________________
130
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
APRIL, 1921
But Shivaji never tried to achieve the impossible. A practical statesman, he wisel y
rejected all unworkable ideals. In fact no Maratha statesman before Shivaji a practical
or after him has yearned for theoretical perfection. He knew that statesman.
the difficulties in his way were great, but he also knew that without an orderly government his kingdom would not be worth a moment's purchase, and that so long as private war and blood feuds continued, he would not be able to introduce into his infant army that strict discipline which was essentially necesary for its very existence. Peace and order were therefore absolutely necessary. But unless he could unito under his banner the numerous chiefs who exercised petty sovereignty in Maharastha, a strong orderly government would be an idle dream. Once his aim was defined, he refused to be hampered by ordinary scruples. Policy required that he should try conciliation fors it and he did so. He was frequently successful, but whenever conciliation failed, he did not hesi. tate to employ treachery. And, one by one, the Deshmukhs of Mawal did submit to his authority and a considerable portion of the Bijapur territory was conquered. It was now that Shivaji had to frame a working scheme of Government. Here, however, he was confronted with a very difficult problem. He had to decide how far the old system should be continued and to what extent reformed. Wholesale conservation and wholesale reform were equally out of question. The first would grant a fresh lease of life to feudalism with its concomitant evils of private war, blood feud, anarchy and oppression. A keen observer, he did not fail to notice the evil effects of the feudal system in the tottering kingdoms of Bijapur and Golkonda. But the total abolition of feudalism would alienate most of his countrymen, some of whom had submitted to him but reluctantly. He knew that the great defect of the Maratha character was its selfish individualism. The Maratha watandar thought of his watan first and of his country afterwards. Shivaji had wherefore to strike & mean between the two extremes that would at the same time reconcile the watandars and ensure comparative order and peace. The village communities in Southern India flourished from the dawn of history. When
these democratic institutions first originated no one knows.18 But in General structure of Government village the absence of a highly developed central Government, such as we now system unaffected have, they served the needs of the time admirably. Shivaji decided to leave them undisturbed in their internal organisation. In fact, the village republics exercised almost the same powers, enjoyed the same privileges and underwent the same responsibilities from the time of their origin down to the establishment of the British Government of India, when many of their immunities and privileges were found incompatible with a modern Government. Over a group of these self-contained units had formerly been placed the Deshmukhs and the Deshpandes. Originally appointed for revenue collection, they had gradually made their office hereditary and had assumed and exercised almost sovereign authority. The circumstances of the time helped this feudal evolution. But Shivaji could not allow this state of things to go on uninterrupted. Feudalism' was incompatible with a strong monarchy. Shivaji therefore appointed his own Revenue officers but the Deshmukhs and the Deshpades were left in the enjoyment of their old rights and perquisites. They were, how - over, on no account to exercise their tyranny. Rayats were given to understand that henceforth they would have nothing to do with the Desais and Deshmukhs. To render them
10 The Maratha Village system has been fully described in my Administrative System of the Peshwas. There was only one difference. Shivaji did not allow the Patil to act as a Revenue Collector.
