History of Orissa from the Earliest Times to the British Period v2.c41.355

v2.c41.355

Information about Orissa is very meagre in the *Bakhar* of the Nagpur Bhonsles compiled by Kāshi Rāo Rājeśwar Gupte. We know from this that when Biśvambhar Pant was the *Wakīl* of Raghujī II at Calcutta, it was reported to Raghujī that he, Biśvambhar, did not always act in accordance with the instructions of his chief. It was proposed to send Dāgājī Raghunāth in his place. In the month of November Vyankajī Bhonsle *alias* Manyā Bāpu and his mother Chimā Bāī went on pilgrimage to Puri and spent a year on the journey. Chimā Bāī found that four *Sardārs* viz., Raghunāth Śeshādri, Bhup Singh, Bahrām Khān and Shāh Nawāz Khān (spelt Shahaban Khān) had remained in possession of Bārabāṭi fort since the days of the *Ṣūbahdārship* of Rājārām Mukund Pandit. By paying them one lakh of rupees in lieu of arrears of pay these four *Sardārs* were removed from the possession of the court. They were employed by *Senā Bahādur* (i.e., Raghujī II) in the campaign of Sholāpur. Raghujī himself accompanied his mother as far as Bāndhā (? Banda). Mudhojī’s second wife Kamalajābāī also accompanied the party. In the presence of Bālāji Pant Kāṇher, one Amṛita Rāo Ḍhage was appointed commandant of Bārabāṭi fort, the citadel of Katak and Vyankājī Sakadev was appointed to settle the province, which may mean that he was appointed *Ṣūbahdār* [Figure: The Great Temple of Mundeśvarī, Front and Side Bhabua Sub-Division, District Arrah]