SHAHUNAGAR

From the point of view of security, Maratha capital had been settled atop the Satara fort. Later, when it was felt to be inconvenient, Shahu settled a small new city beneath the fort towards the north, and named it Shahunagar. This is Satara of recent times.

Satara was the name of the fort. Shahunagar was the name of the city. “All the standard workshops of the fort were kept at the top of Satara, and a mansion was also built there. A tank was built named as Shahu Talav. It was decided that some people would live at the top, while some would live beneath. The city Shahunagar which was settled beneath and the mansion built within it, did not have water supply, for which a canal was built and water was supplied from Yavateshwar.”

Water was brought from Yavateshwar and Mahadara and arrangement was made for ample water supply for Satara since the time of Shahu Maharaj. The constitution of this Shahunagar and the names of its various parts are reminiscent of the reign of Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj. Even though its political relevance has vanished, people are still proud of Satara as the famous capital of the Maratha Confederacy. In the month of December 1720, Bajirao met Shahu at the Satara fort. After that, the meetings for the next seven to eight months have taken place at Machi Satara fort. Shahunagar was established around 1721. In one of the letters dated 18 March 1721, there is a reference to urgently construct a mansion. Shahu and the Peshwa would meet during the initial period there, which have been documented in the daily diary. From these entries one can understand the various constituent elements of the city. Later, in the month of August 1721, there is a reference that Bajirao met Shahu near Shahunagar. This means, Shahunagar was built around 1721.

In these meetings at his capital, Shahu would typically sit on the throne. Shahu’s throne was initially at the Satara fort where the coronation ceremony had taken place. Later, he brought it to the Machi at Shahunagar and housed it in a specially built Ranga-Mahal mansion. In the courtyard behind the throne, there used to be a well named Takht-well. The Chhatrapati’s seat has been variously named Manchak, Takht, Sinhasan etc. The front courtyard of the Ranga-Mahal earlier had a large mansion which housed this throne.

The building called as Adalat (court) was built by Shahu. The Peshwas used to halt here in this garden. The Purandare mansion was nearby. A big transformation came about in the structure of the city between Shahu’s time and after him. On 20 March 1753, the Holi night, a huge fire broke out in Shahunagar and most of the mansions in the city burned down. The Purandare diary notes that in this fire, the mansions belonging to the Peshwa, Purandares, Govindrao Chitnis, Naro Ram Mantri, Dattajipant Waknis, etc. all burned to ashes. Thus, it seems that since there was no necessity, the Peshwa never rebuilt their mansion in Shahunagar or Satara. The British government sold the Rangamahal mansion in 1865. This mansion came to be called as Senapati’s mansion later. This mansion burned down in 1874, and has not left any ruins.

The smaller areas of the city were named after the seven days of the week. Besides, there were other areas named after historical persons like Ramau’s Goth (area), Yadavgopal Peth, Vyankatpura, Chimanpura, Durgapura, Kesarkar Peth, Rajaspura, Pant’s Goth, Raghunathpura etc. In the Mangalwar Peth there was another sub-block named Ramau’s Goth. Nagpur’s Bhosale had his mansion there. This Bhosale family had an elderly woman named Ramau, and the area had been named after her. Another area was named Vyankatpura, which was named after the original ancestral founder of the Ichalkaranji principality, Vyankatrao Ghorpade, who was also a son-in-law for Balaji Vishwanath. It had the famous temple of Shrikrishneshwar. It was built by Bajirao’s maternal uncle Krishnarao Chaskar in Shaka 1645 when he was the official at Satara. This temple is at the western extremity of the town at the foothills of Yavateshwar. When the temple was built, it used to be called Sadashivpura. But when Vyankatrao Ghorpade built his mansion there and began permanently staying in it, it started getting referred to as Vyankatpura. One of Shahu’s Sardars Chimnaji Damodar had his stables (and military camp) at Satara. This place was called Chimanpura. Vishnu Vishwanath Pandit was a private steward of queen Sagunabai. Through his offices, the construction work of Bhargavram’s temple at Dhavadshi was completed. Shahu fathered a daughter with Sagunabai named Rajasbai. The place Rajaspura in Satara was named after her. Tarabai’s erstwhile steward Yadav Gopal Khatavkar enlised into Shahu’s service as his first chief steward. There was one more place in Satara named after him. This area was also known as Peth-Khalsa. Shahu had issued a grant-notification to Yadav Gopal for the Khalsa income. Due to that, Yadav Gopal’s family had also been given the surname Khalse. To the north of Satara city, there was a Peth named Raghunathpura, which now forms a part of the Karanje town. It was named after Bajirao’s son Raghunath.

Beyond the Adalat mansion Khateeb’s house and mosque was built. Dafle was given land for his stables on the Machi, apart from the mansions belonging to Akkalkot’s principal, Mantri, Pingles, the stables belonging to Sheikh Mira, etc. which lasted as ruins until recent times. Sheikh Mira was the Adilshahi Subedar of the Wai province. When Shahu arrived in the Deccan, he was assisting Parashuram Trimbak at the Satara fort. He got the Pratinidhi arrested and handed over the fort to Shahu Maharaj. Therefore, he became Shahu’s favourite and he was closely associated with Satara.

Satara also had a mansion owned by the Sachiv. Whenever he had to visit Satara, he used to stay in this mansion. It had been decided that the expenses of the government Pilkhana (elephant stables) should be borne by the Sachiv. The Pilkhana which was earlier near the Ranga-Mahal had moved to the Yadav Gopal Peth. As a tradition, Maharaj while being carried in ceremonial procession, would take a route beginning at the Ranga-Mahal, to the Adalat, through the Yadav Gopal Peth, to the royal mansion. Otherwise, at the time of larger ceremonies, from the royal mansion, taking the larger road through Bhawani Peth, through the Guruwara, from the Poi square, back to the Ranga-Mahal.

There are numerous references of people from the north Hindustan and from the south coming and settling down at Satara along with their families for businesses like moneylending, diplomatic duties, ritual worship of deities, etc.

Somwar Peth had the mansion belonging to the Angal family. A much famous member of this family Parashuram Narayan Angal had been a renowned moneylender. This Angal family had built the Rameshwar temple at Mahuli confluence, and one of the Ghats over the confluence, and they had also renovated the Krishna River temple at Mahabaleshwar. Shaniwar Peth had two mansions belonging to Balajipant Natoo. The old mansion had been awarded to him at the time of King Pratapsingh Bhosale. Whenever Nana Fadnis used to visit Satara, he used to stay in this mansion. Sumant had his mansion opposite the Natoo mansion. Sumant’s descendants continued living at Riswad in the Karhad Tehsil. Guruwar Peth had the mansions belonging to the Shirkes and Panditrao. These Shirkes were originally from a town named ‘Shreek’. Shahu’s wife Sakwarbai and Sambhaji II’s wife Jijabai both came from this Shirke family. Raviwar Peth had Pant’s Goth. The Pratinidhi used to stay here in his mansion nearby. In terms of association with Satara, Pratinidhi was next only to Shahu Maharaj.

A gentleman named Tansheth Bhurke was the official of the mint during Shahu Maharaj’s reign. Shahu had conferred upon him this authority in the Coronation Era 67, i.e. 1740. Tansheth’s ancestors had been serving Adilshahi at Sangamner on similar responsibility of managing the mint. This family lasted until recently at Satara in the moneylending business.

To be continued…

PUNYASHLOK

There are many documents available, which depict Shahu inquiring sympathetically about common people whom he hardly knew, resolving their complaints, and arranging for their comforts. The whole genealogy of the Maratha history was created through Shahu Maharaj’s inspiration and encouragement. The political system of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s period before his period, disappeared in the dark night of time. The dynasties that remained in operation till independence, the Inam grants, the income revenue assignments etc. are mostly from Shahu’s period. These seem to have left a lasting impression upon Maharashtra. Nobody in our history would have been so successful in weaving together various people with their distinctive nature and distinctive capabilities in a single cause and extracting appropriate work from them better than Shahu. He enjoyed whatever service anybody could offer. He subdued many powerful magnates tactfully. Many persons can be cited as examples, like Parashurampant Pratinidhi, Damaji Thorat, Udaji Chavhan, Udaji Pawar, his own aunt Tarabai and Sambhaji II, Chandrasen Jadhav, Janoji Nimbalkar, and many more, who were his opponents at the beginning, but came to his side later, or at least were rendered harmless. The only person who had to bear some kind of punishment seems to be Kanhoji Bhosale. But Shahu never treated him badly. Even when Chanda Saheb was a prisoner at Satara for seven long years, he was given excellent arrangement like his own household. He was never dissatisfied afterwards, and never betrayed thereafter.

Many of the erstwhile historians show Shahu as lax, lazy and a person reveling in luxury. But there is a slight difference. Common behaviour of the erstwhile kings was, they were the collection of virtues, their servants and subjects were all shirkers. They used to take credit for any kind of good deed, while blame anything bad on their subjects. Shahu never had such duplicitous nature. There was no inside-outside in his nature. If anybody committed a mistake and admitted it, he would immediately pardon it, and would give credit for this goodness to the other. Happiness of others meant a joy to him. He would never dare to adopt a strict stance. One has to adopt a strict stance on the battlefield, so he always considered that part of his activities as despicable. Still, he used to pay very careful attention to all the activities at the national level. He never sat idle, would constantly keep working. Wherever he was, on the journeys, hunts, even in his bedroom, work went on incessantly. He would carry out activities like meeting the Sardars, reasoning with them, resolving their animus, at times threatening them, other times rewarding them, or even punishing them, but reining them in and aligning them with the chief executive, the Peshwa, through utmost sympathetic perspective, through an emotion of affection, and through his Godfearing nature, and would emerge successful in them. He was straightforward and open at heart, very perceptive and sensitive, well-behaved, magnanimous, generous, and one who would himself bear troubles but achieve the benefit of the kingdom, who would be overwhelmed in someone else’s grief. The nation was blessed with such a leader Shahu in time of calamity. Only because of that, Marathi kingdom grew quickly to its true potential and our history achieved deserving heights of which we all can sing paeans. Otherwise, at the time of Aurangzeb’s death, there was no Marathi kingdom. There was an abundance of Hindus and Muslims full of negativity. The risk of losing everything in their internecine warfare loomed large. The credit of protecting the Swarajya from this crisis, and expanding it into an Empire, must be given primarily to Shahu and his devotees the Peshwas.

Shahu’s imperial council had become a family spread all over. The Peshwa, the Pratinidhi, other ministers, Sardars, respected elders, diplomats, queens, concubines, servants and maidservants, other assistants, etc. all had become one with this grand council. Birubai was indeed a concubine. But most of the council respected her like a revered mother. The typical internal dissensions in other common families were also seen in this world-family. Personal interests, competition, jealousies, claims, secret schemes, etc. were abundantly prevalent in it. But the form they took was of playful banter, and not of manslaughter, and finally everybody would accept the Maharaj’s orders, due to which the affairs would never escalate beyond measure. Eighteen different castes from the land banded together through this notion of unity, and performed in campaigns and on battlefields fighting shoulder to shoulder with their colleagues. The leadership of this imperial council was held by the Peshwa like the seniormost son of a household. He too would take care of the whole administration through that emotional and heartfelt attachment. Thus, this Swami Shahu of the Maratha Confederacy had become the fount of power for the nation, and personified reincarnation of the national enterprise.

To be continued…

EQUANIMITY

It is easily understandable why Shahu’s nature turned out to be so soft. The scene of torturous slaughter of his father was right in front of his mind. His own life was under similar threat. He had only one weapon to fight with his situation, which he accepted. Through his sweet and polite nature, he won his friends as well as enemies over. Through his soft demeanour, he attracted the hearts of Aurangzeb’s Sardars, sons, daughter, servants etc. Even the Badshah used to say to him, “Your grandfather Shivaji was literally a demon. But you, his grandson, are not like that. You are Saav (Lord Shiva’s name, simple), true. I constantly think about doing good unto you.”

This was the way his name Saav or Shahu became famous. Thus, his difficult situation taught him the difficult skill of winning over the whole world with his magnanimity, generosity, altruistic nature, sweet tongue and affectionate behaviour. This was the only easy but invaluable way available to Shahu to create better days through the calamities facing him. He used the same equally in the Badshah’s captivity in the initial period of his life, as much as later in the period of authority on his throne. In a period of five months since his release from captivity, he acquired the post of the Chhatrapati. He subdued his powerful aunt (Tarabai). He transformed the Maratha people into a spiritual lot, turned them active, and got his people to work towards a unified cause. In his long reign of forty-two years, the huge cache of the grant-notifications he has left behind expresses in abundant detail his recompense of a past benefaction, encouragement, his sympathy towards all living organisms, and his generosity. His noble nature also influenced actual criminals. The weapons in the hands of his assassins fell down. Indroji Kadam’s arrogant behaviour died down. Sawai Jaisingh became his close friend. The Peshwa, a Brahmin himself, felt it to be fulfilment of his life to complete Shahu’s last rites as if he was his own father. One cannot but feel overwhelmed to read language like, “You are the Swami’s ancient servant. You have served loyally since the time of Raigad by toiling hard. You have helped the Swami during crisis. You have saved his life. It is necessary for the Swami to take care of your continuance.”

Satara still has a house belonging to Khateeb and a mosque. These Khateeb people were brought by Shahu from the imperial camp along with himself, and granted them the right of performing worship. This grant-notifaction has the following matter, “You are one of the topmost Sardars in our employ and adhere to the Muslim religion. Therefore, you are being granted the responsibility to maintain the throne at Satara, the authority of the fort of Satara, and the epithet of Sardeshmukh. Because you were like a son for Zeenat-unnisa Begum.”

Along with the Khateebs, Shahu also brought to Satara, the impressions of the Badshah’s hands as a memory of the Begum who had been his chief benefactor. Shahu devotedly worshipped these impressions and treated the Khateebs as his family members. Of course, the divide between Hindus and Muslims never arose during Shahu’s reign. Shahu brought so many religious preceptors like Brahmendra Swami, Kacheshwarbaba, Thakurdasbowa, Gosavis, Ramdasis etc. with due respect to his own city, and sought their auspicious blessings. “Sayyed Aataavaalaa Pirzaade Shakarkoti is a great noble saint busy in good deeds. Therefore, the Swami through his grace has granted the Loni village Inam to him.”

This grant notification issued in the name of a Muslim Pir shows the extent to which Shahu’s beliefs were equanimous towards all. He also extended an equal support to the adherents to Christian religion. After capturing Vasai, Shahu did not annihilate the Christian priests in Konkan who themselves used to commit religion driven atrocities on the subjects. Instead, he took good care of them. Equality of all humans flowed in his veins with blood. His belief that all men were equal, there were no high men or low men, would get expressed at every step.

This equanimity, which would be rarely found even in many ascetics, began taking root in Shahu’s heart since the time he was in the Badshah’s captivity. Since the initial seventeen years of his life had been spent in the company of a bigoted Badshah, instead of his own, he kept witnessing the behaviour adhering to the Islamic religion day and night. It is possible, that the Hindus did not have anybody else except for Shahu who understood the real germ of Islam so well. Zeenat-unnisa Begum brought him up almost like her own son, so Shahu always felt attached to her like his mother.

To be continued…

BRIHAD-MAHARASHTRA

Many have attributed one blame to Shahu and the Peshwas that they broke the cardinal rule set in place by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj not to award land-parcels as benefices to anybody in lieu of the services rendered, and created many renowned and powerful Jagirdars. This point has also been discussed previously as per the situation. These Jagirdars were born in the times of utmost calamity for the Marathi kingdom. Shahu and the Peshwas simply utilised them and engaged them in the future cause of the kingdom. There was hardly any other way in those times. Until the time there was a master who would keep these Jagirdars under his influence and would get the kingdom’s objectives accomplished through them, this policy proved successful. It is clear that the kingdom was destroyed when such a master was lacking. In all this, Shahu recognised that the general Maratha nature was somewhat selfish and quarrelsome, but utilised this inherent nature in the cause of the national enterprise. It is not difficult to guess what Shahu said to these Sardars when they came to meet him. He used to say, “You don’t have money, we too are the same. The region belongs to you. Gather forces. Keep moving around wherever is convenient for you. Set up your outposts. Build permanent mansions. Settle new towns and colonies. Begin industries-trade-moneylending businesses. Build temples. Take good care of the deities and Brahmins. Do not oppress or hate anybody. This way, even God will grace you. Your poverty will be alleviated. The nation’s fortune will turn. If you don’t have money take loans. Grow your enterprise and repay them back.”

Thus, Shahu showed his people this self-sufficient business which they could run without much capital investment. During his lifetime he achieved much success in it. After that, if the business went bankrupt, it cannot be blamed on Shahu. East India Company was established in England and began working here. Wasn’t its enterprise of the same nature! The Company stood up capital, established factories. Shahu’s Sardars took loans, gathered colleagues and assistants who would lay down their lives, accepted the path of adventure and faced difficulties, at times even sacrificing their own lives. Someone settled Nagpur, someone else set themselves at Dhar; someone copied the Peshwa’s Pune mansion at Indore, built temples at various places, established marketplaces, took all eighteen major castes of Maharashtra along with them from the Deccan to the north, and established new permanent cantonments in the north. Due to this, the Maratha Confederacy expanded quickly and Maratha history took shape. The later Brihan-Maharashtra movement had germinated in Shahu’s above enterprise. For five hundred long years, this land of Bharat had become hopeless and there was no saviour left for the Hindus. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj began the work of fighting with this adversity first, which was completed by Shahu. Hindus again began an energising period in their history. The ponies from the Bheemthadi (banks of the Bheema River, an indigenous horse breed belonging to the Deccan) drank the waters of the Panchagangas (five sacred rivers), and even at Attock. The credit for this period of fifty to seventy-five years becoming famous in history, goes to Shahu. Even East India Company took more time than this to settle itself down. The difference between the two examples was, Shahu cultivated everybody’s love and respect without holding any animosity towards anybody. We have read the atrocities that were committed by Nadir Shah or Clive. Shahu never allowed that tendency to misuse funds to take root in his kingdom. A Firman ordering ban on cow-slaughter was issued in the whole of Hindustan, Hindu religious places of pilgrimage were freed from Islamic control, moneylending agencies were created everywhere, cultural exchange quickened between the north and south India, and the life in Maharashtra became healthy and prosperous. In all this, even though bad things also made their way along with the good ones, it is as per the nature of all creation.

Many of the Brahmin families like Purandare, Hingne, Patankar, Dani etc. came forth to give sound company to the Marathas and participated in the cause of the nation. Their stories and legends are so abundant, that they have imparted their own excellent radiance to Shahu’s administration and Maratha history. Only one example truly personifies the growing brilliance of the Marathas. One small Purohit officiating rituals at the religious place of Nasik, Mahadevbhat Hingne, went to Delhi along with Balaji Vishwanath, managed the affairs of maintaining relations with the Mughal Empire there, and in a face-to-face meeting with the Vazir, faced the adventure of challenging him and laid down his life for the same. Due to the abominable murder of Bhaskarram in Bengal, the Marathas were able to establish their control over that province. Shahu’s overall administration and the memory of the structure of Shahunagar which still exists in people’s minds, is so full of stories and juicy tidbits, that they seem to be flowing in Maharashtra’s veins as blood.

To be continued…

EXTENT OF EMPIRE

Nobody in human history must have witnessed the games of fortune that were witnessed by Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj. We are already aware of the tribulations he faced in the initial twenty-five years of his life. In those calamitous times too, he remained steady. He kept his courage and created the pathway to future progress through his own intellect. During the later fortunate period, he eschewed hysteria and consumption, and took great care of the state’s administration for almost half a century. During this period, his Sardars fought all over the country and expanded the Maratha Confederacy. Like his own countrymen, even people in foreign lands too began obeying his orders. The enemies began feeling the terror of his name. His heart would always remain happy hearing the news report about some or the other new victory. In his long reign, he displayed magnanimity of heart to listen to his own countrymen as well as foreign emissaries. He rewarded everybody abundantly commensurate to the task accomplished, and considered the satisfaction of his subjects as the accomplishment of his life’s objectives. A ruler like him, who would always remain busy in the administrative activities, would participate in the joys and miseries of his people, would become one with them, was indeed rare. The contemporary documents clearly reflect the humongous extent of Shahu’s activities. Not only had he to resolve affairs like disputes, quarrels, fights, thefts, robberies, murders, and accidents; but he also had to also deal with countless affairs daily, like games, farewell gifts, feasts, courtly activities, rouses of his Sardars, reasoning with them, dispatching them on assignments, ceremonies like marriages, rewards to be conferred upon men and women, meetings with emissaries and guests from external kingdoms, responses to be provided to them, taking care of the protocols to be followed at the time of births and deaths amongst his own countrymen and relatives, the news reports about victories and defeats, etc., besides his own special interest in hunting. This is evident from the numerous documents of the time. Shahu also had to manage affairs like supplying money and armies to his Sardars, resolving their internal disputes, taking loans and repaying them etc. daily. Such extent of his activities went on increasing with time. His servants too realised themselves that a pattern emerged where whoever was given any responsibility, he was to return successful. Due to this, Shahu’s planning began to get appreciated everywhere, and a feeling took root that the king was virtuous.

The achievement of creating thousands of new capable people in the nation has become memorable and does not need re-statement. Thousands of families, consisting of all castes and classes, came forth due to Shahu’s encouragement. It was their capability that created the Maratha history, and these families went on to enjoy the fruits of the enterprise of their ancestors in some or the other form. The grant-notifications issued by Shahu himself number in thousands, and stand witness to Maharashtra’s capability. Most of the Marathi principalities, dynasties of various Sardars, and the religious places which had acquired the Inam grants, that were existent at the time of independence, were mostly from Shahu’s reign. Dhanaji and Pilaji Jadhav, Santaji Ghorpade and his extended family, Nagpur’s Bhosales and their activities which straddled half of Hindustan in their heyday, the whole Chitnis family, the eight ministers including the Pratinidhi, their representatives, Angres, Dabhades, Rajadnya, Ichalkaranji’s principals, Baramati’s dynasty, the extended Patwardhan family, so many such existing and late families cannot even be simply listed. The principalities of Shinde, Holkar, Pawar and Gaikwad remained until independence. Shahu’s dual role of providing an area of action for the activities of the nation, and then creating able people to occupy that area of action, has achieved a permanence in the history of the Maratha Confederacy. Even though the live symbol of all this, Shahunagar, which became famous all over the country for half a century, now exists only in name, one needs to keep in mind, that it was Shahu’s primary seat.

A memorable quality of Shahu’s overall administration can be cited as striving for the benefit of others. Seeing this king, who employed lakhs of Sardars, troubled by debts amounting to just in the thousands, one cannot but feel sympathy for him. He was always satisfied in a mouthful of food and water. Seeing that the Peshwas were capable, he entrusted the complete responsibility to them. Like the Peshwas, he also brought forth other families. He was never afflicted by differences between castes and communities. His mind was sinless like pure water. Nobody in history seems to have followed today’s lofty principles of equality and brotherhood the way he followed them in his administration. Therefore, his contemporary writers describe him with adjectives such as the most virtuous and Ajatshatru (one without enemies).

To be continued…

THE POWER OF COURTESY

Ample correspondence involving the joys and sorrows in relation to various things is available. Shahu was very much interested in arranging marriages for his Sardars or servants and carrying them out himself. He was the one who proposed Nanasaheb Peshwa’s marriage with the daughter of the Raste family. “He arranged the marriage of his mansion resident Lingubai’s son with Kedarji Kesarkar’s daughter. He attended and celebrated the ceremony along with the usual imperial paraphernalia of horses and elephants.”

Many such incidents have been documented. He would acquire candles, incense, roses, knives, swords, tobacco, gunpowder etc. foreign goods through Kanhoji Angre. The ivory trade was flourishing. Shahu had a great interest in planting orange saplings and maintaining orchards of other fruits. There are many letters available containing matter like, “You take along twenty-thousand mango seeds every year for planting. Do submit an account of where all these seeds have been planted after preparing it through the local Patil. We have ordered mango orchards to be grown in the Pune province where they are lacking.”

Brahmendra Swami wrote about him, “That the Swami builds temples, wells, tanks, plants trees and bushes is indelibly famous. We are much satisfied about it.” This and other such reports make us aware about Shahu’s personal life.

The Shloka in Shahu’s seal expresses his general feeling about life and state.

वर्धिष्णुर्विक्रमो विष्णोः सामूर्तिरिव वामनी।

शंभुसूनोरसौ मुद्रा शिवराजस्य राजते॥

The deeper meaning of this sentence i.e. even the smallest human being, is a part of that Supreme Being (God), which was expressed in a large measure in his administration and behaviour. Whatever differences of opinion and misconceptions exist about his capability, but there is no doubt that Shahu was one of the greatest persons in the Maratha history. Again, there is no doubt, that the expansion of the Marathi kingdom occurred to a large extent because of his generous and selfless policy. However, amongst the general public as well as in students of history, many misunderstandings and misleading ideas abound in this respect. Some believe, that Shahu grew up in the Badshah’s luxurious lifestyle. Therefore, his nature became a bit sheepish and passive. Some others say, he did not understand politics at all, and he did not understand how to judge a man’s character. He gave unreasonable importance to the Konkanasth Brahmin family of the Peshwas and brought weakness over the kingdom. Instead of securing and perfectly managing the original Deccan stronghold, he accepted the huge program of the northern Hind and brought about destruction of the kingdom. Nizam continued to live in his neighbourhood, whom he could not finish-off. Thus, Shahu’s administration was disorderly. Countless such conjectures are prevalent about him. Such conjectures are mostly imaginary and they do not have any support in contemporary documents. Shahu and Sawai Jaisingh grew up together under Aurangzeb. Later, through letters and diplomats their communication continued until the end of their lives. During the period of decline of the Mughal Empire, these two rulers worked together and fulfilled their national responsibilities. They negotiated the path of the benefit of the nation by working together with the Badshah, his Umraos, other Rajput rulers, Bajirao and the Nizam. Considering this, it is evident, that they cultivated friendly relations between Hindus and Muslims, and founded their politics on the basis of a common ground between the two communities. Shahu spread his kingdom from Tanjore up to Delhi. This achievement was not possible for a sheepish or inactive person. Deep Singh had informed his opinion to the Nizam saying, “Shahu Raja is sound, wise, discerning, and acts with deliberation. Therefore, his kingdom runs smoothly.”

That assessment should be considered apt. One can see that because the Marathi kingdom was blessed with a magnanimous, strategic and sympathetic king like him after Aurangzeb’s death, the kingdom could flourish, expand, and the glorious history of today was created. It is necessary to bring in front of today’s readers, the nature and capability of such historical figures appropriately. Later in India, the path of non-violence was propounded much. Even from that perspective, one can say that Shahu followed the same path to an extent. A cruel assassination of his father, Aurangzeb’s captivity thereafter, the huge war he mounted, the terrible desolation the country fell into due to that war, and numerous calamities that had fallen upon Shahu himself, were experiences that very few have to face in their lives in this world. These experiences gave a completely new direction to his life afterwards. The moment he got the throne, mercy became the theme of his behaviour, and he was blessed with a deep sense of satisfaction at the end of his life.

The objectives for the Maratha kingdom and the ways to accomplish them were decided by Shahu in his long reign. His influence was visible on Maharashtra until the very end. He zeroed in on these objectives through his inherent inspiration and nature, and taught a lesson of courtesy to this nation. This objective was not limited to selfish interests, but was about cleansing one’s heart. His feelings were not tied in specificities of religion and his nature inclined towards respecting all religions equally. He gave this specific direction to the whole nation and kept it detached from cruel tendencies. Whatever wars and battles did occur, never acquired the cruel and violent nature like the contemporary or modern European wars. The examples of this non-violent nature of Shahu are evident in numerous instances. Shahu’s behaviour has also expressed the way he suppressed the emotions of vengeance and resistance.

To be continued…

SHAHU’S SIGNIFICANCE

Even while in battle, there was absolutely no incident where he had given cruel punishment to anybody forcefully. Shahu treated everyone with affection, and reined everybody in. He used to know how to keep his men together. It was as if the so-called negative impacts that his father’s behaviour had on the kingdom, were etched onto his heart forever. He would completely forgive crimes committed by people, and would engage them in the cause of the kingdom. The moment they proved themselves by succeeding in their allocated tasks, he would reward them with huge gifts and Inams etc. and would always keep them happy. He would sometimes display his authority, sometimes request them humbly. He had excellent magnanimity. He would himself lived simply and would draw satisfaction from other people’s happiness and joy. Even when some assassins had attacked him, they themselves could not summon up the courage to raise their weapons against him. Shahu told them, “If the stewards see, they will punish you,” and sent them on their way. “This way Maharaj was Ajatshatru, to whom even an enemy would not feel like betraying.”

Shahu himself was not a renowned diplomat or a creative person, but he utilised people having such qualities. He was an excellent judge of people’s qualities. He used to always pay careful attention to the prosperity of his subjects. He mostly engaged in activities like settling down disused land, providing some concessions to the subjects in chaotic campaign times, reducing the revenue assessment demands, completing new revenue assessments. His sister’s husband Tarale’s Shankaraji Mahadik oppressed his subjects in the Inam villages under his control. There is a letter which warns him after protesting his actions which contains extremely harsh language to the effect, “Such behaviour by a Watandar is not seen from the Narmada to Rameshwar. The subjects are not to be subjected to thievery.”

“Even if he removed them from office, or granted them the office only upon payment of tributes, even after engaging in all kinds of affairs, nobody opposed or disobeyed him. This way, Maharaj enjoyed many days of unadulterated authority through high revenue assessments and huge plans.”

As the kingdom’s primary principal, Shahu would take care of everyone. He would participate in their joys and sorrows, would try to understand their hearts through activities like festivals, galas, celebratory feasts etc. and ensure that his influence remained permanently over them. Bajirao was blessed with boys, Shahu celebrated the festivals of their birth. Much donations were given away, Maharaj himself went and attended the ceremonial feast. All the big and small courtiers had attended these feasts. “Vishwasrao was born. Sugar was distributed. Brahmins were given donations. The feasts were arranged for everyone with Maharaj being given the first priority.”

Shahu would ensure similar care was taken in case of all his important colleagues. On such celebratory occasions as marriages, all the Sardars would treat Maharaj to celebratory feasts. Shahu would bring such occasions about on purpose sometimes.

Another aspect of Shahu’s capability comes to one’s mind. Like Bengal or Madras provinces, the end of Maharashtra’s glorious fortune did not occur in the middle of the eighteenth century, but the Maratha Confederacy displayed huge prowess in the battles at Panipat and Kharda, attained immortality for its name in the annals of history, and lasted around seventy-five years more than all other native powers. Most of the credit for this must be given to Shahu’s calm, quiet and encouraging politics. All the provinces and the kingdoms in Hindustan were in decline. In the past five hundred years a rare Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj had been born who stood up against the situation he faced. The westerners were slowly winning by overthrowing the huge Mughal Empire, one province at a time. In such a time of crisis, Shahu generated a new strength in the Maratha kingdom in the first half of the eighteenth century, and established a sound respect for the Marathas all over the Hindustan. This was not a small feat.

Shahu’s elder sister Bhawanibai was married into Tarale’s Mahadik family. Zulfiqar Khan had captured his two mothers, Sambhajiraje’s concubines, and Madan Singh at Raigad in 1689. Two mothers meant, his mother Yesubai and grandmother Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s wife Sakwarbai. Jotyaji Kesarkar, Moropant Sabnis, Uddhav Yogdeo Rajadnya and many other colleagues were accompanying Shahu in the Badshah’s captivity for eighteen years. When he was captured, Shahu was just seven years old. After he captured Shahu, Badshah employed a Marathi Pantoji (teacher) and facilitated some kind of education for Shahu. Similarly, he married Shahu two times with Ambikabai (Shinde), and Savitribai (Jadhav). Shahu also had a concubine named Birubai.

To be continued…

CONTEMPORARY PUBLIC OPINION

There are many general references to Shahu Maharaj’s qualities and virtues in erstwhile documents. Some of them are provided below, “(Maharaj) graced and called everybody his own. He made them his own and kept them attached to the cause. Everybody felt that he graced them more than everybody else. He used the usual tools available to him including various appointments, assignments, land-parcels, Inam grants etc. If a person was found to be useful in a particular activity, but had some demerit, Maharaj had the good grace to tactfully cover-up for that demerit, and wean the person away from it. He would encourage them to express their good qualities, and allow them to grow. He took good care of everybody. He realised that this way, he had to make his kingdom rise, grow, and expand. He was conscious of the common perception that his father was blamed for hurting our own people, killing them, allowing the workshops and industries to degenerate, through these allowing the kingdom to be lost, and finally having committed the sin of killing Brahmins. Because of all this, he had an unwavering faith in various deities and Brahmin preceptors. He would always keep wise people around, would always listen to their tactics, intellectual advice, and would always act after discussing with them.

“(Maharaj) continued various Inams, worship-rights, arrangements for daily worships and offerings etc. for various deities and Brahmins. Wherever such arrangements were not made before, he made new ones. His servants and assistants began working with utmost loyalty, without dishonouring his orders even slightly. Whatever task he assigned to someone, and they proceeded to carry it out, they always achieved success in it. Whoever wanted to participate in the expansion of the kingdom, began working towards it this way.

“Many good and renowned people had left for foreign kingdoms previously due to the problematic situations they had faced. They were brought back into the Swarajya and were provided permanent benefices. Whenever the poor brought to him any grievances, he would make the palanquin stop while on march, or listen carefully to them when at court, and immediately issue the relevant resolution orders. If he had to issue instructions for the judicial arm, he would do so, and be ready to listen to their response. If he had to send some instructions to the Tehsil or district officials, he would ensure they were sent. He would ensure that whatever the reasonable resolution, was implemented without harming anybody else. He would never order any harsh punishments. If anybody deserved capital punishment, due to proven injustice, after detailed investigation and judgment, he would send the convict to Kanhoji Angre and whatever the punishment would be implemented by Angre.” In those times, the capital punishment would be implemented at the Colaba fort by pushing the convict down a cliff.

Nizam-ul-Mulk’s grandson Muzaffar Jung had uttered the following words for Shahu, “Like Nizam-ul-Mulk in the Mughal Empire, Shahu was an equivalent in the Maratha kingdom. Such men would never be born again. Shahu entrusted the whole kingdom to the Peshwa. He administered the kingdom perfectly. He was Ajatshatru (one without enemies).”

These words were uttered after his death, which proves that even Muslim rulers have considered him to be a person who treated everybody equally being true to the epaulet Ajatshatru.

“Since the time he made Satara as the place of his throne, he carried out all the state’s administrative activities through his servants in many campaigns and battles using huge armies. He was very clever in his planning. All his kingdom had been subsumed by the Mughal Empire, which he freed through his plans. He kept his flock together with his authority and created new renowned and powerful men, allowed them to grow. Whichever older men aligned with him, he allowed them to continue to enjoy their erstwhile positions and benefices. He used to act as per the advice imparted by wise and mature people. He used to get his work accomplished through trusted lieutenants. He would never keep company of mean, inebriated, addicted, alcoholic people, and ran his administration through his diplomats. He engaged the Marathas in soldierly responsibilities. He freed the northern realms and fulfilled the objective of the senior Maharaj. The boundaries of the kingdom extended to the east and south, met the four seas, the kingdom on all four sides began getting driven through a unified command structure.

“He decided that in the month of Shravan every year, he would examine the Brahmins in their acumen in Vedic Shastras and rituals, and initially at Talegaon through the Dabhades, and later at Pune, he would engage in charitable donations amounting to four to five lakh rupees. His fame spread everywhere, and lakhs of intellectuals, ascetics, great men would converge upon these places from all directions. Satara and Pune attained a status of a university almost like Kashi. He gave a sovereignty to the kingdom so that nobody would dare to disobey a straight order. He took good care of his subjects through judicious policy. He remained sympathetic towards the poor and orphans, and allayed their miseries. The subjects faced absolutely no trouble. Monsoons favoured the land as usual, which produced ample food-grains and abundance prevailed everywhere.”

To be continued…

IN A FLUX

The failure of Babuji Naik was not just due to his own faults. He had detractors from within the Maratha fold, including the Peshwa himself. Not only did the Peshwa prove to be sufficient for Babuji Naik and Sambhaji II, but he also rendered powerful men like Raghuji Bhosale and Murarrao Ghorpade completely harmless. The Peshwa’s trusted lieutenants were working on this task sitting at their courts continuously. Whether it was Raghuji or Murarrao, both realised the situation correctly, did not allow anybody outside to fathom their hearts, and kept behaving as the events unfolded. Since they completely recognised the Peshwa’s strength, they never took it upon themselves to oppose him.

Nanasaheb returned to Satara in August 1748. By then, two stalwarts on the Indian scene had departed from the scene. Mohammedshah died before the victorious army from Manupur could return to Delhi. His son Ahmedshah was declared the new Badshah, with Mansoor Ali Khan Safdarjung appointed as the new Vazir. The Nizam-ul-Mulk died on 21 May 1748 at Burhanpur. He had, in twenty-four turbulent years in the Deccan, managed to survive and control the narrative of the politics in the peninsula. Despite the strength of the Marathas and their victories over him, he had astutely avoided being removed from his perch. The crisis during Nadir Shah’s invasion had placed him in real danger. However, with his cleverness and patience, he had extricated himself from the most difficult situations. His death, however, threw up yet another succession dispute after Jaipur.

On his way back from the north, Nanasaheb met Naseer Jung, perhaps in July or August 1748. A letter from the Nizam’s court to Sadashivrao Bhau dated October 1748 gives more details, “The Nizam has met Rajashree Pradhanpant. The Nawab has given four lakh rupees to him for expenses. Treasure laden on thirty camels came to the Pradhanpant.”

After Nizam-ul-Mulk died, in the month of October 1748, Nanasaheb met Naseer Jung and established friendly relations with him. The death of rulers of Jaipur and Hyderabad unleashed a race for succession due to a surfeit of claimants. In the case of the Marathas, Shahu not having a legitimate son, and getting on in years, had not found an answer to the vexed question of succession. His queens, and the dowager queen Tarabai – now nearing seventy and living at Satara – and a host of Maratha Sardars and intriguing ministers began to influence the succession. The struggle involved a concern for the royal lineage, the house of Kolhapur, the caste-divide of the Brahmins, Marathas and other castes, and to top it all, a descendant of the royal house of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj brought up in obscurity. Eventually, this was to occupy two full years of Nanasaheb’s reign when huge political changes were sweeping over the rest of the country.

On hearing the death of Mohammedshah and the Nizam, Dupleix felt the Marathas would grow stronger. He said to Ananda Ranga Pillai, “There will be war and the Marathas will grow still stronger. Since the Nawab of Bengal died, the Marathas have seized his brother and are ruling the whole of Bengal. They will do the same here. These things are pre-ordained; the Badshah at Delhi has died and many have perished for no reason at all and there is confusion. We shall see the same things in these parts next.”

Ananda Ranga replied, “Is so much evil awaiting us?”

The coming years would answer Ananda Ranga Pillai’s question.

The Peshwa had consolidated his plans outside by excellently maintaining all his external relations. Bhausaheb had established a permanent bond of friendship with Murarrao in the Carnatic campaign. The Pratinidhi, Sawants etc. fought with Tulaji Angre at Mudagad. In it, Sambhaji II insisted with Murarrao to help Tulaji. But he did not play any role in that affair. Overall, each and every influential person stayed glued to their spot towards Shahu’s end of days.

The discerning people all over the kingdom were watching what plan Shahu decided. A general feeling spread everywhere, that nobody could control the kingdom like the Peshwa, and it was appropriate to seek his refuge. It was clearly evident that Sadashivrao Bhau went to the Carnatic and blew Babuji Naik away. This event portrayed Sadashivrao Bhau’s character in sharp relief, even more aggressive than Nanasaheb.

To be continued…

INTERNAL-EXTERNAL HURDLES

Since Babuji Naik had collected some tribute in Sambhaji II’s realms, Sambhaji II had come to Satara and sat there for five to six months in order to complain against Naik. Meanwhile, when the Peshwa stood guarantor, Sambhaji II left. Accordingly, after Sambhaji II left, Babuji Naik came to Satara for meeting Maharaj. Shahu protested against him, “Due to this, he began fasting sitting on the Swami’s doorway. Because of that, Maharaj became very angry. The mediators keep falling at the Swami’s feet daily. Don’t know what result God has appointed.”

Babuji’s plight brought a letter from the Peshwa’s grandmother Radhabai asking him to do whatever was necessary to save the lives of the Naik brothers. Babuji himself would not come before Maharaj. Eventually, the Peshwa compensated Sambhaji II. Over time, Babuji was given some compensation and he withdrew his fast.

In the month of May 1747, Raghuji came to Satara. In the initial two to three months of the same year, Shahu had become upset with the Peshwa and he had been removed from the office for a short while. One can speculate from this, that Shahu suggested taking away the Peshwa office, and that Raghuji manage the complete administration. But Raghuji and the Peshwa discussed this proposal, and Raghuji did not accept the burden of the administration. At this time, Kanhoji Bhosale’s son Rayaji and Raghuji were struggling with each other. A report says on 1 May 1747, “Raghujibaba was presented protocol clothes by the younger queen. But he is still here. His attention is drawn towards Rayaji Bhosale’s benefices. Once that is resolved, Raghuji will leave.”

This bickering between Sambhaji II and Babuji Naik lasted until Shahu’s end. On 7 June 1747, Bajirao’s sister Bhiubai (Anubai), Aabaji Naik’s wife died, due to which, the relation between the Peshwas and the Naiks came to an end.

After leaving Tiruchirappalli, Murarrao Ghorpade had been staying at Gutti. Sambhaji II and Jijabai invited him to Kolhapur in the month of December 1747 with an intention to break the back of the numerous disputes that prevailed in their realms. Arjoji Jadhav had been sitting pretty with stations like Wadgaon etc. under his control. Murarrao taught him a sound lesson, and settled down Jijabai’s control everywhere. He had three-and-a-half-thousand cavalrymen and three cannons. One of the erstwhile scribe reports, “Previously, at the time of Bajirao Peshwa, the Nizam had supported Panhala’s Maharaj and raised the heat. Similar plan seems to be afoot again. Murarrao’s sweet-talk has influenced Sambhaji II and Jijabai. Baisaheb is extremely scheming. She does not have a quiet mind.”

In 1747, the news about Mahadaji Ambaji Purandare’s betrayal reached Shahu. Kohlapur was rife with such big or small conspiracies. Without engaging in them much, Murarrao went back to the Carnatic in the month of March 1748.

The Nizam summoned Anwaruddin Khan from Arcot, and in a battle against the combined armies of the Nizam and the Nawab’s of the Carnatic, Babuji faced a defeat at Basavapattan. In the process, Babuji had lost the bulk of his wealth in defending the territory between the Krishna and Tungabhadra that Shahu had given him to administer.

The Nizam began his activities to collect tributes from Bednoor, Savnoor etc. Naik, Peshwa etc. people were trying to accomplish their objectives through the Nizam’s approval, without opposing the Nizam or giving him battle. The Nizam dispatched his son Naseer Jung to the Carnatic, but he could not achieve much. The Nizam was getting old and Maratha presence in the south had reduced over the last few years. Since around this time, the Nizam’s health went on deteriorating day-by-day, and he died later. Due to this, the Peshwa began succeeding in the Carnatic.

Babuji Naik’s last attempt to fight for the Carnatic was in June 1748. The situation had changed by then as Chanda Saheb had been released by the Marathas for a ransom and a fresh Maratha army under Fatehsingh and Raghuji had gathered at Akkalkot, ready to march towards the Carnatic. A message from Satara that reached Ananda Ranga Pillai at Pondicherry describes Babuji’s anguish, “The messenger from Satara tells me that Fatehsingh and Raghuji Bhosale have assembled their troops at a place called Akkalkot, 180 miles this side of Satara, and are marching this way. When Babuji Naik, who has lost fifty lakh rupees, heard that Fatehsingh and Raghuji Bhosale had been sent to the Carnatic instead of himself, he set fire to his tents and goods, and has been lying at Shahu Raja’s gate for the last 20 days in the garb of an ascetic, with his wife and another person, threatening to poison himself. Chanda Saheb has taken leave, saying that he will return when he has recovered Tiruchirappalli.”

To obtain some compensation, Babuji Naik had, on one occasion, actually consumed poison to put the blame of ‘Brahma-Hatya’ (death of a Brahmin) on Maharaj. It was an extreme form of Dharna to press Shahu for retiring his debts. Shahu’s biographer says, “When Maharaj learnt of this he said, ‘Babuji did this after I said I will take care of his debts. Give him milk.’ The king then gave him milk and the effect of the Somal (poison) was overcome.”

There is another reference from the month of June 1748, “Babuji Naik (and probably the family members) had consumed poison. Out of all, Aabaji and his senior wife recovered. But Babuji Naik is not recovering. Situation seems difficult.”

To be continued…