Rise of Maratha Power

About the author
Mahadev Govind Ranade (18 January 1842 and 15 January 1901), also known as Justice Ranade, was a multifaceted figure in 19th century India. He was a distinguished scholar, publishing the book “Rise of the Maratha Power” and serving as a judge in the Bombay High Court. He was the leader of the renaissance period of Maharashtra and a strong advocate for social reforms. he fought against practices like child marriage and widow remarriage, and championed women’s education. He was one of the founding members of the Indian National Congress, contributing to the country’s freedom struggle. He was also a leading figure of the Prarthana Samaj.
Summary
“Rise of the Maratha Power” is a historical work by Indian writer and social reformer Mahadev G. Ranade that was first published in 1900. The book follows the emergence of the Maratha Empire in India during the 17th and 18th centuries, from its beginnings as a provincial force on the Deccan Plateau to its final dominance over much of the Indian subcontinent. Ranade describes in depth the political, military, and cultural reasons that contributed to the Maratha Empire’s rise to prominence, including the roles of key personalities such as Shivaji, the Maratha Empire’s founder, and the Peshwas, the powerful prime ministers who ruled in their names. This book examines the history of the Maratha Confederacy’s ascent to prominence.
The book also delves into the Marathas’ complex relationships with other Indian kingdoms and empires, such as the Mughals and the British, and how these interactions influenced the Maratha’s political and military operations. Overall, “Rise of the Maratha Power” is a comprehensive, thorough and insightful study of one of India’s most important historical periods, bringing readers a cogent understanding of the factors that influenced the country’s political atmosphere for several centuries to come.
Detailed analysis
The book Rise of Maratha Power chronicles the rise of the Maratha Empire in India during the 17th and 18th centuries, from its origins as a regional power in the Deccan Plateau to its eventual domination of much of the Indian subcontinent.
The book is divided into four parts, each covering a different aspect of the Maratha history and culture.
The first section of the book discusses the Marathas’ political and military history, from the creation of Shivaji’s kingdom in 1674 to the fall of the Peshwa reign in 1818. The book focuses on the triumphs and challenges of Maratha rulers including Shivaji, Sambhaji, Rajaram, Shahu, Balaji Vishwanath, Baji Rao I, Balaji Baji Rao, Madhav Rao, and Baji Rao II. The book also discusses the wars and alliances of the Marathas with the Mughals, the Nizam, the English, the French, the Portuguese, and the other Indian states.
The book’s second section concentrates on the social and economic realities of Maratha society, including the system of castes, the condition and status of women in society along with education, the arts, literature, religion, and festivals. The book additionally takes a peek at the Maratha state’s revenue structure, trade, agriculture, industry, and taxation. The book lauds the Maratha society’s spirit of equality, liberty, and patriotism while criticising its lack of unity, discipline, and morality.
The third part of the book analyzes the causes and consequences of the decline and fall of the Maratha power, such as the internal dissensions, the external invasions, the corruption, the mismanagement, the oppression, and the betrayal. The book also assesses the impact of Maratha control on Indian history and civilization, including the preservation of Hindu culture, resistance to foreign dominance, encouragement of regional languages, and the formation of national consciousness and a national identity.
The fourth part of the book consists of the appendices, which contain the extracts from the original sources, such as the Maratha chronicles, the letters, the treaties, the accounts, and the biographies. The book also includes a preface, an introduction, a glossary, and an index.
Critical appraisal
The book Rise of Maratha Power is a valuable contribution to the Indian historiography, as it provides a comprehensive and objective account of the Maratha history and culture. The book is based on the extensive research and the critical examination of the primary and secondary sources. The book is also written in a clear and engaging style, with the use of anecdotes, quotations, and illustrations. The book is a must-read for anyone interested in the Maratha history and heritage.
However, while talking about a book published during the end of the nineteenth century, the reader needs to keep in mind the then prevailing socio-economic norms accompanied by the political dissentions of that time.
One of the most important counter-claim that the book lays in its outline is to James Grant Duff’s A History of the Maharattas and the British and the ‘Indian’ historians influenced by them have for having portrayed the Maratha confederacy as a ‘free booting power that that was a sudden conflagration which lacked any ideological base’. Justice Ranade has attempted to counter this propaganda. Most of the early research and historical work was focused on the political aspects of the Maratha Confederacy which entirely neglected the social, economic and religious factors that contributed to the rise of this confederacy. The book sheds enough light on these factors.
Justice Ranade has also made it readily apparent in this book, providing evidence against the continuous misinformation effort, that the Mughals were the antecedents of British rule. It’s an outright lie: the Marathas were the dominant indigenous power that the British had to subdue in order to gain control of India. The Maratha Confederacy has not received adequate recognition, particularly for being the first indigenous power in centuries to demonstrate a nationalist spirit by considering the entire nation rather than just their own territory, as argued by Ranade in his study.
Furthermore, the book sheds light on the most overlooked component of the Maratha Confederacy’s administration that it provided a chance to anyone with talent and calibre to rise and carve a place of authority. This was denied by the Islamic regimes where the decisive power was in the hands of the Islamic rulers. This is a part which is not even highlighted in today’s misinformation campaigns which portray the Islamic powers that ruled India to be ‘indigenous’.
Nonetheless, the book highlights the contribution of the saints of Maharashtra, albeit insufficiently. Moreover, the book has unconvincing statements regarding the Aryan and Dravidian culture in Maharashtra and that it contributed to the rise of Maratha Confederacy.
Also, the book is based extensively on the ideology of idealism which didn’t conform to the prevalent societal structures and norms then. Ranging from Shivaji Maharaj’s ideology to the contribution of saints, there is too much of idealism that isn’t backed with any evidence.
To summarize, the book should be read keeping in mind the fact the times it was written.
Conclusion
Beyond simply recounting the rise and fall of the Maratha Empire, Ranade delves into the social and political factors that shaped its formation under the visionary leadership of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. He sheds light on their innovative military strategies, administrative structures, and unifying cultural identity, ultimately contributing to the Maratha transformation into a dominant force across much of the subcontinent.
However, the book’s value extends beyond mere historical narration. By critically analyzing both the strengths and potential shortcomings of the Maratha Empire, Ranade invites readers to engage in a deeper conversation about the complexities of leadership, the challenges of maintaining unity, and the enduring legacy of the Marathas within the broader narrative of Indian history. This makes “Rise of the Maratha Power” an essential reference for anyone seeking to understand the Marathas, their impact on the Indian subcontinent, and their enduring presence in the historical tapestry of the nation.