Fall of the Mughal Empire v2.c27.s5: § 14. Ahmad Shah Abdali proceeds against Suraj Mal

Fall of the Mughal Empire v2.c27.s5

Language: English

§ 14. Ahmad Shah Abdali proceeds against Suraj Mal

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Meanwhile, after the victory of 9th January, Ahmad Shah halted for a few days to complete his arrangements for the temporary government of the kingless and wazir-less capital of the empire, and to secure his communications and regular provision supply. Then, skirting the city of Delhi, instead of entering it, he encamped at Khizirabad, south of the capital, on 14th January, and sent off letters to Suraj Mal Jāt and the Rajahs of Rajputana calling upon them to pay him tribute and present themselves before him. "If only his promise of safety could be relied upon, everyone of the Rajahs would gladly wait upon him," writes Badrinath (the son of Keshav Rao), so greatly were the blood-sucking leeches of the South detested by the Hindu potentates of the North. But in equal fear of the Afghan king's faithlessness and his military power, and not knowing how soon he would leave India and abandon them to the vindictive fury of the Marathas, these princes decided to sit on the fence, prolong their negotiations with Abdālī for settling the amount of their tribute, and thus gain time till they could see how the decisive contest between him and the Marathas would end. It was, therefore, necessary for Ahmad Shah to visit the territories of the Hindu Rajahs if he hoped to get anything out of them. Najib Khan acted as his medium in his dealings with the Indian princes.

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Leaving Khizirabad on 27th January, Abdali first marched * against Suraj Mal, by way of Shergarh (20 m. n. of Mathurā, 4 Feb.) to Dig (6 Feb.), which fort he invested but not very earnestly. From this base a detachment of his troops made a rapid march and completely defeated a Maratha force in their west by a night-attack (c. 11 Feb.) Abdali next moved into Mewāt, on the way to Nārnol, where Malhar was reported to be. But the Maratha vanished into the north and Abdālī proceeded to Rewari (c. 18 Feb.) On the 22nd he marched eight miles towards Delhi in ignorance of the elusive Maratha’s position. But the Southern light horse again gave him the slip : Malhar was at Bahādurgarh (40 m. north of Rewari and 18 m. west of Delhi) on 22nd February, and two days later he appeared near Kālka Devi (close to the Qutb Minār), and on the 26th-27th crossed the Jamunā into the Doāb. Abdālī marched to Dhankot (20 miles s. w. of Delhi) on 27th February, reached Khizirabad on the 29th, and sent Jahan Khan across to the eastern bank of the Jamunā the next day.

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∗ Abdali’s campaign against Malhar, Feb. 1760.—DC. (very imp.) SPD. xxi. 182, 186. ii. 118 (=xxvii. 251.)

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§ 15. Malhar Holkar routed near Sikandrabad by Jahan Khan.

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The Maratha raiders under Malhar reached Sikandrabad on 28th February, sacked that large city totally, and halted for news of Abdālī's movements. Here they learnt that ten lakhs of treasure sent from Najib's estates in trans-Ganges had arrived opposite Anupshahar on the way to Abdālī's camp, as the Ruhela chief's contribution to the war-expenses of his protector. Malhar immediately sent out scouts to search for a ford near Anupshahar and halted for three or four days. This delay ruined him. Ahmad Shah sent a strong cavalry detachment under his best general Jahān Khan, who after a forced march surprised Malhar's vanguard, under Gangādhar Tātyā (Chandrachud), eight miles in front of Malhar's camp, at the dawn of 4th March. The Maratha resistance was short; they fled away "on unsaddled horses, giving up all their property to plunder." Three high officers,—Anand Ram Jādav, Shethyāji Kharādē and his son (named Faqirji in a Persian MS.),—besides many common soldiers, fell * in the fight and the pursuit. Malhar himself fled away at a breakneck pace, and came to Agra after crossing the Jamunā, while Gangādhar reached Mathurā behind him.

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∗ Malhar surprised near Sikandrabad,—SPD. ii. 120, 121, xxi. 187, 188. Raj. vi. 403, i. 178 (false rumour of survival.) Muz. 178.

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The light foray plan of campaign even under Malhar Holkar, the ablest cavalry leader among the Marathas, had entirely failed against Abdālī. Returning to Bharatpur, Holkar called for Hāfiz's envoy and resumed the discussion of the peace terms proposed by that chief. As Purushottam Hingané wrote on 12th March, “Hāfiz offers to come and meet our sardār and set Abdali on the path of return, and then join us with his troops for humbling Najib. He promises never to help Najib. Our sardār has agreed not to cross his path, nor to molest his territory. This has been sworn to by both sides.... When Malhar arrived about 30 miles from Bharatpur, Suraj Mal came and met him, and was given assurances of friendship and protection, sworn on *bel* leaves and Ganges water. Then the Jāt Rajah was dismissed with robes of honour to Bharatpur, while Malhar marched to Sāroti 11 m. s. w. of Bayana.” [SPD. ii. 121.]

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Jahān Khan followed up his victory by pushing on to opposite Mathurā, his master moving one day's march behind him. On reaching Koil (Aligarh), Abdali was

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Nur-ud-din, 31b (Faqirji captured alive.) Siyar, iii. 65. Kharé, i. 17 and 20 (which speaks of Shethyaji, Anand Ram and Gangadhar's nephew as slain.) Miskin, 209.

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advised by Najib,—his supreme confidant and guide on Indian questions,—to canton here for the approaching hot weather, which had been so fatal to the Afghan invaders in 1757, and the following monsoon. A large Maratha army was reported to be coming up from the Deccan to restore their lost predominance in the North and account must be settled with it before Abdali could leave India, unless he wished to abandon Najib to Deccani vengeance.

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I. The Peshwa's North-Indian policy in 1759.

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The Peshwa's letter to Rāmāji Anant (the manager of the Sindhias), correct date 23 Feb. 1759 :—

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Dattaji was to have realized a large sum from Marwār. What has he done there?… Lead an expedition into Bengal and Bihār; realize vast sums of money there for repaying my debts. Bengal is a province capable of yielding one *kror* or a *kror* and a half. It ought to be [your master's] determined aim to collect a large sum, clear my debts and sustain our troops. Occupy Bihār, it is a country fit to be retained. Dattaji himself and Jankoji with a strong force should go there, capture Patna and remain encamped there. From that place make your plans about Bengal. Raghunath Rao Dāda will go to Hindustan when the rainy season is over. Thereafter he will march into Bengal and collect a vast sum. If, as in the past, the envoy [of the Bengal ruler] comes to you for making a compromise about the Bengal tribute, do not agree to any settlement. My debts would not be cleared unless a huge amount is extracted from Bengal. It is (therefore) necessary to march with a vast army and secure a *kror* or a *kror* and a half [from that province.] If without an expedition a tribute of 50 or 60 *lakhs* is promised, then accept it. If not, plan [your campaign] after Dāda's arrival. For the present you should go to Bihār and seize Patna.

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There are two or three undertakings to be achieved in connection with Shuja-ud-daulah. Take Benares, Ajodhya and Allahabad from him. He had promised to Dāda [in 1757] to cede Benares and Ajodhya, but the case of Allahabad is still under discussion. If a settlement on the last point can be easily reached, make it.

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Vital Shivdev had settled the tribute [of Bihar] at 12 lakhs only, because at that time we were not free [to lead an expedition there.] But now we have a grand opportunity of collecting money. If [the ruler of Bengal and Bihar] agrees to pay down 50 lakhs within one year at Delhi, then accept the settlement. He will not pay at the mere demanding; but if the generals mentioned above go in force up to Patna, then he will soften and pay a large contribution.

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I have to repay a debt of one *kror* of Rupees. Half of my troops have been sent to their homes as without employment. I have retained 20,000 men for necessary services and must pay them. My creditors have received only 30 lakhs. You must extinguish 50 lakhs of my debt. I am relying upon Dattaji’s assurance to me on this point, at the time of his taking leave to depart.

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The Peshwa’s letter to Dattāji and Jankoji Sindhia, dated 21 March 1759:

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The wazir [Imad-ul-mulk]'s heart is not sincere. Mansur Ali Khan’s son will pay 50 *lakhs* if he is given the wazir-ship. If I order you to make this change, effect it on your return from Lahor. Formerly, when Dada was near Delhi, Mansur Ali Khan’s son had voluntarily offered to cede Benares to us. If he is now made wazir [by us], he must cede both Benares and Allahabad and pay 50 *lakhs*. If he refuses to make the above territorial surrenders and asks for 2 or 3 years to complete the payment [of 50 lakhs], do not give him the wazir-ship. But give it if he pays 50 lakhs and at least Allahabad.

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You have written that if Najib is made imperial Pay-master-General he would pay 30 lakhs. But he is very treacherous. He alienated Dada in the past. If he is established in Delhi, know that an outpost of Abdali has been planted in that city. Advancing him is like feeding a cobra with milk. Crush him.

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If you can go towards Bengal with the Emperor and the wazir after the rainy season, a great impression would be created; many Ruhela zamindars would join our side. From here Dada will go towards Allahabad via Bundelkhand. You march through the Doab, and this our superior strength will enable you to seize Allahabad by surprise. Thereafter, if Shuja-ud-daulah, on being thus threatened from two sides, cedes Benares and Allahabad and pays a heavy nazar, do you persuade the Emperor and the wazir to give him the Bakhshi-ship. This is our second alternative plan.

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The third course is that, if the wazir refuses to leave Delhi [for Bihar], then you should go and join Shuja, take from him Benares and Allahabad only but do not demand a money contribution, promise him half of Bengal and Bihar, make him accompany you, wrest Bengal and exact a large tribute from that province.

Linked texts (1)

Selections from the Peshwa Daftar — Marathi