Fall of the Mughal Empire v4.c54.s2: § 3. The Widows' War enters Malwa, 1800. Jaswant Holkar joins them
Fall of the Mughal Empire v4.c54.s2
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§ 3. The Widows' War enters Malwa, 1800. Jaswant Holkar joins them
v4.c54.s2.1
The first family war against Daulat Rao Sindhia had been closed in August 1799, by his assuring the widows of Mahādji of the means of their defence and maintenance, and promising never to employ their brutal persecutor Sharzā Rao Ghātgé in his service again. But on 4th January 1800 he released Sharzā from prison and brought him to his Court. The first use that this favourite made of his liberty was to send hired assassins into the house of the widows* at night (on the 14th of that month). One of these ladies, Yamunā Bāi was stabbed, but the alarm raised saved her from death, and a captured culprit confessed to the plot. The diwān Bālobā Tātyā who had pledged his word on behalf of his master to induce the widows to make peace, now felt publicly disgraced by his master's breach of faith and offered to resign, but he was entreated to remain in office. However, all pretence ended when on 25th April, Daulat Rao treacherously arrested Bālobā and his associates and gave unfettered power to Sharzā Rao. The result was the flight of Lakhwā Dādā from the Sindhian camp in Hindustan in anticipation of the order for his arrest, and the departure of the now friendless Bāis from Jāmgāon to North India to seek protection with him (May 1800). The civil war broke out once more.
v4.c54.s2.2
∗ Of the three widows of Mahādji, one Bhāgirathi Bāi had died on 15 Aug. 1799, Lakshmi Bāi survived till (at least) 1806, and Yamunā Bāi died on 1 Feb. 1814.
v4.c54.s2.3
Early in June the two Widows reached Burhānpur and begged Jaswant Holkar to help them in gaining possession of their family capital Ujjain, which was then under his control. At the same time Daulat Rao Sindhia wrote to him to prevent them from entering Mālwa. They were thus halted near Burhānpur for several weeks. But as General Perron decided to restore Holkar's jāgir of Tonk-Rāmpurā to its original owner the Rajah of Jaipur, Jaswant Holkar was antagonised by this loss of his father's property. He therefore invited the Widows to Maheshwar.* Here they arrived at the beginning of August and were welcomed by him with a loan of one lakh of Rupees in cash and another lakh in clothing and materials. A pact was made between them: Jaswant was to help them with his army in gaining possession of Mahādji's northern dominions, and they were to pay him four lakhs of Rupees for his army expenses. Escorted by Jaswant they reached Ujjain (about 1 October). Here their difficulties began. Their need was money, and they could raise no loan or donation, though they were personally popular out of regard for Mahādji's memory. Jaswant soon lost patience and threatened to leave their party unless the promised four lakhs and twenty guns from the Ujjain arsenal were delivered to him. Just then he received through Ambāji Inglé a seductive offer of five lakhs if he turned against the Widows.
v4.c54.s2.4
Jaswant Holkar had called up one of his trained battalions under Captain Plumet and made it take post near the Widows' residence. Here on the 1st of November Plumet attacked their camp by surprise at night and robbed all their property, the two ladies escaping with their bare lives. Public execration fell on Jaswant for this act of treachery and lack of chivalry. (Rājādhyaksha, letter No. 299, Mohan S.)
v4.c54.s2.5
∗ Their flight from Burhānpur was hastened by the news that Daulat Rao had sent some of his battalions from Punā to overtake and capture the Bāis.
v4.c54.s2.6
The city of Ujjain now felt the heavy hand of the spoliator. Jaswant greatly oppressed the citizens to get money; the floors of richmen's houses were dug up in search of buried hoards, guns and military stores were removed from the State arsenal to Holkar's camp.
v4.c54.s2.7
In the meantime, at the call of the Widows, Lakhwā Dādā had detached Jagu Bāpu from Rajputana (about 3 October) with 2,000 horse to hasten to their side. He himself left Udaipur (on 29th October) and joined Jagu Bāpu's camp at Jāorā, where he found the Bāis arrived. The force under him was only 4,000 infantry and 1,000 cavalry.
v4.c54.s2.8
Jaswant Holkar now openly declared himself on the side of Daulat Rao, though he did not for that reason cease to raid and desolate the Sindhian dominions. On 16th November, five battalions of sepoys detached by Daulat Rao, arrived at Ujjain. Jaswant had left the city a day earlier, to oppose Lakhwā Dādā who had advanced from Jāorā to Pilodā.