Question map
Who among the following finally removed the Maratha Peshwa from his position,captured his territories and sent him off to a distant place ?
Explanation
The final removal of the Maratha Peshwa occurred during the Third Anglo-Maratha War (1817–1818). The Governor-General at this time was Lord Hastings (Francis Rawdon-Hastings), who struck back with vigor against the Maratha chiefs [2]. Following the Peshwa's defeat at Khirki and his subsequent surrender in June 1818, the office of the Peshwa was abolished [1]. Lord Hastings captured the Peshwa's territories, dissolving the Maratha confederacy [2]. Baji Rao II was then sent off to a distant place, specifically Bithur near Kanpur, where he lived as a British retainer on a pension [1]. While Wellesley was involved in the Second Anglo-Maratha War and Dalhousie in later annexations, it was specifically under Hastings' administration that the Peshwaship was terminated and the territories were formally incorporated into the British Bombay Presidency [2].
Sources
- [2] Modern India ,Bipin Chandra, History class XII (NCERT 1982 ed.)[Old NCERT] > Chapter 4: The British Conquest of India > Expansion Under Lord Hastings > p. 81
- [1] Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 5: Expansion and Consolidation of British Power in India > Third Anglo-Maratha War (1817-19) > p. 107