Was Panipat really the end of Marathas?

Over 250 years has passed since the fateful day of Jan 14, 1761. That day added a new phrase in Marathi language, "Iska to Panipat ho gaya (He's been defeated)." Hence, we can easily see that Third Battle of Panipat is considered by the historians as a terrible day in the Indian history. It was a terrible defeat in military terms. But I would like to discuss the effect of the battle at Panipat upon the Maratha Empire and hence, the course of Indian history.

                                                    Peshwa Bajirao, the unbeatable warrior

                                               

But was Panipat really the end of the Maratha Empire?

I have often felt that more was written and time spent on by historians and observers about one day, Panipat, rather than the glorious history of the Marathas right from the birth of Shivaji Maharaj in 1630 to the death of Nana Fadnavis in 1800. The wars for Hindavi Swaraj, beginning from the capture of Torana, Maratha war of Independence (1680-1707), conquests of the Peshwas Bajirao and Balaji Bajirao are completely forgotten. It is a really shameful fact that the names of Madhavrao Peshwa and Mahadji Scindia are virtually unknown to many students who learn the secular narrative which shows the Indian history as a series of military defeats and nothing else.

THE THIRD BATTLE OF PANIPAT

The wars are nothing new for the mankind. But, it is often said that the some battles change the course of the history of the entire mankind. But, I don’t consider Panipat (1761) one of them.

Prelude:-

Prior to 1761, the Marathas were expanding their empire across the country. They had reduced the entire south into vassalage, but Nizam remained a trouble-making one among them. Marathas had made themselves the masters of Delhi and the north-west, by making the Mughal emperor a puppet in their hands. Saffron flag was hoisted on the walls of Attock for the first time in the 800 years before and Maratha Empire was hence almost at its peak. Afghans were driven back into their homeland and the Marathas had liberated all of India from the foreign rulers like Turks, Mughals and Afghans.

                                       Shaniwarwada, the seat of the Peshwas till 1818.

It was then, the Pathans and Rohillas (the Muslims of Afghan descent in Mughal court), invited Ahmedshah Abdali again the save the Mughal Empire falling into hands of the Marathas. It was then, Maratha army locked horns with Abdali, the Sultan of Afghanistan. It was an irony that Marathas were unfortunately alone when they were fighting for the cause of India, so far from home. It was a so sad fact that the Rajput princes, whose ancestors were the most fierece protectors of Hindustan in the past were praying for the defeat of the Marathas. Only Indian power who tried to resist the Afghans were the Sikh misals, but their efforts were in vain.

The Rohillas and Pathans under Nazibkhan, joined Abdali. Meanwhile Sadasivarao Bhau, along with Viswasrao, the eldest son of Peshwa and many commanders including Malharao Holkar, Jankoji Shinde, Mahadji Scindia and Ibhrahim Khan Gardi marched along with his 50,000 strong Maratha army and captured Delhi on Aug 2, 1760. Maratha armies soon dashed north of Delhi and killed Qutub Shah, an Afghan general along with his 10,000+ soldiers in revenge of the killing of brave Maratha leader Dattaji Scindia. Bhau, then planned to march to the north, but Abdali blocked his way efficiently.

Both the Afghans and Marathas entrenched themselves in Panipat and a war was inevitable.

Maratha supply lines were cut off after Govindpant Bundela was killed in an encounter with the Pathans. He was sent by Bhau, to cut off the supplies of Abdali, but it failed with the death of this brave commander. The armies of Bhau were beginning to experience starvation. Being so far from their homeland, and surrounded by enemy population (the area was inhabited mainly by Afghani Muslim population like Rohillas and Pathans), meant that there was no other way left to the Marathas – to fight Abdali to finish. It should be also noted that it was a blunder on the part of the Marathas to allow pilgrims to accompany the army which slowed down the speed of movement of the army – a clear foolish idea considering the fact that Shivaji’s warefare was based on – ‘speed, flexibility and surprise.’

                                               Sadasivarao Bhau, the brave general at Panipat 

The Battle:-

The dawn of January 14, 1761 saw the Marathas deciding to fight the enemies of India, rather than to die by starvation. They were confident to crush Abdali. The battle was in favour of Marathas in the early phase as the Maratha artillery inflicted heavy casualities on the Afghans. It was at this juncture around mid-day that confusion occurred when the dismounted Maratha cavalry troopers left their position and masked the fire of guns. This proved fatal and Afghans regained their footing.

Just then, young Viswasrao was hit by bullet and Bhau dismounted the elephant and jumped into the fray. The Maratha soldiers, thinking they have lost their leaders became demoralized. In this juncture, Abdali played his trump card by unleashing his reserve force, of 12,000 cavalry, routing the Maratha army.

                                          Viswasrao, young martyr at Panipat

Aftermath:-

The Marathas were completely crushed, but their bravery took heavy toll on the Afghan army, forcing Abdali to head back to Afghanistan.

"The Marathas lost the battle but not without inflicting on their foe such severe wounds as to invalid him permanently to win the war"
                                            - Hindu Pad-Padashahi, by Veer Savarkar

For, as Major Evans Ball writes: 'Even the battle of Panipat was a triumph and a glory for the Marathas. They fought in the cause of India and Indians and though they were defeated, the victorious Afghans retired (had to) and never again interfered in the affairs of India.'

POST-PANIPAT

The loss was formidable for the Marathas. It should be noted that there was scarcely a home in Maharashtra that did not lose at least one member of its family at Panipat. One whole generation perished there. But how did the Marathas respond to this disaster.

Marathas were not at all defeated in their mind as pseudo-secular, leftist historians point out. They were itching to avenge Panipat. It must be noted that the Peshwa himself was crossing Narmada to fight Abdali when the news of defeat at Panipat reached him. But the untimely death of Peshwa was a greater loss to the Marathas than Panipat. In this juncture, a new hero arose – Peshwa Madhavrao, a youth of just 17.

                                     Madhavrao Peshwa, the pillar of Maratha Resurrection.  

Marathas avenge Panipat within 10 years

Marathas under the leadership of young, brave Peshwa, stepped out and humbled all its enemies including Haider Ali in Mysore and Nizam, levying tribute from them. After solving the issues in the south, Madhavrao sent Mahadji Scindia and Holkar to the north to avenge Panipat. The Marathas almost exterminated the Rohillas and Pathans. The grave of their arch-enemy, Nazibkhan was dug up and his bones shattered all over. Marathas re-entered Delhi. There was no one to contest their claim  in the capital of Shah Jahan and Aurangzeb. Once again all-India came under the authority of Marathas, and the saffron flag fluttered proudly from Punjab to Rameshwaram. It is a pure fact that even after Panipat, Marathas continued their struggle for Hindavi Swaraj and cause of the Indian nation and finally won the cause in 1771-72, heralding the end of foreign Turkic, Afghan, Mughal rule, completely subjugating them. Then how can we say that the Maratha power died at Panipat?

                                               Mahadji Scindia, the Great Maratha

The entry of British into the political scene

The British got an opening in Bengal through the battle of Plassy in 1757, but remained on the fringes of Indian political scene till the death of Madhavrao Peshwa in 1772. It was not the battle of Panipat, but the civil war after the death of Madhavrao and untimely death of the capable leaders were the reasons for the downfall of the Maratha empire. It is a clear fact that Marathas continued to be the sovereign power in Indian sub-continent till 1803 and later lost to the British in 1818.

Rise of Sikhs in Punjab

One power that benefited from the battle of Panipat was the Sikhs. Abdali was severely weakened by the losses sustained in Panipat. This presented an opportunity to the Sikhs to liberate Punjab. One more fact that must be noted is that Abdali was attacked by Sikhs during his return to Afghanistan. In battle of Govindwal, the Sikhs rescued many Maratha prisoners who were being carried off to Afghanistan as slaves. 

Marathas and Sikhs shared a cordial relation and it must also be noted that Sikh misals paid tribute to the Maratha rulers till the death of Mahadji.

CONCLUSION

Hence, I hope the readers will understand that Marathas rose from the ashes after Panipat and finally won the war that was fought against the foreign invaders from 8th to 18th century. We Indians must therefore leave aside the defeatist mentality and be proud of the glorious epochs of our history. We are not a race that kneeled before the foreigners, but are the descendants of the brave ancestors who fought, bled and won their cause through sacrifice and dedication.

"What some call the Muslim period in Indian history, was in reality a continous war of occupiers against resisters, in which the Muslim rulers were finally defeated in the 18th century."
                                                           - Dr. Koenraad Elst

REFERENCES

Books:-

1)      Hindu Pad-Padashahi, by Veer Savarkar

2)      Shivaji and his Times, by Jadunath Sarkar

Websites:-

1)      http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/250-years-after-defeat-at-Panipat-Marathas-remember-martyrs/articleshow/7288710.cms

2)      http://www.rediff.com/news/column/250-years-on-battle-of-panipat-revisited/20110113.htm

3)      https://aparanjape.wordpress.com/2011/01/13/commemorating-250-years-of-the-battle-of-panipat/

4)      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Third_Battle_of_Panipat

5)      https://storieswithasoul.wordpress.com/2014/06/30/author-interview-aneesh-gokhale/

6) http://www.hinduhistory.info/the-epic-27-year-war-that-saved-hinduism/