New History of the Marathas v2.c24.54

v2.c24.54

In this predicament Bahadur Shah’s Wazir Munyim Khan, rejecting Zulfiqar Khan’s advice to confirm Shahu’s nomination, went through the details of the representations and ordered that Shahu and Tarabai should settle the dispute by fighting it out and then the sanads would be issued to the party that would win. This decision fully answers those critics who argue that Tarabai was fighting for the principle of complete independence as established by Shivaji and denounce Shahu for accepting subordination to the Emperor. Tarabai followed the tactics of Shahu. Raybhanji Bhosle, one of Shahji's illegitimate sons, was during these negotiations Shahu's main support and adviser pleading his cause at the Emperor's Court. He had served Aurangzeb for several years and obtained a rare insight into the various political currents of the Mughal-Maratha relations. Raybhanji died on 23rd August, 1709 soon after Bahadur Shah had left the Deccan, so that Shahu had none in the Mughal camp to support his cause.