पानीपत १७६१ (मराठा साम्राज्य एवं पानीपत महायुद्ध इतिहास)

CHAPTER III SADASHIVRAO'S APPOINTMENT FOR NORTHERN INDIA WHEN the tidings of Dattaji's death reached the Peshwa's camp at Ahmadnagar in the south, none in the Deccan was prepared for such a bolt from the blue. All had full confidence in the military talents of Dattaji Shinde. They expected him at least to stem the tide of the Durrani invasion if not to defeat Abdali and drive him back. Besides, the Peshwa had ordered Malharrao Holkar to proceed to Dattaji's help and he was expected to be on the route towards the Panjab. This was in the middle of November 1759, after Sabaji's return to Sukartal. At that time, it was expected that the Nizam in the Dec- can would be cowed down by ordinary manoeuvring of troops and be prepared to part with the north-western portion of his dominions. It seems that the Nizam had consented to grant Ahmadnagar and Parenda forts together with the revenue of the surrounding territories amounting to ten lakhs, to the Peshwa.¹ But afterwards, due to the advice of his brothers, he tried to equivocate about the grant of Ahmadnagar which was not only a strong fort in the military sense, but was a place of prestige for the Muslims, being the old seat of the Nizamshahi Kingdom. The Peshwa was not in a mood at that time to tolerate any delaying tactics. His position at the hour was thought to be almost that of a dictator in India. Since the Maratha standards were carried beyond the Attock² in the previous year, the Peshwa's fame had spread not only throughout the length and breadth of India, but had travelled beyond the boundaries to Iran and Turan.³ In the south his generals Balvantrao Mehendale, Gopalrao Patwardhan, Malhar Naik Raste and Visaji Krishna Biniwale had established the Maratha suzerainty south of the river Krishna.⁴ In the north his brother Raghunnathrao and his generals Dattaji and Mal- harrao had created such awe that none in those parts was willing to cross swords with the Marathas. Even the chiefs not conquered by the Marathas were ready to send ambassadors and try to negotiate terms for their existence and continuance.⁵ Shuja-ud-daulah had paid tribute⁶ and the English in Bengal, though they had slyly usurped the power by a silent revolution without pro- claiming themselves the masters, were still in need of the Peshwa's goodwill and forbearance towards them, and actually sent emissaries to the Poona Court to ward off Raghunathrao's proposed advance into Bengal.⁷ The Peshwa had, it seems, actually assured Clive of his support, and Clive made political use of that assurance in imposing himself upon the Nawab Siraj-ud-daulah.⁸ Simi- larly, the English advance through Orissa to Masulipatam and the occupation ¹ RAJ. 1 154. ² BISM (Persian Mss) No. 696, dated 20-12 1758 ³ Aitihasika Sphuta Lekh 411 ⁴ SPD 28.200-02, 204, 210, 216, 217, 266 ⁵ BISM (Persian Mss.) No 699 ⁶ K. Patre Yadi No. 166 ⁷ JIHQ 15.3.388. ⁸ Hill 2.387, 388, 400 [ 31 ]