Lehal Library

9. From the Indus to the Ganges After the Afghan Invasions he death of Ahmed Shah Abdali created a novel situation in the Punjab. Abdali's son and successor, Taimur, could do little more than hold his father's conquests west of the Indus along with Kashmir, Babawalpur, Multan (which he wrested from the Bhangis in 1780), and Sindh. At the eastern end, the position remained fluid for a long time. The Mughal emperor was living at Allahabad in an undefined subservience to the English, who had already cast their protective mantle over the Nawab Wazir of Oudh. The English were, however, not yet ready to extend their power beyond the Ganges. Delhi was administered by Najibttddaulah I on behalf of the absentee emperor. But his writ did not run beyond fifty miles of the city walls because contentious bands of freebooters-Sikhs, Rohillas, Jats, Rajputs, and Marathas-roamed the countryside and acknowledged no master save the leader of their own gang. This continued to be the state of affairs for some time until the Marathas seized Delhi. Although they had suffered grievously on the field of Panipat, in eight years they recouped enough strength to be able to contend with their Indian adversaries. In 1769, Peshwa Madhav Rao T I In 1769 Najibucldaulah was a sick and dying man. A year later, when be had a recmTencc of,·imlem gonorrhea, he iuvesled bis son Zabita Khan in his place. He died at Hapw· on 31 October 1770 and was buried at Najibabad. (Nnfil11.uul111tliili.)