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M.A. (HISTORY) PART–II PAPER–II : GROUP C, OPTION (i) HISTORY OF (1772–1818 A.D.) LESSON NO. 2.4 AUTHOR : PROF. HARI RAM GUPTA

FALL OF MARATHAS, 1798–1818 A.D. The Position of Marathas in 1798 A.D. The Marathas had been split up into a loose confederacy. At the head of the empire was of Sitara. His power had been seized by the Baji Rao II was the Peshwa at this time. He became Peshwa at the young age of twenty one in December, 1776 A.D. He had the support of Nana Pharnvis who had secured approval of , and Sindhia. He was destined to be the last Peshwa. He loved power without possessing necessary courage to retain it. He was enamoured of authority, but was too lazy to exercise it. He enjoyed the of low and mean companions who praised him to the skies. He was extremely cunning, vindictive and his sense of revenge. His fondness for wine and women knew no limits. Such is the character sketch drawn by his contemporary Elphinstone. was a weak man and the real power was exercised by Nana Pharnvis, Prime Minister. Though Nana was a very capable ruler and statesman, yet about the close of his life he had lost that ability. Unfortunately, the Peshwa also did not give him full support. Daulat Rao Sindhia was anxious to occupy Nana's position. He lent a force under a French Commander to Poona in December, 1797 A.D. Nana Pharnvis was defeated and imprisoned in the fort of Ahmadnagar. Daulat Rao Sindhia's father-in-law, Sarza Rao Ghatge thoroughly ransacked Poona in search of money. Public opinion forced Daulat Rao to release Nana in July, 1798 A.D. Lord Wellesley, Governor-General of India, 1798–1805 A.D. Richard Colley Wellesley, Earl of Mornington, came to India as a governor- general in 1798 A.D. when was involved in a war with . P.E. Roberts considers him the greatest Governor-General under the . He was thirty- seven years old and possessed a brilliant mind. A few months in office by him revealed to Indian statesmen what lay in store for them. told a Maratha agent : "You must realize that I am not all your enemy. Your real enemy is the Englishman of be no escape from destiny". On the fall of , Nana Pharnvis remarked : "Tipu is finished; the British power has increased; the whole of East India is already there. Poona will be the next victim." Wellesley's aim was to make the British a sovereign power and all India 92 M.A. (History) Part-II 9 3 Paper-II powers subordinate. He succeeded to a large extent in achieving this object. But in doing so, he brooked no opposition, he completely ignored the feeling of Indian princes, he made unjust interpretation of previous treaties, and adopted unscrupulous methods. There is only one justification for his imperious conduct. He stopped mutual warfare among Indian rulers and gave greater peace and perhaps prosperity to some extent to the masses of people and unity to the country. He achieved this objective by the application of his subsidiary system. The Subsidiary System His subsidiary alliances implied : 1. Control of foreign policy of allied ruler by the British government. 2. Expulsion of non-English Europeans in the service of the allied princes. 3. Keeping an Indian force in command of British offices at his capital to maintain peace and order in the state. 4. To cede territory in full sovereignty to the British Government to meet its expenses. 5. Maintaining British Resident at the court to conduct his foreign relations. 6. Not to make war with any power whether Indian or foreign. 7. Not to carry any negotiations with any other government Indian or alien without the consent of the British. 8. To pay a nominal tribute to the British Government in token of supreme authority. 9. To place his troops at the disposal of the paramount power whenever required to do so. 10. Full freedom in internal administration and full protection from foreign aggression was assured to the ally. Wellesley's Maratha Policy Wellesley's main principle of Maratha policy was first to bring to Peshwa into his net and then deal with the heads of Maratha confederacy one by one. The Four days after his assuming office Wellesley wrote to Peshwa Baji Rao II to remain on friendly terms with the British Government. As a token of his good will towards Peshwa he returned the jewellery which his father Raghunath Rao had deposited with British by way of security. Palmer, the British Resident at Poona, was directed to persuade the Peshwa to dismiss the French officers and to keep a British force on payment of its expenses. Due to the influence of Nana Pharnvis the proposals were not accepted. The offer was repeated in 1799. Nana Pharnvis died in March, 1800 A.D. Palmer observed : M.A. (History) Part-II 9 4 Paper-II

"With him has departed all the wisdom and moderation of the Maratha government." Daulat Rao Sindhia tried to take the position of Nana Pharnvis. He came to Poona and won over Baji Rao II, Jaswant Rao Holkar was also ambitious to become the Prime Minister of Poona. He defeated the combined forces of Peshwa and Sindhia in October, 1802. The Peshwa escaped to Bassein and sought British protection. The new Resident, Colonel Close, joined him on 16th December, 1802 A.D. The negotiations resulted in the signed by Baji Rao and Close on 31st December, 1802 A.D. It was ratified by Wellesley on 18th March, 1803 A.D. Its terms were the following : Treaty of Bassein : 1. The Peshwa as head of the Maratha confederacy entered into . 2. He accepted British supremacy and his own subordinate position. 3. He surrendered his foreign relation to the British Government. 4. He recognised the British Resident who was already at Poona. 5. He agreed to have British force of 5,000 Indian , European with full supplies of arms and ammunition. 6. To meet with expenses of this force, he surrendered territory in perpetuity worth twenty-six lakh annually. 7. In addition to this territory, the city of was also permanently ceded. 8. He undertook to respect the treaty of June, 1802 A.D. between the British and Gaekward. 9. He promised to expel all foreigners except the English from his service. 10. He approved the British arbitration in his dealings with Gaekwar and Nizam. He abandoned for ever his claims for and Sardeshmukhi in Nizami's territory. Baji Rao was restored to his office in Poona in May, 1803 A.D. In our view, this treaty ended the Maratha independence. Wellesley had succeeded in stationing British troops at four capitals of Indian rulers at , Lucknow, Mysore and Poona. The Gaekwad of Baroda The Gaekwad territory consisted of and Kathiawar. Its capital was at Baroda. Its ruler was Fateh Singh. He formed a treaty with the British in January, 1780 A.D. at Kandhla. It was an offensive and defensive alliance. Fateh Singh was to help the British with 3,000 . He also surrendered a large part of Surat district to the English. concluded the Treaty of M.A. (History) Part-II 9 5 Paper-II

Salabi with Mahadji Sindhia in May, 1782 A.D. Its article VIII concerned Fateh Singh. His territory remained intact. He was to pay to the Peshwa a fixed amount of tribute, but he was exempted from payment of previous arrears. He remained subordinate to the Peshwa, and was to render him usual services. Fateh Singh passed away in 1789 A.D. From 1793 A.D. a regency council managed the state affairs. In 1793 A.D. Govind Rao became the ruler. Peshwa demanded from him a sum of one crore and twenty lakhs as a tribute and succession duty. He paid about eighty lakhs of rupees and remained in arrears by forty lakhs. Govind Rao died in 1800 A.D. His son Anand Rao succeeded him. He was weak ruler. The state finances were in ruins. The army was clamouring for payment of arrears. The administration was in great confusion. The minister Raoji sought assistance from Bombay Government. As a result a convention was signed at Camby in March, 1802 A.D. A subsidiary force of 2,000 Indian soldiers was to be stationed at Baroda in return for cession of territory worth about 10-1/2 lakhs annually to meet its expenses. Anand Rao ratified it in June 1802 A.D. The Arab soldier was disbanded on payment of 17½ lakhs. The Peshwa's claims were settled at forty two lakhs. The British Resident Walkar with two Englishmen, Carnck and William, controlled the state affairs. In the Treaty of Bassein the Peshwa recognised the Gaekwar's treaty of Cambey. The Second Anglo-Maratha War, 1803–1805 A.D.– Sindhia and Bhonsle Of the five members of Maratha Confederacy, its head the Peshwa and one of its chiefs, the Gaekward, had been brought into the subsidiary alliance system. Three remained to be entrapped. Wellesley first of all turned towards Daulat Rao Sindhia. He wanted dismissal of about 3000. Frenchmen in Sindhia's army because the English were at war with French in Europe. He instructed Colins, British Resident at Sindhia's court to place before Daulat Rao two alternatives. He was either to approve of the Treaty of Bassein and accept the subsidiary alliance or to face war. Daulat Rao tried to form an alliance with Raghuji Bhonsle of , Himmat Bahadur Gosain and Ghani Beg of . Attempts were made to win over the and the Gaekwar of Baroda, Daulat Rao's bitterest enemy. Jaswant Rao Holkar, was not approached, nor could he join him. Only Bhonsle responded to his call. All this was known to Wellesley. Welleseley declared war on Sindhia and Bhonsle on 7 August, 1803 A.D. Wellesley's Plan Wellesley's plan of the Maratha war was to attack the opponents on all points, and to assail them with swift and stunning blows continuously without giving them any time for rest and for recoupment. The war was to be carried on simultaneously in the Deccan and in northern India. M.A. (History) Part-II 9 6 Paper-II

Arthur Wellesley The Governor General's younger brother Arthur Wellesley was given charge of the war in the Deccan. Arthur Wellesley seized Ahmadnagar on 12 August, 1803 A.D. On 23 September, 1803 A.D., Arthur defeated the combined armies of Sindhia and Bhonsle at in between rivers Tapti and Godavari. In this battle, Arthur lost about 700 Europeans and nearly 2,000 Indians were killed and wounded. and Asirgarh fell into British hands. Bhonsle was again defeated at in November, 1803 A.D. Lord Lake In the northern sector, Lord Lake fought with similar vehemence and vigour. He captured Aligarh from Sindhia's French general, Perron, on 5 September, 1803 A.D. Perron's successor Bourquien was defeated at on 11 September. On 13 September, Shah Alam II was taken into British protection. was seized in October and thus both the imperial capitals of Agra and Delhi came into British possession. Colonel Octerlony was left incharge of Delhi. The last battle with Sindhia was fought at Laswari in Alwar state on 1 November, 1803 A.D. Orissa was seized from Bhonsle in October, 1830 A.D. This removed the gap lying between and Northern Sarkars, and the whole eastern coast became British territory. The Treaty of Devgaon with Bhonsle, 19 December, 1803 A.D. 1. It confirmed the cession of Orissa to the English. 2. It ceded Western Berar to the Nizam. 3. The Bhonsle recognised all the subsidiary treaties concluded by the English with other chiefs including the Peshwa. 4. He agreed not to employ any European or American in the service without the approval of the British Government. 5. He would not remain a member of Maratha Confederacy. 6. Mountstuart Elphinston was appointed British Resident at his Court. 7. He did not accept a subsidiary force. The Treaty of Suriji Arjangaon with Sindhia, 30 December, 1803 A.D. 1. The Sindhia recognised the Treaty of Bassein with the Peshwa. 2. He surrendered his territories in the Ganga , , Haryana, Broach in Gujarat, and the country lying between Ajanta and river Godavari. 3. He gave up his claims upon Gaekward, Nizam, and Peshwa. 4. He acknowledged all the subsidiary treaties made by the British with Indian Princes. 5. He undertook not to employ any foreigner except the English in his service. M.A. (History) Part-II 9 7 Paper-II

6. He gave up his control over the Mughal Emperor. 7. Accepted as British Resident at the court, but did not agree to have a subsidiary British force. 8. In February, 1804 A.D. he made a defensive alliance with the British. Comments on these two treaties The advantages of these two treaties to the English were great : 1. They completed the British victory over the French. 2. The two great leaders of Maratha Confederacy were humbled. 3. The British territories were largely extended. 4. The Mughal Emperor came into British protection and the British succeeded to the . 5. The British prestige was considerably increased. The New Treaty with Sindhia, 1805 A.D. On the recall of Wellesley, his successor, Sir George Barlow concluded a new treaty with Daulat Rao Sindhia on 22 November, 1805 A.D. The Gohad territory and were returned to Daulat Rao Sindhia. He would make no claim over any territory north of river Chambal nor would the British claim anything south of it. The British Government would not make any treaties with princes in Rajasthan and who formerly paid tribute to Sindhia, nor would they interfere in Sindhia's dealing with them. Thus, the princes who had helped the British were again thrown at the mercy of Marathas. Jaswant Rao Holkar Then came the turn of Jaswant Rao Holkar. He had kept aloof from Sindhia and Bhonsle. After their defeat he asked the British Government (1) that the British should not oppose him in realizing Chauth and Sardeshmukhi from Rajasthan. (2) The integrity of his dominion should be guaranteed. (3) The territories belonging to the in Bundelkhand, Ganga Doab and Haryana should be returned to him. (4) In case these terms were rejected, they threatened to lay waste the territories of British allies. Expecting no reply to these high demands, he began to plunder Ajmer Pushkar and in March, 1804 A.D. Further, there were three Englishmen in his services. As desired by Lord Wellesley they submitted resignation of their posts. Jaswant Rao got them murdered. The Governor-General declared war against him in April, 1804 A.D. Brigadiers Monson marched into Rajasthan to stop Holkar, from his ravages. He was defeated by Holkar in August, 1804 with the loss of five and six companies, and was forced to retire to Agra. The Marquess Wellesley recalled Holkar's general Harnath Singh attacked Delhi, but was repulsed by M.A. (History) Part-II 9 8 Paper-II

Octerlony and Burn. He was again defeated in Dig in November, 1804 A.D. Jaswant Rao himself suffered defeat at Farrukhabad four days later. He fled to Bharatpur. Lord Lake laid siege to the fort of Bharatpur in January. 1805 A.D. He suffered great reverses. It was in April, 1805 that the Jat Raja, Ranjit Singh, submitted to the British. In the siege of Bharatpur, the English sustained heavy losses including 103 British officers killed and wounded. The Home Government in recalled Lord Wellesley in July, 1805 A.D. Wellesley's recall saved Holkar from complete destruction. Treaty of Rajpurghat, 1805 A.D. Jaswant Rao fled to the Punjab to get help from Cis-Sutluj Sikh chiefs and Ranjit Singh. The Maharaja prevailed upon him to accept a treaty with the English, known as the Rajpurghat treaty on the banks of river Beas on 24 December, 1805. 1. Holkar gave up his claims on the territory to the north of river Chambal, as well as on Bundelkhand and Poona. 2. He agreed that he would not take any European or American in his service without the permission of British Government. 3. He was confined in the rest of his dominion. 4. Some of the forts belonging to the Holkar in the Deccan were restored to him. 5. British Government agreed not to interfere in his country. Concluding Remarks on the War 1. As a result of the Second Anglo-Maratha war, the territories of English East India Company were largely increased. They extended beyond the banks of river in the north. 2. The possession of the twin Mughal capitals of Delhi and Agra gave the British the status of the extinct Mughal Empire. 3. The occupation of Orissa united the Presidencies of Bengal and Madras, and the entire eastern coast came under the English. 4. The British acquired important territories, in Bundelkhand and Gujarat. 5. The Sindhia lost all his territories in the Deccan. 6. Rajasthan was cleared from Maratha interference. 7. All the Maratha chiefs except Holkar accepted partial subsidiary alliances. The Third Anglo–Maratha War, 1817-1818 A.D. The third and last Anglo-Maratha War was fought by Earl of Moria or Marquess of Hastings who was Governor-General of India from 1813 to 1823 A.D. He completed the work of Marquess Wellesley. He was in his sixties when he took up his office. M.A. (History) Part-II 9 9 Paper-II

The Position of Maratha Confederacy in 1817 A.D. The Peshwa After the treaty of Bassein in 1813, Peshwa Baji Rao II became secure in office. He had freedom in his internal affairs. His external affairs were conducted by the British Resident and he had no fear from any Maratha chief or other enemies. He, therefore, sank into a life of ease and pleasure. Colonel Close kept him in good humour. With the appointment of Elphinston in 1818 A.D., the situation changed. He began to interfere in internal matters also. This greatly offended the Peshwa. The Peshwa asserted his claims upon Gaekward. Elphinstone invited Gaekward's minister, Gangadhar Shastri to Poona to discuss the matter. He was murdered by Trimbakji, Peshwa's minister. The Governor-General informed the Peshwa that he had no authority over his former feudatories. He demanded surrender of Trimbakji. The Peshwa began preparations to assert himself. He recruited fresh troops, restored his forts to a good defensive position and tried to improve his military capability. He opened correspondence with Punjab, Nepal and Burma. The Treaty of Poona 1817 A.D. Marquess of Hastings forced Peshwa Baji Rao to agree to new treaty known as the Treaty of Poona signed in June 1817 A.D. 1. The Peshwa promised to surrender to the British Trimbakji Pengle, the murderer of Gangadhar Shastri. 2. Until his delivery, his family members were handed over to the British as hostages. 3. The Peshwa accepted the dissolution of Maratha Confederacy. 4. Regarding his claim on Gaekwars, he accepted an annual sum of four lakhs of rupees and agreed not to demand any thing more. 5. He ceded to Gaekwar for an annual payment of 4½ lakhs of rupees. 6. He gave up for ever the fort of Ahmadnagar to the British and his rights in Bundelkhand, Gujarat, Malwa and territory situated on Nizam's frontiers. 7. The Peshwa ceded in perpetuity territory worth 45 lakhs annually to meet the expenses of the subsidiary force. 8. He gave up his claim to be the head of the . 9. He undertook not to carry any negotiations with other princes and chiefs except through the British Resident at his court. Comment The Treaty of Poona reduced Peshwa's dominions, cut down his resources, and deprived him of headship of the Maratha empire. Thus, his material resources M.A. (History) Part-II 100 Paper-II were curtailed and his moral influence was gone. His prestige came down to zero. Daulat Rao Sindhia On Jaswant Rao's death Daulat Rao attacked some territory of Holkar. Marquess of Hastings restrained him. He forced Sindhia to form a new treaty called the Treaty of Gwalior signed on November, 1817. Sindhia bound himself to help the British Government against the to consider Rajasthan out of his authority. The British Government was now free to make subsidiary alliances with Rajput princes. Gaekward of Baroda The real power was wielded by the British Resident Walker. Anand Rao was only a nominal chief. His successor, Carnac adopted a harsh policy. A party grew up against the British domination Marquess of Hastings got a new treaty signed by Anand Rao on 6 November, 1817 A.D. The strength of the British subsidiary force was increased, and some territory was taken to meet the expenses of the additional troops. Baroda remained loyal to the British. The Bhonsle of Nagpur Raghu Ji Bhonsle II had declined to enter into the subsidiary alliance. He was greatly harrased by Pathan Mercenaries and Pindaris. He died in March, 1816. His blind son Parson Ji Bhonsle succeeded him. His cousin Appa Sahib ruled as regent. His authority was opposed by Raghuji's widow Baka Bi. Appa Sahib concluded the subsidiary alliance in May, 1816 A.D. by the Treaty of Nagpur. The state lost its independence. Parso ji died on 1 February 1817 A.D. and Appa Sahib succeeded him as the real head of the state. He planned to assert his independence inspite of Governor-General's severe warning on 24 November, 1817 A.D. The Holkars of Jaswant Rao Holkar became insane in 1807 A.D. and died in 1811 in his 35th year. He left behind a 4 year old son who was declared head of state as III. The state lapsed into confusion and chaos. The Events of the War The War, 1817-18 A.D. The third Anglo-Maratha war consists of two parts, the Pindari War and the Maratha war. Both were fought about the same time. The Pindaris were a multitude of plunderes, robbers and dacoits. They consisted of lawless Pathans and other daredevil vagabonds. Their purpose was mainly to acquire booty by any means, but in general by most cruel persecution of their victims. They would tie their wrists, cover their fingers in cotton and then set fire to them. They would hang a person upside down from the ceilings and would burn chillies below their heads. They would strike lashes on their bare buttocks. All this was done to M.A. (History) Part-II 101 Paper-II make a person disgorge his cash and jewellery. If he did not disclose or had nothing to hide, he perished under the operation. They had settled in Malwa along the Narbada and were attached to the Marathas armies of Sindhia and Holkar. Their great leaders were Amir Khan Chitu called himsef a chita or panther, Dost Mohammad, Here Buran, Karim Khan, Namdar Khan, Shamat Khan, Shaikh Dull and Wasil Mohammad. By their frequent predatory excursions they had ruined Rajasthan, Malwa and . In 1812 A.D. they ravaged Bundelkhand. In 1812-15 A.D. they laid waste Nizam's country. In 1815 they plundered Northern Sarkars. They lived in crime, by crimes and for crimes. They often acted independently. Their services were also hired by Indian chiefs to retaliate upon their rivals and to punish their enemies. In many cases the Maratha were their unofficial patrons. Lord Hastings decided to put an end to the inhuman activities of Pindaris and restore peace and order in the country. After finishing the Pindaris, the intrigues of Maratha chiefs were to be away with once and for all. He deputed Sir John Malcolm to the Peshwa, the Bhonsle and the Nizam to seek their help in extirpating the Pindaris. The Maratha chiefs did not give any warm response. Sir Charles Metcalfe succeeded in forming treaties for this purpose with , Bundi, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Kotah and Udaipur. Sindhia had already promised support. The anti-Pindari operation were divided into two parts in the North and in the Deccan. Both were to be taken up simultaneously. Hastings collected an army of over one lakh with 300 guns. He established his camp in Bundelkhand. Karim Khan and Wasil Mohammad were defeated in December, 1817 A.D. Karim Khan accepted a small state near Gorakhpur, Wasil Mohammad committed suicide. Amir Khan got the state of Tonk. Namdar Khan also submitted, Chitu was eaten by a tiger. Thus, the Pindari menance was wiped out. THE MARATHA WAR, 1817-18 A.D. 1. The Peshwa The Pindari was afforded an opportunity to the Peshwa to throw off the British tutelage. On 5 November, 1817 A.D. the Residency buildings at Kirki were set on fire. In the battle of Kirki, the Peshwa was defeated. He lost the battle of Yeravada on 15 November, 1817 A.D. He fled away to Purandhar. In a few more engagements he was repulsed. He submitted in June, 1818 A.D. The office of the Peshwa was ended. Baji Rao was given a pension of eight lakhs of rupees annually. He was to reside at Bithur 20 kms. north west of . (He died there in January, 1815). His minister Trimbakji was imprisoned for life in the fort of Chunar near Banaras for having murdered Gangadhar Shastri. The principality of was reduced. 2. The Bhonsle M.A. (History) Part-II 102 Paper-II

Appa Sahib at the head of 4,000 Arabs seized the Sitabaldi hills where the British Residency was situated, on 26 November, 1817 A.D. In the battle he was defeated. He surrendered unconditionally. He was to be imprisoned in the fort of Allahabad. He escaped to Jodhpur and then came to Maharaja Ranjit Singh. He sought British advice. They allowed him to keep Appa Sahib in his safe custody. He was kept almost a prisoner in the fort of Una near Bhakra Nangal Dam. A child as Raghuji III was installed of Nagpur in June, 1818 A.D. 3. The Holkar The Holkar's troops were repulsed in the battle of in December, 1817 A.D. Malhar Rao Holkar III accepted subsidiary alliance by the Treaty of Mandasor in January 1818 A.D. Holkar gave up all his rights over territories to Amir Khan, Kotah, Bundi and all claims upon Rajput princes. 4. Sindhia Sindhia was not willing to accept the subsidiary alliance. Lord Hastings at the head of a strong army advanced towards Gwalior. Sindhia realized that he had either to fight or to submit. He preferred the latter course. On 5 November, 1817 A.D. he signed a new treaty. (1) He agreed not to give any help to the Pindaris. (2) He gave up his claims on princes of Rajasthan. Conclusion The war ended complete destruction of the Pindaris and Marathas. The Raja of Satara was given some territory. The hereditary office of Peshwa was abolished. His territories were included in the . The territory of Bhonsle of Nagpur was considerably reduced and became a vassel of the British Government. Holkar lost half of his dominion. Sindhia suffered a great loss in his dominions extended from Kanya Kumari to the eastern banks of river Sutlej and from Arabian sea to the Bay of Bengal. The British Government did not conquer Indian territory alone. They also conquered Indian mind. The Indian princes and the Indian people believed. The Englishmen were far superior to them and that they had come to rule over them. The conquest of Indian mind and the Indian belief of their own inferiority enabled the British to strike root of the British Empire deep. Causes of the Fall of Maratha Power 1. The Rotten State of Indian Society In the eighteenth century and in the first quarter of the nineteenth century the Indian society was thoroughly rotten to the core. It was stagnant, unprogressive and decaying. It possessed no national outlook. Everybody existed for himself, his family and at best his caste or community. The country belonged to none. Complete disunity prevailed. Dissensions resigned supreme everywhere and in M.A. (History) Part-II 103 Paper-II every walk of life. "There was hardly any chief in the Peshwa's services who had not been won over by the British money. To come to an understanding with a rival, the policy of reconciliation and pacification was considered below one's dignity. All differences were to be settled by dagger and poison. This led to vengeance, vindictiveness and vendetta. Loose Confederacy of Selfish Feudal Lords The Maratha state consisted of a loose confederacy of ambitious and selfish feudal lords. The descendants of the great had sunk into oblivion. The last Peshwa who could assert himself was Madhav Rao who died in 1772 A.D. His successors, Raghunath Rao and his son Baji Rao II, were utterly selfish and destructive of the Maratha states. They could not control other Maratha chiefs. , Gaekwars, Holkars and Sindhia had established their own independent dynasties. Each tried to expand at the cost of other. In the second half of the eighteenth century there were five great Maratha leaders. Malhar Rao Holkar I, his daughter-in-law Ahalya Bai, Peshwa Mahadev Rao I, Mahadji Sindhia and Nana Pharnvis. They also failed to check the rapid decline of the Maratha empire. Internal Strife Internal strife among the Marathas was the order of the day. The two of Satara and Kohlapur were opposed to each other. Acute differences prevailed between the Chhatrapatis of Satara and the Peshwas. Peshwa Madhav Rao was frequently opposed by his uncle Raghunath Rao. Raghunath murdered the next Peshwa, . Peshwa Baji Rao II was under domination of his minister Nana Pharnvis. Nana Pharnvis was hostile to Daulat Rao Sindhia and Jaswant Rao Holkar who were bitterly hostile to each other. Even in the family of each feudatory chief mutual disputes existed. There was a regular warfare between Daulat Rao Sindhia and Mahadji's widows. On the death of Tukoji Holkar, his sons fought with one another to gain power. The regent Tulsi Bai was opposed by the general Ram Din Purabia of U.P. who beheaded her. Civil Administration In the civil administration complete corruption, bribery, nepotism, violence, rapine and confusion prevailed. There was little justice in the courts. The rulers and administrators fleeced money from their subjects with both hands. Agriculture dwindled. Trade and industry declined. Public welfare was entirely ignored. The masses were prepared to support any good government whether of Indian origin or foreign. India needed a firm government, freedom from corruption and cruelty and individual liberty. These things were not provided by the Marathas. The servants of the Company were also greedy and corrupt but they were checked by the home government in England through various Parliamentary Acts. The Directors of the Company were concerned with commerce only. The M.A. (History) Part-II 104 Paper-II

Home Government thought only of policy and its authority. Wellesley and Hastings alone had consideration of building an empire based on wise administration and order in the country. The Military System The military organisation of the Marathas was defective. It was not a national army, and did not fight to preserve the Maratha empire. Their armies contained a large element of mercenaries, who naturally loved only money. A commander in the army of Peshwa Baji Rao II was Qadir Khan, a butcher by profession. Nana Pharnvis had 5,000 Arabs in his forces. Appa Sahib of Nagpur had 4,000 Arabs in his army. The same was the case with Gaekwar. At the battle of Laswari in Sindhia's army there was not a single Maratha soldier. The Maratha chiefs placed a Maratha soldier in the lowest estimation. The monthly salary of an Arab soldier was Rs. 18, of a Goanese Christian Rs. 15, of a U.P. 8, and of a Maratha trooper Rs. 6. By looking down with contempt upon their own men the Maratha chiefs foolishly wished to build a Maratha empire in India. The French officers in Sindhia's army inspite of British hostility, preferred Europeans to their Indian masters. A Frenchman informed Lord Lake about the weak defences of Sindhia's army at Aligarh. Captain Lucan, an Irishman though bitter foes of Englishmen at home, led the British troops to join in the . In the on 11 September, 1803, the French general Louis Bourquein deliberately surrendered himself a prisoner to Lord Lake. According to the eye witness Elphinstone, the was a loose and straggling mass of camels, elephants, bullocks, nautch-girls, fakeers and bufoons, lancemen and matchlockmen. There was little discipline in Maratha armies. Their troops often raped women and plundered people wherever they went. At midnight between 25-28 May, 1754 A.D., 20,000 soldiers under Malhar Rao Holkar attacked the Mughal Emperor's camp at Sikandarabad. This was the fourth day of the new moon, there was pitch dark. Emperor together with his mother, one of his favourite queens, his young son, and his half-sister Sahiba Begam managed to escape. All the men servants fled away. No torch-bearer was seen anywhere. All fires had been extinguished to avoid heat of May. The Maratha soldiers caught hold of women including queens and princesses. There were only 350 women of the royal family. They removed their jewellery, tore off their clothes, and raped them in gains in the open and sand . (Tarikh-e-Ahmad Shahi, 125b-131 a) How could such people command respect, goodwill and co-operation of the common man ? The British Imperialism M.A. (History) Part-II 105 Paper-II

The decadent Maratha state could not stand against the rising aggressive and benevolent British imperialism. The civil administration was gradually improving as a result of Parliamentary interference. The loss of American colonies in 1783 had taught them to treat the subject people with care and consideration. The British authorities had the reputation for sincerity. They generally kept their promises. Perfect peace and order was established in the country under them. Their armies did not maltreat the people. They paid for everything they got. Their soldiers were kept under strict control and discipline. Their movements were quick. The British cavalry at Laswari in November, 1803 A.D. covered 68 Kms. in 24 hours without taking food or water for 20 hours. Daulat Rao Sindhia covered 255 kms., the distance between rivers Tapti and Narbada in 18 days in 1800 A.D. Lord Lake always fought in the forefront of his army at the time of an attack. At Laswari, two horses under him were killed one after the other. His son was shot dead by his side. He did not falter or flinch in his duty. He stuck fast to his post and led his army to victory. On the British side there was firm resolution and inspiring leadership. In short, the static inept sluggish and passive medieval Indian society was bound to succumb before the dynamic, alert, spirited and active modern society of Englishmen. SOURCES 1. Bhartiya Vidya Bhawan, The History and Culture of the Indian People, Vol. VII, The Maratha Supremacy, pp. 225-91, 387-417. 2. The Cambridge , Vol. V., pp. 363-387. 3. Rulers of India, W.H. Hutton, Marquess Wellesley, pp. 57-79. 4. P.E. Roberts, History of British India, 3rd edition, pp. 243-62. 5. C.C. Sarkar and K.K. Datta, Modern History of India, Vol. II, pp. 133- 76.