The Gathering of the Storm: Events in Central India (1814-1816)

Lord Hastings soon realised the growing lawlessness in Central India and, in early 1814, strongly informed the home authorities about the danger. At the same time, he took preventive steps to preserve peace in British territories.

He first considered a subsidiary alliance with the Bhonsla Rájá of Nagpur, which would secure a central strategic position, strengthen links between Bundelkhand and Haidarábád, and protect a long frontier. However, negotiations revived from 1812 failed in 1814.

His second plan was to connect northern and southern India through a chain of friendly native states, among which Bhopal was the most important. Circumstances there made this policy more practical.

Bhopal had been seriously threatened when Sindhia and the Bhonsla united in October 1813, besieging the town with nearly 70,000 men. The Nawab, Wazír Muhammad, bravely repelled them, though danger continued until the end of 1814.

In distress, Wazír Muhammad sought British help through Mr. Metcalfe at Delhi. Protection was offered in October 1814 under the usual conditions of a subsidiary alliance, and negotiations at first seemed promising.

Sindhia strongly opposed this move because it deprived him of a likely conquest. He had hoped that after capturing Bhopal he would dominate both the Bhonsla and the wider Maráthá states.

The Peshwa and the Rájá of Nagpur also secretly disliked British interference in a state they had long harassed. During the winter of 1814–15, while Britain suffered setbacks in Nepal, jealousies among Maráthás, Pindárís, and Patháns temporarily declined.

Had these groups acted together then, they might have seriously damaged British prestige. But they were unprepared and were restrained by Hastings’ energy, as he raised fresh battalions, reinforced Bundelkhand, and concentrated troops near likely trouble spots.