The clamour about the dispute between the Peshwa and Raghuji Bhosale had risen excessively outside similar to the erstwhile Dabhade affair. Shahu had become extremely frightened that these two powerful Sardars would fight amongst themselves, and would destroy the prestige of the kingdom. But whatever documents are available describing this struggle, prompt one to speculate that this whole display of animosity had been put up for the deception of the Badshah and Aliwardi Khan on purpose. Both of them clashed in battles two to four times. The Peshwa and Raghuji met secretly once near Gwalior and another time at Gaya. The Peshwa’s main intention was to establish Maratha control all over Hindustan, and implementing the Chauth rights was a symbol of the enterprise. The Mughal officials would not accept these Maratha demands through peaceful negotiations without displaying some kind of military force. Therefore, the Peshwa and Raghuji had distributed their areas of action amongst themselves, and had been working accordingly. In that, there were some incidents where they invaded each other’s territories. After such incidents, both of them got convinced, that there were heavy losses with hardly any benefit in opposing each other. Reconciling would help both of them and the kingdom to survive. Both of them had mediators who also reasoned with them. Shahu himself urgently called both of them back and officiated the reconciliation.
Raghuji’s representative Konherram Kolhatkar was at Satara. Raghuji wrote to him from Nagpur on 17 July 1743, “Immediately after returning to Nagpur from Bengal, we have dispatched detailed letters reporting the events there. In response to them, your letter and the Maharaj’s order letters have arrived. We have been ordered to come and meet him. For that, we had thought of riding off right away. But Bhaskarram had been kept in Bengal. We were waiting for him. Presently, he has arrived two to three stops behind the Peshwa’s army, taking the same route. Once his force reached him via Malwa, the above-mentioned (Peshwa), took Seoni-Chhaparia route and taking the usual stops, came to meet us. We both met, and there is no problem now. We will arrive for meeting the Swami taking the usual stops.”
Along with Nanasaheb, Pilaji Jadhavrao too had gone to Satara. On 2 August 1743, he informed Ramchandrababa, “The reconciliation between Shrimant and Daruni Mahal (Maharaj’s queens) has occurred. The formal protocol robes are yet to be given. Once that ceremony completes in eight to ten days, we will immediately proceed to Pune. Presently, where are you, what is your plan, do write whether you will set up camp there or come back to homeland.” This reconciliation with Daruni Mahal pertained to the misunderstanding that Queen Sagunabai had formed about the Peshwa in relation to Raghuji Bhosale (her relative). It was resolved.
After coming to Satara, hardly any time was lost for the reconciliation between the Peshwa and Raghuji. Shahu resolved their dispute and fixed the areas of action as well as the overall arrangement as follows.
- The erstwhile Mokasa (revenue rights) and Jagirs that the Peshwas had earned; the administration of Konkan and Malwa provinces; the tributes from Agra, Prayag, and Ajmer; three Tehsils from the Patna province; and the Inam villages falling within Raghuji’s territory granted to the Peshwa apart from the twenty-thousand rupees out of the receipts from the Carnatic, these items were to be considered rightfully belonging to the Peshwa. Nobody should object to this.
- The rights of tribute from the areas Lucknow, Bahar (Bihar), and Painbengal (Bengal plains), apart from the region from Berar up to Cuttack, should belong to Raghuji. The Peshwa or anybody else should not object to it.
Working within these bounds, nobody should raise any disputes against anybody else. The offerings acceptable in the government treasury from those provinces were also agreed upon. A friendship was brought about amongst the two, and celebratory feasts were held. He got both of them to pledge at his feet that nobody should hold any untoward thought about the other. Both feasted under the government, presented each other with gifts, and Maharaj bade them farewell with these feasts and honours. The Peshwa too decided a different course of action in relation to Gadhamandala. Besides, Shahu also agreed with the Peshwa independently in this relation on 16 January 1744, which is also important.
To be continued…
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