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Social Sciences: Class 8 — Chapter 3: The Rise of the Marathas

3.1 Who are the Marathas?

The Marathas are a group of people native to the Deccan plateau, specifically present-day Maharashtra, identified by the Marathi language which has a rich literary history since the 12th century.

Historical & Cultural Background

  • During the 13th century, Maharashtra was ruled by the Yadava dynasty with Devagiri (Daulatabad) as its capital.
  • In the early 14th century, the Yadava dynasty was overcome by the Khilji Sultanate from Delhi.
  • Amidst political changes, cultural traditions of bhakti (devotion) flourished between the 7th and 17th centuries.
  • Saints like Dnyaneshwar, Namdev, Tukaram, and Ramdas made philosophy accessible by translating texts like the Upanishads and Bhagavad Gita into Marathi, creating a solid cultural foundation.
3.2 Foundation of Maratha Power & Chhatrapati Shivaji

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj consolidated Maratha power and established a sovereign kingdom based on the ideal of Swarajya.

Early Life & Swarajya

  • Born in 1630 in the Bhonsle clan to Shahji and Jijabai.
  • Grew up in his jāgīr (land grant) at Pune under Jijabai's guidance.
  • At age 16, launched military campaigns, capturing neglected forts to build Swarājya (self-rule).

Military Campaigns & Tactics

  • Guerrilla Warfare: Used speed, surprise, and terrain knowledge to defeat larger armies.
  • Afzal Khan Incident: Shivaji killed the Bijapur general Afzal Khan at Pratapgad using a wāgh nakh (tiger's claw weapon).
  • Shaista Khan Raid: Conducted a daring night raid on the Mughal nobleman Shaista Khan's camp in Pune.
  • Sacking of Surat: Sacked the wealthy Mughal port city of Surat to obtain resources, carefully sparing religious places and charitable homes.
  • Treaty of Purandar: Conceded defeat to Rajput general Jai Singh, surrendered forts, and sent his son Sambhaji to Mughal service.
  • Escape from Agra: Imprisoned by Aurangzeb in Agra, Shivaji and Sambhaji escaped hidden in large sweet baskets.

Coronation & Southern Conquest

  • In 1674, coronated at Raigad with Vedic rites, taking the title Shri Raja Shiva Chhatrapati and starting the Rājyābhiṣheka shaka era.
  • Embarked on dakṣhiṇa-digvijaya (conquest of the South) into Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, providing strategic depth against Mughals.
3.3 The Marathas after Chhatrapati Shivaji

Following Shivaji's death in 1680, the Marathas transitioned into a decentralized confederacy that expanded across India.

Successors & Mughal Conflict

  • Sambhaji succeeded Shivaji, resisting Aurangzeb's invasion until his capture and execution.
  • Rajaram became Chhatrapati and fled to Gingee, spreading the conflict to South India.
  • Tarabai (Rajaram's queen) led the Marathas, launching counter-offensives into Mughal territories.

The Peshwas & Pan-Indian Expansion

  • The administration shifted to a decentralized structure centered around the Peshwa (prime minister).
  • Peshwa Bajirao I and Nanasaheb Peshwa led the pan-Indian expansion.
  • The Marathas briefly controlled northern areas like Lahore, Attock, and Peshawar.
  • Despite a major defeat at the Battle of Panipat (1761) against the Afghans, they recovered under Peshwa Madhavrao I and recaptured Delhi in 1771 under Mahadji Shinde.

Decline & Anglo-Maratha Wars

  • The British emerged as the chief rivals of the Marathas in the late 18th century.
  • Three Anglo-Maratha Wars (1775–1818) ended Maratha power due to internal disunity and superior British technology.
3.4 Maratha Administration

The Marathas developed highly organized civilian, military, and maritime administrative systems.

Civilian Administration

  • Shivaji instituted a centralized administration, abolishing hereditary posts and paying salaries from the treasury.
  • Aṣhṭa Pradhāna Manḍala: A council of eight ministers assisting the king:
    • Pradhān: Prime Minister
    • Amātya: Finance Minister
    • Sachiv: Land Revenue Minister
    • Mantrī: Intelligence Minister
    • Senāpatī: Commander-in-chief
    • Sumant: Foreign Affairs Minister
    • Nyāyādhīsh: Chief Justice
    • Panḍitrāo: Head of Religious Affairs
  • Taxation: Levied chauth ($25\%$) and sardeshmukhi (additional $10\%$) from non-annexed provinces in exchange for protection.

Military & Maritime Supremacy

  • Cavalry: Divided into bārgīrs (state-equipped) and shiledārs (self-equipped).
  • Forts: Described as the "core of the state" by Ramachandrapant Amatya in Ādnyāpatra.
  • Navy: Established by Shivaji to secure the west coast. Under Kanhoji Angre, the navy successfully challenged European maritime dominance and their trade passes (cartaz).

Judicial System & Trade

  • Judicial System: Moderated capital punishment; local justice was delivered by the panchāyat, with cities policed by a kotwāl.
  • Trade Networks: Shivaji actively participated in maritime trade, sending ships to Mocha, Muscat, and Malacca.
3.5 Cultural Revival & Legacy

The Maratha Empire fostered a significant revival of indigenous culture, language, and traditions.

Cultural Contributions

  • Shivaji's royal seal carried a Sanskrit inscription instead of Persian.
  • Commissioned the Rājya-Vyavahāra-Koṣha, a treatise providing Sanskrit equivalents for Persian diplomatic terms.
  • Rebuilt desecrated temples and promoted Marathi and Sanskrit literature.
  • Used the Moḍī script for official correspondence.

Mighty Maratha Women

  • Tarabai: Fearless warrior queen who outsmarted the Mughals and preserved Maratha independence.
  • Ahilyabai Holkar: Governed Indore for 30 years, rebuilt major temples (Kashi Vishwanath, Somnath), and promoted the Maheshwar weaving industry.

Thanjavur Marathas

  • Established by Shivaji's half-brother Ekoji in Tamil Nadu.
  • Serfoji II: Notable ruler who wrote the play Devendra Kuravanji, patronized Carnatic music and Bharatanatyam, established the Dhanwantari Mahal medical center, and set up a printing press.

The Maratha Legacy

  • Challenged Mughal dominance to establish the largest pre-British Indian empire.
  • Revived local traditions without religious discrimination.
  • The ideal of Swarajya inspired future generations, planting the seeds of India's freedom movement.