Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s Agrarian Policy and Its Relevance Today

Abstract

This paper undertakes a historical-analytical study of the agrarian and revenue policies instituted by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in the 17th-century Maratha Swarajya. His administration is distinguished by a radical shift from the exploitative feudal practices prevalent under the Deccan Sultanates to a Ryotwari system rooted in direct state-peasant engagement. The core reforms—scientific land measurement (Kathi), progressive land assessment based on crop and fertility, strict abolition of the Jagirdari system, and welfare measures like Tagai loans and tax remissions—prioritised the welfare of the Rayat (peasantry). Critically, this research evaluates the enduring principles of this policy, such as direct accountability, equity, and sustainability, and analyses their potential relevance to contemporary agrarian and land reforms in modern India, particularly in Maharashtra.