History of Aurangzib, Based on Original Sources v5.c73.s2: § 2. Rajaram's position and policy on his accession, 1689.
History of Aurangzib, Based on Original Sources v5.c73.s2
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§ 2. Rajaram's position and policy on his accession, 1689.
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In the last year of Shambhuji's reign (1688), the splendid State created by the genius and valour of Shivaji seemed about to break to pieces. Many vassal chiefs, notably the Savants of Vadi, had been in rebellion for some time past and could not be conquered. In November 1688, the Shirké family had risen in arms with the sympathy of the discontented ministers jealous of the foreign favourite Kavikalas and the good wishes of all who despaired of the safety of Shivaji's heritage in the hands of the drunken profligate Shambhu; but they had been defeated and driven out of the country, and the king had taken swift vengeance by throwing into prison Prahlad Niraji, the chief *karkuns* and many other prominent officers (December)—which had the effect of paralysing the administration [Z. S.]
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∗ Chit. ii. 71; Bharatvarsha, year 1, No. 3, pp. 31—40; Kaifiyats, p. 146.
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Less than two months after this *coup* had come the crushing blow of the capture of Shambhu by the Mughals (about 3rd February, 1689). To many of the Marathas this disaster probably appeared as a blessing in disguise: the hateful North Indian favourite who had bewitched the king and the insolent and capricious Rajah himself, whom no patriot and no honourable man could serve, were both removed by one stroke of fate.
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Immediately after hearing of Shambhuji's capture, Changoji Katkar, the qiladar of Raigarh, with the support of Yesaji Kank, the old Mavlé captain and comrade of Shivaji's youth, took Rajaram out of prison and seated him on the throne (8th February). The State officers confined by the late king,—some in 1684 and others only two months ago—were all released. Shambhuji's heir Shahu was a boy of six only, and therefore the dowager queen, Yesu Bai, very wisely supported Rajaram instead of urging the claims of her own son. It was not a time for woman's rule or infant's rule. Even before the capture of Shambhuji, a Mughal army had been detached in December 1688 under the able general Zulfiqar Khan, against his capital, and now (February 1689) the fort was invested in right earnest. [M. A. 331, 327.] As the besiegers strengthened their posts, Rajaram wisely decided not to risk his all by shutting himself up in that fort, but to go out of it in time, raise forces from the country at large, and with them try to drive away the besiegers of Raigarh.
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So, he slipped out of the fort in the garb of a Hindu religious beggar (yogi) on 5th April, and by way of Pratapgarh, Satara and Parli went to Panhala, where with the help of Ramchandra he began to levy fresh troops. But the Mughals were after him, and he found no real safety anywhere in the home country. True, all these forts were still in his possession; but how long would they withstand the captor of Bijapur and Golkonda? Moreover, it would be a wise strategy to divide the enemy's forces by transferring a part of the Maratha activities to the far-off East Coast, while the Mughals were kept in play on the western side of the Peninsula by his other officers. So he decided to retire to the Madras Karnatak and there make a stand with the help of his first cousin Shahji II of Tanjore (the successor of Vyankoji).
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The plan of operations for the future was thus arranged: Rajaram was to be escorted to Jinji by Prahlad Niraji (as his chief counsellor) with a number of generals like Dhana Jadav, Santa Ghorparé and some others. The supreme control of affairs in the homeland was vested in Ramchandra N. Bavdékar, the *Amatya*, with his head-quarters first in Vishalgarh and latterly in Parli, assisted by Shankaraji Malhar (the *Sachiv*) and certain other officers. All officials and captains in the homeland were to take their orders from Ramchandra and obey him like the king himself. The commands of this dictator of the West were not to be upset even by the king on appeal. The supreme authority thus conferred on Ramchandra was designated by his new title of *Hakumat-panah*. Ramchandra had an inborn genius for command and organisation. He gathered round himself the ablest lieutenants, men like Parashuram Trimbak and Shankaraji Narayan, and managed to make the mutually jealous and contentious Maratha guerilla leaders act in concert, though his orders lacked the prestige and authority which the king's presence in Maharashtra could have given to them and though he was confronted by a tireless clever and powerful enemy like Aurangzib. Ramchandra's masterly insight and consummate tact were proved by his exact adaptation of his policy and plan of operations to the genius of his countrymen and the actual situation in the midst of which he had to work.
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Finding the Mughal pursuit dangerously close and persistent, Rajaram left Panhala about 30th June 1689,* passed through many perilous adventures and a period of concealment in Bednur territory, and then by rapid marches reached Vellore on 28th October, and some four days later entered Jinji "in humble guise" like a poor private person. There he took over the government from the unwilling hands of Harji Mahadik's widow and son, formed a full Court and began to reign like a king, though in extreme poverty. The Peshwa Nilkantha M. Pinglé accompanied his master to Jinji, but there fell completely into the second place. He merely stamped his seal on the royal letters, while the king's leading counsellor and the supreme authority in the State was Prahlad Niraji, on whom the high title of Regent (Pratinidhi) was conferred and who thus stood outside and above the cabinet of eight ministers (Ashta-Pradhan).
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∗ Z. S. says that Rajaram fled from Raigarh to Pratapgarh on 10 Chaitra Badi (=5 Apr. 1689), issued from Panhala on 8 Ashwin Badi (=26 Sep.) and reached Vellore on 11 Kartik Badi (=28 Oct.) The initial and final dates are correct, but in the middle one I suggest Asharh for Ashwin (thus getting 30 June for the departure from Panhala), because it is hardly possible for a man to cover the 500 miles from Panhala, via Bednur to Vellore in the 32 days (26 Sep.—28 Oct.) that Z. S. gives to this journey. Moreover, we know from the contemporary imperial history Masir-i-Alamgiri (328) that Rajaram went through many adventures after leaving Panhala; he was overtaken by the Mughals on an island in the Tungabhadra on the frontier of Bednur, escaped from the ring of his enemies, and was concealed by the Rani of Bednur and subsequently allowed to go away. A week or two of time must be allowed for these causes of delay, but Z. S.'s dates leave no room for them in the last part of Rajaram's journey. Chitnis's itinerary of Rajaram [ii. 26—31] seems to me to be imaginary and of no value.