A History of the Mahrattas v1.c11.55

v1.c11.55

¹ [Kincaid and Parasnis (History of the Marāthā People) endorse the statement of Rāo Bāhādur D. B. Parasnis (Mahābleshwar, p. 25) that Sivājī was not privy to the plot against the life of Chandra Rāo More. Mr. Parasnis’s statement is based upon ‘more authentic and reliable documents’ than were available in Grant Duff’s time, ‘which exonerate Sivājī from the charge of murder.’ No information, however, is vouchsafed by these writers as to the origin, nature and credibility of these documents, and Professor J. Sarkar pours scorn upon them, pointing out that all Sivājī’s old Hindu biographers are agreed that Sivājī committed a most unjustifiable murder for purely personal gain. (Shivaji and His Times, pp. 54, 55.) As a reviewer in the Times has pointed out, the authoritative Sabhāsad Bakhar of Krishnājī Anant (Mānkar, 2nd ed.) contains the following passage: ‘His kingdom could not be obtained unless Chandra Rāo was put to the sword. Sivājī, therefore, called Raghunāth Pant to him and said, “It is only you who can perform this piece of work: go to Chandra Rāo as on an embassy. . . .” The next day he (Raghunāth) again went to Chandra Rāo and had a private interview, when Chandra Rāo and his brother Suryājī Rāo fell dead under the blows of a dagger.’ Until definite and trustworthy evidence to the contrary is forthcoming, Grant Duff’s view must be accepted. (See article ‘Creator of a Nation,’ in Times Literary Supplement of February 6, 1919.) According to the Sabhāsad Bakhar (Mānkar’s Trans., p. 6) Chandra Rāo had a second brother, Hanmant Rāo, who was also treacherously assassinated under Sivājī’s express orders by Santājī Kuvajī Mahāldār. The whole story is clearly set forth by Professor Sarkar at pp. 50–57 of Shivaji and His Times, Calcutta (1919).]