Let us consider some of the letter types in the Mughal and Martha polities. One useful type is the letter of appeal from a regional elite family, typically dominant in a rural area. The head of the family might write, for example, that the rains had failed and the area needed relief from taxes. This sort of letter, in itself, might not seem to be useful for biography, but hat is an incorrect assessment. Such letters often begin with a summary of the services the family has provided to the empire, both past and present. Sometimes the writer reminds the monarch of the long-ago service of an important ancestor or the recent service of various members of the family. Even the epithets that the head of the family uses both for himself and the monarch are useful in establishing both self-image and assumptions about relative rights. Who the writer speaks for – what villages over what area and what revenue rights within the area – suggests much about the family’s position. Sometimes as historians we get the central government response and can track how much of the family’s claims are accepted, indeed, whether the monarch acknowledges the past service of the family or not. The silences are as useful as what is noted. The tone hints at whether the family is in favor or not. If the monarch accepts the information of the family uncritically or only agrees to send a representative to access the situation suggest the family’s status. As with reports or other kinds of correspondence it is essential to read many letters to establish what is typical of the genre and what is unique or of interest in a particular letter.
Yet another relatively common official letter in the Mughal/Maratha period was the newsletter. Kings sent their own representatives to report on events at both allied and enemy courts. Such reports often covered current factional politics and comings and goings of notable people. They are very useful to biographers as a record of powerful individuals, royal relatives, and local elite families, which came to court. Sometimes the records cover decades and cover the ups and downs of individuals and families. There are a few courts for which we have a couple of news writers and can compare assessments of the situation. Nevertheless, news dispatches must be used with caution. The news writers were aware that they walked a fine line between reporting what was actually happening and what their employer wanted to hear.
Yet another relatively common official letter in the Mughal/Maratha period was the newsletter. Kings sent their own representatives to report on events at both allied and enemy courts. Such reports often covered current factional politics and comings and goings of notable people. They are very useful to biographers as a record of powerful individuals, royal relatives, and local elite families, which came to court. Sometimes the records cover decades and cover the ups and downs of individuals and families. There are a few courts for which we have a couple of news writers and can compare assessments of the situation. Nevertheless, news dispatches must be used with caution. The news writers were aware that they walked a fine line between reporting what was actually happening and what their employer wanted to hear.