Shivaji's Ashta Pradhan: The Council That Built Swarajya

In this episode of the Fexingo History podcast, Lucas and Luna explore the inner workings of Shivaji Maharaj's administration through his council of eight ministers, the Ashta Pradhan. They delve into the roles of each minister: the Peshwa, the Amatya, the Sachiv, the Dabir, the Surnis, the Pandit Rao, the Nyayadhish, and the Senapati. The conversation covers how this system was formalized after Shivaji's coronation in 1674, the blend of Persian and Hindu administrative traditions, and the checks and balances that prevented any one minister from becoming too powerful. They also touch on the council's evolution under later Peshwas and how it laid the foundation for Maratha governance. Specific figures like Moropant Peshwa, Annaji Datto, and Raghunath Pandit are discussed, along with the primary sources—the bakhars and the Modi script documents—that reveal these details. The episode also includes a brief, organic mention of listener support via buy me a coffee dot com slash fexingo. #AshtaPradhan #ShivajiMaharaj #MarathaAdministration #Peshwa #Moropant #AnnajiDatto #RaghunathPandit #Nyayadhish #HindaviSwarajya #Raigad #ModiScript #Bakhars #17thCenturyIndia #IndianHistory #MarathaEmpire #FexingoHistory #History #SouthAsia Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo