अग्निसुता (Kalyani Deshmukh) Profile picture
कौन्तेय प्रतिजानीहि न मे भक्त: प्रणश्यति। Learner | Dharmshastra-History 🌸 | Trolls & Illiterates Will Be Blocked.
May 17 20 tweets 13 min read
Chauth: A Legitimate Tax 🌸 ~

As Justice Mahadev Govind Ranade observes, chauth is an 'idea' originally worked out by Chattrapati Shivaji, which in Wellesley's hands 'bore such fruit.'

Ranade's interpretation itself challenges the reduction of Chauth to blackmail set by jadunath. When Sen says that the Marathas offered those paying chauth protection from none but themselves and made no pretensions to taking over the duties of a protective power, there is nothing inherently wrong in it either. One either submits and accepts paramountcy by giving the right over 25% of revenue, or one chooses to contest it through battle and resist authority in another way. Isn't this broadly how the Dharmshastra describe the role of a King and Tax? How were sacrifices like the Ashwamedha performed? By subduing neighbouring petty kingdoms.

1/Image The English President and Council at Surat reported that they were constantly afraid of Chattrapati Shivaji attacking again. He was frequently threatening to raid the city unless the Mughal emperor agreed to give him one-fourth (chauth) of the revenue from the town and surrounding countryside every year.

2/Image
Feb 26 11 tweets 6 min read
The Chitpavan Brahman Massacre - 1948 🌸 ~

People who claim that Marathas were responsible for the Chitpavan Brahman massacre are not stating facts. The source they rely on blaming them only emerged in 1988, decades after the 1948 massacre. They don’t even bother to examine earlier sources. This doesn’t meet even the most basic standards of proper research.

[Even last month, a big Instagram account said the same thing. I usually don’t speak on history unless feel propaganda is rising and could influence people. Had posted this earlier on my Ig stories and in the comments of that post, and I’m sharing it here again.]

1/Image As stated in Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar, Writings and Speeches attached below.
This passage itself acknowledges that the violence of 1948 involved members of the lower classes acting against members of the higher classes, and that the enmity was already deeply entrenched.

2/ Image
Jan 31 8 tweets 4 min read
सरकार द्वारा करपात्री जी महाराज के शिष्य स्वामी वामदेव जी का उपयोग कर उन्हें धोखा दिया गया -

30 अक्टूबर 1990 की भयानक रात में पुलिस की गोलियों से बलिदान हुए कारसेवकों के शव गली-गली में बिखरे पड़े थे। इस आतंक काल में सारस्वत ब्राह्मण कुलसमुत्पन्न "स्वामी वामदेव जी महाराज" के अयोध्या निवास आश्रम में प्रातः ब्राह्ममुहूर्त में जगे शिष्यों ने पाया कि वामदेवजी महाराज आश्रम में नहीं है। कहाँ चले गये ? कहीं प्रशासन ने तो गायब नहीं कर दिया ? सब ढूंढने चल पड़े।

1/
बहुत समय ढूंढने पर अयोध्या की सन्नाटे वाली गलियों में लाठी की आवाज करते वे संत चल रहे थे। शिष्यों ने देखकर हर्ष से कहा- यहाँ आप अकेले ? सरकार आपके पीछे पड़ी है। कुछ हो जाता तो ? महाराज बोले- "नारायण ! मैं रात को इन पवित्र शवों की रक्षा करता रहा, जिससे गली के कुत्ते इन शवों को नोच न पाये।"

रामजन्मभूमि आन्दोलन के मुख्य नेतृत्वकर्ता स्वामी वामदेवजी महाराज एक ऐसी विभूति थे, जिनका दुरुपयोग करके संघ, विश्व हिन्दु परिषद् आदि कथित हिन्दु संगठनों ने ऐसा कुटिल जाल रचा, जिससे राममंदिर आन्दोलन का नेतृत्व संतों से हटकर इन राजनेताओं के पास आ गया।

2/
Aug 6, 2025 20 tweets 6 min read
A Courtesan’s Companion to a Skand Swami's Devotee 🌸 ~

Arunagiri was born in 15th-century Tamil Nadu, in Tiruvannamalai. He belonged to a learned Gowda Brahman lineage known for Dindima Kavis, scholars fluent in Sanskrit and Tamil.

1/n Image
Image
His father was a reputed poet; his mother, a Devadasi named Muthu. His ancestors were respected by Chola, Chera & Pandya kings. Historical references, like Saluvabhyudayam, refer to Arunagiri's father as a "Sarva-Bhauma Dindima Kavi", a poet honored by the three Tamil kings,

2/n Image
Oct 23, 2024 27 tweets 8 min read
How Shankaracharya Turned the Tables for Hindus in Ayodhya Verdict ~

When Hindus couldn't provide proof of Ram Janmabhoomi in court and when even Rambhadracharya's claims were dismissed, it was Shankaracharya ji who turned things around in favor of Hindus.

1/ Image The Supreme Court's Ayodhya verdict significantly incorporated elements from the Allahabad High Court's judgment. In the Allahabad High Court Ayodhya verdict, the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) questioned why Tulsidas, a devout follower of Lord Ram,

2/