WHY MARATHAS DID NOT ESTABLISH PAD PADSHAHI AT DELHI WHEN THEY WERE CAPABLE...PART V

Posted Fri, 01/22/2010 - 01:55 by Dr K Prabhakar Rao

 WHY  MARATHAS DID NOT ESTABLISH PAD PADSHAHI AT DELHI WHEN                                          THEY WERE CAPABLE? 

 

                                                           DR K Prabhakar RaoIII

PANIPAT WAR AND SET BACK 

                 . The Mughal power in northern India had been declining since the reign of Aurangzeb, who died in 1707. In 1751–52, the Ahamdiya treaty was signed between the Marathas and Mughals, when Balaji Bajirao was the Peshwa  Through this treaty, the Marathas controlled virtually the whole of India from their capital at Pune and Mughal rule was restricted only to Delhi(Mughals remained the nominal heads of Delhi).Emperor Alam gir II was murdered by ghaziuddin and he proped up  grandson of Kambaks  under title Jaha shah. Marathas were now straining to expand their area of control towards the Northwest of India. Ahmad Shah sacked the Mughal capital and withdrew with the booty he coveted. To counter the Afghans, Peshwa Balaji Bajirao sent Raghunathrao. He succeeded in ousting Timur Shah and his court from India and brought Lahore, Multan, Kashmir and other subahs on the Indian side of Attock under Maratha rule  Thus, upon his return to Kandahar in 1757, Amidst appeals from Muslim leaders like Shah Waliullah,  perturbed by Maratha  influence  and  impending   the threat to Muslim  domination in North India Ahamed shaah Abdali Durrani decided to attack Marathas. He knew very well about the strength of Marathas and had to take risks.  Ahmad Shah Durrani (Ahmad Shah Abdali) angered by the news from his son and his allies was unwilling to allow the Marathas spread go unchecked. By the end of 1759, Abdali with his Afghan (Pashtun) tribes with the help from the Baloch and his Rohilla ally Najib Khan had reached Lahore as well as Delhi and defeated the smaller enemy garrisons. Ahmed Shah, at this point, withdrew his army to Anupshahr, on the frontier of the Rohilla country, where he successfully convinced the Nawab of Oudh Shuja-ud-Daula to join his alliance against the Marathas.This in spite of the Marathas time and again helping and showing sympathy towards Shuja-ud-daula. The Nawab’s mother was of the opinion that he should join the Marathas. The Marathas had helped Safdarjung (father of Shuja) in defeating Rohillas in Farrukhabad.

                The Marathas under Sadashivrao Bhau (referred to as the Bhau or Bhao in sources) responded to the news of the Afghans' return to North India by raising a big army, and they marched North. Bhau's force was bolstered by some Maratha forces under Holkar, Scindia, Gaikwad and Govind Pant Bundela. Raja Suraj Mal of Bharatpur, a powerful king around Agra and Delhi, also joined Bhausaheb. But  he then left the alliance at Agra as the over-confident Bhau did not heed his advice (to leave soldiers' families (women and children) at Agra and not take them to the battle field), did not want his cooperation, insulted him and even tried to arrest him at Agra. Raja Suraj Mal had to leave Agra at night as the Holkars warned him of the Bhau's plan to arrest him. He had assured food supplies and logistics for the Maratha army and his withdrawal proved fatal to the Marathas. The combined army of over 100,000 regular troops (and about 500,000 women and children) captured the Mughal capital, Delhi, from an Afghan garrison in December 1759. As Delhi was reduced to ashes due to many invasions and there was an acute shortage of supplies in the Maratha camp, Bhau ordered the sacking of the already depopulated city. He is said to have planned to place his nephew and the Peshwa's son, Vishwasrao, on the Mughal throne. The Jats (with the exception of Ala Singh, the first Maharaja of Patiala), did not support the Marathas due to arrogance of their general Sadasiva Bhau and the plan of Marathas to subjugate them by imposing taxes on them. Their withdrawal from the ensuing battle was to play a crucial role in its result. The Sikhs, particularly Ala Singh of Patiala, played both sides with Ala Singh actually being granted and crowned the first Sikh Maharajah despite the Sikh holy temple being destroyed by the Afghans. Thus there is a general agreement that Sadasiva Rao Bhau although was very brave and committed to Maratha cause was haughty and  his high handedness put off some important chieftains such as  Raja Suraj Mal and Shujauddaula the Nawab of Oudh. Even Mughal emperor was against Marathas ad sided Ahmed Shah Abdalis. Sikhs did not help Marathas as they considered them, as occupants. Sadasiva Rao also turned down the suggestion of Holkar that Maraths should adopt Guerilla tactics. This cost Marathas very dearly in course of the battle.

 

                              The Battle of Panipat III was not fought in one day. There is a great similarity between the battle of Rakshasa Tangadi fought in 1565 between Muslim Deccani armies and Hindu armies of Vijaynagar in South led by Araveeti Rama raya. Ram Raya was about to win the battle when the Muslim generals defected to the enemy at the call of jihad and this resulted in the defeat of Hindu forces and killing of Ramaraya. In Panipat war III too. The both armies did not come to grip immediately and they waited facing each other for long and this resulted in depletion of supplies.  On the other hand Marathas took thousands of women and children to the war front. Supplies suffered badly. Sadasiva Rao declared Shah Alam II as the emperor on October 10, 1760 with Shujauddaula as the vazir with a hope of weaning away them from Abdalis. This had no effect. On the othrside Abdalis placed his troops surrounding Maraths and cut off supplies for two months. This resulted in serious suffering. At last Maraths decided to fight. Abdalis used his fresh troops as reserve and the tired Maraths were vanquished not before scores of Afghan soldiers were killed. Sadasiva Rao died fighting heroically and Viswas Rao was seriously wounded and died. Nearly one laks Marathas died in this war. Mahadaji sindhia and Nana Phadnavis narrowly escaped death and retreated to  Maharashtra. Having learnt about the losses Peshwa retreated to Pune  and died in great anguish at the loss of men, prestige and kin.

 EFFECTS OFf PANIPAT WAR  III  

1. Panipat war III  has shattered Maratha  ambition of Padpadshahi in India.  They realized that Sikhs, Jats and Rajputs were not in favor of Marathas.

 

2. They withdrew from Punjab and concentrated on Rajasthan and Bundelkhand

 

3. Defeat of Marathas in this war boosted the East India Company.

 

4. Although Durrani came out victorious he did not occupy the throne of Delhi. He knew that he could not control Afghanistan and India at one time. He withdrew to Afghanistan as his soldiers were at the verge of mutiny and wanted to return to homeland. He appointed Najibuddaula in Delhi and left.

 

5. Durrani did not want Maratha power in Punjab; He had parleys with the next Peshwa Madhav Rao and came to terms in 1963.

 

6. Marathas did not take up any campaigns for the next 10 years

 

7. Although Marathas lost Panipat war they were not vanquished. There was great set back to the prestige of Maratha power. But in a span of 10 years they were again very strong.

 

8. Durrani reinstated Mughal emperor.

  WHY MARATHS LOST PANIPAT WAR? 

1. Marathas went in for open war instead of guerilla war recommended by Holkar.

 

2...Marathas like Mughal armies took a big entourage like families, women and children to the battle front. This made the supplies difficult and the strength became unwieldy. The army’s pace was  greatly weakened.

 

3. Peshwa left the administration entirely to his nobles in the north. Thus political strategies suffered and depended on whims and fancies of the commanders and nobles

 

4. Marathas did not go for war immediately after reaching Panipat. This gave Abdalis ample time to plan and strengthen and amend.

 

5. Maratha commanders had no unity, Sadasiva Rao was arrogant,  and this has  delineated others

 

6. Marathas could not get the help of Rajputs and Jats and this made difference

 

7. The army lacked professional training

 

8. Aims such as Padpadshahi were forgotten and Maraths indulged in sacking Hindu kingdoms too. This alienated many Hindu kingdoms and Sikhs too.

 

                Thus it is seen that although Marathas were very close to Padpadshahi, Panipat war and the defeat weakened the Martha power greatly although they revived with in 10 years.  But by this time Europeans became strong.  Although Maraths became very strong again,  the wars with east India company  and infighting for  the post of Peshwa weakened the  Maraths and they deviated from the  main aim of Padpadshahi  that was coined by Baji Rao I followed up by Balaji Rao. Padpadshahi was set aside by the islamic Jihad  by Ahmed shah abdlai and others. Lack of unity in Hindu  princes in complete north India made the difference.  This has been always the problem in past right from the days of Prithviraj chauhan and india was enslaved. Nothing new happened at Panipat in 1961. It was inevitable. Hindus lack unity.So they suffer. Even in 21 century the  phenomenon is same. India continues to suffer

To be continued

 

          

 

 

 

    

---------------- Note: Content of this blog post is writer's personal opinion and may not be SanghParivar.org or Sangh's view.

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Dr K Prabhakar Rao's picture

 dear readers, The

by Dr K Prabhakar Rao - 01/30/2010 - 01:29

 dear readers,

The article  is continued

Dr K Prabhakar Rao

Dr K Prabhakar Rao's picture

I am posting the VI  

by Dr K Prabhakar Rao - 01/30/2010 - 01:23

I am posting the VI   part of this article in comments column as  there was some problem in posting the article on blog for last two days

 WHY MARATHS DID NOT ESTABLISH PADPADSHI AT DELHI WHEN THEY WERE CAPABLE..VI

Dr K Prabhakar Rao

Tags. Baji rao. Madhav Rao II, Madhav rao I, Nana Phadnavis, Raghunath rao, Mahadji Sindhia, Panipat battle,

 

  AFTERMATH                     Loss in Panipat war III shattered Peshwa Balaji Rao and he passed away at Pune soon in great anguish, a broken man in June 1961 ( Some say he became a mental wreck). He was succeeded by  his 16 years old second son Madhhav Rao I ( 15 Feb 1745- 18 Nov 1772) on 20 July 1761).Vishwas Rao the eldest son  died in the battle and  the late Peshwa had another son Narayan Rao the youngest one. Madhav Rao I has gone down in Maratha history as a very noble person who restored prestige and power of Marathas within a span of 10 years and padpadshahi was not out of reach for him. Accession of Madhav Rao as Peshwa was challenged by Raghunath Rao his uncle (Brother of Balaji Rao). Madhav Rao was put to great inconvenience and anguish by Raghunath Rao through out  his life. There was also an attempt on the life of Madhav rao on 7 September 1769 while he was returning from Parvathi temple at pune.  Ramsingh the general suddenly attacked him with a sword and the Peshwa cautioned in time dodged the attacker and received a blow on the shoulder. Ramsingh was  put in prison and this was seen as the plan of Raghunath Rao to kill Madhav Rao.In fact Raghunath Rao at later stages was arrested and put under confinement at Shaniwarwada in Pune along with his commander. In fact treachery of Raghunath Rao has caused immense  harm to the  Maratha cause that was more than the loss at Panipat battle  field. This however is not to underestimate the sacrifices and valor and commitment of Viswas Rao ( Son of Peshwa Balaji Rao) and valiant Sadasiva Rao Bhau who laid down their lives on the battle field most gloriously fighting the enemy.MadhavRao usually preferred the company of Gopalrao Patwardhan, Tryambakrao Mama Pethe, Nana Phadnavis and Ramshastri; while Raghunathrao was dearer to Sakharambapu, Gulabrao and Gangoba Tatya. Madhav Rao disciplined Nizam and also sent expeditions under sindhia and Holkar and Raghunath Rao in north to extend Maratha influence in the regions of Delhi and north India. He later also made reconciliation with Nizam.                   Madhav Rao was one of the most able administrators; he bought radical revolutions in the Maratha Empire in terms of efficiency and honesty. Corrupt and lethargic officials were flogged in the courtyard; this brought about the much required discipline in the administration. The judicial system was impartial and faithfully managed by Ram Shastri, who was considered as the supreme pillar of justice. The usage of revenues was maximized for the welfare of the citizens. Artillery and weapons were constantly upgraded and the strength of the empire was maintained at high standards. Madhavrao was feared by his own servants, but he was approachable to the common man. He was always aware and made others in his fold realize that he is not the king.. he is a mere peshwa, a faithful servant of the Chhatrapati, who is the king of the maratheshahi. Despite being a brahmin he raised his sword to the call of duty and was no less in valour than any Maratha. Sadly  Madhav Rao I  died of Tuberculosis and died early in 18 Nov 1772. This was serious set back to Maratha power. In reality early death of Madhav Rao was a greater loss than the defeat  at Panipat in 1761 and Padpadshahi was still far away.   BICKERINGS  CONTINUE IN MARATHAS LOOSING AIM OF PAD PADHAHI Madhav Rao I was succeeded by Narayan Rao (1759-1773) his younger brother as the Peshwa after the death of Madhav Rao I  in 1772 and this was   contested by Raghunath Rao. Narayan Rao was murdered soon in a span of one year and Raghunath Rao declared himself as  the Peshwa. But soon he was removed from the position by a council of nobles led by nana Phadnavis and an infant son named Sawai Madhav Rao II of late Peshwa Narayan Rao I who was born after his death, was declared as the Peshwa.     . Raghunathrao, unwilling to give up his position of power, sought help from the British at Bombay and signed the Treaty of Surat on March 7, 1777. According to the treaty, Raghunathrao ceded the territories of Salsette and Bassein to the British along with parts of revenues from Surat and Bharuch districts. In return, the British were to provide Raghunathrao with 2,500 soldiers. The British Calcutta Council, on the other side of India, condemned the Treaty of Surat and sent Colonel Upton to Pune to annul it. The Colonel was also sent to make a new treaty with the regency that renounced Raghunath and promised him a pension. The Bombay government rejected this and gave refuge to Raghunath. In 1777 Nana Phadnis violated his treaty with the Calcutta Council by granting the French a port on the west coast. The British replied by sending a force towards Pune. This resulted in first Anglo Maratha war. FIRST ANGLO MARATHA WAR The Maratha Anglo war I  ended with Madhav Rao being recognized by the East India company as Peshwa while Raghunath Rao was pensioned off.   Mahadaji sindhia the powerful  noble from Gwalior made fruitful contributions during this war and in deciding the agreement for the acceptance of Madhav Rao II as Peshwa. The  Peshwa  was just a  kid and he could hardly influence the Maratha aim of Pad Padshahi. Nana Phadnavis and Sindhia were the most important Maratha nobles who guided destiny of Marathas during this period. In fact Self styled Peshwa ( for a short time) Raghunath Rao has done the greatest damage to the Maratha empire and its ambitions of Padpadshai than the debacle at Panipat.  Battle of WadgaonThe British and the Maratha armies met on the outskirts of Pune in this first war that was decisive. The Maratha army reportedly numbered 80,000 soldiers while the British consisted of 35,000 with highly superior ammunition and cannons. However, the Maratha army was commanded by a brilliant General   Mahadaji Shinde (also known as Mahadji Sindhia). Mahadji lured the British army into the ghats (valleys) near Talegaon and trapped the British. Once trapped, the Maratha cavalry harassed the enemy from all sides and attacked the British supply base at Khopoli. The Marathas also utilized a scorched earth policy, burning farmland and poisoning wells. As the British began to withdraw to Talegaon, the Marathas attacked, forcing them to retreat to the village of Wadgaon. Here, the British army was surrounded from all sides by the Marathas and cut off from food and water. The British finally surrendered by mid-January 1779 and signed the Treaty of Wadgaon that forced the Bombay government to relinquish all territories acquired by the British since 1775.

  British retaliation

The British Governor-General in Bengal, Warren Hastings, rejected this treaty and sent a large force of soldiers across India under Colonel Goddard. Goddard captured Ahmedabad in February 1779, and Bassein in December 1780. Another Bengal detachment led by Captain Popham captured Gwalior in August 1780. Hastings sent yet another force after Mahadaji Sindhia. In February 1781, led by General Camac, the British finally defeated  Sindhia at Sipri.

Treaty of Salbai

After the defeat, Sindhia proposed a new treaty between the Peshwa and the British that would recognize the young Madhav Rao II as the Peshwa and grant Raghunathrao a pension. This treaty, known as the Treaty of Salbai, was signed in May 1782, and was ratified by Hastings in June 1782 and by Phadnavis in February 1783. The treaty also returned to Sindhia all his territories west of the Yamuna. It also guaranteed peace between the two sides for twenty years, thus ending the war. Marathas came out victorious in this war and Madhav Rao II emerged as Peshwa in this battle.