Maratha Rule in Odisha
Maratha rule in Odisha lasted from approximately 1751 CE to 1803 CE, when the British East India Company annexed the territory after the Second Anglo-Maratha War. The Marathas were the last Indian power to rule Odisha before British colonialism.
Conquest by the Nagpur Bhonsles
Odisha was conquered not by the Peshwa at Pune but by the Bhonsle dynasty of Nagpur. Raghuji Bhonsle I (1730–1755 CE), one of the most powerful Maratha sardars, led expeditions into Bengal and Odisha, taking advantage of Mughal weakness. In 1751 CE, the Nawab of Bengal, Alivardi Khan, ceded Odisha to the Marathas after years of raids. From then until 1803 CE, Odisha remained under Nagpur Bhonsle control.
Administration
The Maratha administration in Odisha was structured as follows:
| Official | Responsibility |
|---|---|
| Subahdar (deputy of the Bhonsle) | Overall governance, stationed at Cuttack |
| Kamavisdar | Revenue collection |
| Mamlatdar | District-level administration |
| Sazawal | Periodic revenue officials |
The Marathas largely retained the existing Mughal administrative framework. Revenue was collected through local intermediaries — zamindars and chowdhuries — under the supervision of Maratha officials. The Chauth (one-fourth) and Sardeshmukhi (one-tenth) system of the Maratha heartland was not strictly applied in Odisha; instead, a fixed tribute was demanded from the Nagpur treasury.
The Jagannath Temple
The Marathas, though not culturally connected to Odisha, recognized the importance of the Jagannath Temple:
- The Bhonsles appointed Pandas to manage the temple and ensured the continuity of rituals.
- In 1758 CE, the Maratha general Sheo Bhatt Sathe restored the temple’s management and systematized its revenues.
- The temple received regular grants from Nagpur, though these were often irregular and inadequate.
Economic and Social Impact
Maratha rule is generally viewed negatively in Odishan historiography:
- Revenue Burden: The Marathas extracted heavy revenue to fund their wars in central India. Odisha’s agrarian surplus was drained, leaving little for local development.
- Insecurity: Periods of anarchy, banditry, and oppressive tax collection were common, especially during transitions between governors.
- Neglect: Unlike the Mughals, the Marathas invested little in infrastructure, administration, or cultural patronage in Odisha.
End of Maratha Rule
The Second Anglo-Maratha War (1803–1805 CE) led to the defeat of the Bhonsles. The Treaty of Deogaon (1803) ceded Odisha to the British East India Company. The British formally took over Cuttack and Puri in October 1803 CE, ending Maratha rule.
Maratha rule left Odisha economically depleted but administratively intact. The British inherited a functioning revenue system that they would gradually transform in the decades to come.