Having secured Gujarat, Malwa, and Bundelkhand from the Mughal Badshah, and having mended relations with Raghuji Bhosale, Nanasaheb now looked to the south. The year 1746, was mostly spent by Nanasaheb at Satara. He described the whole situation there to Ramchandrababa on 21 October 1746 as follows, “We have written about the happenings at court to the Sardars, from which you will understand. The reason for us being held up at court till today is, Rajashree Swami’s government has become debt-ridden. The expenses of the queens are limitless, the situation being rendered like a pauper always. Therefore, Rajashree has issued strict instructions to all his stewards about tightening the strings.
“Rajashree Swami is busy in household affairs. He himself should give us leave to embark on campaign. But he remains busy in his own things. When we think of requesting to grant us the permission to leave, he would get upset. So, we have not discussed with him till today. The thing has been left neglected like this. We are also thinking of leaving from here. Looking for the right opportunity and the Swami’s mental state, we will request the same. But we don’t feel like this year we will be able to visit (north). We don’t even know how many more days it will take to secure the permission to leave. After getting this permission and returning to Pune, we will need to take care of some administrative affairs in Konkan.”
Shripatrao Pratinidhi, a close friend and confidante of Shahu, passed away on 25 November 1746. Shahu was especially fond of him. Losing his very old and especially close colleague caused Shahu extreme grief. He began feeling that he was also at the end of his days. Pratinidhi’s wife Radhabai was a devoted wife and committed Sati. Shripatrao was childless. So, Shahu gave the office of the Pratinidhi to his younger brother Jagjivanrao alias Dadoba on 17 December 1746. Yamaji Shivdeo was appointed as his Mutalik (representative). This Yamaji Shivdeo became a staunch opponent of the Peshwa.
Naro Ram Mantri too died after Shahu in 1750. Thus, even while Nanasaheb wished to go to Malwa and Bundelkhand, due to Shahu’s failing health, he was stuck at Satara. Shahu had remained worried that if Nanasaheb left, what would happen with him in Nanasaheb’s absence. In the face of the burden of debt and the issues of his queens, Nanasaheb was his only support. Shahu was completely convinced at that time, that at least Nana was capable of surviving through each and every type of situation, and he did not have a single person equalling Nana. Two months after the above letter, Nanasaheb wrote another letter to Ramchandrababa, “We have already written about the courtly affairs and about Rajashree Shripatrao’s death. Both the mansions have acquired great power. How extensively should one write about that! We are pushing things ahead with whatever tact we can think of. Sometimes we also have to just listen. Sometimes we have to just say yes. Things are moving in this direction here.”
Both of Shahu’s queens would act within the remit drawn up for them by Birubai. The eldest queen Sakwarbai was of a fierce nature. The two queens also had their own favourites among the Sardars– Raghuji was the favourite of the younger Sagunabai and Babuji Naik was favoured by the elder Sakwarbai. The queens’ considerable influence on Shahu decided on the award of Mokasas (territories to the Sardars to sustain their armies). Sakwarbai started getting Maharaj grant her various benefices and assignments and began managing them. Younger queen Sagunabai also then granted benefices and assignments. She would act as per Maharaj’s orders and would take care of his satisfaction. The elder queen was of delicate health. They began to insist upon being treated equally. Whatever was granted to one, that was being demanded in equal measure by the other. The Peshwa’s Mutalik in Satara, Mahadoba Purandare, often counselled the Peshwa about the way the wind was blowing and tried to put his case before Maharaj to the best of his ability. Shahu himself was quite unable to get the queens to stay out of his administration.
Various complainants and applicants from the city began trying to use the influence of these queens. They began depositing the revenue collections from towns etc. with whoever they were aligned with. They began buying Watan rights from the queens. This caused great consternation for Maharaj.
To be continued…
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