09-01-2006, 05:22 AM
(This post was last modified: 09-01-2006, 05:23 AM by Bharatvarsh.)
The reason's for the Maratha struggle (for 27 years) with Aurangzeb after Shivaji's death are laid down here:
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->6. The Maratha aims.âThe aims of the Maratha gov-
ernment in prosecuting the arduous struggle against the
Mughals are repeatedly stated in clear terms in the orders and
charters issued by their rulers during this period of war.
Hanumant Rav Ghorpade and his relation Krishnaji are de-
finitely told on 4 June 1691 that," " Having clearly grasped your
readiness to quit the Mughal service and return to the king's
for defending the Maharashtra Dharma, i.e., the cherished desire
of the Maratha nation, we are assigning to you for your own
personal expenses and those of your troops, an annuity of six
lacs Hons (Rs, Twenty-five lacs) the first half of which, viz.
three lacs is to be paid as soon as you establish possession over
(1) the Raigad district, (2) the district of Bijapur, (3) the dis-
trict of Bhaganagar (Haiderabad) and (4) the district of
Aurangabad, at the rate of f of a lac for each of these items.
The other half of the annuity, viz., three lacs more, will be paid
as soon as you capture Delhi. You must loyally execute our
commands, and our government will then continue their favour
towards you." This is a typical instance out of many, which
sets down the Maratha aims as a crusade of a religious chara-
cter and of an abnormal magnitude. It was a severe and direct
attack upon the Maharashtra religion, that their Chhatrapati
was put to a cruel death and not allowed even the usual funer-
al rites. It should be noted that these aims included even the
conquest of Delhi, so as to make the whole sub-continent of
India safe for the Hindu religion, and no more destruction of
temples and idols was to be tolerated. Aurangzeb's armies were
mostly composed of Hindus, that is, the northern Rajputs and
the southern Marathas: it wras certainly his duty to respect the
sentiments of those who served him. Rajaram's Government
deliberately weaned away many Maratha Chiefs who had ac-
cepted Mughal service. Aurangzeb profusely offered lands, tit-
les and rewards as inducements to Maratha leaders to renounce
their king and accept his service. By way of counteraction the
Maratha Government adopted the same methods. This religious
motive of the present war appears to have been continued as
a national demand throughout the later Maratha expansion
directed by the Peshwas.
This statement of the Maratha aims is not confined to a
few rare documents, but runs through most of the writings de-
tailing the political transactions of the Maratha Government
of that period. On 22 March 1690 Riajararr from Jinji as-
sures Baji Sarzarav Jedhe Deshmukh of Kari of his support,
and inspires him how they should exert themselves in their
national cause. ft We have enlisted on arrival in the Karnatak
forty thousand cavalry and a lac and a quarter of infantry. The
local Palegars and fighting elements are fast rallying to the
Maratha standard. Our raj now has a peculiar message for
the people, and you as one of them already suffer the agonies
of the wrongs inflicted upon it by the Mughals. You must
now put forth the sacrifice required on behalf of our religion.
We have despatched Keso Trimal Pingle to Maharashtra with
a treasure of a lac of Hons, guarded by an escort of forty thou-
sand armed men with Santaji and Dhanaji at their head. As
soon as this party arrives in your part of the country, you
must join it with your following with the utjnost expedition, in
order to overcome the common enemy. In fact the enemy is
nothing of himself : it is people like you who have raised him
into that importance. If our Marathas had not joined him, he
would have been nowhere. You alone possess the nerve to
overcome this Aurangzeb. He has wronged you by threatening
to convert you to his religion. He has already converted Netaji
and Sabaji Ghatge and Janoji Raje, in addition to several
Brahmans also. He also entertains further deep-rooted motives
of a sinister nature against our nation, of which you must
beware. The Nimbalkars and the Manes have already deserted
him and his ranks are being rapidly thinned. God is helping
us. We are sure to succeed." This letter only one among
many is in the handwriting of Khando Ballal, Riajartam's Chit-
nis and shows the depths to which the heart of the Maratha
nation was stirred in this heroic crusade.
new history of the marathas volume I shivaji and his line 1600 1707, govind sakharam sardesai, Pg 338-340.
http://dli.iiit.ac.in/cgi-bin/Browse/scrip...e=2020050057066<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->6. The Maratha aims.âThe aims of the Maratha gov-
ernment in prosecuting the arduous struggle against the
Mughals are repeatedly stated in clear terms in the orders and
charters issued by their rulers during this period of war.
Hanumant Rav Ghorpade and his relation Krishnaji are de-
finitely told on 4 June 1691 that," " Having clearly grasped your
readiness to quit the Mughal service and return to the king's
for defending the Maharashtra Dharma, i.e., the cherished desire
of the Maratha nation, we are assigning to you for your own
personal expenses and those of your troops, an annuity of six
lacs Hons (Rs, Twenty-five lacs) the first half of which, viz.
three lacs is to be paid as soon as you establish possession over
(1) the Raigad district, (2) the district of Bijapur, (3) the dis-
trict of Bhaganagar (Haiderabad) and (4) the district of
Aurangabad, at the rate of f of a lac for each of these items.
The other half of the annuity, viz., three lacs more, will be paid
as soon as you capture Delhi. You must loyally execute our
commands, and our government will then continue their favour
towards you." This is a typical instance out of many, which
sets down the Maratha aims as a crusade of a religious chara-
cter and of an abnormal magnitude. It was a severe and direct
attack upon the Maharashtra religion, that their Chhatrapati
was put to a cruel death and not allowed even the usual funer-
al rites. It should be noted that these aims included even the
conquest of Delhi, so as to make the whole sub-continent of
India safe for the Hindu religion, and no more destruction of
temples and idols was to be tolerated. Aurangzeb's armies were
mostly composed of Hindus, that is, the northern Rajputs and
the southern Marathas: it wras certainly his duty to respect the
sentiments of those who served him. Rajaram's Government
deliberately weaned away many Maratha Chiefs who had ac-
cepted Mughal service. Aurangzeb profusely offered lands, tit-
les and rewards as inducements to Maratha leaders to renounce
their king and accept his service. By way of counteraction the
Maratha Government adopted the same methods. This religious
motive of the present war appears to have been continued as
a national demand throughout the later Maratha expansion
directed by the Peshwas.
This statement of the Maratha aims is not confined to a
few rare documents, but runs through most of the writings de-
tailing the political transactions of the Maratha Government
of that period. On 22 March 1690 Riajararr from Jinji as-
sures Baji Sarzarav Jedhe Deshmukh of Kari of his support,
and inspires him how they should exert themselves in their
national cause. ft We have enlisted on arrival in the Karnatak
forty thousand cavalry and a lac and a quarter of infantry. The
local Palegars and fighting elements are fast rallying to the
Maratha standard. Our raj now has a peculiar message for
the people, and you as one of them already suffer the agonies
of the wrongs inflicted upon it by the Mughals. You must
now put forth the sacrifice required on behalf of our religion.
We have despatched Keso Trimal Pingle to Maharashtra with
a treasure of a lac of Hons, guarded by an escort of forty thou-
sand armed men with Santaji and Dhanaji at their head. As
soon as this party arrives in your part of the country, you
must join it with your following with the utjnost expedition, in
order to overcome the common enemy. In fact the enemy is
nothing of himself : it is people like you who have raised him
into that importance. If our Marathas had not joined him, he
would have been nowhere. You alone possess the nerve to
overcome this Aurangzeb. He has wronged you by threatening
to convert you to his religion. He has already converted Netaji
and Sabaji Ghatge and Janoji Raje, in addition to several
Brahmans also. He also entertains further deep-rooted motives
of a sinister nature against our nation, of which you must
beware. The Nimbalkars and the Manes have already deserted
him and his ranks are being rapidly thinned. God is helping
us. We are sure to succeed." This letter only one among
many is in the handwriting of Khando Ballal, Riajartam's Chit-
nis and shows the depths to which the heart of the Maratha
nation was stirred in this heroic crusade.
new history of the marathas volume I shivaji and his line 1600 1707, govind sakharam sardesai, Pg 338-340.
http://dli.iiit.ac.in/cgi-bin/Browse/scrip...e=2020050057066<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->