On 7 March 1747, Raghunathrao wrote to Sadashivrao from Satara, “Yesterday evening, Nana and we all went to court. Nana presented Maharaj with garments. After that, we went to Bai, where again we presented garments. The next day, we went to court in the last two hours of the day. Upon that Nana was presented with protocol garments. An order to leave me behind here was issued. Upon that, we went to Fatehsinghbaba’s camp. Returning back home, I thought of going for a hunt, when I noticed Rajashree himself walking in front of my tent. I ran up to him and requested him to come to my tent. Nana again presented some garments and gemstones. Later, I went on the hunt. Pratinidhi too marched-off today. There is news that Nana would march-off tomorrow. After that I will go to seek a meeting with Rajashree.”
From this, it is clear that Shahu’s anger with Nanasaheb was allayed. Nanasaheb wrote another letter to Pilaji Jadhavrao on 15 April 1747 as follows, “Rajashree Swami had not given us leave to depart. For that, he ordered us to return back. After that he came to our tent in the camp and gave us protocol garments. The next day, Sunday, 12 April 1747, Rajashree Swami gave us an elephant. He ought to give us some kind of benefice for the campaign expenses. The rest of the arrangements were kept verbal and we were, however, given leave to depart. You too come now taking the usual stops. You will understand the whole situation when we meet. Later when we get to discuss in detail our thoughts, we would grant you leave to depart as well. So, do come quickly. You come to Khatav. Through God’s grace everything has turned out fine. What more to write!”
This confirms that Shahu’s anger with Nanasaheb had subsided. Nanasaheb had perfectly gauged Shahu’s enthusiasm, he quickly acquired some amount of unrestrained status, and on the basis of this newly acquired power, he began resolving one affair after another.
Shahu began loving Nanasaheb even more than earlier. Shahu thought the Peshwa was his only support, entrusted to him all responsibilities and the burden of state’s administration, performed the task of assigning all the kingdom’s responsibilities to his successors with a calm heart before his death, and never again paid any attention to the Peshwa’s detractors.
Meanwhile, Shahu’s confidante, a person named Shetyaji Malik Sankpal, met Maharaj and confidentially gave him information about the Peshwa. His opponents tried to deal a frontal blow, which did not succeed. This attack and its solution are documented in the following letter. A letter of 1747 from Mahadoba Purandare to Nanasaheb and Bhau gives the proceedings in Shahu’s court when Shetyaji met Maharaj. The conversation is repeated in the letter. “Submitting this request at revered fatherly Nana and Rajashree Bhau Swami’s service. Sheti Malik has come here from the Swami’s side, and we have received the letter sent along with him. He met Maharaj, related the Swami’s news report in detail to Rajashree, who heard him out. As there were too many people at court, Maharaj took Sheti to a side and spoke to him (about you). Sheti himself told me the entire story. This report too was related to us by Rajashree Govindrao, that Maharaj asked Sheti to come aside and report Nana’s detailed news. Sheti said the Peshwa is fine and performs all his duties as before. He has maintained his own security around himself. The Maharaj had heard rumours that the Peshwa chopped off hands of Brahmins, kept several mistresses, consumes alcohol, and remains in an inebriated state – to which Sheti said that he investigated the complaints carefully and found it all untrue. Nana is extremely alert and cautious. Then Maharaj said, ‘So the wicked people are dishonest. All false. Nana is quite well then?’ Sheti assured Maharaj that he is quite well. Then Maharaj said, ‘If that is the case, it is good. If Nana is healthy, then all is well. If Nana was happy in his heart, then it was enough. I don’t listen to the people. What you say is true. Nana is an enemy of twelve scheming bad men. He is my true and most loyal and renowned servant. If he was fine, that should be it.’ Then Sheti gave your letter to Rajashree, and he read it. The whole question and answer session went very happily. Now Maharaj understood. In case I find out what is discussed by Rajashree in the court and with the queens, I will inform you in one or two days.”
On 13 April 1747, after the Gudhi-Padwa (first day of the Hindu new year), he bade farewell, left Satara, went to Pandharpur, and arrived at Jejuri on 9 May 1747. He met the victorious Sadashivrao Bhau at Jejuri, who had returned from the Carnatic. Later both of them arrived at Pune together on 24 May 1747. With sufficient funds received as tribute from the feudal chiefs in the region, Nanasaheb must have made some kind of arrangements for Shahu’s debts. Because hereafter there is no reference of Shahu’s debts in the erstwhile documents. In the month of June 1747, the Peshwa celebrated the Tuladan (weighing charitable donations) at Theoor, sought blessings of Lord Ganesha at Siddhatek in the month of September 1747, met Janoji Nimbalkar on his way, and returned to Pune. After spending the monsoon at Pune, on 25 October 1747, he granted the office of the Dewan of Pune Suba to Naro Appaji Tulshibaugwale and bade farewell to Shinde and Holkar who had arrived in the Deccan, to return to the north. Briefing Jayappa Shinde and Holkar about the plans ahead, he finally moved for his fourth campaign to the north in December 1747. After this, since 10 December 1747 up to 9 July 1748, he went on a campaign to the north Hindustan. This is famous as Newai campaign.
To be continued…
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