Chapter Six Epilogue
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CHAPTER SIX EPILOGUE 230 Shivaji fought Mughals in the north and Bijapuri Sultans in the south and carved out an independent kingdom of his own out of his small Jagir of Poona. He had rare gifted qualities of winning the heart of common people, who became the basis of his Swarajya i.e., kingdom. He was a great military genius and a diplomat and above all a man of creative ability. He coronated himself on the 6th June, 1674 and declared to the world that he became independent sovereign ruler. He also declared to the world that he was no longer a jahagirdar but an independent sovereign ruler. Shivaji also founded his own administrative institutions such as Ashta Pradhan Mandal'*', a new system of military and civil administration etc. This system was based on regular payment to the officers and soldiers. They were also not hereditary. They continued in their respective position as long as they carried on their duties well. He discontinued the practice of giving lands, jagirs, saranjams to the officers including his ministers. His ministers were advisers, and remained in their offices as long as they enjoyed his confidence. The function of Shivaji*s council was merely advisory. All decision-making authority finally rested in him. Chhatrapati represented sovereign power both in theory and practice. Thus in Shivaji's time Chhatrapati was the fountain of final authority and of all sources of power. After the death of Chhatrapati Shivaji on 5th April 1680, 231 Shivaji's elder son Sambhaji became Chhatrapati in the circumstances of stresses and strains. Due to court fractions on the issue of succession after Shivaji, Sambhaji started his stormy career. Meanwhile Aurangzeb's son Prince Akbar having been won by Rajputs, rebelled against his father and sought asylum with the Maratha king. Had Sambhaji been a diplomat and a man of ability like his father, he would have taken advantage of open rebellion staged by Akbar. But Sambhaji who was already facing difficulties in his hone front had to face the fresh problem from Mughal front also after Akbar's escape to Maharashtra. Sambhaji almost simultaneously fought Siddis, Mughals, Portuguese very bravely but he was finally captured and put to death by Aurangzeb in 1689. In spite of his multifarious problems Sambhaji maintained the policy of Chhatrapati Shivaji as sole decision-maker and a sovereign ruler. The Chhandogamatya, a special post was created by him for Kavi Kalsh who influenced his decisions from time to time due to his personal relation. Otherwise in matter of administration Sambhaji strictly followed the line of his father. He did not allow anybody to overpower the authority of the Chhatrapati. On the contrary the cruel way in which he was put to death by Aurangzeb, and the heroic death that he embraced with pride and self-respect made the position of Chhatrapati more powerful and inspiring. 232 After the cruel murder of Sambhaji, Rajaram, the second son of Shivaji was proclaimed a king during the minority of Shahu in 1689, At the very time Sambhaji's wife Yesubai and his small son were captured on the fort of Raigad by 2-ulfiqar Khan in 1689. Rajaram escaped to Jinji which became the capital of Marathas for the time being, leaving Ramchandra Pant Amatya tn Maharashtra, The cruel murder of Sambhaji inspired Maharashtra for the cause of fighting to defend Maratha Swarajya. Aurangzeb after extinguishing Golkonda and Bijapur, killed the Chhatrapati of the Marathas. Perhaps he viewed that with the end of the Chhatrapati there ended every opposition. But this was in fact the beginning of his end. The leaders took solemn oath of remaining faithful to Shahu as their Chhatrapati and carried on the warfare in his name. The war continued for seventeen years for liberating the country from the enemy's possession. The notable Maratha generals like Dhanaji Jadhav, Santaji Ghorpade, Pralhad Niraji earned fame for fighting against the Mughals. Marathas harrassed the Mughal army by cutting supplies and starving them. Marathas defeated Mughals not only in the Sahyadri but also in open places in Desh area. Rajaram, therefore, thinking that Satara would be suitable place from strategic point of view, made his capital. Worn out by constant activities, Rajaram fell ill and died in 1700 at Sinhagad. He delegated his authority to two Brahmin officers - Pralhad Niraji and Ramchandra Pant. 233 After the death of Rajaram his queen Tarabai placed her son Shivaji II and carried on the struggle against the Mughals, Fran 1700 to 1707 she was the sole authority wielding all power of Chhatrapati in her. Mughals especially .^urangzeb understood that the war against Marathas is a futile exercise. Worn out emperor# 81 years old# died in 1707. The administrative set up established by Shivaji remained disturbed as regular routine during the war. At the same time the system of Ashta Pradhans was not changed except introducing the office of Pratinidhi, Rajaram was weak-minded person and did not take any decision independently. Chhatrapati*s views and decisions for execution were represented by Pralhad Niraji and Ramchandra Pant. Therefore the system of administration continued without any change. But the system of the Ashta Pradhans remained disturbed. The very important notable change which can be called as an evil system in body politics of the Marathas was the system of giving jagirs and saranjams introduced during Rajaram*s time. It must be noted here that Chhatrapati was not responsible for this system# it is circumstances that compelled Rajaram to introduce it. Aurangzeb# after his entry in Maharashtra# started encouraging Maratha generals to his side by giving Saranjams and Jagirs. To counteract it the Maratha Government adopted the same method. Rajaram profusely distributed the lands and watan and had the desired effect in checking the Maratha sardars 234 deserting. The death of Aurangzeb (1707) marks a distinct break between the old order that was passing and the new that was coming. Pri nee Shahu who was in the captivity of Aurangzeb was released by Zulfiqar Khan for keeping the Marathas divided by domestic feud. Tarabai was the administrator of Maratha state and she declared Shahu as an imposter. This is the invitation for civil war between Shahu and Tarabai for ascendance to the Maratha throne. In the battle of Khed in 1708 Shahu showed his superiority and coronated himself at Satara on 12 Jan. 1708. With the help of Balaji Vishvanath Shahu strengthened his position as Chhatrapati. He defeated the internal and external enanies. Shahu was trying to seek sanad, which he was promised at the time of release. The satisfactory agreement was executed by Sayads and formal grants for restoration of Swarajya and collection of Chauthai and Sardeshmukhi were delivered to Balaji. Shahu had instructed Balaji to try and obtain similar sanads for the Subhas of Malwa and Gujarat but the circumstances were not favourable. Shahu*s position was stabilized when his Peshwa Balaji Vishwanath died and his son Bajirao I succeeded him as Peshwa. Bajirao had implicit confidence in his master, raised the necessary troops and strengthened the royal authority by eliminating opposition. The Nizam who had a peculiar attraction 235 for the Deccan# was appointed as viceroy# and he created problems for the Marathas. He resumed his friendship with Sambhaji of 2 Kolhapur# Chandrasen and the Maratha nobles. Besides recognizing the imperial grants Nizam agreed to subside Bajirao's army. In this struggle Raja Shahu desired that the Marathas should 3 remain neutral. But Nizam was studiously cautious in carrying out his designs against Shahu. But Nizam was defeated two times - once at Palkhed in 1727# and again at Bhopal in 1736, Thus, Bajirao under the authority of Raja Shahu spread Maratha Raj in the north and south. At the very time Shahu had faced the internal trouble. The controversy started between Peshwa and Senapati and Peshwa and Pratinidhi. Sambhaji of Kolhapur started intrigue against Shahu with the help of Maratha Sardars and Shahu's enemy, Peshwa and Dabhade developed discordance over Gujarati, Both fought a battle at Dabhai# Bajirao defeated and killed Dabhade in the battle. Shahu was smitten with remorse when he learnt the death of Dabhade. He next set himself to the practical side of the question and the boundaries of Malwa and Gujarat between Peshwa and Dabhade, But in spite of the royal generosity# the house of the Dabhades never recovered from the ruinous defeat 4 of Dabhai. The victory of Dabhai marks the emergence of Bajirao "with all but nominal control of the Maratha Chhatrapati over him." 236 Shahu insisted on a personal discussion of the conflicting policies of the Peshwa and Pratinidhi with Bajirao. The independent proceedings of Bajirao, without reference to Shahu were not pleasing to him and appeared highly outrageous. Sambhaji of Kolhapur persisted in his policy of opposition to Shahu and the demands of half of the Swarajya from him. He was preparing vigorously for a final trial of strength. His 5 Ashtapradhans and leaders of the army had been called with their quota and the troops had been gathered on the bank of Warana. The battle was fought in 1731 and Shahu granted the 6 terms to Sambhaji. The Warana treaty decided differences between Satara and Kolhapur existing ever since 1708. It subordinated Kolhapur to Satara in all but name. It marked a distinct advance in the authority of Shahu within his territories and guaranteed his position from intermittent exposures to the sidewinds of civil strife. In the eyes of his own people as much as in those of the aliens he appeared to be the real 'Chhatrapati' now, Peshwa Bajirao I regarded his policy of Maratha expansion, his chief's aim was to clip off parts of the Mughal Empire and establish the sway of the Marathas on them.