RESEARCH
36
the seriousness of the
Mughal threat, they
allied
themselves
with their rivals, the
Marathas. Although
plagued by mutual
distrust, the Deccan
states
and
the
Marathas were unified
in the face of what they
perceived as foreign
opposition in the
form of the Mughals.
The problem was
compounded by the
strategic placement
of the Marathas.
Shivaji›s Swaraj was
an uneven terrain
where every hill was
a natural fort, and it
comprised the region
that belonged to the
Mughals and Bijapur.
Its unevenness made
it a natural ground
for guerrilla tactics.
Consequently,
the
Mughals failed to
isolate the Marathas
or the Deccan states interests in Deccan.
as they had effectively Matters came to
isolated Mewar.
a head when the
fugitive Prince Akbar
With regard to the
was granted asylum
above,
Aurangzeb
by
Shambhuji.
was left with three
Aurangzeb
then
alternatives.
replaced the policy of
One was to maintain non-intervention in
the status quo in Deccan for that of a
Deccan, so long as policy of annexation.
the state paid their
The adoption of a
tribute regularly and
forward policy which
did not shelter any
was propagated by
Mughal
adversary.
Jai Singh in 1660
The Marathas too
AD, was the second
could be left in
alternative. Jai Singh
peace provided they
advocated
the
restricted themselves
conquest of Bijapur
to the south and did
with Shivaji›s help,
not raid Mughals
rather than attacking
territory. Aurangzeb
the Deccan states
initially adhered to
and the Marathas
this policy and would
simultaneously.
have continued to do
so but for the rapid Once isolated, Shivaji,
decline of Bijapur it was felt could be
and the meteoric eliminated
with
rise of Shivaji, which ease. With this aim
endangered Mughal in mind, overtures of