A Saranjam is grant of land (initially non-hereditary) for maintenance of troops or for military service found among the Maratha community in Maharashtra and the former Maratha occupied regions of India, including territories in present-day Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh. The grant was bestowed by a king or regional ruler . of a princely state
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The Saranjam system may be a form of to the Jagir (feudatory estate) system. The land was mostly in the form of a rural Watan (rights given in reward for previous service or merit) or Jagir, its owner being entitled to extract revenue from the villages included in the territory.
Saranjamdar was the title given to the landlord or holder of a Saranjam. Usually it was bestowed on that person for heroic deeds in the military field, thus most Saranjamdars were former military officers. He may be a jagirdar, always ranking as a vassal.
Political Saranjam
Rajaram Bhonsle (1670 – 1700) adopted the Saranjam system as a political measure to ensure the loyalty of key persons to the side of the Maratha Empire. Later under the Peshwa the system would become hereditary, being liable to be partitioned as well.
In British India there were also certain estates which were rendered as Political Saranjams, having equal status with the princely states.
Maratha Saranjams
There were some Saranjams held by Maratha clans such as Gaikwad, Pawar and Shinde who retained their Jagirs and erected themselves as kings after the defeat at Panipat.
- Bhoite Saranjamdar;
- Shinde Saranjamdar; Malangaon, Mhaishal and Mallewadi.
- Dabhade Saranjamdar;
- Gharge-Desai (Deshmukh) Shirol Saranjamdar;
- Wagh Saranjamdar;
- Pawar Saranjamdar;
- Dhamdhere Saranjamdar;
- Gaikwad Saranjamdar.
- Dubal Saranjamdar Dhulgaon,(Dubal)sarkar saranjamdar Gundavadi(miraj)
- Ghatge Sarkar, Zhunjarrao Saranjamdar of Kumathe Sansthan, Tal. Tasgaon, Dist. Sangli.
- Jadhav Desai sarkar Chinchli, Soundatti (b), Raibag (Karnataka)
- Mane sarkar of Mhaswad.
- Mane Deshmukh Velapur, Solapur
Shinde Saramjamdar of Malangaon
Shrimant Jayaji Raoji Shinde was the first who was saramjamdar of Malangaon, Kavathe-Mahankal taluk, Sangli district. White soil fort was his work center. This saramjam was received from Adilshah of Bijapur, later on Jayaji refused to work under him. He bravely fought against the Bijapur Sultanate. He captured the huge area from Adil Shah. As this area was near to Karnataka border he faced lot of from Adil Shah of Bijapur till death. Bajaji his son was brave too; he captured 52 villages around the area of Malangaon saramjam. He situated the village around his White Fort. This saranjam was big at that time. This is the history obtained from the Khatedari of Navghar. Shrimant Ramchandra Dada Shinde was the last saramjamdar of Malangaon. Following are the relatives: