Revenue Administration
- The revenue system was established on Malik Amber’s Kathi system where the land was calculated by Rod or Kathi.
- Shivaji introduced a new taxation system called Chauthai or Chauth which was one-fourth of the land revenue from the neighboring Mughal territories. It was a kind of military subsidy in return for safeguarding them from external attacks. Another taxation that was introduced called Sardeshmukhi was a supplementary tax of 10% claimed by Shivaji as the overlord of the kingdom.
- The local peasants were asked to pay 40% of their produce as land revenue.
- He established the Ryotwari agricultural system where the state maintained direct communication with the Ryots or farmers. It reduced the corruption done by the middlemen.
- Shivaji rigorously supervised the Mirasdars– a class of people who had hereditary rights over their land. They paid a very small amount of tax and maintained a powerful position in the villages. Shivaji attacked them and brought this section under his control.
Administrative System of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was born in Shivneri of Pune (formerly Pune was known as Poona) in the year 1627 to Shahaji Bhonsle and Jija Bai. The credit for establishing such a huge kingdom goes to Shivaji and his father, Shahaji. In 1637, he received the jagir of Poona from his father and later emerged as one of the greatest rulers of the Maratha empire. The Maratha regime was primarily an advanced and centralized authoritarian monarchy. The king was in charge and his main goal was the happiness and security of his subjects.
In this article, we will discuss the salient features of the administration under Shivaji which were extensively borrowed from the administrative approaches of the Deccan states.