Abhas Verma's Blog, page 3
December 11, 2015
Who was Bajirao ?( Part I )
Bajirao Ballal (Balaji) Bhat also known as Thorale (Marathi for Elder) Bajirao was the son of Balaji Vishwanath, first Peshwa of Chhattrapati Shahu . He was born on 18th August 1700 and appointed by Shahu as Peshwa upon the death of his father at Shahu's camp at Masur , 30 miles east of Satara on 17th April 1720 exactly a fortnight after his father's death. Bajirao headed almost all important campaigns of Shahau and fought over 41 battles and is reputed to have never lost one.
Battle of PalkhedThe Nizam in order to uproot the Shahu propped up a coalition of Sambhaji II of Kolhapur, Chandrasen Jadhav, Udaji Chavan and Rao Rambha Nimbalkar against Shahu. When Peshwa and his troops had gone to collect Chauth in the south (in 1727), the Nizam's forces made a surprise attack on Poona, whereby he proclaimed Sambhaji II to be his accepted Chatrapati. (Satara too came under threat and Chatrapati Shahu himself had to seek refuge in fort Purandar near Saswad).
Hearing the news of the attack, Bajirao's troops proceeded towards Pune . The Nizam was already waiting for the Peshwa with a huge army and artillery. But the Peshwa Bajirao was a step ahead of the Nizam as far as war machinations were concerned. Instead of confronting the powerful Nizam's artillery in a pitched battle, he created a detour by plundering the Nizam's territories like Jalna, Khandesh and proceeded toward Burhanpur, a rich mughal outpost in the control of the Nizam.
Bajirao thus forced the Nizam into leaving his base and giving the Peshwa a chase. However, the Nizam had to leave behind his heavy artillery in order to catch up with the Peshwa's army. This was precisely what the wily Peshwa wanted. As the Nizam's army progressed towards the Peshwa, midway at Palkhed (a hill tract near Aurangabad) the Peshwa managed to trap and surround the Nizam and harassed him with lightning fast raids on his camps.
The Nizam found himself in a precarious situation, surrounded without food and water supplies for days and his army slowly bleeding due to non stop Maratha raids. The Nizam then chose to recognize Marathas as supreme power in the Deccan and sadly agreed to sign a humiliating treaty at Mungi Shevgaon (6 March 1728), whereby the Nizam agreed to accept Shahu as the sole Maratha Chhatrapati and give up the cause of Sambhaji II forever. The Maratha rights for chauth were also recognized whereby Maratha kingdom collected 25% tax on all production in these lands and within a few decades, all parts of the sub-continent.
Malwa
In October 1728, Bajirao and his troops launched an attack on Malwa. His contingent included his brother Chimaji Appa, Tanoji Shinde, Malharrao Holkar and Udaji Pawar, all of whom later reached great heights in their respective careers as Generals and Rulers of the Maratha Empire. The Maratha forces defeated and subdued the Mughal forces and captured Malwa in many bloody battles.
Bundelkhand and Maharaja ChatrasalJust about the time that Nizam-ul-mulk and Bajirao were engaged in hostile operations during the early months of 1728 in the south, Muhammad Khan Bangash attacked the Bundela king with a large force commanded by himself and his three valiant sons and defeated him on several occasions. After a sanguinary action in June 1728 Chhatrasal betook himself to the fort of Jaitpur, which the Bangash at once invested.
The siege was long and arduous. In December 1728 at the moment when Chimnaji Appa invested Ujjain after his signal success at Amjhera, Chhatrasal was so hard-pressed at Jaitpur that he desperately attempted to fight his way out and came to be captured severely wounded along with the fort.
He sent urgent messages and piteous calls both to Chimnaji Appa at Ujjain and to Bajirao, to come with all speed and save his life and fortunes.
Chhatrasal sent a message to Bajirao calling for his aid.
In the message, Chhatrasal- a good poet himself writes-
"जो बीती गज-राज पर, सो गति भायी है आज, बाजी जात बुन्देल की रक्खो, बाजी लाज"
( ...We the 'Bundelas', are in the same terrible condition of the Gajraj ( King Elephant ), when his foot was caught by a crocodile, as he was drinking water in a river… So, oh brave Baji, do come and please help us to protect our honor.. )
Responding to his call, Bajirao went to Bundelkhand and defeated Bangash in battle of Jaitpur. When Bangash retreated, Chhatrasal happy by the deeds of Bajirao, declared him as his third son and awarded one third part of his kingdom to him.
Gujrat Maratha senapati Khanderao Dabhade was officially given charge for Gujarat by Chhattrapati Shahu himself, after the former had defeated and subdued the mughal military officers in that state. After the death of Khanderao in 27 Sep 1729 his son Trimbakrao Dabhade was made senapati.
In Gujarat there was another player in the form of Hamid Khan who was a protégé of Nizam ul Mulk. When the mughal emperor despatched Sarbulund Khan in July 1724, to get control of Gujrat which was engulfed in rivalry between mughal nobility, Hamid Khan entered into an understanding with Bande to prevent the imperial interference. He gave him the right to collect chauth towards the north of river Mahi.
Bajirao then asked (through his representative Udaji Pawar) Sarbulund Khan to grant him the chauth rights of Gujarat but was spurned. Hence, Bajirao despatched his brother Chimaji Appa to Gujrat who looted the towns of Petlad and Dholka. Sarbulund Khan was unable to simultaneously tackle Bande as well as the Peshwa's armies, he was overpowered and defeated by the Marathas and was forced to sign an agreement with the Peshwa in 1730 whereby the Peshwa was given the right to collect chauth and sardeshmukhi for Gujarat region (seaport of Surat was excluded from this agreement).
All this did not sit very well with the Mughal court and they replaced Sarbulund Khan with Abhay singh, son of Ajit singh of Jodhpur. But Abhay Singh was powerless to face and or defeat the Marathas and he too reconciled with the idea that the Peshwa was the only person who could rein in the free- booters in Gujarat and compromised and struck a deal with him.
Meanwhile, the treaty between the Mughals and the Peshwa was not acceptable to the Maratha Senapati Trimbakrao Dabhade, who considered the Gujrat affairs his hereditary right . He was already had ego clashes with the Peshwa, who he was not entirely comfortable accepting as a second supreme authority after the king. Note, the Peshwa on his part was also encouraging new blood like Holkar-Shinde-Pawar and starting on war campaigns without consultations with the sarsenapati.Now this Gujarat issue only aggravated matters further.
Sarsenapati Trimbakrao Dabhade then accused Peshwa Bajirao II of breaching the contract made between the Dabhade family and Chatrapati Shahu.Finding the king not very supportive, and evasive in the matter, he decided to take on Bajirao directly. In a skirmish that followed at Dabhoi in April 1731, Trimbakrao Dabhade was killed (Pilaji Gaekwads son Sambhaji also died in that battle). Also captured were rebels like Udaji Pawar (he had fallen out with Bajirao) and Chimnaji Damodar who were fighting on Dabhade's side.
Battle of PalkhedThe Nizam in order to uproot the Shahu propped up a coalition of Sambhaji II of Kolhapur, Chandrasen Jadhav, Udaji Chavan and Rao Rambha Nimbalkar against Shahu. When Peshwa and his troops had gone to collect Chauth in the south (in 1727), the Nizam's forces made a surprise attack on Poona, whereby he proclaimed Sambhaji II to be his accepted Chatrapati. (Satara too came under threat and Chatrapati Shahu himself had to seek refuge in fort Purandar near Saswad).
Hearing the news of the attack, Bajirao's troops proceeded towards Pune . The Nizam was already waiting for the Peshwa with a huge army and artillery. But the Peshwa Bajirao was a step ahead of the Nizam as far as war machinations were concerned. Instead of confronting the powerful Nizam's artillery in a pitched battle, he created a detour by plundering the Nizam's territories like Jalna, Khandesh and proceeded toward Burhanpur, a rich mughal outpost in the control of the Nizam.
Bajirao thus forced the Nizam into leaving his base and giving the Peshwa a chase. However, the Nizam had to leave behind his heavy artillery in order to catch up with the Peshwa's army. This was precisely what the wily Peshwa wanted. As the Nizam's army progressed towards the Peshwa, midway at Palkhed (a hill tract near Aurangabad) the Peshwa managed to trap and surround the Nizam and harassed him with lightning fast raids on his camps.
The Nizam found himself in a precarious situation, surrounded without food and water supplies for days and his army slowly bleeding due to non stop Maratha raids. The Nizam then chose to recognize Marathas as supreme power in the Deccan and sadly agreed to sign a humiliating treaty at Mungi Shevgaon (6 March 1728), whereby the Nizam agreed to accept Shahu as the sole Maratha Chhatrapati and give up the cause of Sambhaji II forever. The Maratha rights for chauth were also recognized whereby Maratha kingdom collected 25% tax on all production in these lands and within a few decades, all parts of the sub-continent.
Malwa
In October 1728, Bajirao and his troops launched an attack on Malwa. His contingent included his brother Chimaji Appa, Tanoji Shinde, Malharrao Holkar and Udaji Pawar, all of whom later reached great heights in their respective careers as Generals and Rulers of the Maratha Empire. The Maratha forces defeated and subdued the Mughal forces and captured Malwa in many bloody battles.
Bundelkhand and Maharaja ChatrasalJust about the time that Nizam-ul-mulk and Bajirao were engaged in hostile operations during the early months of 1728 in the south, Muhammad Khan Bangash attacked the Bundela king with a large force commanded by himself and his three valiant sons and defeated him on several occasions. After a sanguinary action in June 1728 Chhatrasal betook himself to the fort of Jaitpur, which the Bangash at once invested.
The siege was long and arduous. In December 1728 at the moment when Chimnaji Appa invested Ujjain after his signal success at Amjhera, Chhatrasal was so hard-pressed at Jaitpur that he desperately attempted to fight his way out and came to be captured severely wounded along with the fort.
He sent urgent messages and piteous calls both to Chimnaji Appa at Ujjain and to Bajirao, to come with all speed and save his life and fortunes.
Chhatrasal sent a message to Bajirao calling for his aid.
In the message, Chhatrasal- a good poet himself writes-
"जो बीती गज-राज पर, सो गति भायी है आज, बाजी जात बुन्देल की रक्खो, बाजी लाज"
( ...We the 'Bundelas', are in the same terrible condition of the Gajraj ( King Elephant ), when his foot was caught by a crocodile, as he was drinking water in a river… So, oh brave Baji, do come and please help us to protect our honor.. )
Responding to his call, Bajirao went to Bundelkhand and defeated Bangash in battle of Jaitpur. When Bangash retreated, Chhatrasal happy by the deeds of Bajirao, declared him as his third son and awarded one third part of his kingdom to him.
Gujrat Maratha senapati Khanderao Dabhade was officially given charge for Gujarat by Chhattrapati Shahu himself, after the former had defeated and subdued the mughal military officers in that state. After the death of Khanderao in 27 Sep 1729 his son Trimbakrao Dabhade was made senapati.
In Gujarat there was another player in the form of Hamid Khan who was a protégé of Nizam ul Mulk. When the mughal emperor despatched Sarbulund Khan in July 1724, to get control of Gujrat which was engulfed in rivalry between mughal nobility, Hamid Khan entered into an understanding with Bande to prevent the imperial interference. He gave him the right to collect chauth towards the north of river Mahi.
Bajirao then asked (through his representative Udaji Pawar) Sarbulund Khan to grant him the chauth rights of Gujarat but was spurned. Hence, Bajirao despatched his brother Chimaji Appa to Gujrat who looted the towns of Petlad and Dholka. Sarbulund Khan was unable to simultaneously tackle Bande as well as the Peshwa's armies, he was overpowered and defeated by the Marathas and was forced to sign an agreement with the Peshwa in 1730 whereby the Peshwa was given the right to collect chauth and sardeshmukhi for Gujarat region (seaport of Surat was excluded from this agreement).
All this did not sit very well with the Mughal court and they replaced Sarbulund Khan with Abhay singh, son of Ajit singh of Jodhpur. But Abhay Singh was powerless to face and or defeat the Marathas and he too reconciled with the idea that the Peshwa was the only person who could rein in the free- booters in Gujarat and compromised and struck a deal with him.
Meanwhile, the treaty between the Mughals and the Peshwa was not acceptable to the Maratha Senapati Trimbakrao Dabhade, who considered the Gujrat affairs his hereditary right . He was already had ego clashes with the Peshwa, who he was not entirely comfortable accepting as a second supreme authority after the king. Note, the Peshwa on his part was also encouraging new blood like Holkar-Shinde-Pawar and starting on war campaigns without consultations with the sarsenapati.Now this Gujarat issue only aggravated matters further.
Sarsenapati Trimbakrao Dabhade then accused Peshwa Bajirao II of breaching the contract made between the Dabhade family and Chatrapati Shahu.Finding the king not very supportive, and evasive in the matter, he decided to take on Bajirao directly. In a skirmish that followed at Dabhoi in April 1731, Trimbakrao Dabhade was killed (Pilaji Gaekwads son Sambhaji also died in that battle). Also captured were rebels like Udaji Pawar (he had fallen out with Bajirao) and Chimnaji Damodar who were fighting on Dabhade's side.
Shivaji's famous letter to Aurangzeb in Protest of 'jaziya' a religious tax
Below is the Letter which Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj wrote to Aurangzeb
To the Emperor Alamgir –
“This firm and constant well-wisher Shivaji, after rendering thanks for the grace of God and the favours of the Emperor, - which are clearer than the Sun, -begs you to inform your Majesty that, although this well-wisher was led by his adverse Fate to come away from your august Presence without taking leave, yet he is ever ready to perform, to the fullest extent possible and proper, everything that duty as a servant and gratitude demand of him….“It has recently come to my ears that, on the ground of the war with me having exhausted your wealth and emptied your treasury, your Majesty has ordered that money under the name of jaziya should be collected from the Hindus and imperial needs supplied with it. May it please your Majesty! That architect of the fabric of empire, [Jalal-ud-din] Akbar Padishah, reigned with full power for 52[lunar] years. He adopted the admirable policy of universal harmony (sulh-i-kul) in relation to all the various sects, such as Christians, Jews, Muslims, Dadu’s followers, sky-worshippers (falakia), malakia, heathens (ansaria), atheists (daharia), Brahmans and Jain priests. The aim of his liberal heart was to cherish and protect all the people. So, he became famous under the title of Jagat Guru, ‘the World’s spiritual guide.’
“Next, the Emperor Nur-ud-din Jahangir for 22 years spread his gracious shade on the head of the world and its dwellers, gave his heart to his friends and hi hand to his work, and gained his desires. The Emperor Shah Jahan for 32 years cast his blessed shadow on the head of the world and gathered the fruit of eternal life, - which is only a synonym for goodness and fair fame, - as the result of his happy time on earth. (Verses)
He who lives with a good name gains everlasting wealth, because after his death, the recital of his good deeds keeps his name alive.
“Through the auspicious effect of this sublime disposition, wherever he [Akbar] bent the glance of hi august wish, Victory and Success advanced to welcome him on the way. In his reign many kingdoms and forts were conquered [by him]. The state and powers of these Emperors can be easily understood from the fact that Alamgir Padishah has failed and become distracted in the attempt to merely follow their political system. They, too, had the power of levying the jaziya; but they did not give place to bigotry in their hearts, as they considered all men, high and low, created by God to be [living] examples of the diverse creeds and temperaments. Their kindness and benevolence endure on the pages of Time as their memorial, and so prayer and praise for these (three) pure souls will dwell for ever in the hearts and tongues of mankind, among great and small. Prosperity is the fruit of one’s intentions. Therefore, their wealth and good fortune continued to increase, as God’s creatures reposed in the cradle of peace and safety [under their rule], and their undertakings succeeded.
“But in your Majesty’s reign, many of the forts and provinces have gone out of your possession, and the rest will soon do so too, because there will be no slackness on my part in ruining and devastating them. Your peasants are down-trodden; the yield of every village has declined, -in the place of one lakh [of Rupees] only one thousand, and in the place of a thousand only ten are collected and that too with difficulty. When Poverty and Beggary have made their homes in the palaces of the Emperor and the Princes, the conditions of the grandees and officers can easily be imagined. It is a reign in which the army is in a ferment, the merchants complain, the Muslims cry, the Hindus are grilled, most men lack bread at night and in the day inflame their own cheeks by slapping them [in anguish]. How can the royal spirit permit you to add the hardship of jaziya to this grievous state of things? The infamy will quickly spread from west to east and become recorded in books and history that the Emperor of Hindusthan, coveting the beggars’ bowls, takes jaziya from Brahmans and Jain monks, yogis, sannyasis, bairagis, paupers, mendicants, ruined wretches, and the famine-stricken, - that his valour is shown by attacks on the wallets of beggars, - that he dashes down to the ground the name and honour of the Timurids!
“May if please your Majesty! If you believe in the true Divine Book and Word of God (i.e., the Quran), you will find there [that God is styled] Rabb-ul-alamin, the Lord of all men and not Rabb-ul-musalmin, the Lord of the Muhammadans only. Verily, Islam and Hindusim are terms of contrast. They are [diverse pilgrims] used by the true Divine Painter for blending the colours and filling the outlines [of His picture of the entire human species]. If it be a mosque, the call of the prayer is chanted in remembrance of Him. If it be a temple, the bell is rung in yearning for Him only. To show bigotry for any man’s creed and practices is equivalent to altering the words of the Holy Book. To draw new lines on a picture is equivalent to finding fault with the painter….“In strict justice the jaziya is not at all lawful. From the political point of view it can be allowable only if a beautiful woman wearing gold ornaments can pass from one province to another without fear of molestation. [But] in these days even the cities are being plundered, what shall I say of the open country? Apart from its injustice, this imposition of the jaziya is an innovation in India and inexpedient.
“If you imagine piety to consist in oppressing the people and terrorizing the Hindus, you ought first to levy the jaziya from Rana Raj Singh, who is the head of the Hindus. Then it will not be so very difficult to collect it from me, as I am at your service. But to oppress ants and flies is far from displaying your valour and spirit.
‘I wonder at the strange fidelity of your officers that they neglect to tell you of the true state of things, but cover a blazing fire with straw! May the Sun on your royalty continue to shine above the horizon of greatness!”
“This firm and constant well-wisher Shivaji, after rendering thanks for the grace of God and the favours of the Emperor, - which are clearer than the Sun, -begs you to inform your Majesty that, although this well-wisher was led by his adverse Fate to come away from your august Presence without taking leave, yet he is ever ready to perform, to the fullest extent possible and proper, everything that duty as a servant and gratitude demand of him….“It has recently come to my ears that, on the ground of the war with me having exhausted your wealth and emptied your treasury, your Majesty has ordered that money under the name of jaziya should be collected from the Hindus and imperial needs supplied with it. May it please your Majesty! That architect of the fabric of empire, [Jalal-ud-din] Akbar Padishah, reigned with full power for 52[lunar] years. He adopted the admirable policy of universal harmony (sulh-i-kul) in relation to all the various sects, such as Christians, Jews, Muslims, Dadu’s followers, sky-worshippers (falakia), malakia, heathens (ansaria), atheists (daharia), Brahmans and Jain priests. The aim of his liberal heart was to cherish and protect all the people. So, he became famous under the title of Jagat Guru, ‘the World’s spiritual guide.’
“Next, the Emperor Nur-ud-din Jahangir for 22 years spread his gracious shade on the head of the world and its dwellers, gave his heart to his friends and hi hand to his work, and gained his desires. The Emperor Shah Jahan for 32 years cast his blessed shadow on the head of the world and gathered the fruit of eternal life, - which is only a synonym for goodness and fair fame, - as the result of his happy time on earth. (Verses)
He who lives with a good name gains everlasting wealth, because after his death, the recital of his good deeds keeps his name alive.
“Through the auspicious effect of this sublime disposition, wherever he [Akbar] bent the glance of hi august wish, Victory and Success advanced to welcome him on the way. In his reign many kingdoms and forts were conquered [by him]. The state and powers of these Emperors can be easily understood from the fact that Alamgir Padishah has failed and become distracted in the attempt to merely follow their political system. They, too, had the power of levying the jaziya; but they did not give place to bigotry in their hearts, as they considered all men, high and low, created by God to be [living] examples of the diverse creeds and temperaments. Their kindness and benevolence endure on the pages of Time as their memorial, and so prayer and praise for these (three) pure souls will dwell for ever in the hearts and tongues of mankind, among great and small. Prosperity is the fruit of one’s intentions. Therefore, their wealth and good fortune continued to increase, as God’s creatures reposed in the cradle of peace and safety [under their rule], and their undertakings succeeded.
“But in your Majesty’s reign, many of the forts and provinces have gone out of your possession, and the rest will soon do so too, because there will be no slackness on my part in ruining and devastating them. Your peasants are down-trodden; the yield of every village has declined, -in the place of one lakh [of Rupees] only one thousand, and in the place of a thousand only ten are collected and that too with difficulty. When Poverty and Beggary have made their homes in the palaces of the Emperor and the Princes, the conditions of the grandees and officers can easily be imagined. It is a reign in which the army is in a ferment, the merchants complain, the Muslims cry, the Hindus are grilled, most men lack bread at night and in the day inflame their own cheeks by slapping them [in anguish]. How can the royal spirit permit you to add the hardship of jaziya to this grievous state of things? The infamy will quickly spread from west to east and become recorded in books and history that the Emperor of Hindusthan, coveting the beggars’ bowls, takes jaziya from Brahmans and Jain monks, yogis, sannyasis, bairagis, paupers, mendicants, ruined wretches, and the famine-stricken, - that his valour is shown by attacks on the wallets of beggars, - that he dashes down to the ground the name and honour of the Timurids!
“May if please your Majesty! If you believe in the true Divine Book and Word of God (i.e., the Quran), you will find there [that God is styled] Rabb-ul-alamin, the Lord of all men and not Rabb-ul-musalmin, the Lord of the Muhammadans only. Verily, Islam and Hindusim are terms of contrast. They are [diverse pilgrims] used by the true Divine Painter for blending the colours and filling the outlines [of His picture of the entire human species]. If it be a mosque, the call of the prayer is chanted in remembrance of Him. If it be a temple, the bell is rung in yearning for Him only. To show bigotry for any man’s creed and practices is equivalent to altering the words of the Holy Book. To draw new lines on a picture is equivalent to finding fault with the painter….“In strict justice the jaziya is not at all lawful. From the political point of view it can be allowable only if a beautiful woman wearing gold ornaments can pass from one province to another without fear of molestation. [But] in these days even the cities are being plundered, what shall I say of the open country? Apart from its injustice, this imposition of the jaziya is an innovation in India and inexpedient.
“If you imagine piety to consist in oppressing the people and terrorizing the Hindus, you ought first to levy the jaziya from Rana Raj Singh, who is the head of the Hindus. Then it will not be so very difficult to collect it from me, as I am at your service. But to oppress ants and flies is far from displaying your valour and spirit.
‘I wonder at the strange fidelity of your officers that they neglect to tell you of the true state of things, but cover a blazing fire with straw! May the Sun on your royalty continue to shine above the horizon of greatness!”
September 12, 2014
October 22, 2013
Third Battle of Panipat by Abhas Verma
The book can be bought in Mumbai : Address: Room no 108 ,Building no -13,MMRDA COLONY Poonam nagar ,opp PMGP colony Andheri (E), Mumbai.Contact person: Gaurav Verma: 08450940279The book can be bought in Indore :Address: RAMANAND KUMAR DEEPAK. TECH-SYNERGY PVT LTD. M 1 -5 RUKMANI PLAZA. 14 NEW PALASIA. A.B. ROAD INDORE452001Contact person: Deepak : 07879963783The book can be bought in Nasik (Maharastra) : Contact person:Ashutosh Shrivastava: 09822189995The book can be bought in Bangalore:Contact person:Ujjawal Deo: 09448252392 Abhas Verma : 8747029805 Price: Rs.190 + COD(or one can pick it up from the location)The book can also be bought online from:Flipkart : http://www.flipkart.com/third-battle-panipat/p/itmdn4qt3hmtdqgb?affid=abhasabvgmBookAdda: http://www.bookadda.com/books/third-battle-panipat-abhas-verma-8180903397-9788180903397 Amazon : http://www.amazon.in/Third-Battle-Panipat-Abhas-Verma/dp/8180903397/ref=tmm_pap_title_0 E-Bay: http://www.ebay.in/itm/Third-Battle-of-Panipat-by-Abhas-Verma-/261302170106Facebook page of this book: https://www.facebook.com/battleofpanipat
October 6, 2013
My book on Third Battle of Panipat
The book Third Battle of Panipat is an authentic account of the battle fought between the Marathas and the allied armies of principle Muslim chiefs of India and Afghan Invader Ahmad Shah Abdali. The book describes the various events that led to the clash of arms between the two races who hardly had any contact 3-4 years before the battle.
The book gives the detailed description of the armed strength of the two armies, the diplomatic moves made by the two parties, the political scenario and the various causes that led to the defeat .Various reasons have been proposed by various historians from time to time as to what led to the loss at Panipat and what actually the Marathas lost in Panipat. All these points have been studied upon and presented in a lucid manner in this book.
The book also describes the actual battle fought on 14th January, 1761 as seen by various eye witnesses: one being Kashi raj. The description of eyewitnesses of both sides have been taken into account to make an unbiased report.
Front Cover of the book
Details of the book:
Book: Third Battle of Panipat Binding: Paperback Publishing Date: 2013 Publisher: Bharatiya Kala Prakashan Number of Pages: 350 Language: English
The book gives the detailed description of the armed strength of the two armies, the diplomatic moves made by the two parties, the political scenario and the various causes that led to the defeat .Various reasons have been proposed by various historians from time to time as to what led to the loss at Panipat and what actually the Marathas lost in Panipat. All these points have been studied upon and presented in a lucid manner in this book.
The book also describes the actual battle fought on 14th January, 1761 as seen by various eye witnesses: one being Kashi raj. The description of eyewitnesses of both sides have been taken into account to make an unbiased report.
Front Cover of the book
Details of the book:
Book: Third Battle of Panipat Binding: Paperback Publishing Date: 2013 Publisher: Bharatiya Kala Prakashan Number of Pages: 350 Language: English
July 12, 2013
Jankoji Sindhia : Young Son of the Loyal Family
Jankoji Sindhia was the son of Jayappa Sindhia. After the assassination of Jayappa Sindhia on 25th July, 1755 Jankoji was proclaimed as the new chief the legal successor of Jayapa and all official letters were issued in his name and under his seal .Jankoji accompanied his uncle Dattaji in all the wars in Rajputana , Malwa and Deccan but his role was limited as a nominal head of the Sindhia army and all matters of importance were carried out by his Uncle . Even in the battle of Thaneshar (24th December 1759) Jankoji was given a position in the rear and in Burari Ghat (10th January 1760) .Jankoji was forbidden to participate in the skirmish . Jankoji too joined the action in Barari Ghat but received a bullet through the fleshy part of his upper arm and was dragged out of the field by his followers . Soon after it was known that Dattaji was martyred and it was at once decide to proceed towards south-west in the direction of Rewadi were his camp followers were sent with Ruparam Kothari and Ramaji Anant Dabholkar, the Sindhia's Diwan. The Durranis pursued Janakoji for twenty-five miles and then returned . It was impossible for Janakoji to ride a horse with his aching wound which had become worse by the first day's headlong flight. As the whole baggage had been looted by the pursuers or left behind as heavy, there was no palanquin with carriers in the whole army. A charpai was taken as a substitute and Janakoji was carried on it by the soldiers themselves acting as carriers, leaving their horses in the charge of others. After covering thirty miles in this manner, with great trouble Janakoji reached his camp with the remnants of his broken army after midnight that day. Where he found Bhagirathibai, the second wife of Dattaji and Kashibai his own wife together they marched in south west direction .After four days of continuous trouble, the fore-runners of the army came into touch with the advance party of the Holkar's contingent and stopped there. On the 15th January, 1760, Malharrao came and joined the party to the north of Kotputli. Here at Kotputli the funeral ceremonies of Dattaji were performed, and the party moved back to Sabalgad on the Chambal where in February Dattaji's wife Bhagirathibai gave birth to a son. Malharrao Holkar comforted them all as an elderly guardian. They then began measures for recovering their lost position and driving away the invader by employing guerilla tactics forgetting all their personal grudges . Malharrao took the command of the operating force, and began his advance on 24th January. Jankoji was positioned in the rear . He levied a contribution of Rs. 10,000 from Kanaud and hovered, in the Mewat district, watching for opportunities. Marathas then descended upon the rich town of Sikandrabad(1st March). Abddali sent Jahan Khan and Najib Khan with 35,000 troops unencumbered with any artillery or camp equipage to attack Marathas near Sikandrabad. Surajmal Jat who in this guerilla war was helping the Marathas, came to know of this sudden move of Abdali , sent information of the same to Gangadhar Chandrachud, the Diwan of Malharrao to warn him in time. The Sindhia contingent under Janakoji as well as Malharrao Holkar had fallen back towards Mathura and Agra after crossing the Jamuna. Rupram, the Jat envoy, accompanied them. Jahan Khan, after a forced marches surprised Malharrao's vanguard, under Gangadhar Chandrachud , eight miles in front of Malhar's camp, at the dawn of 4th March. Marathas were surprised, caught unprepared and massacred with heavy slaughter by Jahan Khan .
When Sadashivrao came to North Malharrao and Jankoji met Bhausaheb on 22nd June 1760 near Dholpur .Compared to other Sardars of this allied army , Jankoji commanded the largest contingent of 10,000 horsemen . After conquering Delhi , Jankoji visited the fort, and sitting down in the Octagonal Tower called for the sons of the ex-Emperor Ahmad Shah and held a whispered conversation with them, giving them robes of honour and jewelled crests. After Delhi Jankoji accompanied the Maratha army to Kunjpura and participated in the battle . Here after the victory the whole Sindhia army celebrated the execution of Qutub Shah , the slayer of Dattaji Sindhia. Among the spoils of the capture was Javahargaj, the favourite elephant of Jankoji Sindia, which had been taken in the battle at Burari Ghat . Along with the main army Jankoji too remained at the siege at Panipat .On 22nd November a lunar eclipse was to take place and so the Marathas remained within their trenches . Shah Wali , Abdali’s wazir on seeing the Marathas not coming out of their camps came near to the large well near Gaddiwara half a mile south-west of the shrine of Ghaus Ali Khan, immediately in front of the Maratha right wing where Jankoji’s army has encamped . In the evening about the time of sunset , the troops of Sindhia recognized him and made a assault on Shah Wali , many of his men were killed and it seemed as if he would not escape but soon reinforcements came up from the rear and succoured him .Marathas chased him up to the Afghan trenches . Four hundred men of Wazir Shah Wali were killed and around eight hundred wounded and the Martha casualties were one hundred and sixty. The Marathas captured over a hundred horses.
In the finale battle on 14th January, 1760 Jankoji with around 7,000 troops was positioned right of Shamsher Bahadur and was opposed to Najib Khan . As Sadashivrao has clearly ordered his men not to break the marching square Jankoji’s troops remained in their position and did not ventured out to attack Najib Khan . The distance between Najib Khan’s front and the Sindhia line was more than three miles. Najib turned all his troops into infantry, dismounting even his cavalry from their horses. Then with his 15,000 soldiers he slowly advanced on foot . The prudent Najib had masked his advance by a series of breastworks of sand with the help of diggers in his army, which afforded a shelter to the stooping infantry and prepared trenches where the Rohilla infantry advanced and crouched down. Najib had a vast quantity of rockets with him. He fired a volley of 2,000 rockets all at once from his advanced trenches. As a result Jankoji stayed there at his position somewhere near west of the village Ugarkhedi and south of the town of Panipat and did not advanced further .
[image error] When the news spread around that Viswasrao has been shot dead and Shah Pasand vacated his position at the Imperial road from Panipat to Delhi . Half of the troops of Sindhia contingent and troops of Malharrrao left the battlefield . Jankoji and his uncle Tukoji on seeing the thinning crowd at the Maratha centre rushed to help Bhausaheb . Jankoji fought with the Afghans who had penetrated into Maratha centre but was taken as prisoner by Barkhurdar Khan secretly . Kashiraj met Jankoji secretly in a tent of Barkhurdar Khan , he was wounded with a ball and with a spear in the arm .Kahiraj was told by Moti Lal, the Diwan of Barkhrdar khan that Jankoji would be released if a ransom of seven lakhs would be paid . Unfortunately these dealings became known to Najib Khan who instigated Wazir Shah Wali to take this matter upto Abdali . Abdali then ordered his nasaqchis to search for Jankoji , Barkhurdar fearing some harmful consequences ordered his men to murder Jankoji and bury him privately . Later on few imposters of Jankoji claimed them self as the Sindhia chief but their all claims were proved wrong .
When Sadashivrao came to North Malharrao and Jankoji met Bhausaheb on 22nd June 1760 near Dholpur .Compared to other Sardars of this allied army , Jankoji commanded the largest contingent of 10,000 horsemen . After conquering Delhi , Jankoji visited the fort, and sitting down in the Octagonal Tower called for the sons of the ex-Emperor Ahmad Shah and held a whispered conversation with them, giving them robes of honour and jewelled crests. After Delhi Jankoji accompanied the Maratha army to Kunjpura and participated in the battle . Here after the victory the whole Sindhia army celebrated the execution of Qutub Shah , the slayer of Dattaji Sindhia. Among the spoils of the capture was Javahargaj, the favourite elephant of Jankoji Sindia, which had been taken in the battle at Burari Ghat . Along with the main army Jankoji too remained at the siege at Panipat .On 22nd November a lunar eclipse was to take place and so the Marathas remained within their trenches . Shah Wali , Abdali’s wazir on seeing the Marathas not coming out of their camps came near to the large well near Gaddiwara half a mile south-west of the shrine of Ghaus Ali Khan, immediately in front of the Maratha right wing where Jankoji’s army has encamped . In the evening about the time of sunset , the troops of Sindhia recognized him and made a assault on Shah Wali , many of his men were killed and it seemed as if he would not escape but soon reinforcements came up from the rear and succoured him .Marathas chased him up to the Afghan trenches . Four hundred men of Wazir Shah Wali were killed and around eight hundred wounded and the Martha casualties were one hundred and sixty. The Marathas captured over a hundred horses.
In the finale battle on 14th January, 1760 Jankoji with around 7,000 troops was positioned right of Shamsher Bahadur and was opposed to Najib Khan . As Sadashivrao has clearly ordered his men not to break the marching square Jankoji’s troops remained in their position and did not ventured out to attack Najib Khan . The distance between Najib Khan’s front and the Sindhia line was more than three miles. Najib turned all his troops into infantry, dismounting even his cavalry from their horses. Then with his 15,000 soldiers he slowly advanced on foot . The prudent Najib had masked his advance by a series of breastworks of sand with the help of diggers in his army, which afforded a shelter to the stooping infantry and prepared trenches where the Rohilla infantry advanced and crouched down. Najib had a vast quantity of rockets with him. He fired a volley of 2,000 rockets all at once from his advanced trenches. As a result Jankoji stayed there at his position somewhere near west of the village Ugarkhedi and south of the town of Panipat and did not advanced further .
[image error] When the news spread around that Viswasrao has been shot dead and Shah Pasand vacated his position at the Imperial road from Panipat to Delhi . Half of the troops of Sindhia contingent and troops of Malharrrao left the battlefield . Jankoji and his uncle Tukoji on seeing the thinning crowd at the Maratha centre rushed to help Bhausaheb . Jankoji fought with the Afghans who had penetrated into Maratha centre but was taken as prisoner by Barkhurdar Khan secretly . Kashiraj met Jankoji secretly in a tent of Barkhurdar Khan , he was wounded with a ball and with a spear in the arm .Kahiraj was told by Moti Lal, the Diwan of Barkhrdar khan that Jankoji would be released if a ransom of seven lakhs would be paid . Unfortunately these dealings became known to Najib Khan who instigated Wazir Shah Wali to take this matter upto Abdali . Abdali then ordered his nasaqchis to search for Jankoji , Barkhurdar fearing some harmful consequences ordered his men to murder Jankoji and bury him privately . Later on few imposters of Jankoji claimed them self as the Sindhia chief but their all claims were proved wrong .
August 22, 2012
Dattaji Shindia : The best general of Peshwa Balajirao
Dattaji Sindhia was the second son of Ranoji Sindhia and Minabai alias Nimbabai . Minabai gave birth to three sons of Ranoji , Jayappa, Dattaji, Tukoji .Jayappa was the eldest among the three and Tukoji, the youngest .Dattaji Sindhia distinguished himself in the campaign of the Doab(Safdarjung-Pathan war) of 1751 for the first time .Dattaji was a first-rate soldier in courage and enterprise, though lacking in sagacity and diplomatic tact. Peshwa aptly characterized Dattaji in a letter of 30 Aug. 1755, "Dattaba's nature is that of a [mere ] soldier; hence he presses violently on at the wrong time and place." Dattaji was the ablest general in those times .He was young , daring and a loyal soldier of Peshwa . This is evident from Raghunathrao’s letter to Peshwa dated 16th February 1757 “Abdali is strong it requires very great resources to chastise him. Send Dattaji Sindhia quickly to me from the Deccan” .After the assassination of Jayappa Sindhia on 25th July, 1755 in Nagore during the Marwar campaign Dattaji became the head of the Sindhia family and guardian of young Jankoji , the son of Jayappa . Jankoji was proclaimed as the new chief and the legal successor of Jayapa and all official letters were issued in his name and under his seal, and the writers of the time used the word Jankoji where Dattaji was the person really concerned. After this unfortunate assassination ,Dattaji and Jankoji rose to the occasion and conducted the war all the more vigorously, having received speedy reinforcements from the various Maratha captains who were on duty at different places. Antaji Mankeshwar immediately started from Bundlekhand and successfully prevented Madho Singh of Jaipur and other Rajput parties from reaching Nagore for Bijay Singh's succour . Bijay Singh was soon brought to his knees mainly by the Sindhian arms, although he tried to organize a formidable coalition of northern powers, including the Emperor, his Wazir, Najib-ud-daula, the Rohilla, Pathans and others, in order to put down the Marathas . By the end of the year Bijay Singh's position became so untenable that submission to Sindia's mercy was his only way of escape. He paid Dattaji a personal visit in January 1756 and agreed to the terms that were imposed. Bijay Singh agreed to pay a fine of 50 lacs, ceded Ajmer and Jalore, and gave his cousin Ram Singh a half share of his kingdom. Dattaji kept possession of Ajmer and had it strongly garrisoned for defence.[The provinces of Agra and Ajmer were handed over to Peshwa by the Mughals in 1752] . He gave away Jalore to Ram Singh . After ending this Marwar campaign Dattaji returned (June-1756) to his own fief of Ujjain and then proceeded to Pune . Here in Pune Dattaji and Jankoji Sindhia trained Viswasrao , the eldest son of Peshwa and participated in the Sindakhed campaign of 1757 against the Nizams . After Raghunathrao and Malharrao extended Maratha rule to Lahore , Peshwa dispatched his most daring soldier to carry on the further affairs of North Hindustan after settling the affairs with Nizam .Dattaji married Bhagirathibai in March 1758 and left Pune in May .Dattaji reached Delhi towards the end of 1758 . The Sindhia chief was assigned the duty of 1.) reducing the burdens of Maratha treasury 2.) Settling the affairs of Delhi 3.) Managing the Maratha control over Panjab 4.) to Crush Najib Khan , 5.)to take Benares, Ayodhya and Allahabad from Shuja-ud-daula 6.)to lead an expedition into Bihar and Bengal , and occupy Patna immediately .Dattaji somehow managed the affairs of Delhi and entrusted the management of Punjab into the hands of Sabaji Sindhia( a Sindhian kinsman) . Dattaji then turned eastwards to take on Najib Khan and then lead the campaign in Bihar and Bengal . But Dattaji somehow fell into the trap of Najib Khan and he tried to utilise the services of this treacherous Rohilla chief Najib Khan for crossing the Ganges and proceeding further to Bihar. Dattaji waited for the construction of the bridge and spent his time for performing his religious ceremonies and holy dip in the Ganges at Garhmukteshwar . Towards the end of June the monsoon arrived, the river rose in floods and Najib Khan urged that the operations of the bridge could not be pushed on. Dattaji saw through Najib's game clearly and began counter measures to defeat it. Najib Khan had taken shelter in Shukartal , Dattaji continued the siege of Shukartal till 15th December 1759 . Dattaji could not continue his enterprise because he received more alarming news from the west about the fifth invasion of Abdali . Sabaji Sindhia escaped from Punjab to join the Sindhian camp at Shukartal. Dattaji decided to prevent Abdali from reaching Delhi and he turned towards Karnal on 24thDecember a battle was fought between the Sindhian army and the Afghans at Taraori (south-east of Thaneshwar) . Where Dattaji received a setback and the Afghan army crossed the river Jamuna and entered the Doab . Soon after Abdali crossed the river Najib came out of his hiding place to join his Patron .Dattaji quickly rushed to Delhi and encamped in the vicinity of Majnu's hillock, two miles to the north of Delhi and posted his men to guard the fords along the river Jamuna. Meanwhile Hafiz Rahmat Khan, Dundi Khan, Mulla Sardar, Sadullah Khan and other Rohillas chieftains of Rohilkhand joined Abdali.In the morning of 10th January 1760 , the Rohillas of Najib Khan attempt a crossing at Barari-ghat . Sabaji Sindhia who was guarding the ghat resisted the enemies with his few men, after reporting the attack. Dattaji rushed from his camp on a horse to prevent this intrusion darting his spear at the enemies . But the Rohilla snipers hidden in the bushes were waiting for this opportunity , they shot down Dattaji with a bullet shot. The Bhaubakhar describes his death as when Dattaji fell off his horse with a bullet wound and was lying there on the battle field . Raghoba Pagnis said to Rajaram Chopdar, “ Do you go up to Qutubshah and say to him that Dattaji Shinde lies wounded on the field and that he should take him off the field.”Rajaram Chopdar saw Qutb Shah on his elephant and having known him for long, saluted him said in the Muslim tongue, "Saheb, our Patil has fallen, please save him." Qutb Shah asked him to take him there. Upon reaching Dattaji he asked him, “Will you fight us again”. To Which he replied bravely “Bachenge to aur bhi ladenge .” Enraged, Qutb Shah unsheathed his sword, kicked Dattaji over, and beheaded him, despite Rajaram's pleas . Dattaji’s body was cremated by Rajaram Chopdar.
August 20, 2012
Viswasrao : आमचा विश्वास पानीपतात गेला
Viswasrao was the eldest son of Peshwa Balajirao from his first wife Gopikabai on 2nd March 1742. Viswasrao had inherited the looks of his grandfather Bajirao and had even exceeded his charm .G. S. Sardesai writes that there was no one more handsome in Peshwa’s family than Viswasrao . Raghunath Yadav author of one of the Panipat Bakhar had stated “पुरुषांत देखणा विस्वासराव व बाईकान्त देखणी मस्तानी” . On 2nd May , 1750 Viswasrao married Lakshmibai, the daughter of Sadashiv Hari Dikshit Patwardhan, a leading banker in Poona town. Viswasrao was trained by Dattaji and Jankoji Sindia and he undertook his first military campaign against the Nizams in the Sindakhed Campaign(1757). Peshwa gave the command of the impending campaign to his eldest son Vishvasrao, then only fifteen years old , in order to afford him experience for his future position in the State. Damaji Gaikwad and other chiefs joined the army in due course. The Maratha forces under Viswasrao left Poona on 27 August in the direction of Aurangabad, the Peshwa and Sadashivrao halted on the Godavari to watch the operations beyond. Aurangabad was the main objective for the Marathas to reduce and for the Nizam to defend. Hostilities began in November. Nizam Ali was put in charge of the campaign by Salabat Jang. As the Marathas were marching upon Aurangabad, they received news that Ramchandra Jadhav a powerful Maratha commander in the Nizam's service was coming rapidly from Bhalki to remove the threat to the capital. In order to prevent Jadhav attacking the Peshwa's army before Aurangabad, Dattaji learning that Ramchandra Jadhav was at Sindkhed quickly moved upon that place and at once invested it. These surprisingly quick movements were most effective. The small rampart of Sindkhed was not likely to hold out long. Nizam Ali with Ibrahim Khan Gardi at once marched from Aurangabad to Sindkhed, in the wake of Dattaji's men to relieve the pressure upon Jadhav, which increased every moment when swarming Marathas quickly gathered from various , directions. A fierce struggle between the two opponents raged for nearly a month round that small place. Nizam Ali and, Ibrahim Khan effected a junction with Jadhav and tried to break out all in a body through the Maratha cordon on 12th December under the shelter of their powerful artillery. A fierce battle was fought continuously for four days at the gate of Sindkhed, when Nagoji Mane a supporter of Jadhav was killed along with many of his followers. On 16th December darkness set in towards evening and the combatants parted. Victory remained with the Marathas. The next few days decided the fate of the campaign. Hordes of Maratha cavalry came sweeping upon the Nizam's forces. On 17th December Nizam Ali acknowledging defeat sent Vithal Sundar to the Maratha camp begging for terms. Peace was concluded by the Nizam ceding to the Peshwa territory worth 25 lakhs along with fort Naldurg. Ceremonial visits by the two principals at Sakharkhedla ratified and confirmed the treaty on 29th December 1757.Two years later on 9th November 1759 Kavi Jang, the keeper of Ahmadnagar surrendered the place to the Peshwa on receiving a handsome reward in money and jagir. This led at once to a fresh outbreak of hostilities between the two neighbours. Peshwa entered it with due pomp on 29th November . Sadshivrao , Raghunathrao , Viswasrao and most of other chief Maratha Sardars too assembled in Ahmadnagar. Nizam Ali's army in order to counter this military gain of Marathas moved first to Bedar and then to Dharur. Sadshivrao , Raghunathrao , Viswasrao moved South-east from Ahmadnagar .The Nizams sent their main army ahead to the fort of Dharur and stayed with their slow moving artillery .The Maratha armies quickly rushed in the direction of Bidar to prevent the Nizams from reaching Dharur . Battle began between Marathas and Nizams on 20th January near Udgir, about 50 miles northwest of Bidar. The Nizam army marched out from Udgir in a hollow square and slowly moved towards Ausa , skirmishing all along the way . Fifteen miles before they could reach the fort they were surrounded by the Marathas on all the sides .Marathas then fell upon their rear . On 3rd February ,1760 the Nizam army was completely routed at Ausa and Nizam Ali accepted his defeat and sued for peace. Viswasrao displayed great archery skills in this Battle .When Sadshivrao Bhau was appointed to lead the Panipat campaign , Viswasrao was appointed as the nominal head of the Maratha army . It has been stated in Marathi chronicles that Gopikabai ,the wife of Peshwa did not wanted Bhau to be promoted to higher offices as she feared that this may harm the prospects of her own family members . After the victory of Udgir , she became cautious about the rising fame of Bhau and when she came to know that Bhau was leading a large army in North . She insisted on sending Viswasrao along with Bhau to battle against Abdali as she did not wanted Bhau to take all the accolades after defeating Abdali and wanted Viswasrao to play a bigger role . By sending Viswasrao as a nominal head she also ensured a check over Bhausaheb as she feared that he might set up an independent principality of his own in North when enjoying supreme command there without a partner .Few Historians have expressed a view that the appointment of Viswasrao for the campaign had nothing to do with Gopikabai‘s opinion , it was entirely the Peshwa‘s own decision. So that Viswasrao could get the requisite experience in the north, while few others claim that Bhau asked for Viswasrao‘s presence as the Peshwa‘s son would provide some weight to Bhau's own authority.After the victory in Delhi a Darbar was held and Viswasrao was presented homage by Maratha sardars. False rumours spread around that Viswasrao was placed as the emperor and when Bhausaheb came to know about these facts he deposed the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan Sani and proclaimed Shah Alam as the emperor and appointed his son Jawan Bhakht as his regent . After the victory at Kunjpura a grand Durbar was held at which gold was presented to Viswas Rao on 19th October, coinciding with the occasion of the Vijaydashmi . In the finale battle of Panipat , Viswasrao led the troops of Huzarat and came down heavily on the Afghan centre under Shah Wali composed of 16,000 Durranis . The Maratha cavalry around 13,000 strong broke up the enemy's centre killing or wounding three thousand Afghans in Shah Wali‘s post . “The Marathas drank them up like the water of an ocean” .Shah Wali himself was left with hundred or two hundred horses and fifty zamburak camels and the remaining Durranis in the Afghan centre fled from the battle field .Unfortunately between 2 and 3 P.M. Viswasrao after receiving a sword cut in the neck and an arrow wound on his left eye-brow fell from his horse Dilpak with a bullet shot . Viswasrao‘s body was brought to Bhau who ordered it to be placed on his own riding elephant in the rear seat of which Bapuji M. Hingane was seated .To Vishvasrao Sadashivrao was deeply attached. Bhau himself had trained Viswasrao himself and had been his constant guardian and companion in the wars of South India .At the time of departure from Patdur the weeping mother of Viswasrao , Gopikabai was promised by Bhau about the safety of her son. The boy had returned his uncle's affection and seems to have loved him more deeply than even his own father. The kaifiyat reports a letter by Viswasrao to Peshwa “You will surely get other sons like me , but not other brothers like Bhausaheb” .Viswasrao’s body was later found dead on a elephant by Barkhurdar Khan’s men and his body was criminated by Kashiraj . There is a common pun in Maharastra आमचा विश्वास पानीपतात गेला which is definitely due to the loss of Viswasrao at Panipat.
Balwantrao Mehendele : The right Hand man of Bhausaheb
Balwantrao Mehendele was the right hand man of Sadashivrao Bhau . He was also a Chitpawan Brahaman and was the maternal uncle of Nana Phadnavis and his father's mother was the sister of Peshwa Balaji Vishwanath. He was also the brother of the first wife of Sadshivrao , Umabai. Balwantrao was married to Laxmibai who accompanied her husband in the Panipat campaign . She bore him a son who survived the disaster at Panipat and became famous by the name Appa Balwant. Balwantrao’s carrer was given a push by Peshwa Balajirao. He accompanied Peshwa and Sadashivrao in a number of expeditions in South India and stood by the side of Peshwa in all the wars against Tarabai and Damaji Gaikwad . In the Karnatak campaign of 1757 Peshwa returned in May after leaving Balawantrao as his deputy to finish the remaining work of the expedition .Nawab of Kadappa, which claimed the districts of Kolar, Hoskot and Balapur once forming the Jagir of Sahahji the father of Shivaji , was subjugated by the prowess of Balavantrao Mehendale. Abdul Majid Khan the Nawab of Kadappa was a man of valour and resources. In the fierce engagement fought between Sidhout and Kadappa on 24th September 1757, the Khan was killed along with four hundred of his men. The same night Kadappa was captured. Balwantrao then levied contributions from the Palegars round about Sira, Hoskote, Mulbagal and other places . He was ordered to capture Bednur and Chitradurg , but growing tension between the Marathas and Nizams which led to the battle of Sindakhed (December -1757) called him away northwards . After the Maratha victory at Sindakhed Balwantrao along with Gopalrao Patwardhan and Visaji Krishna Biniwale led a campaign in South India upto the seas on the eastern coast of India. In the battle of Udgir , Balwantrao played a very important role and acted as the deputy of Sadashivrao . It was he who used to lead the troops of Huzarat as the right hand man of Sadashivrao .When Sadashivrao was chosen to lead the Panipat campaign , Balwantrao accompanied him to North India. Like Sadshivrao this was also the first campaign of Balwantrao in North India.Almost all Marathi chronicles of Panipat campaign like Bhausahebanchi Bakhar and Bhausahebanchi Kaifiyat accuse Balwantrao of being arrogant, hot headed and abusive. He is said to be making fun of old Malharrao Holkar and Jankoji Sindhia on various occasions and has been portrayed as a villain in the Panipat Campaign . Infact Balwantrao was a man of sharp tongue and these accusations cannot be termed totally wrong . It was he who insisted on crossing river Chambal and proceeding to North India rejecting the advice of Malhararo . Balwantrao was dispatched from Mathura along with Imad-ul-Mulk and Surajmal Jat to capture Delhi .Balwantrao captured the city but failed to capture the Red Fort. It was actually the cannons of Ibrahim Khan which forced the Afghan keeper to deliver the fort. He accompanied Sadashivrao and Maratha army to Kunjpura and thence to Panipat .In the surprise attack of Jankoji Sindhia on 22nd November , Balwantrao failed to render timely support and was so criticised on this point . On 7th December 1760 the Rohillas led by Najib Khan’s brother Sultan Khan fell upon the Marathas. The assailants reached the very edge of the Maratha trenches . The Rohilla foot soldiers took advantage of intense darkness of that night and penetrated inside the trenches . The Gardi musketeers and Balwantrao with the Huzurat horses fell heavily on the Afghans and drove them back with great slaughter. Najib‘s uncle Khali-ul-Rehman was killed in the battle and over three thousand of the Rohilla infantry fell in the field and even among those that survived most were wounded very badly . Unhappily in the moment of victory a chance bullet struck Balwantrao Mehendale at around 7 PM at night, who was leading the charge . He fell down from his horse with a bullet in his chest while trying to stem the flight of his men by galloping up to the exposed front line during the first Afghan onrush. The Rohillas crowded upon the fallen General ; one slashed at his face ; another began to sever his head in order to carry it away in triumph. But half a dozen Maratha horsemen galloped up to the spot and rescued their chief's body from mutilation, though with the neck half cut through. The engagement ceased about three hours after nightfall. His body was saved from mutilation by Khanderao Nimbalkar. Sadashivrao felt deeply the loss of Balwantrao, who was his staunch supporter and advisor .After this incident the morale of the Maratha army deteriorated day by day and never again was any serious offensive attack carried out by the Marathas. The loss of this Brahman General was never compensated . Had Balwantrao lived till the battle of Panipat , he must have led the charge of the Huzarat instead of Viswasrao and the panic created after Viswasrao was shot must have had less effect . Balwantrao's widow Laxmibai committed sati and was burnt with her husband's body leaving behind a son of 14 years named Krishnarao under the care of Bhau The boy survived the disaster and was later famous by the name Appa Balwant .
July 27, 2012
My Article on Bhausaheb Sadashivrao published in Weekly Samarthan
My Article on Bhausaheb Sadashivrao published in Weekly Samarthan, a Martahi weekly newspaper on 2nd July , 2012.
