Chhattisgarh
Maratha Rule in Chhattisgarh
Maratha Rule in Chhattisgarh — Quick Revision
One-page CGPSC quick revision for Maratha Rule in Chhattisgarh — every date, name and fact in tables for last-minute Prelims and Mains revision.
This one-page sheet covers Maratha rule in Chhattisgarh from the Bhonsle conquest (1741) to annexation (1854). For explanations, read Bhonsle Conquest and Bimbaji, The Suba System, Administration and Revenue and Decline and British Supervision.
How to use this sheet
Scan top to bottom the week before Prelims. Bold lines are the facts examiners return to most often.
Timeline / Key Facts
Conquest and Direct Rule
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| 1741 | Bhaskar Pant, general of Raghuji I of Nagpur, takes Ratanpur (Grant’s account: close of 1740) |
| Kalachuri king | Raghunath Singh surrenders; allowed to rule as a vassal |
| c. 1750 | Kalachuri Raipur branch ends: Amar Singh removed; son Shivraj Singh later given revenue-free villages |
| 1745–1758 | Mohan Singh, from the Raipur branch, installed by Raghuji I: last Kalachuri ruler |
| 1758 | Bimbaji Bhonsle (youngest son of Raghuji I, appointed by Janoji) begins direct rule from Ratanpur (some books: 1757) |
| Bimbaji’s works | Unified Ratanpur and Raipur; Marathi (Modi script) and Urdu in administration; Ramtekri temple, Ratanpur; sonpatti exchange at Dussehra |
| 1787 | Bimbaji dies; queen Umabai’s sati (traditional account); Anandibai installs his statue at Ramtekri |
Suba System (1787–1818)
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Started by | Vyankoji Bhonsle, ruling from Nagpur |
| Basis | Subedars appointed on contract; subedar’s seat at Ratanpur |
| First subedar | Mahipat Rao Dinkar (1787–1790) |
| Pargana system | Vitthal Rao Dinkar (1790–1796): 27 parganas |
| Longest tenure | Keshav Govind (1797–1808) |
| Next | Bikaji Gopal (1809–1817) |
| Last subedar | Yadav Rao Diwakar (1817–1818; “Dinkar” in some books) |
| European travellers | Leckie 1790, Blunt 1795, Colebrooke 1799 |
Administration and Revenue
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Territory | Khalsa (direct rule) and zamindari (estates) |
| Pargana head | Kamavisdar |
| Village revenue head | Gaontia |
| Takoli | Tribute from zamindars |
| Sayer | Tax on trade and sale of goods |
| Pandhari | Tax on non-agriculturists |
| Sewai | Fines and penalty-type levies |
| Justice | Village panchayats; kamavisdar and subedar above |
| Units | 36 garhs (Kalachuri) → 27 parganas (Vitthal Rao) → fewer, larger parganas (Agnew) |
Decline and British Supervision
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| 17 Dec 1803 | Treaty of Deogaon (Raghuji II): Cuttack and west Berar lost; British Resident at Nagpur |
| 26–27 Nov 1817 | Battle of Sitabuldi: Appa Saheb (Mudhoji II) defeated |
| 1818–1830 | British superintendency for minor Raghuji III; Resident Richard Jenkins |
| First superintendent | Captain Edmund: Dongargarh zamindari revolt |
| Agnew (1818–1825) | HQ moved from Ratanpur to Raipur; parganas regrouped |
| Sandys (1825–1828) | Bastar–Karond zamindari dispute |
| Last superintendent | Crawford (1828–1830) |
| 1830–1854 | Bhonsle rule restored |
| 11 Dec 1853 | Raghuji III dies without a natural heir |
| 1854 | Nagpur annexed under the Doctrine of Lapse (Dalhousie) |
| 1 Feb 1855 | Charles C. Elliot, first Deputy Commissioner of Chhattisgarh, at Raipur |
Don’t Confuse
| This | vs | That |
|---|---|---|
| Raghuji I: Nagpur ruler who sent the army | Raghunath Singh: Kalachuri king who surrendered | |
| Bhaskar Pant: conqueror (1741) | Bimbaji: first direct Maratha ruler (1758) | |
| Mohan Singh: last Kalachuri ruler | Amar Singh: last ruler of the Raipur branch | |
| Mahipat Rao Dinkar: first subedar | Vitthal Rao Dinkar: pargana system | |
| Subedar: Maratha governor (1787–1818) | Superintendent: British officer (1818–1830) | |
| Kamavisdar: pargana | Gaontia: village | |
| Takoli: zamindars’ tribute | Sayer: trade tax | |
| Edmund: first superintendent | Crawford: last superintendent | |
| 1818: supervision begins | 1854: annexation | |
| Richard Jenkins: Resident at Nagpur | Charles Elliot: first Deputy Commissioner (1855) |
Favourite MCQ trap
Watch for four swaps: Bhaskar Pant offered as the first Maratha ruler (it was Bimbaji); Mahipat Rao offered as the creator of parganas (it was Vitthal Rao Dinkar); Bimbaji credited with moving the capital to Raipur (it was Agnew); and 1818 offered as the year of annexation (it was 1854).
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