Maratha History

छत्रपति शिवाजी महाराज ने जिस हिन्दवी स्वराज्य की स्थापना की थी, उसकी विभिन्न व्यवस्थाओं में 'स्वबोध' का आधार दिखाई देता है। उनका उद्देश्य केवल विदेशी सत्ता को समाप्त कर अपना राज्य स्थापित करना नहीं था, बल्कि भारतीय आत्मचेतना को जगाकर एक वास्तविक स्वदेशी प्रशासनिक, आर्थिक और सैन्य व्यवस्था का निर्माण करना था। शिवाजी महाराज ने अपने साम्राज्य को निजी पहचान देने के बजाय ‘हिन्दवी स्वराज्य’ और ‘हिन्दू पदपादशाही’ का नाम दिया। उन्होंने इसे अपनी नहीं, बल्कि ईश्वर की इच्छा (हिन्दवी स्वराज्य ही श्रींची इच्छा) बताया। विदेशी (अरबी/फारसी) शब्दों की भाषाई दासता से मुक्ति के लिए उन्होंने लगभग 1400 संस्कृतनिष्ठ और मराठी शब्दों का ‘राज व्यवहार कोश’ तैयार करवाया। मुगलों की मुद्रा को चलन से बाहर करके उन्होंने बड़े लेन-देन के लिए ‘होन’ और सामान्य व्यवहार के लिए ‘शिवराई’ नामक स्वदेशी मुद्राएँ प्रारंभ कीं। शिवाजी महाराज को ‘भारतीय नौसेना का पितामह’ कहा जाता है। उन्होंने विदेशियों से जहाज खरीदने के बजाय ‘संगमेश्वरी’ नामक स्वदेशी नौकाएँ विकसित कीं और पुरंदर किले में तोप निर्माण का अपना कारखाना स्थापित कर तकनीकी मौलिकता को बढ़ावा दिया। राज्य व्यवस्था को सुचारू ढंग से चलाने के लिए उन्होंने ‘अष्टप्रधान’ नामक प्रशासनिक व्यवस्था स्थापित की।
प्रस्तुत अध्ययन का प्रारूप विश्लेषणात्मक एवं विवेचनात्मक प्रकृति का है। इसमें छत्रपति शिवाजी महाराज की राज्य व्यवस्थाओं का गहन विश्लेषण किया गया है। इस अध्ययन में यह जानने का प्रयास किया गया है कि उन्होंने हिन्दवी स्वराज्य की स्थापना और उसकी व्यवस्थाएँ सुदृढ़ करने में ‘स्वबोध’ को किस प्रकार महत्व दिया। इस उद्देश्य की पूर्ति के लिए द्वितीयक स्रोतों का उपयोग किया गया है और उनसे प्राप्त सामग्री का तार्किक विश्लेषण किया गया है।
मुख्य शब्द: छत्रपति शिवाजी महाराज, हिन्दवी स्वराज्य, हिन्दू साम्राज्य, स्वबोध।

My essay engages the question: what remains of the “subaltern” as a concept amid the ruins of postcolonialism and in the wake of Subaltern Studies? I answer this question through the work of Savitribai Phule (1831-1897), a political thinker, poet, and activist from the Shudra (Mali) community of Maharashtra who in 1892 composed in Marathi verse a history of caste patriarchy and its relationship to knowledge. Building on Odora Hoppers’ idea of “knowledge apartheid” (2004), I analyze Phule’s historical poem for her analysis of caste patriarchy, regimes of knowledge, and the idea of multiple forms of colonialism bearing on her political moment. I reflect on how her the work in her name may suggest an enduring place for the concept of the subaltern that exceeds the scope of postcolonial studies.

The Portuguese Estado da India and the English East India Company were engaged in a series of confrontations from the beginning of the 17 th century in India till an alliance treaty between the Portuguese and English monarchies in 1661 made them neighbours in a contested coastal territory in the North Konkan region of Maharashtra. Situational conflicts over territorial, religious, taxation matters continued between them until the extinction of the Portuguese Province of the North (Província do Norte) in the hands of Marathas in 1739. Before the Portuguese could realise their plan to reconquer their lost territory, the English East India Company had occupied it by 1774 only to emerge hegemonic after subduing the Maratha Confederacy in 1818. How the Portuguese structures and monuments were treated-first in the Maratha and the subsequent British period-, how the English perceived the Portuguese colonial remains and heritage in the North Konkan from the latter half of the 18 th century to the first half of the 20 th century, and what was their response to the demand and need for heritage preservation of the monuments of Indo-Portuguese origin in the North Konkan are briefly dealt with in this article. A methodology of conducting detailed archaeological fieldwork and consulting primary and secondary Portuguese, Maratha and British period documents and reports is adopted for this purpose.

But apart from the Modern tags of luxury and fashion attached to it, the Madh Island has also got a share of rich Cultural Heritage, though relatively unknown to public. From the Historical/Archaeological/Heritage Remains point of view, many people think that it is the only Madh Fort, located on Basaltic rocky formation of the Madh Island that has got something to do with History besides some temples, which function as the place for presiding Deities of the respective places and villages. From the Systematic and Problem Oriented Explorations conducted in the Madh Island and Versova by the Author as a part of the broader Exploration work in North Konkan from the past few years, a systemic picture of Archaeological/Historical/Cultural antecedents and tradition of this picturesque Island and the surrounding area has emerged and which has pushed back the antiquity of the area at least for 1400 years. The present Article, mainly basing itself on the theme of the Workshop organized by the Centre of Extra Mural Studies, University of Mumbai will feature before the Researchers/Enthusiasts the broad Methodology of how to conduct problem oriented, well defined and planned Exploration works in the Area/Region under the reference. A Case Study of the smaller area such as the Madh Island and Versova is presented here to show the inherent Dynamics of the Multicultural Sites and how the approaches to search the traces/remains of the particular period changes as per the period under consideration.

The Maratha Empire emerged in the late 1600s under Shivaji Maharaj, who built a resilient hill-fort kingdom and challenged Mughal dominance. After years of war and internal struggle, the empire stabilized under Shahu I, with real power shifting to the Peshwas in Pune. Through leaders like Bajirao I, the Marathas expanded rapidly, forming a confederacy of major houses-Scindia, Holkar, Gaekwad, and the Nagpur Bhonsles, who controlled large territories in central India and played a major role in northern campaigns. The empire reached its peak by mid-18th century but suffered a major blow at the Third Battle of Panipat (1761). Though partially revived under Madhav Rao I, growing internal rivalries and British intervention weakened the confederacy. After the Anglo-Maratha Wars, the fall of Peshwa Bajirao II in 1818 ended Maratha sovereignty, though their political and military legacy continued to shape India long after.

This paper introduces Sovereign Systems Leadership (SSL), a tripartite framework for analyzing the formation and durability of power. It argues that sustained sovereignty emerges from the multiplicative integration of three intelligences: Administrative (structure), Expansion (scale), and Identity (cohesion). Unlike additive leadership models, SSL proposes that weakness in any pillar proportionally diminishes total power. Identity Intelligence is further divided into Hard Identity (enforced alignment) and Soft Identity (earned alignment), each with distinct legitimacy dynamics. Through historical and contemporary case studies, the framework explains why some power systems endure while others collapse, offering implications for institutional design, geopolitical analysis, and post-institutional governance.

04/05/26

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The paper explores how colonial rule in India created a systematic hierarchy of knowledge that has delegitimized Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS) as inferior, unscientific and pre-modern while appropriating the same indigenous knowledge to promote the western scientific and innovative outlook. Based on postcolonial epistemology and history of knowledge production the study frames this paradox as a form of epistemic colonialism, in which Indian intellectual traditions came to be selectively extracted, translated, and reframed in Eurocentric categories, and indigenous authorship and originality were erased. The paper presents through illustrative examples in medicine, mathematics, metallurgy and administrative practices how colonial knowledge regimes rebranded local knowledge, which was based on practice, into universalised forms of Western innovations. The discussion also highlights the long-lasting impact of this epistemic injustice to the academic inequalities and the value of knowledge in present-day academia. The paper seeks to critically re-engage with Indian Knowledge Systems especially going beyond mere revivalism toward epistemic restitution and methodological pluralism in global knowledge systems.

The Eighteenth Century Maratha cavalry's attack on Bengal, economy, and culture known as the Bargi invasion, left a lasting impact on the region's politics, economy and culture. Bengal, encompassing Bengal, Bihar, Orissa, and present-day Bangladesh, was renowned as the jinat ul bilad or the paradise of provinces, generating the highest revenue under the Mughal dynasty. However, it faced a sever crisis due to the Bargi invasion, which lasted for around ten years during the reign of Nawab Alivardi Khan. This paper aims to explore the impact of the Bargi invasion, examining how it shaped the political interactions and demography of the Eighteenth Century Bengal region. Despite its limited presence in contemporary records, the invasion remains strongly embedded in the collective memory, passed down through generations in the form of lullabies.

Rani Chennamma of Kittur occupies a significant yet often underrepresented place in the early history of India's resistance to British colonial rule. This paper examines the life, leadership, and legacy of the warrior queen who, several decades before the Revolt of 1857, challenged the East India Company's expanding authority. Her rebellion emerged in response to colonial interference in the sovereignty of indigenous states, particularly the imposition of expansionist policies such as the Doctrine of Lapse. Through a critical historical and gendered perspective, the study explores how Chennamma's resistance symbolised not only a defence of political autonomy but also a challenge to the patriarchal and imperial narratives that marginalised women leaders in historical discourse. Rani Chennamma, the queen of Kittur, emerged as one of the earliest symbols of resistance against British rule in India. In the early nineteenth century, when many Indian rulers were yet to grasp the imperial ambitions of the British East India Company, she boldly rose in defiance. As the first Indian ruler to lead an armed rebellion against the Company, Chennamma demonstrated not only her martial prowess but also her political foresight. Beyond the battlefield, Chennamma was celebrated as a virtuous and pious woman and as a pragmatic and farsighted administrator. Her rebellion, though ending in her martyrdom, ignited a spirit of resistance that resonated far beyond Kittur. Her courage, sacrifice, and unwavering patriotism have inspired later generations, and her story continues to be remembered and retold as a testament to the indomitable spirit of one of India's unsung heroines. By situating her rebellion within the broader context of early anti-colonial uprisings, this paper examines the silence in colonial archives and post-independence historiography that has reduced Chennamma to a footnote rather than acknowledging her as a forerunner. Drawing on archival records, regional oral traditions, folk ballads, and contemporary commemorative practices, the research reconstructs her story as a symbol of courage, resilience, and Indigenous sovereignty. Ultimately, the study advocates for the re-centring of Rani Chennamma in India's national memory and calls for a historiographical revision that honours the unsung heroines of resistance.

समकालीन ग्रामीण कौटुंबिक अस्थिरता’ या विषयात आजच्या ग्रामीण समाजात कुटुंबात घडणारे बदल समजतात. पूर्वी ग्रामीण कुटुंब एकत्र राहणारे, परंपरा जपणारे आणि परस्परांना मदत करणारे असे होते. पण आता काळ बदलल्यामुळे कुटुंबात अनेक समस्या दिसतात. पती-पत्नीचे वाद, वारसा व जमिनीवरून भांडणं, व्यसनाधीनता, महिलांवरील हिंसा यामुळे घरातील शांतता हरवली आहे. मुलांच्या शिक्षणाचा खर्च, विवाहातील दिखाऊपणा, तसेच शेतमालाला मिळणारा कमी दर यामुळे कुटुंब आर्थिक संकटात सापडते. उत्पन्न कमी आणि खर्च जास्त झाल्यामुळे अनेकांना कर्ज काढावे लागते. या तणावामुळे घरात भांडणं, मानसिक त्रास, आत्महत्या आणि पिढ्यांमधील संघर्ष वाढतो. आजचे युवक शहरातील जीवनशैलीकडे वळतात, तर जुन्या पिढीला परंपरा महत्त्वाच्या वाटतात. पारंपारिक शेती व्यवसायाबाबत आजच्या तरुणांची वाढलेली उदासीनता दिसून येतो. कुटुंबातील इतर सदस्य आणि तरुण यांच्यातील विचारातील संघर्षात वाढ होताना दिसून येते.  त्यामुळे कुटुंबात दुरावा वाढतो. या समस्यांवर मात करण्यासाठी शिक्षण, व्यसनमुक्ती, महिलांचे सक्षमीकरण, रोजगाराच्या संधी, समुपदेशन आणि सामाजिक ऐक्य या गोष्टींची आवश्यकता आहे.

नागपुर शहर की स्थापना गोंड राजा महिपत शाह, जिन्हें बुलंद बख्त के नाम से भी जाना जाता है, ने 1702 ईस्वी में की थी। वे मूलतः देवगढ़ रियासत के शासक थे, किंतु मुगलों के साथ संबंध खराब होने के कारण उन्हें सत्ता से हटा दिया गया। इसके बाद उन्होंने अपने राज्य की शक्ति को पुनः स्थापित करने के लिए मुगल सत्ता के विरुद्ध संघर्ष किया। मराठों तथा उत्तर-पश्चिम भारत के कई राजाओं और योद्धाओं के सहयोग से संयुक्त सैन्य शक्ति का संगठन कर उन्होंने मुगलों को पराजित किया और अपनी खोई हुई सत्ता पुनः प्राप्त की। विजय के उपरांत महिपत शाह ने राज्य को अधिक सुदृढ़ और संगठित करने के उद्देश्य से अपनी राजधानी पहाड़ी और जंगलों से घिरे देवगढ़ क्षेत्र से हटाकर मैदान में एक नई राजधानी स्थापित करने का निर्णय लिया। इसी क्रम में लगभग बारह गाँवों को मिलाकर नागपुर नगर की स्थापना की गई तथा राजधानी को देवगढ़ से यहाँ स्थानांतरित किया गया। उनके उत्तराधिकारी एवं पुत्र चाँद सुल्तान ने नागपुर को एक संगठित और विकसित राजधानी के रूप में स्थापित किया। इस प्रक्रिया में विभिन्न क्षेत्रों से सैनिकों, कारीगरों, व्यापारियों और कृषकों को यहाँ बसाया गया, जिससे नागपुर एक बहु-सांस्कृतिक समाज का केंद्र बन गया। विभिन्न भाषाई और सांस्कृतिक समूहों के पारस्परिक संपर्क से नई सामाजिक और सांस्कृतिक परंपराओं का विकास हुआ, जिसे आगे चलकर नागपुरी भाषा और संस्कृति के रूप में पहचाना जाने लगा। प्रस्तुत शोध-पत्र में नागपुर की स्थापना, देवगढ़ से राजधानी के स्थानांतरण तथा विभिन्न समुदायों के आगमन से उत्पन्न सामाजिक और सांस्कृतिक परिवर्तनों का ऐतिहासिक अध्ययन किया गया है।

The main objective of this paper is to study the battle of Salher and its effects on the Maratha-Mughal army, the importance of Salher from the perspective of the Marathas and Mughals, and the use of principles of war by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. At the same time, the information related to the Salher War in the then historical instruments, the difference in the war style of Marathas and Mughals, what kind of antiquities can be found if the fort is preserved and excavated through conservation has also been discussed through this research paper.

Bangladeshi Jaladas (slave of water) are traditional fishers and live within multiple poverties. This study was conducted in two Jaladas villages to find out impact of diversified capital penetration on their lifestyles. A technique of qualitative method, hereby Focus Group Discussion (FGD) with 12 males and 12 females, was adapted. This study revealed that lifestyles of Jaladas folk have improved in the realms of awareness, education, health, leadership, bargaining power, substandard livings in one village (North Salimpur Fishing Village) due to donor-led capitals approximated. At the same time, effectiveness of traditional social institutions, ethnic values, observance of religious rituals pattern, kinship, community belongings have been negatively impacted in aforesaid village. Lifestyles of people of both study villages have changed because of capital expansionists in fisheries sector; and more inquiry needs to measure silent changes in lifestyles of Jaladas communities.

Osmanlı Devleti’nin XVI. yüzyılda Hint ticaret yolu ve Basra Körfezi’ndeki hâkimiyetini pekiştirme stratejisi, bu bölgelerdeki deniz gücünün ikmâlini zorunlu kılmıştır. Bu kapsamda Basra ve Süveyş’te büyük tersaneler tesis edilirken, Birecik’te de yardımcı bir tersane kurulmuştur. Bahsi geçen tersanelerdeki gemi inşa faaliyetlerinin temel girdisi olan kereste ihtiyacı, başta Maraş olmak üzere Behisni, Antep, Kahta, Kars (Kadirli) ve Üzeyr sancaklarından karşılanmıştır. Mevcut literatürde, Maraş’tan kereste temini ve nakliyesine dair müstakil bir çalışma bulunmamaktadır. Bu boşluğu doldurmayı hedefleyen bu çalışma, Osmanlı arşiv belgelerine dayanarak söz konusu kerestelerin kesiminden başlayarak Birecik iskelesi üzerinden Basra’ya uzanan nakliye sürecini tüm aşamalarıyla incelemektedir. Araştırmada, Cumhurbaşkanlığı Devlet Arşivleri Başkanlığı Osmanlı Arşivi’nde yer alan mühimme defterleri ve ilgili belgeler niteliksel bir analize tabi tutulmuştur. Elde edilen bulgular, kereste üretim ve lojistik sürecinin son derece merkezî planlanmış ve organize bir faaliyet olduğunu ortaya koymaktadır. Ağaçların kesimi, nakliye güzergâhlarının belirlenmesi, marangoz ve mimarların görevlendirilmesi ve masrafların Halep Hazinesi’nden karşılanması gibi unsurlar, imparatorluğun kaynak seferber etme kapasitesini gözler önüne sermektedir. Ayrıca, İstanbul’dan verilen emirler ile taşradaki beylerbeyi ve sancak beylerinin koordinasyonu, Osmanlı bürokrasisinin bu komplex süreci nasıl yönettiğine dair önemli ipuçları sunmaktadır. Bu çalışma, Osmanlı denizcilik tarihi yazımına, donanma lojistiğinin taşra kaynakları ve yönetimi boyutunu katarak özgün bir katkı sağlamayı amaçlamaktadır. Maraş’ın bu süreçteki rolünü merkeze alarak, imparatorluğun askerî hedefleri ile iç bölgelerdeki doğal kaynakların ekonomik ve idarî mekanizmalarla nasıl buluşturulduğunu gösteren somut bir örnek teşkil etmektedir.

Indian history reveals a recurring structural paradox: the reign of an exceptionally powerful ruler is often followed by political instability, dynastic contraction, or systemic weakening under immediate successors. This study argues that such succession crises were not accidental failures of individual rulers but structural consequences embedded within highly centralized and charismatic models of pre-modern governance.
Employing a comparative historical methodology, the paper classifies succession outcomes into three analytical categories: Immediate Collapse, Short-Term Instability, and Delayed Structural Decline. Immediate Collapse cases include Ghiyas ud din Balban, Malik Ambar, and Sher Shah Suri, where regimes heavily dependent on centralized personal authority fragmented rapidly after the ruler’s death despite notable administrative or military achievements. Short-Term Instability is observed following Ashoka, Harsha, Akbar, and Aurangzeb, where imperial systems endured temporarily but entered phases of elite contestation, succession disputes, regional assertion, and fiscal-military strain. Delayed Structural Decline is represented by Krishnadevaraya and Shivaji, where succession did not immediately dismantle imperial authority, yet long-term institutional fragility and factional politics gradually eroded centralized control.
Rather than attributing post-successor turbulence to personal inadequacy, this study advances a structural explanation rooted in over-centralized sovereignty, charismatic personalization of power, elite suppression without durable integration, ambiguous succession norms, administrative overstretch, and external geopolitical opportunism. By situating succession crises within a comparative analytical model, the paper reconceptualizes imperial decline in South Asian history as a recurring vulnerability of monarchies lacking institutionalized mechanisms for orderly transfer of power.
This framework contributes to broader debates on imperial durability, legitimacy, elite politics, and the structural limits of charismatic authority in pre-modern state formation.

This paper reinterprets eighteenth-century Maratha politics through the triangular relationship between the Holkars of Indore, the Shindes (Scindias) of Gwalior, and the Peshwas at Pune. Rather than treating Holkar–Shinde relations in isolation, it foregrounds the Peshwa as strategist, arbiter, and increasingly contested sovereign authority. From the formative careers of Malhar Rao Holkar and Ranoji Shinde under Bajirao I, through the consolidation under Balaji Bajirao (Nanasaheb), the crisis of Panipat, and the stabilizing moral–political leadership of Ahilyabai Holkar alongside Mahadji Shinde, to the terminal conflicts involving Yashwantrao Holkar, Daulatrao Shinde, and Peshwa Baji Rao II, the study argues that alliance and rivalry were contingent outcomes shaped by leadership ideology, fiscal-military structures, and external pressures. The Holkar–Shinde– Peshwa triangle reveals both the resilience and the limits of the Maratha confederacy in an era of Mughal decline and British expansion.

This research paper offers a longue durée reconstruction of Ganimi Kava, the indigenous Deccan mode of irregular warfare, by situating it within the region’s enduring military ecology rather than attributing it to individual genius or isolated historical moments. Challenging the anachronistic projection of modern European “guerrilla warfare” onto pre-modern India, the study conceptualizes Ganimi Kava as a historically layered strategic culture that evolved in response to persistent asymmetries of power, complex terrain, and political fragmentation.
The analysis traces the deep structural roots of Deccan irregular warfare from Mauryan frontier governance and the theoretical principles of indirect conflict articulated in Kautilya’s Arthaśāstra, through early medieval Deccan polities, and into the military practices of the Bahmani and Nizamshahi sultanates. Particular attention is paid to the role of institutional memory, environmental constraints, and administrative-military integration in sustaining mobility-based warfare across successive regimes. The paper demonstrates that Malik Ambar’s resistance to Mughal imperial expansion represented a crucial phase of systematization, while the reign of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj marked the first fully articulated and ideologically grounded formulation of Ganimi Kava as a coherent state doctrine.
Drawing on a critical reading of Sanskrit and Prakrit political theory, Persian chronicles, Marathi bakhars, epigraphic evidence, and modern historiography, the study argues that Ganimi Kava cannot be understood as an “invention” but must be interpreted as the cumulative outcome of centuries of adaptive military practice in the Deccan. By foregrounding continuity over rupture and structure over personality, this paper contributes to a reorientation of South Asian military history and challenges Eurocentric models of asymmetric warfare.
Extending this analytical framework, the study situates Shahji Bhonsle and Lakhuji Jadhavrao as critical transmitters of Deccan irregular warfare traditions in the early seventeenth century. Operating within the shifting political landscapes of the Ahmadnagar, Bijapur, and Mughal frontiers, both figures employed mobility, terrain exploitation, flexible loyalties, and decentralized command, thereby embedding Ganimi Kava practices within hereditary military households and service networks prior to Shivaji Maharaj’s consolidation of power. Their careers underscore the importance of familial, regional, and institutional continuities in the transmission of irregular warfare techniques across generations.
The study further extends the longue durée of Ganimi Kava into the post-Shivaji phase of Maratha history, demonstrating that the tradition not only survived but intensified during periods of imperial pressure and territorial expansion. Under Chhatrapati Rajaram, Ganimi Kava functioned as a strategy of resistance through dispersed command structures and sustained harassment of Mughal forces. The campaigns of Santaji Ghorpade and Dhanaji Jadhav are examined as advanced operational expressions of this tradition, marked by extreme mobility, independent leadership, intelligence-driven operations, and the systematic erosion of imperial logistics and morale.
Finally, the study situates the Holkars—particularly Malhar Rao Holkar—alongside Peshwa Baji Rao I and Mahadji Shinde as key agents in the eighteenth-century expansion of Ganimi Kava beyond the Deccan. While Maratha warfare increasingly incorporated large cavalry formations and negotiated political authority over vast territories, the underlying strategic logic of speed, deception, indirect pressure, and avoidance of decisive confrontation remained consistent with Ganimi Kava. The continued application of these principles in Malwa, North India, and the Mughal heartland demonstrates the adaptability of Deccan irregular warfare to new political and geographical scales, reinforcing its character as a durable strategic culture rather than a time-bound tactic.

मानवी उत्क्ाांतीच्या इततहासात आपत्ती ह्या नेहमीच आव्हान म्हणून उभ्या रातहलेल्या आहेत. भूकांप, पूर, दुष्काळ, च्ीवादळे, आग, साथीचे रोग तसेच मानवतनतमित आपत्ती याांचा समाजाच्या जीवनावर खोलवर पररणाम झालेला आहे. अशा आपत्ती केवळ भौततक नुकसानच करत नाहीत, तर मानवी जीवन, सामातजक रचना आतण आतथिक स्थैयि याांनाही मोठा धक्का देतात. आपत्ती टाळता येणे नेहमीच शक्य नसले, तरी योग्य तनयोजन, पूवितयारी, समन्वय आतण वैज्ञातनक दृतिकोन याांच्या साहाय्याने आपत्तीमुळे होणारे नुकसान तनतितच कमी करता येऊ शकते. याच तवचारातून “आपत्ती व्यवस्थापन” हे पुस्तक तलतहण्याची प्रेरणा तमळाली.
या पुस्तकामध्ये आपत्ती व्यवस्थापनाची सांकल्पना, प्रकार, आपत्तीपूवि तयारी, आपत्तीच्या काळातील प्रततसाद आतण आपत्तीनांतरची पुनर्ाांधणी याांचा सतवस्तर व सोप्या भाषेत आढावा घेण्याचा प्रयत्कन केला आहे. तवद्याथी, तशक्षक, सविसामान्य नागररक याांना आपत्ती व्यवस्थापनार्ार्त मूलभूत मातहती तमळावी आतण समाजात सजगता तनमािण व्हावी, हा या पुस्तकाचा मुख्य उद्देश आहे. हे पुस्तक वाचकाांसाठी उपयुक्त ठरेल, अशी अपेक्षा आहे.

The Marāṭhā Kings ruled over Tañjāvūr from the late seventeenth century to the mid-nineteenth century, leaving a lasting impact on the region's culture and arts. They were not only patrons but also active practitioners of music, dance and literature. Their contributions included the creation of numerous dance dramas, treatises on music, and literary works, all of which enriched the heritage of Tañjāvūr. Many of these cultural artefacts have been preserved in manuscript form, and some edited and published by the Thanjavur Maharaja Serfoji's Sarasvati Mahal Library (TMSSML). One such publication by TMSSML is 'Kōrvyācē Sāhityācē Jinnas', edited by A Krishnaswamy Mahdick Rao Sahib in 1958 CE. This publication is a compilation of compositions composed by King Serfōji II, for dance presentations called as ‘Nirūpaṇa’. These 'Nirūpaṇa-s' encompass various South Indian dance forms (compositional types) set to South Indian rāga-s (melodic entity) and tāla-s (temporal framework), all composed in Marathi language. This paper endeavours to delve into the musical aspects of the forms in Nirūpaṇa of King Serfōji II, as documented in the book 'Kōrvyācē Sāhityācē Jinnas’. It aims to explore the compositional structure, text and tāla within these forms and their relevance in contemporary music and dance presentations.

या लेखात इ.स. १८७७ मध्ये जर्मनीतील Illustrierte Konversations-Lexikon या ज्ञानकोशात प्रकाशित झालेल्या छत्रपती शिवाजी महाराज यांच्या दुर्मीळ मुद्रित चित्राचा ऐतिहासिक व दृश्य-सांस्कृतिक दृष्टीने अभ्यास करण्यात आला आहे. लिपझिग व बर्लिन येथून फ्रान्झ ओट्टो स्पामर यांच्या प्रकाशनसंस्थेतून प्रसिद्ध झालेल्या या ज्ञानकोशातील ‘East India’ या शीर्षकाखाली तंजावरचे मंदिर, मुघल दरबारी जीवन आणि शिवाजी महाराज यांची प्रतिमा अशा निवडक चित्रांच्या माध्यमातून भारताचे प्रतिनिधित्व करण्यात आले आहे. ‘Häuptlinge der Mahratten’ (मराठ्यांचा प्रमुख) या शीर्षकाखाली दिलेल्या नोंदीच्या आधारे त्या काळातील युरोपीय दृष्टीकोन, मराठा सत्तेबद्दलची त्यांची समज आणि भारताविषयीची ज्ञानरचना यांचे विश्लेषण करण्यात आले आहे.

born to a family of soldiers and grew up amid political turmoil: when his father, Shahaji Raje, frequently traveled on military campaigns for the Deccan Sultanates, Shivaji and his mother, Jijabai, moved from fort to fort to avoid enemy raids. By the time he was 14, and presiding

This paper examines how the memory of Maratha naval resistance at Vijaydurg has been preserved and transmitted through local folklore. Although Vijaydurg has received attention in the military and political histories of the Maratha state, very few studies have explored how local communities have remembered these events across generations. Drawing on Maurice Halbwachs’s concept of collective memory and Jan Assmann’s framework of cultural memory, the study analyses the folklore associated with the Kotkamate temple inscription and the Phaag songs of the Gabit community as forms of vernacular historiography. It argues that these traditions function as alternative archives that sustain historical consciousness while shaping regional identity. A critical reading of the inscription-related folklore and two Phaag songs—Vijaydurg Nagari Ho and Ingrajancha Halla—reveals how local narratives blend divine sanction, heroic memory, and communal pride to construct a durable image of Vijaydurg as an indomitable bastion of resistance. The study demonstrates how Vijaydurg’s maritime legacy continues to resonate through oral traditions in the Devgad region. The paper was presented at the Akhil Maharashtra Itihas Parishad – 33rd National Conference, held at Kankavli College, Kankavli on January 16-17, 2026.

This paper, authored by Ganesh Shrirang Satarkar (Nale), Roll No. 240322, MA in Sociology – II (Academic Year 2025–2026), Department of Sociology, Central University of Haryana, India, with Co-Author Dr. Yudhvir, Assistant Professor, Department of Sociology, Central University of Haryana, offers a comprehensive sociological analysis of the Maratha reservation movement in Maharashtra.

Situated within the discipline of Sociology—with strong intersections with Political Science, Economics, Public Policy, and Constitutional Law—the study investigates the structural socio-economic distress, changing caste dynamics, political mobilization patterns, and constitutional limitations shaping the demand for reservation. Drawing on extensive secondary data, government reports, commission findings, judicial decisions, and established sociological theories, the research highlights how agrarian decline, unemployment, perceived relative deprivation, and erosion of political dominance collectively influence the Maratha community’s pursuit of affirmative action.

The paper concludes that the Maratha reservation debate represents a multidimensional public policy challenge, requiring a balanced approach that aligns constitutional principles, social justice, and targeted development interventions.

Siwan Anderson ([email protected]) and Patrick Francois ([email protected]) are Fellows of the Canadian Institute For Advanced Research, and Ashok Kotwal ([email protected]) is Professor of Economics at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada, and Ashwini Kulkarni ([email protected]) is Director of Pragati Abhiyan in Nashik, Maharashtra. ‘One Kind of Democracy’ Implementing MGNREGS

साल्हेरचे युद्ध व त्याचे मराठा-मुघल सैन्यावर झालेले परिणाम, मराठे व मुघलांच्या दृष्टीकोनातून साल्हेरचे महत्त्व, तसेच शिवाजी राजांनी युद्धनीतीच्या तत्त्वांचा केलेला वापर यांचा अभ्यास करणे हा या शोधनिबंधाचा मुख्य उद्देश आहे. त्याच बरोबर, तत्कालीन ऐतिहासिक साधनांमध्ये साल्हेर युद्धाशी निगडीत आलेली माहिती, मराठे व मुघल यांच्या युद्धशैलीतील फरक, संवर्धनातून किल्ल्याचे जतन व उत्खनन केल्यास कोणत्या प्रकारचे पुरावशेष मिळू शकतात या विषयावर पण या शोधनिबंधाच्या माध्यमातून चर्चा केली आहे.

Inscriptions reveals the activities done by the people may it be donative, eulogy or commemorative. Epigraphs found in temples shed light on the various events and activities carried out at that particular time. This may include construction, renovation or even rituals. This paper focuses on the three inscriptions in Marāṭhī language from the Ratnagiri taluka of Maharashtra. Inscriptions are dated between 18th to 20th Century CE. Inscriptions mentions year and or Saṃvatsaras in which the renovation works of the temples have taken place.

After a long time, I had the opportunity to read a remarkable historical novel. That opportunity primarily arose through Soma Bandopadhyay's novel, Ahalyabai. While reading, I felt as if I had entered into the unfolding events of medieval history. In recent times, discussions on history have reached us in many dimensions-philosophy, theory, society, economy, and much more. But among all these, the hidden stories that lie within, when revealed, bring before us another truth of history. This unexamined chapter of history helps us to understand the people of the times, their thoughts, and ideas. Just as in Sharadindu Bandopadhyay's Tungabhadrar Tire, we come to know about the rise and fall of the Vijayanagar Empire of South India, the lives of its kings, their inner courts, and daily life-so too, in the historical context of Indian politics in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, several overlooked chapters have been dramatically brought before us. The seventeenth and eighteenth centuries were, in one sense, periods of crisis in Indian history. The Mughal Empire had lost its grandeur and was sinking into a whirlpool of complexities. Emperor Aurangzeb, although devoutly religious, adopted several policies that were detrimental

After a long time, I had the opportunity to read a remarkable historical novel. That opportunity primarily arose through Soma Bandopadhyay's novel, Ahalyabai. While reading, I felt as if I had entered into the unfolding events of medieval history. In recent times, discussions on history have reached us in many dimensions-philosophy, theory, society, economy, and much more. But among all these, the hidden stories that lie within, when revealed, bring before us another truth of history. This unexamined chapter of history helps us to understand the people of the times, their thoughts, and ideas. Just as in Sharadindu Bandopadhyay's Tungabhadrar Tire, we come to know about the rise and fall of the Vijayanagar Empire of South India, the lives of its kings, their inner courts, and daily life-so too, in the historical context of Indian politics in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, several overlooked chapters have been dramatically brought before us. The seventeenth and eighteenth centuries were, in one sense, periods of crisis in Indian history. The Mughal Empire had lost its grandeur and was sinking into a whirlpool of complexities. Emperor Aurangzeb, although devoutly religious, adopted several policies that were detrimental

This article, “The Bollywood Brainwash: How Chaava Turned Aurangzeb into a Symbol of Hate,” published under Bookistan Publications (2025), challenges the popular cinematic and communal myths surrounding Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb Alamgir. Through historical analysis and verified records, it exposes how Bollywood narratives like Chaava distort the past to create a one-dimensional “villain” image of Aurangzeb, ignoring his administrative achievements, moral contradictions, and religious complexities. The article revisits his life—from his disciplined youth to his long Deccan campaigns—revealing that Aurangzeb was neither a saint nor a monster, but a pragmatic ruler driven by power, not faith. It further explores his relationship with Shivaji Maharaj, concluding that while Aurangzeb’s empire decayed under endless wars, Shivaji’s legacy of resistance triumphed. Ultimately, this piece argues that history must be learned from evidence, not entertainment, and that rulers like Aurangzeb belong to the study of governance, not the battlefield of religious hatred.

Cet article se propose de faire le point sur la situation linguistique dans l'Etat de Goa et de mesurer combien la décision d'introduire comme langue officielle le konkani ne s'est pas faite sans heurts, entre communautés religieuses en particulier. Pour mieux l'expliquer, nous adopterons ponctuellement une optique diachronique.

The present article examines whether the breakdown of the information system led to the decline of the Mughal empire as argued by C. A. Bayly. Unlike what Bayly has argued, the article contends that a great deal of information, with regard to the issues the state was facing, was constantly reaching the court, but the State was not acting upon the issues the way it should have. It further explores the two less studied areas of research: the changes that occurred in the circulation of information in the first of the eighteenth century and the role of private players as agents of change.

The eighteenth century marked a decisive shift in the power equation with the office of the Peshwa, under the Bhat family, acquiring de facto control over the Maratha polity, displacing the authority of the Chhatrapati and reducing him to a ceremonial role. At the core of this political rearrangement was not just administrative control, but a much deeper reconfiguration of power and ritual sovereignty. The Peshwas of Pune did not rely merely on administrative and militaristic expansion to buttress their power; they also heavily relied on stories, symbols, rituals and spatial inscriptions that enabled them to generate a discourse of ritual/symbolic power to legitimise their rule. They created a discourse of ritual/symbolic power which was materially and symbolically articulated through ritual practices, sacralisation of space, and the patronage of festivals such as Ganesh Chaturthi. This paper seeks to examine how the celebration of Ganesh Chaturthi functioned not just as a devotional event, but also as a performative and spatialised articulation of the Peshwa's authority in eighteenth-century Deccan.

दिल्ली किंवा पांडवांनी स्थापन केलेली राजधानी इंद्रप्रस्थ व कौरवांची राजधानी हस्तिनापुर आणि महाराष्ट्रभूमीचा घनिष्ठ संबंध पउमचरीय, रामायण-महाभारत या महाकाव्यांच्या माध्यमातून आपल्या समोर येतो. पुराणांत, जैन व बौद्ध साहित्यातही आपल्याला रोचक माहिती वाचायला मिळते. त्या काळात हे राज्य महाराष्ट्र या नावाने उदयाला आलेले नव्हते, पण महाराष्ट्रातील दंडकारण्य, विदर्भ, अपरांतक, शूर्पारक, अश्मक (अस्सक), अशा राज्यांचा उल्लेख आलेला आहे. महाभारतातील युद्धात महाराष्ट्रातील अनेक गण सहभागी असल्याची वर्णने आपल्याला महाभारतात मिळतात. म्हणजे भारतातील (समजा काल्पनिक मानले तरी)  प्राचीन महायुद्धात महाराष्ट्राचा सहभाग होता हे सांस्कृतिक दृष्ट्या महत्वाचे आहे. किंबहुना सांस्कृतिक राष्ट्र म्हणून उदयाला येण्याचा तो काळ होता आणि महाराष्ट्र हे त्यात एक अग्रणी प्रादेशिक राज्य होते हे यातून दिसते.

Akbari, noted that the Sisodia Rajputs of Mewar had roots linked to Zoroastrian and Iranian heritage. This heritage gave the Sisodias fierce independence and strong martial skills, making them tough opponents against Muslim rulers like the Mughals. This reflected a widespread belief in their Indo-Iranian aristocratic identity, associated with solar worship traditions and an elite warrior culture that made them nearly unbeatable. 1. Early Iranian Links and the Maitraka Solar Tradition (Before the 8th Century CE) The Sisodia Rajputs, rulers of Mewar in Rajasthan, claim descent from the Solar dynasty, tracing their lineage to the Hindu epic hero Lord Rama. Although mainly based in Hindu royal tradition, some historical and cultural ideas suggest early Iranian (Persian) influences possibly arriving from migrations out of eastern Iran before the 6th century CE. The symbolism of Noshirwan (Khusrow I), a renowned Persian king known for justice, deeply influenced Indo-Persian political ideas and royal customs. An earlier Indian dynasty, the Maitrakas of Vallabhi (5th-8th centuries CE), showed Indo-Iranian features like maintaining fire altars and sun worship-practices similar to Zoroastrian respect for fire and the sun. sisodia clan orgininayed from Maitraka clan.These ideas shaped Rajput ceremonial culture. The title "Rana," used by Sisodia rulers, may be linguistically connected to western Indian titles like "Rao" and the Persian word "Ray," related to the ancient city Shahr-e Ray near Tehran, which was a Zoroastrian cultural center. These language links hint at a long Indo-Persian tradition influencing Rajput customs. 2. The Sisodia Clan in Medieval Mewar (1303-1326) The Sisodia clan is one of the most famous Rajput dynasties. Besides their claim of descent from Lord Rama, some historical accounts suggest Iranian cultural influences within Rajput clans like the Sisodias. In 1303, during Alauddin Khilji's siege of Chittorgarh, Rana Laxman Singh and six of his sons died defending the fort. His youngest son, Ajay Singh, survived. Hammir Singh, son of another brave Sisodia noble, avoided the siege and grew up to be a courageous leader, even capturing a famous bandit. Ajay Singh named Hammir Singh the rightful heir, but Ajay's own son Sajjan Singh left Mewar in protest and moved south to establish a new realm in Maharashtra. In 1326, Hammir Singh defeated enemies allied with the Khiljis, recaptured Chittorgarh, and restored Mewar's rule. He was the first to use the title "Rana" instead of "Rawal." His descendants included Maharana Udai Singh II and Maharana Pratap. 3. Southern Sisodia Branch and the Rise of Shivaji (1630-1674) The southern branch of the Sisodia clan, founded by Sajjan Singh, continued for many generations. It eventually led to the birth of Shivaji Bhonsle (1630-1680), founder of the Maratha Empire and given the title Chhatrapati. Historical records say the Bhonsle family descended from Chacha, son of Rana Lakha of the Sisodia clan. This connection linked Shivaji with the famous Rajput royal family of Mewar and their traditions of bravery and honor. The Sisodias were known for resisting foreign rule, traits that Shivaji himself embodied as he fought against the Mughal empire. At his coronation in 1674, Shivaji highlighted his Sisodia ancestry to gain acceptance as a Kshatriya (warrior class) and overcome caste objections. Learned Brahmins and court historians formally confirmed this lineage through genealogies. By claiming Sisodia descent, Shivaji linked his idea of Hindu self-rule (Hindavi Svarajya) to a long Indo-Iranian royal tradition associated with the sun and fire symbolism, as well as the ancient city "Ray." He aligned himself with Sisodia heroes like Rana Sanga and Maharana Pratap, reflecting both Rajput and Persian ideals of just kingship

Akbari, noted that the Sisodia Rajputs of Mewar had roots linked to Zoroastrian and Iranian heritage. This heritage gave the Sisodias fierce independence and strong martial skills, making them tough opponents against Muslim rulers like the Mughals. This reflected a widespread belief in their Indo-Iranian aristocratic identity, associated with solar worship traditions and an elite warrior culture that made them nearly unbeatable. 1. Early Iranian Links and the Maitraka Solar Tradition (Before the 8th Century CE) The Sisodia Rajputs, rulers of Mewar in Rajasthan, claim descent from the Solar dynasty, tracing their lineage to the Hindu epic hero Lord Rama. Although mainly based in Hindu royal tradition, some historical and cultural ideas suggest early Iranian (Persian) influences possibly arriving from migrations out of eastern Iran before the 6th century CE. The symbolism of Noshirwan (Khusrow I), a renowned Persian king known for justice, deeply influenced Indo-Persian political ideas and royal customs.

This study has been undertaken to investigate the indepth subjective interpretations of Marathi Lavanis particularly performed during the period of Tanjore kings. It consists of around 90 compositions popularly used by the the dance artists in tune with the rich traditions of Royal elegance. The proposed study is based on compositional varieties from a book preserved in Saraswati Mahal library composed by different authors. The compositions are examined with the help of their theme, characters, and the writing style.

The relationship between the Arab rulers of Oman with Marathas is known from some documents. Beginning in sometime between l660-80, it continued in 18th century as well. The meagre literature on the topic mentions the collaboration between the two powers, especially against
Portuguese. But it doesn't discuss how the relationship between the two began in the first place. This paper discusses a short but extremely important Dutch extract that describes, what is quite possibly the first diplomatic encounter of Marathas with the Arabs of Oman. A brief discussion of the available evidence and the significance of the Dutch extract therein is also included.

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj a legendry figure in Indian History is celebrated for his ingenious warfare tactics employed against the formidable Mughal empire. during the 17th century. This paper delves  into the intricacies of shivaji’s strategic brilliance sheding light’s on the unconventional method he utilised challenge and outmaneuver his adversaries. Drawing upon historical account primarily sources and scholarly  analysis this research investigates the  multifaceted  aspect of shivaji’s warfare strategies it explores his astute understanding of terrain, local knowledge and psychology of warfare which enabled him effectively combat with the superior forces of mughal empire.

Shivaji Maharaj set up an independent kingdom ('Swarajya') at the peak of the power of the triumvirate of Mughal, Nizamshahi & Adilshahi empires with foreign powers like British, Dutch and Portuguese on the sidelines. One of the cornerstones of Swarajya was his economic policies were distinguished by pragmatism, foresight, and a thorough comprehension of the nuances of economic governance. His emphasis on trade, infrastructure, and agriculture cleared the path for a robust economy and affluent society. His reputation as a brilliant economic administrator serves as a source of inspiration for economists and policymakers alike, highlighting the significance of a comprehensive and long-term strategy for economic growth. This paper highlights the key aspects of the economic vision and policies of Shivaji Maharaj.