The hard – fought battle to annex Bassein and bring to an end a cruel Portuguese regime of two hundred years that saw unmentionable atrocities, heinous form of torture, unethical forced conversions to Christianity and deplorable religious persecution is one of the most glorious chapters of Maratha history. This resounding success for the Marathas and Peshwa Bajirao and his brother Chimaji Appa was celebrated by all Hindus across the country.
The Marathas took possession of the fort on 12 May 1739 and on the auspicious day of May 23, 1739, the Zari Patka was unfurled from the ramparts of Bassein. The Portuguese power which had flourished and laid waste to the coastal regions for two centuries was now reduced to only Goa, Daman and Diu.
Two smaller Portuguese outposts of Chaul and Korlai were also taken over by the Marathas. Chimaji Appa and Vyankatrao Ghorpade made their way to Satara from Bassein and Goa respectively by the end of June 1739 and were accorded the highest honours by Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj.
However, the British were greatly alarmed by the Maratha conquest of Bassein as it brought them and their superior naval force and arsenal dangerously close to their settlement at Bombay. The British immediately despatched Captain Inchbird to meet Chimaji Appa when he was settling administrative affairs at Bassein.
Inchbird and Chimaji Appa met in June 1739 and agreed to a general treaty of peace and friendship in light of recent developments. But the British were overly anxious to remove any Maratha offensive against Bombay and sent another team headed by Captain Gordon to ascertain the Maratha plans.
Gordon left Bombay on 12 May 1739 with strict instructions to gauge the possibility of sowing seeds of discord and antagonism between the Chhatrapati and the Peshwa. Gordan arrived at Satara on 8 June 1739, remained till 30 June 1739 and returned to Bombay on 14 July 1739.
He carried gifts for Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj and his council members, many of whom he interviewed at length to gather minute information of the strength and weakness of the Maratha government. He gave a detailed report of the same and emphasised that Peshwa Bajirao was unlikely to be dislodged from power and had the complete trust of the Chhatrapati.
The British realized that it was imperative to have good relations with the Peshwa to further their own agenda and protect their interests. They deputed Captain Inchbird to pay a visit to Peshwa Bajirao and arrange matters.
Inchbird left Bombay towards the end of 1739 and met with the Peshwa near Paithan on the Godavari River on 14 January 1740. A treaty of peace, mediation and friendship was discussed. The actual treaty of 8 articles was ratified by Peshwa Nanasaheb on 7 September 1740 as Peshwa Bajirao passed away on 28 April 1740.
Written by Lakshmi Subramanian
* Information about Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj is taken from archives
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