavalrymen, namely Shiledars and Bargirs. The Shiledar had his own horse and weapons. The bargir was provided with a horse and weapons by the State. In the cavalry, bargirs were more in number. The ranks of the cavalry officers were similar to those of the infantry officers. The highest officer in the cavalry was the Sarnobat. Netoji Palkar, Prataprao Gujar, Hambirrao Mohite were some of the famous Sarnobats of the cavalry.

Obtain information about the Armed Forces of India.

State the names of the three Armed Forces.

What is the designation of the head of each Force?

Who is the Head of all the three Forces?

Teacher's Note

Maharaj had two types of soldiers: foot soldiers and horse riders. India today also has soldiers on foot and on vehicles. Both are important for protecting the country.

Exam Trick

Remember: Sarnobat = top officer. Shiledars had their own horses, Bargirs got horses from the state. Most soldiers were Bargirs because they cost less.

Points To Remember

Maharaj had two army divisions: infantry and cavalry.
Infantry had officers like Havaldar and Jumledar.
Cavalry had Shiledars with own horses and Bargirs given horses by state.
Sarnobat was the highest officer in both infantry and cavalry.
More Bargirs than Shiledars because they cost less to keep.

Intelligence Department

It was necessary to protect the Swaraj from its enemies. For this, it was necessary to get precise and timely information about the movements of the enemy. It was the job of the intelligence department to obtain information about the movements of the enemies and submit it to Maharaj. The intelligence service of Maharaj was very efficient. Bahirji Naik was the Head of the intelligence department. He was extremely skilled in his job. He collected accurate and detailed information about Surat before the raid on Surat.

Teacher's Note

Maharaj had spies who gathered information about enemies. Today, India's intelligence agencies do the same work to keep the country safe from danger.

Exam Trick

Remember: Bahirji Naik = spy chief. He collected secret information about enemy places before Maharaj attacked them. This helped Maharaj win battles.

Points To Remember

Intelligence department got secret information about enemies.
Bahirji Naik was the head of this important department.
He gathered accurate details about enemy movements and plans.
This information helped Maharaj plan his attacks carefully.
Good spies helped protect the Swaraj from surprise attacks.

Forts

Forts were of great importance in the medieval age. Possession of a fort made it possible to keep an eye on the surrounding area. In case of foreign invasion it was possible to protect the people taking shelter in the fort. It was possible to stock the fort with foodgrains, war materials, ammunition and military garrison. The importance of forts in the foundation of Swaraj is well stated in the Ajnyapatra: 'This kingdom was created by the late revered and exalted Majesty forts alone.'

There were about 300 forts in the Swaraj. Maharaj spent a considerable amount of money on the building and repairs of these forts. He built hill forts like Pratapgad, Pavangad and Rajgad. There was a Killedar, a Sabnis and a Karkhanis on every fort. The Karkhanis looked after the storage of foodgrains and the maintenance of war material on the fort.

Teacher's Note

Maharaj built 300 forts to protect his kingdom. Forts are like strong walls around a city. Today, we have police stations and army camps instead of forts for protection.

Exam Trick

Remember: Karkhanis = store keeper. He kept food and war things safe in the fort. Every fort needed food and weapons for soldiers to stay strong and fight enemies.

Points To Remember

Maharaj built about 300 forts across his kingdom.
Forts protected people and gave a good place to watch enemies.
Forts stored food, weapons and ammunition for soldiers.
Killedar was the officer in charge of each fort.
Karkhanis looked after storing food and war materials.

Sea Forts

Maharaj knew the importance of sea forts, too. One of the sea forts that he built was Sindhudurga at Malwan. It is an excellent sea fort. To give strength to the construction of the fort, five khandis of lead was poured into its foundation. A sea fort called Padmadurga was built in front of Rajapuri in order to counter the Siddi power. About this fort, Maharaj has said in a letter that by constructing Padmadurga, he had set up 'another Rajapuri to overshadow the Rajapuri of the Siddi.'

The description of the building of forts by Shivaji Maharaj in the treatise 'Budhabhusanam' composed by Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj is remarkable. It is as follows:

'Shivaji Maharaj built many impenetrable forts on the ridge of plateaus in the Sahyadri mountain range, in many places from Karnataka up to Baglan. The intention behind it was to protect this earth. Under his successful leadership, these forts were built from the banks of the river Krishna up to the sea in all the four directions. In the Rayari fort, Raje Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj remained on the forefront among all kings and was victorious'.

Teacher's Note

Maharaj built sea forts to protect the coast from enemies like the Portuguese. Today, India builds naval bases and ships to protect our seacoast in the same way.

Exam Trick

Remember: Sindhudurga = sea fort at Malwan. Padmadurga = sea fort at Rajapuri. Both forts protected Maharaj's coastline from enemy ships and attacks.

Points To Remember

Sindhudurga was a strong sea fort built at Malwan by Maharaj.
Lead was poured into its foundation to make it very strong.
Padmadurga was built near Rajapuri to stop the Siddi power.
Sea forts protected the coastline from enemy ships and invasions.
Maharaj built forts all along the coast from Karnataka to the sea.

Navy

Enemies on the west coast of India, the Portuguese of Goa, the Siddi of Janjira and the British factors of Surat and Rajapur, created obstacles in the work of expanding the Swaraj. It was necessary to curb their activities and to protect the west coast. For this purpose, Maharaj raised a navy. He realised that the one who has a navy, controls the sea Mahar