On the history trail: Peshwa Bajirao and Nizam-ul-Mulk reach an agreement

The decisive defeat of the combined forces of Trimbakrao Dabhade and Nizam-ul-Mulk at Dabhoi made the Nizam rethink his attitude towards the astute Peshwa Bajirao. The Nizam suggested a personal meeting to put an end to the frequent clashes between them that had always been instigated by the former for reasons better known to him.

 

The Peshwa was not particularly excited about this meeting as previous meetings had failed to resolve the long – pending issues of Chauth and Sardeshmukhi because of the prejudice of the Nizam towards the Marathas even though he was only an invader with no right to rule even an inch of Akhanda Bharat.

 

The Nizam sent another request to meet to Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj and Shahu Raje instructed the Peshwa to meet the Nizam at once. The Peshwa‘s friends and well – wishers advised him to decline the meeting but Shahu Raje was most insistent.

 

In the end, Peshwa Bajirao accompanied by a few trusted friends and guards advanced into the Nizam’s territories after ascertaining the Nizam’s intentions through his network of spies. The two met on 27 December 1732 at some spot in Ausa, about 8 miles north of Latur.

 

The Nizam presented the Peshwa with seven dresses, two pairs of priceless pearls, two horses and an elephant. This meeting was surprisingly successful and an account of this meeting is seen in the letter written by the Peshwa to his brother Chimaji Appa,

 

“I proceeded by rapid marches towards Latur, where I learnt that the Nawab was at Koti near Vagir about twenty miles away. On 25 December, I despatched Anandrao Sumant to meet the Nawab and arrange the details of my visit. An immediate reply was received from the Sumant, and as I advanced, the Nawab cancelling his journey to Haidarabad came specially to meet me and halted at a convenient open plain.

 

Next day, 27th December, I proceeded with my full force to the Nawab’s camp. Upon my arrival, the Nawab removed the usual armed guard from his gate and posted Sumant, Rao Rambha and Turk – Taz Khan to wait at the gate to receive and admit me.

 

I left my troops outside and went in with two hundred followers. The Nawab sent a party of a few special officers to conduct me in and himself with Aiwaz Khan and Hamid Khan stood in front of his tent. As I advanced, I first accosted the receiving officers and they introduced me to the Nawab.

 

He then received me with great respect and cordiality. After spending a few minutes together in the open Darbar exchanging enquiries of welcome, the Nawab took me by the hand and led me to another tent for a confidential talk where only Rao Rambha, Turk – Taz Khan and four of my companions were present.

 

Here, we talked long and freely upon many topics in a vein of the utmost cordiality and happiness. The Nawab highly applauded me and our Chhatrapati. After an hour’s conversation, he offered me paan and the same was distributed to all our party outside. Thus, the visit was concluded and I returned to my quarters an hour before evening.

 

Thereupon we received from the Nawab grand and sufficient rations for our dinner, baskets of sweetmeats and fruits, these extending in a long line from his camp to ours. I had made before now three visits to the Nawab, but those were only formal with no opening of hearts.

 

This time, however, we discussed many questions openly, cementing our mutual good will and friendship. Whatever suspicions and fears had existed formerly, have now been completely removed.

 

The Nawab repeatedly expressed a desire that our cordiality and pleasant relations would go on ever increasing. He specially called Sultanji Nimbalkar and Chandrasen Jadhav for my visit and asked me to extend my kindly attention to them.”

 

The outcome of this momentous visit was a secret agreement between the Nizam and the Marathas in which the Peshwa and the Maratha government would not enter the Deccan and levy only Chauth and Sardeshmukhi from them while the Nizam would remain neutral in the Maratha advancement in Akhanda Bharat provided that they did not cause damage to the rich province of Khandesh in their forward march to the north.

 

Written by Lakshmi Subramanian

 

* Information about Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj is taken from archives