The Mediaeval Period
Part III

The administrative system obtaining in Nagpur and the territory to its east during the Gondi period was semi-feudal. Nagpur proper then formed part of Devagad below the ghats .

The Raja Gonds ruled the tract known as Gondavana, and Nagpur formed part of it till it was conquered by Raghuji Bhosle. The whole country under the Raja Gonds was distributed among a number of subordinate local chiefs known as Rajas, Rais and Thakurs. These subordinate chiefs exercised considerable power within their jurisdiction but recognised the authority of the Maharaja of Devagad in a general manner .

From Abul Fazal's account of the Gadha-Katanga Gondi kingdom one gathers that a number of paraganas in the area were held by the Rajas. Obviously, such paraganas in the days of abul Fazal yet retained the traces of the Gondi administration.

The system of administration by subordinate chiefs existed in the Gondavana till the Marathas overran it. Those areas of Gondavana which remained unaffected by either the Moghal or Marathas influence naturally retained their semi-feudal characteristics peculiar to the Gonds. The government of Damoh, for instance, was entirely feudal, unaffected as it was by foreign influence for a long time. This country was divided into a number of chiefships each having the headman of the clan who enjoyed the entire revenue and rendered military service to the Government whenever called upon to do so. The chief in addition had to pay an annual tribute of a jar of butter or one or two bamboo walking-sticks or the like .

Similarly, the Gondi administrative system in the Narsingpur district was almost exclusively feudal. The district was divided among the feudatory chiefs who were bound to attend upon the overlord at the capital with a stipulated number of troops but were not required to pay revenue in money.

In the chattisgad area there exixted greater chiefs and smaller ehiefs prior to its conquest by the Bjosles.

In Harrai in the Chindavada district where Gondi administration continued for a long time, the tribute (takili) was settled in chironji-nuts and honey.

Some useful details of Gondi administration in the Devagad above the ghats are presented here for, what was existing there was most probabluy obtaining in the Devagad below the ghats i.e., the Nagpur area in the pre-Bhosle period.

The local chiefs called Thakurs took cognisance of petty crimes and offences in their area. They could levy fines and confiscate the property of the offenders. For good Government the Thakurs were to protect the travelers passing through their country and were responsible for any harm done to then within their jurisdiction. Further they were not to punish any person with death or mutilation or imprisonment beyond a certain number of day without reference to the Government.

Petty offences such as abusing, beating stealing were decided according to the customary rules. Adultery, rape, fornication, disputes about marriage, breach of observance of caste rules, etc. were sttled according to the laws of the caste.

Dispute between two Thakurs was to be judged by the overlord. Thus, within his own area the position of the Thakur was very strong. He was the head of the local minor clan. Captain of the local levies and the representative of the authority of the Raja of Harrai immediately above him, and finally of the Maharaja of Devagad.

A comparatively small domain was held, by the Maharaja, the surrounding area being under the local chiefs known as the Rais or Rajas. They were in complete subjugation to the maharaja according to his military strength. They attended him with levies of local troops and definitely paid much more than a jar of butter or bamboo sticks. They had a fre hand in internal matters. The major part of the estate was under the Thukurs who made contributions in cash and kind according t their means and provided a quota of troops for their service of the Raja.

This structure of the kingdom of the Raja Gonds of Gandha and devagad, though common, was subject to modifications elsewhere.