International Indexed & Referred Research Journal, June, 2012. ISSN- 0975-3486, RNI-RAJBIL 2009/30097;VoL.

III *ISSUE-33
Research Paper—History
A Historical Study of The Economic Policy of
Marathas: Trade and Commerce
June, 2012 * Littan Sarkar
* Dept. of Humanities [History] Singhania University,Rajasthan
A B S T R A C T

Globalization, in contrast to internationalism as held and propounded by economics and trade and commerce like Maratha
region is a process to integrate country including its economy and society with the global process. It aims at maximization of
global welfare. Trade and commerce as a social is a attempted to be integrated in the global process of economics where private
motives including profit maximization play supreme over social welfare and well being maximization. Neo liberalism becomes
the dominant economic-history leading to the distortion of social values, value economics and quality economics in a under-
developed state like Maratha region. The trade and commerce in Maratha state a constituent empire of Marathas, is also
influenced in the globalization process of economic in term of both contents and methods of work servants under trade and
commerce in Maratha state. Against this backdrop the present paper discusses the diverse issues of trade and commerce under
Maratha empire in relation to the globalization process in economic with special reference to Maratha state (Maharashtra )
of India in the 17th -18th century.

Key words: Globalization, Economics, Trade and commerce, Social value, Underdeveloped
Introduction: reached Bombay. "The vessels from Kalyan-Bhivandi
The Marathas were well aware of the impor- brought rice in large quantities to the port of Bombay
tance of trade and commerce and made all efforts to every year".[2]
encourage the growth of trade and commerce in the The trade of Maratha Empire had good con-
Maratha Empire. "Poona which was a very small town tact with the eastern coast of India. During natural
of no commercial significance whatsoever till 1750, calamities like famine, food grains like rice were
rose to great prosperity in the second half of he cen- imported to Maratha state from Bengal.
tury, thanks to its becoming the seat of the In 1790 the vessels owned by the Britishers
Marathas… It had been a general policy of the Maratha brought 9719 bags of rice from Bengal which was
administrator to establish market wards in cities and sold in Maharashtra. The other imports which were
towns by granting various concessions and hereditary brought form Benhgal to Maratha state were silk,
Vatans to those Mahajans and Shetes who would calico, linen, chintz, pure silk, woolen fabric, turbans
undertake to induce immigrant traders and artisans to qand shawls.[3]
Settle in the new wards. In the second half of the This reveals that a lucrative market in
eighteenth century many of he market wards in trad- Maharashtra was available for Bengali Textile Indus-
ing cities like Poona, Nasik, Solaupr and Dharwar try. The goods like sugar. Opium, long paper,
had been established in this way".[1] peepalmul. Dry ginger, turmeric, summonsed, black
Internal And Foreign Trade seed. Hemp rope, gunnvs, saltpeter, Mugger doo ties,
As regards the trade, it was internal and for- slyest ditto, raw silk piece goods, cotton piece goods,
eign. The internal trade was of three kinds: 1) Coastal film ill etc. were also regularly imported from Bengal
trade 2) Reverie trade, and 3) Trade by land routes. to Maharashtra.[4] The English traders regularly
The coastal trade was lucrative and the Maratha state brought rum, and arrack from Bengal to Bombay which
gained much through it. Irrespective of he danger found a good market in Maratha state.
from the pirates the trade ships traded throughout the Bison's horns from Malbar and Cochi were
trading season. imported to Western Maharashtra as fancy goods were
The commercial harbors on the Western coast of made from such horns in certain places.[5]The goods
Maratha region were the centers of trade, and they such as salt and lead were brought to Maharashtra
had all commercial contacts with other ports of India. from Hubali.[6] Trading ships from Goa brought tin,
The trading ships were loaded with merchandise at paper, dry coconuts, betel nuts, spices, quick silver,
seaports like Bassein, Banknote and pen and were lead, saffron, vermillion, copper, wax candles, board
unloaded at Bombay. The ships loaded with rice from cloth, raw silk, muskets etc. to Maharashtra. The
Pen, carried it to Banknote, and via Nagothana it trading by East India Company (Bombay Presidency)
with the Maratha state had flourished in the last three
32 RESEARCH ANALYSIS AND EVALUATION
International Indexed & Referred Research Journal, June, 2012. ISSN- 0975-3486, RNI-RAJBIL 2009/30097;VoL.III *ISSUE-33
decades of 18th century and first two decades of the 1) The exports of articles from the Maratha State to
19th century. However we learn from Malet's[7] re- Bombay during first Anglo-Maratha war were not in
ports that the trade received a great setback during the Year Imports from the Exported articles from
first Anglo-Maratha war. Maratha State Bombay to the
To Bombay Maharashtra State
The spices such as pepper, turmetic, ginger, Valued in Rs.
cardamom, sesame, gingili etc, food stuff metals tex-
tiles etc, were exported from the Maratha state to 1)Board cloth 2) copper 3) Iron
Bombay presidency. The food stuffs consisting of Bales Japan Copper Bars
Bundles plates, sheets, pieces
nagly rice, wheat, mug, toor, gram, sugar etc. metals Pieces bagos, bundles
copper iron, lead etc. and textiles consisting of shawls, Valued valued Valued
wool, cotton etc. were exported to Bombay. Other In Rs. In Rs. In Rs.
goods exported to Bombay were arrack, bhang, to-
1773-74 Rs. 484835 2470 5975+655 8142
bacco, belts, coir, etc. The annual import of four years Before the war
from the Maratha state to Bombay was as mentioned 1777-78 Rs, 851680 715 36181 4787
below. 1779-80 Rs 1104710 499 3442+521 1255
During the war
Years Valuation in Rupees
1786-87 Rs 877712 805 30214 +1071 5665
1773-74 (from May 73 to April 74) Rs 484835
After treaty of sable
1777-78 (from May 77 to April 78) Rs 851680
1779-80 (from May 79 to April 80) Rs. 1104710 any way disturbed and the imports at Bombay were
1786-87 (from May 86 to April 87) Rs. 877712 regular and greater.
From the same records we learn about the export 2) However the imports from Bombay to the Maratha
of sugar from the Maratha State to Bombay. State declined during the war. Consequently the
The details are as follow: Marathas could not get board cloth and the iron form
Year Weight Value in Rupees the East Indio Company during the war. But the trade
1773-74 4526 Mounds Sugar Rs. 3933 increased again during 1779-80. The English Traders
1777-78 7143 Mounds Sugar Rs, 2148
1778-80 1059 Mounds Sugar Rs. 3177
exported valuable articles to the Maratha State. It was
1786-87 5633 Mounds Rs. 19714 always more profitable to the Britishers.
This table reveals that on an average the yearly export From the available records we learn that the
of sugar from the Maratha state to Bombay was 4242 Maratha State imported silken cloth (Paithani) from
maunds. It also shows that the trade of sugar increased Paithan which was situated in Nizam State. The white
vigorously after the first Anglo-Maratha war was over. cloth and chintz from Burhanpur had a good market
From the same records we collect very inter- at Poona. Rice, salt and groceries were brought form
esting information about the trading of food grains Konkan to Poona.[9] Turbans from Ahmadabad were
from the Maratha state to Bombay. The table given very popular in Maharashtra which was generally sold
below depicts a clear idea regarding the export of food at Rs 15 to 30 in the markets of the Maratha region.
grains. We learn from the records of Dabhade Daftear that
there was a regular supply of quality cloth goods from
Name of Year Weight Value in
Commodity Rupees province of Varhad to the prants of Poona and Junner
Rice 1773-74 7682 92184 varhad imported salt, rice etc, from Konkan.[10]
Khandis Washim and Balapur were famous trading centers in
Wheat 1779-80 09 135 Berar and it seems that peshwa madhaorao I purchased
Khandis
Rice 1779-80 7855 204230 clothes from Washim and Balapur.[11] The Dhoties
Khandis manufactured at Paithan were very popular in Poona
Wheat 1779-80 439 6585 region and consequently had a good market there.[12]
Khandis The shelas, turbans, saries, white, coloured and plain
Rice 1786-87 17454 191994
Khandis clothes were imported regularly to Poona market from
Wheat 1786-87 1781 26715 Paithan. Cloth from Narayanpet was also imported to
Khandis Poona. White cotton goods were imported from Andhra
Other essential articles were also exported form the Pradesh and Machhalipatta was a famous trading
Maratha state to Bombay. We learn form the letter of centre. Silk goods and kinkhabs were imported to
Malet[8] the emanative account of imports and ex- Poona from Gukrat. Opium was brought to
ports between Bombay and the Maratha State. It is Maharashtrta form Malwa. War weapons like bows
explained in the table given below. and swords were imported from Northen Provinces
From this table we can draw two conclusions: like Malwa, Ahmedabad and bundelkhand.[13]

RESEARCH ANALYSIS AND EVALUATION 33

International Indexed & Referred Research Journal, June, 2012. ISSN- 0975-3486, RNI-RAJBIL 2009/30097;VoL.III *ISSUE-33
Cannons were imported from Surat.[14] Chh. Shahu assignment at Maskat to select excellent horses for
had a special choice for Chinese silken clothes, the Maratha cavalry. It is interesting to note that some
makhkmal etc. He imported them from the Portu- Maratha families engaged in horse trade settled at
guese of Goa.[15] It has been observed from the his- Mask at.[21] Kabul was also a good centre of hors
torical records that mostly the consumer goods and trading. Sadagiri and Arabia horses were generally
wood were exported from Poona.[16] imported from Kabul.[22] Dry fruits, sugar and spices
The cavalry was the most important wing of constituted some other imported articles to the Maratha
the Maratha army; the horses from various places region from the West Asian countries like Iran and
were brought to Poona and other regional centers of Afghanistan. Tobacco, fruits, furs, alum, dried dates
the Maratha State. Horses from Lahore and Siranj etc. were imported from the West Asian countries.Teh
were brought to the Deccan. The camels were brought English traders were engaged in the tobacco trade
from Udaipur to Poona. Elephants were imported to which they used to purchase at Bagdad. Sugar, silken
Poona from Burhanpur.[17] Rohe was a famous port cloth and silk were imported from China. Raw silk
which received animals from Mascot and then they was brought form China to the Maratha region by the
found market in various places of the Maratha State. English trader. [23] Some of the centre in Maratha
Candles and fragrant essences figured in the impor- state engaged in manufacturing silk cloth imported
tant luxury articles which had good market in the the raw silk from Persia.[24]Lead, candles, tobacco,
Maratha region. These articles were imported from knives, ivory, binoculars, mirrors, watches, paper
Europe and the English, the Portuguese, and the Dutch clothes, thermometers etc. were imported to Maratha
merchants sold them in Maharashtra. Bombay and from Europe and the English, the French, the Dutch,
Damon were famous ports in this connection.[18] the Portuguese were engaged in this trade.
With an intention to retain warm relations with the The Articles Exported from Maharashtra
Maratha rulers, the European merchants presented valu- The export trade of the Maratha region was
able articles to them. For example, Col. Upton presented comparatively less. It consisted of clothes like fine
clothes worth rupees 3440 and 8 annas to the Maratha. linen, gum, lack, paper, corn etc. Such articles were
Most in, an agent of Bombay Presidency presented clothes generally purchased by the traders at Balaghat.[25]
worth Rs. 1750 a portrait f Lord Krishna and a clock with From the valuable historical records one can safely
its key and other things to the Maratha [19] Even the draw the inference that Maharashtra in the 18th cen-
Portuguese were equally enthusiastic in this regard.[20] tury had a flourishing trade with foreign markets and
Such presentations had a clear intention of winning port located I West Asia, South East
special favors from the Maratha administrator and cre- Asia,Arabia,Europe and Africa,
ate a taste among the royal families for the goods traded Conclusion; From my study of economic policy dur-
by the Europeans. The second intention cherished by ing the Maratha period I have safely drawn certain
them was to get more and more concessions for them in inferences It is observed that Elphinston's conclusion
the Maratha State. Consequently the Europeans in gen- is not correct I this connection. It might be much more
eral and the English in particular could get the remission than what Elphinstone mentioned as the export and
of octroi duty. inside trade was flourishing enormously in the Maratha
The Articles Imported to Maharashtra state under the Maratha rulers in the later half of 18th
In the 18th century horses constituted a very century. In seems that trade and commerce had flour-
important item of import trade. They were imported ished during 17th - 18th century period in the Maratha
through the ports Rajapur and Rohe. The ships loaded state. All sources of income were tapped by the Maratha
with horses were unloaded at Rohe or Rajapur. Maskat government. Internal and foreign traders had to pay
was a famous centre of horse trade. Te Maratha ruler peroer taxed on tier commodities. It constituted a large
used to appoint agents at Mask to purchase good horses. amount of income for the Maratha government.
Some expert appointed by the Maratha ruler had an

R E F E R E N C E
1) CEHI Cambridge Economic History of India.vol II, P - 343. 2) Gazetteer, Vol, XIII, Part P. 495 3) Home Department Records, 1739, Public original
consultation 22nd April, No. 25 4) Final report o the survey and settlement of the palmary Government Estate, Pala may District inchoate Nagpur, P. 28
5) G BP Gazette of Bombay Presidency , vol X , p - 188, 6) Bhave V.K. Peshwekalin Maharashtra, P. 183 7) Chitnis, K.N. Glimpses of Maratha Socio-
Economic History P. 82- 83 Published 1994. 8) Ibid 9) Ibid 10) Joshi S.N. senapati Dabhade Daftar P. 70 11) Sardesai, Kulkarni & kle, aitihasik Patra-
Vyavahar, Letter no. 117-118 Khare V-V, Prastavana, P. 169-170 12) Bhave V.K Peshwekalin Maharashtra. P - 267. 13) Parasnis B.G, and Wad G.C. (cd),
Selection from the Satara Rajas and Peshwa Diaries, vol III , let no -267. 14) Parasnis B.G, and Wad G.C. (cd),Selection from the Satara Rajas and Peshwa
Diaries,vol III, lette no - 278. 15) Pawar, Dr. Appasaheb, (ed), tarabai kalin kagad patre part I P. 276 16) Arthavijayan 6.120 vol VI, p - 120 17) Parasnis B.G,
and Wad G.C. (cd), Selection from the Satara Rajas and Peshwa Diaries, vol III, lette no - 312 18) Parasnis B.G, and Wad G.C. (cd), Selection from the
Satara Rajas and PeshwaDiaries, vol VI, lett no - 456.

34 RESEARCH ANALYSIS AND EVALUATION