One of the letters of the time displays the eagerness that Nanasaheb and Chimaji Appa showed in seeking the blessings of resident deities and their devotee Brahmins. One such Brahmin, Narayan Dikshit Patankar had sent a consolation letter upon Bajirao’s death. In it, he had written many important instructions and also suggested the bereaved to further expand Raya’s glory. The Peshwa wrote an eminently readable reply to it on 29 September 1740. It expresses the Peshwas’ lofty noble religious nature.
In his initial eight years, Nanasaheb went on four campaigns to the north. The erstwhile documents refer to the campaigns with specific details as follows.
- Sironj-Bhilsa – From 23 November 1740 to 7 July 1741. Meeting with Sawai Jaisingh at Dhaulpur in the month of May. Gopikabai on campaign.
- Prayag-Bengal – From 18 December 1741 to 30 July 1743. The armies encamped in the north for the monsoon. Malwa grant-notifications were received. Raghuji Bhosale and Aliwardi Khan initially clashed and the conflict was resolved later. In this campaign, revered mother Kashibai went on a pilgrimage to Kashi and stayed there for five years.
- Bhilsa – From 20 November 1744 to August 1745.
- Newai – In 1748.
It is not possible to relate the complete story of any one contemporary affair without constantly keeping in front of one’s mind the various political moves running in faraway places, and the movements and activities of men engaged in those. The Peshwa had to keep his eye everywhere in each of his activities. Recognising the relations with and amongst various entities like Shahu Maharaj at Satara, Raghuji Bhosale in the Carnatic, Badshah in the north, and his Umraos, primarily Nizam and Sawai Jaisingh, the Peshwa had to accomplish his objectives initially. Therefore, even though it is necessary to independently relate any affair by dissecting all the intricacies in it for convenience, one needs to always bear in mind, that the persons and events are always entangled internally.
The specific areas of conquest were farmed out by Shahu Maharaj to various Sardars, and the other nobles could not enter the Mamlat (region) given to another. Yet, disputes did arise in areas that were not clearly defined. There were many tasks before the new Peshwa. The control of the western coast due to a persisting animosity with Sambhaji and Tulaji Angre, the rivalry with the Nizam in the Deccan, and of course the disorder in the Carnatic. However, Bajirao’s unfinished tasks in the north had to be attended to before all these. In November 1740, therefore, Nanasaheb decided to head north. It was decided that Chimaji Appa too would accompany Nanasaheb on the northern campaign. The chief of their aims was to obtain the cession of Malwa from the Mughal Badshah, liaison with Sawai Jaisingh and strengthening Maratha power north of the Narmada.
Many of the erstwhile letters clarify how the whole reason to campaign in the north so immediately after Bajirao’s death. Just two weeks after Bajirao’s death, Janardan, Nanasaheb’s younger brother wrote to the Maratha envoy Mahadevbhat Hingne in Delhi, outlining Maratha aims, “We wrote to you the news about Raya’s death. Presently, your response has been received. It referred to specific political matters. Father’s influence was such that the plan that would otherwise not succeed, would also get accomplished through his virtuous presence. The person travelling to heavenly abode has not carried anything with him. Everything is business-as-usual. After the four months (of monsoons) the politics in Delhi will continue with the support of Rajashree Rajarajendra (Sawai Jaisingh) and through Baburao’s actions. Rajashree Rajarajendra and the late departed Rajashree Rau had much affection for each other. Due to it, many others were fearful to oppose them. So, upon Rau’s death, if Rajarajendra feels disheartened and quits the erstwhile friendship, then it is not correct. It is necessary to ensure that the measures initiated by them are protected. There can be problems due to ‘N’ named person (Nizam-ul-Mulk) who desires to grab the entire Patshahi.” This letter is dated 10 May 1740.
This makes it amply clear, that Nadir Shah had rendered the Empire powerless, and Bajirao had died early. Taking the benefit of these two incidents, the Nizam was trying to increase his dominance at Delhi. The above letter suggested that before Nizam acquires pre-eminence, Jaisingh and Marathas should continue their earlier friendship, and cause for his influence to diminish. Not a single deficiency arose in the Maratha kingdom’s administration because of Bajirao’s death. Nanasaheb arranged for Jaisingh’s original opinion to remain the same, immediately recalled Hingne for a meeting, discussed with him and other advisors, and quickly decided to embark on the northern campaign to lend strength to Jaisingh’s political move. The first and foremost necessity was to maintain the Maratha experience in the minds of the rulers in the north.
To be continued…
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