Introductory - Global Sikh Studies

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circumstances which favoured the development of the Maharashtrian
regional nationalism. All the same, all honour is due to Shivaji for his
achievement. No other Hindu personality, during the long duration
of Muslim domination, had been able to match his success.
4. The Marathas and the Khalsa
There are three basic differences between the Maratha and the
Sikh movement:
a) The Caste
It has been seen that the Sikh movement built a casteless society.
The Maratha movement, on the other hand, never had, at any stage,
the abolition of the caste system even as its aim. Shivaji issued a
circular letter which enjoined on ‘all members of society not to create
innovation in caste practices but follow the traditional path prescribed
by the Shastras.’ 30 Shivaji was concerned chiefly with his dynastic and
feudal interests, and it paid him to strengthen the orthodox reactionary
mentality. The contrast in the two caste lies in the fact that whereas
the Sikh revolutionary movement was egalitarian in its character,
Shivaji, the architect of the Maratha movement, was tied down to the
caste and Shastric ideology. It is one thing to have the right ideology
and falter because of human and environmental limitations, but quite
another to choose a retrograde ideology and tread a wrong path from
the very beginning. Because of its adherence to orthodoxy and caste,
the Maratha movement chose to move all along in a vicious circle
from which it could not come out. The Peshwas had issued orders
prohibiting the entry of untouchables into Poona between certain
hours, lest they should pollute the Hindus of the higher castes. 31
b) Jagirdari
The Mughal emperors of Delhi were bent upon subduing the
three Pathan kingdoms of southern India. As these Pathan
principalities were cut off from fresh supplies of Muslim recruits, their
rulers had, for their survival, to depend heavily upon Maratha
mercenaries. Large contingents of Maratha soldiers were employed in
these kingdoms and their leaders came to gain high positions and Jagirs