Saranjam
Topic: The Marathas · NCERT: Beyond NCERT
Meaning
A saranjam was a grant of land revenue (the land tax from an area) given to a Maratha military chief. He used this income to pay and keep his soldiers. Saranjams became common under the Peshwas in the 18th century. They helped strong chief families grow powerful, and the Maratha state became decentralised, meaning power spread out from the centre.
Example
In the 18th century, chief families such as the Shindes, Holkars and Bhonsles held lands and revenues to keep their armies. As they became more independent, the Marathas grew more divided. This disunity is one reason they lost the Anglo-Maratha wars (1775–1818).
Don't confuse with
- Jagir: a general word for land given as a reward for service, used under the Sultans and Mughals. Shivaji himself ended such land grants and paid salaries instead.
Related concepts
- Maratha administration
- Ashtapradhan
- Peshwa
- Amatya
- Sachiv
- Sumant
- Nyayadhish
- Panditrao
- Deshmukh
- Chauth and sardeshmukhi