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Vol. /, No. 1 [Jan. 1983]

university of poona
•
 -
Fri FROM THE
EDITORIAL DESK

Out of the confidence of few, diffidence of many, and cooperation of all,

ROJNISHI is born. When the new year started with a much publicized national
meet of astrologers in the capital, my naturally Indian mind was for a moment
swayed by thoughts of horror-scope. Whatever the role the stars may be playing, even
the most diffident of us who chose an executive editor must have had some confidence
in their choice! I cannot vouch for the invisible and eerie influences, but this first
issue of ROJNISHI in hands is a witness to what effective good-will and coopera-
tion can achieve.
ROJNISHI is a Marathi term of Persian origin and with historical nuances. It
stands for a record of daily performance of an official. As a Newsletter of our History
Academy of teachers and researchers in history, ROJNISHI is meant to be a "re-
cord" of the pulse and routine performance of historical scholarship in the juricdiction
of Poona University. The spontaneity of the response that alone can promote
ROJNISHI may be taken as an indicator of that pulse. We look forward to seeing
ROJNISHI grow into a truly representative andreliable index of the academic calibre
of historical talent around us. Initially, it may, be more an index of enthusiasm.
However, we resolve not to lose sight of the challenge.
ROJNISHI will come out twice a year, that is, around January and July. it will
provide forum to novices and veterans alike. The contents of this •first issue testify to
this. The contents will give also an idea of our programme with its scope and limita-
tions. It will be biased in favour of Western Indian History, will give preferential
treatment to well-researched essays and to new archival sources, and will accommodate
miscellaneous items, such as news of historical interest, book reviews, etc. as per space
available. Contributions can come in English OF Marathi, and they should be
typed in double-space. They should reach the Editorial Board, c/o Department of
History, University of Poona, before the end of December/June. Material for
publication will be selected by the Executive Editor with the help of expert opinion.
ROJNISHI thanks very specially Dr. M. E. Cherian, President of Spicer Memorial
College (Pune) for his financial guarantee to the initial three issues to the tune of
Rs. 2,500/- per issue. May his generosity inspire more generosity from more quarters.
Gratitude is recorded also to Prof. A. R. Kulkami, to whose inspiration this News-
letter owes its existence and its name. An expression of thanks goes also to the
historians who have gladly consented to associate themselves with ROJNISHI as
members of the Advisory Board. Finally, ROJNISHI acknowledges the cheerful and
steady support of every staff-member of the Department of History (University of
Poona).
,Apprater Academy Dr. T. R. de Souza, S. J.
Utitietsity of Poona. Executive Editor

1
 The new c i ty was to be the last extra-
vaganza of a dying empire. This future was
hidden from those who planned it to be
a showpiece to impress and dazzle the
subject population with the imperial
power. The designer of Viceroy's House,
Sir Edwin Luyten, was employed to
create a school of Indo-British architec-
ture. Th i s hope was never fulfilled.
The author traces Hindu-Muslim
antagonism to urban strains of conges-
tion. This is open to debate, but the
municipalization and politicization of
9[ New Archival Documents 1
1. A Modi Document from Lisbon Archives
The accompanying letter is from the
Ajuda Library of Lisbon. It was addressed
by the Pratinidhi of the Marathas, Par-
shuram Pandit, to the Portuguese viceroy
of Goa. It belongs to a critical period of
Maratha history, that is ., when Maratha
country was invaded by the Mughals.
The letter reminds the Portuguese of their
friendship with the Marathas and at the
same time sounds a note of warning that
they should not exploit the political sit-
uation and disturb the Marathas while
they were engaged in a life and deatin
struggle with (the imperial forces of
Aurangzeb. If they misbehave, death and
destruction will be carried into their terri-
tory, and they will not he pardoned un-
der ainy circumstances. If they have com-
plaints against the Maratha sardars, they
24
Dclhi did bring its citizens into the arena
of national politics. This happened mostly
in 1920's with the influx of politically
aware outsiders who moved from Calcutta
to Delhi.
The book has useful additional aids for
the reader. However, two more maps, one
showing more details of the suburban
extensions after 1880's and the other
showing the new capital in relation to the
cantonment and civil lines would have
made the picture clearer for the reader.
Dr. (Snit.) Samita Gupta
could be settled by mutual consultations.
They should not fall into the trap of
small people who are likely to poison their
ears in order to realize some selfish in-
tereAs.
This important letter, though undated,
appears to have been written between
1700-1701. The influence of Persian lan-
guage on official Marathi correspondence
in the 1 7th century is evident ;n this let-
ter. The political situation in the Maratha
country after thc death of Rajaram in
1700 had become unstable, and as such
it was not possible for the Marathas to
fight against the Mughals and the Por-
tuguese at the same time. Thus while
threatening the Portuguese, the Pratinidhi
also pleads for the continuation of their
friendship. This indirectly suggests the im-
portance of the Portuguese power, though
a decadent one in the 17th century, in
the political situation in the Deccan. The
Marathas did not want the Portuguese
to remain neutral in this Maratha,
Mughal conflict which began from 1689
after the cruel execution of Sambhaji.
Bra* RWT IT f47If 74k 4141r 4'149'144 ff
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i e 4 Wftal tr atka ffiT4 f4Ftifff-NT fwnran
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3 17 f4 1T fifiT41*' gr te fv nta 4Ifq_ [Source : Bibliotheca Ajuda, Lisbon Vol.
wtq 4T74 WT4 aam 44c7 ITITT 9Tit3r4T No. 51/V/49-1-182]
IT#TTIAT41 it44Iff f44Tat T 479.
irdT 41v41T XoTITT snrr* itI t'Ertn. 2. A Portuguese MS of the Goa
.
44. 0441 litnnm -trar Historical Archives No. 1879
qr'Ta' 111311• 34- ' 1 4 4TTt 4.;e Reccbida, cm 11 de
1. T 5 , z
f14 41 114 11 aftt 1TT kt Frf 41414 itT4 sigT Dczembro de 1772
I %
W4' 41 WFT41 FITT I4T4 4 Ell 47i i ri fali
Punem 20 de Novembro
g a
kunInt Ell4 1 t rZT TT 3TTPAT 4kTZ de 1772
mffT4T9' Alt 74 41;41 8144114 4T3TF1l
Ti mi114T Zlf4 4 T ntnlwr aar MT4 REEtaff Noticia
c E t r
rT4T41' zit rTit ErtiT fT W fik4FT k4TRE1 Dada pclo patmar gcntio morador
a .
4114 r TT* ff* 44TT4414' UTifff de Punim, portador da Carta do Pe. Fre

( This document has been selected and introduced by Prof. A. R. Kulkarni, Dept. of
History, University of Poona.)
25
 Leandro de Madre de Deos.
Que no dia 4 a feira 18 de Novembro de
1772 de manha falcceu Madan Rao no
citio chamado Thevar :-; que na mesma
tarde foi queimado o seu cadaver, e junto
corn elle morreo a sua mulher quei-
mada: que o Pe Fre Leandro se
achava no dito citio que na ma0a
Sexta feira 20 de Novembro expedio o
ditd Padre com cartas a eta carte ao
now:tante junto corn hum companheiro,
ao qual deixara em Chieoddy - por se achar
doente, e que elle presentara a csta 'Corte
hontern 30 de Novembro. Que em Thevar
se :'achavao .Ragoba, Naraona Rao Irmao
Madou Rao, Saca Rama Bapu, Moro
Panta, e todos os mais Ministros e Cabos,
e ,tambem Trimbaca Rao Marna. Que
ao tempo de sahir ciaqle. cit i o o noticiante,
estariao ally dez mil cavallos, e se tinha
e-Zpedio ordem, p a. ajuntar as mais
Tropas, pela noticia q. havia chegado de
q o filho de Ragoji Bounsulo vinha mar-
chando repentinarnente sabre Punem, e se
dizia q o excrcito seria couza de vipte mil
cavalos. Que se falava q acabadci os dias
de nojo, haviao de nassar todos a Satara,
c thy declarar a solemnide. sermonial do
governo de Pradan em name de Naraena
Rao corn authoridade de Rama R.aza.
English translation
Received on 1st December 1772
Poona, 20 November, 1772
News conveyed by a Hindu messenger,
resident in Poona, and _bearer of a
letter from Friar Leandro de Madre
de Deos.
He reported that Madhav Rao died at
a place called Thevur in the morning of
18th November 1772, a Wednesday. That
same evening his body was cremated, and
along with him his wife was burnt. Father
26
Leandro was present at the site, and he
sent this messenger and a companian with
letters to this Government On the
morning of Friday, 20th November. The,
messenger had to leave, his companion at
Chicoddy because he fell sick, and he
reached the destination alone yesterday,
that is, on 30th November. Raghoba,
Narayan Rao, brother of Madhav Rao,
Sakharam Bapn, Moropant, and all the
other Ministers and Sardars, and also,
Trimbak Rao Mama were present at
Thevur. When the messenger left that •
place, there were about ten thousand,
horses, and orders had been issued for
more troops because of the alarm received
that the son of Raghoji Bhosle was
marching on Poona with about twenty
thousand cavalry. He reported that soon
after the mourning was over, all would -
meet in Satara for the solemn enthrone-
ment of Narayan Rao as Pradhan with
authority of Ram Raja.
Ekplanatory Remarks :
Fr. Leandro was a priest who was in
Poona for many years and was attending
to the spiritual needs of the Goan
Christians serving in Maratha army. It
is clear from many other Portuguese
documents of this time that the Portuguese
were following closely the dissensions in
Maratha politics. It may be interesting
to note also that a Portuguese doctor,
Manuel Francisco Goncalves, was sent to -
Poona at the request of Maratha court to
-
attend to Madhav Rao in his illness in _
1771.
(This document is selected and translated
by Dr. T. R. de Souza, Dept. -of History,
University of Poona.)