The story of the treaty that has been provided in the history of Ichalkaranji principality is especially interesting. The treaty took place in the month of Chaitra. The negotiations went on for two months, and general clauses had been decided amongst the two parties even before the meeting. This was a treaty that Shahu has written as addressed to Sambhaji II.
- “The area within the Varun Mahal up to the southern banks of the confluence on both sides, along with the outposts and forts has been granted to you.
- From the Tungabhadra River right up to Rameshwaram, all the principalities have been split equally amongst both of us, and your half have been agreed to be handed over to you.
- Fort Koppal has been given to you, and in lieu of that you have given Ratnagiri to us.
- It has been decided that the Wadgaon fortress is to be destroyed.
- Whoever opposes you, we should destroy them. You and us, should increase the kingdom working together.
- From the southern banks of the confluence of Warana and Krishna up to Nivrutti Sangam of the Tungabhadra River, the forts and outposts have been given to you.
- In the Konkan province beyond Salshi, up to Ankola Panchamahal have been given to you.
- You should not employ the servants from this kingdom. We will not employ your servants.
- Miraj province, the stations from Bijapur province, Athni, Tasgaon etc. should be handed back to us.
This treaty has been agreed with the above total nine clauses. We will follow these, without exception.”
The clauses 5 and 8 were regarding general administration, which were implemented. Similarly, clause 3 too was implemented. Varun Mahal was under Udaji Chavhan’s control. Shahu took it from him and handed over to the Pratinidhi. The Peshwas took it from the Pratinidhi later, but it never passed to the Karweer seat. As per the clause 2, many campaigns occurred beyond the Tungabhadra. The Kolhapur seat did not participate in them, which is why the tribute was also not shared with them. Karweer authorities did not destroy the Wadgaon outpost fortress. As per clause 6, the region from the Warana up to Tungabhadra, which was not under Sambhaji II’s actual control, was later captured by Shahu and Peshwa. It was never given to Sambhaji II. Clause 7 also faced similar condition. The outposts and stations mentioned in Clause 9, Miraj, Athni etc. were under Udaji Chavhan’s control. Sambhaji II did not hand them over to Shahu. They were later captured on their own by Shahu and the Peshwas. Shahu wrote letters to his castellans at the forts in the region between Krishna and Tungabhadra, asking them to hand over the forts to Sambhaji II. However, this treaty did not help Sambhaji II in growing his kingdom. It remained limited within its erstwhile boundaries. Actually, Shahu did not divide his kingdom and gave the other part to Sambhaji II. Sambhaji II never got a portion of the kingdom. A kind of a largish Jagir was created under the control of the main kingdom, and was handed over to Sambhaji II. In the opposition that lasted twenty-three years, Sambhaji II’s condition had been so depleted, that if he had not come to meet in-person, he would not have got even this. His kingdom became a captive principality like the later princely states under the British administration. At the same time, the principalities of Shinde, Angre, Holkar etc. were taking shape. But since they were growing through their own prowess, Kolhapur never competed against them. Sambhaji II and his descendants were provided the formal respect of being a master by the officials who came after Shahu. But due to this, the condition of this kingdom was reduced to having neither master nor servants.
Shahu’s administration displays both positives and negatives of sympathetic heart. Such a policy is good in private matters, but it brings a little slack in political matters, and the tasks in the kingdom’s cause get disturbed. In Shahu’s reign, the administration of the Maratha Confederacy never acquired tenacity or force, and never got a brilliance because of one important aspect of his nature – his soft heart. Howsoever Sambhaji II opposed him, Shahu never displayed any hard-hearted behaviour towards him. Shahu never forgot that whatever happened, Sambhaji II was his own brother, and had an equal claim over the kingdom like him. Shahu had a standing instruction for everybody, if Sambhaji II committed any mistake, he will think about the resolution, but nobody else should trouble Sambhaji II. Shahu wrote once to Chimnaji Ballal, “Ranoji Ghorpade and Bhagwantrao did not maintain Sambhaji II’s respect. While defeating them, you sent your men to assist Ghorpades, and troubled Sambhaji II’s regions. This is not done. This was not right. The moment you see this letter, recall your men back. Do not give excuses, and ensure that Sambhaji II’s heart is not troubled. The moment you see this letter, recall your armies back, otherwise we will confiscate them and their equipment.” This shows, how Shahu used to try hard to maintain Sambhaji II’s prestige.
To be continued…
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