New History of the Marathas v3.c37.s2.52

v3.c37.s2.52

Sindia’s visit to his homeland created quite a stir not only in Maharashtra but throughout India. A few friends welcomed him; but a vast majority sensed either personal or national danger from that event. The curiosity of all was roused as never before. Long in advance of his actual arrival at Poona, people began to form their own views about the possible reason and likely consequences of Sindia’s visit. In the midst of the glow of his power few cared to remember that he was coming indeed to his home after an absence of twelve long years. There was a time when all Maratha chiefs were required to pay yearly visits to their master at the head-quarters. But his twelve years’ absence with the momentous events that had happened in the interval, had obliterated all past memories, had made Sindia himself a stranger to Poona, to the Peshwa’s Court with its youthful growing master, and with the rising generation of his compatriots in the Deccan. Most men believed that Sindia had carved out an independent kingdom for himself in the north and would have no longer any reason to maintain relations with the south. He was supposed to have amassed vast treasure and to have become invincible on account of his French-trained battalions, who had enabled him to master the Emperor. Why may he not then similarly overthrow the Peshwa too? Such wild and fanciful notions filled the atmosphere of Poona, when on the sultry 12th of June Sindia reached the outskirts of the capital. There he was a lion among hyenas and every one had to face him.