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MAY, 1921)
ADMINISTRATIVE SYSTEM OF SHIVAJI
151
Niraji was appointed Pratinidhi or the king's vicegerent, at Jinji, during the struggle for national existence. Henceforth the Pratinidhi always held the first seat in the cabinet, until the rise of the Peshwas revolutionised the constitution of the Maratha empire. Outside the cabinet but in no way inferior to the eight cabinet ministers, was the
Chitnis or Secretary. Just below the Pradhans had stood Bal Chitnis.
Prabhu Chitnis and Nil Prabhu Parasnis, 16 at the time of Shivaji's coronation. The private secretary of an autocratic king naturally enjoys great influence and is a power behind the throne. Balaji Avji, Shivaji's Chitnis, was a man of exceptional ability. Not only did he perform the ordinary duties of his office, but he had been further entrusted with the exceedingly delicate task of taking down the behests of the great goddess Bhavani, communicated through Shivaji's mouth. It is said that Shivaji had actually offered him a seat in the Rajmandal, but the modesty of the great Prabhu statesman stood in his way.18 The duties of his office are thus enumerated by Malhar Ramrav Chitnis
-"The Chitnis Patralekhak will write all royal letters and diplomatic correspondence. Divining what is in the king's heart, he should at once cleverly put it into writing, discussing the various aspects of the case. He should write in such a manner that what is generally accomplished by war and great exertions should be achieved by means of letters only. We should write answer to the letters that may come."'40 In the memorandum published by Rao Bahadur Sane, we come across the following entry under Chitnis." He should write all official letters and papers of the state. He should write answers to diplomatic letters. Sanads, grants, deeds and other orders, to be issued to the officers in the) Districts should be written according to the separate regulations framed for the Fadnisi papers. On handnotes and papers of special importance there should be a seal or (the king's own?) signature only and no seal of the other officers. The Chitnis alone should put his sign.". (Seal) (item 1).50 Such were the duties that the Chitnis had to perform. Although in the above regulations the Chitnis is required to writo all correspondence
and draw up all state documents, in practice he was to a considerable The work of correspondence shared by extent relieved by others. Chitragupta tells us that the Fadnis other officers.
alone and no other official could issue deeds of Royal grant. All letters to the Provincial and District officers were written by the Chitnis, while answers to the letters from commanders of forts had to be written by an officer called Gadnis.
10 Sabhasad, p. 84. Chitnis, p. 162.
47 Sabhasad Chitnis, Chitragupta and all old chronicles tell us that whenever Shivaji had to face any exceptional difficulty, the goddess Bhavani used to take possession of his body and tell him what he should do. As the king lay unconscious all the time, the behest of the deity was takon down by Balaji Avji. See also, History of the Maratha people by Kincaid and Parasnis, Rajwadyachi Gagabhatti, published by K. T. Gupto and Thakre's Kodandcha Tanatkar. 2. Chitnis, p. 170.
७ बाळाजी आवजी वांस तुमची सेवा बहुत निष्ठेने जाहली व राज्याचे पद्धीस उपयोग पात भाले बास्तव अष्टप्रधानांतील बोजना करणार; बनून अभिषेकापूर्वी सांगितले ते समवीं मी कारकुन लिहिणार बरखार मजला प्रधानांतील पद न लगे सर्वकाळ चरणांचे सानिध्य व अक्षबी कृपा सेवा घडणे . . . . . . . चिपिसी अक्षय करून चावी. 4 Chitnis, p. 168. Pozofre the coffee tw* teft
q* Furaft. राजाचे हात जाणून तत्काल नामाप्रकारचे कल्प करून चतुरपणे लेखन करायें बुद्ध करून आबासे कान कार्य होते पत्राचे भाव पाहूनच कार्य होत असावं. ऐसे लेखन करा.पबेतील त्यांची रेल्वाहावी. 50 Sane p. y. B. p. 368. fecofte gift af rites
. T T et Perf. सनरा बानप वगैरे महाली कुनी बांचा सावता फडणिसी भालाहिरा-बापमाणे लिहा.हातरीके नाजुकपर्ने बानवर मोर्तब अथवा खास इस्कतमाचबरकरांचा सखला चिन्ह नाही पिपिसानींचकरा.
