The book deals with the political, administrative, socio-economic and religious history of North Karnatak (Dharwad and Belgaum districts completely and Bijapur district south of the Krishna river) under the Nawabs of Savanur who ruled over this area from 1672 to 1948 after the Adil Shahs of Bijapur. From 1672 to 1794 they ruled largely as independent rulers, and thereafter their kingdom was turned into a princely state, and the extent of its area was reduced considerably.
They left behind them a good administrative system, which they had largely inherited from the Adil Shahs and Bahmanis. The local chieftains, the Desais, shared the ruling power with the Nawabs. They were the backbone of the provincial administrative system.
The agrarian system inherited many elements from Vijayanagara, Adil Shahs and Marathas. The standard land measure, the mar, was continued from the Vijayanagara times, while the bigha and chawar were borrowed from the Adil Shahs and the Marathas.
In the religious field one finds an attempt at harmonisation and synthesis. The religious festivals of various castes and communities were allowed to continue as they were handed down from earlier times. Saints of different religions commanded equal respect and devotion from all the communities.
Most of the Nawabs were religious-minded, and never indulged in any religious discrimination. There are many examples of the Nawabs making grants of lands to the Brahmins, Lingayats and other communities, and not a single temple or matha was demolished on religious grounds during their times. Savanur was privileged to get a printing press early in the modern period. Its judicial system became a model for other princely states.
The book is a pioneering work, it being the first historical work of its kind on the subject. It throws open to the world of historians a subject about the different aspects of which independent works can be written. It explores new avenues on the uncharted sea of the subject trailing behind new lines of development for the coming historians.
Formerly Professor and Head of the Department of History in the University of Poona, Dr. K.N. Chitnis has been engaged in historical research all these years. He is a well-known history scholar and has produced a number of research books on history, the last but one being the Glimpses of Maratha Socio-Economic History published by M/s Atlantic Publishers and Distributors, New Delhi. This has earned the remark of the reviewer in The Indian Historical Review that the work presents “a new conceptual framework and analytical thrust” to the subject matter. His writings have also attracted comments from foreign scholars. He has specialised in the medieval history of India, particularly of South India. His main interest is in the socio-economic field.
Among his other books mention may be made of Keladi Polity, Medieval Indian History, Socio-Economic History of Medieval India and Research Methodology in History. He has also edited some books such as Savanur Nawabs : Historical Documents and Shivaji-Mallammaji Samarotsava.
Besides English he knows Sanskrit, Kannada, Marathi and Hindi languages and also the Modi script. He has a cursory acquaintance with Persian in respect of administrative and economic matters. He has attended a number of national and international seminars and conferences.
