Notes-Class 7-History-Chapter 13-Life of the People in Maharashtra-Maharashtra Board

Maratha administration :

• Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's Hindavi Swaraj was a people's state founded with the noble intention of benefiting the common people, removing oppression, and protecting Maharashtra Dharma.
• Maratha power spread throughout India and lasted approximately 150 years.

Social conditions :

• Village economy was self-sufficient.
• The village occupations were divided into Kali and Pandheri, which means agriculture and other occupations.
• The Patil received land as inam and a part in village revenue for his work.
• The balutedars were paid in the form of foodgrains or goods for the services rendered.
• Joint family system was prevalent.

Customs and traditions :

• Child marriage and polygamy were common; whereas widow re-marriage were rare.
• Traditions were observed while performing last rites.
• Muhurta, anauspicious time was sought for every occasion.
• People believed in astrology, dreams and omens.
• Anushthans were performed to please the gods and the planets.
• There was total lack of scientific attitude.
• Offerings to god were considered more important than medical treatment. -

Standard of living :

• The majority of people lived in self-sufficient villages. Their lives were simple, and their needs were few.
• Grains such as jowar, bajra, wheat, ragi, maize, rice, and others were grown.
• The average person's daily diet consisted of bhakari, onion, chutney, and an accompaniment. Rich people ate rice, dal, chapatis, vegetables, salad, milk, and dahi.
• Village houses were made of mud and bricks, whereas cities had one or two-story wadas.
• The men dressed in dhoti, kurta, angarakha, and mundase. Women dressed in a nine-yard saree and blouse.

Festivals :

• People celebrated a number of festivals.
• The practice of celebrating Ganeshotsava started during the Peshwa period.
• Dasara was an auspicious day and the Marathas used to launch their campaign on this day.
• Weapons were worshipped and it was a tradition to cross boundaries and distributed ‘apta’ leaves.
• Gudi Padwa, Diwali, Balipratiprada, Bail pola and Bhau-beej were other important festivals.
• Wrestling in jatras and Tamasha were popular forms of entertainment.

Education :

• Pathshalas and Madarasas were the institutions that imparted education.
• Modi script was in use.

Travels and communication :

• Roads and rivers were used to transport goods.
• Messengers and camel riders carried letters to and fro.

Sports :

• Besides wrestling, mallakhamb, dand, lathi, dandpatta, bothati were practised.
• Hututu, kho-kho and atyapata were popular outdoor games.
• Chess, ganjifa and dice were popular indoor games.

Religion and Conduct :

• Hinduism and Islam were the two main religions.
• Everybody was free to follow their own religion.
• Varkari, Mahanubhav, Datta, Nath and Ramdasi Panths were prevalent sects.

Women's life :

• Life of women was full of hardships.
• They were confined to the house and were denied education.
• Customs like child marriage, widowhood, keshwapan, sati were imposed on them.
• Only few exceptional woman achieved literacy, administration and battle skills.

Sculpture :

• Hiroji Indulkar was a famous architect.
• Lal Mahal, Raigad and Rajgad were famous for their architecture.

Arrangement  for the supply of drinking water :

• During the Peshwa period, drinking water supply system, similar to those
• in Ahmadnagar and Bijapur, were built.
• Small dams and underground pipelines were built.
• Wells and tanks were dug in courts, gardens and other public places.
• Mastani Talav at Diveghat, Hadapsar in Pune is worthy of mention.

Wada culture :

• A number of wadas for the Peshwa family are symbols of Wada culture.
• Wada culture was a distinct feature of medieval Maratha architecture.
• The most notable among these were Shaniwar wada and Vishrambag Wada in Pune and Chhatrapatfs wadas in Satara.

Temples :

• Temples of this period were built in Hemadpanti style of Yadav period.
• Bhavanidevi temple at Pratapgad and Saptkoteshwar temple in Goa were built by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
• A number of famous temples were built during the Peshwa period.

Ghats :

• Stone ghats built on the river and on confluence of the rivers was a distinct feature of Maratheshahi architecture.
• A ghat is a flight of steps, with one wide step at regular intervals that lend beauty to the ghat.
• To prevent damage from water currents, strong bastions were built at regular intervals.
• The most remarkable was the ghat at Toke on the confluence of Godavari and Pravara rivers and Mohiniraj Temple at Newase.

Paintings :

• Ragho, Tanaji, Anuprao, Shivram Mankoji and Gangaram Tambat were the famous painters of the Peshwa period.
• Peshwas encouraged painting on the walls of Wadas and Temples.
• The themes of painting were Gods, mythological stories, festivals, Jin Charitra adorned on Jain Temples, pothis, portraits scenes.

 Sculpture :

• The art of sculpture was mainly related to the individuals and animals, the idols of the deities and memorials.
• The most famous among these are the sculpture of meeting between Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and Mallamma Desai, Bhuleshwartemple, Mohiniraj temple and the memorial of Punyashloki Ahilyabai.

Metal Idiols :

• Peshwas had commissioned making of the idols of Parvati and Ganapati for puja at Parvati temple in Pune.

Drama :

• Mythological narratives, ‘teeka’ literature, owi, abhanga, aartis of deities, powadas, bakhars, historical letters were important forms of literature written in Marathi.
• Sarfoji Raje at Tanjavur encouraged the art of drama.
• Songs, music and dance were prominent parts of these plays.