History of Orissa from the Earliest Times to the British Period v2.c41.262

Language: English

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After the death of Jānuji, Sābāji combined with Daryābāi and gave out that as he was a brother of Jānuji there was no necessity of adopting Raghuji. Mādhav Rāo I immediately gave the title of Senā Ṣāḥib Ṣūbah to Sābāji, which became hereditary in the family. When Sābāji came to Nagpur, the Peshwa sent an agent named Rāmāji Ballāl Guṇe with him. Mudhoji was in despair and both of them collected troops. Sābāji was favoured by the Niẓām-ul-mulk Niẓām 'Ali Khān who sent his generals Rūkn-ud-daulah and Nawāb 'Ibrāhim Beg Ẓābiṭ Jang alias Dhonsā to help him. Mudhoji allied himself with Isma'il Khān of Ellichpur. The Peshwa sent Bālāji Pālaṇḍe to help Sābāji. The first battle between the brothers took place at Kumbhārgāon near Bālāpur in January 1773 and Jijāji, a relation of the Bhonsles, was killed. The war stopped for a few days and negotiations commenced, and on the 28th of January a settlement was arrived at, according to which, the adoption of Raghujī by Daryābāī was decided. It was further decided that both Sābājī and Mudhojī were to be joint regents. Ten trusted men remained as guarantees of the joint administration and two men were sent to Poona to obtain the clothes of investiture for Raghujī II. Before the ink on the treaty was dry quarrels commenced, as Daryābāī came over to the side of Mudhojī, who took her to Chanda and released Devājī Pant, mentioned in English records as Divakar Pandit, from prison. Sābājī’s wife, who was at Nagpur, was plundered of her property.

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Thereupon Sābājī went to Khaṇḍe Rāo, who was a Sardar both of the Peshwa and the Niẓām. When the armies met again on the Wardha, Mudhaji met Sābājī and himself gave him the clothes of Senā Ṣāḥib Ṣūbah to his brother, at which the Peshwa was offended and sent 3,000 troops towards Nagpur. This information was sent to Miraj from Poona in a letter written by Vāman Rāo Paṭvardhan on the 7th of May 1773. Peshwa Nārāyaṇ Rāo was also determined to crush Mudhojī lest he should join Raghunāth Rāo. We can now understand why Bābujī Nāyak applied for troops to the English Governor in May 1773. Orissa must have been depleted of Maratha troops on account of the civil war between the brothers. As Nawāb Isma’il Khan of Ellichpur had helped Mudhajī, Sābājī now attacked him and then sent an agent named Bhavānī Śivarām to Poona for help. The Peshwa sent Khaṇḍe Rāo Darekar with twenty-five thousand troops. These with the Niẓām’s general, Rūkn-ud-daulah, harassed Mudhojī. Mudhojī’s agents at Poona tried their best to see Raghunāth Rāo in prison and enlist his help for their master. But the Peshwa Nārāyaṇ Rāo was all along in favour of Sābājī and sent him the clothes of investiture as Senā Ṣāhib Ṣubah a few days before his murder, on the 16th of August.¹ Nārāyaṇ Rāo was murdered by Raghunāth Rāo Dādā Ṣāhib on the 30th of August 1773 and Raghunāth Rāo at once assumed the position of the Peshwa. He always favoured Mudhojī and immediately appointed him as Senā Ṣāhib Ṣubah.

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It was during those internal dissensions that a quick change of governors took place in Orissa. The appointment of Mādhavjī Hari appears to have been due to the influence of Mudhojī and he was removed in 1773 as soon as Sābājī regained power.² As soon as the birth of Nārāyaṇ Rāo’s posthumous son was announced and the Ministerial party at Poona regained power the investiture of Raghujī II as Senā Ṣāhib Ṣubah was withdrawn and Sābājī received the appointment once more.³ Sakhārām Bāpu influenced the Council of Ministers at Poona to send Divākarpant Chorghoḍe to Sābājī, and Raghunāth Rāo’s general Kṛiṣhṇa Rāo Kāle fled from him to Sābājī at Nanded. Divākarpant went to the Niẓām and Sābājī and Trimbak Rāo Māmā met Niẓam Alī at Gunjoṭi near Gulbarga. Sābājī was in great want of money. On the 11th March, 1774, Haripant Phaḍke was sent by the Ministers, and Sābājī helped the Ministerial party throughout the war with Raghunath Rāo. Raghunāth Rāo came towards Burhānpur and then towards Berar in April 1774, and fought with Sābājī’s force. Irregular fighting followed.⁴