The next campaign of Nanasaheb was the longest. It happened between December 1741 up to the month of June 1743. This could also be termed as the campaign that turned on the ‘money-tap’. Even before he returned in the summer of 1741 from his previous campaign, the Peshwa had discussed with the Sardars from the north about the next course of action, and decided the plan, that unless they dealt sound blows to the Badshah and all his assistants their heartfelt desires about their kingdom would never be accomplished. For that, it was extremely necessary to subdue their own as well as foreign opponents on the basis of their inherent strength. The Peshwa camped at Satara for the three monsoon months along with his family, to hold discussions related to this enterprise with Shahu Maharaj. From this, the whole Bengal political move was born.
The Peshwa first wanted to consolidate the foundations in Malwa and Bundelkhand, so that the Nizam should never get the support in the Deccan the way he had secured at Delhi. Therefore, the Maratha Sardars tightened their control over the above two provinces. Now they had acquired official control, as well as the approval through the imperial grant-notifications. Thus, as their control was established up to the south bank of the Yamuna, the Kashi region beyond it and the provinces of Bihar and Bengal came in the Peshwa’s scope. A need to pounce up to Bengal to increase the monetary strength arose, and in that task, the Peshwa came into conflict with Nagpur’s Raghuji Bhosale.
Bajirao and Raghuji were never aligned with each other. Some instances of them having had minor clashes with each other have been related before. Raghuji was valorous. But since Bajirao too was equally powerful, Raghuji recognised the situation and did not openly display any animosity. He had achieved huge success only recently by campaigning in the Carnatic. After he heard the news of Bajirao’s death, he visited Satara for a short while with an intention to get the office of the Peshwa conferred upon Babuji Naik. But Shahu refused to provide his approval to the proposal and sent Raghuji back on the campaign. However, due to this attempt, the Peshwa’s heart was permanently polluted on Raghuji’s account. In the monsoon of 1741, the Peshwa from north Hindustan, and Raghuji from the Carnatic along with Chanda Saheb arrived at Satara almost at the same time. Raghuji met Shahu, related the whole story of the campaign and acquired the master’s applause. There is a reference saying, “Rajashree was very happy and felicitated the Senasaheb with many honours and protocol robes etc. (27 June 1741).”
He immediately went to Nagpur and dispatched Bhaskarram to Bengal. The Bengal province of the Mughal Empire was famous for its prosperity. In the mid-eighteenth century, Bengal had largely escaped the disturbances elsewhere and had emerged as the treasure house of the Mughals. The regions around Punjab and Delhi was polished off by Nadir Shah. The Badshah had never been able to set up his revenue exaction mechanisms in the Deccan. Malwa and Bundelkhand had been occupied by the Marathas. In such a situation, the Badshah was now left with only Bengal for his expenses. As the Mughals weakened, Bengal’s first autonomous governor Murshid Quli Jafar Khan established his own dynasty in the province. Murshid Quli Khan was a name he acquired much later in life. He was first named Mohammed Hadi, then Kartalab Khan and finally the name by which he is known.
Born in a Brahmin family in south India, the future Subedar of Bengal and Odisha was orphaned at five and purchased by a Persian merchant named Haji Safi Isfahani. The merchant took him to Isfahan and after the ritual circumcision, changed his name to Mohammed Hadi. A quick learner, Hadi picked up revenue matters from his master and on his death returned to India. Here, he worked at first in Berar and then at Hyderabad, before Badshah Aurangzeb noticed his ability and sent him to Dhaka, the capital of Bengal, where he was appointed as the Dewan to the Badshah’s grandson Azeem-us-Shaan. Mohammed Hadi was then renamed as Kartalab Khan.
During his administration, Kartalab Khan generated a healthy revenue surplus which funded Aurangzeb’s long war in the Deccan. The Dewan was in Aurangzeb’s good books, which Azeem-us-Shaan did not like and he began plotting against him. Kartalab Khan survived the attempt, and then reported the matter to the Badshah. Aurangzeb at first sent a simple but effective warning to Azeem-us-Shaan, “Kartalab Khan is an officer of the Badshah; in case of a hair-breadth injury, in person or property, I will avenge myself on you, my boy,” but later, he moved Azeem-us-Shaan to Patna.
By his hard work, Kartalab Khan pleased the Badshah and was promoted as the Nazim and given the title of Murshid Quli Jafar Khan. He visited Aurangzeb in the Deccan with rich gifts – and much needed cash – and endeared himself to the Badshah. On his return, Murshid Quli moved the Dewani to Maqsudabad on the river Hooghly. In time, he renamed Maqsudabad after himself, to Murshidabad. In 1713, when Badshah Jahandarshah was replaced by Farrukhsiyar, Murshid Quli ingratiated himself with the new ruler with many gifts so that he was promoted as Subedar, and Odisha added to his charge.
To be continued…
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