SADASHIVRAO BHAU – DEBUT

In September 1746, Nanasaheb had begun plans to send an army headed by Chimaji Appa’s son Sadashivrao Bhau to the Carnatic. The debut of Sadashivrao Bhau, the Peshwa’s cousin, going into his first campaign occupied Nanasaheb’s attention. It was to be the sixteen-year-old Sadashivrao’s first outing on the battlefield. With the Carnatic becoming an area where Raghuji, Fatehsingh and Babuji were all interested, the Peshwa threw his hat in the ring by deputing Sadashivrao to lead an army there. However, before that, he had obtained the districts of Bednoor, Sondhe, Bankapur, and Saavnoor as his area of conquest from Shahu. To guide Sadashivrao Bhau, Nanasaheb wanted the veteran Pilaji Jadhavraoto accompany him.

On 1 December 1746, the Peshwa wrote to Pilaji Jadhavrao as follows, “Rajashree Sambhaji Maharaj II’s Tehsils Sondhe, Bednoor, Savnoor, Bankapur etc. principalities have been handed over by the Swami to us. Further, it has been agreed that Rajashree Babuji Naik should not enter those regions. The income from these Tehsils should be collected. It is not like you don’t understand whether those people would hand over the revenue collections without the pressure of the army. Therefore, it is necessary that we send sufficient force there. Secondly, the Portuguese have started a dispute against the Sawants. They have captured two or three outposts belonging to the Sawants. Sawants have been the servants of the government from the beginning. They have served well, which is why helping them is must. So, we have prepared to dispatch a strong army. We have thought that Chiranjeev Rajashree Sadoba should be given leave to proceed on a campaign in that province. In two or four days, Rajashree Swami will give his approval. Chiranjeev has never gone on a campaign. Therefore, you will also need to accompany him. Who else but you! If you are with him, we will be carefree. You and him, along with the force, should go to the religious place of Narasimha Saraswati. Resolve the revenue collections for those principalities and collect whatever possible. On the other side, where the Portuguese have mounted an attack over the Sawants, around two thousand strong army needs to be sent there. Dispatch it and help them. In summary, you have forces along with you, send them to Vasai. You remain ready along with all your contingents. The moment Rajashree Swami provides his permission, we will write to you, when you should immediately ride off and come here. Regards.”

This undoubtedly shows that Nanasaheb had secured Shahu’s permission to dispatch Sadashivrao Bhau to the Carnatic. Seeing that Naik would not be able to achieve success, Shahu himself made this arrangement. However, Pilaji was unwell and could not join.

Sadashivrao Bhau left for the Carnatic in December 1746 with the Peshwa keeping track of his movements. Sakharam Bapu, the later Maratha statesman, accompanied Bhau. Bhau first took the strong fort of Bahadur Benda near Koppal from the Nawab of Saavnoor and thirty-six other Parganas. He brought Savnoor under the ambit of Nanasaheb Peshwa’s rule. A secret clause to the treaty was the annual payment of seventy-five thousand rupees to the Peshwa.

Bhau threatened to come down into the plains and attack Goa. The Portuguese took note of his attempt to chastise the ruler of the state of Sondhe, who had helped the Portuguese in an attack on the Bhosales of Sawantwadi, who were under the protection of the Peshwa, “The army of Nana, composed of thirty thousand horses and an infinite infantry, began to march with rumours all over that the march was against Goa. It was rumoured that the army was dispatched to ask the king of Sondhe the reason he had helped us against the Bhosales without Nana’s permission, and to compel the king to surrender the forts of Suppen and Ussua… which he captured sword in hand. Sadoba, a cousin of Nana, a youth of eighteen years who appeared in the camp for the first time with a desire to earn a name… was the commandant of that force… As that army reached as near as three or four marches, I ordered occupation of all narrow passes of the Ghats. I also had the trees cut off and accumulated on the roads to put difficulties in the way of the march. The name of a Maratha creates such a terror in Asia that everyone trembles when it is mentioned.”

The Portuguese Viceroy then opened negotiations with Nanasaheb declaring that he had no intention of attacking Vasai. At Goa, the Viceroy boasted that though all the potentates in the region sent their ambassadors to prostrate at the feet of Sadoba, he sent none. He expressed his happiness when Bhau eventually marched away towards Canara.

To be continued…

TREATY OF WARANA

The story of the treaty that has been provided in the history of Ichalkaranji principality is especially interesting. The treaty took place in the month of Chaitra. The negotiations went on for two months, and general clauses had been decided amongst the two parties even before the meeting. This was a treaty that Shahu has written as addressed to Sambhaji II.

1. “The area within the Varun Mahal up to the southern banks of the confluence on both sides, along with the outposts and forts has been granted to you.
2. From the Tungabhadra River right up to Rameshwaram, all the principalities have been split equally amongst both of us, and your half have been agreed to be handed over to you.
3. Fort Koppal has been given to you, and in lieu of that you have given Ratnagiri to us.
4. It has been decided that the Wadgaon fortress is to be destroyed.
5. Whoever opposes you, we should destroy them. You and us, should increase the kingdom working together.
6. From the southern banks of the confluence of Warana and Krishna up to Nivrutti Sangam of the Tungabhadra River, the forts and outposts have been given to you.
7. In the Konkan province beyond Salshi, up to Ankola Panchamahal have been given to you.
8. You should not employ the servants from this kingdom. We will not employ your servants.
9. Miraj province, the stations from Bijapur province, Athni, Tasgaon etc. should be handed back to us.

This treaty has been agreed with the above total nine clauses. We will follow these, without exception.”

The clauses 5 and 8 were regarding general administration, which were implemented. Similarly, clause 3 too was implemented. Varun Mahal was under Udaji Chavhan’s control. Shahu took it from him and handed over to the Pratinidhi. The Peshwas took it from the Pratinidhi later, but it never passed to the Karweer seat. As per the clause 2, many campaigns occurred beyond the Tungabhadra. The Kolhapur seat did not participate in them, which is why the tribute was also not shared with them. Karweer authorities did not destroy the Wadgaon outpost fortress. As per clause 6, the region from the Warana up to Tungabhadra, which was not under Sambhaji II’s actual control, was later captured by Shahu and Peshwa. It was never given to Sambhaji II. Clause 7 also faced similar condition. The outposts and stations mentioned in Clause 9, Miraj, Athni etc. were under Udaji Chavhan’s control. Sambhaji II did not hand them over to Shahu. They were later captured on their own by Shahu and the Peshwas. Shahu wrote letters to his castellans at the forts in the region between Krishna and Tungabhadra, asking them to hand over the forts to Sambhaji II. However, this treaty did not help Sambhaji II in growing his kingdom. It remained limited within its erstwhile boundaries. Actually, Shahu did not divide his kingdom and gave the other part to Sambhaji II. Sambhaji II never got a portion of the kingdom. A kind of a largish Jagir was created under the control of the main kingdom, and was handed over to Sambhaji II. In the opposition that lasted twenty-three years, Sambhaji II’s condition had been so depleted, that if he had not come to meet in-person, he would not have got even this. His kingdom became a captive principality like the later princely states under the British administration. At the same time, the principalities of Shinde, Angre, Holkar etc. were taking shape. But since they were growing through their own prowess, Kolhapur never competed against them. Sambhaji II and his descendants were provided the formal respect of being a master by the officials who came after Shahu. But due to this, the condition of this kingdom was reduced to having neither master nor servants.

Shahu’s administration displays both positives and negatives of sympathetic heart. Such a policy is good in private matters, but it brings a little slack in political matters, and the tasks in the kingdom’s cause get disturbed. In Shahu’s reign, the administration of the Maratha Confederacy never acquired tenacity or force, and never got a brilliance because of one important aspect of his nature – his soft heart. Howsoever Sambhaji II opposed him, Shahu never displayed any hard-hearted behaviour towards him. Shahu never forgot that whatever happened, Sambhaji II was his own brother, and had an equal claim over the kingdom like him. Shahu had a standing instruction for everybody, if Sambhaji II committed any mistake, he will think about the resolution, but nobody else should trouble Sambhaji II. Shahu wrote once to Chimnaji Ballal, “Ranoji Ghorpade and Bhagwantrao did not maintain Sambhaji II’s respect. While defeating them, you sent your men to assist Ghorpades, and troubled Sambhaji II’s regions. This is not done. This was not right. The moment you see this letter, recall your men back. Do not give excuses, and ensure that Sambhaji II’s heart is not troubled. The moment you see this letter, recall your armies back, otherwise we will confiscate them and their equipment.” This shows, how Shahu used to try hard to maintain Sambhaji II’s prestige.

To be continued…

SONDHE AFFAIR

The Maratha army assembled by the end of 1725 and headed south collecting tribute on the way. They passed Galgale and Mudhol and camped at Bedhatti, where the Nawab of Savnoor Abdul Gaffar Pathan met Bajirao. The armies travelled along the Nizam’s border via Bijapur, Gulbarga, Galgale, Koppal, up to Chitradurga. They crossed the river Tungabhadra and reached Chitradurga a strong fort in western Carnatic.

Overall, around fifty-thousand Marathas had gathered for the campaign. Santaji Ghorpade had been the erstwhile Commander-in-Chief during the time of Rajaram Maharaj. His sons, Ranoji and Piraji had been serving Sambhaji II. Piraji and Murarrao were protecting the Gutti principality. Shahu Maharaj wrote to them, asking them to join the campaign and prove their service. So, they too went to the Carnatic with Fatehsingh. Maharaj sent Fatehsingh to meet Sharfojiraje at Tanjore.

The armies encamped around three-quarters of a month on the banks of Hayagriva River. As two months had already passed since the armies had left, and there was no news reported to him yet, so Shahu got restless. He wrote harsh letters to everyone including the Pratinidhi, Bajirao, Sarlashkar, Trimbakrao Dabhade etc. on 21 March, saying, “You all are authoritative servants. Where have you reached, what is the plan, all this, you have not informed since you left. This is unprecedented. Still, inform about your day-to-day progress to the Swami.”

The accomplishments of this campaign have been described by the Chitnis as follows, “The armies collected the pending tribute amounts, agreed that they were paid regularly every year thereafter. The stations belonging to us had been lost, they were recaptured. Whoever displayed arrogance, were given warnings.”

The scope of this campaign in terms of area seems to be from Chitradurga in the east up to Sondhe-Bednoor in the west. When Maratha soldiers attacked Sondhe, the ruler there sent an emissary to Shahu and informed about his surrender. Upon that, Shahu wrote an order addressed to Bajirao and the Pratinidhi on 21 February 1726 as follows, “Sondhe’s ruler is our ancient friend. He was cornered on all sides, and therefore has become upset. He holds natural loyalty towards the Swami. Swami must ensure they are continued in their possessions. Therefore, to negotiate terms, we are sending Gopal Ram, who will negotiate on our behalf. Accordingly, leave sustainable portion of the tribute for their survival, and protect the principality.”

This meant, the Marathas did not trouble the Sondhe’s ruler. At the time of Rajaram, Sondhe’s Sadashiv Naik had sought refuge with the Marathas. He died after 1702 and his son Raja Basavalinga sat on the throne. He ruled up to 1732. He had sent the above request to Shahu and secured his graces. “Accepting the Raja’s friendly wishes, Chhatrapati dispatched his emissaries Bhanji Ballal and Devji Vishwanath to Sondhe. They agreed the terms that, every year, the Raja should send forty-five thousand rupees as the tribute, and if any other enemy attacked the principality, through whatever help needed, defeating the enemy, the Marathas should allow him to enjoy the rulership of the principality without any hindrance. The Marathas should remove their own outposts, and return back to their realms.”

The above description shows the Maratha rights for the Chauth collection and their responsibility to protect their tributaries from external enemies. It is clear from the examples of Sondhe and others that the Hindu rulers in the Carnatic felt happier becoming tributaries to the Marathas rather than the Muslims.

However, the affairs around Sondhe’s rulers did not end here. Later, Nizam-ul-Mulk forced them into surrender. At that time, the Marathas could not go to their protection on time. At that time, Sawai Ramchandra Raja Sondhekar had written an extremely urgent request letter to Bajirao.

Even though Nizam himself did not enter the Carnatic, some of his Sardars and army were with the Marathas. At Shire, the army joined the Nizam. The Nizam camped with troops of Shahu on one side, and of Sambhaji II on the other. In his letter of April 1726, he describes his happiness at seeing the open divide between Shahu and Sambhaji II:

“Bajirao and Shripatrao met me on the 23 March 1726. Neelaprabhu the Chief Minister of Raja Sambhaji II, (was) already in my camp. On seeing them, Shripatrao and Bajirao were confused. Their bewilderment cannot be described. They were full of pride and had aimed at making great demands on me (bring pressure on me). By God’s grace, wolf and lamb lay together. Both these troops were camped on both the sides of my army. They were not favourably inclined towards each other. It was all God’s grace.”

To be continued…

CHITRADURGA CAMPAIGN PREPARATIONS

Overall, in 1725, when the Carnatic campaign came about, at that time, Arcot’s Saadatullah Khan, and his subordinates mentioned above, were all in the Muslim party, while Wodeyars of Shrirangapatnam, Tanjore’s Sharfojiraje Bhosale, Gutti’s Ghorpades were in the Hindu party. These two sides were struggling with each other. To ensure the Chhatrapati’s power prevailed all over these warring parties, and beating down Nizam’s primary ownership in this task, Shahu dispatched his Sardars to the Carnatic. Shahu was not attracted equally towards all of the Hindu participants mentioned above. The affection he felt towards the Tanjore’s rulers, did not exist towards the rulers of Shrirangapatnam. In his second campaign, Bajirao also taught a sound lesson to these rulers at Shrirangapatnam.

While Sharfoji was ruling at Tanjore, this Saadatullah Khan had given him extreme trouble. So, he had pleaded for help with Shahu. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj had himself captured the stations like Koppal, Kurnool, Cudappah, Tirupati, Venkatagiri, Vellore, Arcot, and Jinji which linked with Tanjore. For twenty-seven years afterwards, the Marathas had fought with Aurangzeb, brought this series of regions under their control. With an intention of preserving their control there; firming up his rule in these regions and consolidating it further; bringing various power magnate Palegars at various places together; spreading the Maratha power right up to the southern regions; and growing the seed of Hindupadpaadshahi which had been sown by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj by nurturing it further; Shahu decided to send his armies into the Carnatic. Shahu felt it was his holy responsibility to accomplish the objectives of his forefathers. Therefore, he gave priority to this campaign. In 1725, Nizam himself had begun preparations to embark on a campaign to those regions. Therefore, Shahu made special haste.

At this time, the Marathas carried out two campaigns in the Carnatic. First took place from November 1725 to May 1726, which was called the Chitradurga Campaign by the contemporary historians. Second took place from November 1726 to April 1727, which was called Shrirangapatnam campaign.

Shahu set his sights on the south and the possessions his grandfather had gained in the last years of his reign. By giving the Bhaganagar Subedari to Fatehsingh Bhosale, intending that he should control the whole southern region, Shahu gave him the leadership of this campaign. At the beginning of 1725, how this whole idea emerged, can be seen from the erstwhile documents. On 27 March 1725, Fatehsingh informed his assistants, “Pradhanpant and Nizam-ul-Mulk would probably think about going on a southern campaign. They would not venture outside the Chauth treaty’s remit. Still, it is advisable that you and they should join together. Ensure that you get four percent. Act to ensure that your mind remains calm.”

At that time, news had spread everywhere, that Bajirao and the Nizam were on friendly terms with each other. Since Fatehsingh did not have any information about how they had decided to split the Chauth revenues, he expresses his fear above, that they will themselves fulfil their own selfish interests, and would cause others to incur losses. Because, at the beginning of 1725, Nizam had dispatched the Peshwa’s emissary kept at his court, Narso Kusaji, back to meet the Peshwa. On 28 February 1725 in a letter, Narso Kusaji asks Chimaji Appa, “Nawabsaheb has sent me to seek a meeting with the Swami. I reached Chakan. Do let me know when and where I can meet you and Pradhanpant. Once I meet, you will get the whole news.”

We don’t know anything about Nizam’s suggestion in this matter. However, he seems to have begun the project to instigate Kolhapur’s Sambhaji II against Shahu in 1725. Bhagwant Ramchandra Amatya was striving hard at the Nizam’s court on behalf of Sambhaji II at this time. While Pratinidhi’s assistant Jagajjivan Govind was around Panhalgad, Bhagwantrao attacked him stepping down from the fort. Both of them met in a battle and Jagajjivan Govind defeated the Amatya, and captured Panhala’s Sarnaubat Gorkhoji Yadav. For this valour, Shahu felicitated Jagajjivan Govind by sending him valuable garments on 8 April 1725. This clearly displays, that Nizam did not intend to maintain any compromising or friendly relations with the Marathas, and instead, taking Sambhaji II under his influence, he wanted to put Shahu into trouble, and that project he seems to have started at the beginning of 1725 through Bhagwantrao Amatya.

To be continued…

SWARAJYA & SARDESHMUKHI

Three separate gazette notifications delineating the previously-mentioned three elements were received by Balaji Peshwa from the Badshah. The structure and expansion of the Maratha Confederacy depended on these three elements. The notifications in this regard are dated 1719, signed by Mohammedshah, and preserved in the Satara official documents. The Swarajya notification delineates the Parganas (districts) as follows – Pune, Baramati, Indapur, Wai, Maval basins, Satara, Kasrabad (Karhad?), Khatav, Maan, Faltan, Malkapur, Tarala, Panhala, Aajre, Junnar, and Kolhapur. Koppal, Gadag, Haliyal etc. Parganas on the north banks of the Tungabhadra River, all the forts captured by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, and Konkan are also depicted as part of Swarajya in the notification. Considering the forts, and all the provinces, there is a list of total 35 Mahals mentioned there, and for each of the Mahals its boundaries have been mentioned. The below Parganas (districts) have been mentioned as part of the Konkan belt, Ramnagar, Gandevi, Jawhar, Chaul, Bheemgad, Bhiwandi, Kalyan, Rajpuri, Dabhol, Javli, Rajapur, Fonda, Ankola, and Kudal.

The erstwhile small Jagir including Pune and Supe, during the early days of Shahajiraje, was elevated to the level of an independent principality by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in 1644. This small principality securing its independence from Bijapur’s Adilshahi went on expanding and spread up to twenty to thirty miles more in 1674, to both sides of the Sahyadri from Baglan up to Fonda. This expansion was termed ‘Swarajya’. Aurangzeb never provided his approval to this Swarajya. He used to count this Swarajya as being part of his Aurangabad Suba. After this, due to the above treaty, the Swarajya that was granted to Shahu in 1719, the provinces included in it have been mentioned above. This Swarajya was not a contiguous region everywhere. It began from the western coast, and went up to the Bheema and Neera rivers in the east. Towards the south, Gadag, Bellary, Koppal, Haliyal etc. many of the disjointed Parganas were part of Swarajya since the time of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. He had kept all these intervening regions in his control to link the Tanjore and Jinji provinces in the far south. Khandesh was not a part of Swarajya. In lieu of that, some of the regions to the east of Pandharpur was handed over to Shahu’s control in the above treaty. Adjacent to this Swarajya were the six Mughal Subas. This new decision gave Marathas the rights to collect Chauth and Sardeshmukhi from all the six Subas right up to Tanjore and Tiruchirappalli. It is interesting to see the income and expense sheets in this relation from 30 August 1719.

Out of the three elements, Sardeshmukhi was the original Watan-right. The Deshmukhs in Maval basin owned the Deshmukhi Watan-rights. This Sardeshmukhi Watan-right was similar. Sardeshmukh had the responsibility to collect the revenue from a fixed, agreed region, deposit it in the government treasury, and keeping tight security in the region. “The treaty which was signed was that, the awardee would remain with his body, soul, and mind in the mandatory service, with an objective of allowing the subjects to flourish. He will protect the government’s treasury and punish the criminals. He will provide fifteen-thousand strong army in the service of the Subedar. He will ensure the subjects are aligned to the imperial cause. He will ensure cultivation begins at decrepit villages in the three coming years. He will ensure such tight security, that there are no troubles faced by the subjects. If any incident of robbery or plunder occurs, he will punish the thieves and hand over the stolen goods to the rightful owners. If they could not punish the thieves and could not capture them, they will protect the valuable goods. Besides, he will not hold any especial desire to keep the Chauth and Sardeshmukhi for himself. Whatever additional taxes get imposed from time-to-time, he will collect them and deposit in the government treasury. This was the treaty.”

It is important to remember the words used in the agreement. These Bhosale Sardeshmukhi Watan-rights delineated various places initially, and Shahu used to consider himself a Sardeshmukh for the whole kingdom. He would appoint others on his behalf under him. As per tradition, the Deshmukh used to keep ten percent portion of the government’s revenue. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was engaged in the task to acquire the Watan-rights of Bhosale’s Sardeshmukhi at various places since the beginning through various means. He also corresponded with Shahjahan and Aurangzeb in this regard. But they did not openly accept his Sardeshmukhi rights. The Treaty of Purandar does not mention Chauth or Sardeshmukhi. In 1668, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj entered into separate agreements with the Bijapur and Golconda Sultanates, accepting an annual amount of three lakh rupees and five lakh rupees respectively. And in 1671, he began to openly implement these revenue-rights from the Mughal realms as well. Thereafter he collected such taxes from the Portuguese, from the petty kings at Bednur, Sondhe etc. and later from the Carnatic as well, years on end.

To be continued…

TARABAI’S COUNTERATTACK

The moment the Badshah stepped out of Maharashtra on the campaign to Wakinkheda, Tarabai began a new streak of re-capturing all the forts, fortresses and stations captured by the Mughals.

There was a famous fort of Koppal in north Carnatic which had been captured by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj at the beginning of his Carnatic campaign. During the reign of Tarabai, it was under the control of a Maratha castellan named Duduskar. The Mughals had bribed him and taken the fort under their control. Tarabai dispatched one of her sardars Narahari Rudra, got him to attack the fort, and recaptured it (December 1704).

Very soon, at the beginning of 1705, two Maratha sardars, Dhavji Visar and Chafaji Shinde re-captured Lohagad by climbing its ramparts. It had just been captured by the Badshah only recently. The responsibility to recapture Lohagad had been given by Tarabai to Bahiropant, while that of Sinhagad had been entrusted to Shankaraji Narayan Sachiv. Brave Maratha warriors in Shankaraji Narayan’s employ, Ramji Phatak, Tryambak Shivdeo, and Pantaji Shivdeo, entered Sinhagad by climbing its ramparts, and through a sudden raid, cut-off the whole of soldiery there. They arrested the castellan Devi Singh there.

After capturing Wakinkheda, when the Badshah had encamped at Devapur, he got the shocking news report about losing Sinhagad. He was also equally stubborn. To recapture Sinhagad, he urgently dispatched Hameeduddin Khan and Tarbiyat Khan. By this time, another fort which the Mughal had captured, Rajmachi, was captured by the Marathas through a daring attack, and that news reached the imperial camp. A brave Maratha warrior Gunaji Sawant in the employ of Peshwa Bahiropant had displayed immense valour while capturing it.

The Badshah had returned to Ahmednagar after long, arduous twenty-two years. He had realised, that this was the last leg of his campaigns, and even the long walk of his life. Still, he had not postponed the war that was going on with the Marathas. His forces had been struggling with the Maratha forces in Maharashtra and elsewhere. Even though the Badshah was on the verge of losing the war, he was adamant to fight until the end of his life. So, Tarabai now decided to deal a final blow to the Badshah before his death.

Accordingly, she ordered renowned warriors like Commander-in-Chief Dhanaji Jadhav, Nemaji Shinde, Dado Malhar, Rambhaji Nimbalkar, and Damaji Thorat to attack the Badshah’s Ahmednagar camp itself. All these commanders, fell upon the imperial camp along with their forces. The moment he got this news, the Badshah dispatched Khan-e-Aalam, Bakshi Sadruddin, Mohammed Khan Safvi, and some other sardars with sizeable forces, to fight with the attackers a little distance away. A huge battle ensued between the Marathas and the Mughals. The Maratha side began proving to be more powerful. So, Khan-e-Aalam sent a request to the Badshah, to urgently send additional soldiers. The Badshah sent Hameeduddin Bahadur and Matlab Khan, and most interestingly, he also sent some consecrated and sanctified amulets to protect his forces (February 1706).

To protect his forces from Queen Tarabai’s army, the Emperor of whole Hindustan had to use consecrated amulets. This was such a huge misfortune for the Mughal Empire! The Marathas harassed the Mughal vanguard and wrapped up the battle quickly.

While the Badshah was counting the last hours of his life at Ahmednagar, his armies had still been campaigning in Maharashtra. But Tarabai was now not afraid of these campaigns. Tarabai’s forces were not only offering stiff resistance within Swarajya, but also crossing Maharashtra’s borders and raiding the imperial Subas. Once her forces entered the regions like Gujarat, Malwa, Telangana and Carnatic, the Badshah and his forces would lose their courage, and the expenses of these huge forces amassed to fight the enemy would also be recovered. With this intention, Tarabai had adopted this policy to keep dispatching her forces outside Maharashtra in the Mughal realms, from the beginning of her reign.

To be continued…

THE RESISTANCE

Aurangzeb’s army primarily had Rajputs from the north and Marathas from the Deccan. It meant he was protecting the Mughal Sultanate taking help from Hindus after all. The happy dreams of aligning them all to the cause of our own religion (Swadharma), capturing Delhi itself, and establishing Hindupadpadshahi (Sovereign Hindu Kingdom) from Shivaji’s times were still being indulged in by the Marathas. It seems convincing, that if this initial unity of the Marathas had stayed unbroken, the above programme was eminently possible.

It is worth remembering how many and which all efforts were taken by Rajaram at Jinji, and Ramchandrapant at Vishalgad to defeat the Mughals. They established a policy of abundantly rewarding their people with Inams, Jagirs, prizes etc. to encourage them further. Most of the regions mentioned in such Inams were under Mughal control. Due to which, to take the Jagir mentioned in the notification under their own control, everybody began entering the Mughal realms. Due to such acts, Rajaram became famous everywhere. People started feeling proud about his capability. People everywhere got eager to perform his bidding and a huge number gathered at Jinji as well. “To ensure people also received something, as per the age-old policy, they were given the feudal possessions. He turned to be the good fortune for all his ministers, head-clerks, and sardars. Whoever went to him, were granted their old offices and were established in them assuring them hereditary continuance. Whoever had the ability, they were given increased responsibilities. This way Rajaram began blessing people, even more than the first Maharaj (Shivaji). He would never do anything without discussing with renowned sardars and stewards first. He would not keep the company of people with bad habits, or of lowly ambitions. He would hate people with bad habits very much. This way, his reign became lovable for everyone, and it began to be administered as per the rules set down by the previous Maharaj.”

It will be further expressed later, how Ramchandrapant, who would complain not to grant the land as prizes, and holding a grudge against the Watan-rights holders previously, would himself begin to not only grant such rights, but also create new Watans.

Which all Maratha activities were on in Maharashtra and the Carnatic, and such a huge enthusiasm had filled up the people so as to think of defeating the Badshah himself, is excellently expressed by a letter dated 22 March 1690, as follows. It is memorable to understand the way Keso Trimal Pingle had returned to Maharashtra with a treasury of one lakh and his forces.

“To honourable Baji Sarjerao Jedhe Deshmukh, per the king’s own order. You have been granted pardon. You have sent honourable Ratnoji Shinde and Shankaraji Dhage to relate numerous instances of your loyalty, they have been listened to. This is Maharashtra’s own kingdom. You nurse heartfelt wishes towards betterment of this kingdom. Whatever political situation exists in that province, destroy all of them, maintain your forces, stay alert, whatever task of the Swami you see, carry it out, accomplish it, and write to us about the same. It will be dealt with appropriately by us. Presently in this province, Rajashree Chhatrapati Swami embarked on a campaign to the Carnatic, and has gathered an army consisting of forty thousand cavalry, and one lakh twenty-five thousand infantry. The numbers keep increasing further. All the powerful Palegars of this province have joined forces with us. The army has now become strong. Further, for now Rajashree Keso Trimal has been sent there. Fifteen thousand cavalry and twenty-five thousand infantrymen have also been sent accompanying him. They have reached the Koppal province on the banks of the Tungabhadra river. They have also been given a war-chest of one lakh hon. To receive them, Rajashree Dhanaji Jadhav, Rajashree Santaji Ghorpade, and the Panch-Hazari commanders have been sent ahead. They will reach in eight-to-fifteen days. Still, you are advised to stay alert, remain loyal at the Swami’s feet, and engage in tasks that accomplish the Swami’s cause. What does the enemy amount to? If you resolve about something, what is the enemy then? The enemy has been taught a lesson by you all. When you all feel wholeheartedly about this kingdom, Aurangzeb does not count. Taking this into consideration, act as per what has been relayed in writing. Aurangzeb has converted numerous Maratha men. Accordingly, he has converted Netoji Palkar, Sabaji Ghatge, Janojiraje etc. in the past, and also numerous Brahmins of this province have been converted as well. He has continued it further. Whatever Marathas had gone to the Mughals, have now started coming to us along with their forces. Recently, Hanmantrao Nimbalkar, Satwaji Nimbalkar, Mane, and other sardars have joined. Many others also continue to join. Thus, the enemy’s army is reducing and our army has been increasing. God ensures we are victorious. Stay strong as written.” This letter is written by Khando Ballal.

To be continued…

AURANGZEB’S JIZYA

There was an earthquake at Raigad. Whether it was because Sahyadri itself had been born of a volcanic explosion, or otherwise; but Sahyadri’s insides began churning, and Raigad itself shook. It was as if Sahyadri was trying to suppress an upswell of emotion because of Sambhajiraje’s act. Maharaj was bearing all these blows and he remained unmoved. Hiding all his miseries in his heart, he kept standing for his duty. Maharaj stood up again in the path of his duty in utmost seriousness. He ensured that none of the arrangements in Swarajya are impacted adversely because of Sambhajiraje’s departure. Maratha army and its commanders kept engaging in their new campaigns. Moropant freed Koppal (Dt 3 March 1679). This meant the land in the doab of Krishna and Tungabhadra joined Swarajya. Similarly, Senior Anandrao captured Balapur (Dt 10 March). Bahadurbinda also started sporting the saffron standard (Dt 18 March).

At this time (Dt 2 April 1679) a wave of love towards his own religion reared up in Aurangzeb’s head. He imposed the dreadful Jizya tax over Hindu subjects living in the Mughal realms. His mind had become a workshop of the bizarre! And such crazy ideas took birth from it. His uncouth mind would produce conclusions like oppression of other religions would mean serving his own religion. This was another example of the same mindset. After blowing the temples away to pieces, this was a wonderful idea of turning the poor households into abject poverty. Then through utter dejection people would accept conversion, and all that ‘virtue’ would accrue to him, such was his simple, stupid, and blind belief. He issued orders imposing Jizya. Maharaj got this news. He could not bear the miseries of his northern brethren, even when he himself was surrounded on all sides by worries and his own grief. He felt pity at Aurangzeb. He decided to write a letter scolding him about this. He immediately dictated the overall purport of the letter to Neelaprabhu. Neelaprabhu was Maharaj’s Farsi scribe. The letter went,

“… We heard that, the Badshah’s treasury is empty, all the money has been spent, and that’s why the Sultanate is being run on the revenue generated through the Jizya tax imposed upon the Hindu subjects. Previously Akbar Badshah ruled here fifty-two years judiciously. Because of him the Eesavi, Daudi, Mohammedi etc. besides Brahmins, Shevade etc. Hindu people also could maintain their religious practices, and the Badshah also provided imperial support to maintain the institutions of these religions. That was why he came to be recognised as a World-Leader, and because he had such righteous desires in his mind, whichever place he went, he achieved success. After him, Badshah Nooruddin Jehangir and Shahjahansaheb ran their Sultanate spending their life in good behaviour and acquired eternal fame. The main theme behind this is, ‘A man who is famous while alive as well as dead, is blessed with unmissable glory’. Those Badshahs were also capable of collecting Jizya tax. But they did not oppress people belonging to other religions, thinking all subjects following their religion were the only ones to take care. The fame of their benevolence still stands, and all the subjects praise and bless them even now. One gets glory as per one’s behaviour. Those Badshahs kept people’s welfare firmly in their eyesight. In your reign, so many forts and regions have broken away, are being broken away. It is difficult to acquire the support of even a thousand people when lakhs are leaving your camp. Badshah and his people’s households are languishing in poverty. Then the condition of Mansabdars and Umraos in your service can only be imagined! In summary, the soldiery is annoyed, traders are crying out loud, and Muslims themselves are miserable. Hindus are burning in their hearts, and so many sleep hungry. What kind of Sultanate is being run? Jizya tax to top it all. So, news has spread to the east as well as west, that Hindustan’s Badshah collects Jizya from everyone, irrespective of whether they are Brahmins, Shevade, Joshi, Sanyasi, Bairagi, orphans, poor, old, everyone still alive; considers this to be a huge achievement and brings ignominy to the name of Badshah Timur. Qura’an is a Godsend book. It is God’s own revelation. They say it has been ordained in it that the God belongs to the whole world or only to the Muslims! Good or bad, all are created by the one God. In the Masjid there is Azaan remembering Him, in a temple they sound bells. Therefore, opposing someone’s religion is akin to quitting your own religion and cancelling whatever has been revealed by God Himself, and putting the blame for non-believers on Him. Whatever good or bad you see in this respect, one shouldn’t cancel it. To condemn something, is to blame its existence on its Creator. Thinking from judicial perspective, the law bringing Jizya tax is wrong. Previously Sultan Ahmed Gujarati committed the same mistake and vanished quickly. Behaving this way in old age doesn’t befit your prowess. The theme behind this is, ‘The smoke from the mourning mouth of a person oppressed, is far more capable of burning away a ghost than even fire.’ One good advice is the heart that has become lurid due to sins should be cleansed completely. Still, if your heart has become bent upon thinking that your religion lies in creating trouble for Hindu people, collect Jizya tax from Raja Ramsingh first, then I will also pay-up happily, standing at your service as always. But the poor and orphans are like ants and flies in front of you. There is no greatness in troubling them. I’m surprised that the people in your service too are covering up all this. Anyways, may the sun of your kingdom remain shining radiantly the moment it rises from the mountain of prowess.’

But people whose discerning intellect is eclipsed completely, how much ever you wrote to them, advised them, there was no impact! It was as if pouring water over an upturned vessel.

To be continued…

NAGOJI JEDHE

Hambirrao had reached Yelburga near Lingasagara. Suddenly they saw dust clouds on the horizon! The enemy! It was clear what would happen to the Marathas in front of this vast army. Miyana was not a common warrior. Very powerful. Excellent swordsman and cruel. Like another Bahlaul. He himself was fighting from atop an elephant. Hambirrao saw a huge mighty wall of warriors approach. All the Marathas saw it. Even Nagoji did so. That giant crusher of a wall, which anybody could have been terrified of, was running towards them. But nobody got frightened. Hambirrao in fact decided to mount a counterattack. He signaled to everyone. The Maratha swords were instantly drawn out. Spearpoints were aligned. And with a mighty roar, the Maratha force fell upon Khan’s force to break its ranks with a fierce passion. Nagoji had a spear in his hands. Hussein Khan was shocked and stunned seeing the Marathas, instead of getting frightened, had mounted a counterattack. Marathas wrought a terrible slaughter and broke Khan’s ranks!

And then they literally began a wholesale massacre of Khan’s army. Khan could see clearly that the Maratha army was not manageable. He got frightened. The moment he realised, there was no easy escape, he ordered his Mahout to bring his elephant outside the main crowd. The fight was going awry! All his style had been done to dust! Pathans were blown away. Mahout turned the elephant back. Khan began running away from the battlefield! Defeat! Slaughter! Crushing defeat! Nagoji Jedhe saw that Hussein Khan was running away. He swiftly brought his horse to bear upon the elephant, and attached the elephant’s forehead with his spear. The elephant went down. But the attention of Hussein Khan, who was sitting above, was quickly drawn ahead of him. He felt it was Death Himself sitting on a horse! An extremely terrified Khan aimed at Nagoji with his bow and arrow, and suddenly shot his arrow. Khan’s arrow went straight and pierced Nagoji’s head. A terribly injured Nagoji crashed down from horseback. The arrow was deep inside the boy’s head. Sarjerao Jedhe was fighting in this same battle somewhere else.

Khan’s elephant had been injured. Still, he kept trying to run away. But Khan’s fortune itself had been injured! How would he run away. Dhanaji Jadhav and Hambirrao surrounded Khan’s elephant. Khan was captured alive! His complete force was simply blown away. Countless Pathans died. Got injured. Dhanaji proved the might of his sword at this difficult juncture. Hambirrao captured two thousand horses, some elephants, and great plunder. Miyana himself was captured (January 1677).

Nagoji’s head had been pierced by an arrow. His father Sarjerao Jedhe himself had been informed and was near his son. What that father’s heart must have felt seeing his youthful son standing on the threshold of Death? It was difficult to remove the arrow from Nagoji’s wound. Finally, it was removed, but Nagoji died! A fresh kid from Rohida basin proved his prowess and offered his own life as sacred oblation.

He had a very young bride at home. Nagoji’s wife was named Godubai. She was a daughter of the Ghorpade family. The news of Nagoji’s death in the battle reached his home. The mansion at Kari was drowned in sorrow. Nagoji’s wife Godubai readied up to commit Sati. Her meeting with her husband before he had left for the campaign turned out to be the final one. The next meeting would be in the heaven! Her pyre was arranged in one of the orchards of the village Kari. Godubai committed Sati. Godubai and Nagoji ended their family life right in the middle of their youthful days. Just to ensure the countless families in Koppal were freed from the clutches of Pathans and making them happy!

Sarjerao was sad because of his son’s death. Even the daughter-in-law had committed Sati. But Sarjerao did not turn back. He continued further on the campaign along with Hambirrao to meet Maharaj.

To be continued…

KOPPAL PATHANS

When Maharaj was on his way to Bhaganagar, a new task arose. Some of the oppressed people from the Carnatic sought Maharaj’s help. The region between the rivers Tungabhadra and Krishna was under the Bijapur Sultanate’s control. The famous Koppal fort was in this same doab region. It was a well-known fact, that the Koppal outpost was a ‘Doorway to Deccan’. Two very powerful Bijapur sardars were stationed at Koppal. One was named Hussein Khan Miyana while the other was Abdur-rahim Khan Miyana. These two were brothers. Abdur-rahim Khan’s control over the realm was extremely strict and demonic. The subjects were being oppressed under the extreme cruelty of this Pathan. He used to treat his subjects with extreme contempt, especially in terms of religion. He would pounce any given time upon women, children, and livestock. How many of his crimes should one relate? And were any lists maintained while tortures were taking place? The subjects had been harassed to their wits end. But whom should they tell their problems? Who was their saviour, who would run for their help? Nobody. Poor people, they were simply bearing it all silently. They used to constantly hear that, in the Marathi realms, there was a very good king named Shivaji, who had established Ramarajya. But he was far away! They would feel, how would Shivajiraja come to save them from their daily tortures.

But one day, news spread in Koppal province that, the great Shivajiraja was on a campaign to the Carnatic, and some of the courageous subjects decided to relate their misery to Shivajiraja. They would take their complaint and present it in front of the king.

So, these people in a piteous condition came to Maharaj. Abdur-rahim got wind, that these people had gone somewhere with his complaint! Immediately he installed his guard outposts at their homes, and started torturing their family members.

The people of Koppal relayed their pitiful story to Maharaj passionately. They requested him earnestly, ‘Please free us from the clutches of this cruel fellow. Please do something, so that he does no longer trouble us!’

Maharaj listened to their litany of woes and decided that this Pathan must be taught a lesson, and ordered Commander Hambirrao Mohite to attack Pathan with his force (January 1677). Hambirrao was given his own detachment. In it, there were two very young men Nagoji Jedhe and Dhanaji Jadhav. Nagoji Jedhe was Baji Sarjerao Jedhe’s son. Meaning he was Kanhoji Jedhe’s grandson. It is said that qualities in a family repeat after a generation. Accordingly, this Nagoji had become courageous and brave like his grandfather. He was a very fresh, blooming youth. Sarjerao had also accompanied Hambirrao in this force.

Hambirrao started towards Sampagaon with his force. Miyana brothers at Koppal got news that, the Commander-in-Chief of the Marathas is on his way, but without much of his army. He can be beaten easily. Immediately both the brothers got ready. A huge army under Hussein Khan started to crush the oncoming Marathas. Hussein Khan started with it with extreme speed. He had planned to completely slaughter the Marathas through a sudden counterattack. Khan’s army was multiple times bigger than the Maratha army.

To be continued…