Some of Shahu’s courtiers were not happy with the Peshwa’s close relationship with Shahu and an opposition began to build up. Raghuji Bhosale, Damaji Gaikwad, the senior queen Sakwarbai, and Yamaji Shivdeo, who was the Pratinidhi’s Mutalik formed an informal combine. They used to be on the lookout for opportunities to pollute Shahu’s heart against the Peshwa. During these crucial years, when Anglo-French rivalry flared up in the Carnatic, the Peshwa was immobilised at Satara.
In such a situation at the Chhatrapati’s court, all the courtiers became extremely concerned about the future arrangement in the kingdom’s administration, and various different schemes began getting played. Maharaj was, however, unhappy with the Peshwa. The possible reasons were: the two queens complaining about the Peshwa, Shahu felt the Peshwa had worked against Babuji Naik, and finally, Nanasaheb’s inability to pay off the royal debts. Sakwarbai also complained about Nanasaheb’s loose personal life and his fondness for luxury and compared Maharaj’s growing debts with the Peshwa’s riches.
In one of the letters, Nanasaheb himself has mentioned about Raghuji’s suspicious nature. Two years since the month of August 1745, Nanasaheb did not venture far, and remained around Pune and Satara. On 5 December 1746, Sadashivrao Bhau was dispatched to the Carnatic. Nanasaheb was at Satara to keep a watch on his activities at the beginning of 1747.
In 1746 itself, Shahu had begun testing the Peshwa’s loyalty. The Shahu Bakhar narrates a peculiar anecdote. Once when Shahu had gone for a hunt, he sat fishing by a lake, ignoring the Peshwa who was behind him. Then, he rose and went back and sat on his throne. From there, he rose and reached his palace. Halfway to his room, he left his slippers. There was no servant nearby. The Peshwa picked up the slippers and took it to the Rajashree. Seeing this, Shahu was pleased.
The Bakhar account continues with another narrative. The Peshwa reached Satara on one occasion with a five to seven thousand-strong army, met Shahu, and camped outside the town. Shahu suddenly called the Chitnis and said, “Write a note to the Pradhan, he has been removed from the post. So, he should deposit the stamps, seals, ceremonial dagger, the Zaripatka standard, etc. insignia to the messengers that have been sent for deposition in the Jamdarkhana (royal treasury).”
The messenger went to the Peshwa, who was about to have a bath. Pradhanpant read the letter, got up rightaway, handed over the stamps, seals, dagger and Zaripatka to the messengers and sent them on their way. Nanasaheb then left camp, erected a smallish hut away from the main camp, got his meal prepared there separately. Forty or fifty of his servants joined him there. He wrote a letter to Maharaj, “I would have come immediately and sat by your feet, but I have an army with me, and need to hand it over to somebody. Request you to write whom should I hand over the government workshops and army which belongs to the central government. I’ll do so accordingly and come to meet you.”
Maharaj replied, “I will send a clerk to take charge. Until then, stay there.”
Ten or twelve days passed in this state. All the administrative activities came to a standstill. The news began spreading all over. Officers of Maharaj enquired, “Has the Pradhan committed a mistake? What is the thought of the future!”
To this Maharaj replied, “I do not wish to give him the post. I will revert to Pingle (Bahiropant Pingle was the Peshwa before Balaji Vishwanath was appointed in 1713; here, the reference is to his descendants).”
The officers said, “This news might have already reached the Hindustan province or will definitely reach. There are many affairs going on all over India by officials beholden to the Peshwa. He has Sardars installed everywhere, who have their internal disputes. Therefore, either grace him or grant the office to someone else, and they should tighten the loosened state. There will be chaos if this news leaks out.”
Here, Nanasaheb sent a request through Chitnis and Mantri, “We are staying outside the camp in a separate tent. Request you to order us to present ourselves at your feet, or give us some other way to serve you.”
Maharaj replied, “What Nazar (offering) do you offer?”
Nanasaheb replied, “We are alone here. Whatever the government’s authority and power, has been deposited to the government. My house and property belongs to the Sarkar (Maharaj). Bring it all as a Nazar (offering).”
The only reply that was received for this was, “We wish to grant the office of the Pradhan to someone else.”
After this, Nanasaheb wrote the next letter to Maharaj as follows, “At the service of your feet, Balaji submits many requests. The sad option written in Maharaj’s letter was informed to us. We are the Swami’s children. Why does the Swami even writes giving options to us? It is not like we exist independent of the Swami. Whatever loyalty we hold with your feet, we get outcomes in accordance to that. What further to write. Submitting this.”
A few days later, Shahu dispatched some messengers and summoned Nanasaheb. The Peshwa took only one assistant, came, paid his obeisance and stood respectfully before him. “Please order me any service at your feet. However, do not push me away from your feet.”
Shahu was pleased. This convinced Maharaj, that he was a truly loyal servant, and would never waver from his path. He rose and said, “You are my true and loyal servant. I will never keep you away.”
Maharaj ordered all the royal honorifics, insignia to be brought there, conferred all of them upon him, and restored him to the office of the Pradhan. The Peshwa laid his head at Maharaj’s feet. Maharaj said, “I wanted to test your loyalty. Truly you are the son of Bajirao and the grandson of Balaji Vishwanath. I am pleased by your service and loyalty.”
He also gifted the Peshwa with protocol robes, gemstones etc.
To be continued…
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