Heads of Maharashtra

Diwans of Maharashtra

1945-1958: Bhausaheb Shantaram More () †

1946 def.

Chhatrapatis of Maharashtra

1777-1808: Shahu II
1808-1847: Pratapsingh I
1847-1848: Shahaji I
1848-1863: Pratapsingh II
1863-1876: Shahaji II
1876-1887: Rajaram III

-inaugurates Praja Sabha in reaction to Great Indian Famine (1876-8)

-sends order on the subject, sneaks it through guards

-seats won by pro-Chhatrapati people

-issuance of Charter by it, Peshwa weakened a great deal

-and Chhatrapati freed from "golden cage"

1887-1946: Shahu III

-organizes Federation of Maharashtra > Shiv Sabha to dominate elections

-wildly successful in this regard

-in 1891, a law enacted which reorganizes administration, dissolves Ashta Pradhan and members pensioned off

-embarks on ambitious reform agenda

-reservations for non-Brahmins (meaning Marathas mostly)

-reforms targeted to end famine and ensure food security

-makes railroads, universities, medical colleges

-sells claims over Aligarh to pay for it

-British Wars > Hindustani War of Independence (1936-9) happens

-Maratha regiments in Hindustan serve on side with British

-some of them desert, Shahu condemns this

-causes controversy at home, but elites largely pro-British side because of aristocrats getting brutally murdered

-controversy makes itself known in the Praja Sabha

-ultimately Hindustani rebels prevail

-in wake of war, Shahu decides to dissolve British ties, Maharashtra declares itself fully independent

-and forced to reform Praja Sabha, make it more democratic

1946-1949: Shivaji III
1949-1953: Venkatji
1953-1984: Rajaram IV
1984-2003: Shahaji III
2003-xxxx: Shivaji IV

Peshwas of Maharashtra

1774-1796: Madhavrao II
1796-1851: Bajirao II

-faced with British Wars > Zaman Shah Durrani's invasion of India (1800-1)

-forced to make an alliance to beat it off

-devastates many of the northern feudatories but is beaten off

-in its aftermath alliance with British becomes permanent

-followed by British Wars > Anglo-Hyderabadi War (1804-7), in which Maharashtra allies with British against Hyderabadi

-helps seal the deal with the alliance

-during British Wars > Popular Revolution disarray (1827-35), British authority badly shaken

-also modulates treaty, becomes more autonomous

1851-1874: Nanarao

-sends troops to the effort in the British Wars > Opium Expedition (1853-4)

-very much iconic in this regard, British blame atrocities of that war on them

1874-1891: Madhavrao III

1891: Position abolished


-faced with Great Indian Famine (1876-8), outflanked and Praja Sabha assembled

-following abolition, Madhavrao III forced into retirement

-but Peshwas keep massive feudal estate, and get to be prominent in Praja Sabha