Modern Indian History

First Anglo-Maratha War (1775-82)
  1. The Marathas were largely remained disunited since the Third Battle of Panipat (1761).
  2. The internal conflict among the Marathas was best utilized by the British in their expansionist policy.
  3. In 1775, there was a dispute for the post of Peshwa between Madhav Rao and his uncle Raghunatha Rao.
  4. The British authorities in Bombay concluded the Treaty of Surat with Raghunatha Rao in March 1775.
  5. Raghunatha Rao promised to cede Bassein and Salsette to the British but later when he was unwilling to fulfil his promise, the British captured them.
  6. This action of the Bombay Government was not approved by Warren Hastings. In 1776, Warren Hastings sent Colonel Upton to settle the issue
  7. He cancelled the Treaty of Surat and concluded the Treaty of Purandar with Nana Fadnavis, another Maratha leader
  8. According to this treaty Madhava Rao II was accepted as the new Peshwa and the British retained Salsette along with a heavy war indemnity
  9. However, the Home authorities rejected the Treaty of Purandar. Warren Hastings also considered the Treaty of Purandar as a ‘scrap of paper’
  10. In 1781, Warren Hastings dispatched British troops under the command of Captain Popham. He defeated the Maratha chief, Mahadaji Scindia, in a number of small battles and captured Gwalior.
  11. Later in May 1782, the Treaty of Salbai was signed between Warren Hastings and Mahadaji Scindia
  12. Accordingly, Salsette and Bassein were given to the British.
  13. Raghunath Rao was pensioned off and Madhav Rao II was accepted as the Peshwa.
  14. The Treaty of Salbai established the British influence in Indian politics.
  15. It provided the British twenty years of peace with the Marathas
  16. The Treaty also enabled the British to exert pressure on Mysore with the help of the Marathas in recovering their territories from Haider Ali.
  17. Thus, the British, on the one hand, saved themselves from the combined opposition of Indian powers and on the other, succeeded in dividing the Indian powers.
  18. The Marathas were largely remained disunited since the Third Battle of Panipat (1761).
  19. The internal conflict among the Marathas was best utilized by the British in their expansionist policy.
  20. In 1775, there was a dispute for the post of Peshwa between Madhav Rao and his uncle Raghunatha Rao.
  21. The British authorities in Bombay concluded the Treaty of Surat with Raghunatha Rao in March 1775.
  22. Raghunatha Rao promised to cede Bassein and Salsette to the British but later when he was unwilling to fulfil his promise, the British captured them.
  23. This action of the Bombay Government was not approved by Warren Hastings. In 1776, Warren Hastings sent Colonel Upton to settle the issue
  24. He cancelled the Treaty of Surat and concluded the Treaty of Purandar with Nana Fadnavis, another Maratha leader
  25. According to this treaty Madhava Rao II was accepted as the new Peshwa and the British retained Salsette along with a heavy war indemnity
  26. However, the Home authorities rejected the Treaty of Purandar. Warren Hastings also considered the Treaty of Purandar as a ‘scrap of paper’
  27. In 1781, Warren Hastings dispatched British troops under the command of Captain Popham. He defeated the Maratha chief, Mahadaji Scindia, in a number of small battles and captured Gwalior.
  28. Later in May 1782, the Treaty of Salbai was signed between Warren Hastings and Mahadaji Scindia
  29. Accordingly, Salsette and Bassein were given to the British.
  30. Raghunath Rao was pensioned off and Madhav Rao II was accepted as the Peshwa.
  31. The Treaty of Salbai established the British influence in Indian politics.
  32. It provided the British twenty years of peace with the Marathas
  33. The Treaty also enabled the British to exert pressure on Mysore with the help of the Marathas in recovering their territories from Haider Ali.
  34. Thus, the British, on the one hand, saved themselves from the combined opposition of Indian powers and on the other, succeeded in dividing the Indian powers.