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Shivaji and His Times c6.s1: §3. Aurangzib's defensive measures

Shivaji and His Times c6.s1

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§3. Aurangzib's defensive measures

c6.s1.1

Nasiri Khan, Iraj Khan and some other officers at the head of 3,000 cavalry were ordered there. Rao Karn, who was coming from Aurangabad to Bidar, was diverted from the way to the same place. Shaista Khan was ordered to detach 1,000 men from his contingent there. But Nasiri Khan's movements were provokingly slow. On 30th April he entered the pargana of Bir and four days later marched towards Ashti.* Thus, there was a great delay in his going to Ahmadnagar and Junnar, expelling the enemy, and ravaging Shivaji's territory, as ordered by Aurangzib. (Kambu, 3b; Adab. 147a, 153a, 154b.)

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Meantime, Multafat Khan had issued from the fort of Ahmadnagar and relieved the beleaguered outpost at Chamargunda by defeating Minaji, (28th April.) But the Marathas continued to rove about the pargana for some time longer. However, the retainers of Multafat and Mirza Khan followed up their victory and at last cleared the Chamargunda sub-division. (Adab. 110b, 153b, 154a.)

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Shivaji had stayed in the Junnar sub-division for some time, robbing the villages, as the Mughal reinforcements were late in arriving there and he found the field clear. But, at the approach of Rao Karn and Shaista Khan, he fled from the neighbourhood of Junnar city and wandered over the district for some time, as he could not be caught and crushed. (Adab. 110b, 111b, 112a.) But when the pressure became great, he slipped away to the Ahmadnagar district and began to plunder it. By this time (end of May), however, Nasiri Khan had reached the scene. By a forced march he surprised Shiva's army and nearly encircled it. Many of the Marathas were slain, many wounded, and the rest put to flight, (4 June.) But there was no pursuit, as the Mughal horses were too tired. (Kambu, 4b; Adab. 154a, 156a.)

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Aurangzib's letters to Nasiri Khan and other officers breathed fury and revenge; they must beat the raiders back from the imperial dominions and make reprisals by entering Shiva’s land from all sides, “wasting the villages, slaying the people without pity, and plundering them to the extreme”; Shivaji’s possessions, Puna and Chakan, must be utterly ruined, and not the least remissness shown in slaying and enslaving the people; the village headmen and peasants of the imperial territory who had secretly abetted the enemy, must be slain without pity. (*Adab.* 147*a* and *b*, 148*a*.)

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∗ *Bir (or Bid) is 68 m. e. and Ashti is 35 m. s. e. of Ahmadnagar. Chamargunda (or Shrigunda) is 33 m. s. of Ahmadnagar. (Ind. At. 39 N. E.) Raisin is 20 m. s. e. of Chamargunda.

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Aurangzib’s new dispositions for guarding his southwestern frontier showed excellent combination and judgment. Kar Talab Khan was posted near Junnar, Abdul Munim at Garh Namuna, and Nasiri Khan and Rao Karn at Panda “opposite Parenda fort,” to guard the Chamargunda, Kara and Ashti parganas.* (*Adab.* 148*b*.) These officers stood facing the frontier and barring every path of the enemy’s advance, so that the imperial ryots behind them might enjoy safety. The officers were further bidden to make a dash forward across the frontier, whenever they got an opportunity, ravage as much of the enemy’s territory in front of them as they could, and then quickly return to the defence of their respective posts. (*Adab.* 147*b*.)

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After Nasiri Khan’s victory over Shiva in the Ahmadnagar district, he was ordered by Aurangzib to “pursue the Marathas and extirpate them.” But this could not be done. The rains now set in with the full violence of the monsoons, and the campaign had to be closed. Shiva retreated to his own country and the Mughal officers fell back on their appointed stations, watching the frontier. "There was peace in the whole district." (*Adab.* 156*a*, 149*a*.)

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∗ *Panda* (in Pers. text, *Pandeh*) is 16 m. n. w. of Parenda and 3 m. s. of Karmala. *Kara* is 9 m. n. w. of Ashti. I have followed Aurangzib's letters (in *Adab*) above; but Kambu omits Garh Namuna and says that Abdul Munim was posted at Chamargunda. I have failed to trace Garh Namuna, unless it was a name given to the old and ruined outpost at Pedgaon, 8 m. s. of Chamargunda.

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June, July and August 1657 passed in enforced idleness for the imperial troops. In September the situation was complicated by the illness of Shah Jahan and the preparations for a War of Succession among his sons. Bijapur made peace with the Mughals. But throughout the month of September Aurangzib continued to urge his officers not to relax their vigilance, but hold the s. w. frontier in force, lest Shiva should renew his raids. About the middle of October he wrote to the governor of Ahmadnagar to take care of the city and keep his troops in readiness, lest when Nasiri Khan went back, Shiva finding the field clear should begin to plunder again (*Adab.* 149*b*, 157*b*.)

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