Suraj Mal And Sadashiv Rao Bhau Issue During Panipat War

Bhau had no selfish interest. He had a brief. He was there on a military expedition, and though he was deputed to negotiated on behalf of Pune HQs, it was not for him to decide or commit who gets which piece of the meat (that's how rulers were behaving that time!)
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— Sojourn (@SmitaMukerji) December 7, 2019

Politics was never simplistic. Not now, not then. Suraj Mal was not straight in dealings, had his own interests, tie-ups and commitments (which was not to Bharat or Hindus.) Mughals were not all that dispensable as one would like to think. Even after losing power, formal
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— Sojourn (@SmitaMukerji) December 7, 2019

..political authority in NIndia continued to be derived from Mughals. It was Mughal state structures, administrative ranks, revenue system that still provided stability to the region. Negotiations for tribute, treaties, policy, even appointments to provinces were recognised
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— Sojourn (@SmitaMukerji) December 7, 2019

..and ratified by them. (Remember, there was no Central GoI to provide stamp of authorisation to any agreement.) Maratha state in fact demonstrated great maturity by not destabilising NIndia by forceful removal of Mughals as symbolic authority figure, allowing sundry petty
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— Sojourn (@SmitaMukerji) December 7, 2019

..power-players vying for individual advantage (incl. Suraj Mal–powerful he may have been but not an authority figure recognised by all) fight like street curs for scraps, plunging the country into chaos. Having a Mughal puppet who acted according to them was politic and
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— Sojourn (@SmitaMukerji) December 7, 2019

..avoided unnecessary warfare, breakdown of order n distress to common people n peasantry (who became victims of practically any armed band claiming power n exacting tax.) You have to read history more deeply to understand the political conditions (n constraints) of the age
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— Sojourn (@SmitaMukerji) December 7, 2019