The Nizam-ul-Mulk was anguished to see the Siddi on the backfoot, and the fort of Raigad return to the Maratha control. Since he defeated Mubarij Khan in 1724, and appointed himself as the Mughal Subedar of the Deccan, he was in the bad books of the Badshah. However, that did not prevent him from sending letters to Mohammedshah about various events in the Deccan. At the defeat of the Siddi in 1733, he wrote, “Siddi Yakub Khan was appointed as the Subedar of Danda-Rajpuri and other places. His son was killed. As a result, disturbances broke out. The following were the forts in that region. Surasgad, Avachitgad, Birwadi, Mankot, Ghosala, Malpan, Mandangad, Karwah, Mank and Rajkot. These were the forts of the Empire. There were some other forts too. The Marathas subdued the Habshis. They seized the opportunity and took possession of the forts. The fort of Raheri (Raigad) known as Islamgad is one of the strong forts. It is the capital of Konkan. It was in the possession of Raja Shahu’s ancestors. During the time of Hazrat Khuld Makan it had been captured after a great struggle. The Marathas enticed the garrison with inducement of money and captured it.”
The Nizam ended his letter warning the Badshah of bad days ahead, “They (the Marathas) will spread to other provinces of northern India. It will be very difficult to put down the Marathas. Nobody will be able to contend against them.”
Bajirao’s departure from the Konkan was a signal for Siddi Saat to begin reclaiming his losses. He began by attacking the fort of Bankot, which he quickly captured. His next target was the prestigious fort of Raigad. Shahu, alarmed at this fresh aggression, dispatched Baji Bhivrao, the Somvanshi brothers, and Udaji Pawar to Konkan. A fierce fight ensued at Pachad with the Siddi’s forces, almost to the gate of the fort. In a fierce battle on 10 January 1734, Udaji Pawar killed Siddi Ambar Afwani.
In 1734, “Rajashree dispatched Udaji Pawar over the Shyamal (dark-skinned). Upon this, Siddi Ambar Afwani readied up for battle at Wadi Pachad. He was defeated and Afwani was beheaded. Mahad and Bankot were captured. Raigad siege was forced to be lifted. Then he proceeded to Gowalkot, where he did not agree with Rajashree’s servant Baburao. Therefore, he returned back.” With this battle, the Siddi once again retreated in the face of the Maratha forces.
After Bajirao left, Sambhaji Angre carried forward the Janjira campaign with Shahu’s orders. Shahu was not inclined to stop the war unless Anjanvel and Gowalkot were captured. On 14 January 1734, he wrote to Fond Sawant, “We have ordered Sambhaji Angre to capture Anjanvel by besieging it. Do not cause any trouble to his regions. He won’t trouble you. Naro Ram Mantri has been ordered regarding this. He will write to you.”
Bankot was retaken by Baji Bhivrao on 8 March. Due to the dispute between Sambhaji and Manaji, the Janjira campaign began getting rendered ineffective. The news of Bankot’s capture came on 14 March 1734. However, Shahu and Swami both had not left the Siddis alone yet.
The Marathas had been fighting in this area for four years now. Kondaji Shinde, one of Shahu’s chiefs, wrote to him emphasising their valour in protecting Raigad and winning back Bankot, ending his letter asking for leave: “… many of my men have to get married and have not been home for many years, they know not the poor state of their homes.”
In April 1734, Baji Bhivrao also wrote to the Peshwa, “We have been ordered to go to Gowalkot after winning Bankot. Many of the Kannadigas cannot tolerate the Konkan. Many others are also not happy. I am aware that you are not in charge of this campaign now (but) who else can I write my woes?”
In May 1734, Baji Bhivrao was still fighting at Gowalkot: “Eighty men are killed. Baburao Vaidya died. Many of his men were destroyed. Sambhaji Angre is sitting comfortably at Vijaydurg and does not come to fight. In the rains, the Shyamal (dark-skinned) takes away our pride.”
While the British kept up the pretence of friendship with the Marathas, they surreptitiously helped the Siddi. Many Maratha prisoners had been in British captivity for long. Bajirao’s emissary visited Captain Inchbird in his garden house in Parel at Mumbai in September 1734, and reported how he took the governor to task for helping the Siddi against the Marathas, “Bajirao’s emissary said, ‘You are using Underi to send your ships to loot villages, so you are not implicated. People are saying this is a breach of trust. Do you understand this? The Pantapradhan has written to me in angst. If you say Underi is not yours, then why have you kept your flag there? You think we don’t understand this? You and the Habshi are together. We have lost faith in you. Who is the loser; ask your General to write an answer.’ The next day, the General met me and ordered Siddi Masood (of Surat) be taken in custody and sent out of the city. I said that the Siddi’s word cannot be trusted. It is not enough to send the Siddi away. The one who acted stupidly must be punished so it does not happen again. They are now going to release our men.”
To be continued…
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