On the history trail: The ruler at Delhi refuses to meet Peshwa Bajirao

Peshwa Bajirao received tributes from all quarters during his visit to Rajputana. The Mir Bakshi Khan Dowran VII (Khan-i-Dauran) sent five to ten thousand rupees daily. Sawai Jai Singh and the Peshwa held their first meeting on 4 March 1736 near Kishangarh.

 

Their mutual respect and admiration defined the course of their discussions that went on for several days. Peace terms and arrangements for the meeting with the ruler of Delhi was worked out.

 

Sawai Jai Singh offered to pay 5 lac rupees as chauth for Jaipur and promised to obtain a written consent and grant for the provinces of Malwa and Gujarat from the ruler at Delhi. The Peshwa‘s agents Mahadev Bhat Hingne and Yadavarao Munshi and Kriparam, the agent of Sawai Jai Singh headed to Delhi to make the necessary arrangements to facilitate a meeting with the ruler at Delhi.

 

The Peshwa in the meantime visited the neighbouring territories accompanied by Ranoji Scindia and Ramchandra Baba. The ruler of Delhi prone to a life of leisure was known to get easily swayed by opinions of those who were animus towards the Marathas.

 

He wasn’t interested to meet the Peshwa and instead sent his own agents Yadgar Khan and Kriparam to Sawai Jai Singh with ludicrous proposals that did not bode well for the future of the Marathas.

 

The Peshwa rejected the offers immediately and sent his own agents Dhondo Govind and Baburao Malhar to Delhi with counter proposals. The proposals expressed the Maratha displeasure which greatly angered the ruler at Delhi. He declined to reply and instead prepared for military operations against the Marathas.

 

The Peshwa did not waste his time anymore as it became clear that the ruler at Delhi would not be amiable and returned to the Deccan in haste.

 

Written by Lakshmi Subramanian

 

* Information about Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj is taken from archives