incapable of expressing the ceremonious courtesy, indirectness, and delicate shades of meaning of the highly developed Urdu language. The democratic temper of the Maratha people is shown by their having no respectful mode of address like the ap ("your honour") of Northern India; all ranks are theed and thoued.
Thus, a remarkable community of language, creed, and life was attained in Maharashtra in the 17th century, even before political unity was conferred by Shivaji. What little was wanting to the solidarity of the people was supplied by his creation I of a national State, the long struggle with the invader from Delhi under his sons, and the imperial expansion of the race under the Peshwas. Thus, in the end a tribe,—or rather a collection of tribes and castes,—was fused into nation[1] and by the end of the 18th century a Maratha people in the political and cultural senses of the term had been formed, though caste distinctions still remained. Thus history has moulded society.
§7. Maratha soldiers and peasants of to-day.
The backbone of Shivaji's army was composed of the peasantry, who belonged to two low castes, named Maratha and Kunbi. The Maratha caste,—a
- ↑ "The Marathas are a nation, and from the Brahman to the ryot they glory in the fact." (Acworth and Shaligram's Powadas, iii.)
