Shashiraja P., is a PhD candidate in the Department of HIstory, Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit, Kalady, Kerala. His doctoral research is on The political economy of Keladi Nayakas on the basis of certain documents like Inscriptions, Kadata, Kaifiyat and literature. His areas of academic interest are the 'Sistu' settlement of Sivappa Nayaka and  his measurement system on land and taxation as well.