New History of the Marathas v1.c11.52

v1.c11.52

“In May 1667,” says the *Shakawali*, “Bahlol Khan and Ekoji Rāje besieged fort Rangnā. Shivaji Rāje attacked and raised the siege. A treaty of agreement was concluded in September between Shivaji and the Adil Shah.” This proves that the Adil Shah at this time tried to regain his hold on south Konkan and that Shivaji wrested it back. Jay Sinh’s position as the Mughal generalissimo in the south became untenable both on account of Shivaji’s escape and his own failure before the armies of Bijapur. When Shivaji was in confinement at Agra, Jay Sinh urged his son Rām Sinh not to undertake the unpleasant task of guarding Shivaji, one Hindu prince watching over another. In this way both Jay Sinh and Rām Sinh fell in the estimation of the Emperor, who suspected them to be the agents responsible for Shivaji’s escape. Some of Shivaji’s Brahman followers who were arrested at Agra after Shivaji’s flight, admitted, no doubt under torture, that Rām Sinh had played a mischievous game. Jay Sinh on the other hand kept on writing bitter letters to the Emperor expressing his severe anguish at the pass to which matters had come and reproaching his own ill-fate for the result. He was disgraced and recalled by the Emperor to the Court. Shahzada Muazzam was sent as Governor and arrived in May 1667; Jay Sinh delivered over the charge to the Prince at Aurangabad and set out on his northward journey, worn out by age and toil and by extreme disappointment at this public humiliation and the thought that his loyal life-long services had proved ineffectual in sustaining his honour and dignity. On the way he died at Burhanpur on 28 August 1667 (aged 62, born 1605).