The Chitnavis family of the Prabhu caste is of historical note and has retained its importance down to the present time. The word Chitnavis is a corruption of a Person word meaning secretary, and has been adopted by the family as for five generations they served as secretaries to the Bonsla rulers. Rukhmaji Ganesh was Chief Secretary to Raghuji I. His son Chimanji represented the Nagpur Raja at the Peshwa’s Court, and his nephew Krishna Rao was first minister to Raghuji 11. Chimnaji’s brother Gangadhar Rao was also a secretary, as also was his son Madho Rao who after the annexation served as an Honorary Maristrate and obtained the title of Rao Sahib. He left two sons, Gangadhar Rao and Shankar Rao. The Honorable Mr. Gangadhar Rao chitnavis, C.I.E., one of Nagpur’s most prominent citizens, is n Honorary Magistrate of the 1st class and has three times served on the Viceroy’s Legislative Council. He is Chairman of the District Council and of the Nagpur Municipal Committee. Mr. Shankar Rao Chitnavis is a Statutory Civilian and a Deputy Commissioner in the Central Provinces Commission. He obtained the Kaisar-i-Hind gold medal for his services during the famine of 1900. The family own a fine estate of 150 villages and have also an extensive banking business and shares in mills and factories.