Later Mughals v2.c15.s13: Sec. 81.—Government of Malwa by Daya Bahadur.

Later Mughals v2.c15.s13

Language: English

Sec. 81.—Government of Malwa by Daya Bahadur.

This seems to have happened in June or July 1729. But Jai Singh evidently did not assume the viceroyalty, as we find Daya Bahadur, a son of Girdhar Bahadur's father's brother Chabela Ram, in charge of the government of the province for some years before his death at the same post in October 1731. The new governor, Daya Bahadur, who probably replaced his young nephew Bhawani Ram* in July or August 1729, set about his duty with great vigour. His energetic administration and strict collection of revenue were resented by the insubordinate local chiefs. But his greatest enemy was the chaudhuri Nandalal Mandaloi. We have several letters in which he tries to flatter and tempt Nandalal into giving him his suppot. This chaudhuri was courted by the Mahrattas in equally flattering terms. Jai Singh's influence kept him on the side of the Mahrattas and he did not even reply to Daya Bahadur's pathetic letter of appeal. In March 1730, the governor, learning that Nandalal was raising a force of 50,000 men, invited him to a conference at Ujjain or, as an alternative, offered to visit him at Indor, in order to hear his grievances and settle terms of alliance with him. But still the chaudhuri did not respond to the invitation, nor to another letter written in April 1731.

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*As Daya Bahadur wrote to Nandalal on 25th January 1730: "In Malavi Sal 1132 (?) Rajah Girdhar Bahadur was slain by the Mahratta sardars at Sarangpur. Then, to take revenge on them, I had gone to Dihli, petitioned the Emperor, and come back with the charge of the province." (Hindi letter, printed in Sardesai, ii. 364.)

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In June 1731 Baji Rao was at Burhanpur and wrote promising aid to Nandalal. Mahratta contingents were posted at Nalcha and Mandu, while the local "zamindars and tenants, having grown discontented on account of Daya Bahadur's oppression," had appealed to the Peshwa. From Nimar 5,000 men, peasants and revenue collectors, had come to strengthen Nandalal's forces.

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The gathering storm burst on the head of the unhappy governor in October of that year. He had run three mines under the Mandu pass (ghat) and kept there 25,000 men ready to oppose the invaders coming from the south. The Mahrattas, learning of his preparations from the treacherous Nandalal, avoided the trap, and entered the province by another route, the Bhairo ghat. The mines, however, were fired, probably by accident, and many on the Mughal side, including Nandalal's kinsmen ('brothers, sons, and sardars') were blown up and perished.*

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This took place on the 19th October. Three days later Daya Bahadur himself was attacked at Tarla, 4 miles west of Dhar, defeated and slain. As Baji Rao writes, "A great victory was gained. Rao Sahib [Nandalal Mandaloi], Thakur Narhardas and Mayaram the wakil rendered hearty assistance."

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Jai Singh congratulated Nandalal warmly on this result: "You have defended our religion in Malwa and crushed the Musalmans, establishing Dharma. You have fulfilled my desire."

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The Emperor was highly displeased when these facts were reported to him. He wrote to Jai Singh blaming Nandalal for "having called in the Mahrattas—Malhar Holkar and Ranuji Sindhia—by sending wakils to them, and established them in Malwa with his full support, after giving up to death thousands of men—his own brothers, sons and chiefs.'' He also accused Jai Singh of having instigated this treasonable surrender of the province, and then proceeded, ''Never mind. Revenge will be taken for it. The Mahrattas came to Malwa on three other occasions but fled beaten. So this time, too, they will meet with similar chastisement and be expelled. Take care! The date has been fixed for the starting of the expedition from here.''

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∗ As Daya Bahadur wrote angrily to Nandalal, "What is your policy? To save the Mahrattas, give your brothers, sons and sardars up to slaughter and put the kingdom in the enemy's possession? What is this that you are doing? Have you lost your senses?...Take counsel with your chiefs and do not give your own country of Malwa up to another...But if you invite the enemy and give such advice to Jai Singh, you will gain nothing. Know that in the future these Mahrattas will not remember this day." (Sardesai, ii. 367). Bharo-pura is 3 m.n.e. of Mandu, on the northward road from the Narmada.

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Evidently to carry out this policy, Muhammad Khan Bangash was sent to Malwa.