Panipat Revisited - Part 2 - The Sikh Angle

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The list of players playing the game for wresting control over North India from 1730s to 1800s.

1. Mughal: Spent force, allies of victor, whoever it may be. Titular head of India.

2. Najib: Pathan, Sunni, enemy of Mughals. I have discussed animosity of Pathan-Mughal in detail in this article. Najib was open aspirant of delhi throne (which was taken away from Pathans by Mughals under Babar) and hence a persona non grata.

3. Shuja: enemy of Najib and suspicious about alivardi khan. Shia-Muslim from Lucknow, hence in good terms with Marathas.

4. Abdali: General of Nadirshah, later king of Afghanistan. interested only in Punjab (region to west of Sutlaj). crossed sutlaj repeatedly only for looting.

5. Mullah class: Greatly pampered under Aurangzeb. Sirhindi stalled the integration process initiated by Dara Shikoh. Later Shah wali sensed loss of power to Hindu kings and raised the bogey of "Islam in danger". This bogeyman was craftily used by Najib to lure Abdali and Shuja.

6. Jat: interested in Delhi. staunchly anti muslims.

7. Rajputs: deracinated and uprooted force with no preferences. friend of whosoever controls delhi. 

8. Sikhs: Ideologically motivated but not in position to raise huge army and supply columns.

9. Holkar: grand old man of Maratha faction. Suspicious about intentions of Shinde and Peshwa, hence friends with Najib. Probably he understood the power of Gardi's artillery and hence opposed it because he knew what would happen if this mode of warfare stuck in India.

10. Shinde: Great personal animosity with Najib. Amicable in action and spirit with Peshwa. Advocates of cavalry mode of warfare.

11. Peshwa: Perhaps the only faction with ambition to establish pan-subcontinental empire. However, subservient to emperor of Satara and bound by Shahu's promise to Aurangzeb regarding protection of Delhi.. Family history of Tuberculosis and loss of all capable men at very young age.

One of the most common "reason" which is cited as the main reason for Maratha defeat on Panipat is poor diplomacy by Marathas which left them friend-less in alien territory. While this is true, I feel this is the opinion formed owing to our luxury of hindsight. 

Why was it that Marathas chose to hurt Surajmal Jat, yet count on Shuja of Lucknow to either help them against Abdali OR stay neutral at the least? Why did they give higher preference to Shia Muslim Shuja and not Hindu Jat? I will deal with Sikh, Jat, Rajput and Shuja faction. In this article, I will discuss the Sikh angle in Mughal-Maratha relations during Panipat Campaign.

Following is the analysis for non-alignment of Sikhs for the Maratha-cause..

Sikhs were not organised by 1750. It was after 1762 that Sikhs started becoming a force to reckon with. Even if there were a support base for, Marathas in punjab, there are many operational problems.. 

Village is fundamental structural and functional unit of India. On an average every village had 200 households (my estimate). Villagers leave their homes and either take refuge of forests OR fortified cities when Pathans cross Sindhu and descend on plains of Punjab . If they go to fortified cities, they fight for its defence and live if city prevails and die if city falls. If they go to forests, they live if they have enough rations, OR die of hunger, animals, enemy OR nature. Given the sparse nature of towns and cities in medieval times, most of the people took refuge of forests, abandoning the land.

Ruler needs encourage people to return to their lands and till it. Even if Punjab was taken by Marathas for purpose of tax (Punjab has and had very high tax potential similar to bengal), it would have taken at least 4-5 years of stable occupation for people to start paying chauth. The net income of Marathas in Punjab campaign (in spite of the loot) was negative because there was nothing left to loot.

Furthermore, while Sikhs were harrassing Abdali using guerilla warfare tactics, it is easy for Sikhs than Marathas, to do so for two reasons. 

A. It was their home-base.

B. Their armies were not so huge and sophisticated, hence the supplies were very simple ones. Not many horses, cheap weapons, no elephants, no artillery (and associated maintenance crew for all units), no royal women with all their luxuries (relatively). For such an army, the list of items to be supplied is really long. 

Punjab and Sikhs (even if they were friends of Marathas) were not in position to fulfill this demand of such a huge army. It is easy to feed a fighting band of 200-300 men. It is takes huge toll to feed a gathering of 400,000 men and about million animals. No village, town, citadel or power centre of sikhs were in position to make the supplies.

To be continued...

Panipat Revisited - The reasons and analysis - Part 1

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1. The biggest mistake of marathas was to enter Punjab (indus valley) without securing Gangetic plains. The supply chain got stretched way too thin..


2. It is difficult to replicate guerilla warfare tactics of Maharashtra on plains of Punjab. Especially without sympathy of local populace.


3. Whether to secure gangetic plains and Bengal first OR whether to secure Punjab first - this was the main topic of discussion in Pune Darbar since 1755. It is tendency of Dillipati (be it anyone) to leave Punjab to dogs and fight the enemy near Delhi when delhi is weak. When delhi is strong, they do not allow central asians to cross Indus and enter Punjab in first place. Delhi was weak after 1707.  So she was sacked by Nadir Shah in 1740 and by Abdali in 1750's. To stop this, Mughals decided to give away Punjab to marathas for protection. marathas were contemplating on renewing their eastern campaign and punish alivardi khan, this meant securing Rohilkhand, Oudh and Bihar first. Najib was close to Malharrao Holkar who lobbied in pune court to take up Punjab option and postponing Ganga's liberation to further date. Pune accepted this argument.


4. They sent army under Raghunathrao. Raghoba himself wasn't much keen to fight with afghans, and was interested in punishing Najib of Rohilkhand first (Rohilkhand is western UP). Holkar did not allow this young prince to do that. Later Marathas conquered Punjab and chased Afghans up to Khyber. Sabaji Shinde (Scindhia) was present in Peshawar and was looting adjoining Pathan areas for 19 months while attock was made the frontier of empire. 


5. The main army of raghunathrao returned to Pune (in spite of repeated requests of Sikhs and Jats to station a large army permanently in North). After 19 months of fighting, Abdali took Attock and Punjab back from Marathas in 1759 December.


6. To rectify this mistake, it was decided to station a large army permanently in North to accompany the already stationed army of Dattaji Shinde. 100,000 to 150,000 troops was assigned under Bhau and Vishwasrao. IMO, this was an example of large-scale migration and not a campaign. Hence these people were accompanied with their families, traders and other house-holders. They were supposed to stay there and colonize Delhi and rest of North. Few papers suggest that it was planned that Vishwasrao be made emperor of Delhi after bandobast of abdali is complete. Bhau organized a huge ceremony in Delhi court under chairmanship of Vishwasrao and not Mughal emperor. 


7. however behaviour of earlier maratha campaign had left sour taste in mouths of Jats and Sikhs. Furthermore, Jats wanted to keep delhi to themselves. This is one generosity which Marathas should have shown. The importance of Delhi was unnecessarily kept high. Delhi was never seat of any Hindu king. Delhi signifies as seat of tyrant in many of the Indian province. 


8. Why did Marathas honour the promise given to an a$$hole like Aurangzeb? Shivaji would have broken than promise in no time. The classical characteristic of Hindu kings of honouring the promises while mlechhas stab in back, continued to live on.

Remembering Panipat - 250 years later

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Commander of Indic forces - Sadashivrao Chimnaji Bhat aka "Bhau"

On the eve of 250th anniversary of that fateful day, I remember our ancestors who fought and died to protection of Rashtra and Dharma and gave such a blow to the enemy that there hasn't been a single invasion  from northwest again in last 250 years. 

Exactly 250 years ago, those brave men must have gathered in tent of Bhau at this time (16:00 IST). They must have started their discussions on how to break the siege and move towards Yamuna. They knew Peshwa had left Pune with 50,000 army. It was only matter of time when Abdali would find himself between rock and a hard place. The only luxury they did not have, was time. There was no food. Almost everyone was hungry in the army for atleast 2-3 days, including horses. They had to reach Yamuna at all costs.

The north India was shivering with cold wave. Marathas come from region which is not so cold, they did not have enough clothes to protect them from cold and their armour was light. their strength was speed, but with empty stomachs, how far will they run and how fast?

Malharrao must have insisted on using traditional fast manoeuvring tactics of Marathas. Bhau, however, had sensed that there cannot be victory unless troops get food to eat and water to drink. He wanted to reach Yamuna and cross the river at all costs, under cover of artillery. Bhau must have taken Holkar aside, alone and insisted to save himself and all women, should anything unfortunate happens. 

Next day morning at dawn, everybody ate the last piece of bread, applied turmeric to their faces determined to kill or die. The opening salvo of Maratha artillery went over the heads of Abdali's troops. Gardi recalibrated the range and his batteries started raining fire, hell and death on right flank of Abdali. The charges of abdali on left flank of Marathas was foiled again and again. Under that cover, the entire base of  Marathas, their women, children, traders, old pilgrims started moving towards Yamuna. So fierce was this artillery attack that entire battlefield was in hands of Marathas for entire morning. About 12000 Pathans were killed by left flank of Marathas in matter of an hour. One can imagine the horror in the eyes of Abdali.

The Charge of Bhau

The enemy started attacking centre. Bhau advanced the centre under his personal command. The charge of maratha centre under bhau is one of the most romantic moments to imagine. It is depicted in the picture above with Bhau on elephant and Vishwasrao, Vitthal Shivdeo and elite heavy cavalry of 15000 Huzurat devastating the centre of Abdali. The road to Yamuna was now open. The lines of Abdali were pushed 3 to 5 kilometers behind in matter of minutes, sheerly due to inertia of the charging cavalry far away from range of Abdali's infantry. The victory was in sight, the road to safety, food and delhi was opened. Now all that was required was hold ground and position. Bhau's men were tired, but they cut entire army of Abdali in two halves and the right half of Afghan army was totally destroyed by Ibrahimkhan's artillery. It was only matter of time now.

Shinde started his attacks on Najib preventing him from coming for the aid of Abdali. 

This is when accidently, Vishwasrao fell to a stray bullets while facing the charge of Afghan reserve and camel mounted artillery known as "Shaturnal". The Afghan heavy cavalry began their charge and with Bhau in firing range, Ibrahimkhan could not fire on advancing Afghan heavy cavalry. Bhau assigned 1500 troops for protection of artillery and led the charge himself. He knew that it was all over and now all he could do is inflict as much damage upon Afghans as possible before he died. 

The Memorial of Bhau and Marathas

Cannon to left of him, cannon to the right of him, into the valley of death, Rode Bhau and marathas.


Almost entire generation was killed in one single day. There was no home left in Maharashtra and MP which had not lost someone on Panipat. Quoting Jim Morrison, 


"This is the end
Beautiful friend
This is the end
My only friend, the end
Of our elaborate plans, the end
Of everything that stands, the end
No safety or surprise, the end
I'll never look into your eyes...again
Can you picture what will be
So limitless and free
Desperately in need...of some...stranger's hand
In a...desperate land




Generation lost, but Rashtra saved... lakhs killed, but Dharma saved... all that in one day - 14th January 1761...


My heart cries for our ancestors.. May that sacrifice not go in vain.

Bharat's counselling by Shri Raam - Paradhin ahe jagati, putra manavacha

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The Ramayana is an ancient Sanskrit epic. It is ascribed to the Valmiki. It depicts the duties of relationships, portraying ideal characters like the ideal servant, the ideal brother, the ideal wife and the ideal king. 

In the course of story, after Rama and Sita have been married for twelve years, Dasharatha who had grown old expresses his desire to crown Rama, to which the Kosala assembly and his subjects express their support. On the eve of the great event, Kaikeyi—her jealousy aroused by Manthara, a wicked maidservant—claims two boons that Dasharatha had long ago granted her. Kaikeyi demands Rama to be exiled into wilderness for fourteen years, while the succession passes to her son Bharata.

The heartbroken king, constrained by his rigid devotion to his given word, accedes to Kaikeyi's demands. Rama accepts his father's reluctant decree with absolute submission and calm self-control which characterizes him throughout the story. He is joined by Sita and Lakshmana. After Rama's departure, king Dasharatha, unable to bear the grief, passes away. Meanwhile, Bharata who was on a visit to his maternal uncle, learns about the events in Ayodhya. 

Bharata refuses to profit from his mother's wicked scheming and visits Rama in the forest. He requests Rama to return and rule. But Rama, determined to carry out his father's orders to the letter, refuses to return before the period of exile. It is here that Raam counsels the gried-struck younger brother about realities of life. This scene is one of the hallmarks and defining moments of the Raam's story which unravels his steady mind, his unwavering adherence towards truth and promise and his love towards his family. At the end of this scene, Bharata carries Rama's sandals, and keeps them on the throne, while he rules as Rama's regent.

Geet Ramayan is a collection of 56 songs in Marathi, written by noted litterateur G.D.Madgulkar and composed and sung by Sudhir Phadke. The collection of songs contains the gist of Ramayana in chronological sequence. Following, is the 25th song of the album which is one of the most philosophical compositions of modern Marathi literature..

Paradhin ahe Jagati Putra Maanavacha

दैवजात दुःखे भरता, दोष ना कुणाचा
पराधीन आहे जगती पुत्र मानवाचा, दोष ना कुणाचा.... (धृ)


It is destiny that breeds misfortune, dear brother (Bharat), its not your fault... Mankind is dependent on other higher forces, it not your fault...


माय कैकेयी ना दोषी, नव्हे दोषी तात,
राज्यत्याग काननयात्रा, सर्व कर्म जात,
खेळ चाललासे माझ्या, पूर्व-संचिताचा,
पराधीन आहे जगाती, पुत्र मानवाचा, दोष ना कुणाचा... १


It isn't the fault of Mother Kaikeyi, nor is it father's misjudgement.. Abdication of kingdom and Exile was all borne out my Karma.. It is the fruits of previous karma, that I am facing, dear brother, don't blame yourselves for my misfortune... 1


अंत उन्नतीचा पतनी होई या जगात,
सर्व संग्रहाचा वत्सा, नाश हाच अंत
वियोगार्थ मिलन होते, नेम जगाचा
पराधीन आहे जगती, पुत्र मानवाचा, दोष ना कुणाचा...२


The climax of all progresses in this world is in downfall. The end of all "collection" is always desolation, my dear.. People meet to say goodbye eventually, dear brother.. Don't blame yourselves.. 2


जिवासवे जन्मे मृत्यू, जोड जन्मजात
दिसे-भासे ते ते सारे, विश्व नाशिवंत
काय शोक करिसी वेड्या, स्वप्नीच्या फळांचा??
पराधीन आहे जगती पुत्र मानवाचा, दोष न कुणाचा...३ 


"Death" and "life" are siblings, dear, both come into existence together, one cannot exist without another.. Whatever you can see and perceive is all going to fade away like a dream, one day.. Why then are you sorrowful of dream fading away, dear brother?? - 3


तात स्वर्गवासी झाले, बंधू ये वनांत
अतर्क्य ना झाले काही, जरी अकस्मात
मरण कल्पनेशी थांबे तर्क जाणत्यांचा
पराधीन आहे जगती, पुत्र मानवाचा, दोष ना कुणाचा...४


I understand it is shocking to realize death of father and exile of brother.. Although it isn't unthinkable, it was all too sudden.. The flight of human imagination stops with prospects of death, dear brother, don't be so grief-struck...4


जरा-मरण यातून सुटला, कोण प्राणीजात ??
दुःख मुक्त जगला का रे, कुणी जीवनात??
वर्धमान ते ते चाले मार्ग रे क्षयाचा
पराधीन आहे जगती पुत्र मानवाचा, दोष न कुणाचा...५


But tell me, did any living being escape from old-age and death?? Did anyone live without having to face sorrows and misfortunes?? Whatever is walking the path of growth today, is also walking the path of eventual decline... Why then be so upset, dear brother, my misfortunes aren't your fault...5


दोन ओंडक्यांची होते, सागरात भेट, 
एक लाट तोडी दोघां, पुन्हा नाही गाठ
क्षणिक तेवी आहे बाळा, मेळ माणसांचा
पराधीन आहे जगती, पुत्र मानवाचा, दोष ना कुणाचा...६ 


Its like two logs of wood floating in ocean... The waves bring those logs together for some time and then same waves break their bond, the logs separate never to meet again... The association of men in this world is similar, dear brother...6


नको आंसू ढाळू आता, पूस लोचनास
तुझा आणि माझा आहे, वेगळा प्रवास
अयोध्येस हो तू राजा, रंक मी वनीचा
पराधीन आहे जगती, पुत्र मानवाचा, दोष ना कुणाचा...७ 


Do not shed tears now, wipe your eyes.. Your journey and mine is different... Go and become king of Ayodhya, while I become a hermit in forests...7


नको आग्रहाने मजसी, परतवूस व्यर्थ
पितृवचन पाळून दोघे, होऊ रे कृतार्थ
मुकुट-कवच धारण करी, का वेश तापसाचा?
पराधीन आहे जगती, पुत्र मानवाचा, दोष ना कुणाचा...८


Don't force me to return, brother I won't budge... Lets honour father's word and give his soul and ours, peace... What difference does it make to that inner peace if one wears royal clothes OR straps of hermit?? Do not blame yourselves...8


संपल्याविना ही वर्षे, दशोत्तरी चार
अयोध्येसी नाही येणे, सत्य हे त्रिवार,
तूच एक स्वामी आता, राज्य-संपदेचा
पराधीन आहे जगती, पुत्र मानवाचा, दोष ना कुणाचा...९


Without completing the exile of 14 years, I will not return to Ayodhya and this is final truth.. You and you alone, dear brother, are true owner of the kingdom.. return and rule without blaming yourselves...9


पुन्हा नका येऊ कोणी दूर या वनांत
प्रेमभाव तुमचा माझ्या जागता मनात
मान वाढावी तू लोकी अयोध्या पुरीचा
पराधीन आहे जगती पुत्र मानवाचा, दोष ना कुणाचा...१०


Please, do not return to forests to persuade me.. Know that in spite of what transpired, I still love you... Go and make Ayodhya Rich and prosperous by ruling Justly... Do not blame yourselves...10

Bipinchandra Pal on India and Clash of Civilizations (1923)

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Thoughts of BipinChandra Pal from "Nationality and Empire" published in 1923 - Guys, this book is delight to read... highly recommended...

"This Pan-European combination [that we now call the West] will be a very serious menace to the non-European world. It will be bound to come into serious conflict with both Pan-Islamism and Pan-Mongolianism [metaphor for Expansionist China]. If Europe can settle her internal jealousies betimes, she will be able to dominate easily both the Islamic and the Mongolian world. Nothing will prevent in that case the parceling out of the Muslim lands on the one side, and of China on the other. But that is not very likely. It will take, at least, as long a time for the European chancelleries to forget their past jealousies and present rivalries, as it will take for China, now that she has awakened from the sleep of ages, to put her own house in order and organize her leviathan strength to hold her own against the entire world.

"The same thing is likely to happen in the Islamic world also; and the fall of Turkey in Europe will hasten this combination. It will not be an organized confederacy like that of China and Japan, but a far more dangerous, because more subtle, combination of the hearts of countless hordes who hold nothing so dear, neither land nor life, as their religion. And the real strength of this Pan- Islamic outburst will come from Egypt and India [which then included present-day Pakistan and Bangladesh], where it will be safe from the crushing weight of the Pan-European confederacy. England will not allow her European confederates to interfere with her own domestic affairs; such interference would break up the confederation at once. She will have to settle this Pan-Islamic problem, so far as it may affect her own dominions, herself." 

Then describing where the danger for India will come from, Pal writes under the title "Our Real Danger". "And it is just here that our safety from this possible Pan-European combination also lies. Because of the British connection, India will have nothing to fear from any possible combination of the European powers. The same is also true of Egypt, though perhaps in a lesser degree. Our real menace will come not from Europe but from Asia, not from Pan-Europeanism but from Pan-Islamism and Pan-Mongolianism. These dangers are,  however, common, both to India and Egypt and Great Britain. To provide against it, Great Britain will have to find and work out a satisfactory and permanent settlement of the Indian and the Egyptian problem, and we, on our part, will have also to come to some rational compromise with her. British statesmanship must recognize the urgent and absolute need of fully satisfying the demands of Indian and Egyptian nationalism, and India and Egypt will have to frankly accept the British connection - which is different from British subjection - as a necessary condition of their national life and freedom. To wantonly seek to break up this connection, while it will only hurt Great Britain, may positively kill every chance and possibility of either Indian or Egyptian nationalism ever realizing itself."

Predicting and pleading the need for the alliance of the West and India, Pal writes under the sub-head "Our True Safety": "Indian nationalism in any case, has, I think, really no fear of being permanently opposed or crippled by Great Britain. On the contrary, the  british connection can alone offer its effective protection against both the Pan-Islamic and the Pan-Mongolianism menace. As long as we had to consider Great Britain alone or any other European Power for the matter of that, while thinking of the future of Indian nationalism, the problem was comparatively simple and easy. But now we have to think if China on the one hand, and of the new Pan-Islamic danger on the other. The 60 millions of Mohammedans in India, if inspired with Pan-Islamic aspirations, joined to the Islamic principalities and powers that stand both to our West and our northwest, may easily put an end to all our nationalist aspirations, almost at any moment, if the present British connection be severed. 

"The four-hundred millions of the Chinese empire can, not only gain an easy footing in India, but once that footing is gained, they are the only people under the sun who can hold us down by sheer superior physical force. There are no other people who can do this. This awakening of China is, therefore, a very serious menace - in the present condition of our country, without an organized and trained army and a powerful navy of our own - to the maintenance of any isolated, though sovereign, independence of the Indian people. Even if we are able to gain it, we shall never be able to keep it, in the face of this Pan-Islamic and Pan-Mongolian menace. And when one considers these terrible possibilities of the world situation as it is slowly evolving before one's eyes, one is forced to recognize the absolute need of keeping up the British connection in the interest of Indian nationalism itself, for the very simple and sufficient reason that there is absolutely much greater chance of this nationalism fully realizing itself with rather than without this connection."