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[edit] A Maratha Worrior

By :Template:Neelesh Ishwar Chandra Karkare

[edit] Introduction

During 1794-1827 ,he was the King of Central India.

Maharaj Daulat Rao Shinde <Scindia> was a great Maratha worrior and alongwith this , he was equally good in his Nature.

[edit] As an Architect

He was a Architecture loving man , as he was an independent King so, he developed his empire's capital GWALIOR , with the construction of Many huge buildings and Palaces, alongwith some great monuments for Tourists.

Gopal Temple

Dedicated To Lord Krishna

Gopal Temple is dedicated to the blue god Krishna who is the divine herdsman, the lover of milkmaids and the eighth incarnation of Lord Vishnu, the Preserver of the Universe. The marble-spired structure is an excellent example of Maratha architecture. Lord Krishna’s two feet tall statue is moulded in silver and is placed on a marble-inlaid altar with silver-plated doors.

Mahmud of Ghazni had taken these doors from the famous Somnath Templein Gujarat to Ghazni in Afghanistan in a.d. 1026. The Afghan invader, Mahmud Shah Abdali, later took the gates to Lahore, from where Mahadji Scindia recovered them. The Scindia ruler later installed them in Gopal Temple, bringing to a halt the doors’ long journey. Bayajibai Shinde, Maharaja Daulat Rao Scindia’s queen, built the temple in the 19th century. Its location in the midst of the market area right in the heart of the city adds to its popularity.

[edit] In his rule

A beautiful Pond Named BAYZATAAL was made , According to British Administrator Mr. Velsselly this particular Pond was considered as the one of the most beautiful place for watching the Nature in its original condition.

There was a very dense forest arond Bayzatal and about 1000 different species of Birds were counted that time.

[edit] As a Music Lover

He ruled the Famous Shinde Empire during 1794-1827 A.D.

That time he along with Ut.Muhammad Khan,Ut.Hassu ,Ut. Haddu Khan,Ut.Tanras Khan, Ut. Miyan baksu Khan developed a new type of Music which is known today, as Hindustani Classical Music.

There are only a few persons left in this world , those who knows , that the Modern style of Khayal -gayaki has been developed by These great persons under Maharaja Daulat Rao Shinde. of Gwalior <-present-M.P.India>.

[edit] As a Yogsadhak and Devotee

The king Daulatrao Scindia was disciple of famous Saint of India Sri Mahipatinath Dholi Buwa Mharav

He had established a Asharam -Math ,Which is still in its Existance.

[edit] About the Political Background

Naib-vaqil i- Mutlaq Maharaj Daulatrao Shinde [Scindia] was son of Meharban Srimant Anandrao and-Sahiba Mainabai Sarkar Shinde.

Daulat rao ruled during 1794-1827.

He made Gwalior as the capital of his empire.

Ashort term work Done by NEELESH KARKARE plz visit:

http://www.bluwiki.org/go/Alijah_Srinath http://www.bluwiki.org/go/Ramchandra_Karkare_Smriti_Sammelan http://www.bluwiki.org/go/Ramchandra_M_Karkare http://www.bluwiki.org/go/Neelesh_Karkare http://www.bluwiki.org/go/Dr.Ishwar_Chandra_Karkare

[edit] History

With the death of the Peshva Madhavrav II, in 1796, began a time of unparalleled confusion and trouble, which lasted till the conquest of the country by the British. Of the three sons of Raghunathrav, Bajirav aspired for the Peshvaship. Nana Phadnis favoured the other son Chimnaji. Bajirav won over Daulatrav Shinde to his side. Nana, however, came to a compromise with Bajirav accepting him as the Peshva and agreeing to work as his principal Minister.

This enraged Daulat rao Shinde. Freeing danger to his life Nana fled to Mahad and sought the help of the Nizam agreeing in return to surrender all the acquisi­tion of Kharda. Nana also won over Bajirav and other Maratha Chiefs to his side thus turning the tables upon Daulatrav. Nana left for Poona and reached it on 25th November 1796. Bajirav was proclaimed as Peshva. In August 1797 Tukoji Holkar died creating disputes for succession among his four sons.

This led to the resumption of hostilities between Shinde and Holkar, with Shinde supporting Kashirav, one of the sons of Tukoji. In a stray encounter, Malharrav, another son of Tukoji was killed. The other two sons fled to jungles and took to a life of brigandage devastating Shinde's territory. They laid waste the Khandesh and Narmada districts and ravaged the hill country between the Narmada and the Tapi. The feuds which had erupted into the Holkar family did not spare the Shinde family either the three widows of Mahadji Shinde http://www.bluwiki.org/go/Alijah_Srinath demanding independent maintenance from Daulatrav. They marched on Poona and civil war ensued on the outskirts of Poona. Nana Phadnis agreed to seek a compromise but insisted on Daulatrav Shinde leaving for the North. To this Bajirav could not agree and the ladies' affair remained unsettled. They started depredations and two of their followers Yeshvantrav Shivaji and Balaji Krishna started depredations in the Peshwa’s districts of Nasik and Khandesh.

Now Yashvantrav Holkar joined the war against Daulatrav making common cause with the ladies. On March 13, 1800 Nana Phadnis died. Daulatrav on heating of the depredations of Yeshvantrav left Poona and moved to the north. But Yeshvantrav moved like lightning. The whole region between Khandesh and the Krishna became one general scene of anarchy and chaos. To crown it all, Bajirav put to death Vithoji, the brother of Yeshvantrav. Who had declared Bajirav as incompetent and proclaimed himself as the agent of Amritrav. In 1802 Yashvantrav Holkar resolved to avenge the cruel death of his brother in Poona at the hands of the Peshva and marched towards the south in the company of his Pendhari allies, a band of free booters under the. leadership of Amir Khan and Ahmad Khan. Crossing Malegaon and Chandvad the Pendharis under Ahmad met Narsinh Vinchurkar on behalf of the Peshva at Mukhed. In the course of the battle Ahmad's army was defeated and Ahmad was killed. Narsinhrav now proceeded towards Poona where he had been urgently invited by the Peshva for his help. In his absence, Holkar's army reached Vinchurkar's jahagir, burnt his palace at Vinchur, [H. R. Gadgil: Vinchurkar Gharanyacha Itihas (Marathi), p. 144.] plundered many of his villages and destroyed the standing crops.

The Pendharis, under their leaders, followed and completed the destruction. The result was a total failure of food, with millet at less than a seer for a rupee. The famine lasted for a year and was at its height between April and August 1804. Large numbers moved to Gujarat. Of those who remained, from 7,000 to 9,000 were believed to have died, and many of the survivors had to live on wild fruit and vegetables. Cow's, buffalo's and even human flesh is said to have been eaten. The Peshwa’s government imported grain from the coast and freely remitted revenue. Private charity was also active. After two or three years grain prices fell to their former level and most of the people returned. But some of the villages which then fell waste were for a long time not brought under tillage.

It may be mentioned here that Yashvantrav on his march to the south defeated a small troop of Daulatrao Shinde , who now offered to negotiate. Yashvantrav refused but agreed to the directions from Bajirav to take up his residence at Thalner. Yashvantrav demanded the redress of his grievances from Bajirav but the latter refused. In addition he confiscated the estates of Holkar. Now Shinde moved from North to fight Yashvantrav. This exasperated Yashvantrav who moved south. He again wrote to Bajirav to mend the wrong. Bajirav followed delaying tactics hoping for the arrival of Shinde's troops. Yashvantrav realised his tactics and moving into Khandesh he devastated it. He then proceeded towards Baramati and again wrote to Bajirav in cordial terms. Bajirav still did not relent. On 25th October 1802 Yashvantrav overwhelmed Shinde. Bajirav fled from Poona.

In the meanwhile Shinde decided a plan of action against the English in concert with the Bhosle. Bajirav, instead of taking the clue regarding the real intentions of the English, wasted his time in pleasure and merry-making. A request was made to Holkar to join the league against the English but it failed to evoke the required response due to the failure of Daulatrav to satisfy his terms. [Actually Yashvantrav wrote to Raghuji Bhosle "I have already explained my requirements to your vakils at Poona and have repeated the same to you in writing. I have kept myself perfectly ready to join you in defence of our state and religion. Instead of complying with my request you simply ask me to return from Khandesh to Chandvad etc. etc." (Aitihasik Patre, 373)] The English now declared war against Shinde and defeated him in the battles fought at Asai and Adgaon in October and November 1803 respectively. The power of Shinde was so crippled that he begged for subsidiary force. Yashwantrav on his part was continuing his predatory activities in the north.

[edit] war

The English now declared war upon him. The English occupied all his possessions including Chandvad, Lasalgaon, Dhodap, Galna and his share of Khandesh. The war with the Holkar was protracted but ultimately in 1805 he sued for peace. The treaty known as the treaty of Rajghat was concluded on 24th December 1805.

[edit] Dec 1802

In December 1802, on Holkar's approaching Poona, Bajirav, as .his only resource, signed (31st December 1802) the treaty of Bassein. He practically surrendered the sovereignty of the Maratha State. The issue now became a general one of a conflict between the English and the Maratha State. The English now decided to deal separately with Daulat rao Shinde and Holkar. General Wellesley approached Poona, informing Holkar that he would not be disturbed if he withdrew from Poona. Finding no support from other Maratha chiefs, Yashvantrav left Poona for the North. The English installed Bajirav at Poona. In 1803, Sir A. Wellesley advanced on Poona to save the city from destruction by Amritrav, the adopted brother of Bajirav. Amritrav retired to Sangamner, ravaging the country, and then turned to Nasik, defeated a body of troops commanded by Raje Bahadur of Malegaon in the interest of Bajirav, sacked Nasik, and remained in the neighbourhood till the end of the war, when he made terms with the English. On his coming to terms, all Holkar's possessions except Chandvad, Ambar and Shevgaon, were restored to him, and these also were given back within two years.

==Bhill Troubles==:

1802-1816: 

In this time of confusion the Bhills, who till 1802 had lived with the other inhabitants, and, as village watchmen, had been the chief instruments of police, gathered in large bands, retired to the hills, and, when the famine was over, pillaged the rich plain villages. Against such an enemy no tactics were thought too cruel or too base. Balaji Sakharam, Sarsubhedar of Khandesh and Baglana, was appointed by the Peshva to put down the disturbance. At the instigation of one Manohargir Gosavi, Balaji asked a body of Bhills to meet him at Kopargaon in Ahmadnagar, treacherously seized them and threw them down in wells, and for a time cleared the country south of the Chandvad range. In 1806, there was Bhill massacre at Ghevri Chandgaon in Ahmadnagar, and several others in different parts of Khandesh. When disturbances again broke out, their suppression was entrusted to Trimbakji Dengle. He made aver 5,000 to 6,000 horse and a large body of infantry to Naroba Takit, Headman of Karambha, and ordered him to clear the Godavari districts. Naroba butchered the Bhills wherever he found them, and in fifteen months about fifteen thousand are said to have been massacred. This savage treatment failed to restore order. Unable to protect themselves, the chiefs and large landholders called in the aid of Arab mercenaries, who, no less frugal than warlike, soon rose to power. Saving their pay and giving it out at interest, the Arabs became the chief moneylenders of the district and collected large sums both foam their employers and from the general body of the people. Besides Bhill plunderers and Arab usurers, the district suffered from the exactions of its fiscal officers who taking the revenue in farm for a year or a short term of years left no means untried in their efforts to wring money from the people. The revenue farmer, besides collecting the revenue, administered civil and criminal justice. So long as he paid the sum required, and bribed the favourite at court, no local complaints could gain a hearing. Justice was openly bought and said, and the people often suffered more from the mamlatdar than from the Bhills.

In 1818, Trimbakji Dengle, who for the murder of Gangadhar Shastri had been imprisoned at Thana in the Konkan, escaped, and wandering among the Ahmadnagar, Nasik and Khandesh hills, roused the wild tribes and made preparations for war in concert with his master Bajirav. Soon after this the Pendharis began to give troubles. In October 1817, General Smith, who was in command at Sirur, marched to guard the passes of the Chandvad range.

[edit] completion of Maratha league

Meanwhile the last great Maratha league against the British was completed. The events leading to it were as under: With the treaty of Bassein, Bajirav had virtually surrendered his right to control the Maratha Chiefs to the English. He did not understand its implications then but realised it when the English signed separate treaties with Bhosle, Maharaj DaulatraoShinde, Holkar and Gaikvad. They also made the position very clear in the award signed at Pandharpur on 15th July 1812. Bajirav now desired to have a disciplined corps for himself for which the English granted him the necessary permission. Fearing that war may erupt with the English, Bajirav started raising troops. In the meanwhile dispute arose with the Gaikvad of Baroda on the question of yearly tribute. Fatesinh Gaikvad sent his agent Gangadhar Shastri to Poona to negotiate with Bajirav. Bajirav deceived the Shastri by his expression of amity and his offer of his wife's sister in marriage to the Castro’s son. He even agreed to accompany him in his tour of pilgrimage to Nasik, Trimbak and Pandharpur and to have his son's marriage performed at Nasik. But when news was received that Fatesinh had disagreed with the terms of accord suggested, the Shastri desired to free himself from the bonds with the Peshva and declined the offer of marriage. Bajirav and Trimbakji decided to take revenge. Outwardly they maintained a calm posture. The court party along with Elephantine started for Nasik as previously decided, where it reached in June. In July the Shastri and Trimbakji left Nasik for Pandharpur where the Shastri was treacherously murdered. [It may be mentioned that Bajirav paid scant respect to the Satara Chhatrapati. The attitude of Bajirav was resented by, Chatarsinh, the younger brother of Chhatrapati Shahu II. He dreamt of regenerating the Maratha state and joined hands with Yashvantrav Holkar. After the defeat of Holkar, he became a rebel against Bajirav. Bajirav now ordered Trimbakji Dengle to put down Chatarsinh. Trimbakji invited him to Satara under specious promises of advancement. Yielding to his allurements Chatarsinh came to meet Trimbakji at Malegaon. The two chiefs had their camps on the opposite banks. Trimbakji induced, Chatarsinh by sacred oaths to come for a personal meeting with him. A dinner was arranged on 10th February 1811 at which Chatarsinh and his comrades arrived. As they retired for a personal discussion Chatarsinh and his followers were suddenly surprised and confined as prisoners in the fort of Malegaon. Subsequently he was removed to Kongai. In 1818 he put an end to his life.]. The English suspected Trimbakji Dengle, henchman of Bajirav to be behind the plot and demanded his surrender. Actually Elephantine threatened that Bajirav must surrender him within a month's time and as a guarantee against failure, he must hand over to the British within 24 hours, the four main forts of Rayagad, Purandar, Sinhgad and Trimbak. Later, after his capture, Trimbakji was confined in the fort of Thana but made his escape towards Khandesh. He had the covert support of Bajirav and it appeared that hostilities would soon start with the English on this issue.

[edit] June 1817

In June 1817 the English imposed another treaty on Bajirav with strict terms, depriving him of all power and authority. On 5th November 1817, the Peshva declared war against the British. The Nagpur chief followed his example, and in spite of the opposition of Tulshibai, the mother of the young prince, Holkar's ministers and generals resolved to join the league. Tulshibai, the queen mother, was seized and beheaded on the banks of the Kshipra, and the insurgent generals began their southward march with an army 26,000 strong. On the 21st December 1817, they were met at Mahidpur by Sir John Malcolm and Sir Thomas Hislop, who were then in pursuit of the Pendhari leader Chhutu or Chitu, and after a hard fight were defeated. Under the treaty of Mandesar, which was concluded soon after this defeat, Holkar ceded to the British all his Khandesh territories including the northern half of Nasik.

In the meanwhile Bapu Gokhale, the Peshva’s General, was defeated and killed (19th February 1818) at Ashta about fifteen miles north of Pandharpur. An action was fought between Bajirav and the English at Shivni and Bajirav, defeated, to save his life, fled to the north. General Smith marched to Sirur in pursuit of the Peshva. Bajirav in his flight remained for a time at Kopargaon, where he was joined by Ramdin, a partisan of Holkar's. From Kopargaon he continued to retreat north to Chandvad, but hearing that a British force under Sir Thomas Hislop was approaching, he turned back to Kopargaon and fled east. He surrendered in May at Dhulkot near Ashirgad [Grant Duff's Marathas, Vol. II, 512: Bajirav surrendered to Malcolm at Kheri.]. The eclipse of Maratha power was thus complete.

[edit] The New Armies

In the mid-eighteenth century France was in great political and military ferment—the new ideas that would raise humanity to the next level of civilization were gathering steam. Military developments in artillery, musketry vi, and the handling of infantry were also sprouting up with regularity. Thus it was no accident that French military adventurers made the greatest impact on the development of the science of war in India .

These Frenchmen organized the regular battalions of Telegus and Berads for the kingdoms of Hyderabad and Mysore respectively. By this time the British East India Company had acquired Bengal and raised armies at its Bombay and Madras settlements. The soldiers recruited in both Bombay and Bengal were Purbias while Telegus filled the army at Madras .

What the English sorely lacked was good cavalry—in Madras this was provided by the Nawab of Arcot while in Bengal a Persian adventurer, Mirza Najaf Khan, brigaded his cavalry with the Company forces after the Battle of Buxar in 1764vii. This Mirza Najaf Khan accompanied the Mughal Emperor Shah Alam back to Delhi supported by the Marathas and the British. Najaf Khan rose to be the Wazir of the Delhi Empire and raised a new army modeled on the European style. It was composed primarily of Purbia soldiers who had received English training but had broken away under their own leaders (Gangaram and Bhawani Singh commandants) to make their fortune in the messy political landscape of North India .

Mirza Najaf was also joined by French adventurers leading similar Purbia battalions—Rene Madec, Lesteneau, Le Vassoult, and Walter Reinhardt of Sombre viii. With this military force the Mirza overpowered the Ruhelas to the east of Delhi and the Jats in the south but failed in his invasion of Jaipur ix. After that he sadly gave himself up to senseless debauchery and the Delhi Empire now passed into the capable hands of Mahadji Scindia—the Maratha chief x who had been supporting Mirza Najaf’s administration and at that time was building up his estate around Gwalior. Scindia took the Mughal Emperor under his protection and was then joined by all these forces of the Delhi Empire, added to his own Maratha cavalry and Telegu battalions (under Ramru the Telegu commandant), and now by a new adventurer—Le borgne de Boigne.