When Bhaskarpant was betrayed and killed by Aliwardi Khan, his wife Taibai was pregnant. When the Nawab’s soldiers searched for her with an intention to capture her, through God’s grace, a wife of a Pathan provided her a palanquin, and dispatched her secretly to Kashi. Since her son was born after reaching there, he was named Kashiraj Bhaskar. Kashiraj was active in Nagpur affairs in the years to come.
When Raghuji Bhosale heard of the massacre of his Dewan with twenty-one other Generals in cold blood, he resolved to return to Bengal the following year. The Riyaz-us-Salatin describes his anger thus,
“He knitted his brow, from fury of rage,
And coiled, like a serpent, from anxiety of lost treasures.”
The moment Raghujibaba was given the news of Bhaskarpant’s death, he relayed it to his brother Konherpant. He would visit him every day. Mudhojibaba recognised that Konherpant was drowned in the sorrow of losing his brother and issued a grant under an oath to provide his family a hereditary annuity of twenty-five thousand rupees, apart from the usual help provided from the government for campaigning etc. activities. Besides, the Nawab of Arcot conferred upon Konherpant in lieu of the Bhosale Suba of Carnatic an annual income of ten lakh rupees on 3 September 1748. This shows the prestige Konherpant was treated with. Babasaheb also granted a secure Suba within Berar province to Bhaskarpant’s wife Taibai, and provided Krishnaji Govind as her steward on behalf of Konherpant. Konherram became extremely sad and sought permission to return home. Babasaheb tried very hard to console him in various ways, but his depression would not go away. Seeing this, approving his request, he was given leave to return home. After that, Babasaheb sent a letter addressed to four out of six sons of Konherpant, invited them, discussed with them in detail about his condition, and prepared a grant notification in the name of those four. He also gave the administration of the overall Suba to Baburao Konher and kept him in his service.
Babasaheb would remain always satisfied about Pant. This is expressed from one of Raghuji’s own letters as follows, “Our old age and your old age have both begun. In such time, God doesn’t accept that you and us are separate. Even after this, so many things we have expressed to each other, do think about those. Once we align our hearts like before, it would be excellent. This is our thinking. Consider this single letter a replacement of lakhs of such letters, and do come along with Chiranjeev Baburao. The news here will be relayed by Visoba. We pledge that we will quit our life if you refuse to come (30 September 1752).”
This letter shows the way Bhosale and Kolhatkar families were acting in unison, and one can imagine the way the hard work of these two families were instrumental in establishing this huge principality within the Maratha Confederacy in Hindustan’s east. Once a strong man takes up the political and military responsibilities, at times he has to lay down his life in the cause. This was retold by Bhaskarpant’s death. A kingdom is made of men. The above behaviour by Raghuji displays the way they need to be cautiously nurtured.
Mustafa Khan, the prime mover in Bhaskarram’s murder, had been injured in the melee and a grateful Aliwardi obtained from Mohammedshah the title of ‘Babur Jung’ – a lion in battle – for his Pathan chieftain. Mustafa Khan now became even more overbearing than before. When Aliwardi held back the promised appointment in Bihar, he rebelled, and after obtaining his arrears from Aliwardi, marched towards Patna. Haji Ahmed’s son came out to face him. In the battle that followed, Mustafa Khan was injured and carried from the field. He then took his army westwards and entered the fort of Chunar on the southern bank of the Ganga. From here, Mustafa Khan sent messages to Raghuji Bhosale to join him, so that together they would attack Aliwardi’s army. Raghuji had already resolved to return with a large army to punish the Nawab for his treachery. Mustafa Khan’s invitation came not a day too soon.
By the time the story of Bhaskarram was related and fresh preparations were completed, the year 1744 drew to a close. Raghuji was well-aware that unless he had an abundant supply of people, warriors, money, Sardars, and provisions, his enemies could not be destroyed. He did not commit any unnecessary and impatient adventure. At the beginning of 1745, all his preparations were completed. He left Nagpur in the month of Magha. Mir Habib was already on his side. Mir Jafar too revolted against the Subedar, due to which Bengal again fell into disorder. In March 1745, Raghuji reached Odisha. Here, Janakiram’s son Raja Durlabhram at first shut himself up at the fort of Barabati, but later agreed to meet Raghuji. After a cordial meeting, he was asked to stay on for entertainment that had been arranged. As Durlabhram and his men kept aside their arms, Raghuji’s troops swooped upon them. Durlabhram was imprisoned and dispatched to Nagpur. Barabati fort was captured and Maratha officers appointed to administrative positions at Cuttack.
To be continued…
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