Colombo’s Dutch report in their June-July bulletin,
‘There is news everywhere that Shivajiraja died and Sambhaji got his throne. People say, that Sambhaji lives as per his father’s principles; but his nature is softer and he doesn’t have aversion towards the Dutch company.’
The contemporary British traveller John Friar writes,
‘The great ministers of the deceased Shivaji, were at variance about the promotion of the successor. Annaji Pandit, Chief Minister of State, setting up the younger son, and Moro Pandit declaring for Sambhaji, the eldest, who after punishing his opposers, was before the time fit for expedition in the low countries, proclaimed Maharaja, or the lawful heir to his father’s conquests.’
From these contemporary correspondences it is clear that the whole conspiracy against Sambhajiraje was planned by Annaji Datto. Moropant too was not part of it wholeheartedly, and Soyarabai was not related at all. Another thing to notice is, in the above letters, it has been mentioned, that Sambhajiraje was less short-tempered than Shivajiraje, and his nature was judicious and generous.
A more detailed description appears in Shivabharat. As per the usual tradition, Shivaji Maharaj’s last rites began from the seventh-eighth day and finished on the thirteenth day, 15 April. The ministers present there, met Soyarabai on 16 April. They convinced her, that they would get her son coronated, and make her the Rajmata, and they would help run the administration. While assuring her this, they also indicated that she has been blamed for Shivaji Maharaj’s death, and being accused by some, and tried to pressurise her. If Soyarabai really had a part in this conspiracy, she would have involved her own brother Hambirrao Mohite in the conspiracy from the beginning. Hambirrao very easily joined Sambhajiraje without any opposition. Due to this, Sambhajiraje also must not have trusted the rumour that Soyarabai killed Shivaji Maharaj. However, it was possible for Annaji to spread that rumour for his own benefit, and then trying to pressurise her into becoming his puppet. In summary, threatening Soyarabai through some means, and alluring her through the position of the Queen Mother that she would get, the ministers advised her, that they would coronate Rajaram after Vasantapanchami, and if that succeeds, she will become their Queen. Even while Soyarabai’s erstwhile ambition to acquire the kingdom’s control could have got stronger, it was natural for her to also picture the terrible state she would be rendered into if this plan of the ministers failed. It is possible that she felt it very difficult to provide her approval to the action the ministers suggested against Sambhajiraje. However, with or without Soyarabai’s approval, Annaji had already decided colluding with his colleague Raoji Somnath to make Rajaram accede the throne. Probably, Annaji made Rajaram accede the throne even before Moropant returned to the capital on the auspicious occasion of Akshaya Tritiya. So, there is no doubt that Annaji Datto was the chief promoter of this whole conspiracy. In fact, Moropant was the proponent of Sambhajiraje, which is clear from the contemporary references. Moropant was far away towards Trimbakeshwar, due to which it was unavoidable for him get this news and reach Raigad on time. Besides, the Mughals attacked Hanumantgad and the Mughal army attacked Moropant’s detachment. Hence, Moropant had to escape that, and just take a few guards for security and reached Raigad. Therefore, seeing the armed preparation completed by Raoji Somnath and Annaji Datto, Moropant realised that he had been caught off-guard and in a weak situation. Similarly, he witnessed Soyarabai to be entrapped in the conspiracy, and felt a dilemma between Soyarabai and Sambhajiraje. Finally, like Soyarabai, Moropant too got drawn into Annaji’s conspiracy fearing he would lose everything if he acted otherwise. Moropant was probably against the conspiracy to the end; but when he received an ambiguous political message from Hambirrao, he voted towards Rajaram Maharaj thinking Hambirrao was also siding with Soyarabai. He might have also feared Sambhajiraje’s revenge once he came to know everything. Annaji dispatched his orders everywhere. He remained under the impression that his orders issued as clerk would be given equal importance in absence of any higher-level officials even at Panhala. So, there was some laxity observed in ensuring Sambhajiraje was blocked. And Sambhajiraje took perfect advantage of this miss.
To be continued…
NDHistories 