CAMPAIGN BEGINS

When Raghuji went to Berar in 1730, Konherram Kolhatkar and his brother Bhaskarram accompanied him there. The young appointee’s first task was to confront his uncle Kanhoji. At the village of Bham, Raghuji attacked Kanhoji, captured him and took him to Satara where he was imprisoned. A pleased Shahu issued a fresh grant-notification to Raghuji giving him the right to conquer and receive the revenues of the eastern part of India including Odisha, Bengal, and Allahabad. As for Kanhoji, he was never released and died in prison around 1738.

In 1735, Chand Sultan, the Gond ruler of the state of Devgad died and a succession dispute arose. Raghuji was called by the widowed queen and he helped establish her son as the ruler. In the process, a third of the kingdom was allotted to Raghuji. It was in this territory that he established his capital Nagpur. From this time, Raghuji was the de facto ruler of the Gond tribe and the former royals remained in namesake.

Since Raghuji Bhosale’s origin and career had been independent of any patronage by the Peshwa, he considered himself purely as a subordinate of the Chhatrapati. He had been at cross-purposes with Bajirao more than once, and on the eve of the Carnatic campaign there was no love lost between them. For Raghuji, therefore, the Carnatic campaign was a long-awaited opportunity to prove his mettle and emerge as an alternate to the Peshwa’s power.

At that time, Shahu had not had much discussion with Bajirao. When Chanda Saheb himself desired to acquire the position of the Nawab of Carnatic, he fell out with Dost Ali’s family. Taking this opportunity, Shahu immediately dispatched Raghuji Bhosale along with a huge army to the Carnatic. He ordered Raghuji to capture Tiruchirappalli and finish-off Chanda Saheb. Since Bajirao was busy with the battles of Bhopal, Vasai; and the invasion of Nadir Shah, Shahu had appointed Raghuji as chief of this campaign.

In tune with the slow march of events in those times, the large Maratha army finally gathered at Satara in late 1739 and set out towards the south. Raghuji marching from Nagpur joined it on the way. It was early 1740, and Raghuji, at the head of an army of forty thousand horsemen, was on his way to the Carnatic and the city of Arcot.

It was the first time since the year 1700 that the Marathas had ventured into the lower Carnatic. The mandate was clear – to restore the Hindu kingdoms of Tanjore and Tiruchirappalli. Yet, their second coming with a forty thousand strong army was looked upon with a sense of foreboding by all the powers in the area. As the Maratha army entered the Carnatic, on 30 April 1740, the President of the East India Company at Fort St George informed his Board of their progress, “The President acquaints the Board he has received advice that the design of the Marathas to enter this province is no longer to be doubted, and though the Nawab was setting out towards the borders, there is not a force sufficient in the province that can withstand them and they will certainly be soon at Arcot if some other means are not thought of to stop them.”

Besides Raghuji Bhosale, the Maratha army heading to the Carnatic in early 1740 had two other men leading it. The first was the nominal commander Fatehsingh Bhosale. As an infant, he had been adopted by Shahu after winning his first battle in 1707. Shahu had looked upon this first victory as a good omen and named the child ‘Fateh’ in memory of it. He brought him to Satara and cared for him as his own child. In time, he was given the small town of Akkalkot in present-day North Karnataka to govern and some Jagirs in the Berar region. Fatehsingh was, therefore, considered a part-royal in the Maratha pantheon of Sardars.

Babuji Naik Joshi of Baramati joined the campaign after June 1740. He belonged to a money-lending family that dealt with the king as well as the Peshwa. Balaji Vishwanath Peshwa’s daughter Bhirubai was married to Babuji’s brother Aabaji. Even then, Babuji had not always supported the Peshwa. He was introduced to Shahu a few years earlier when the king wanted to buy a good horse. However, for a few years after that he became one of the Peshwa’s detractors in the Satara court. Not really a warrior, he wished to be given important responsibilities for which he bid at every opportunity. Of late, Babuji had run huge debts and begun a protest fast at Satara to be granted a ‘Mamlat’ (affair) by which he could earn some money and retire his debts. The protest became a talking point in Satara for a few days. Eventually, Shahu conceded and asked Babuji to join the Carnatic campaign. It was Raghuji, however, who held the prime place in the army due to his known skills in battle. In January 1740, Raghuji began from Nagpur accompanied by Bhaskarram Kolhatkar. Passing through the town of Nanded on the river Godavari, he joined the Maratha forces heading south.

To be continued…

BACK-STORY – RAGHUJI BHOSALE

Raghuji was from the house of the Hingnikar Bhosales of Hingni Berdi, a village on the banks of the river Bheema near the town of Siddhatek in Ahmednagar district. Mudhoji, the first of the dynasty, was probably known to Malojiraje Bhosale, grandfather of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. It is possible the Bhosales shared a common ancestor. One of Shahu’s early adherents was Raghuji’s grandfather Parsojiraje Bhosale, a Sardar from the Berar region. The Berar province was created in the rule of Mughal Badshah Akbar and extended from Betul to Chandrapur. Parsoji and his brother Sabaji served in Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s army and led campaigns towards Gondwana and Berar. In Rajaram’s reign Parsoji was given the task of collecting Chauth from those regions. On Shahu’s release from Mughal custody, it was Parsoji who came forward to identify him as the true heir to the Maratha kingdom. Any lingering doubt on this score was removed when Parsoji agreed to eat food from the same plate as Shahu.

In the late eighteenth century, a courtier at Nagpur wrote a letter to Nana Fadnis, the later Maratha minister, confirming some of the antecedents of the Bhosales. Probably written to resolve later family disputes, the letter gives us a good background of the family, “The first one in the dynasty was Mudhoji Bhosale. Parsoji, Bapuji, and Sabaji were his sons. Bapuji had three sons, Santaji, Ranoji and Bimbaji Bhosale. They all served Maharaj and lived together. Shahu Maharaj was a captive with the Badshah. The Begum Saheba showered him with affection like a son. He came away from there. Once here, he faced political difficulties, and Parsoji Bhosale came with an army and met Shahu Maharaj. Tarau Saheb (Tarabai) said Shahu Maharaj had no right to the kingdom. However, Parsoji Bhosale supported him and put him on the throne. Maharaj was pleased and gave him the title of Senasahebsuba. Parsoji’s brother Sabaji had no son. Parsojibaba had one son Kanhoji. Of Bapuji’s three sons, Santaji Bhosale was ordered to go to Malwa and Hindustan. With Balajipant Peshwa (Balaji Vishwanath) he went to Delhi and was killed there. His dynastic line ended there. Ranoji Bhosale had four sons, Santaji, Jiwaji, Sekhoji, and Kushaji. Bimbaji Bhosale had just one son Raghuji. On Parsoji’s death, the title of Senasahebsuba went to Kanhoji. There was a dispute between him and Ranoji Bhosale. Then Maharaj divided their assets. The shares of Ranoji and Raghuji Bhosale came out of this division. Later, Ranoji gave his share to Raghujibaba. There are many papers attesting this. Later, Shahu Maharaj did not like Kanhojibaba’s acts and he fell from grace. Raghuji earned money and became powerful. He still holds a share of Ranojibaba.”

As the letter mentions, when Parsoji died in 1709, his son Kanhoji was appointed as Senasahebsuba. Kanhoji consolidated his rule from the village of Bham. At first, he had no heir and called his nephew Raghuji to assist him. Raghuji’s father Bimbaji probably died shortly after he was born, and the young boy grew up with his mother Kashibai at the village Pandavwadi near Wai. It was believed that he was born due to the blessings of a saintly person named Ramajipant Kolhatkar who was a devotee of Lord Ram. Since Raghuji was born with his blessings, he was named Raghu, after Lord Ram. From then on, the Bhosales also considered Ram as their family deity. Ramajipant had two sons named Konherram and Bhaskarram, who served the later Nagpur state. the Bhosales and Kolhatkar families thus were close over two generations.

At first, Raghuji worked for his uncle Ranoji. From here, he was called up by Kanhoji. However, after a son named Rayaji was born to Kanhoji, disagreements between them grew and affection took a dip. Raghuji returned to Satara. Around 1725, since Kanhoji had not remitted the dues from his territory, Shahu summoned him to Satara to account for the arrears. Unable to satisfy the Maharaj and fearing arrest, Kanhoji fled from the royal camp and reached Bham. For some time, he also joined the Nizam, before making his way back to Berar.

Raghuji Bhosale, on the other hand, during his stay with Shahu impressed him with his courage, and during a hunt saved Maharaj’s life from a tiger. The pleased Maharaj gave him a Jagir and arranged his marriage with a cousin of his younger queen Sagunabai. A year later, in 1728, Shahu appointed Raghuji as Senasahebsuba and gave him the province of Berar to govern. On receiving the appointment, it was necessary for Raghuji to furnish sufficient guarantees to the king against future dues to be remitted to the treasury. Towards this, Ramajipant’s son Konherram came forward and convinced the moneylenders to stand surety.

To be continued…

MOUNTAIN OF DEBT

It was during the last decade of the seventeenth century that the centralised administration of the Maratha kingdom splintered. To obtain the help of various Sardars, Saranjams (benefices, derived from a Persian word meaning any apparatus needed to start an undertaking) were farmed out to them. The Saranjam in the Maratha context was an allotment of land from the revenue based on which, troops were to be maintained and sent whenever needed for a campaign. The Saranjam was obtained on the payment of a Nazar (offering), after which an order was passed allotting it to the Sardar. Once allotted it became exceedingly difficult to enforce the other conditions of payment of revenue and maintenance of an adequate army. Over time, this practice spread through the kingdom, and the weak king became dependent on his Sardars.

The scenario was exactly opposite to old Swarajya at the beginning of the Peshwai reign. Originally, when Shahu arrived in Maharashtra, there was a huge need for funds. For this, he had to bring in Balaji Vishwanath. Shahu’s initial assistants had more moneylenders than soldiers. The Peshwa family too formed matrimonial alliances with moneylending families from the beginning till the end. The primary reason to establish lasting relationships with Brahmendra Swami, Patankars, Hingne, Chaskars etc. was money. In Bajirao’s campaigns, the only Mantra in his and his brother’s mind used to be, repayment of the Swami’s (Shahu) debts. Finally, both Bajirao and Shahu died neck deep in debt. After this, Nanasaheb somehow engineered some flow of funds to be directed from the Carnatic and the north Hindustan towards Pune. However, only through the activities related to earning more money, Jayappa, Jankoji and Dattaji Shinde had to sacrifice their lives. Some funds were indeed gathered. But those too were spent at Panipat and again Madhavrao and Raghunathrao died under a mountain of debt. Haripant (Fadke) and Parashuram Bhau (Patwardhan) used to be constantly nagged by the protests amongst their soldiers. In summary, all of the Maratha bravery and wisdom was wasted in running behind money. People like Gangadhar Yashwant, Chinto Vitthal began a spree of amassing huge amount of personal wealth pushing the Confederacy in perennial debts. Such stewards would raise internal disputes on the strength of their personal wealth. Due to this, senior Madhavrao was never in favour of this practice of allowing them to amass personal wealth. He confiscated all the property of Gangadhar Yashwant under the threat of thrashing. But this minister later became a headache for Bajirao II. Daulatrao Shinde, Yashwantrao Holkar, even Bajirao II himself began such an expansive campaign to prey on the funds amassed by these officials, Seths, moneylenders and common people, that there was no surety of life and property left for anybody. This decline during the reign of Bajirao II was so oppressive, that people began feeling like the foreign rule of the British was a Godsend. Nine-tenths of the whole literature during the reign of Bajirao II is filled with the stories of such plunder. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj did produce funds, but for that he never denuded his own subjects. He earned money with the aim of welfare of his subjects. But this policy took a back seat during the later Peshwai. The Peshwas never adopted a policy of open debts without extorting money from the subjects through oppression.

Actually, Balaji Vishwanath raised funds through huge efforts and established Shahu’s control everywhere. To repay these debts, he took it upon himself the political moves at Delhi through the Sayyed brothers. Even those political moves did not yield many benefits. But, Bajirao had to adopt a policy of campaigning in the Mughal realms to free that hand from under the mountain of debts. In this act, he was opposed vehemently by the Nizam. Due to that, he had to raise his weapons against the Nizam. This way, this whole enterprise to engage in the second adventure to allay the difficulty arising from the first one, to engage in a third one to remove the problems arising from the second one, continued on like the sliding slope that is similar to the activities of a bankrupt businessman. The Carnatic campaign of 1726 was carried out for funds. Most of the campaigns and activities that Bajirao and Nanasaheb engaged in were taken up only for generating funds. The campaign against Janjira, and the two other affairs of Angre and Vasai, those arose from this initial campaign, had not purely begun only for funds. Balaji Vishwanath’s project was continued further by Bajirao and Chimaji Appa. Nanasaheb further carried on with these policies. Nana got all his Sardars to agree on pledges to take part in the share of the overall debt owed by the kingdom through written agreements. Only Shindes wholeheartedly toiled hard to fulfil their promises. They even laid down their lives in the adventures associated with that effort. The oaths of others mostly remained on paper. Malharrao Holkar alone did not get ensnared in these difficulties associated with the funds. He was very clever and intelligent. He would only take up some adventure which he would be able to bear. Therefore, the money he amassed came in handy for Ahilyabai’s charity. Madhavrao Peshwa was not even able to quit his life due to mounting debts.

To be continued…

CHRONOLOGY – BAJIRAO

A brief timeline that can be drawn for the beginning of the times of Bajirao as follows.

Date	Events
18 August 1700	Bajirao born.
2 April 1720	Balaji Vishwanath dies.
17 April 1720	Bajirao granted protocol robes of the office of the Peshwa.
8 May 1720	Nizam crosses the Narmada and comes to Deccan.
20 May 1720	Nizam captures Ashirgad and arrives at Burhanpur.
19 June 1720	Battle of Khandwa. Dilawar Ali dies.
27 June 1720	Nizam returns to Burhanpur.
20 July 1720	Nizam cantons at Shevgaon.
31 July 1720	Battle of Balapur. Aalam Ali dies.
10 August 1720	Shankaraji Malhar dies.
September 1720	Shahu-Bajirao meeting.
30 September 1720	Pratnidhi’s Bankapur campaign.
8 October 1720	Sayyed Hussein Ali murdered near Jaipur.
14 November 1720	Sayyed Abdullah arrested (murdered later on 11 October 1722).
15 December 1720	Chandrasen defeated on the Godavari.
21 December 1720	Mughals besiege Bhilwadi.
4 January 1721	Bajirao-Nizam meeting at Chikhalthana.
February 1721	Vazir Aamir Khan dies. Nizam recalled to the north.
February 1721	Nizam and Mubarij Khan in the Carnatic.
21 October 1721	Nizam goes to the north.
18 January 1722	Nizam arrives at Delhi.
13 February 1722	Nizam meets Badshah. Appointed Vazir.
May 1722	Haidar Quli Khan arrives in Gujarat.
30 August 1722	Giridhar Bahadur appointed as Subedar of Malwa.
2 October 1722	Nizam goes to Malwa.
8 October 1722	Bajirao embarks on northern campaign.
24 October 1722	Haidar Quli Khan recalled from Gujarat.
5 December 1722	Bajirao meets Aiwaj Khan in Khandesh.
January 1723	Nizam arrives in Malwa.
13 February 1723	Nizam meets Bajirao at Badkashan.
15 May 1723	Nizam starts towards Delhi from Malwa. Azimullah appointed as Subedar of Malwa.
4 July 1723	Nizam at Delhi, meets Badshah.
18 July 1723	Chandrasen fights Santaji Pandhare, Santaji dies.
7 December 1723	Nizam appoints his son as Vazir and himself returns to Deccan.
27 January 1724	Bajirao embarks on Malwa campaign from Satara. Mubarij Khan attacks Shahu.
10 January 1724	Bajirao-Portuguese Treaty.
24 February 1724	Nizam leaves Agra.
27 February 1724	Shahu calls all Sardars.
27 March 1724	Shahu sends Sumant to meet Aiwaj Khan.
18 May 1724	Bajirao-Nizam meeting at Nalchha.
2 June 1724	Subedar Giridhar Bahadur arrives at Ujjain.
11 June 1724	Nizam captures Aurangabad.
27 July 1724	Kamruddin Khan appointed Vazir at Delhi.
29 July 1724	Shahu orders his Sardars to remain neutral.
3 September 1724	Nizam attacks Mubarij Khan from Aurangabad.
30 September 1724	Battle of Fatehkherda (Sakharkherda). Mubarij Khan dies. Nizam declares virtual independence.
January 1725	Nizam arrives at Hyderabad.
28 February 1725	Nizam’s envoy meets Bajirao.
8 April 1725	Pratinidhi defeats Bhagwantrao Amatya at Panhalgad.
April 1725	Bande and Pilaji Gaikwad spar at Khambayat. Pilaji defeated.
April 1725	Marathas start implementing Chauth over Gujarat.
2 June 1725	Giridhar Bahadur appointed as Subedar at Ujjain.
20 June 1725	Nizam appointed as Subedar of Deccan by Badshah. Bajirao granted imperial Firmans.
November 1725	Bajirao’s Chitradurga Campaign.
30 December 1725	Shahu writes Treaty for Sambhaji II.
March 1726	Rambhaji Nimbalkar, Udaji Chavhan, Turktaj Khan cause troubles in Shahu’s territory.
Monsoon 1726	Sambhaji II takes Nizam’s support.
23 August 1726	Shahu orders to get Nilkanthrao Jadhav released.
August 1726	Shahu dispatches Rayaji Jadhav against Udaji.
November 1726-April 1727	Bajirao’s Shrirangapatnam Campaign.
Summer 1726	Nizam campaigns in the Carnatic.
19 November 1726	Sultanji Nimbalkar removed from Sarlashkar office.
End-August 1726	Sultanji Nimbalkar and Chimnaji Damodar join the Nizam.
21 September 1726	Khando Ballal dies.
4 March 1727	Bajirao stays at Shrirangapatnam.
27 August 1727	Bajirao attacks Nizam.
29 September 1727	Sidhoji Nimbalkar appointed Sarlashkar.
September 1727	Nizam instructs Sawai Jaisingh against Shahu.
October 1727	Nizam attacks Bajirao.
5 November 1727	Bajirao defeats Aiwaj Khan. Attacks Gujarat afterwards.
8 February 1727	Siddi destroys the Parashuram temple.
19 December 1727	Sarbuland Khan grants the Chauth of Gujarat to the Marathas.
December 1727	Nizam wreaks havoc in Pune province.
8 February 1728	Nizam marries off Sambhaji II at Pune. Bajirao wreaks havoc in Khandesh. Chimaji Appa and Shahu at Purandar.
25 February 1728	Battle of Palkhed. Bajirao defeats Nizam. Sambhaji II leaves Nizam and returns to Panhalgad. Brahmendra Swami arrives at Dhawadshi.
May 1728	Pilaji campaigns in Daman province. Kanhoji revolts. Senapati Piraji Ghorpade (Kolhapur) dies. Son Ranoji made new Senapati.
6 March 1728	Treaty of Mungi-Shevgaon. Dawalji Somvanshi appointed Sarlashkar. Replaces Sidhoji Nimbalkar.
June 1728	Mohammed Khan Bangash defeats Chhatrasal at Jaitpur.
29 November 1728	Battle of Amjhera. Two Subedars killed. Chimaji achieves unprecedented victory.
13 December 1728	Chimaji Appa at Ujjain.
20 December 1728	Bhawaniram attacks Chimaji Appa.
January 1729	Udaji Chavhan surrenders to Shahu.
February 1729	Bajirao enters Bundelkhand.
12 March 1729	Bajirao-Chhatrasal meet at Mahoba.
28 April 1729	Bajirao defeats Bangash. Govindpant Bundele appointed (at Bundelkhand).
December 1729	Pawar-Holkar capture Mandavgad.
4 July 1729	Kanhoji Angre dies.
27 September 1729	Khanderao Dabhade dies.
21 July 1729	Sekhoji Angre appointed Sarkhel.
October 1729	Jaisingh appointed Subedar of Malwa.
1730-1731	Period of Chhatrasal Bundela’s peak prowess.
1730	Bangash appointed Subedar of Malwa.
1730	Murarrao Ghorpade meets Shahu at Satara.
1730	Shahu invades Sambhaji II. Sambhaji and Udaji Pawar counterattack.
8 January 1730	Trimbakrao Dabhade appointed Senapati. Yashwantrao appointed Senakhaskhel.
February 1730	Chimaji Appa and Udaji Pawar enter Gujarat. Pawagad captured.
23 March 1730	Pratinidhi defeats Sambhaji II. Captures his queens and brings them to Satara.
June 1730	Abhay Singh appointed as Subedar of Gujarat.
10 October 1730	Abhay Singh captures Ahmedabad.
1730	Marathas defeat Portuguese at Khambayat.
12 July 1730	Shahu orders Angre to capture Vishalgad.
8 August 1730	Kolhapur’s Sambhaji II sends Nilkanth Trimbak Pradhan to Shahu requesting treaty.
September 1730	Jaipur’s Deep Singh’s embassy to Satara.
November 1730	Deep Singh meets the Nizam at Aurangabad and returns.
November 1730	Shahu’s Sardars arrive at Panhalgad to bring Sambhaji II for treaty.
25 November 1730	Bhav Singh Toke granted benefice by Bajirao.
December 1730	Nizam starts for Dabhade’s aid.
16 December 1730	Sambhaji II starts from Panhalgad.
December 1730	Bajirao arrives at Surat. Chimaji Appa in Khandesh.
29 January 1731	Bajirao confiscates the Pawar Mahals.
29 January 1731	Udaji Pawar’s benefice confiscated.
17 February 1731	Shahu and Sambhaji II meet at Jakhinwadi.
12 March 1731	Sambhaji II arrives at Satara.
17-28 March 1731	Bangash-Nizam discuss plans on the Narmada.
March 1731	Bajirao-Abhay Singh meeting at Ahmedabad.
25 March 1731	Bajirao arrives at Saanvli in attack on the Senapati.
1 April 1731	Battle of Dabhoi. Senapati Trimbakrao Dabhade defeated, dies.
8 April 1731	Bajirao fights the Nizam near Surat.
13 April 1731	Treaty of Warana. Sambhaji II returns to Kolhapur.
29 May 1731	Bajirao arrives at Satara.
10 February 1732	Bajirao-Portuguese Treaty.
12 February 1732	Bajirao meets Sekhoji Angre at Colaba.
29 July 1732	Peshwa distributes Malwa Mahals.
27 November 1732	Sambhaji II comes to Satara for second time.
December 1732	Nizam and Bajirao meet at Rohe-Rameshwar.
20 October 1732	Chimaji Appa goes on Malwa Campaign.
February 1733	Jaisingh blockaded near Mandsaur.
April 1733	Bajirao attacks Siddi.
May 1733	Pratinidhi and other Sardars enter Konkan.
7 June 1733	Chimaji returns from Malwa.
8 June 1733	Raigad captured.
8 July 1733	Battle of Govalkot.
28 August 1733	Sekhoji Angre dies.
August 1733	Shahu felicitates Shinde-Holkar.
December 1733	Bajirao wraps up campaign against Siddi.
6 December 1733	British and Siddi enter into treaty against Marathas.
December 1733	Pilaji Jadhavrao on Malwa Campaign.
10 January 1734	Siddi Ambar killed in battle beneath Raigad.
8 March 1734	Marathas capture Bankot.
22 April 1734	Shinde-Holkar capture Bundi fort.
July 1734	Rajputs band together against the Marathas.
November 1734	Pilaji Jadhavrao on Bundelkhand Campaign.
1734	Portuguese start building fortress at Thane.
13 February 1735	Shinde-Holkar defeat the Mughals near Rampura.
14 February 1735	Radhabai embarks on Kashi pilgrimage. Returns towards end of May 1736.
28 February 1735	Holkar plunders Sambhar.
24 March 1735	Khan Dauran and Jaisingh fulfil Chauth agreement at Kota.
6 July 1735	Shinde-Holkar felicitated at Pune and Satara.
4 February 1735	Bajirao settles down Angre arrangement at Colaba.
6 November 1735	Saadat Khan captures Ghazipur.
5 December 1735	Siddi recapture Bankot.
3 February 1736	Bajirao halts at Udaipur.
4 March 1736	Bajirao and Jaisingh meet near Kishangad.
26 April 1736	Sambhaji II visits Satara fifth time. Shitole and Ghorpade reconcile.
19 April 1736	Siddi Saat dies in Battle of Rewas.
End-May 1736	Bajirao returns to Pune.
November 1736	Bajirao embarks on campaign to the north this time for Delhi.
10 January 1737	Marathas capture Bhilsa.
1737-1740	Shahu’s Miraj Campaign.
18 February 1737	Marathas capture Ater.
12 March 1737	Saadat Khan attacks the Marathas in the Doab.
27 March 1737	Chimaji Appa captures Thane’s fortress.
28 March 1737	Mughal Sardars gather at Mathura.
28 March 1737	Bajirao attacks Delhi.
5 April 1737	Bajirao returns to Jaipur.
7 April 1737	Nizam embarks towards the north from Burhanpur.
May 1737	Bajirao starts campaign against Portuguese.
10 May 1737	Nizam crosses the Narmada and goes to the north.
28 May 1737	Nizam meets Pilaji at Sironj.
July 1737	Bajirao returns to Pune.
1 July 1737	Chimaji Appa returns to Pune after wrapping up first Vasai campaign.
2 July 1737	Nizam arrives at Delhi. Meets Badshah.
October 1737	Nizam embarks on campaign to Malwa from Delhi.
30 November 1737	Bajirao arrives on the banks of Narmada.
13 December 1737	Nizam and Bajirao battle near Bhopal.
16 December 1737	Nizam blockaded at Bhopal.
26 December 1737	Raghuji Bhosale-Shujaat Khan battle.
7 January 1738	Treaty of Sarai-Dorai (Doraha).
6 February 1738	Bajirao plunders Koyar Pargana.
December 1738-May 1739	Second campaign against Vasai.
29 December 1738	Battle of Tarapur starts.
8 January 1738	Nadir Shah arrives at Lahore.
9 January 1738	Mahim captured.
12 January 1739	Vyankatrao Ghorpade attacks Goa.
15 January 1739	Vyankatrao Ghorpade captures Madgaon.
24 January 1739	Baji Bhivrao dies in Battle of Tarapur.
13 February 1739	Nadir Shah defeats Badshah at Sirhind.
7 March 1739	Nadir Shah arrives at Delhi. Engages in many brutalities at Delhi.
9 March 1739	Saadat Khan consumes poison and commits suicide.
29 April 1739	Raghuji Bhosale attacks Aavji Kavde.
25 April 1739	Nadir Shah issues a Firman addressed to all Hindi rulers and Peshwa to protect the Badshah.
1 May 1739	Nadir Shah leaves Delhi for homeland.
27 April 1739	Vyankatrao-Portuguese enter into Treaty of Goa.
1 May 1739	Passionate attack on Vasai.
5 May 1739	Maratha-Portuguese Treaty.
12 May 1739	Vasai falls into Maratha hands.
June 1739	Inchbird meets Chimaji Appa and Treaty of Thane.
12 May-12 July 1739	Captain Gordon’s embassy to Satara.
3 October 1739	Pratinidhi captures Miraj.
November 1739	Mastani put under security guards at Shaniwarwada.
8 November 1739	Pratinidhi captures Athni station from Udaji Chavhan.
24 November 1739	Mastani escapes security to join Bajirao at Patas.
12 December 1739	Bajirao attacks Naseer Jung.
14 January 1740	Inchbird meets Bajirao in camp on the banks of Godavari.
26 January 1740	Mastani kept under imprisonment at the Parvati garden.
27 February 1740	Naseer Jung defeated. Treaty with Bajirao.
12 March 1740	Naseer Jung and Bajirao meet at Aurangabad.
28 April 1740	Bajirao dies.

The End.

CHRONOLOGY – BALAJI VISHWANATH

A brief timeline that can be drawn for the beginning of the Peshwa era as follows.

Date	Events
Around 1660	Balaji Vishwanath born.
18 May 1682	Shahu born in Konkan near Raigad.
3 November 1689	Shahu falls into Badshah’s captivity.
9 June 1696	Tarabai’s son Shivaji II born.
23 May 1698	Rajasbai’s son Sambhaji II born.
20 February 1707	Aurangzeb dies at Ahmednagar.
5 March 1707	Azamshah assumes throne.
13 March 1707	Azamshah grants protocol robes to Shahu.
4 May 1707	Azamshah arrives at Sironj.
8 May 1707	Shahu returns to Deccan from the Doraha halt. Ambu Pande joins him. Beejagad’s Mohan Singh helps Shahu. Halt for some time at Lambkani. Parsoji Bhosale joins him there.
8 June 1707	Azamshah killed in succession battle and Bahadurshah ascends the throne.
August / September 1707	Shahu arrives at Ahmednagar. Tarabai declares ‘Shahu not rightful heir’.
4 October 1707	Shahu sacks Aurangabad.
12 October 1707	Battle of Khed – Shahu emerges victorious. Dhanaji Jadhav joins Shahu. Balaji Vishwanath follows suit.
27 October 1707	Shahu acquires Rohida, Rajgad, Prachandagad, Vichitragad.
1 January 1708	Shahu takes Satara.
12 January 1708	Shahu coronated.
28 February 1708	Tarabai writes to Khem Sawant.
March-June 1708	Rangna Campaign, Shahu beats retreat.
27 June 1708	Dhanaji Jadhav dies.
20 November 1708	Balaji assumes ‘Senakarta’ office. Bahadurshah arrives in Deccan.
3 January 1709	Kaambaksh defeated and dies.
23 March 1709	Kanhoji Angre writes to Shahu, gets Sarkhel office.
May 1709	Badshah confers protocol robes on Shahu at Ahmednagar.
23 August 1709	Raibhanji Bhosale dies.
1710	Parsoji Bhosale dies.
17 August 1711	Chandrasen’s revolt. Joins Tarabai. Changes side to Daud Khan Panni.
21 August 1711	Balaji conferred upon the benefice of twenty-five lakh rupees.
1 October 1711	Santaji Jadhav assumes ‘Senapati’ office.
20 November 1711	Parashurampant Pratinidhi arrested.
2 December 1711	Khatawkar’s revolt broken.
December 1711	Kanhoji Angre joins Tarabai.
1712-1714	Mansinghrao More as ‘Senapati’. Thorat initially joins Tarabai and then the Mughals.
17 February 1712	Bahadurshah dies.
19 January 1713	Jahandarshah dies.
February 1713	Nizam-ul-Mulk made the Subedar of Deccan.
17 November 1713	Balaji Vishwanath gets the protocol robes of the office of the Peshwa at Manjri.
8 February 1714	Balaji meets Angre and Treaty.
July 1714	Tarabai and Shivaji II arrested. Rajasbai and Sambhaji II set up Kolhapur seat.
July 1714	Sawai Jaisingh made Subedar of Malwa.
1715	Rambhaji Nimbalkar joins the Nizam.
30 January 1715	Siddi surrenders and enters into treaty with the Peshwa.
25 March 1715	Shahu and Kanhoji meet at Jejuri.
19 November 1715	Ramchandrapant Amatya pens down ‘Aadnyapatre’.
26 December 1715	Charles Boone made President at Mumbai.
May 1715-November 1718	Sayyed Hussein Ali made Subedar of Deccan.
December 1718-August 1720	Aalam Ali made Subedar of Deccan.
August 1720-January 1722	Nizam-ul-Mulk made Subedar of Deccan.
1, 2 April 1715	Dabhade and Kanhoji Bhosale enter Malwa. Depalpur destroyed. Another contingent at Kampel.
10 May 1715	Marathas defeated in Malwa. Jaisingh congratulated.
26 August 1715	Daud Khan and Sayyed Hussein Ali fight at Burhanpur. Daud Khan falls.
2 April 1716	Raorambha and Dabhade fight. Rambha’s son dies. Ajit Singh made Subedar of Gujarat.
October 1717	Santaji Bhosale in Malwa. Roopram arrested. Handia Pargana captured.
1718-1724	Angre-British War.
17 April 1718	British armada at Vijaydurg.
18 June 1718	British armada returns defeated to Mumbai.
2 November 1718	Boone attacks Khanderi.
1716-1718	Damaji Thorat’s hooliganism.
13 January 1716	Raoji and other Thorats join Sayyed Hussein Ali.
2 April 1716	Raorambha and Dabhade fight.
5 August 1716	Damaji arrests Balaji at Hingangaon. Released later.
11 January 1717	Khanderao Dabhade assumes ‘Senapati’ office.
24 April 1717	Dabhade defeats the Mughals at Ahmednagar.
28 February 1718	Farrukhsiyar deposed. Mohammedshah assumes throne.
November 1718-March 1719	Marathas at Delhi. Accompanying Sayyed Hussein Ali.
23 February 1719	Badshah and Sayyed Hussein Ali meet at Delhi.
28 February 1719	Some Marathas massacred at Delhi.
3 March 1719	Chauth agreement signed with Marathas.
15 March 1719	Sardeshmukhi agreement signed with Marathas.
20 March 1719	Balaji Vishwanath returns from Delhi bearing the grant-notifications. Queen Yesubai and others released.
September 1719	Fight with the Thorats at Panhalgad.
March 1720	Balaji fights with Karweer Chhatrapati Sambhaji II at Islampur.
2 April 1720	Balaji Vishwanath dies at Saswad.

To be continued…

FATEHSINGH BHOSALE

The analysis about how and why the Peshwas turned their attention to the north has been presented at various places above as per the narrative. But it would be convenient to again list these points down again for the benefit of history. Bajirao could clearly see his future as follows:

1. During the time of war with Aurangzeb, to capture the imperial treasury and to render him impotent the Maratha Sardars had already crossed the Narmada and had begun spreading their wings in the Malwa. The plan to attack up to Delhi had been drawn in 1691 itself.
2. Balaji Vishwanath had campaigned up to Delhi, and fixed the overall Maratha responsibilities through imperial grant-notifications. It was imperative for Bajirao to continue it forward.
3. At the capital near Shahu, his opponents like the Pratinidhi, Sumant etc. were powerful. To remain away from them, Bajirao felt it was more convenient and fruitful to engage himself in faraway affairs.
4. Even the primary intention of establishment of the Maratha kingdom was to enhance the prestige of our own religion. That too would have culminated especially in the north.

When Bajirao’s power began increasing in the north, some feeling of injustice arose in Fatehsingh Bhosale’s heart towards him. People used to consider him the prince. He would say, “Pradhanpant keeps planning campaigns with his forces. Due to that, he is famous, owns his own forces. You and me are sitting idle at home. Due to which our own forces have left us. Everybody was rendered limbless. So, without thinking anything else, we must step out immediately.”

Fatehsingh Bhosale was Shahu’s foster son. He was Birubai’s favourite too. He was soft and god-fearing like Shahu. Since he lacked the forcefulness that is required for state’s administration, he was left behind. When he was on the Carnatic campaign with Raghuji Bhosale, Birubai died on 24 December 1740 at Satara. In that relation, Raghuji wrote to Shahu, “Fatehsinghbaba lamented profusely and grieved a lot. Even when we tried to console, he would not quit grieving. Then we showed him the Swami’s own handwritten letter. The Swami has bound him with an oath of his own feet. But it doesn’t seem like he would quit grieving wholeheartedly. He keeps thinking about the Swami’s feet. This grief would not be consoled without Swami’s meeting.” Fatehsingh was brought up by Birubai herself. So, it was natural for him to grieve like this. This also expresses his emotional nature.

Many people like the Pratinidhi, Sumant etc. would oppose the Peshwas from time to time. But Fatehsingh Bhosale never mixed with them. The way Shahu recognised that Peshwas were valorous, would accomplish huge feats through their passion, and supported them, Fatehsingh too continued in the same vein. Purandare wrote to the Peshwa, “The fact that the plans in the northern provinces has fallen into the Swami’s hands, is unbearable for others here. But Fatehsingh is satisfied. Why because, Fatehsinghbaba has spoken with the Swami in detail about him and the Swami himself should take a huge army along to the north, and vanquish the whole Empire. Even now, he has written letters himself. As agreed previously, his replies should be sent.”

It was Fatehsingh’s tradition to always maintain friendly relations with the Peshwas. There are many documents indicating this. In another letter Fatehsingh wrote, “Whatever the northern plans, it should be discussed between us and Pantapradhan together. We step out on the campaign upon his instructions. We don’t think about anything outside your instructions. Even if we thought about writing to you in detail, you are already aware about us from the beginning. You have been working from the beginning to ensure our side achieves dominance. Even if we wrote in detail in the letter, our hearts know it already.”

In the above, and similar such documents, many times things are referred to as ‘northern plan’ and ‘southern plan’. But which of them better, which was worse, which was to be taken up first, and which later, etc. comparative estimates are not expressed anywhere in any of the three to four thousand documents. Instead, what we see is the emotion of a dilemma expressed in them. Seeing that Bajirao-Chimaji’s enterprise was succeeding and spreading in a short period of time, the other Sardars began getting jealous of them. They began crying that the Peshwas had progressed, and they had fallen behind. Everybody would feel that their side should become dominant. They felt, they just needed to take some loans from the moneylenders, maintain their own forces, and engage in campaign, to enable their dominance to grow. But the most significant aspect of this, which was individual prowess, was not to be bought by throwing money in the market. These people would conveniently forget this. If everybody would have been able to emulate easily the tasks like roaming around in foreign lands; securing intelligence through diplomats or spies; settling their own control in foreign lands through various conspiracies; if time comes, vanquishing the enemy in open battle; without inherent qualities like courage, adventure, intelligence and wisdom, then every man could have become Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj or Bajirao. Whichever people had the above qualities, they grew quickly. Whoever did not have them, they fell behind with equal speed. Bajirao’s campaigning was like a huge national school. Nobody was prevented from entering it. Krishnarao Chaskar was bad by nature, due to which he was imprisoned; while Fatehsingh Bhosale was a virtuous gentleman, due to which, he remained in the Peshwas’ service and achieved success as much as possible.

To be continued…

BAJIRAO’S SIGNIFICANCE

Sir Jadunath Sarkar writes, “Twenty years spent in breathless activity and tireless journeys across the Indian subcontinent, from Delhi to Shrirangapatnam and Gujarat to Hyderabad, wore out the most wonderful man of action that the Hindu race has produced since the days of the great Shivaji.”

Grant Duff, one of the first historians of the Marathas wrote about Bajirao in 1826, “Bred a soldier as well as a statesman, Bajirao united the enterprise, vigour, and hardihood of a Maratha chief, with the polished manners, the sagacity, and address which frequently distinguish the Brahmin of the Konkan.” Duff also adds, “Bajirao had the head to plan and the hand to execute.” It sums up the Peshwa’s career rather well.

Bajirao was granted the Peshwai protocol garments on 17 April 1720, and exactly after twenty years, on 28 April 1740, he died. Since the time he was entrusted the responsibility of the kingdom’s administration at the young age of twenty, all campaigns he indulged in every year, the successes he achieved, the huge battles he engaged in and emerged victorious to help expansion of the kingdom, all have been described in detail before. At various places, based on the incident, at every place, we have also discussed the positive and negative aspects of the occurrences. Therefore, there is no need to separately go into a discussion about Bajirao’s capability. There are hardly any examples of men who have displayed such mighty prowess in just twenty years. Even while most of his wise advisors were of the opinion that he should not be given the office of the Peshwa, Shahu entrusting the responsibility of the whole kingdom to him at such a young age, trusting only his inner inspiration, was an adventure of a kind. But Bajirao achieved success in this adventure. This shows Shahu’s design and Bajirao’s capability both. Of course, in terms of capability, Bajirao is considered second only to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in the Maratha history, which seems appropriate. At the end of his life, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj had crossed fifty years of age, while Bajirao was three months and twenty days short of forty. Both had a sudden grievous death.

Like many others before him, Bajirao was a person who left an impact on the history of a land and created an Empire that stood the test of time. Indeed, the Maratha period of Indian history from the mid-seventeenth century to the early nineteenth century saw a series of great men emerging from the folds of mountains on either side of the western Ghats, truly a crucible that liberated a large part of the Indian subcontinent from a palpably foreign power. From Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj to Nana Fadnis and Mahadaji Shinde, this land gave leaders who thought and acted nationally. The concern for India and the quest for freedom, the sustained struggle against oppression, and moderation of the leaders marked the Maratha rule as notably different from the rule of Aurangzeb or the invading hordes of Nadir Shah and Ahmedshah Abdali. In the first half of the eighteenth century, Bajirao was the key person who led the formation of an Empire that emphasised its indigenous roots.

The period of the Peshwa rule from Balaji Vishwanath up to Sawai Madhavrao’s death, displays consistency in one specific enterprise. The great capable men who accepted the leadership of the Maratha nation during this period, and lifted it up to a pinnacle of glory, whatever their personal virtues or vices, it is clear, that the first four Peshwas helped complete the project of changing the destiny of the Hindi nation that Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj had engaged in. This same theme is also expressed in the essay written by Sir Richard Temple. The political course of action that Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj had laid down, was transformed to a large extent during the Peshwai times. Many unintended things too entered the political administration. Even if this is true, it doesn’t make the contribution of the Peshwas negligible. Everything in the affairs of the world is changing constantly. The situation changes. Accordingly, the political policy also has to be modified, or gets naturally transformed. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj never awarded benefices. He snatched unadulterated independence from the Mughal Badshah. Instead, the Peshwas created Jagirdars. They considered themselves the feudatories of the Mughals. Even though these things are considered as undesirable, only on the basis of the imperial grant-notifications, Bajirao alone accomplished feats like, “freeing the whole Deccan; settling down the whole region up to Sonipat, Panipat; establishing the religious independence of deities and Brahmins all over the country, which had been destroyed earlier.”

His sons planted the Maratha standard on the Chenab. There is no doubt, if he had lived any longer, he himself would have done so. In a short while, the Maratha kingdom expanded all over the country. The credit of achieving this has to be given to the Jagirdari system. After Madhavrao, there was no ruler left who would control these Jagirdars. Therefore, the power of the empire disintegrated. Still, it cannot be denied, that only through these instruments, the kingdom had expanded.

To be continued…

MASTANI’S END

With the death of Bajirao, Mastani simply disappeared from the pages of history and a grave at her estate in Pabal, where she is said to have died, leaves an incomplete and unsatisfactory account of her last days. The moment she heard about Bajirao’s death, she too died. There is no certain evidence available about the way Mastani died. There is more than one version of where and how she met her death. It is said she died at the Shaniwar Wada and her body was then taken to the village of Pabal for burial. There is another that says she was on her way to Bajirao when she heard the news and died on the way. It is also said, that at the time of Bajirao’s death in April 1740, Mastani committed Sati. While people were thinking of releasing her and sending her to Bajirao, the news about Bajirao’s death reached. While she was on her way to join Bajirao after having left Pune, she got the news of his death at Pabal. She ended her life there. This then must have got transformed into her committing Sati after him. Mastani’s death on the other hand, seems to have been forced. The cause of her death so close after the Peshwa’s death lends itself to speculation that it might not have been of natural causes. There is no way to know whether this was herself committing suicide or something else. It is highly improbable that such a death would occur through just the blow of just hearing the news. But it is definitely possible, that she began feeling, if this was the state of oppression she faced when Bajirao was alive, then after him there was nobody left who could have saved her, due to which she could have felt the misery of it all too unbearable to withstand, and she could have tried to end her life through accident or suicide. However, beyond this, the crypts of history are hitherto silent.

The Pune Gazetteer says, “Mastani died at Shaniwar Palace one of whose gates is still called after her and was buried at Pabal which with the neighbouring villages of Kendur and Loni was granted to her.”

This is not to assume that the story of Bajirao and Mastani has acquired disproportionate importance. All these incidents deserve as much attention as any other historical occurrences. There are various emotional aspects to it like society, politics, unconditional love etc. Whether to call this whole affair a tragedy is a matter of individual choice. But there is no doubt, that this story of Bajirao-Mastani in the Maratha history has become uniquely interesting.

Twenty years can change the face of a nation. In 1719, holding the apron strings of the king-maker Sayyed Brothers, Balaji Vishwanath embarked on a bold mission to place the Maratha power on the national stage when he led a huge army to Delhi. The submissions of the army of Rayats (farming subjects) to be awarded recognition of being the custodian of the six Subas of the Deccan had two aims. One, it was an affirmation of Shahu as the true Maratha king. The Mughals looked on Shahu as their own, one who grew up in Aurangzeb’s Gulalbari enclosure, looked upon the Badshah with respect, promised never to uproot his Empire and support him. The second was to eke out one’s own kingdom from the pieces of the collapsing Mughal Empire. In the course of time, the Marathas first became partners and then, under Bajirao, aggressively pursued the cession of Gujarat, Malwa, and Bundelkhand from the Mughals. In return, the Peshwa promised to serve the Badshah with his army when needed. The dictum that the Marathas seemed to follow was to rule the land in the name of the Mughals. It was a forerunner to the improved Subsidiary Force treaties of the British sixty years later.

The period of twenty years afforded Bajirao little time for administrative measures to institute a system of governance, something his son Nanasaheb could do to a large extent. The Maratha administration as it developed was, therefore, not Bajirao’s creation. Chimaji Appa trained the civil servants of the time and Nanasaheb later acknowledged the training in administration he received at the hands of his uncle.

Besides the Mughals, Bajirao’s twenty-year association with the Nizam-ul-Mulk changed from opposing him at Balapur and helping him at the battle of Sakharkherda in 1724, to defeating him at Palkhed, and again foiling him by the pre-emptive strike at Dabhoi. The wily Nizam came to an agreement with the Peshwa in 1732, but had to come out and battle him at Bhopal when he was forced to sign a humiliating treaty, promising to obtain the grant-notification of Malwa from Mohammedshah. The first half of the eighteenth century saw an intense rivalry between these two rulers of the Deccan, the Nizam claiming to rule for the Badshah and Bajirao on behalf of Shahu. In every contest however, one finds the Peshwa getting the better of the Nizam.

To be continued…

DOUBLE WHAMMY

Eventually, Shahu did not consider Raghuji or Babuji Naik fit to take over the mantle of the Peshwa. Nanasaheb, staying in Satara for long, and having recently accompanied the king on his campaign to capture Miraj, was a favourite of the king. The young man was thus chosen to take over his father’s post. Shahu told Nanasaheb, “Your father Bajirao and your grandfather Balaji served me most faithfully, and in my service performed mighty deeds. I sent Bajirao to humble the Persian and restore the Mughal Empire. But he died almost immediately afterwards. His ambition was to guard the Mughal Empire and at the same time to conquer all Hindustan. You are his son; realise your father’s ambition. Lead your horsemen beyond the walls of Attock.”

Bajirao, named as Visaji at birth after his grandfather,  was born on the fifteenth day of the waxing moon fortnight (Pournima) of the month of Bhadrapad, Saka 1622 i.e. 18 August 1700 at Dubare, near Nasik, and died on the thirteenth day of the waxing moon fortnight of the month of Vaishakh i.e. 28 April 1740, at Raverkhedi on the south bank of the Narmada (it is 16 miles from the nearest railhead Sanawad lying on the train route from Khandwa to Indore).

He was married to Mahadaji Krishna Joshi’s daughter Kashibai around 1710. She had four sons, Balaji alias Nanasaheb, Ramchandra, Raghunath, and Janardan. Nanasaheb was born on thirteenth day of the waning moon fortnight of the month of Margashirsh Saka 1643, Wednesday, 6 December 1721 at Sate village near Wadgaon in the Nane-Maval basin. Ramchandra was born in 1723 and died in 1733 within ten years. After that, there is a reference of her having given birth to one more son on 3 March 1733, who did not live much. There could have been other children as well. In all of them, only Nanasaheb and Raghunathrao were the only ones who achieved any fame. Raghunathrao was born at Mahuli on the thirteenth day of the waxing moon fortnight of the month of Shravan, Saka 1646, 1 August 1734. His Upanayan ritual was carried out by Nanasaheb on the second day of the waxing moon fortnight of the month of Magha Saka 1661, 4 February 1740, and immediately three days following that, on 7 February 1740, Sadashivrao Bhau was married to Umabai. Bajirao did not attend this ceremony. His younger brother was named Antaji, later better known as Chimaji Appa. His exact date of birth is not known but was about five or six years younger than Bajirao. Bajirao had a strong constitution, unlike Chimaji, who suffered from a chest ailment, either asthma or that medieval scourge, Tuberculosis. Chimaji Appa was married to Trimbakrao Pethe’s sister Rakhmabai in 1716. She gave birth to Sadashivrao on 3 August 1730 at Pune. In just about a month after her son’s birth, Rakhmabai died on 31 August. Chimaji’s second marriage occurred on 9 December 1731 at Pune. This second wife was named Annapurnabai. Children were married at a young age in the eighteenth century and the Peshwa family was no exception. There were no brides to be had beyond the age of nine! Nanasaheb’s marriage occurred on 11 January 1730 with Bhikaji Naik Raste’s daughter Gopikabai. This family was a household of moneylenders based in Wai. He was just eight years old at that time.

Chimaji Appa fathered a daughter with Annapurnabai named Bayabai. When she was just a month old, both her mother and father died. Sadashivrao’s Upanayan was carried out on 20 March 1736. After returning from Vasai campaign, Chimaji Appa was mostly ill. His household would keep busy in various religious rituals and ceremonies for his good health. His mother would always remain concerned. “These days, the cough has troubled very much. The body is in immense pain. There has been no respite. Due to this there was a delay of four days. Through the Swami’s grace the body will recover.” This was something Chimaji wrote to Brahmendra Swami on 10 September 1739.

In the month of October 1740, Chimaji’s health deteriorated too much, so he returned to Pune from the campaign. But his illness increased day-by-day, and he died at Pune on 17 December 1740. Annapurnabai committed Sati. There is a reference of his last rites and his wife’s Sati rituals seemed to have costed only Rs 1175. Bayabai was married to Gangadhar Naik Onkar on 14 April 1745. At that time, she was four-and-a-half years old. She died on 18 April 1759. Chimaji’s body was completely worn due to lifelong toil. There is room to suspect that a consuming disease like tuberculosis ran in the family, considering the young age at which the family’s men died.

To be continued…

AT THE CLOSE

While Chimaji and Nanasaheb were fighting Sambhaji Angre’s sudden attack on his brother Manaji in the Konkan, Bajirao was near the Narmada, marking time and waiting for developments at Delhi. In the middle of April 1740, he came to the village of Raverkhedi on the southern bank of the Narmada. He waited for word about the many diplomatic initiatives he had set in motion through his envoys and the ruler of Jaipur. A weakened Badshah without some of his able supporters like Saadat Khan and Khan Dauran was far more receptive to the proposals of Sawai Jaisingh. A few letters of the time mention disposal of administrative matters by the Peshwa. It was expected that he would once again head north in the near future.

The Badshah was unhappy with Nizam-ul-Mulk, and hearing that Bajirao had signed a treaty with Naseer Jung, wished to ascertain where the Peshwa’s sympathies lay. To this, the Maratha emissary Mahadevbhat Hingne unequivocally assured the Jaipur ruler and the Badshah that the Peshwa was not with the Nizam.

While these negotiations were still to bear fruit, the first inkling of an illness appeared on 23 April, when the Peshwa became febrile. The entries in the Peshwa diary give an account of donations made every day from then on for the Peshwa’s health. On 23 and 24 April, sums of rupees twenty-five and twenty-four were given in alms. On 26 April 1740, a donation of a Mohar worth twelve rupees is recorded. The Peshwa was blessed by the traditional Aarti by waving a lighted lamp around him. The fever did not remit and the Peshwa became delirious. On 27 April 1740, the camp by the Narmada reverberated with the Maha Mrityunjay chant. Shiva, the Lord of Death was propitiated, and an idol of one Tola of gold was made for this purpose. One hundred and sixty rupees were spent in other donations.

The night of Sunday 28 April, after about 8:30 pm the lunar date by the Shaka almanac was the thirteenth, a bland entry dated 28 April 1740 says, “Tarikh 12 Roj Vaishakh Shuddha Trayodashi, Monday at Raverkhedi. Rajashree Raya passed away. A sum of rupee one and Anna was spent on gold to be placed in his mouth.”

Wife Kashibai and Janardan, his youngest son, were with Bajirao. The final rites were, therefore, performed by Janardan. Bajirao died as he lived, in a military camp away from home, still actively planning his next moves.

Bajirao’s death created a sudden void in the power structure of the Maratha Confederacy. As had happened after Balaji Vishwanath’s death, many claimants rushed forward. With Chimaji unwell and Nanasaheb just eighteen years of age, the field was wide-open.

Raghuji Bhosale with Fatehsingh Bhosale was at this time in the south. A large Maratha army had been assembled for the express purpose of succouring Shahu’s cousin at Tanjore who was threatened by Nawab Dost Ali of Arcot, his son Safdar Ali and son-in-law Chanda Saheb. The Maratha advance was sudden and rapid. Dost Ali, mustering whatever forces he could, took a stand at the pass of Damalcherry. A short battle on 20 May 1740 ended in the defeat and death of the Nawab, and the Marathas took control of Arcot. Here, Raghuji learnt of the death of the Peshwa. Desirous of influencing Shahu in the selection of the new Peshwa, Raghuji rushed back to Satara. Here, he pleaded the case of Babuji Naik, related to Bajirao and a rich moneylender, for appointment as the new Peshwa.

Bajirao had left a debt of fourteen and a half lakh rupees. The major creditor was Raghunath Patwardhan followed by Brahmendra Swami. This debt was inherited by Nanasaheb. A small debt of thirty-six thousand was owed to Babuji Naik and he insisted on its prompt payment. Mahadaji Purandare therefore, paid him off.

Shahu owed his Empire to Bajirao. Historian Jadunath Sarkar writes, “By the year 1740, the ambitions of the house of Kolhapur and of the Peshwa’s rivals, which the Nizam’s Machiavellian policy used to foster during the first decade of Bajirao’s regency, had been extinguished for ever. No Rambhaji Nimbalkar, no Chandrasen Jadhav, no Dabhade, was able to raise his head again and attempt to divide and weaken the Maratha state. The Kolhapur Rajas sank into the position of feudatory princes; Shahu alone stood forth as Chhatrapati. And the system, introduced no doubt by Balaji Vishwanath, but given full effect and an India-wide expansion to by Bajirao, completely transformed the political constitution of Shivaji’s state and dotted the map of India with numberless centres of Maratha authority and culture. Bajirao was the creator of this ‘Greater Maharashtra’. Shahu, in theory at least, was no longer the Raja of a small, self-contained, one-race, one-language kingdom, as his father and grandfather had been; he was now a Badshah with diverse and far-flung dominions.”

To be continued…