Both Nanasaheb and Chimaji stepped out on the auspicious occasion, but Chimaji suddenly fell ill on 31 October 1740, the eighth day of the waning moon fortnight of the month of Kartik. Due to this, Chimaji returned while Nanasaheb continued on. Chimaji Appa’s health went on deteriorating by the day, and he died on the tenth day of the waxing moon fortnight of the month of Pausha, 17 December 1740 at Pune. In this relation, Kashirao Shivdeo (the later author of the Panipat Bakhar) wrote the following letter to the Peshwa, “I am so miserable upon hearing the news about Chimaji Appa that I can’t write it in words. The Swami must be getting crushed under mountains of grief. But there is no solution on this. The Lord’s rule is final. The Swami is wise. He should think with discretion and allay his own grief.”
It does not look like Nanasaheb lost his nerve due to Chimaji’s death. He wrote the following letter to Brahmendra Swami on 14 January 1741, “The Swami must have heard the news that Appa left for heavenly abode Kailas. It was a huge blow. And this was brought about by Shree in just about eight months after Rau leaving for Kailas. How can one solve what Shree wills! Maharaj’s blessings are with us. Only good will come out of those blessings. A dispute had arisen between Nawab Nizam-ul-Mulk and Naseer Jung. In it, we provided some help to the Nizam. Due to that, Naseer Jung lost everything and was rendered a Fakir (mendicant). After that, we met the Nizam. He showed much respect and felicitated us profusely. All this is the Swami’s grace. I don’t have any other deity apart from the Swami. Regards.” Nanasaheb met the Nizam at Edlabad (Muktainagar). There was no special benefit that came out of this meeting.
The new Peshwa had to stamp his authority before he could control the many elements in play at this time. the Nizam had marched out of Delhi and was moving towards the Deccan. In opposition to the Maratha demand, he appointed his relation Azimullah Khan as the Subedar in Malwa. Consequently, it was expected that there will soon be a clash of arms between Nanasaheb and the Nizam. Malharrao Holkar and Ranoji Shinde were accompanying the Peshwa. Malharrao in his letter to Mahadevbhat Hingne in Delhi in July 1740 wrote that Azimullah Khan will be taught a lesson if he ventured out of Delhi, “You have written that the Nizam engineered a big political move by granting the office of Subedar of Malwa to Azimullah Khan and dispatched him with an army of fifteen thousand. You are aware of all those who had come earlier and what transpired and who did what. They are taking the benefit of us not being in the region and not having encamped there. Now, Azimullah Khan is coming! Had I been there, he would not have dared to step into Malwa. However, I had come to our native place. So what? Now I will come with my army and teach the Avindh (Mughal, literally meaning one who has not pierced his ears) a lesson. Whoever has betrayed our trust will be taught appropriate lesson. And if anybody does any mischief, they will also face dire consequences.”
On 5 January 1741, Malharrao Holkar captured the important fort of Dhar in western Malwa. Maratha chiefs took some forts around Nasik and Malwa at this time. seeing the Marathas marching out, Azimullah Khan eventually did not take up his appointment in Malwa.
Since he had two powerful Sardars like Shinde and Holkar as his supporting pillars, Nanasaheb began getting respected everywhere. Azimullah Khan was the Nizam’s cousin. He had been previously appointed over the position of Malwa’s Subedar on behalf of the Nizam in 1723. Those days he had been working at Delhi acting almost as the Nizam’s right hand. However, looking at the preparation of Shinde and Holkar, he could not summon up the courage to step out of Delhi itself. However, the Nizam, ignoring the Bhopal treaty, considered the Malwa province as his own, and appointed Azimullah there.
Nanasaheb had only recently got the Peshwa’s office. When he heard about the revolt of the Nizam’s son, he decided to snatch this opportunity to beat the Nizam, and he ordered his own officials to quickly capture primarily Junnar, Sangamner, Nasik etc. regions and the forts contained within it. The Nizam had agreed to grant the office of the Subedar of Malwa province to the Peshwa. But seeing that he had shrugged it off, the Peshwa recalled Mahadevbhat Hingne and taking the opportunity that the Nizam was in the Deccan, himself embarked on the journey towards Delhi to acquire the office of the Subedar of Malwa directly from the Badshah through Sawai Jaisingh’s good offices. Before going, the revolt of the Nizam’s son had reared up in the Deccan, and it is necessary to relate, how Bajirao had had a role to play in it.
To be continued…
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