Question

Write a note on the Maratha – British relations
British policies

Answer 1

1. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj had foreseen the ulterior motives of these foreigners and their ways of infiltration. He built up strategies to arrest their advances in India. The immediate measures taken by him in this direction included the creation of a strong naval force and the construction of sea forts. He also levied octroi on the British salt trade as a measure to protect the local salt trade.
2. Dabhol was conquered by the Maratha army. At that time, three ships of Afzal Khan were unloading in the Dabhol port. On receiving the report of Afzal Khan’s death, Mahamud Sharif his representative in Dabhol, along with the wealth and goods fled to Rajapur. Fazal Khan, Afzal Khan’s son, asked Abdul Karim, the Subhedar of Rajapur, to unload the ships at Rajapur. The Marathas attacked Rajapur and conquered it.
3. Since Abdul Karim had taken a loan from the British which he was unable to repay, the British seized one out of the three ships at Rajapur. This was unacceptable to the Marathas. Here began The political relations between Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and the British.
4. The British refused to do so. Therefore, the Marathas detained Velaji the local agent of the British and also detained Phillip Gifford, a British officer who visited the Maratha camp to request Velaji’s release. Later, both of them were released. However, this instance strained Maratha- British relations.
5. Followed by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj being trapped inside the fort in ‘Panhala fort’ which was under the siege laid by Adilshah’s army. However, Maharaj fled successfully from there and the next year, the Marathas defeated the British in the Rajapur campaign.
6. Later several permissions were requested by the British to open factories at Raigad, Rajapur, Dabhol, Chaul and Kalyan. The following terms and conditions were laid:
   • Right of the Marathas to levy 2.5% octroi on British goods.
   • Prohibition of British coinage in the Maratha dominion
7. Certain conditions were dismissed that were put by the British, such as the British goods found afloat from ships should be returned to them and the Marathas should enter a treaty with the Siddis of Janjira. This clearly reveals his resolute policy of safeguarding Maratha's sovereignty.