Fall of the Mughal Empire v1.c11.s3.38

v1.c11.s3.38

But Bājī Rāo’s insatiable ambition made the conclusion of peace impossible. The Emperor naturally refused to grant his exorbitant new demands. Thus, the dispute with the Delhi Government remained unsettled during the rest of Bājī Rāo’s life. On his death (28th April 1740), his eldest son Bālāji Rāo succeeded as Peshwā, after defeating the intrigues of Raghuji Bhonslé to keep him out of that office. The new Peshwā’s diplomacy and tact (seconded, it must be confessed, by the utter disintegration of the imperial Government through Nādir’s invasion) succeeded where the blustering tactics of his father had failed. Bālājī set out for the north in March 1741 and reached Gwālior. Jai Singh, the *subahdār* of Agra, reported to the Emperor that the captains under him were quite inexperienced in Deccani warfare and therefore force would fail. He then sent envoys to open peace negotiations with Bālājī Rāo, telling him to remain contented with the *subahs* of Gujrāt and Mālwa and not to disturb any other province. The Peshwā replied that though the *chauth* of the whole of Hindustān was his due, he would be satisfied with the above two *subahs*, provided that an imperial rescript was issued legally conferring them on him. At the same time, to save the Emperor’s face, a petition was submitted by Bālājī, professing his loyalty to the throne and declaring himself a devoted servant of the Emperor. Following Jai Singh’s advice, Muhammad Shāh in reply issued a *farmān*, dated 4th July 1741, bestowing the deputy governorship (*nāib subahdāri*) of Mālwa on the Peshwā. This was another device for disguising the fulness of the imperial surrender and saving the Emperor’s face. (*Chahār Gulzār*, 376a-377a; *S. P. D.*, xv. 86.)