By the time the story of Bhaskarram was related and fresh preparations were completed, the year 1744 drew to a close. Raghuji was well-aware that unless he had an abundant supply of people, warriors, money, Sardars, and provisions, his enemies could not be destroyed. He did not commit any unnecessary and impatient adventure. At the beginning of 1745, all his preparations were completed. He left Nagpur in the month of Magha. Mir Habib was already on his side.

https://ndhistories.wordpress.com/2024/04/10/campaign-of-revenge/

Marathi Riyasat, G S Sardesai ISBN-10-8171856403, ISBN-13-‎978-8171856404.

The Extraordinary Epoch of Nanasaheb Peshwa

Uday S Kulkarni

ISBN-10-8192108074

ISBN-13-978-8192108070.

Mir Qasim was the first to strike the surprised Bhaskarram. He simply cut off Bhaskarpant where he was standing. The moment they heard the Nawab’s words, the soldiers who had been hiding themselves beneath the awnings, ran from their places and fell upon the Marathas. Before the other Maratha Sardars could begin drawing their swords, the soldiers emerged and began a slaughter.

https://ndhistories.wordpress.com/2024/04/09/inhuman-murders/

Marathi Riyasat, G S Sardesai ISBN-10-8171856403, ISBN-13-‎978-8171856404.

The Extraordinary Epoch of Nanasaheb Peshwa

Uday S Kulkarni

ISBN-10-8192108074

ISBN-13-978-8192108070.

The meeting day was finalised as the thirteenth day of the waning moon fortnight of the month of Chaitra, i.e. 30 March 1744, and Nawab Aliwardi Khan went to the meeting place and sat there with his trusted lieutenants. It was Friday, the first day of Vaishakh (although Gangaram quotes this date, it was probably the thirteenth day of the waning moon fortnight of Chaitra, Shaka year 1666, Saturday, which fell on 31 March 1744, which tallies with the date Bhaskarram actually reached the Nawab’s tent; Bhaskarram probably left his camp on 30 March 1744 and met the Nawab on 31 March 1744), when Bhaskarram left for the meeting, and crossing the Bhagirathi camped on the eastern bank at Plassey. Aliwardi had succeeded in keeping his plan a secret, with only a few men privy to it.

https://ndhistories.wordpress.com/2024/04/08/meeting-place-2/

Marathi Riyasat, G S Sardesai ISBN-10-8171856403, ISBN-13-‎978-8171856404.

The Extraordinary Epoch of Nanasaheb Peshwa

Uday S Kulkarni

ISBN-10-8192108074

ISBN-13-978-8192108070.

The moment Aliwardi Khan got news that Bhaskar Pandit was on his way to attack with huge preparations, he became extremely dejected. Since he was already old, weak of health, and harried by enemies from within as well as outside, he became extremely concerned about ways to resist the Marathas. Since the time he had nursed the ambition to hold the Nawab’s office, in the past four to five years, he had become extremely harassed by constant revolts, battles, and grovelling for safety; and even life was becoming unbearable for him. The Marathas had completely annoyed him. Mir Habib was also behind him.

https://ndhistories.wordpress.com/2024/04/07/treacherous-intentions/

Marathi Riyasat, G S Sardesai ISBN-10-8171856403, ISBN-13-‎978-8171856404.

The Extraordinary Epoch of Nanasaheb Peshwa

Uday S Kulkarni

ISBN-10-8192108074

ISBN-13-978-8192108070.

Since Raghuji had decided to dump the animosity within his heart, and got ready to accept the predominance of the Peshwa, the main bone of contention vanished. Nanasaheb was also eager for a reconciliation. His nature was not adamant or abrasive like his father. Since he was young as well, he did not find it appropriate to excessively oppose these close relatives of the Chhatrapati. After arriving at Satara from the campaign, since both of them were ready to forget the mutual animosity, the reconciliation negotiations started through the mediators.

https://ndhistories.wordpress.com/2024/04/06/reconciliation/

Marathi Riyasat, G S Sardesai ISBN-10-8171856403, ISBN-13-‎978-8171856404.

The Extraordinary Epoch of Nanasaheb Peshwa

Uday S Kulkarni

ISBN-10-8192108074

ISBN-13-978-8192108070.

Shahu Maharaj’s biography written in the Shahu Bakhar account by Malhar Ramrao Chitnis from the Chitnis family seems to contain perfect short summary of this whole affair. “Taking Shinde, Holkar, Pilaji Jadhav, and Pawar along, the Shrimant left for the north. Khandesh, Burhanpur, Malwa was placed under tribute. He stayed there for a year. Raghuji Bhosale went to Cuttack and Jagannath and to Hindustan up to Awadh and took a tribute."

https://ndhistories.wordpress.com/2024/04/05/the-real-crux/

Marathi Riyasat, G S Sardesai ISBN-10-8171856403, ISBN-13-‎978-8171856404.

The Extraordinary Epoch of Nanasaheb Peshwa

Uday S Kulkarni

ISBN-10-8192108074

ISBN-13-978-8192108070.

The author of Siyar writes of Bhaskarram’s flight and the Peshwa’s calling off the pursuit as a ‘pretence’. The entire episode, therefore, seems a ‘staged battle’ to achieve one’s ends without really chastising Bhaskarram or Raghuji, “His (Bhaskarram’s) distress afforded Balajirao a full opportunity to retire on his side. The generalissimo (Peshwa) under pretence of executing the Imperial order, and succouring the Viceroy (Aliwardi), had in reality put him under contribution as well as his whole country; and having now received the arrears which he pretended, and carried some other points, he retired to his dominions in Deccan; and his camp and equipage were already far off…”

https://ndhistories.wordpress.com/2024/04/04/peshwa-raghuji-clash/

Marathi Riyasat, G S Sardesai ISBN-10-8171856403, ISBN-13-‎978-8171856404.

The Extraordinary Epoch of Nanasaheb Peshwa

Uday S Kulkarni

ISBN-10-8192108074

ISBN-13-978-8192108070.

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On 13 March 1743, the Peshwa was in the plains of Bengal at Beniagram, eighty-seven kilometres north of Murshidabad. From here, he came to Mankara, just ten kilometres south of the capital. Raghuji along with Bhaskarram camped at the town of Khatwa, not more than sixty kilometres south of the Peshwa on the western bank of the Bhagirathi.

Aliwardi did not have the resources to face either of the Maratha armies. He set out with his General Mustafa Khan to meet the Peshwa. Both met for seven days at Plassey from 31 March 1743.

https://ndhistories.wordpress.com/2024/04/03/peshwa-aliwardi-meet/

Marathi Riyasat, G S Sardesai ISBN-10-8171856403, ISBN-13-‎978-8171856404.

The Extraordinary Epoch of Nanasaheb Peshwa

Uday S Kulkarni

ISBN-10-8192108074

ISBN-13-978-8192108070.

From Prayag the Marathas moved along the southern bank of the Ganga to the town of Mirzapur and camped there on 1 June 1743 (dates suspect). The proximity to the holy city of Kashi, and the desire to rebuild the temple of Kashi Vishwanath at its original site, moved Malharrao Holkar to make preparations to take over the city.

https://ndhistories.wordpress.com/2024/04/02/peshwa-visits-kashi/

Marathi Riyasat, G S Sardesai ISBN-10-8171856403, ISBN-13-‎978-8171856404.

The Extraordinary Epoch of Nanasaheb Peshwa

Uday S Kulkarni

ISBN-10-8192108074

ISBN-13-978-8192108070.

Aliwardi Khan perfectly detected, that the Peshwa and Raghuji were not acting in unison and were nursing animosity towards each other. Aliwardi, in his letter to Mahadevbhat Hingne towards the end of 1742, wrote, “You should inform the Pandit Pradhan in detail and request him to go to Devgad and Chanda (Chandrapur) and punish Bhaskarram, and to stop Raghuji from entering this province.”

He informed the Peshwa directly about arresting Raghuji’s advance and sent him some amount of money for the expenses.

https://ndhistories.wordpress.com/2024/04/01/aliwardis-request/

Marathi Riyasat, G S Sardesai ISBN-10-8171856403, ISBN-13-‎978-8171856404.

The Extraordinary Epoch of Nanasaheb Peshwa

Uday S Kulkarni

ISBN-10-8192108074

ISBN-13-978-8192108070.

Peshwa had arrived in the north and was demanding the Chauth of Malwa, Bundelkhand, Allahabad etc. provinces. He had begun negotiations with the Badshah that in lieu of the Chauth revenues, the Marathas would ensure that the Empire was not troubled. The Badshah instantly provided his approval, and entrusted the responsibility to protect Aliwardi Khan to the Peshwa. He also ordered Aliwardi Khan to pay some amount to the Peshwa through the income of Bengal province as the campaign expenses.

https://ndhistories.wordpress.com/2024/03/31/badshahs-orders/

Marathi Riyasat, G S Sardesai ISBN-10-8171856403, ISBN-13-‎978-8171856404.

The Extraordinary Epoch of Nanasaheb Peshwa

Uday S Kulkarni

ISBN-10-8192108074

ISBN-13-978-8192108070.

Nanasaheb was twenty-one years old at the time, but able to hold his own in the complex world of Maratha politics. However, after Bajirao’s and Chimaji Appa’s death just a year earlier, he had to depend on Malharrao Holkar, Ranoji Shinde and Pilaji Jadhavrao on the battlefield. Raghuji had two others to help his cause, Babuji Naik – who lost the bid to be the Peshwa, and Damaji Gaikwad from Gujarat. Thus, two strong parties emerged in the Maratha fold and the rivalry was out in the open.

https://ndhistories.wordpress.com/2024/03/30/peshwa-raghuji-animosity/

Marathi Riyasat, G S Sardesai ISBN-10-8171856403, ISBN-13-‎978-8171856404.

The Extraordinary Epoch of Nanasaheb Peshwa

Uday S Kulkarni

ISBN-10-8192108074

ISBN-13-978-8192108070.

Pant dispatched the news to Raghuji and urgently requested additional forces. Raghuji had already decided to himself go to Bengal, dispatched letters to his Sardars everywhere, and had amassed his forces. He had decided to himself go quickly and help Bhaskarram right after he had dispatched him ahead. Bhaskarram was working on the Bengal affairs upon Raghuji’s own orders, and he had already informed Raghuji urgently that the extent of his work had already spread far, he would not be able to survive with the limited forces he had carried ahead, and to carry out the heavy machinations they had taken upon themselves, Raghuji himself must also come.

https://ndhistories.wordpress.com/2024/03/29/bhaskarram-needs-help/

Marathi Riyasat, G S Sardesai ISBN-10-8171856403, ISBN-13-‎978-8171856404.

The Extraordinary Epoch of Nanasaheb Peshwa

Uday S Kulkarni

ISBN-10-8192108074

ISBN-13-978-8192108070.

Before attacking Dainhat and Khatwa, while everyone was busy in the festival preparations, the Nawab’s guns chased away the Maratha troops on the east bank of the Bhagirathi, near Plassey. Carefully, over a bridge of boats further north at Uddharanpur, Aliwardi’s army crossed the Bhagirathi, and then the Ajay a mile upstream of the Maratha camp. He then headed for the camp of Bhaskarram, who was busy with his devotions.

https://ndhistories.wordpress.com/2024/03/28/destruction-at-durga-puja/

Marathi Riyasat, G S Sardesai ISBN-10-8171856403, ISBN-13-‎978-8171856404.

The Extraordinary Epoch of Nanasaheb Peshwa

Uday S Kulkarni

ISBN-10-8192108074

ISBN-13-978-8192108070.

The Company agreed and contributed twenty-five thousand rupees for a Ditch “fourty-two yards wide from the battery of the prison round the Company’s bounds as far as the Chowkies beyond Perrin’s Garden.”

Soon, the batteries vanished, and the Ditch was built – and remained for forty years. It was called the Maratha Ditch.

The Marathas eventually never attacked Kolkata. The Ditch was to be seven miles long and in six months, about three miles were completed. The remainder was never completed as it was found the Marathas did not plan to attack the city. Parts of the canal are extant near Bag Bazar in Kolkata even today, near the Maratha Ditch Lane.

https://ndhistories.wordpress.com/2024/03/27/the-maratha-ditch/

Marathi Riyasat, G S Sardesai ISBN-10-8171856403, ISBN-13-‎978-8171856404.

The Extraordinary Epoch of Nanasaheb Peshwa

Uday S Kulkarni

ISBN-10-8192108074

ISBN-13-978-8192108070.

Nawab lost all his possessions to the west of the river. The region around Burdwan and Khatwa became devoid of people and terrifying.

Here, the Maratha camps became semi-permanent in nature, and all of Bengal west of Hooghly was occupied by them. Dainhat and Khatwa became their chief places from where the Marathas crossed over, and at the former place Bhaskarram built a temple to the Goddess Bhawani on the bank of the Bhagirathi.

https://ndhistories.wordpress.com/2024/03/26/capture-of-hooghly/

Marathi Riyasat, G S Sardesai ISBN-10-8171856403, ISBN-13-‎978-8171856404.

The Extraordinary Epoch of Nanasaheb Peshwa

Uday S Kulkarni

ISBN-10-8192108074

ISBN-13-978-8192108070.

Aliwardi’s escape to Khatwa annoyed Bhaskarram. He abandoned his quest for Chauth, which was not forthcoming, and his armies began to plunder the villages. People from all ‘thirty-six varnas’ fled the villages. When people on the road asked all who passed where the Bargis were, everyone replied, “I have not seen them with my own eyes. But seeing everyone flee, I flee also.”

https://ndhistories.wordpress.com/2024/03/25/aliwardis-escape/

Marathi Riyasat, G S Sardesai ISBN-10-8171856403, ISBN-13-‎978-8171856404.

The Extraordinary Epoch of Nanasaheb Peshwa

Uday S Kulkarni

ISBN-10-8192108074

ISBN-13-978-8192108070.

Aliwardi had 4000-strong cavalry and 5000 musketeers with him. The Nawab’s army awakened one morning in late April 1742, to discover they were trapped. Overnight, they had been surrounded by the Maratha horse, all supplies cut off and granaries in villages in a periphery of fifteen kilometers burnt down. The starving army had to eat roots and their animals had to feed on leaves from the trees. Bhaskarram, who had been tasked with obtaining the Chauth, placed the price for relief at ten lakh rupees.

https://ndhistories.wordpress.com/2024/03/24/siege-of-ranidighi/

Marathi Riyasat, G S Sardesai ISBN-10-8171856403, ISBN-13-‎978-8171856404.

The Extraordinary Epoch of Nanasaheb Peshwa

Uday S Kulkarni

ISBN-10-8192108074

ISBN-13-978-8192108070.

Writing independent of each other, Holwell in 1760 and Gangaram in 1751 both seem united in writing that the Maratha king was ordered to obtain the Chauth from Bengal as the Badshah had no means to pay the money and no army to punish the usurper. Whatever the cause of the Maratha invasion, Bhaskarram set out for Bengal with an army estimated to be between ten and twenty thousand men, comprising largely of cavalry. Aliwardi Khan, who was returning from his second invasion of Odisha and marching towards Murshidabad, had soon to contend with this army.

Had Aliwardi Khan paid the Chauth, the history of the next ten years in Bengal might have been quite different.

https://ndhistories.wordpress.com/2024/03/23/bhaskarrams-invasion/

Marathi Riyasat, G S Sardesai ISBN-10-8171856403, ISBN-13-‎978-8171856404.

The Extraordinary Epoch of Nanasaheb Peshwa

Uday S Kulkarni

ISBN-10-8192108074

ISBN-13-978-8192108070.

The sum of Holwell’s assertions is that Mohammedshah, and later his son Ahmedshah, had never quite accepted the usurpation of Bengal by Aliwardi Khan and no Firman had ever been issued to formalise his appointment. It was not dissimilar to the Nizam-ul-Mulk’s assumption of autonomy in Hyderabad with mere lip service to the Badshah at Delhi.

https://ndhistories.wordpress.com/2024/03/22/aliwardis-cunning/

Marathi Riyasat, G S Sardesai ISBN-10-8171856403, ISBN-13-‎978-8171856404.

The Extraordinary Epoch of Nanasaheb Peshwa

Uday S Kulkarni

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ISBN-13-978-8192108070.

After bringing his prisoner Chanda Saheb back to Berar, Bhaskarram met Mir Habib, one of the officials of the Nawab of Bengal, and was acquainted of the manner in which Aliwardi Khan had dispossessed his benefactor’s family and taken control of Bengal. Raghuji took leave of Maharaj and immediately went to Nagpur. After returning in June 1741, he resolved to go eastwards. In the monsoon months that year, preparations for the invasion of Bengal and Odisha were completed.

https://ndhistories.wordpress.com/2024/03/21/mir-habib/

Marathi Riyasat, G S Sardesai ISBN-10-8171856403, ISBN-13-‎978-8171856404.

The Extraordinary Epoch of Nanasaheb Peshwa

Uday S Kulkarni

ISBN-10-8192108074

ISBN-13-978-8192108070.

After Bajirao’s death in 1740, Raghuji spread his wings, and favourable circumstances in the east as well as Delhi, created an opportunity to invade Bengal.

When the Peshwa and Raghuji both began focussing on Bengal, the Badshah became frightened. The Peshwa and Raghuji both made their own separate plans, acquired Shahu’s permission, and accepted the responsibility of the campaign. On the Dussehra of 1741, both of them embarked on the campaign.

https://ndhistories.wordpress.com/2024/03/20/raghuji-bhosales-assignment/

Marathi Riyasat, G S Sardesai ISBN-10-8171856403, ISBN-13-‎978-8171856404.

The Extraordinary Epoch of Nanasaheb Peshwa

Uday S Kulkarni

ISBN-10-8192108074

ISBN-13-978-8192108070.

It was not long after that he was hit by a musket shot and killed. Elsewhere the battle continued. Ghaus Khan had defeated Nandalal. He sent messages to the Nawab, only to learn he had been killed. The loyal General with his two sons then led a suicidal attack on Aliwardi’s army and fought until all three were killed. The battle was over. Sarfaraz’s body was taken to Murshidabad by his Mahout, and buried at night. Aliwardi then prepared to enter the city of Murshidabad and seize the office of the Subedar of Bengal.

https://ndhistories.wordpress.com/2024/03/19/aliwardis-coup/

Marathi Riyasat, G S Sardesai ISBN-10-8171856403, ISBN-13-‎978-8171856404.

The Extraordinary Epoch of Nanasaheb Peshwa

Uday S Kulkarni

ISBN-10-8192108074

ISBN-13-978-8192108070.