Indian Antiquary Vol 50

Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple, Devadatta Ramkrishna Bhandarkar
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 283

OCTOBER, 1921)
ADMINISTRATIVE SYSTEM OF SHIVAJI
273
Shivaji's infantry was carefully divided into regiments, divisions and brigades. The
smallest unit consisted of 9 men and the officer commanding it was Infantry officers.
*** called the Naik. The Havaldar of the infantry had five such units under him. Over two or three Havaldars was placed a Jumladar. The officer commanding ten Jumlas was styled a Hazari, and the Sarnobat of the infantry had seven Hazaris under him. The Jumladar had an annual salary of one hundred Hong and his Sabnis got forty. The Hazari got five hundred Hons per year and his Sabnis, salary varied from one hundred to one hundred and twenty-five Fons.120 Chitnis informg us that at the time of a marriage or any other ceremony of similar importance in his family, the officer could expect a requisite grant. The cavalry was divided into two classes, viz., the Bargirs and the Shiledars. The Bargirs
were equipped with horse and arms by the state, while the Shiledar
Fy brought his own horse and sometimes came with a body of troopers officers.
armed and equipped at his own expense. The Bargir belonged to the Paga proper while the Shiledar held a comparatively inferior position. "The strength of the Paga," says Sa bhasad," was rendered superior (to that of the Shiledar). The Sbile. dars were placed under the jurisdiction of the Paga. To none was left independence enough for rebelling. To every horse in the Paga was appointed a trooper (Bargir); over twentyfive such Bargir was appointed an expert Maratha Havaldar.
Five Havals formed a Jumla. The Jumladar had a salary of five hundred Hons and a palanquin; and his Mazumdar had a salary of one hundred to one hundred and twenty-five Hons. For every twenty-five horses were appointed a water-carrier and a farrier. A Hazari was a commander of ten such Jumlas. To this office was attached a salary of one thousand Hons, a Mazumdar, a Maratha Karbhari and a Prabhu Kayastha Jamenis; for them was allotted & sum of five hundred Hons. Salary and palanquin were given to each officer according to this scale. Accounts of income and expenditure were made up in the presence of all the four. Five such Hazaris were placed under a Panch Hazari. To him was given a salary of two thousand Hong. A Mazumdar, a Karbhari, and a Jamenis were likewise attached to his office. These Panch Hazaris were under the command of the Sarnobat. The administration of the Paga was of the same kind. Similarly, the different brigadiers of the Shiledars also were placed under the command of the Sarnobat. 121 It may be noticed here that Shivaji enlisted in his army not only Hindus but Muhamma
dans also. A body of Eeven hundred Pathans offered their service Muhammadan to the Maratha King and
en to the Maratha King, and Shivaji enlisted them, it is said, in oppoRegiment.
sition to the majority of his officers. Shivaji pointed out that a king was a king first and a Hindu or a Muhammadan afterwards, and was supported in his wise resolution by an old officer Gomaji Naik Pansambal.112 : Shivaji know quite well that an army, however efficient, could not be expected to operate
with success in an enemy country, unless served by an efficient ence Depart. Intelligence Department. Shivaji organised a body of excellent ment.
spies, the chief of whom was Bahirji Naik Jadhava. Shivaji was so well served by these intelligence officers that he owed many of his most brilliant successes mainly to the information collected by them. On one occasion, Shivaji's army was saved from atter destruction by Bahirji's knowledge of unfrequented hill tracks.123 180 Sabhasad, p. 30.
181 Ibid., pp. 28-29. 193 Ibid, p. 93.
13 Grant Duff, pp. 181-182.