New History of the Marathas v2.c24.s2.98

v2.c24.s2.98

Shahu’s precept was heartily accepted and acted upon. Dabhade worked in Gujarat, Raghuji Bhosle established Nagpur, the Pawars settled at Dhar and Dewas, the Holkars and the Sindias at Indore and Ujjain, and later Bundelkhand was similarly colonized. All the Maratha colonies, communities, and culture that we notice today at various centres outside Maharashtra, were thus the creation of Shahu and his Peshwas. It was by no means an accidental, haphazard development, but a studied plan of philanthropic non-violent principles applied to the politics of the day. Shahu simply continued the work that was begun by Shivaji and that was for a time interrupted by unforeseen circumstances. The Hindus and their religion had no room, no supporter in India. Providence supplied one in Shivaji. As soon as time came, Shahu rose to the occasion, took up the cue, and dropping those elements out of Shivaji’s policy, for which he found himself incapable, transformed the traditional Maratha activities in a new channel where the Hindu interests were safeguarded not in a policy of hate but of good will which he extended in equal measure to Muslims also. More than once did Bajirao offer to extinguish Asaf Jah’s rule in Maharashtra, but Shahu restrained him. On 9th February 1740 Bajirao communicating his victory over Nasir Jang wrote to his son, " I am at this moment in a position to eradicate the Mughal completely if only His Highness will immediately order all his chiefs to run to my support. If he does not respond to my call, I shall close this affair by negotiating only an advantageous peace."²¹