Ramchandra Pant Amatya
Encyclopedia
Ramchandra Neelkanth Bahutkar (1650–1716), also known as Ramchandra Pant Amatya, was the youngest member of the Council of Ministers to Emperor (Chhatrapati) Shivaji dating from 1674 to 1680. He also served as the Imperial Regent (Hukumat Panah) to Chhatrapati Sambhaji
, Rajaram, Shivaji II and Sambhaji II. He authored the Adnyapatra
, the famous code of civil and military administration, and is renowned as one of the greatest diplomats, administrators and military strategists of the Maratha Empire
.
Deshastha Brahmin
family in approximately 1650. He was the youngest son of Neelkanth Sondeo Bahutkar (more popularly known as ‘Nilo Sondeo’) who had risen from a local revenue collection post (Kulkarni
) to the post of Minister in the court of Shivaji.
His family originally hailed from the village Kolwan near Kalyan
Bhiwandi
. Ramchandra Pant's grandfather Sonopant and uncle Abaji Sondeo were in the close circle of Shivaji. The Bahutkar family was closely associated with Samarth Ramdas
, the spiritual guru of Shivaji - Samarth Ramdas is believed to be the one who named the newly born child as Ramchandra.
After Shivaji’s death in 1680, Sambhaji
took over rulership of the Maratha Empire and Ramchandra Pant continued with his administration in various posts. Among other duties, Ramchandra Pant was sent to Prince Akbar, Aurangzeb
's rebel son, for negotiations and, in 1685, Sambhaji
also deployed him as an envoy to Vijapur
for certain sensitive talks.
’s assassination by Aurangzeb
, Ramchandra Pant was deployed at Fort Vishalgad
. In consultation with Sambhaji
’s queen Yesubai
, who was located at Fort Raigad along with Rajaram and her son Shahu, he decided to send Rajaram to Fort Gingee
(in current-day Tamil Nadu
) to divide the battlefield. Subsequently, Rajaram was brought to Panhala fort
and was secretly sent to Gingee
. Before leaving for Gingee, Rajaram conferred on Ramchandra Pant the title of Imperial Regent (Hukumat Panah).
Thereafter, with the aid of generals Santaji Ghorpade
, Dhanaji Jadhav
, Parshuram Pant Pratinidhi
, and Shankaraji Narayan Sacheev, Ramchandra Pant launched a great retaliatory war against the Mughal Empire
.
These strategies proved to be extremely effective against the Mughal Empire.
, Ramchandra Pant voluntarily stepped down from the post of Imperial Regent (Hukumat Panah).
In 1700, after Rajaram’s death, Queen Tarabai
once again delegated enormous wartime powers to Ramchandra Pant. Both of them continued to fight against the Mughal power in India. At the time of Aurangzeb
’s death in 1707, the Marathas had become extremely powerful and the Mughal Empire
was on the verge of total devastation.
After Prince Shahu’s release from the Mughal camp, most of the Maratha
generals defected from Queen Tarabai
and joined Shahu. As a result, Tarabai
was forced to leave the capital Satara
, fleeing to Panhala fort
. Ramchandra Pant, however, strongly supported Tarabai
at the time and worked as the Senior Minister for her son Shivaji II.
In 1712, Sambhaji II overthrew Queen Tarabai
, placing the Queen and her son Shivaji II in prison and taking over rulership of the Maratha Empire. Modern-day scholars generally conclude that Ramchandra Pant was behind this conspiracy as he was appointed by Sambhaji II to the Imperial Regency immediately thereafter. It is speculated that Ramchandra Pant and his supporters were not satisfied with Tarabai
’s treatment of her peerage.
(also pronounced Ajnapatra), a standard code of civil and military administration for the Maratha Empire
. It can be compared to Kautilya’s Arthashastra
.
In 1716, Ramchandra Pant died at the age of 66. A monument dedicated to his life and valiant effort in fighting against the Mughal invaders is located at Panhala fort
. His heirs still live near Fort Gaganbawada
to this day - a gift to Ramchandra Pant for his great contribution to Maratha power.
Sambhaji
Sambhaji Raje Bhosle was the eldest son and successor to Emporer Shivaji, the founder of the Maratha empire.- Early life :...
, Rajaram, Shivaji II and Sambhaji II. He authored the Adnyapatra
Adnyapatra
Adnyapatra, also pronounced as ‘Ajnapatra’, is a royal edict on the principles of Maratha policy written in Modi Marathi by Ramchandra Pant Amatya, a diplomat and warrior of the Maratha Empire, with intention to guide Shivaji’s grandson Sambhaji II...
, the famous code of civil and military administration, and is renowned as one of the greatest diplomats, administrators and military strategists of the Maratha Empire
Maratha Empire
The Maratha Empire or the Maratha Confederacy was an Indian imperial power that existed from 1674 to 1818. At its peak, the empire covered much of South Asia, encompassing a territory of over 2.8 million km²....
.
Early life
Ramchandra Pant was born to a RigvediRigvedi
Rigvedi: The word mainly denotes one of the two subcastes of Deshastha Brahmin of Maharashtra & Karnataka, India. The other subcaste is Yajurvedi...
Deshastha Brahmin
Deshastha Brahmin
Deshastha Brahmins are the original and the oldest Hindu Brahmin sub-caste mainly from the Indian state of Maharashtra and some districts of northern Karnataka. The word Deshastha comes from the Sanskrit words Desha and Stha which mean inland or country and resident respectively...
family in approximately 1650. He was the youngest son of Neelkanth Sondeo Bahutkar (more popularly known as ‘Nilo Sondeo’) who had risen from a local revenue collection post (Kulkarni
Kulkarni
Kulkarni Marathi- Kannada- is a common family name in the Maharashtra and Karnataka states of India.The name Kulkarni is believed to be a combination of two words . Kula means the root of the family, and Karanika means one who maintains records or accounts...
) to the post of Minister in the court of Shivaji.
His family originally hailed from the village Kolwan near Kalyan
Kalyan
Kalyan is a city in Thane district of Maharashtra, and a major railway station lying at the junction of the north-east and south-east lines of the suburban Mumbai division of the Central Railway, 53 km north-east of Mumbai. Kalyan is also a major Taluka place, a tehsil of the Thane district...
Bhiwandi
Bhiwandi
Bhiwandi is a city, in the district of Thane, in the western state of Maharashtra, in India, located 20 km to the north-east of Mumbai and 15 km to the north-east of Thane city...
. Ramchandra Pant's grandfather Sonopant and uncle Abaji Sondeo were in the close circle of Shivaji. The Bahutkar family was closely associated with Samarth Ramdas
Samarth Ramdas
Ramdas was a prominent Marathi saint and religious poet in the Hindu tradition in Maharashtra, India. Samarth Ramdas was a devotee of Lord Hanuman and Lord Rama...
, the spiritual guru of Shivaji - Samarth Ramdas is believed to be the one who named the newly born child as Ramchandra.
Early career
Before 1672, Ramchandra Pant was engaged in various clerical jobs in Shivaji's administration. In 1672, he and his elder brother Narayan were both promoted to the post of Revenue Minister (Mujumdar) by Shivaji. In 1674, at the Coronation ceremony, the post Mujumdar was renamed as Amatya and the title was solely bestowed upon Ramchandra Pant. He worked in this capacity until 1678. On his death bed, Shivaji named him as one among six pillars of the Maratha Empire that would save the kingdom in difficult times.After Shivaji’s death in 1680, Sambhaji
Sambhaji
Sambhaji Raje Bhosle was the eldest son and successor to Emporer Shivaji, the founder of the Maratha empire.- Early life :...
took over rulership of the Maratha Empire and Ramchandra Pant continued with his administration in various posts. Among other duties, Ramchandra Pant was sent to Prince Akbar, Aurangzeb
Aurangzeb
Abul Muzaffar Muhy-ud-Din Muhammad Aurangzeb Alamgir , more commonly known as Aurangzeb or by his chosen imperial title Alamgir , was the sixth Mughal Emperor of India, whose reign lasted from 1658 until his death in 1707.Badshah Aurangzeb, having ruled most of the Indian subcontinent for nearly...
's rebel son, for negotiations and, in 1685, Sambhaji
Sambhaji
Sambhaji Raje Bhosle was the eldest son and successor to Emporer Shivaji, the founder of the Maratha empire.- Early life :...
also deployed him as an envoy to Vijapur
Vijapur
Vijapur is a city and a municipality in Mehsana district in the Indian state of Gujarat.-Geography:Vijapur is located at . It has an average elevation of 116 metres .-Demographics:...
for certain sensitive talks.
Contribution to Maratha War of Independence
In 1689, at the time of SambhajiSambhaji
Sambhaji Raje Bhosle was the eldest son and successor to Emporer Shivaji, the founder of the Maratha empire.- Early life :...
’s assassination by Aurangzeb
Aurangzeb
Abul Muzaffar Muhy-ud-Din Muhammad Aurangzeb Alamgir , more commonly known as Aurangzeb or by his chosen imperial title Alamgir , was the sixth Mughal Emperor of India, whose reign lasted from 1658 until his death in 1707.Badshah Aurangzeb, having ruled most of the Indian subcontinent for nearly...
, Ramchandra Pant was deployed at Fort Vishalgad
Vishalgad
Vishalgad was one of the important forts of Shivaji and Maratha Empire. The name ‘Vishalgad’ meaning grand fort in Marathi, was given by Shivaji after annexing it for the Maratha Empire in 1659.The fort is about 1130 meters that is 3630 feet.-Origin of the name Vishalgad:Khelna was in the control...
. In consultation with Sambhaji
Sambhaji
Sambhaji Raje Bhosle was the eldest son and successor to Emporer Shivaji, the founder of the Maratha empire.- Early life :...
’s queen Yesubai
Yesubai
Yesubai was the wife of the Maratha emperor Sambhaji.Yesubai was the daughter of Pilajirao Shirke, an illustrious Maratha sardar , who was in the services of Chhatrapati Shivaji. Yesubai was by various accounts extremely beautiful, wise and prudent. She was fiercely loyal to the goals of her...
, who was located at Fort Raigad along with Rajaram and her son Shahu, he decided to send Rajaram to Fort Gingee
Gingee
Gingee is a panchayat town in Viluppuram district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. The nearest town with a railway station is Tindivanam, 28 km away....
(in current-day Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
) to divide the battlefield. Subsequently, Rajaram was brought to Panhala fort
Panhala fort
Panhala fort , also known as Panhalgad, Pahalla and Panalla , is located in Panhala, 20 kilometres northwest of Kolhapur in Maharashtra, India. It is strategically located looking over a pass in the Sahyadri mountain range which was a major trade route from Bijapur in the interior of Maharashtra to...
and was secretly sent to Gingee
Gingee
Gingee is a panchayat town in Viluppuram district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. The nearest town with a railway station is Tindivanam, 28 km away....
. Before leaving for Gingee, Rajaram conferred on Ramchandra Pant the title of Imperial Regent (Hukumat Panah).
Thereafter, with the aid of generals Santaji Ghorpade
Santaji Ghorpade
Santaji Mhaloji Ghorpade, popularly known as ‘Santaji’ or ‘Santaji Ghorpade’, was one of the greatest warriors and the chief General of the Maratha Empire during Chhatrapati Rajaram’s regime. His guerrilla technique of war is supposed to be the best besides that of Shivaji and Bajirao...
, Dhanaji Jadhav
Dhanaji Jadhav
Dhanaji Shambhusinha Jadhav , popularly known as Dhanaji Jadhav, was one of the great warriors of the Maratha Empire. His name became inseparable from the name of Santaji Ghorpade with whom he made terrifying campaigns against Mughal Army continuously from 1689 to 1696...
, Parshuram Pant Pratinidhi
Parshuram Pant Pratinidhi
Parshuram Tryambak Kinhaikar , popularly known as Parshuram Pant Pratinidhi, was a diplomat and warrior of Maratha Empire during Rajaram and Tarabai’s regime. His contribution to the Maratha war of Independence is considered to be of vital importance...
, and Shankaraji Narayan Sacheev, Ramchandra Pant launched a great retaliatory war against the Mughal Empire
Mughal Empire
The Mughal Empire , or Mogul Empire in traditional English usage, was an imperial power from the Indian Subcontinent. The Mughal emperors were descendants of the Timurids...
.
Wartime strategies
- To encourage the local MarathaMarathaThe Maratha are an Indian caste, predominantly in the state of Maharashtra. The term Marāthā has three related usages: within the Marathi speaking region it describes the dominant Maratha caste; outside Maharashtra it can refer to the entire regional population of Marathi-speaking people;...
warriors to fight independently against the Mughals, Ramchandra Pant adopted a new policy to officially reward pieces of land (Vatans) in exchange for military service. Turn out the Mughals and own the land was the pronouncement. This mercenary policy went against Shivaji's will, but Ramchandra Pant saw no alternative given the changed circumstances. - Independent MarathaMarathaThe Maratha are an Indian caste, predominantly in the state of Maharashtra. The term Marāthā has three related usages: within the Marathi speaking region it describes the dominant Maratha caste; outside Maharashtra it can refer to the entire regional population of Marathi-speaking people;...
warlords were encouraged to cross the MaharashtraMaharashtraMaharashtra is a state located in India. It is the second most populous after Uttar Pradesh and third largest state by area in India...
border and to invade Mughal areas in response to Mughal invasion. Nemaji Shinde and Chimnaji DamodarChimnaji DamodarChimnaji Damodar Moghe, historically known as ‘Chimnaji Damodar, was among the first ones to cross the boundary of Maharashtra in 1698 to attack Mughal subjects located in the Central and Northern parts of India...
were the first warlords to successfully respond to this strategy. - Appealing to Mughal greed, MarathaMarathaThe Maratha are an Indian caste, predominantly in the state of Maharashtra. The term Marāthā has three related usages: within the Marathi speaking region it describes the dominant Maratha caste; outside Maharashtra it can refer to the entire regional population of Marathi-speaking people;...
forts were traded to the Mughals for large sums. Once the forts were well-equipped by the Mughals, the forts were re-captured by Maratha forces.
These strategies proved to be extremely effective against the Mughal Empire.
Later career
In 1698, after Rajaram’s return from GingeeGingee
Gingee is a panchayat town in Viluppuram district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. The nearest town with a railway station is Tindivanam, 28 km away....
, Ramchandra Pant voluntarily stepped down from the post of Imperial Regent (Hukumat Panah).
In 1700, after Rajaram’s death, Queen Tarabai
Tarabai
Tarabai was a queen of the Maratha Empire in India. Her husband was Chhatrapati Rajaram, son of Shivaji. Tarabai was the daughter of the famed Maratha general Hambirao Mohite...
once again delegated enormous wartime powers to Ramchandra Pant. Both of them continued to fight against the Mughal power in India. At the time of Aurangzeb
Aurangzeb
Abul Muzaffar Muhy-ud-Din Muhammad Aurangzeb Alamgir , more commonly known as Aurangzeb or by his chosen imperial title Alamgir , was the sixth Mughal Emperor of India, whose reign lasted from 1658 until his death in 1707.Badshah Aurangzeb, having ruled most of the Indian subcontinent for nearly...
’s death in 1707, the Marathas had become extremely powerful and the Mughal Empire
Mughal Empire
The Mughal Empire , or Mogul Empire in traditional English usage, was an imperial power from the Indian Subcontinent. The Mughal emperors were descendants of the Timurids...
was on the verge of total devastation.
After Prince Shahu’s release from the Mughal camp, most of the Maratha
Maratha
The Maratha are an Indian caste, predominantly in the state of Maharashtra. The term Marāthā has three related usages: within the Marathi speaking region it describes the dominant Maratha caste; outside Maharashtra it can refer to the entire regional population of Marathi-speaking people;...
generals defected from Queen Tarabai
Tarabai
Tarabai was a queen of the Maratha Empire in India. Her husband was Chhatrapati Rajaram, son of Shivaji. Tarabai was the daughter of the famed Maratha general Hambirao Mohite...
and joined Shahu. As a result, Tarabai
Tarabai
Tarabai was a queen of the Maratha Empire in India. Her husband was Chhatrapati Rajaram, son of Shivaji. Tarabai was the daughter of the famed Maratha general Hambirao Mohite...
was forced to leave the capital Satara
Satara
Satara is a city located in the Satara District of Maharashtra state of India. The town is 2320 ft. above sea-level, near the confluence of the Krishna and its tributary river Venna. The city was the capital of the Maratha empire in the 17th century, hence one of the the historical cities of...
, fleeing to Panhala fort
Panhala fort
Panhala fort , also known as Panhalgad, Pahalla and Panalla , is located in Panhala, 20 kilometres northwest of Kolhapur in Maharashtra, India. It is strategically located looking over a pass in the Sahyadri mountain range which was a major trade route from Bijapur in the interior of Maharashtra to...
. Ramchandra Pant, however, strongly supported Tarabai
Tarabai
Tarabai was a queen of the Maratha Empire in India. Her husband was Chhatrapati Rajaram, son of Shivaji. Tarabai was the daughter of the famed Maratha general Hambirao Mohite...
at the time and worked as the Senior Minister for her son Shivaji II.
In 1712, Sambhaji II overthrew Queen Tarabai
Tarabai
Tarabai was a queen of the Maratha Empire in India. Her husband was Chhatrapati Rajaram, son of Shivaji. Tarabai was the daughter of the famed Maratha general Hambirao Mohite...
, placing the Queen and her son Shivaji II in prison and taking over rulership of the Maratha Empire. Modern-day scholars generally conclude that Ramchandra Pant was behind this conspiracy as he was appointed by Sambhaji II to the Imperial Regency immediately thereafter. It is speculated that Ramchandra Pant and his supporters were not satisfied with Tarabai
Tarabai
Tarabai was a queen of the Maratha Empire in India. Her husband was Chhatrapati Rajaram, son of Shivaji. Tarabai was the daughter of the famed Maratha general Hambirao Mohite...
’s treatment of her peerage.
Later life
On the request of Sambhaji II, Ramchandra Pant wrote the AdnyapatraAdnyapatra
Adnyapatra, also pronounced as ‘Ajnapatra’, is a royal edict on the principles of Maratha policy written in Modi Marathi by Ramchandra Pant Amatya, a diplomat and warrior of the Maratha Empire, with intention to guide Shivaji’s grandson Sambhaji II...
(also pronounced Ajnapatra), a standard code of civil and military administration for the Maratha Empire
Maratha Empire
The Maratha Empire or the Maratha Confederacy was an Indian imperial power that existed from 1674 to 1818. At its peak, the empire covered much of South Asia, encompassing a territory of over 2.8 million km²....
. It can be compared to Kautilya’s Arthashastra
Arthashastra
The Arthashastra is an ancient Indian treatise on statecraft, economic policy and military strategy which identifies its author by the names Kautilya and , who are traditionally identified with The Arthashastra (IAST: Arthaśāstra) is an ancient Indian treatise on statecraft, economic policy and...
.
In 1716, Ramchandra Pant died at the age of 66. A monument dedicated to his life and valiant effort in fighting against the Mughal invaders is located at Panhala fort
Panhala fort
Panhala fort , also known as Panhalgad, Pahalla and Panalla , is located in Panhala, 20 kilometres northwest of Kolhapur in Maharashtra, India. It is strategically located looking over a pass in the Sahyadri mountain range which was a major trade route from Bijapur in the interior of Maharashtra to...
. His heirs still live near Fort Gaganbawada
Gaganbawada
Gaganbawda is a town situated in the district of Kolhapur in Maharashtra, India. It is located 55 km by road from Kolhapur. It is the taluka headquarters....
to this day - a gift to Ramchandra Pant for his great contribution to Maratha power.