The Maratha War of Independence was fought from 1681 CE to 1707 CE between the mighty Mughal Empire under Aurangzeb and the newly-independent Maratha state. For 27 long years, this David-and-Goliath war occupied western India, until just like the Biblical tale, the smaller side emerged victorious. Part 1 covered the first 9 years where the Marathas led by Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, resisted Mughal invasion. In 1689, the Mughals captured Sambhaji Maharaj captured through treachery and brutally executed him. The Maratha capital Raigad was also betrayed, and his wife and son imprisoned in Aurangzeb’s camp. The old Emperor was about to declare the war won, when he heard that Rajaram, half-brother of Sambhaji, had escaped to the fort of Vishalgad and been crowned the next Chhatrapati.

The War of Independence, it seemed, was to continue.

A Plan of Vengeance

At Vishalgad, the Maratha leadership knew they had to act fast against the Mughals. The purpose was both, to avenge their fallen king as well as to weaken the Mughals’ spirit. And so in a daring move, the new Army Commander or Senapati, Santaji Ghorpade, with three other captains and a handful of men, launched a night raid upon the Mughal camp. Slaughtering the drowsy guards, they created havoc in the camp.

Santaji went straight to the largest tent- the Emperor’s shamiana. But Aurangzeb was visiting his daughter that night, and so safe from Santaji’s wrath! Upon not finding his target, Santaji cut off the imperial golden spire at the top of the tent and made his way back to Vishalgad with a lot of loot. This incident struck terror in the hearts of the Mughals. Aurangzeb also realized how close he had come to death, and ordered his forces to Vishalgad!

The Mughal forces began systematically occupying the surrounding area, and luring the local Maratha noblemen into their service. Their power and cruelty was reaching its zenith, and the situation was dire.

The Escape to Jinjee

Chhatrapati Rajaram Maharaj was worried. His sister-in-law had asked him to take charge of the Maratha Empire, but now she and the rightful heir to the throne, his nephew Shivaji II were prisoners. And he could do nothing to save them! He had assumed the position of the Chhatrapati only to defend the Swarajya in the name of his nephew, but his position was becoming untenable. The Mughals were swarming their territories, destroying temples and looting the populace. He took counsel with the Pradhan Mandal, his Council of Ministers. And then inspiration struck! Jinjee!

In his unparalleled foresight, the illustrious Shivaji Maharaj, father of Rajaram had campaigned far into South India, forging alliances with key rulers and conquering territories like Vellore and Jinjee in Tamil Nadu. Close to these was the Maratha Kingdom of Thanjavur, ruled by Rajaram’s cousin. These southern territories formed a second line of defense now that the strongholds of Maharashtra were threatened. And so a bold plan was hatched.

The Prime Minister or Peshwa, Nilo Pant Moreshwar, was sent ahead to secure the territory of Jinjee for the Chhatrapati. Rajaram Maharaj, accompanied by his trusted Viceroy or ‘Pratinidhi’ Pralhad Pant, his Royal Scribe or ‘Chitnis’ Khando Ballal, and some chosen soldiers escaped Vishalgad and traveled south. The Emperor of course, sent an army in pursuit, but Santaji Ghorpade and his deputy Dhanaji Jadhav harassed and dispersed this army through guerrilla attacks. Queen Keladi Chennamma of the Nayaks of Karnataka also resisted the Mughals fiercely and protected the Chhatrapati. He reached Jinjee in 1691.

Santaji and Dhanaji, the two fearless generals then returned to meet the remaining members of the Pradhan Mandal now directing the freedom struggle in Maharashtra- Ramchandra Pant ‘Amatya’, the Finance Minister, and Shankaraji Pant ‘Sacheev’, the Royal Secretary. Ramchandra Pant Amatya was at this point, the only surviving member of Shivaji’s original Council of Ministers. And so before leaving, the Chhatrapati had bestowed the title of ‘Hukumatpanah’ upon this veteran, effectively authorizing him to rule in his stead.  Along with the Sacheev and the two generals, as well as the Pant Pratinidhi and the Chitnis at Jinjee, he would lead the peoples’ guerrilla war against the Mughals.

Shivaji II becomes ‘Shahu’ in the Mughal Camps

Meanwhile, the Mughals held prisoner young Shivaji II, son of Chhatrapati Sambhaji, his mother Yesubai and 200 other members and servants of the royal household. The prisoners lived in fear for their lives, but Aurangzeb had learned his lesson. He had cruelly executed Sambhaji Maharaj and still the Marathas had continued their resistance. Deciding to play the long game, he treated Yesubai and Shivaji II comparatively mildly.

He particularly tried to influence the Maratha prince, but his name kept reminding Aurangzeb of his hated foe, the boy’s grandfather ‘Shivaji’! And so he gave the boy a new name- Shahu. Shahu grew to be an intelligent, wise and perceptive young man. Though never allowed to learn the martial skills of warfare, he became a man of great learning and culture.

A Clash of Strategies

Aurangzeb sent a large force south with his trusted General Zulfiqar Khan and his son Kam Baksh. But the citadel of Jinjee proved a match for the Mughal cannons, while the Marathas raided Mughal camps regularly with aid from the Maratha King of Thanjavur. The siege of Jinjee thus continued for 7 years!

Meanwhile, the commanders Santaji and Dhanaji carried out a series of devastating cavalry attacks in various regions like Malwa, Karnataka and Telangana. They won some skirmishes and lost a few, but the objective was to keep the Mughal forces occupied and scattered. Other sardars such as Vithoji Chavan, the Bhonsles, and the Pawars, coordinating with the Amatya and the Sacheev, fought the Mughals all over Maharashtra. At this point, Chhatrapati Rajaram and his Council reinstated the ‘watandari’ system abolished by Shivaji Maharaj, allowing the Maratha sardars to keep whatever land they conquered as their own feudal territory.

Emboldened by the prospect of winning land and glory, a number of Maratha sardars defeated the Mughals and created their own watans. The constant battles were a colossal drain upon the treasuries and resources of Aurangzeb. Also, his absence from the north meant his governors there gained more autonomy. The Emperor sent an ultimatum to Zulfiqar Khan in 1697- conquer Jinjee or surrender your land and titles! The siege of Jinjee tightened.

The Fall of Jinjee and the Chhatrapati

By this time, Prahlad Pant Pratinidhi, the wise diplomat had passed away, and Parshuram Pant was appointed in his place. Rajaram’s wives and children were also with him in Jinjee. But the Commander-in-Chief, Santaji had been assassinated by another chieftain for petty revenge, and Dhanaji Jadhav had become the Senapati.

Foreseeing that Jinjee might not hold for much longer, Dhanaji helped Rajaram Maharaj escape the siege and make the arduous journey back to Maharashtra. In 1698 the Mughals captured Jinjee, but Khando Ballal struck a deal to ensure the safe handover of Rajaram’s wives and children.

Thus by 1700 CE, Rajaram Maharaj had reunited safely with his family and council of ministers. But his health had always been delicate, and the strain of the last decade had left him with lung disease. Thus, after 11 years of struggle, Chhatrapati Rajaram Maharaj passed away at Sinhagad, and the Marathas were in crisis again. Shahu, the true heir, was still a prisoner, while Rajaram’s sons were still children. Who would now to assume the leadership of the Maratha State?

Maharani Tarabai- Reign of the Warrior-Queen

At this critical juncture, Maharani Tarabai, wife of Rajaram and daughter of the former Senapati Hambirrao, installed her infant son on the throne and ruled as the Queen Regent. A trained warrior, she worked with the Council of Ministers to continue the guerrilla warfare against the Mughals. Under her leadership, Dhanaji Jadhav’s forces invaded Gujarat and Malwa. She herself led armies along with the Amatya and the Pratinidhi to counter Aurangzeb’s weakened forces. For the next seven years, she systematically began reclaiming lost territory from the Mughals.

The Emperor had expected Maratha resistance to shatter after Rajaram’s death. Now in his eighties, he became hapless. His armies would besiege a fort for months; then pay heavy sums of money to the Marathas in order to capture it. The moment he turned his back, the Marathas led by Tarabai would return and recapture it. The vast amount of resources consumed by over two decades of war had greatly weakened Mughal territories economically. They began to fall to the Marathas. It seemed even the Deccan itself was fighting back! He lost a lot of loot when a river flooded, and an avalanche crippled one of his legs. His armies, tired of the fruitless war, also longed to go home.

At last in 1707, Aurangzeb began to return to Delhi. But on the way, he breathed his last in Aurangabad and was forever buried in Maratha soil. How it must have pained him, that the land of Shivaji Maharaj would claim his bones! Thus died the last ‘Great Mughal’, and with him died the glory of his empire.

Aftermath of the 27-Year War

Aurangzeb’s death marked the end of the war, for his sons immediately began fighting for the throne. In the process, they released Shahu from prison, who returned to claim his birthright. His aunt Tarabai was unwilling to hand over the throne, and a civil war ensued. However, with the support of stalwarts like Senapati Dhanaji Jadhav, Parsoji Bhonsle, Khando Ballal Chitnis, and Balaji Vishwanath Bhat, Shahu Maharaj was crowned Chhatrapati at Satara. He gave Kolhapur and the southern territories to Tarabai and her son as an independent kingdom. His wise reign, and the capable rule of his Peshwas and Sardars, resulted in the creation of a powerful, stable and prosperous Maratha Empire.

Endnote

As mentioned in Part 1, this was a war between a mighty Empire and an Ideal. Evidently, the Ideal won. Why? Because it inspired, united and motivated people to keep fighting beyond reason, or hope. When in doubt, in crisis or despair, I hope the Maratha War of Independence similarly inspires all of us to keep fighting.  

– Ashutosh Dixit