Mughal Empire in the Seventeenth Century-II - UPSC PDF Download

• Founder:
  • Chaolung Sukapha was a 13th century ruler who founded the Ahom kingdom that ruled Assam for six centuries.
  • The Ahoms ruled the land till the province was annexed to British India in 1826 with the signing of the Treaty of Yandaboo.
• Political Setup:
  • Ahoms created a new state by suppressing the older political system of the bhuiyans (landlords).
  • The Ahom state depended upon forced labour. Those forced to work for the state were called paiks.
• Society:
  • Ahom society was divided into clans or khels. A khel often controlled several villages.
  • Ahoms worshipped their own tribal gods, yet they accepted the Hindu religion and the Assamese language.
  • However, the Ahom kings did not completely give up their traditional beliefs after adopting Hinduism.
  • Intermarriage with local also increased assimilation processes of Ahoms in Assamese culture.
• Art and Culture:
  • Poets and scholars were given land grants and theatre was encouraged.
  • Important works of Sanskrit were translated into the local language.
  • Historical works, known as buranjis, were also written, first in the Ahom language and then in Assamese.
• Military Strategy:
  • The Ahom king was the supreme commander of the state as well as the Military.
  • The Ahom king himself led the state forces in the time of wars.
  • The Paiks were the main army of the state.
  • There were two types of Paiks i.e. serving and non serving.
  • The non-serving Paiks constituted a standing militia which could be mobilized at a short notice by the kheldar (an expert military organizer).
  • The full contingent of the Ahom Army consisted of infantry, navy, artillery, elephantry, cavalry and spies.
  • The main war weapons consisted of bows and arrows, swords, Javelins discus, guns, match-locks and cannons.
  • The Ahoms sent spies to the enemy’s camp to study the strength and the war strategies of the enemies before leading an expedition.
  • The Ahom soldiers were experts in guerilla fighting. Sometimes they allowed the enemies to enter the country, then cut off their communications and attack them in front and rear.
• Few important forts: Chamdhara, Saraighat, Simlagarh, Kaliabar, Kajali and Pandu.
• They also learnt the technique of constructing boat bridges in the Brahmaputra.
• Above all, the mutual understanding among the civil and military wings, unity among the nobles always worked as strong weapons of the Ahoms.

The Maratha and Other Indian States and Society in the 18th Century

The ruins of the Mughal Empire and its political system gave rise to a slew of independent and semi-independent powers, including Bengal, Hyderabad, Mysore, Rajputs and the Maratha Kingdom. Raigad was the capital of the Maratha Empire, which began as a small kingdom in western India. The famous Maratha Chief Shivaji Maharaj established a Hindavi-Swarajya by leading Marathas against the Sultan of Bijapur (Adil Shahi Dynasty).  

Marathas

• Shivaji's son, Sambhaji, was seized and executed by Aurangzeb's army in Deccan, while his son, Shahu, was taken, prisoner.
• After the death of Aurangzeb, Shahu (grandson of Shivaji Maharaj) was released and a civil war erupted between Shahu and his aunt Tarabai, who had carried on the fight against the Mughals with her son Shivaji II.
• Shahu won this war with the assistance of Balaji Vishwanath, who later became Peshwa.
• Shahu appointed Balaji Vishwanath to the position of Sena-Karte (Organizer of Forces). Later, the post of Peshwa, or Prime Minister, was created.
• Balaji and his successors played a significant role in Maratha's growth.
• Balaji Vishwanath was an effective administrator who rallied many Maratha chiefs to Shahu's side.
• Except for Kolhapur, where Tarabai ruled, Shahu's Empire now encompassed all of Maharashtra.
• After the Maratha civil war was over, control of the state gradually shifted from Shivaji's line to the Peshwas.
• Balaji Vishwanath died in 1720, and his 20-year-old son Baji Rao I succeeded him as Peshwa.
• When Baji Rao died in 1740, the Marathas had gained control of Malwa, Gujarat, and parts of Bundelkhand.
• During this time, the Maratha families of Gaekwad, Holkar, Sindhia, and Bhonsle rose to prominence.
• He had changed the character of the Maratha state in just 20 years.
• It had evolved from the Maharashtra kingdom into an Empire that was spreading to the north.
• Baji Rao, on the other hand, failed to lay solid foundations for an empire. New territories were conquered and occupied, but their administration received little attention.
• The Maratha forces led by Sadashiv Rao Bhao were routed by Abdali in the crucial Third Battle of Panipat, signalling the beginning of the decline of Maratha power.

Shivaji (1627-1680)

• Shivaji Bhonsle I, also known as Chhatrapati Shivaji, was an Indian ruler who belonged to the Bhonsle Maratha clan.
• From the declining Adilshahi sultanate of Bijapur, Shivaji carved out his own independent kingdom, laying the groundwork for the Maratha Empire.
• At Raigad Fort, he was formally crowned Chhatrapati of his realm in 1674.
• Shivaji was born in 1627 in Shivner. Shahji Bhonsle was his father, and Jija Bai was his mother. In 1637, he inherited the jagir of Poona from his father.
• Shivaji took full control of his jagir after his guardian, Dadaji Kondadev, died in 1647. He had already taken over Raigarh, Kondana, and Torna from the ruler of Bijapur.
• He kidnapped Javli from a Maratha chief named Chanda Rao More. As a result, he became the ruler of the Mavala region.
• In 1657, he attacked the Bijapur kingdom and captured a number of Konkan hill forts. The Sultan of Bijapur dispatched Afzal Khan to oppose Shivaji. However, Shivaji assassinated Afzal Khan in a daring manner in 1659.
• Shivaji's military victories established him as a legendary figure in the Maratha region. Many people volunteered to join his army.
• The Mughal emperor Aurangazeb was watching the rise of Maratha power under Shivaji with bated breath.
• He dispatched Shaista Khan, the Mughal governor of the Deccan, against Shivaji. Shivaji was defeated by Mughal forces and lost control of Poona.
• However, in 1663, Shivaji launched another daring attack on Shaista Khan's military camp at Poona, killing his son and injuring Khan.
• Khan's reputation suffered as a result of his daring attack, and he was summoned by Aurangazeb. Shivaji plundered and attacked Surat, the Mughals' main port, in 1664.
• This time, Aurangazeb dispatched Raja Jai Singh of Amber to fight Shivaji. He made elaborate preparations and was successful in besieging the Purander fort, which housed Shivaji's family and treasure.
• In 1665, Shivaji began negotiations with Jai Singh, and the Treaty of Purandar was signed.
• According to the treaty, Shivaji was required to surrender 23 of his 35 forts to the Mughals. The remaining 12 forts were to be handed over to Shivaji in exchange for service and loyalty to the Mughal empire.
• The Mughals, on the other hand, recognised Shivaji's right to hold certain parts of the Bijapur kingdom.
• As a result of Shivaji's request to be exempted from personal service to the Mughals, his minor son Shambaji was granted a mansab of 5000 rupees.

Other Indian States under Maratha Kingdom

• By the end of Sahu's reign, a few powerful Maratha Kingdoms had complete control of their respective territories.
• During this time, the territories under their control developed sophisticated networks of trade, banking, and finance.
• A much larger domain of activity emerged away from the Marathas' original heartland. The Gaikwads (Gaekwars), Scindias, and Holkars were the most powerful of these chiefs.
• The Bhonsle family also had branches in Kolhapur and Nagpur, while the main line remained in the Deccan heartland, at Satara.

The Bhonsles

• The Bhonsles of Nagpur were a Maratha royal house that ruled the Kingdom of Nagpur from 1739 to 1853.
• They were from the Maratha Bhonsle clan and were one of the most powerful Maratha chiefs in the Maratha Empire.
• The Bhonsale family were originally headmen from Deor, a village in Satara district, under the forts Chandan Vandan (currently in Koregaon Taluka, District Satara and was under Deshmukhi rights of Bhoite Clan).

The Gaikwads

• The Gaekwads of Baroda are a Hindu dynasty that originated with the former Maratha Empire and its subsequent Princely States.
• From the early 18th century until 1947, a dynasty of this clan ruled the princely state of Baroda in western India.
• The ruler was known as Maharaja Gaekwad of Baroda. The Baroda Residency managed relations with the British during the British Raj, with the city of Baroda (Vadodara) as its capital.
• The Maratha general Pilaji Rao Gaekwad conquered Baroda from the Mughal Empire in 1721, establishing the Gaekwad rule. Chhatrapati Shahu I, the Chhatrapati of the Maratha empire, granted the Gaekwads the city as a Jagir.

Holkars and Scindias

Holkars

• The Holkar dynasty was an Indian Maratha clan of Dhangar origin.
• The Holkars served as generals under Peshwa Baji Rao I and later as Maharajas of Indore in Central India as an independent Maratha Empire member until 1818.
• Their kingdom later became a princely state under British India's protectorate.

Scindias

• The Scindia dynasty was a Hindu Maratha dynasty that ruled Gwalior in the past. In Wai, it had the patel-ship of Kumberkerrab.
• Ranoji Scindia founded it after working as a personal servant to Peshwa Bajirao I.
• Ranoji and his descendants, along with their rivals the Holkars, played a key role in the 18th century Maratha ascendency in North India.

Economic Conditions in 18th Century

• The eighteenth century in India was marked by two critical transitions that altered the power structure and ushered in significant social and economic changes.
• The first was the transition from the Mughal Empire to regional political orders in the first half of the century. The second was the political, social, and economic transition.
• The East India Company steered its way to political dominance in the 18th century.
• The decline of Mughal authority resulted in the emergence of several independent kingdoms.
• India in the eighteenth century was a study in contrasts and contradictions. It must endure one of the most turbulent periods in its history.
• On the one hand, there were the wealthy and powerful nobles who lived in luxury and comfort; on the other, there were the backward, oppressed, and impoverished peasants who lived on the bare subsistence level and had to bear all manner of injustices and inequities.
• Agriculture was the people's primary source of income. Because the rulers were constantly at war, they did not have time to improve the agricultural conditions of the land.

Social and Cultural Life in 18th Century

• In the 18th century, social life and culture were marked by stagnation and reliance on the past. Of course, there was no uniformity in culture and social patterns across the country.
• Similarly, not all Hindus and Muslims formed two distinct societies. Religion, region, tribe, language, and caste were all used to divide people.
• Furthermore, the social life and culture of the upper classes, who made up a tiny minority of the total population, differed in many ways from the life and culture of the lower classes.
• There was no pattern of unity in the people's social and cultural lives. There were divisions among them, whether Hindus or Muslims, based on region, tribe, language, and caste.
• Caste rules had to be followed in marriage, diet, interdining, and choosing a profession. Anyone found breaking the rules was likely to be expelled from the community.
• India, which was so advanced in science, had now neglected her mathematics and sciences. They were completely unaware of the scientific advances made by the West.
• During those times, teachers were well-respected members of society. Tradition was ingrained in education.
• Reading, writing, and arithmetic were also taught to the students. Girls rarely went to school.
• Local rulers, members of the aristocracy, and benevolent contributors supported education rather than the state.

The Marathas

The ruins of the Mughal Empire and its political system gave rise to a slew of independent and semi-independent powers including the Maratha. The Maratha Empire dominated a large portion of India in the 18th century. It was founded by Shivaj; he was a descendant of a noble family and a courageous warrior. Beginning with Balaji Vishwanath, the Peshwa's embarked on an expansionist policy that saw the Marathas reach their zenith.

Marathas - Background

• Raigad was the capital of the Maratha Empire, which began as a small kingdom in western India.
• The famous Maratha Chief Shivaji Maharaj established a Hindavi-Swarajya by leading Marathas against the Sultan of Bijapur (Adil Shahi Dynasty).
• Shivaji's son, Sambhaji, was seized and executed by Aurangzeb's army in Deccan, while his son, Shahu, was taken, prisoner.
• Bahadur Shah I liberated Shahu in 1707, and the Marathas quickly established themselves.
• The states of Satara and Kolhapur were established, and Shahu appointed Balaji Vishwanath to the position of Sena-Karte (Organizer of Forces). Later, the post of Peshwa, or Prime Minister, was created.
• Balaji and his successors played a significant role in Maratha's growth.

Expansion Policy of Marathas

• With Baji Rao's accession to the Peshwaship, the Maratha movement's character shifted from defensive to offensive, from national survival to empire building.
• This transformation did not happen overnight. The Marathas began regular raids into Gujarat and Malwa during the last years of Aurangzeb's reign, signalling a shift in the character of the struggle.
• But it wasn't until Baji Rao arrived on the scene that the new trend took the form of a firm policy.
• A protracted legal battle between Baji Rao and Pratinidhi Shripat Rao in the Maratha court preceded the new policy's implementation.
• The main issues with regards to this new policy were:
  • The direction and timing of Maratha's expansionist activities.
  • Nizam-ul-Mulk's attitude and the possibility of maintaining friendly relations with him.
  • Internal administration, particularly the problem of controlling the Maratha Sardars and restoring order to the finances, army, and so on.
  • Finally, there was the issue of power: who would preside over the King's councils, the Peshwa or the Pratinidhi.

The Marathas and Nizam-ul-Mulk

• The connection between the Maratha and the Nizam-ul-Mulk passed through numerous stages and had a considerable impact on Maratha activity in Malwa and Gujarat.
• As Viceroy of the Deccan from 1715 to 1717, Nizam-ul-Mulk fought the Maratha for control of the Deccan's Chauth and Sardeshmukhi and was nearly always at war with them - though with limited success.
• After Nizam’s victorious revolt against the Sayyids, Nizam-ul-Mulk praised the Imperial Farman for handing the Marathas the Chauth and Sardeshmukhi of the Deccan.
• Nizam met Baji Rao for the first time on January 4, 1721.
• Despite Nizam-ul- Mulk's best efforts to establish close ties with the young Peshwa, no long-term understanding was achieved.
• The most important point of dispute between the Marathas and Nizam-ul-Mulk was Karnataka.
• Nizam-ul-Mulk regarded Karnataka as his by right of succession to the kingdoms of Bijapur and Golconda.
• The Marathas, on the other hand, had been interested in Karnataka since at least Shahji's time and had always seen it as a delightful hunting field that they were resolved to plunder and put under tribute, paying little mind to his claims.

The Maratha Advance into Gujarat and Malwa

• Maratha's empire rose to prominence after the death of Aurangzeb in 1707.
• This was followed by a 50-year period of rapid Maratha Empire expansion into North India under the great Peshwa Baji Rao I.
• While the Marathas had sometimes raided Gujarat since 1705 and Malwa since 1699, these invasions didn't start to become frequent or well-planned until 1720.
• Initially Chauth was taken from these provinces, later on, they were merged.
• Maratha's demanded acknowledgement of their claims to Gujarat and Malwa.
• During his return to Delhi in 1719, Balaji Vishwanath received the command to gain the chauth of these two provinces as well.
• To establish their stronghold, Marathas’ attacks into the two regions became more frequent.
• The Marathas pressed for the reinstatement of their claims to Gujarat and Malwa.
• However, despite the financial and geopolitical significance of the provinces, neither Nizam nor the Mughals was eager to make such a commitment to the Marathas.

The Maratha Advance into Doab and Punjab

• Maratha’s advancement into Doab and Punjab was divided into two distinct periods from 1741 to 1761.
• The first phase occurred between 1741 and 1752. It began with Baji Rao's death and the final Mughal cession of Malwa and Gujarat.
• Marathas gained the Chauth right over the area of Rajasthan, which opened the way for the Doab and Punjab region, while the entry of Marathas into the doab and Ahmad Shah Abdali into Punjab in 1752 marked a new chapter in Northern Indian politics.
• The preparations for the showdown between the Marathas and the Abdali for control of North India were in full swing between 1752 and 1761.

Third Battle of Panipat

• The Third Battle of Panipat took place on 14 January 1761 at Panipat, between a northern expeditionary force of the Maratha Empire and the King of Afghanistan, Ahmad Shah Durrani, with two Indian Muslim allies—the Rohilla Afghans of the Doab and Shuja-Ud-Daula, the Nawab of Oudh.
• The battle is regarded as one of the largest fought battles in the 18th century with possibly the highest number of fatalities reported in a single day in a classic formation battle between two armies.
• The Mughal Empire's decline following the 27-year Mughal-Maratha war (1680–1707) resulted in rapid territorial gains for the Maratha Empire.
• Gujarat and Malwa came under Maratha control under Peshwa Baji Rao.
• Finally, on the outskirts of Delhi in 1737, Baji Rao defeated the Mughals, bringing much of the former Mughal territory south of Delhi under Maratha control.
• Baji Rao's son, Balaji Baji Rao (popularly known as Nana Saheb), expanded Maratha control by invading Punjab in 1758.
• This brought the Marathas into direct conflict with Ahmad Shah Abdali's Durrani empire.
• In 1759, he raised a Pashtun army and made several gains against the smaller Maratha garrisons in Punjab.
• He then formed a broad coalition against the Marathas with his Indian allies, the Rohilla Afghans of the Gangetic Doab.
• The Marathas, led by Sadashivrao Bhau, responded by amassing an army of 45,000–60,000 men, accompanied by approximately 200,000 non-combatants, many of whom were pilgrims on their way to Hindu holy sites in northern India.
• On March 14, 1760, the Marathas began their northward journey from Patdur.
• Both sides attempted to bring the Nawab of Awadh, Shuja-Ud-Daulah, into their respective camps.
• By late July, Shuja-Ud-Daulah had decided to join the Afghan-Rohilla coalition, preferring to join the 'army of Islam.'
• Shuja provided much-needed funds for the Afghans' lengthy stay in North India.
• It is doubtful that the Afghan-Rohilla coalition would be able to continue fighting the Marathas without Shuja's assistance.

Policy of Expansion of Marathas

The Maratha Empire dominated a large portion of early modern India in the 18th century. Beginning with Balaji Vishwanath (appointed on November 16, 1713), the Peshwa's embarked on an expansionist policy that saw the Marathas reach their zenith. Balaji's son, Peshwa Baji Rao I, expanded the empire even further, encompassing much of modern-day central and southern India. Meanwhile, under the protection of the Maratha Chhatrapati, the Mughals were reduced to mere puppets. 

Expansion Policy of Marathas

• With Baji Rao's accession to the Peshwaship, the Maratha movement's character shifted from defensive to offensive, from national survival to empire building.
• This transformation did not happen overnight. The Marathas began regular raids into Gujarat and Malwa during the last years of Aurangzeb's reign, signalling a shift in the character of the struggle.
• But it wasn't until Baji Rao arrived on the scene that the new trend took the form of a firm policy.
• A protracted legal battle between Baji Rao and Pratinidhi Shripat Rao in the Maratha court preceded the new policy's implementation.
• The main issues with regards to this new policy were:
  • The direction and timing of Maratha's expansionist activities.
  • Nizam-ul-Mulk's attitude and the possibility of maintaining friendly relations with him.
  • Internal administration, particularly the problem of controlling the Maratha Sardars and restoring order to the finances, army, and so on.
  • Finally, there was the issue of power: who would preside over the King's councils, the Peshwa or the Pratinidhi.

Expansion View of Pratinidhi

• The Pratinidhi was not opposed to an expansionist policy in general, but he desired that priority be given to the over-running of the Konkan, where the Sidi of Janjira had recovered many areas; and the completion of Shivaji's conquest of Karnataka.
• After consolidating Maratha's positions in the Deccan, they could consider expanding their conquests further north in India.
• The Pratinidhi emphasised the importance of being cautious and not provoking the Mughals too much, lest it leads to another invasion of the Maratha homeland.
• Above all, he wished to make friends with the powerful Nizam-ul-Mulk.
• He desired that large-scale expansionist activities be postponed until the finances were stabilised and a strong army and stable administrative system were established.

Expansion View of Baji Rao

• Baji Rao, on the other hand, emphasised the Mughal Court's weakness and imbecility, which was torn apart by factions and internecine feuds, so that Maratha assistance was sought, and kings were made and unmade through its means.
• He dismissed the conquest of Karnataka as a domestic matter best left to the Hazarat (household) troops.
• He dwelt on the (alleged) friendship of the Hindu powers to the Marathas, and discounted the power of the Nizam, offering to hold him in check as well as to effect a northward drive, alluding to Shivaji's dream of Hindu domination.
• Finally, he appealed to the Maratha Sardar's predatory instincts by pointing to the riches of northern India, the Deccan having been reduced to ruins by prolonged warfare.
• He is said to have finished with the famous words, "Strike, strike at the trunk, and the branches will fall of their own."
• It does not appear correct to assume that Baji Rao's policy of northward expansion implied a lack of concern for the south.
• Baji Rao demanded the cession of the subah of Hyderabad and the virtual right to nominate the Mughal viceroy of the Deccan as early as 1724 when the Emperor asked for Maratha assistance against Nizam-ul-Mulk.
• As a result, Baji Rao was also interested in Maratha supremacy over the Deccan.
• But he did not share the Pratinidhi's facile optimism that the Marathas could conquer Karnataka without the Nizam's bitter opposition, or that they could conquer the Deccan with the resources of Maharashtra alone in the face of a cunning and determined foe like Nizam-ul-Mulk.
• As a result, he was adamant about conquering and bringing the prosperous provinces of Malwa and Gujarat under Maratha's control.
• With the Marathas secure in Malwa and Gujarat, a schism would form between the Nizam and Delhi.
• The Marathas would then encircle the Nizam's territories on three sides, allowing them to turn against him without fear of receiving assistance from Delhi, or raid the doab and the areas to its east and west at their leisure.
• Thus, establishing a Maratha dominance in Malwa and Gujarat was the first step toward establishing a large and powerful Maratha empire.
• His rant about the Maratha flag being planted on the Attock was merely political hyperbole.
• For a long time, the task was clearly beyond Maratha's strength, and Baji Rao was far too practical a statesman to set himself such impossible goals.

The Marathas and Nizam-ul-Mulk

The connection between the Maratha and the Nizam-ul-Mulk passed through numerous stages and had a considerable impact on Maratha activity in Malwa and Gujarat. As Viceroy of the Deccan from 1715 to 1717, Nizam-ul-Mulk fought the Maratha for control of the Deccan's Chauth and Sardeshmukhi and was nearly always at war with them - though with limited success. After Nizam’s victorious revolt against the Sayyids, Nizam-ul-Mulk praised the Imperial Farman for handing the Marathas the Chauth and Sardeshmukhi of the Deccan. 

Relations between Marathas and Nizam-ul-Mulk

• Nizam met Baji Rao for the first time on January 4, 1721.
• Despite Nizam-ul- Mulk's best efforts to establish close ties with the young Peshwa, no long-term understanding was achieved.
• The most important point of dispute between the Marathas and Nizam-ul-Mulk was Karnataka.
• Nizam-ul-Mulk regarded Karnataka as his by right of succession to the kingdoms of Bijapur and Golconda.
• The Marathas, on the other hand, had been interested in Karnataka since at least Shahji's time and had always seen it as a delightful hunting field that they were resolved to plunder and put under tribute, paying little mind to his claims.
• In the absence of Nizam-ul-Mulk from 1721 to 1724, his subordinate Mubariz-ul-Mulk broke the Chauth and Sardeshmukhi agreements, beginning hostilities.
• Nizam made a concerted effort to maintain cordial relations with the Marathas. In 1723, on his route to Gujarat, he encountered Baji Rao in Malwa.
• When Mubariz-ul-Mulk attempted to prevent Nizam from reestablishing himself in the Deccan in 1724, Nizam retaliated by holding a conference with Baji Rao.
• At the battle of Shakar Khera in 1725, a Maratha contingent fought alongside the Nizam.
• In 1728, the Nizam-ul-Mulk and the Marathas were on the edge of war.
• Nizam-ul-Mulk was unhappy and anxious by the spread of Maratha operations in Malwa and Gujarat.
• Despite participating in Shahu's two trips to Karnataka in 1725 and 1726, he covertly sent orders to his commander to fight the Marathas.
• The competition between the Satara and Kolhapur courts, as well as the conflicts between Baji Rao and the Pratinidhi, helped him.
• He suspended the payment of Chauth and Sardeshmukhi due to a dispute between Shahu and Sambhaji (the Kolhapur Raja), and requested Shahu to submit the case to his arbitration, acting as the Mughal Emperor's envoy, while the majority of the Maratha forces were in Karnataka.
• He also sent him messages suggesting that Baji Rao be dismissed.
• Meanwhile, he forged a connection with the soldiers of the Kolhapur Raja.
• Shahu was stunned, and he was on the verge of accepting Nizam-ul-Mulk's arbitration assertion.
• He rapidly recovered, though, and dispatched express recall letters to the Maratha forces, advising fort commanders to prepare for defence.
• Baji Rao returned from Karnataka and declared war on the spot, rejecting Nizam-ul- Mulk's peace overtures since he didn't want to fight.
• After a brief but magnificent campaign, Baji Rao beat Nizam-ul-Mulk at the Battle of Palkhed on 7th February 1728.
• In the Mungi Shevgaon Treaty of 1728, Nizam-ul-Mulk reiterated Shahu's claim to the Deccan Chauth and Sardeshmukhi and vowed not to assist Sambhaji of Kolhapur.