While Peshwa Bajirao was busy settling matters at home, Nasir Jung, the sharpest of Nizam-ul-Mulk’s six sons who had raised an army to help his father in the Battle of Bhopal began to prepare for military operations against the Marathas.
After Nadir Shah departed from Akhanda Bharat in 1739, Nizam-ul-Mulk began his political intrigues with Sumant Anandrao who according to the stipulations of Palkhed was no longer welcome at the Nizam’s court. The Sumant who had remained with the Nizam in Delhi when Nadir Shah invaded Akhanda Bharat returned to Satara with instructions to sow the seeds of doubt about the loyalty of the Peshwa in the mind of Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj.
The rich province of Berar, a prized possession of the Nizam had been recently captured by Raghuji Bhosle. In retaliation, Nasir Jung advanced from Aurangabad at the end of 1739, crossed the Godavari to invade the Peshwa‘s lands.
The Peshwa had already despatched Tubaji Anant to seize some of the Nizam’s forts in the upper course of the Godavari. Upon hearing that Nasir Jung was marching rapidly, he started with his trusted men and was joined by Chimaji Appa shortly afterwards.
Nasir Jung realized the futility of his actions and retraced his steps quickly. However, he was relentlessly pursued while retreating and was surrounded near Aurangabad.
He found the situation untenable and conceded defeat. He agreed to the terms the Peshwa imposed on him. The treaty was formally concluded at Mungi on 27 February 1740 and was ratified at Pimpalgaon on 3 March 1740.
Nasir Jung ceded the prosperous territories of Handia and Khargone to the Peshwa who proceeded immediately to occupy them. Chimaji Appa also paid a visit to Nasir Jung at Aurangabad on 12 March 1740.
This was the last battle of Peshwa Bajirao who passed away suddenly on 28 April 1740 by the bank of his beloved Rewa thus bringing to an end a glorious chapter of the Marathas. His contribution, achievements, character and military stratagem puts him next only to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
A military genius who assumed the highest position at a young age extended the Maratha dominion in all directions and completely transformed the status of the Maratha State from a small kingdom to a rising power whose influence extended to the farthest places in Akhanda Bharat.
“The place of Baji Rao I in India’s history comes home to us with unmistakable force and vividness when we compare the political situation of this country in 1740 with that in 1720. These twenty years of his active career witnessed a complete revolution in the character of the Maratha national state and an entire redistribution of political power throughout India. No historian can deny the fact that both these changes were the work, conscious or unconscious, of Baji Rao.” – Renowned historian Sri Jadunath Sarkar
Book recommendation: The Era of Baji rao by Uday S. Kulkarni
Written by Lakshmi Subramanian
* Information about Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj is taken from archives
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