Ashtapradhan Mandal
A headmaster alone does not do all work of a school; there are separate sections for studies, games, accounts and discipline. Maharaj too divided the administration into eight departments.
Ashtapradhan Mandal is a council of eight ministers. Each minister was responsible for one department. Only Maharaj had the power to appoint or remove a minister.
Key idea 1 : Structure of the council — At the coronation Maharaj appointed a council of eight ministers. Ministers were answerable to Maharaj for their departments. They were chosen on merit and achievement.
Key idea 2 : Eight ministers and their work — Pradhan — Moro Trimbak Pingle: running the administration and arrangements for conquered territories. Amatya — Ramchandra Nilkanth Muzumdar: accounts. Sachiv — Annaji Datto: preparing royal edicts. Mantri — Dattaji Trimbak Waknis: correspondence. Senapati — Hambirrao Mohite: army and defence. Sumant — Ramchandra Trimbak Dabir: foreign relations. Nyayadhish — Niraji Rawaji: justice. Panditrao — Moreshwar Panditrao: religious matters.
Key idea 3 : Salary, not jagirs — Maharaj gave ministers no jagirs, vatans or gifts; he paid them handsome salaries instead. So ministers remained servants of the State and not landlords.
- Easy : How many ministers? — Eight.
- Medium : Who kept the accounts? — Amatya.
- Exam-type : Who dispensed justice? — Nyayadhish.
In the figure: Four main departments of the Ashtapradhan Mandal.
What happened before the appointment of the Ashtapradhan Mandal? Maharaj was crowned after over thirty years of struggle. Swaraj now spread over Nashik, Pune, Satara, Sangli, Kolhapur, Sindhudurg, Ratnagiri, Raigad and Thane districts; such a large state could not be run alone.
What happened after the appointment of the Ashtapradhan Mandal? At the coronation itself Maharaj appointed the Ashtapradhan Mandal and divided the administration into eight departments. After the southern conquest Swaraj reached Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.
8 ministers, 8 departments; salary, no jagir.
Only Maharaj could appoint or remove ministers, not the ministers themselves.
Memory clue: Pradhan, Amatya, Sachiv, Mantri, Senapati, Sumant, Nyayadhish, Panditrao.
Spot the difference
| Minister | Designation | Work |
|---|---|---|
| Moropant Pingale | Pradhan | Administration |
| Hambirrao Mohite | Senapati | Army |
| Niraji Rawaji | Nyayadhish | Justice |
Practice questions
- 1What is the Ashtapradhan Mandal?
- 2Write the designations and work of four ministers.
- 3Why were ministers not given jagirs?
- 4Who had the power to appoint ministers?
- 5Why did Maharaj divide administration into eight departments?
- 6Which minister handled foreign relations?
- 7How were ministers selected?
- 8List the different sections of your school and their work.
Show answers (try them yourself first)
- 1A council of eight ministers; each responsible for one department.
- 2Pradhan — administration; Amatya — accounts; Senapati — army; Nyayadhish — justice.
- 3So they remain servants of the State; salaries were paid instead.
- 4Only Maharaj.
- 5The state had grown large and division of work was needed.
- 6Sumant.
- 7On merit and achievement.
- 8E.g. exam section, library, sports section.
Agriculture, village economy and trade
The vegetables at home come from the farmer, clothes from the artisan. All work in a village depends on one another. Maharaj paid attention to preserving this chain.
Baluta is the practice in which farmers gave artisans a fixed share of their produce. A village was a self-sufficient unit.
Key idea 1 : Agriculture policy — Agriculture was the main occupation of villages. Maharaj entrusted organising the land revenue system to the experienced Annaji Datto. Officers were strictly warned not to collect more than the fixed revenue. Bringing fallow land under cultivation was encouraged. If crops were lost to excess rain, drought or enemy invasion, remission was given in revenue and other taxes; officers were told to provide bullocks, ploughs and good seed.
Key idea 2 : Village economy — Many occupations supplementing farming existed in the village. Artisans made goods and met local needs. Farmers gave artisans a fixed share of produce; this was called ‘Baluta’.
Key idea 3 : Trade and industry — Maharaj knew a kingdom does not prosper without trade. Merchants bring new goods and goods become plentiful. The Ajnyapatra calls merchants the ‘ornament of the kingdom’. Maharaj protected industries; he charged heavy duty on salt imported from Portuguese territory so that sales of local Konkan salt would grow.
- Easy : To whom was the revenue system entrusted? — Annaji Datto.
- Medium : What is Baluta? — Fixed share of produce for artisans.
- Exam-type : Why duty on Portuguese salt? — To protect the local salt industry.
In the figure: Farming, artisans, trade and protection of industry.
Konkan salt industry: traders imported salt from Portuguese territory and sold it in Swaraj, which hurt local salt trade. So Maharaj charged heavy duty on imported salt. (as per the textbook; check with the textbook)
Farmer relief; Baluta; trade = ornament; salt duty.
Baluta was not a money tax; it was a share of produce.
Memory clue: Baluta = exchange within the village.
Spot the difference
| Factor | Policy | Benefit |
|---|---|---|
| Farming | Revenue relief, bullocks and seed | Farmers survived |
| Artisans | Baluta | Self-sufficient village |
| Salt | Duty on imports | Local industry protected |
Practice questions
- 1What is Baluta?
- 2Write three points of the agriculture policy.
- 3When was revenue reduced?
- 4Why did Maharaj charge duty on salt?
- 5What was Maharaj’s view about merchants?
- 6Why was a village considered self-sufficient?
- 7What industries are there in your town? Make a list.
- 8Why should local industry be protected? Write your view.
Show answers (try them yourself first)
- 1A fixed share of produce given by farmers to artisans.
- 2Not taking excess revenue; bringing fallow land under cultivation; providing bullocks and seed.
- 3When crops were lost due to excess rain, drought or invasion.
- 4To keep local salt trade alive.
- 5Merchants are the ornament of the kingdom.
- 6Artisans met village needs and farmers paid them a share.
- 7E.g. textiles, spices, fishing.
- 8Because jobs are sustained and the country becomes self-reliant.
Military organisation and intelligence
A cricket team has batsmen, bowlers and fielders and a captain guides all. An army too has separate wings like infantry and cavalry.
Infantry are soldiers on foot; cavalry are soldiers on horses. The intelligence department collects secret information about enemy movements.
Key idea 1 : Infantry — The army of Swaraj had two main divisions: infantry and cavalry. The infantry had officers like Havaldar and Jumledar, and the highest officer was the ‘Sarnobat’.
Key idea 2 : Cavalry — The cavalry had two kinds: Shiledars and Bargirs. A Shiledar had his own horse and weapons; the State supplied a Bargir with horse and weapons. Bargirs were more numerous. The highest officer of the cavalry was the Sarnobat; Netoji Palkar, Prataprao Gujar and Hambirrao Mohite were famous Sarnobats.
Key idea 3 : Intelligence department — The intelligence department existed to get precise and timely information on enemy movements. Maharaj’s intelligence service was highly efficient. Its head Bahirji Naik was very skilled; before the Surat raid he collected accurate and detailed information on Surat.
- Easy : Officers of infantry? — Havaldar, Jumledar.
- Medium : Who is a Shiledar? — Soldier with his own horse and weapons.
- Exam-type : Head of intelligence? — Bahirji Naik.
In the figure: Infantry, cavalry, Sarnobat and spies.
Before the Surat campaign Bahirji Naik’s spies brought accurate information on Surat, so Maharaj gathered wealth from the rich without troubling common people. (as per the textbook; check with the textbook)
Infantry + cavalry; Shiledar = own horse; Bargir = State’s horse.
Sarnobat is the highest post in both infantry and cavalry, not only cavalry.
Memory clue: Shiledar = self-equipped; Bargir = State-equipped.
Spot the difference
| Type | Officers / soldiers | Feature |
|---|---|---|
| Infantry | Havaldar, Jumledar | Soldiers on foot |
| Shiledar | Own horse | Self-equipped |
| Bargir | State’s horse | More in number |
Practice questions
- 1What were the main divisions of the army?
- 2State the difference between Shiledar and Bargir.
- 3Write the names of two famous Sarnobats.
- 4What is the work of the intelligence department?
- 5State the work of Bahirji Naik.
- 6Why was the intelligence department necessary for Swaraj’s defence?
- 7Write the names of the three armed forces of India.
- 8Write in your words the importance of soldiers in our lives.
Show answers (try them yourself first)
- 1Infantry and cavalry.
- 2A Shiledar owns horse and weapons; the State supplies a Bargir.
- 3Netoji Palkar, Prataprao Gujar, Hambirrao Mohite (any two).
- 4Collecting information about enemy movements and giving it to Maharaj.
- 5Head of intelligence; brought accurate information on Surat.
- 6Knowing enemy moves in advance allowed preparation.
- 7Army, Navy and Air Force.
- 8E.g. guarding borders, helping in disasters.
Forts, navy and welfare of subjects
Just as a house has walls and locks, a state needs protection. Maharaj raised forts on land and a navy at sea.
Forts protect the state on land, a navy at sea. In the words of the Ajnyapatra, ‘this kingdom was created by forts alone’.
Key idea 1 : Forts — A fort allowed watch over the surrounding area, gave shelter to people in invasion and could store grain, war materials, ammunition and soldiers. Swaraj had about 300 forts. Hill forts like Pratapgad, Pavangad and Rajgad were built. Each fort had a Killedar, Sabnis and Karkhanis; the Karkhanis looked after grain and war materials.
Key idea 2 : Sea forts — At Malwan the excellent sea fort Sindhudurg was built; five khandis of lead were poured into the foundation for strength. To counter the Siddi power, Padmadurg was built in front of Rajapuri; Maharaj wrote in a letter that Padmadurg set up “another Rajapuri” to overshadow the Siddi’s Rajapuri.
Key idea 3 : Navy and welfare of subjects — On the west coast the Portuguese of Goa, the Siddis of Janjira and the English of Surat and Rajapur obstructed the expansion of Swaraj. So Maharaj raised a navy, realising that whoever has a navy controls the sea. The navy had about four hundred ships; the gurab, galbat and pal were warships; ships were built at Kalyan-Bhiwandi, Vijaydurg and Malwan. Maynak Bhandari and Daulatkhan were chief naval commanders. Maharaj’s aim was to give his subjects the joy of freedom; for that a disciplined administration and care for people’s welfare were necessary.
- Easy : Where is Sindhudurg? — Malwan.
- Medium : Who looked after grain on a fort? — Karkhanis.
- Exam-type : Chief naval commanders? — Maynak Bhandari, Daulatkhan.
In the figure: Strength of forts and navy.
What happened before the raising of the navy? Movements of the Portuguese, Siddis and English on the west coast obstructed Swaraj’s expansion. Maharaj realised the coast would not be safe without control of the sea.
What happened after the raising of the navy? The navy grew to about four hundred ships and sea forts like Sindhudurg, Padmadurg and Vijaydurg stood up. Padmadurg was built in front of Rajapuri to counter the Siddi power.
300 forts; 400 ships; Sindhudurg = Malwan; Padmadurg = Rajapuri.
Not all forts were built by Maharaj himself; some were captured and repaired.
Memory clue: Forts = land; navy = sea.
Spot the difference
| Factor | Example | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Hill fort | Pratapgad, Rajgad | Land defence |
| Sea fort | Sindhudurg, Padmadurg | Sea and coast |
| Navy | Gurab, galbat, pal | West coast protection |
Practice questions
- 1Why were forts important?
- 2Which officers were on a fort?
- 3Write two features of Sindhudurg fort.
- 4Where and why was Padmadurg built?
- 5Why did Maharaj raise a navy?
- 6Name three types of ships in the navy.
- 7What was the aim of Maharaj’s administration?
- 8Find and write about three warships of the Indian Navy.
Show answers (try them yourself first)
- 1For watch, protection and stocking of grain and arms.
- 2Killedar, Sabnis and Karkhanis.
- 3Near Malwan; five khandis of lead poured in the foundation.
- 4In front of Rajapuri; to counter the Siddi power.
- 5To curb the Portuguese, Siddis and English and protect the coast.
- 6Gurab, galbat, pal.
- 7To give subjects the joy of freedom and welfare.
- 8E.g. INS Vikrant, INS Viraat etc. (with the teacher’s help).