Fall of the Mughal Empire v4.c52.s7.3

v4.c52.s7.3

Tukoji Holkar in his last days, declared Kāshi Rao as his successor and got from the Peshwā robes investing him as the head of the Holkar State (29th January 1797.) The storm-clouds immediately gathered. Malhar demanded that Kāshi Rao should live at Maheshwar as the sleeping head of the State, while he himself should lead the army and conduct the administration as his regent or deputy. Kāshi Rao naturally objected to being treated as a cypher. Malhar immediately left his father's camp and took post at some distance, where he began to enlist soldiers. Adventurers and criminals began to flock to such a master, raising his force to 1,500 men. The old father in despair cried out, "If in my very lifetime your brotherly love has turned into hatred and hostility, God knows how it will end after I am gone." But his entreaties to his sons to live in amity failed. Jaswant Rao bade defiance to Kāshi Rao and joined Malhar, and so did Vitoji. They openly vowed to wrest the sceptre from Kāshi Rao and put him in prison.