Shahu was a discerning judge of men. In fact, one can say, that he had perfectly carried out the responsibility to recognise the inherent capability in each of his men, and giving them the field of activity that would make perfect use of that capability to aid the kingdom in the end. Whatever little capability still remained residual in the Maharashtrians in those declining years of the eighteenth century, Shahu showed to the world a way to utilise it. One cannot hold him, or some specific person responsible, saying Shahu did not ensure that the independence of the Maratha Confederacy was made permanent. The whole nation was responsible for it. Shahu displayed a great foresight in handing over the reins of the kingdom to a youth like Nanasaheb. Shahu’s thoughts must have been vastly different in the two incidents – first when he handed over the office of the Peshwa to Bajirao in 1720, and then giving the same responsibilities to Nanasaheb twenty years afterwards. Both the events were different. Shahu was in the prime of his life then, while he was growing old now. Shahu would always remain suspicious about Bajirao, while he was never so about Nanasaheb. He would consider Nanasaheb as his own son. The task which Shahu had entrusted to Bajirao while giving him the office of the Peshwa, Bajirao had fulfilled the same to a large extent and expanded the kingdom. So, Shahu’s expectation that Nanasaheb would go beyond Bajirao and display even more wonderful results, was not in vain. At that time, the Pratinidhi did not even have the strength to manage his own affairs. Even though Raghuji Bhosale and other Sardars were brave and capable in their own individual capacities, they themselves did not consider them worthy of taking up the difficult responsibility of holding the kingdom together by controlling the strings of the office of the Peshwa. Shahu entrusted the reins of the administration to a youth like Nana. Due to this, at least fifty to sixty years were added to the overall life of the Maratha Confederacy. Otherwise, the Confederacy would have met its own Plassey even before Panipat the way Plassey occurred in 1757. If one reads the contemporary British accounts, and goes through their secret plans of the time, one can safely say, that Nanasaheb Peshwa must be given the credit to ensure that Satara did not see the advent of British Empire like Madras and Bengal around 1757.
The erstwhile Bakhar historians mention, “Bajirao Ballal Peshwa went to the Lord’s abode Kailasa on the thirteenth day of the waxing moon fortnight of the month of Vaishakh. Maharaj felt very sad. The morning drums were kept silent for three days. Office was closed. His mood remained bleak. After this, he gave the office of the Peshwa to Balaji Bajirao alias Nanasaheb. It was a big ceremony. All the Sardars and officials were given celebratory garments by the government. Maharaj told the court assembly, that Bajirao, in his short lifespan and his prime, had achieved success in five to ten campaigns of the kingdom. He earned funds for the government too. He did not waver from the cause. Balajipant (Nanasaheb) was young but wise. Everything will be fine. But he demanded one thing from everybody. If they all agreed to provide him that, he would state the demand openly. Upon that, everybody requested him to state, what was such a thing that they held but not the Maharaj himself. If they did not offer him, then their life was a waste. They were even ready to lay down their life upon his orders. It was just a matter of those orders being issued. Their service would never be found deficient. Upon hearing affirmations from them, Maharaj replied that he would relate his demand. Maharaj began saying, that Balajipant (Nanasaheb) is young. He would make huge plans, would try and execute them, sometimes even show his youthful inexperience. Without allowing their egos to impair their judgment, they all ought to sometimes ignore his mistakes, align themselves with his plans wholeheartedly, should display their loyalty to the throne and help him achieve great success. This was the Maharaj’s demand. Upon this, everybody paid their obeisance to the Maharaj, stated that Maharaj should focus on the Peshwa, and pledged upon God that if any of them committed treason, God Himself would never allow them a grain of food at Maharaj’s court. Everybody replayed the same oath. Maharaj was satisfied and bade them farewell.”
Among the many creditors of the late Bajirao Peshwa was Babuji Naik, who had lost the race to be appointed Peshwa. Miffed, he decided to embarrass Nanasaheb, who was beholden to pay his father Bajirao’s debts. At Bajirao’s death, a debt of fourteen lakh rupees was outstanding, and of this, Babuji Naik was owed thirty-six thousand rupees. A year after Bajirao’s demise, Babuji insisted that his debt be repaid at once. The embarrassed Peshwa had no ready money and the matter soon became a public spectacle. There was a custom called Dharna, wherein a Brahmin would sit and fast at the door of the debtor, and the fast continued either till the debt is paid or the Brahmin dies. Brahmahatya (death of a Brahmin) was considered a grievous sin on the head of the debtor. The daily embarrassment of the Dharna at the Peshwa’s door was finally cut short by Mahadaji Purandare who paid off the debt. The Peshwa then ordered Babuji Naik to leave Pune. Shahu, however, in keeping with his mild nature, gave Babuji a Jagir in the nearby town of Baramati instead, where his family stayed from then on.
With his attempt to foist his own man as Peshwa ending in failure, Raghuji returned to the Carnatic with Babuji Naik, and Nanasaheb returned to Pune with his uncle and mentor Chimaji Appa. Raghuji’s efforts to deny Nanasaheb the appointment of the Peshwa coupled with his previous animosity towards Bajirao were to dictate relations of Babuji and Raghuji with Nanasaheb in the coming years. It would not be long before the feud would come to a head.
To be continued…
NDHistories 