Annaji Datto Sachiv

Annaji Datto Sachiv was the Sachiv (Chief Secretary) in the Ashta Pradhan (Council of 8) mandal of the Maratha Empire during the rule of Chhatrapati Shivaji.[3]

Annaji Datto Sachiv

Surnavis and Sachiv
Maratha Empire
MonarchChhatrapati Shivaji
Personal details
Spouse(s)Lakshmibai[1]
RelationsSomaji Datto (Brother)
ChildrenRagho Annaji[2]

Early life

Before joining the services of Shivaji, Annaji Datto was a Kulkarni of Sangameshwar. He joined Shivaji's administration in 1660.[4]

Career

Annaji Datto was a Minister of Shivaji, who carried out a survey known as Annaji Datto's Dhara.[5] According to Subhasad Bhakhar, the Maratha Empire of Shivaji was divided into three parts, each under a cabinet minister, called a Sarkarkun. Annaji Datto Sachiv, Moropant Trimbak Pingle, and Dattoji Pant were appointed sarkarkun.[6][7] As sarkarkun, Annaji Datto controlled the Konkan territory, including Choul. Dabhol, Rajapur, Kudal, Bande, Phonda, and Koppal. This division between territories was called Talghat or Southern division.[8] In 1667, Shivaji appointed Annaji to the task of land revenue reform in areas under the Swarajya. Annaji's efforts led to a new system of lower government claim on farm produce of 2/5.His work involved accurate land measurement, bringing new land under cultivation, measures to reduce exploitation of the illiterate cultivators by the hereditary officials such as the Patil and Kulkarni.[9]

Campaign on Panhala and Pawangad

Annaji Datto was assigned the job of capturing the Panhala fort before the Afzal episode.[10] In 1659, Annaji captured the Panhala fort and Pawangad fort from the Mughals.[11]

Conflict with Sambhaji


Shivaji's eldest son and presumptive heir, Sambhaji, was sent to the fort of Panhala by his father, who disapproved of his habits. However, in December 1678 Sambhaji left the fort and defected to the Mughals for a year, but then returned home when he learnt of a plan by Dilir Khan, the Mughal viceroy of Deccan to arrest him and send him to Delhi.[12] Upon returning home, Sambhaji was unrepentant and was again put under surveillance at Panhala by his father.[13][14][15][16] However, Shivaji soon fell ill and died in April 1680. The news of Shivaji's death reached Sambhaji at Panhala within eleven days.[17]

Conspiracy with Soyarabai

At the time of Shivaji's death, Annaji conspired with Shivaji's widow, Soyarabai to lure the Council of ministers (ashtapradhan mandal), into electing her then ten year old younger son Rajaram to the throne of Maratha swarajya with Soyarabai as the regent.[18][19] On 21 April 1680, arrangements were made to make Rajaram's position secure. The coronation of Rajaram I was performed by Annaji Datto and a few of Rajaram's supporters.[20]

Soyarabai and Minister's proposed Sambhaji for the division of the Maratha Empire. When their proposal of the division of the Swarajya was turned down by Sambhaji, the adherents of the cause of Rajaram, Peshwa Moropant Pingle, Annaji Datto and others marched against Sambhaji. However, Sambhaji quickly won over the support of the Maratha army. He arrested those who had marched against him on the way to Panhala between 19 May and 2 June 1680. Sambhaji marched on Raigad and gained possession of the capital on 18 June 1680. He promptly put Rajaram, Soyarabai in close confinement.

Execution

Annaji and other ministers involved in the conspiracy were arrested and either executed or confined. Annaji was however released after a period. Later in 1681 when Prince Akbar, Aurangzeb's rebel son was given asylum by Sambhaji, Annaji and several members of the Shirke clan (of Yesubai) promised the Deccan to Akbar in exchange for leaving a small kingdom for Rajaram. Akbar refused to be a party to this conspiracy and betrayed these conspirators to Sambhaji who quickly executed Annaji, his brother Somaji, a large number of the Asthapradhan members and members of the Shirke family in August 1681.[21][22]

References
  1. Appasaheb Ganapatrao Pawar (1969). ताराबाईकालीन कागदपत्रे, Volume 1. शिवाजी विद्यापीठ. p. 43. A grant from Shivaji to Ragho Annaji, the son and Laxmibai, the widow of Annaji Datto. The document mentions that this Watan was formerly given by Shivaji the Great to Annaji Datto
  2. Śālinī Pāṭīla (1987). aharani Tarabai of Kolhapur, c. 1675-1761 A.D. S. Chand & Co. p. 174. When Lakshmibai and Annaji Datto's son, Ragho Annaji, told Tarabai about the wretched conditions through which they had passed after Annaji's death, and requested Tarabai to restore to them the Desh Kulkarni Vatan
  3. Apte 1974, p. 42.
  4. Deopujari 1973, p. 255.
  5. Apte 1974, p. 43.
  6. Singh 1998, p. 93.
  7. Kulkarni, A.R., 1990, January. Maratha Swarajya: Its Extent and Income. In Proceedings of the Indian History Congress (Vol. 51, pp. 321-325). Indian History Congress.
  8. Grewal 2005, p. 216.
  9. Kulkarni, G. T., 1976. Land Revenue and Agricultural Policy of Shivaji – An Appraisal. Bulletin of the Deccan College Research Institute, 35(3/4), pp.73-82.
  10. Kulkarni 2006, p. 61.
  11. Fryer 1992, p. 168.
  12. Bhave, Y.G. (2000). From the death of Shivaji to the death of Aurangzeb : the critical years. New Delhi: Northern Book Centre. p. 35. ISBN 81-7211100-2.
  13. Gordon, Stewart (1993). The Marathas 1600–1818 (1. publ. ed.). New York: Cambridge University. p. 80. ISBN 978-0-521-26883-7. Retrieved 5 June 2016.
  14. Maharashtra State Gazetteers:Satara. Gazetteers Dept Director of Government Publications, Madras State. 1963. p. 92.
  15. J. L. Mehta (1 January 2005). Advanced Study in the History of Modern India: Volume One: 1707–1813. Sterling Publishers Pvt. Ltd. ISBN 978-1-932705-54-6.
  16. Govind Sakharam Sardesai (1946). New History of the Marathas. Phoenix Publications. p. 230.
  17. Ec Ratnākara Rāva (1997). Govind, Shivaji's Warrior. Orient Blackswan. p. 128.
  18. Śālinī Pāṭīla (1987). Maharani Tarabai of Kolhapur, c. 1675-1761 A.D. S. Chand & Co. p. 16.
  19. Maharashtra State Gazetteers, Volume 22. Director of Government Printing, Stationery and Publications, Maharashtra State. 1969. p. 79.
  20. Vaidya 2000, p. 89.
  21. Kincaid, C.A. and Parasnis, D.B., 1922. History of the Maratha people. Vol. II: From the death of Shivaji to the death of Shahu. Oxford University Press, London. Page=9
  22. The Quarterly Review of Historical Studies, Volumes 7-9. Institute of Historical Studies. 1968. p. 181.

Bibliography
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