The Peshwas used to pay specially piercing attention to the regions around Pune. This region straddling the Deccan plateau on one side and parts of Konkan plains on the other, was under their special control in a way. The hearts of the Peshwas and their officials would remain drawn to the activities like settling down the revenue of the region, imparting justice, performing charitable and welfare activities related to religious places etc. The recruitment in their army would also occur in this and the nearby familiar regions. Nanasaheb mainly implemented a strong control of the central government over the Sardars active at various places. No wonder he would often engage in verbal duels with many people at home as well as abroad. Even in such situations, Nanasaheb would tend towards resolving internal dissensions through conciliation and compromise, and try to get work done. On the opposite side, Sadashivrao Bhau’s (Chimaji Appa’s son) nature was slightly strict and curt. Nanasaheb would even bear insults at times but ensured his opponents finally were rendered helpless in front of his influence. Actually, these two able men were the ones who were pushing the overall state’s administration working together, always taking each other’s advice. Nanasaheb never took military activities upon his shoulders. His general method was to meet the rulers and diplomats, negotiate at the political level, and resolve any matter. His general policy was, “A Sardar should work at his level, not get wasted bodily himself.”
He did not participate much in actual battles. He would remain behind in camp and ensure the diplomatic activities were taken care of. He was an excellent scribe. One can even say, that no other man from the Peshwa’s household could equal him in this area. He would perfectly follow the principle that the fruits of war have to be acquired through the treaty at the end of it. His eye would keep roving all over. There is ample evidence in his correspondence where he had worked on some Delhi activity while at Shrirangapatnam, or taken care of some affair in the Carnatic while at Bundelkhand. He was an expert in quickly spinning together excellent letters in a snap of his fingers, in his own hand. Many of his letters are written in his own handwriting. He himself has added much of the additional content towards the end of many of these letters as well.
One of his most important responsibilities in the initial nine years was to maintain the relations with the Chhatrapati at Satara in good shape. There was no dearth of opponents who would whisper in the Chhatrapati’s ears to try and pull the Peshwa down. The discord amongst two of Shahu’s queens had grown, due to which his life had become miserable. Since he had remained childless, everybody had begun thinking about the constitution of the future state. In such a situation, the Peshwa had to keep a close watch over all such distractions and ensure his objectives were fulfilled. This Peshwa deserves the credit for keeping the overall situation in his control, and continuing to run the kingdom’s administration smoothly. For this, one of the persons belonging to the Peshwa’s own family would permanently stay at Satara with the Chhatrapati. When the Peshwa was on campaign, Shahu too felt the need of someone responsible. For that, Sadashivrao, Raghunathrao, Janardanpant etc. men would keep visiting there and kept Shahu in good spirits. Satara also had a mansion of the Peshwas. Similarly, there were other mansions belonging to other Sardars and diplomats. Through these mansions, meetings, secret plans, conspiracies, political moves etc. would go on day and night. Sadashivrao, Raghunathrao etc. boys learnt to extract the secret information about such happenings, and were able to carry out their duties excellently. Shahu’s capital had become a virtual school of diplomacy. The Peshwas began cutting their teeth on a steady diet of discussions at court, nature and intentions of various participants, etc. The Peshwa used to be provided detailed information about all the big and small incidents taking place at the royal palace, even the royal Zenana. Similarly, the impression that external world had would be, that one of the Peshwa’s own men stayed at Satara to take care of the affairs there. Sadashivrao had grown up to take care of all the activities with extreme caution. In 1746, he went out on his first independent Carnatic campaign alone at sixteen years of age. Raghunathrao in the north and Sadashivrao in the south were the two assistants of the Peshwa who began generating capable people all around in the future projects henceforth. Only on the basis of this familial assistance, the Peshwa began achieving success in his administration here onwards.
To be continued…
NDHistories 