History of Orissa from the Earliest Times to the British Period v2.c41.116

Language: English

v2.c41.116.1

Affairs took a new turn in the month of July of the same year when Chimnā Sāhu informed the Governor on the 4th of the approach of some troops from Nagpur. The same information was also received from Rāgmānji Jāchak, and Rāy Govind. Chimnāji Sāhu was informed on the 8th that Śivarām Bhaṭṭa having procured a farmān from the emperor Shāh 'Alam II for Jānuji Bhonsle, the latter had sent 5,000 troops to Katak and if the English required any assistance a part of these troops might be sent to them.¹ On the 21st of the same month the Governor was informed by Chimnājī Sāhu that the troops had been sent from Nagpur to enforce the payment of chauth from Bengal.² A copy of the letter was sent to Nawāb Mīr Ja'afar 'Alī and the latter asked about his intentions.³ The first communication from Bhavānī Kalūa Pandit was received by the Governor at Calcutta on the 31st July, 1764, and a copy of it immediately forwarded to the Nawāb Mīr Ja'afar 'Alī. Bhavānī Pandit informs the Governor that he intends to march to Balasore. He was informed on the same day that the Nawāb would shortly come to Calcutta and then it would be possible to state what decision had been arrived at regarding the payment of the chauth.⁴ On the 18th August the Nawāb Mīr Ja'afar 'Alī informed the governor that Raghunāth Pandit had come to demand chauth and was journeying to Calcutta with him.

v2.c41.116.2

He was informed on the 22nd that the Maratha business would be settled after his arrival in Calcutta.⁵ On the 24th of September Rājā Jānuji Bhonsle wrote to the Governor praising the valour and honesty of the English and stating that Mir Qāsim 'Alī wrote to him several times requesting assistance and sent a person of distinction to him with promises of money but that he could not enter into any alliance with such a perfidious person. Raghunāth Pandit had been sent to the Governor and the Rājā hoped that all balance due on account of *chauth* would now be paid up. Two letters received from the Marathas in Orissa disclose the fact that Chimnājī Sāhu was still the *ṣūbahdār* of the province of Orissa and Bhavānī Pandit was the *dīwān* of Katak. In a letter received on the 5th October Bhavānī Pandit says that Rājā Jānujī has written to him stating that negotiations regarding *chauth* do not come to any conclusion and therefore he has received orders to march to Bengal, settle matters with the advice of the Governor and the Nawāb and drive out the enemy (the Emperor Shāh 'Alam and his *wazīr* Shuja'-ud-daulah). Bhavānī Pandit also states that he has received an invitation from the Nawāb Mīr Ja'afar 'Alī Khān and Rājā Durlabhrām Rāy and therefore he was marching with his troops.

v2.c41.116.3

He has sent to Calcutta an ambassador named Amin-uddīn 'Alī.¹ A similar letter was received from Chimnājī Sāhu, the *ṣūbahdār* of Katak on the 12th and on the same day another letter arrived from Bhavānī Pandit stating that he had just heard from the Nawāb and Rājā Durlabhrām that the former would shortly arrive in Calcutta and then send money to Nagpur and to him for his expenses. Now that the Nawāb is in Calcutta he hopes that the settlement of the question of *chauth* will be expedited. A reply sent to him on the same day states that Raghunāth Pandit has arrived with letters from Rājā Jānujī for the Nawāb and the Governor and that it is not necessary for Bhavānī Pandit to come to Bengal. Another that Śivarām Bhaṭṭa having procured a *farmān* from the emperor Shāh 'Alam II for Jānujī Bhonsle, the latter had sent 5,000 troops to Katak and if the English required any assistance a part of these troops might be sent to them.¹ On the 21st of the same month the Governor was informed by Chimnājī Sāhu that the troops had been sent from Nagpur to enforce the payment of *chauth* from Bengal.² A copy of the letter was sent to Nawāb Mīr Ja'afar 'Alī and the latter asked about his intentions.³ The first communication from Bhavānī Kāluā Pandit was received by the Governor at Calcutta on the 31st July, 1764, and a copy of it immediately forwarded to the Nawāb Mīr Ja'afar 'Alī. Bhavānī Pandit informs the Governor that he intends to march to Balasore.

v2.c41.116.4

He was informed on the same day that the Nawāb would shortly come to Calcutta and then it would be possible to state what decision had been arrived at regarding the payment of the *chauth*.⁴ On the 18th August the Nawāb Mīr Ja'afar 'Alī informed the governor that Raghunāth Pandit had come to demand *chauth* and was journeying to Calcutta with him. He was informed on the 22nd that the Maratha business would be settled after his arrival in Calcutta.⁵ On the 24th of September Rājā Jānujī Bhonsle wrote to the Governor praising the valour and honesty of the English and stating that Mīr Qāsim 'Alī wrote to him several times requesting assistance and sent a person of distinction to him with promises of money but that he could not enter into any alliance with such a perfidious person. Raghunāth Pandit had been sent to the Governor and the Rājā hoped that all balance due on account of *chauth* would now be paid up. Two letters received from the Marathas in Orissa disclose the fact that Chimnāji Sāhu was still the *ṣūbahdār* of the province of Orissa and Bhavānī Pandit was the *dīwān* of Katak. In a letter received on the 5th October Bhavānī Pandit says that Rājā Jānuji has written to him stating that negotiations regarding *chauth* do not come to any conclusion and therefore he has received orders to march to Bengal, settle matters with the advice of the Governor and the Nawāb and drive out the enemy (the Emperor Shāh 'Alam and his *wazīr* Shuja'-ud-daulah).

v2.c41.116.5

Bhavānī Pandit also states that he has received an invitation from the Nawāb Mīr Ja'afar 'Alī Khān and Rājā Durlabhrām Rāy and therefore he was marching with his troops. He has sent to Calcutta an ambassador named Amin-uddīn 'Alī.¹ A similar letter was received from Chimnāji Sāhu, the *ṣūbahdār* of Katak on the 12th and on the same day another letter arrived from Bhavānī Pandit stating that he had just heard from the Nawāb and Rājā Durlabhrām that the former would shortly arrive in Calcutta and then send money to Nagpur and to him for his expenses. Now that the Nawāb is in Calcutta he hopes that the settlement of the question of *chauth* will be expedited. A reply sent to him on the same day states that Raghunāth Pandit has arrived with letters from Rājā Jānuji for the Nawāb and the Governor and that it is not necessary for Bhavānī Pandit to come to Bengal. Another letter written to Jānuji informs him that the country being in ruinous condition on account of devastating wars the question of *chauth* must be deferred for the present.¹ Bhavānī Pandit and Chimnā Sāhu were informed on the 14th of October that the question of *chauth* would be settled as soon as possible and referred them to the letters from the Nawāb and Raghunāth Pandit for further particulars.²