Despite his unpopularity, he was a man of principle and resigned from the Council in protest at what he believed was an unfair imposition of poll tax on the Fiji Indian people.
He proposed an innovative system of Indian administration (panchayat) and showed himself to be ahead of his time by opposing child marriage and promoting education.
One of the famous Fijians to attend the school was not an Indian but Ratu Sir Lala Sukuna, regarded by many as the father of modern Fiji.
He argued that panchayats would simplify the administration of justice amongst the Fiji Indians by hearing cases and arranging quick settlement of disputes.
Badri Maharaj saw panchayats as a way to prevent the abuses associated with child marriage and as an authority to deal with all questions relating to Indian customs and religion.
He explained the Hindu culture regarding marriage at that time but the Legislative Council ignored him and never considered the possibility of granting the Fiji Indians authority to define their law.
When Vashist Muni arrived in Fiji, in 1920, and conducted meetings in different parts of the Western Division, Badri Maharaj provided confidential reports on his activities to the Government.
In one report he noted that the Sadhu’s followers were "businessmen, planters and civil servants" referring to the people who joined Vashist Muni at Penang as "renegades".