On the history trail: Peshwa Bajirao dashes to Delhi

A very disagreeable report of Peshwa Bajirao by Yadgar Khan reached the ears of the ruler at Delhi. A warlike atmosphere was seen in both Delhi and Satara during the monsoon of 1736.

 

The Peshwa instructed Ranoji Scindia and Malharrao Holkar to set up camp in Malwa and review the situation. The Peshwa held long discussions with Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj and his colleagues and made preparations for renewed hostilities. He entered Malwa in early January 1737.

 

Ranoji Scindia met him at Bhilsa and deliberated over the details of the impending military operation. The Peshwa assigned each commander a specific task to protect the lands between the Narmada and Yamuna.

 

Baji Bhivrao and Malharrao Holkar proceeded to Bundelkhand while the Peshwa and Ranoji Scindia followed slowly. Bhadawar and Ater were captured with relative ease and a large booty was obtained. Nana Phadnis’s father Janardhan Baba was given charge of maintaining a record of the funds.

 

Saadat Khan who had been despatched by the ruler at Delhi to stop the Maratha march attacked Malharrao Holkar and Baji Bhivrao who had crossed over the Yamuna and had plundered Itimadpur and other places close to Agra. The Marathas managed to cross the Yamuna and joined the main army.

 

A few lost their life but Saadat Khan assumed that this was the main Maratha army and sent a boastful account of his supposed victory over the Maratha commanders. The ruler at Delhi lost no time in sending his congratulations to Saadat Khan and the other generals and heaped praises and gifts upon them.

 

All the Mughal commanders including the Mir Bakshi Khan Dowran VII (Khan-i-Dauran), the Wazir Qamruddhin Khan and Muhammad Khan Bangash abandoned their military preparations and gathered near Mathura to celebrate their “victory” over the Marathas blissfully oblivious of the storm heading their way.

 

The Peshwa was quietly watching the events unfolding in Bundelkhand and pondered over the next course of action to reveal the actual facts of the situation in the north. He ascertained the movements of the Mughal armies, routes leading to Delhi and the defences of the capital city with the help of Dhondo Govind and Mahadev Bhat Hingne.

 

This is an account written on 5 April 1737 from Jaipur by Peshwa Bajirao to his brother Chimaji Appa of what followed,

 

“Saadat Khan sent a false report to the emperor that he had routed the main Maratha army, slaughtered two thousand and drowned another two thousand in the Jamuna. He also reported that Malharji Holkar and Vithoji Bule were killed and that he had thus repelled the so-called furious onslaught of Bajirao. The emperor was so highly gratified with this news that he sent him hearty congratulations with dresses and a pearl necklace, elephants and other gifts.

 

My agent Dhondo Govind sent me frequent messages with correct news of these transactions at the emperor’s Court. You know how hollow are the professions of these Mughal grandees. I, therefore, decided to teach the emperor a wholesome lesson by letting him know that Holkar and Bule were still alive.

 

Two ways were open to me, to attack Saadat Khan and destroy him; or fall upon Delhi itself and burn its outlying parts. But Saadat Khan would not venture out from Agra. So, I took the latter course. Avoiding the main Mughal concentration, I advanced through the Mewati territory while Khan Dauran and Bangash marched towards Agra and joined Saadat Khan on 23rd March.

 

Our agent Dhondo Govind was expelled from their camp as a supposed mischief-maker. He came and joined me. In two long marches I reached Delhi on 28, and encamped outside the city. I gave up the idea of setting fire to the adjoining suburbs, considering it a sacrilege to commit such a wanton outrage upon the ancient city.

 

March 29 happened to be the day of Shree Rama’s birth, for which celebrations were going on in the city when we created a sensation by falling upon the crowds and carrying away some light plunder. This was enough to strike terror. The news reached the emperor who on 30th March sent his agent to me, with a request that I should send back Dhondo Govind.

 

I sent word saying that an escort may be sent for Dhondo Govind’s safe journey through the infuriated crowds of the city. In the meanwhile, to allay the scare created by our presence, we withdrew to a position away from the city and formed our camp at the Jhil Lake.

 

As we started back, a force of about 8,000 was despatched by the emperor to drive us away. Our Sardars, Holkar, Scindia and the Pawar brothers at once faced them gallantly and inflicted upon them a crushing defeat.

 

A dozen Mughal officers were killed and Mir Hassan Koka was wounded. Several others fled away to save their lives. Our own loss was insignificant. After repairing to the Jhil Lake, we discovered in the afternoon that the Wazir Qamruddin Khan was coming to face us.

 

We at once attacked him, but it soon became dark and we were compelled to retire. On Thursday 31 March, we received news that all the combined Mughal army was coming upon us.

 

In order to draw them away and attack them piecemeal, we marched towards Rewari and Kotputli, and now we hear the emperor has called them all back. Jai Singh has written to me requesting me not to molest his territory. We are now proceeding towards Gwalior for collecting arrears.

 

If the Mughals pursue, we are quite equal to the task of facing and destroying them. We have practically desolated the environs of Delhi. If Nizam-ul-Mulk tries to cross the Narmada and come to the help of the emperor, you must prevent him and hold him in check. Such is the outcome of this great offensive.”

 

Written by Lakshmi Subramanian

 

* Information about Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj is taken from archives