Rise of Marathas

Rise of Marathas
The rise of Marathas in seventeenth century is considered as major turn in

Indian history .Before seventeenth century Marathas were soldiers or served in
the armys of Bijapur and Ahemadnagar rulers. One can not deny the role of
shivaji in the rise of Marathas but the ground is somewhat clear for shivaji
before his arrival .There are many factors for the rise of Marathas . Not one
person or a particular group of people and warriors participated in the rise of
the Marathas. It was also not the result of some transient circumstances and
also not the result of sudden event . The rise of the Marathas was the result of
the efforts and hardwork of all Maratha people who on the basis of unity of
their culture,society, language, literature, community and homeland gave birth
to Maratha nationalism and shown courage to create an independent state for
their self.
Marathas nationalism was the result of muslim conquest of Indian subcontinent

and which becomes threat to the state of Marathas . It resulted in the formation
of an independent state of the Hindus in the South. With the time Marathas
developed that strong spirit of nationalism which made them the most powerful
group among others in India.It was the strength and quality of Maratha
nationalism which inspired Maratha leaders to form Hindu-Pad-Padshahi in
India by capturing the power of Delhi emperors and and giving inida a strong
hindu ruler after so long who can rule all over india . The history of the rise of
the Marathas is the inspiring history of the rise of courageous and hardworking
organized group of people inhabiting the territory of Maharashtra.
After going through the history of Marathas there are many factors participated
in the rise of Maratha nationalism and political power of the Marathas. The
geographical condition of Maharashtra helped in the rise of the Marathas.
Marathas state is surrounded by mountains which provide them security from
outside invaders. Due to mountains they are well trained for difficulties and
they gained lot of skills .They don’t have lot of options to run their lives because
there is hardly any rain in their state and Larger part of Maharashtra is plateau
where man has to struggle hard for his existence. That made the Marathas
courageous and sturdy.due to the difficulties of finding livelihood developed
among the Marathas a spirit of self-reliance and hardwork. Whether a peasant
or a soldier, nature fostered in the Maratha an innate love of independence wich
made him rebellious in spirit. In this combination of courage, cleverness and
power endurance, in his ability to plan and execute surprise and night attacks, in
his skill to extricate himself from a tight corner or to vary his tactics to the
changing phases of a battle without waiting for guidance from a superior, it was
hardly possible to beat the Maratha Soldier.These qualities helped them in
fighting against mughals. The mountainous country made it possible for the
Marathas to adopt successfully the guerrilla tactics. The broken rangs of hills
provided the Marathas readymade and easily defensible rock .
Besides, Maharashtra, being in the middle of Indian subcontinent, it gives

Marathas a convenient approach to extend their power and rule both towards
the north and the south. The Marathas did not suffer much from economic
disparities among them as there were not much people who could be
considered as rich. Due to this used to divide every resource equally and
enjoyed economic equality to a great extent.There was, thus, everyone treated
equally no clear-cut division of the society into the rich and the poor. It gave
them self-respect and unity. Besides, the society as a whole did not demand for
much as in luxury they are satisfied with what they have and they know very
well how to use and protect their resources . From the social point of view as
well, the Marathas did not suffer from serious divisions.The very big reason
behind the unity of marthas is social and religious awakening in Maharashtra
prior to political awakening. The saints and gurus of the 15th and the 16th
centuries who emphasized on Bhakti-cult also preached social equality. Many of
them belonged to Maharashtra.Saints like Tukaram,Vaman , Ram Das, and Ek
Nath were the main reason behind this social and religious awakening. It did not
remain limited to a particular section of the society but was widely prevalent
among the common people.These saints spreading the message of unity and
peace among Marathas . The moral atmosphere created by the saints made a
majority of the Marathas of the 17th century less selfish and perhaps less corrupt.
The Bhakti movement democratised and nationalised the Maratha literature
which afforded another influence for national unity. The devotional songs and
moral maxims of the saints made their way to every home where Marathi
language would be read.
The saints given the message against the supremacy of the Brahmanas, customs
,racism , caste-system and discrimination of low-born and highborn. This
movement and the mass-awakening which it created united and strengthened
the Maratha society.Historian Ranade from Maharashtra stated that the main
cause of the political unrest in Maharashtra was its religious movement and
there is no doubt that different saints of Maharashtra encouraged the feeling of
nationalism among the Marathas.Their teachings, Bhajans etc. seriously
affected the emotions of uneducated Marathas and encouraged them to fight
for safeguarding their society and religion. Marathi language which was simple
and language of the people also strengthened the bonds of equality and unity
among the people of Maharashtra.
The other reason which helped the Marathas in rising is the balance of power
between the Hindus and the Muslims in the South also helped the Marathas in
attaining political power. While in northern India, except in Rajasthan, the
Muslims had practically broken the power of resistance of the Hindus they could
never achieve that success in the South.Therefore, the Hindus could safeguard
their social traditions, temples, self-respect and thereby their love towards their
society and religion in the South. They did not feel disrespected and
disheartened and therefore, had the capacity to fight back the Muslims. That is
why the Muslim rulers of the South had to take help of the Hindus in their
administration. The character of Aurangzeb was also responsible for the success
of the Marathas. Aurangzeb was suspicious of his generals and sons. He invariably
set two generals on his campaigns. The differences between Shah Alam and Diler
Khan were responsible for Mughal Failure in the Deccan. The cold war between
Asad Khan and Zulfikar Khan were also responsible for the prolongation of the
siege of Jinji and the flight of Rajaram in safety to Maharashtra.The negligence of
Aurangzeb towards the affairs of the Deccan during early period of his reign,
and, later on, his attempt to conquer the entire Deccan which provoked the
resistance of the Marathas for the safety of their Jagirs and homelands and the
inclusion of all sections of the people of Maharashtra in the Maratha army, etc.
also helped the rise of the Maratha power.The Mughul power was gradually
growing in south India and during the reign of Aurangzeb the Marathas felt that,
probably, entire south India would be lost to the Mughuls. That united them to
fight against the Mughuls for safeguarding their larger interests. The Marathas
were enjoying several privileges under the patronage of Muslim states of the
Deccan.
Their rulers had given them respectable positions in their administration; they
had not interfered in their social and religious affairs; and, the Marathas were
enrolled in their armies in large numbers. Aurangzeb was a bigot and the power
of the Mughuls under him was enormous.The Marathas could not expect to
enjoy all those privileges under his rule which they had been enjoying under the
weak Muslim rulers of the Deccan. Therefore too, the Marathas chose to
organise themselves against the Mughuls. Thus, prior to the rise of Shivaji on
the political horizon of the South, conditions existed which provided a solid base
to the rise of the Marathas. Nobody had exploited those conditions to build up
the fortunes of the Maratha people and none thought of establishing an
independent kingdom of the Hindus. Shivaji completed this dream of hindus .
He successfully built up the Maratha nation and established an independent
kingdom of the Hindus in the South.
The kind of experience marathas gained from working in administration also

helped them in running their own state Even prior to the rise of Shivaji, the
Marathas had acquired experience and training in the art of administration. There
were a number of Marathas employed in various departments and especially in
the revenue department of the Muslim rulers of the Deccan. The Maratha
Jagirdars were playing an important role in the political affairs of the states of
Bijapur, Ahmednagar, Berar and Golkunda etc. Several departments were virtually
controlled by Maratha statesmen and warriors.
REFERECNES
Medivial history of india –By Satish Chandra
Rise of the Maratha power –By Mahadev govind

Rise of Marathas

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Rise of Marathas

The rise of Marathas in seventeenth century is considered as major turn in

Marathas nationalism was the result of muslim conquest of Indian subcontinent

Besides, Maharashtra, being in the middle of Indian subcontinent, it gives

The kind of experience marathas gained from working in administration also

Medivial history of india –By Satish Chandra

Rise of the Maratha power –By Mahadev govind

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