Marathas(Peshwas) and brief introduction to Modern India
Prologue
Chronological Order — Peshwas
Modern India — In Brief
Peshwas (One of 8 ministers (Aastpradhan))
18th centaury age was the age of supremacy for Marathas this was facilitated by decline of Mughals. Post of Peshwas was initially as the Keeper of Records “
All Peshwas were Brahmin & during 18th centaury they became the real rulers of Maratha State as Reflected by Sangola Agreement of 1750 by which the Peshwas got civil & military powers in an effective manner (Pune — Head Quarters)
Balaji Vishwanath (Ist peshwa) because of his military & diplomatic achievements raised its status much above other ministers. He transformed Peshwaship into life of that of Prime Minister which became hereditary in nature later on.
1) Balaji Vishwanath (1713–1720)
Great Grandfather
Original Name — Bhairon Pant Pingle
Played imp role in not only in release of Shau Maharaj but also in protecting Marathas Financial Interests by getting rights of revenue collection from Mughal ruler popularly known as “Treaty of Delhi” or Magna Carta of Maratha Dominance.
2) Peshwa Bajiro/Bajirao –I(Grand Father) (1720–1740) — Son of Balaji Vishwanath.
Known as Real Founder of Maratha Confideracy — because he helped in establishment of different houses, like at Gwalior there was Ranoji Scindia, At indore there was Malhar Rao Holkar together these both influenced Malwa.
Bajirao-I outlined goal & vision of future Maratha Empire & sensed weakness if Mughal Empire. He outlined & proposed concept of Hindu Pad PadShahi. So as to bring all hindu rulers under one head & to create an all India empire. In 1739 Bajirao-I defeated Portuguese got control over Bassien.
3) Balaji Baji Rao or NanaSaheb(father) (1740–1761)
In this period Maratha power reached his peak, there was healthy rival vary between different Maratha rulers to extend their territory at expense of neighboring states. E.g Holkar displaced military attack in Bundelkhand.
Similarly the Peshwa himself invaded Mysore & Karnataka region. Maratha got victory in Battle of Udgir & they got control over different forces like Aurangabad, Daulatabad, Bijapur & Ahmednagar among others.
Downfall — He used policy of indiscriminate attack in different region & Marathas were defeated in 3rd battle of Panipat in 1761, so in short Nanasaheb was not able to consolidate Marathas achievement by good administration.
4) Madhav rao(1761–1772)(son) (Also known as Black Prince of Maharashtra)
2nd son of Nanasaheb was initially under the regency of his uncle Raghunath Rao . Soon asserted himself by defeating Nizam of Hyderabad (twice) & Hyder Ali of Mysore.
Took steps to bring efficiency into administration, accounts & treasury also discouraged superstitious religious practices.
The was also a jurist Ram Shastri known as supreme pillar of justice. (like present day Supreme court of India)
5) Narayan Rao(brother) (1772–1774)
3rd son of Nanasaheb. Madhavrao-I died in 1772 and was succeeded by seventeen-year-old Narayanrao with his uncle Raghunathrao acting as regent. Madhav Rao as killed by, this was instrumental in bringing down fall of peshwas because Raghunath Rao himself wanted to become Peshwa, that is why Rahgunath Rao approached British & signed treaty of Surat and promosied British to give Salsette island & Bassien(vasai — mumbai)
But there was a battle of ARRAS won by British, so at that time the peshwas was being looked after by the minister Nana Phadnavis — who approached British in Kolkata & offered Salsette in return for British military support.
But court of directors (EAST India companys main decision making body) accepted treaty of Surat supporting Rahgunath Rao. Confident British were defeated by Maratha & they were forced to sign “convention of wadgaon” and this whole episode was ended in 1782 by treaty of Salbai
This period between 1775–1782 is known as First Anglo-Maratha War. In this period Peshwa was Madhav Rao Narayan or Madhav –II (SON of Narayan Rao) & Peshwa court was divided into number of groups, most powerful was Barabhai or 12 brothers, alliance headed by Nana Phadvanis(who also defeated Nizam in battle of Karda in 1795). He also helped Bajirao-II to become next Peshwa (son of Raghunath Rao)
6) Bajirao-II(Son of uncle Raghunath Rao) (1796–1818)
After the death of Phadnavis in 1800, the Maratha leaders Yashwantrao Holkar of Indore and Daulat Rao Sindhia of Gwalior contested for control of the empire; their rivalry made its way to Pune, seat of the Peshwa
Holkar ultimately triumphed, and Baji Rao fled west to Bombay in September 1802 to seek the willing hands of the British who were waiting for this opportunity with great patience. There, he concluded the Treaty of Bassein in December 1802, in which the British agreed to reinstate Baji Rao in return for the Marathas allowing British troops in Maratha territory and paying for their maintenance, and acceptance of a British political agent (Resident) at Pune.
Holkar and Sindhia resisted the British intrusion on Maratha affairs, which resulted in the Second Anglo-Maratha War of 1803–1805 in which forces of Arthur Wellesley defeated forces of both Scindia & Bhonsle in battle of Assaye in Sept 1803. Arthur Wellesley also occupied Ahmednagar. Defeated bhonsle in battle of Arragaon & forced him to sign Treaty of Devgaon
Similarly in North India General Lake captured Aligarh, Agra & Delhi. He also defeated Scindia forces in Battle of Laswari & concluded treaty of Surji-Anjangaon.
Holkar remained quite for some time & but his forces were defeated by Arthur Wellesely , by Murray in Gujrat & General Lake in north ( 3 sided attack for Holkar). Similarly there was again resistance & revolt by 3rd Anglo Maratha War(1817–1819) in which again Marathas were defeated in which again Marathas were defeated including peshwa forces in battle of Kirkee/Ashti/Koregaon.
Now Maratha confederacy was dissolved . Peshwaship was abolished & Bajirao-II was sent to Bittur where he passed away in 1853 & British stopped privilages to his adopted son “Nanasaheb/dhondu panth” = Doctrine of Lapse. Hence Dhondupanth was a leader of Revolt of 1857, who escaped to Nepal later. Thereby ending the illustrious legacy of Marathas.
Note — All relationships are exclusively against the previous name. Hope there’s no confusion over there.
Modern India
Reason of Revolt of 1857 = Suppression & exploitation in every aspect.
1) Turning point after revolt of 1857 = i) end of the rule of raja maharajas (traditional leadership in India). E.g. either they were defeated like Rani Laksmi Bai of Jhansi or surrendered.
2)Educated Middle class(EMC) — Remained aloof from this revolt. Why ? = Bcoz they had faith in Indian constitution & also they did not want to stop the stream of Moderanization, which had started with Britishers
e.g. of EMC Raja ram Mohan Roy, Ishwar Chandra Vidhyasagar.
Outcome of 1 & 2 after the revolt of 1857. Power changed from East India Company (EIC) to the crown.
Above mentioned in peshwas — Earlier power was in the hands of court of directors (COD)now power shifted to Board of control(BOC) decision making body by the crown.
But whoever remained in power the suppression always continued. And this was evident by the act 0f 1858 & 1861
Note — Just a passing reference this is happening in modern day politics too
Act of 1858
1) End of dual government — From 1757 both the court of directors and the crown were ruling India. With this Act, only Board of control was the superior and India came under the single command of secretary. That is Secretary of state(SOS) and his members council.
Charles wood was the first Secretary of state. For the first time the ruling of India shifted from Monarchy . As the head of SOS was the member of British parliament and was answerable to the British Parliament
2) ICS(Indian Civil Service) Commissioners — 1765 company became a political power in Bengal & this led to the birth of C.C.S by Robert Clive in the same year.
Initial phase of appointment of civil servants was a monopoly of court of directors and hence when the Board of Control took over, the civil servants were still favouring the company court of directors. And hence so reforms by the crown.
a) By charter act of 1833 — Talent was declared as the basis of selection, but the real problem still survived as monopoly was still in the hands of Court of Directors.
b) Charter act of 1853 declared examination as the basis of selection. Irrespective of race, religion or region & after 1857 Company’s rule was over in India. So British crown due to importance & Relevancy of the service adopted it with the name ICS.
c) Role of ICS commissioners — they were responsible for the management & regulation of civil service in India
So, after the act of 1853, civil service was open to everyone but then there were still some tough hurdles to cross.
Tough hurdles like i) examination centre was only in England
ii) Latin was a compulsory language iii) horse riding was compulsory
But Satyedra Nath Tagore in 1864 crossed all the hurdles it and became the Ist ICS
3) Responsible Government — By the act of 1858, responsible government started in india as it was stated that Secetary of State(SOS) can be sued for his acts in India in this way the head of the state was brought under the ambit of law.
Although the head of state came under the control of law, but in 1858 when majority of the population was illiterate and India was a slave nation, it was not possible for a common man to go against higher authority.
Hence in this way act of 1858 gave promotion to constitutional development in India, but then it also became cause of frustration for educated middle class and the reaction of this class was in promoting to political organization. But the government made a request that after overcoming the challenge of 1857(Sepoy Mutiny) government will provide a new act which led to the becoming of act of 1861.
Act of 1861 (Some important provisions)
1) Birth of legislature — Judiciary & executive had already established during time of company. Birth of legislature was the soul of democracy. Its developed form is Indian parliament. It was a good move but it again irritated Indians because of 2 reasons
a) Structure of legislature — the legislature of 1861 was a court of a pre-modern king. There were no powers to the legislature. Term only for 2-years
b) There was no legal provision for the entry of Indians in it though in Indian supporters of British Raj were given place in it egg Maharaja Digvijay Singh
2) Birth of ordinance — Ordinance is power of government to frame a law, during the absence of parliament, but it cannot turn the government into autocrat because Parliament always has a check on it. This provision had a beginning from 1861, but then there was no check on it, so it generally turned viceroy into autocrat.
3) Portfolio system — this means allotment of department to individual ministers. But Indians were not given a single dept. Therefore Act of 1858 was a shock to educated middle class.
Note — This is just a introduction to modern India.
