Later Mughals v2.c15.s14: Sec. 82.—Muhammad Khan Bangash's Campaigns in Malwa, First Year.
Later Mughals v2.c15.s14
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Sec. 82.—Muhammad Khan Bangash's Campaigns in Malwa, First Year.
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When Muhammad Khan Bangash reached Dihli in the end of 1729, on his return from Bundelkhand, the vacancy in Malwa caused by the death of Girdhar Bahadur was still unfilled. Muhammad Khan did his best to retain his place at Allahabad, a province of which the greater part was productive and easily held. Unsuccessful in these efforts he applied for the onerous charge of Malwa, for which under the existing conditions there was little or no competition. [J. A. S. B. 305.]
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His appointment to Malwa, for which the rescript was dated the 17th Rabi I. of the 12th year (1143 H. = 29th Sept. 1730), was obtained through Zafar Khan Roshan-ud-daulah Panipati aided by the reigning favourite Rahim-un-nissa known as Koki Jiu (Madam Foster-sister), to both of whom heavy bribes were paid. There was much discussion, as usual in Muhammad Khan's affairs, about revenue assignments and money grants. Very little money could be obtained. On the 5th November 1730 Muhammad Khan had reached Agra, where some guns were obtained from the arsenal. His force numbered some 8,200 horse and 2,500 foot. At length Agra was left on the 16th Nov. 1730 and the camp pitched at Jajau, eighteen miles south of the city. Proceeding by way of Dholpur, the Chambal was crossed and Gwaliyar reached a few days afterwards. Here a halt was made. [Id ; Aziz-ul-qulub 40b.]
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As letters urging haste came from Khan Dauran, three commanders were sent on by forced marches to Sironj, Mandleshwar and Sarangpur. In December 1730 Muhammad Khan himself had reached Sadhaura, 172 miles north of Ujjain, and here he received a letter from Nizam-ul-mulk proposing a conference on the banks of the Narmada. On the 25th January 1731 the army was at Sarangpur, fifty-two miles north-east of Ujjain. Holkar, who was at Shahjahanpur, sixteen miles off [to the south-west], hearing of its approach sent his heavy baggage back across the Narmada. As the Muhammadans were entering camp at Sarangpur, the Mahrattas fell on them, but soon fled "like crows on seeing a bow." On the 27th January the Muhammadans relieved Shahjahanpur. Ujjain the capital of the province was occupied on the 30th. [J. A. S. B. 308.]
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On the 18th February Muhammad Khan again took the field, and went towards Dhar fifty miles to the south-west of Ujjain, while another force under Ahmad Khan the Nawab's second son was sent to deal with Holkar in the direction of Sarangpur and Shahjahanpur. Muhammad Khan himself reached Dhar on the 24th February 1731. The Mahrattas appeared five days afterwards and some skirmishing took place. Next day Holkar arrived. Yar Muhammad Khan of Bhupal, turning traitor to those of his own creed, had persuaded the Mahrattas to attack Ujjain. Muqim Khan the officer in charge beat off the Mahrattas who then went in pursuit of Muhammad Khan. The fighting round Dhar went on for nearly ten days to the end of Shaban (8th March 1731). As the result of this first year's campaign the Mahrattas were expelled from Ujjain, Mandleshwar, Dhar and Dipalpur, while their new forts on the Narmada had been levelled. [Id. 310.]
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Having heard that Nizam-ul-mulk was on his way from Burhanpur, Muhammad Khan on the 8th March, 1731 set out for the Narmada. Successive letters had informed him that Nizam-ul-mulk had on the 30th Dec. 1730 crossed the pass of Fardapur and gone into Baglana and on the 28th Jan. 1731 had arrived at Galna. In these letters Nizam-ul-mulk exposes his plan. Pilaji Gaekwar and Udaji Puar had quarrels of their own with Baji Rao Peshwa and were willing to enter into a compact with the Muhammadans. To obtain Muhammad Khan's accession to this alliance was apparently the object of Nizam-ul-mulk's journey. As he put it to the Nawab "Union is strength." From Dhamangaon he wrote on 8th February that he hoped soon to be at the Narmada. However, he did make a start from Burhanpur on the 24th Feb. The meeting between the two nobles at length took place near the Akbarpur ferry on the Narmada early in April. [Id. 311.]
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According to prevalent rumour Muhammad Khan Bangash when accepting the Government of Malwa had secretly bound himself to lead a campaign against Nizam-ul-mulk as soon as the Mahrattas had been sufficiently dealt with. At any rate this belief was held throughout Nizam-ul-mulk's own army: and they became quite certain of the fact when their commander suddenly marched to the Narmada. To their astonishment, instead of the fighting to which they had looked forward, peaceful negotiations began. For twelve days the two nobles interviewed each other. We do not know any details of what took place between them, but there can be little doubt that they had agreed to act in concert. Muhammad Khan finally left Akbarpur on the 8th April. [Id. 313, Ahwal 199-200.]
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No very long time had elapsed before the whole of Nizam-ul-mulk's scheme fell to pieces. Hearing of the coalition against him, headed on the Mahratta side by his rival Trimbak Rao Dhabariya the senapati, Baji Rao hastened northwards to Gujarat. On the 11th April 1731, between Dhaboi and Baroda* he came up with the confederates and attacked immediately. Trimbak Rao was killed with one son of Pilaji and some other leaders. Udaji Puar and Chimnaji Damodar were taken prisoner. Pilaji and other leading men were wounded but escaped. With the news of this disastrous affair came word that Baji Rao had immediately turned back, had recrossed the Narmada, and was marching for Surat and the south. Nizam-ul-mulk trembled for the safety of his capital Aurangabad. Forthwith he began forced marches westwards and seems to have fought one action with Baji Rao somewhere in the neighbourhood of Daman. But by the end of August the two sides had arranged their differences and Baji Rao returned to Satara. By a secret compact Nizam-ul-mulk was left undisturbed in the Dakhin on condition that Baji Rao might pursue undisturbed his designs against the northern part of the Mughal Empire. [J. A. S. B. 313, *Khujista-kalam* for the letter.]
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∗ The battle took place at Bhilapur, 11 m. s. e. of Baroda. We have two accounts of it from Marathi sources. "Trimbak Rao Dhabhare had been opposed to Baji Rao from the first. When the chauth and sardeshmukhi of Gujarat were given to Baji Rao, Dhabhare began to recruit men, created a split among the Maratha leaders and began to act against Baji Rao. Expecting that he would get the help of the Nizam, he assembled 35,000 men, and determined to march into the Dakhin, saying openly to his men: 'Baji Rao has seized the kingdom of our master, I am going to free him'." [Peshwa Shakavali]. Baji Rao writes, "Trimbak Rao Dhabhare, Udaji Anand Rao Puar, Kanthaji Raghuji Kadam Bande, Pilaji Gaekwad, and Chimnaji Dada [=Damodar], with 30,000 men came to fight me. The battle took place on the 4th Shawwal.........five kos from Dabhoi. Trimbak and Zavaji Dhabhare, Maloji Puar, Pilaji Gaekwad's son [Sambhuji], in all 14 chiefs
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For the rest of the open season before the coming in of the rains of 1731, Muhammad Khan was employed in reducing forts and repelling desultory incursions by the Mahrattas. Two forts Kalkli and Chikalda, belonging to Udaji Puar on the right bank of the Narmada, were occupied on the 10th April. Some Bhil forts were then taken. From these operations he was called away to meet Malhar Holkar who was plundering
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were killed, Udaji Puar and Chimnaji were captured, Anand Rao Puar [Jaswant Rao], Pilaji Gaekwad and Kumar Bahadur [Kumar Baba Puar] fled wounded. Bande fled. Their army was plundered. On our side Narayan Dhandhere was slain." The family chronicle of the Dabhares tells us: "Baji Rao seduced Dabhare's officers and induced the men to desert to him under various pretexts.........With only 5,000 men Trimbak Rao stood up for battle, Baji Rao hemmed him round. From dawn to the third quarter of the day Trimbak fought valiantly, slew many men on the Peshwa's side and drove the latter one *kos* back. Thinking that he had won the battle, he began to play his band. Then Trimbak's step-mother's brother, Bhao Singh Toke, secretly corrupted by the Peshwa, ordered his bargirs to fire. Trimbak was shot through the temple and fell dead on his elephant in the evening. His brother Jaswant Dabhare arrived at 9 P.M., cremated his body, and then pursued Baji Rao to Satara,.........where the Peshwa hid himself in the women's rooms in the palace"! (Sardesai, ii. 250-256). [J. S.]
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near Mandleshwar. Before the Nawab could come up with him Malhar had made off into Jaipur territory. Other Mahrattas crossed the Narmada and after plundering the country near Mandu retreated to their homes. Antu was plundering round Shahjahanpur. On the 19th May 1731 the governor reached his capital Ujjain, and after a week's rest started against Antu. On the 13th June as the Nawab approached Kauth,* Antu withdrew. [J. A. S. B. 314-315.]
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The next day an express came from the officer commanding at Sarangpur that he would be overwhelmed by Holkar unless immediately reinforced. At midnight Muhammad Khan started and reached Sarangpur, nineteen miles to the north, a little after sunrise. Before they had come off the line of march they were set upon by Holkar Antu and others. All day the fighting went on. Near sunset the Mahrattas took to flight, and the Muhammadans were out until midnight pursuing the fugitives and plundering their camp. Muhammad Khan now tried to collect some revenue and went to Sironj, 136 miles north-east of Ujjain. He preferred apparently to make his head-quarters at Sironj, as being nearer his line of retreat on Hindustan. Here he seems to have passed the rainy season of 1731. No money could be collected and Muhammad Khan spent his time in urgent appeals to the Court for assistance. [J. A. S. B. 317.]