New History of the Marathas v2.c25.54

v2.c25.54

5. Did the Peshwa destroy the Maratha navy?—Historians like Rajwade and others have scathingly criticised the Peshwa for having destroyed the Maratha navy by accepting British help for that purpose. Here it must be observed that on some important points the critics have proceeded on wrong assumptions. The Peshwa was intent on putting down the recalcitrant and defiant Tulaji Angria who obeyed no law and recognised no authority. The Peshwa had no grudge against the Angrian navy at all. The navy was burnt down by the Peshwa's allies the British. Once a war is on, it was difficult to regulate the destruction. After Tulaji was removed, the Peshwa did appoint another naval officer Dhulap in his place. Nor could the Peshwa conceive that he was doing damage to the Maratha State by removing Angria. He had already humbled Damaji Gaikwad and silenced Dabhade and Tarabai. The Peshwa did not remove Tulaji's brother Manaji who preserved his position at Kolaba. To defend the west coast properly by taking possession of the important points and harbours of Suvarnadurg, Anjanvel, Ratnagiri and Vijayadurg, was the principal aim of the Peshwa for which he called in British aid. But even in this point, it may be asked why did he neglect the obvious political dictum, on no account to call in an enemy to help one's cause. Here is the crux of the problem. The agreement for British help was contracted early in 1755, when the British were not considered as unfriendly to the Marathas. The Seven Years War had not yet started. Bussy a French officer was already a friend to the Peshwa. These Western settlers, the French, the Dutch and the British, were working in India for over a century as peaceful traders, and their territorial ambitions were not disclosed till the grant of the Diwani to Clive by the Emperor in 1765.⁴ In ascribing to the Peshwa an unpardonable fatal indiscretion, it seems we anticipate history, and powerful as the Peshwa certainly was during the late fifties, he had no reason to suspect that he could not control the action of the British power in Bombay.