Shivaji and His Times c5.s7: §13. The fate of the Mores critically discussed

Shivaji and His Times c5.s7

Language: English

§13. The fate of the Mores critically discussed

c5.s7.1

Such is the account of the gaining of Javli written by Shivaji's courtier, Krishnaji Anant Sabhasad, for the eyes of that king's son Rajaram, only 14 years after Shivaji's death. There is no reason to disbelieve such an authority in a matter like this, though the writer's order of events may be rather mixed up (as it often is elsewhere in his book.) Later writers tell the story somewhat differently as regards the details.

c5.s7.2

T. S., 13b-14a (also Malkaré, paras 28 and 29) says : "Shivaji sent Raghunath Ballal to Chandra Rao to ask for the hand of his fair daughter. On reaching the place, Raghunath first went to the diwan Hanumant Rao and stabbed him to death at the interview. He returned by a night-march to Shivaji (at Purandar), who was highly delighted and by quick marches arrived before Javli with a vast army and took it after six hours of fighting. The sardars Baji and Krishna Rao, aged 14 and 16 years respectively, were brought as prisoners to Puna and there beheaded. The women and children were set free."

c5.s7.3

The Jedhe Shakavali (repeated by the Karina) merely states that Shivaji took Javli and three months later captured Raigarh ; Chandra Rao (who was in it) was persuaded by two of Shivaji's Maval deshmukhs to evacuate the fort.

c5.s7.4

The Shiva-bharat (canto 18) is not more helpful. It says, "Shiva took Javli after slaying in battle Baji and Krishna Raj and their father Chandra Raj. Pratap Varma, a friend of Chandra Rao, fled to Bijapur. Coveting the position of C. R., he gratified Adil Shah by his [devoted] attendance, till that monarch promised to wrest Javli from Shiva and give it to him. Pratap helped Afzal during his campaign and brought him to Wai."

c5.s7.5

The most probable reconstruction of the history of the Javli affair, from a consideration of all the materials, seems to be this:—The then Chandra Rao, named Krishnaji and eight in succession from the founder, was a boy of sixteen and all his business was conducted by his kinsman, Hanumant Rao Moré, who was his *diwan*. Raghunath Ballal *Kordé* (and not *Atré*, as the latter was not *sabnis*), under Shivaji's orders visited Hanumant (the *diwan* or person who really ruled the estate) with a pretended offer of marriage between his master and the late Chandra Rao's daughter, and treacherously slew him at a private meeting. He escaped unscathed and quickly brought Shivaji to the scene with a vast army. Javli was captured after six hours' fighting, and several members of the More family were taken prisoner. But Chandra Rao himself was either absent from the place or had fled away before its fall. He took refuge in Raigarh (a fort belonging to him.) Shiva invested it and gained possession of it by negotiations. The two boys, Krishnaji Chandra Rao and his younger brother Baji Rao More, were carried away by Shivaji to Puna and there the elder one was beheaded. His offence is alleged by some modern theorists to have been the opening of correspondence with the Adil Shahi Government for recovering his heritage,—which would be a quite natural and legitimate desire.

c5.s7.6

The younger boy, Baji, escaped (on 28th August, according to the *Shivapur Daftar Yadi*), assumed the hereditary title of Chandra Rao, and in March 1665 joined Jai Singh for war against Shivaji. [*Haft Anjuman*, Paris MS. 113*a*, 123*a*.] With him came Ambaji Govind Rao More.

c5.s7.7

The acquisition of Javli was the result of deliberate murder and organized treachery on the part of Shivaji. His power was then in its infancy, and he could not afford to be scrupulous in the choice of the means of strengthening himself. In exactly similar circumstances, Sher Shah, his historic parallel, used similar treachery in gaining forts in South Bihar as the first step to a throne.

c5.s7.8

The only redeeming feature of this dark episode in his life is that the crime was not aggravated by hypocrisy. All his old Hindu biographers are agreed that it was an act of premeditated murder for personal gain and not a pardonable homicide done in self-defence or in the heated blood of an open fight. Even Shivaji never pretended that the murder of the three Mores was prompted by a desire to found a "Hindu swaraj," or to remove from his path a treacherous enemy who had repeatedly abused his generous leniency.∗

c5.s7.9

∗ For the desperate and fantastic special pleading of Mr. C. V. Vaidya, LL.B., the reader is referred to the *Mahratta* (31 Aug. 1924.)

c5.s7.10

This last touch of infamy it has been left to the present generation to add. Unfortunately for the credibility of such theories, none of the genuine old historians of Shivaji in Marathi could anticipate that this line of defence would be adopted by the twentieth century admirers of the national hero; they have called the murder a murder.

c5.s7.11

Though all the three heads of the family were thus killed, some of the ordinary Mores remained at large and sought to be avenged on Shivaji, though in vain. In 1665, when Jai Singh opened a campaign against that Maratha chief, he invited these Mores to join him and carry on their blood-feud with the Bhonsles with greater hope of success.

Linked texts (1)

Śivabhārata — Paramānanda, Sanskrit