History of Orissa from the Earliest Times to the British Period v2.c40.48

v2.c40.48

Intelligence was received that the Marathas had appeared near Medinipur and 'Aliwardi set out for that place after having despatched Sirāj-ud-daulah to Murshidabad. But at Medinipur 'Aliwardi could not get certain information about the movements of his enemies and went into cantonment at that place. He repaired the palace in the fort and even sent for his family from Murshidabad after issuing an order to the troops to prepare to pass the rainy season in that cantonment. From this place the old traitor 'Alīwardī had to run after his scapegrace darling Sirāj-ud-daulah, who had taken it into his head to run away with a beautiful hand-maiden, Lutf-un-nisa, to Bhagulpur. He arrived at Patna where he was not very well received by the Nā'ib Nāẓim Rāja Jānakīrām. His party forced its way through Patna fort. In the meanwhile 'Alīwardī arrived at Barh, sent messengers to Sirāj-ud-daulah and finally reached Patna. After a reconciliation he returned to Murshidabad with his grandson. From the way he wrote to Mīr Ja'afar 'Alī Khān and Rāja Durlabhrām Rāi, who had been left in command of the troops at Medinipur which were regarded as being quite sufficient to drive out the Marathas from the whole of Orissa. It appeared that he was losing heart. Weakened in mind and body by disease and age and surrounded on all sides by traitors, the great traitor 'Alīwardī was no longer in a position to cope with the Maratha army or the energy of Mīr Ḥabīb. Durlabhrām and Mīr Ja'afar 'Alī came to meet 'Alīwardī near Burdwan. The Marathas had already advanced to Medinipur but fled according to their usual custom after engaging in a skirmish. They retired to the Garhjat and having baffled pursuit debouched into Orissa through another route. 'Alīwardī retired to Medinipur, whence he was obliged to send proposals of peace. Here the accounts differ and Ghulām Ḥusain, a professed sycophant of 'Alīwardī and his breed, actually states that the proposals of peace emanated from Mīr Ḥabīb and the Marathas. Kāśīrav Rājeśvar Gupte's *Bakhar* of the Nāgpurkar Bhonsles distinctly mentions that 'Alīwardī's application for a cessation of hostilities was sent with his envoy to Nagpur where terms were negotiated with Jānoji.¹ But the excuses which he trots forth on behalf of ’Aliwardi prove that the latter was solely responsible for the proposals. He states that the decline in ’Aliwardi’s health and above all the state of his dominions required a sacrifice. He was 75 years of age and besides fighting for 12 long years with the Marathas he had fought in the intervals with Afghan rebels like Muṣṭafā Khān and Shamsher Khān. The country to the south of the Ganges and west of the Bhagirathi had been devastated by the Marathas. So ’Aliwardi was at last compelled to sue for peace. The author of the Riyāz states that the proposals of peace were sent at the request of ’Aliwardi’s son-in-law and nephew Nawāzish Muḥammad Khān. The arch-traitor Mir Ja’afar ’Ali was directed to send trusted messengers to the Maratha camp and he sent Mīr Ḥasan ’Ali and Mīr Ghaus ’Ali as ambassadors. Mīr Ḥabib now appointed Mirza Ṣālih as his own envoy. The terms of the peace were :—