Amatya
Also called: Majumdar · Topic: The Marathas · NCERT: Beyond NCERT
Meaning
The Amatya was the finance minister in Shivaji's Ashta pradhana mandala, his council of eight ministers. He was also called the Majumdar. He kept the state's accounts and checked the money coming in and going out, for the whole kingdom and its districts. Like Shivaji's other officials, he was paid a salary from the state treasury.
Example
Ramachandrapant Amatya was Shivaji's finance minister. In 1715 he wrote the Adnyapatra ("The Royal Edict"). It says that "forts are the core of the state". It also warns against the "hat-wearers", the European traders.
Don't confuse with
- Peshwa: the prime minister of the same council. He headed the government, while the Amatya looked after the money.
- Sachiv: the minister in charge of royal letters, not of accounts.
Related concepts
- Maratha administration
- Ashtapradhan
- Peshwa
- Sachiv
- Sumant
- Nyayadhish
- Panditrao
- Deshmukh
- Chauth and sardeshmukhi
- Saranjam