New History of the Marathas v1.c9.56

v1.c9.56

5. Afzal Khan’s end.—How far Shivaji expected smooth-sailing in his efforts to build up an independent kingdom for the essentially Maratha lands it is difficult to say, but he certainly kept himself prepared for any eventuality. It was too much to expect the Court of Bijapur, however decadent, to relinquish possession of the Maratha territories which had been earned by centuries of heroic endeavour, without making an attempt to save them from this upstart. The Bijapur Government was now indeed in a sad plight, what with Mughal aggression and what with the sudden rise of Shivaji in his homeland. Muhammad Shah’s queen Badi-sahiba was then managing the State affairs in the name of her young son Ali. Sometime ago Shahji was asked to restrain his son from encroaching upon the Adil-Shahi lands. He replied that he was not responsible for his son’s conduct and that the Bijapur Government might take any steps it liked against him. The power of Bijapur was now practically collapsing, and even its Muslim nobles had turned disloyal. Shahji alone stood by his master during these critical times. This is clearly proved by a recently discovered *farman* addressed to Shahji on 27 May 1658, which states, “We are satisfied with your explanation that you cannot restrain your son and that you are not responsible for his acts. We have therefore restored to you all your jagir at Bangalore together with all the honours and titles which you formerly held.”¹ This document also proves how powerless the Bijapur Government was against Shivaji’s aggressions, which went on steadily increasing after Aurangzeb’s departure from the Deccan; and none of the various other nobles of Bijapur would undertake the chastisement of Shivaji. Afzal Khan alone volunteered for that hazard.