Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-ndmmz Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-05-21T04:05:56.622Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The Emergence of an Indigenous Business Class in Maharashtra in the Eighteenth Century

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 November 2008

V. D. Divekar
V. D. Divekar
Affiliation:
Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics, Pune
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Extract

The present paper is divided into three parts. Part I describes and analyses the emergence of an indigenous business class in Maharashtra, in western India, during the Peshwa times, and its position under early British rule. Part II discusses the dominance of Brahman savakars in the newly emerged business class. Part III presents an overview and states general observations relating to the subject.

Type
Articles
Information
Modern Asian Studies , Volume 16 , Issue 3 , July 1982 , pp. 427 - 443
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1982

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1 Sardesai, G. S. (ed.), Selections from the Peshwa Doftar, 46 vols (Bombay, 1934), Vol. 20Google Scholar, nos 53, 55, 97, 100, 103 and Vol. 21 no. 80 (henceforth referred to as SPD).

2 Chapekar, N. G., Peshwaaichyaa Saavaleet (Poona, 1937), pp. 67, 71–8.Google Scholar

3 Apte, M. D., ‘Sarakaaree Aayavyaya’, 1763–73 (Unpublished thesis, Poona Univ., 1969), p. 194Google Scholar; see also Vad, G. C. (ed.), Selections from the Satara Raja's and the Peshwa's Diaries, 9 vols (Poona, 1906–1911), Vol. 9, p. 232Google Scholar (henceforth referred to as SSRPD).

4 Joshi, S. N., Maraathekaaleen Samaajdarshan (Poona, 1960).Google Scholar

5 SPD, Vol. 20, no. 46. Raghuji Bhosale, for example, was thus harassed in 1746 by his creditors, and one among them, Vishwanathbhat Vaidya, got his account settled. Out of the three lakhs of rupees that Raghuji got as ransom by releasing the son of Janakiram held earlier as a hostage, Vaidya not only recovered his loan of Rs 1,25,000 but also got away with presents worth Rs 25,000, and in addition to that, the administrative rights of five villages.

6 SPD, Vol. 44, pp. 12–13.Google Scholar

7 SPD, Vol. 20, No. 103.Google Scholar

8 Bendre, V. S. (ed.), Bakhar Prayag Anant Phanase hyanchya vamshaachee in Maharashtratehisaachee Saadhane 3 vols (Bombay, 1966–1967), vol. 1, pp. 120–5.Google Scholar

9 Apte, ‘Sarakaaree Aayavyaya’, pp. 152–4.Google Scholar

10 Ibid., p. 117.

11 SSRPD, Vol. 7, p. 306.Google Scholar

12 Chapekar, Peshwaaichyaa Saavaleet, p. 26.Google Scholar

13 Ibid., p. 25.

14 For examples, see ibid., pp. 134–6.

15 SSRPD, Vol. 2, pp. 147–57; Vol. 7, p. 289Google Scholar; SPD, Vol. 23, No. 106.Google Scholar

16 Ghadani Daftar Rumal, no. 748; Apte, ‘Sarakaaree Aayavyaya’, p. 139.Google Scholar

17 Elphinstone, Mountstuart. Report on the Territories Conquered from the Paishwa (Calcutta, 1821), p. 8.Google Scholar

18 Chaplin, , Report, 20 08 1822 (Bombay, 1877 reprint), p. 108.Google Scholar

19 Cf. the ruling given on 2 June 1832 by John Warden, Deputy Agent, Deccan, in the case of Sardar Ramchandra Pandurang Dhamadhere v. Vasudev Bapuji and Krishnaji Hari Chiplonkar, the two savakars, in Chapekar, , Peshwaaichyaa Saavaleet, p. 268.Google Scholar

20 Cf. ibid., pp. 124–5, 256–7.

21 SPD, Vol. 22, no. 229.Google Scholar

22 For the year 1760–61, see SSRPD, Vol. 3, pp. 373–5; for 1763–64Google Scholar, ibid., Vol. 7, pp. 115–9; for 1797–98, ibid., Vol. 5, pp. 201–7, etc.

23 Bhave, V. K., Peshawekaaleen Maharashtra (New Delhi, 1976 reprint), pp. 294–5.Google Scholar

24 Ibid.

25 Traimasik (Quarterly Journal of the Bharat Itihas Samshodhak Mandal, Poona), Vol. 3, no. 1 pp. 17–41.Google Scholar

26 Saswadkar, P. L., ‘Brahmendraswami: His Life and Role in Maratha History’ (Unpublished thesis, Poona Univ., 1964), Ch. 5.Google Scholar

27 Gadgil, D. R., Origins of the Modern Indian Business Class: An Interim Report (New York, 1959) p. 23.Google Scholar

28 Ibid.

29 Melotti, Umberto, Marx and the Third World, tr. by Ransford, Pat (London, 1977), p. 98.CrossRefGoogle Scholar

30 Ibid., p. 102.