09-06-2006, 03:13 PM
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->While the Mughal affairs were thus in a state of turmoil
and utmost confusion, there appeared on the Maratha side a
soldier and a statesman of rare insight, enterprise and courage,
Bajirao, son of Balaji Vishwanath, who had been called to the
premiership in April 1720. With a prophetic vision the young
Peshwa saw that the empire against which his people had been
buffeting for half a century was tottering to its foundations
and the moment had arrived to give it its final blow. The
race of the Mughals had run out and the Marathas would grasp
supreme power from their palsied hands and dominate the
empire. His state appeared weak and disorganised, but the
nation or the people were strong and full of the confidence
born of success. The struggle with Alamgir had transformed
the nation into a vast military camp. To the energies of his
people that were being wasted in civil war and internecine
struggle, he would find new outlets and direct them towards
foreign conquests. The path had been shown by the father
and the son would now traverse it. In an eloquent speech
he urged his views on the Maharajah ; " The Mughal power
is lying prostrate ; it is nearing its end ; it is torn by factions
and internecine feuds ; the Padishah desires to bolster up his
throne with our support. You speak of the Nizam breaking
the treaty and commencing hostilities. But he is of no ac-
count. Aurangzeb when a prince reduced the subah of Auran-
gabad and resided there. Undeterred by his presence in the
Deccan the great Shivaji attacked the Adil Shahi and Qutb
Shahi kingdoms and laid them under tribute. After him Sam-
bhaji lost everything, his forts, his kingdom and, his life. The
Padishah remained in the Deccan with a formidable army to
round off his conquests. Undaunted Rajaram carried on the
struggle from Jinji. After a time even that citadel was lost
to the enemy and the Padishah was still here with his innumer-
able hordes. Despite these heavy odds Rajaram marched on
Aurangabad, ravaged the enemy's country, wrested his forts
and recovered the entire kingdom from the Mughal. (Now
the situation has changed in our favour). You (a monarch
of great qualities) occupy the throne and are assisted by able
counsellors. Our aid is sought by the Mughal and by its
means Kings are made and unmade. Is not this the moment
when we should attempt to seize supreme political power?
I undertake to hold the Nizam in check as well as effect a
northward drive. You speak of reducing (South) Karnatak
as more urgent, but hardly any opposition is to be countered
in that quarter. The old Adil Shahi and Qutb Shahi no longer
exist. The reduction of Karnatak is as good as a domestic
affair and can be easily effected by the Huzarat troops. The
Pratinidhi will manage it. The Great Shivaji's dream of a
Hindu domination has remained unfulfilled to this date.
Balaji Pant Nana has prepared the ground work establishing
friendly relations with the Hindu Rajas. This is the time to
strike the blow/'36
peshwa bajirao I and maratha expansion, dinge v g, Pg 106-107.
http://dli.iiit.ac.in/cgi-bin/Browse/scrip...e=2020050057258<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
and utmost confusion, there appeared on the Maratha side a
soldier and a statesman of rare insight, enterprise and courage,
Bajirao, son of Balaji Vishwanath, who had been called to the
premiership in April 1720. With a prophetic vision the young
Peshwa saw that the empire against which his people had been
buffeting for half a century was tottering to its foundations
and the moment had arrived to give it its final blow. The
race of the Mughals had run out and the Marathas would grasp
supreme power from their palsied hands and dominate the
empire. His state appeared weak and disorganised, but the
nation or the people were strong and full of the confidence
born of success. The struggle with Alamgir had transformed
the nation into a vast military camp. To the energies of his
people that were being wasted in civil war and internecine
struggle, he would find new outlets and direct them towards
foreign conquests. The path had been shown by the father
and the son would now traverse it. In an eloquent speech
he urged his views on the Maharajah ; " The Mughal power
is lying prostrate ; it is nearing its end ; it is torn by factions
and internecine feuds ; the Padishah desires to bolster up his
throne with our support. You speak of the Nizam breaking
the treaty and commencing hostilities. But he is of no ac-
count. Aurangzeb when a prince reduced the subah of Auran-
gabad and resided there. Undeterred by his presence in the
Deccan the great Shivaji attacked the Adil Shahi and Qutb
Shahi kingdoms and laid them under tribute. After him Sam-
bhaji lost everything, his forts, his kingdom and, his life. The
Padishah remained in the Deccan with a formidable army to
round off his conquests. Undaunted Rajaram carried on the
struggle from Jinji. After a time even that citadel was lost
to the enemy and the Padishah was still here with his innumer-
able hordes. Despite these heavy odds Rajaram marched on
Aurangabad, ravaged the enemy's country, wrested his forts
and recovered the entire kingdom from the Mughal. (Now
the situation has changed in our favour). You (a monarch
of great qualities) occupy the throne and are assisted by able
counsellors. Our aid is sought by the Mughal and by its
means Kings are made and unmade. Is not this the moment
when we should attempt to seize supreme political power?
I undertake to hold the Nizam in check as well as effect a
northward drive. You speak of reducing (South) Karnatak
as more urgent, but hardly any opposition is to be countered
in that quarter. The old Adil Shahi and Qutb Shahi no longer
exist. The reduction of Karnatak is as good as a domestic
affair and can be easily effected by the Huzarat troops. The
Pratinidhi will manage it. The Great Shivaji's dream of a
Hindu domination has remained unfulfilled to this date.
Balaji Pant Nana has prepared the ground work establishing
friendly relations with the Hindu Rajas. This is the time to
strike the blow/'36
peshwa bajirao I and maratha expansion, dinge v g, Pg 106-107.
http://dli.iiit.ac.in/cgi-bin/Browse/scrip...e=2020050057258<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->