When the Peshwa was dealing with these domestic disputes in the Deccan, he did not have the assistance of Shinde and Holkar. The political scene in the north was changing rapidly and as the Delhi throne weakened, opportunities appeared for the spread of Maratha influence beyond the Chambal.
Meanwhile, Ishwari Singh’s health deteriorated due to excessive anger and hatred. Raja Malji’s son Keshavdas was his Pradhan. The other minister Hargovind planted poisonous whispers about Keshavdas in Ishwari Singh’s ears. Ishwari Singh started suspecting him of being close to Malharrao Holkar. In December 1748, Ishwari Singh ordered his Dewan Keshavdas’ death by poison. He also imprisoned one of the artillery operators Shivnath Bhaiya along with his family members. A huge uproar arose outside due to this. There was no wise person left at Jaipur who would keep such things in check.
The year 1749 went in relative peace in the north. Shinde and Holkar were in the Deccan, while Safdarjung was trying to stabilise his position at Delhi with the Badshah. Since they had not received the tribute amounts previously agreed from Ishwari Singh, the Maratha emissaries were following-up with him. The happenings at Jaipur the previous year angered the Peshwa as well as Holkar whose help was sought by Keshavdas’ family. Holkar came upon Jaipur to avenge a wrong. At that time, Ishwari Singh tried to convince Malharrao by paying him two to four lakh rupees. He attacked Jaipur at the end of November 1749. The Peshwa also planned to dispatch Shinde and Holkar to the north in the monsoon of 1750 to collect the dues owed by Jaipur.
Seeing this mockery of a bribe offered by Ishwari Singh, “Subedar (Malharrao Holkar) became upset. He stated that he would avenge Keshavdas’ murder. Raja’s stewards told him that they won’t go and meet Holkar. He would kill them. Raja remained inactive. Evening fell. A report arrived that Subedar had reached at a distance of ten kos. He ordered his assistants to bring a black cobra and white arsenic. They provided the items. Two quartiles in the night the king consumed poison. He also got himself bitten by the cobra. In the hours of dawn Ishwari Singh died. Three of his wives and one artist consumed poison. Holkar attacked Jaipur on the twelfth day of the waning moon fortnight of the month of Margashirsh, Friday, first quartile of the day. At that time, the stewards ran to inform the king, checking whether he was still asleep! The king’s assistants relayed the whole news. A huge wail arose in the city. Hargovind and Vidyadhar went and met Subedar. Subedar sent a few of his Sardars and got the king’s last rites performed. The above four and twenty more artists committed Sati. The next day, security guards were posted around the royal palace, and cavalrymen were dispatched to bring Madho Singh.”
Madho Singh was called and ceremonially installed as the new ruler. He achieved his ambition of being undisputed king of Jaipur in December 1750, on the strength of Holkar’s arms. Madho Singh also realised he would have to pay a heavy price for his kingdom. Many parts of the Jaipur state were mortgaged to Holkar for a period of the next thirty-six years to realise the amount and some money was paid in kind. Jayappa Shinde, who had been instructed by Nanasaheb to give Holkar a free hand, also reached Jaipur just eight days after Madho Singh, and realised he had obtained nothing from the Jaipur succession. The dispute now spread to divide the money realised from Jaipur between the two Sardars. Shinde opposed the entire agreement, which was made without consulting him and demanded that Madho Singh hand over a third of Jaipur to the Marathas.
It was time for Madho Singh to live up to the promises he had made to Holkar. However, he did not intend to do so.
To be continued…
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