History of Orissa from the Earliest Times to the British Period v2.c40.33.2

v2.c40.33.2

He found that the Na'ib Nāzim was still asleep and knew nothing of the approach of the Marathas. Durlabhrām woke up and got into a palki with the intention of taking shelter inside the fort of Barabati. On the road he saw Maratha troopers plundering the city. He then left the palki and took to horse and reached the fort after great difficulty. Raghujī Bhonsle arrived immediately after and surrounded the fort. Durlabhrām was frightened out of his wits, as he knew that 'Alīwardī had left Murshidabad for Patna and there was no chance of immediate succour. According to the suggestions of the sanyāsīs Durlabhrām proposed surrender but they were resisted by Mīr 'Abdul 'Azīz. Ghulām Ḥusain says that Mīr 'Abdul 'Azīz and certain Musalman officers stated that the surrender of the fort would be derogatory to the honour of the Nawāb Nāzim 'Alīwardī Khān Mahābat Jang. As a matter of fact this Mīr 'Abdul 'Azīz refused to surrender the fort even after the surrender of the person of Durlabhrām Rāi, the Na'ib Nāzim. For this reason Durlabhrām was imprisoned by the Marathas and kept as a hostage till Mīr 'Abdul 'Azīz surrendered and certain bankers paid three lakhs of rupees as his ransom. Even when the news of the surrender of Durlabhrām and the holding out of Barabati fort reached 'Alīwardī's ears he made no move towards Orissa.