Pakistan is a paradigm example of a failed state that has undergone an extremely dangerous form of radical Islamisation.
Rajaram
During the years that followed the death of Sambhaji, the Marathas continued
at intervals to plunder Ahmadnagar territories. If it was the emperor's idea
that, Maratha resistance could be stifled after the death of Sambhaji, he was
entirely wrong. Under the leadership of Rajaram who was proclaimed king,
Ramchandrapant Amatya, Pralhad Niraji, Sahtaji Ghorpade, Dhanaji Jadhav and
other Maratha noblemen carried on the struggle against the Moghal invaders
inspite of the fall of Rayagad and capture of Yesubai and Shahu, the son of
Sambhaji. The Marathas carried the war into the very heart of Moghal territory,
the theatre of war stretching from Burhanpur in the north to Jinji in the south,
which Rajaram had put up as his headquarters. The Maratha commanders destroyed
the Moghal field armies and crippled the material resources of the Moghal
generals. It was difficult for the emperor to cope with the Maratha system of
warfare.
In 1699 under Raiaram the combined Maratha troops entered Gangthadi claiming
the chauth or one-fourth and the sardeshmukhi or extra tenth as their
established right. All who submitted to these demands were protected, such of
the Moghal garrisons who remained passive were not molested, and those who
opposed were put to the sword. On this occasion the Maratha exactions were
unusually systematic. Where they could not secure ready money they took
promissory notes from the heads of villages according to the practice introduced
by Shivaji. When he had nearly completed his tour Rajaram left Haibatrav
Nimbalkar in Gangthadi to collect what they termed the outstanding balances.
Haibatrav, when appointed to this duty, was styled Sar Lashkar, and received the
Jari Patka or golden streamer. At this moment of triumph, the Maratha nation
suffered a tragic loss in the death of Rajaram who found the strain of camp-life
unbearable. He died at Sinhgad on 2nd March 1700. After the death of Rajaram,
Dhanaji Jadhav spread his horse in every quarter and performed many signal
exploits.
Rajarams’s reign was an eventful one paving the way for the future greatness
of the Marathas. Credit goes to his wise councilors and brave generals. A
significant change in military administration by him was the system of granting
lands to the military commanders in lieu of cash as followed by Shivaji. This
single change was greatly responsible for the expansion and the fall of the
Maratha Empire. Rajaram died in 1700 to be succeeded by his 4 yr old son Shivaji
III whose mother was Tarabai. A capable administrator, she inspired valor
amongst her followers, guided military operations moving to different forts.
And so ended the reign of Shivaji and Rajaram. Shivaji laid the foundations
for the Maratha Empire and the Peshwas capitalized on his efforts.
