The Battle of Taraori and its Aftermath - 2 | HPSC Preparation: All subjects - HPSC (Haryana) PDF Download

Divided opinions among Maratha leaders over battle strategy

• The Maratha leaders were divided in their opinions about the strategy to be employed on the battlefield. Malhar Rao Holkar and other supporters of the traditional method, Ganimi Kawa, which involved guerilla "hit and run" tactics, favored ravaging the country where the enemy was encamped. However, this was opposed by Ibrahim Khan Gardi, who was backed by Sadashivrao. 
• They favored straight action by infantry. As there was no specific plan drawn, the battle was offered on the entire front. The main objective was to breakthrough the ranks of the Afghan army, advance past the right-hand corner of its camp, carry the entire army and baggage to the enemy's rear, and fight out an action with the river at the back. 
• However, the presence of women, camp followers, and heavy cannons made this execution rather impossible. A decisive action was necessary for the deliverance of the Maratha army. Ahmad Shah Durrani was aware of the conflicting factions within his army, such as Najib-ud-daulah and Hafiz Rahmat Khan, who could not be reconciled. 
• Thus, he took great caution in devising his war strategy. He positioned his own troops in between the Indian allies to prevent any defection, had a reserve force ready for any unexpected situations, and stayed behind the fighting line himself, in order to oversee and manage the battle.

Phases of the Battle of Panipat

• The Battle of Panipat was a six to seven-hour-long battle that took place in three distinct phases. During the first phase, the Marathas were successful in gaining an initial advantage. However, they lost this advantage during the second phase, but continued to put up a fierce fight. In the third phase, the reinforcements provided by Abdali turned the tide against the Marathas, leading to their complete defeat and collapse of resistance. 
• The Marathas opened the battle with a barrage of cannon fire and initially had some success. Ibrahim Khan Gardi launched a fierce attack on the right wing of the Durrani army, led by Hafiz Rahmat Khan and Dunde Khan, resulting in the death or injury of about eight to nine thousand Ruhelas. However, the Maratha infantry struggled to move their heavy guns on the rough terrain and suffered significant losses, with six of Ibrahim's battalions almost completely wiped out and Ibrahim himself severely wounded. 
• The Maratha cavalry was unable to provide the support that was desperately needed. On a different battlefield, the Maratha cavalry led by Sadashivrao Bhau charged towards the Durrani center commanded by Shah Wali Khan, and initially, they appeared to have the upper hand. According to Kashi Raj, the battle was so intense that the surroundings were obscured from view, and even the heavens were amazed by the spectacle. 
• The Afghan army suffered significant losses, including Haji Atai Khan, who was responsible for killing Govind Pant. Since there was no immediate assistance, it was natural for the Wazir to feel despair. However, Bhau could not fully capitalize on his advantage by pushing through the Wazir's ranks to reach the river bank because Abdali's reserves would have stopped him. 
• Moreover, the presence of women and a large number of non-combatants in Bhau's camp created a problem because there was no guarantee of their safe evacuation, and they could not be left at the mercy of the enemy. 
• At a crucial stage of the battle, the arrival of 13,000 fresh troops under Abdali's command turned the tide against the Maratha army, which was already worn out from fighting. Bhau, on the other hand, did not have any reserves, nor did he have a reliable communication system to keep him informed about the changing circumstances of the battle. Despite this, he continued to fight fiercely against overwhelming odds.
• On a different front, the Abdali army led by Najib, Shah Pasand Khan, and Shuja-ud-daulah faced a combined force of Holkar, Sindhia, and other officers such as Shamsher Bahadur, Yashwant Rao Pawar, and Satvoji Jadav. 
• During the first round, there was no activity on this front, as it seemed that Bhau intentionally put Holkar and Sindhia on this front, knowing that their morale was low due to previous defeats at Durrani's hands. The only expectation on this front was Najib, who had converted his entire force of 15,000 soldiers into infantry and slowly advanced towards Sindhia's troops, following the smoke from his rocket fire. 
• Vishwas Rao was hit by a zamburak ball on his forehead at 2:15 pm, causing great distress to Bhau and the Maratha army. The news spread rapidly throughout the camp and resulted in a sharp drop in morale. This event served as a signal for the Maratha army to flee, and a group of 2,000 Afghan renegades working for the Marathas began looting the camp and causing further chaos. 
• Abdali also sent in six units of his elite troops to the center of the battlefield. Despite these overwhelming attacks, Bhau was able to launch three heavy counterattacks. The Marathas were losing ground on both the right and left sides of the battlefield to the Durranis. In the left, Damaji and Vitthal Shivdeo were wounded but managed to retreat safely, but Ibrahim Khan was captured by the enemy. 
• On the right, Najib and Shah Pasand Khan were advancing and Malhar Holkar decided to flee, taking with him the portion of Janakoji’s forces led by Mahadaji and others that had separated from the main group. Najib and Shah Pasand were exerting strong pressure on Janakoji’s troops, and Bhau's escape route was cut off.

The Final Stage of the Battle

• After the death of Vishvas Rao, the battle entered its final stage. The Abdali's reserve force, which rushed to the center, broke down the Maratha resistance completely. Bhau's repeated charges were not a sign of the means of resistance at his disposal but rather a tribute to his own bravery in what seemed to be a hopeless cause. 
• According to Kashi Raj, "in the twinkle of an eye the Maratha army vanished like camphor, and none remained in the field except heaps of corpses here and there." Before his death, Sadashivrao Bhau changed his horse three times and was joined by Tukoji and Janakoji. According to the Bhau Sdheb Bakhar, Tukoji and Bhau had an argument, with Tukoji insisting that they could not take revenge unless Bhau was saved. 
• Bhau, however, was reluctant to run away and repeated the words "we shall not run away." Nana Phadnis arrived at Panipat just as the sun set, after parting ways with Bhau. It is said that Bhau continued to fight until only 200 men remained by his side. The last moments of Bhau on the battlefield of Panipat have been narrated by Kashi Raj. 
• According to the account of Kashi Raj, Sadashiv Rao Bhau was wounded in the leg by a musket shot and fell to the ground during the battle. He was then attacked by a few of Durrani horsemen, but despite being wounded and outnumbered, he fought back and managed to strike two or three of his attackers with his spear before ultimately being killed. 
• After his death, his head was severed and taken as a trophy by his killers. Sadashiv Rao Bhau died bravely and without fear, having lost all meaning in life. His death was not as claimed by Prof. Sarkar, as a result of his ruined reputation or the end of his people's imperial ambitions. 
• P.L. Mehra rightly notes that Bhau faced numerous limitations and formidable opponents, including several generations of unsympathetic and even hostile historians, yet he still did a commendable job with the resources and circumstances available to him. 
• It is worth noting that 38 years later, another brave Indian prince, Tipoo Sultan, also perished on the battlefield of Seringapatam while resisting foreign invaders after the downfall of his army and cause.

Losses and spoils of the third battle of Panipat

• The catastrophic event of the third battle of Panipat has been rightly referred to as a nationwide calamity, where the loss of lives was not limited to a particular region or class. The Persian accounts of the battle may have exaggerated the Maratha casualties and the victors' spoils, but a closer examination reveals that about half of the Maratha troops present on the field, approximately 30,000, perished, while around 20,000 were killed or captured during the pursuit. 
• The Peshwa, who was already unwell, received news of the disaster through a message that spoke of losing "two pearls" and "twenty-seven gold mohurs," with the total loss in silver and copper being immeasurable. The Peshwa, devastated by the news, succumbed to his illness and passed away in Poona on June 23, 1761. The casualties of the Maratha army in the third battle of Panipat were extensive, with many prominent leaders and soldiers losing their lives. 
• Vishwas Rao and Sadashiv Rao died in battle, and Tukoji Sindhia, Yashwant Rao Pawar, Santaji Wagh, Janakoji, Antaji Manakeshwar, and Sharasher Bahadur were among the others who perished. The Persian accounts of the victors' spoils are exaggerated, claiming thousands of horses, camels, and bullocks laden with property. 
• However, given the lack of food, fodder, and financial resources in Bhau's camp, it seems unlikely that the spoils were as great as claimed. Nonetheless, the Durrani gains must have been significant in terms of war material, as they had defeated an army nearly as big as their own, which was not poorly equipped. 
• The pursuit of the fugitives was relentless and resulted in many deaths, as indicated by the numerous piles of dead bodies in the surrounding area. The enemy was merciless, and the fleeing army did not ask for mercy either. The Jat peasantry of Haryana, who had suffered from their constant looting, attacked them on their way to the Gangetic doab. 
• They found safety only when they reached the territory of Surajmal, who treated them kindly, providing them with food, medical care, and transportation to their home city of Gwalior. Ahmad Shah left Delhi on March 20 and arrived in Ambala on the 27th, appointing Zain Khan Faujdar to govern Sarhind, including Ambala, Jind, Kurukshetra, and Karnal districts, while Najib, the most powerful noble of the Delhi court, occupied the rest of Haryana.

Causes of Maratha defeat at the Battle of Panipat

• The reasons for the Maratha defeat at the Battle of Panipat are numerous and varied. Some of the commonly cited factors include the Maratha's weak leadership and military organization, which suffered from feudalism and denationalization, a lack of food supply, the excessive weight of their artillery, tactical errors, insufficient defense, and poor diplomacy. 
• A detailed examination of these factors would require extensive research, which has already been conducted by historians such as J.N. Sarkar, G.S. Sardesai, H.R. Gupta, T.S. Shejwalkar, and S.M. Pagadi. To summarize, there are a few key points to be made about the reasons for the Maratha defeat at the Battle of Panipat. 
• Firstly, the rise of Najib-ud-daula and the Islamic revivalist movement led by Shah Waliullah were factors that contributed to the downfall of the Hindu forces, including the Marathas. These forces even invited Ahmad Shah Durrani to replace the Mughal rule with his own. 
• Secondly, the personal rivalry between the Sindhias and the Holkars added to the Maratha failure, as Holkar did not support Peshwa's ambitions in the north and may have colluded with Najib and Shah Pasand Khan on the day of the battle. Lastly, Bhau had expressed his desire to defend the Mughal Empire's honor and prestige and to defeat the Durranis in several of his communications. 
• Bhau's intention to defend the Mughal Empire and defeat the Durranis was evident in his actions, such as declaring Ali Gauhar and his son as the Emperor and heir before heading to Kunjapura to confront the invaders. However, the Marathas' aggressive and plundering approach in the north caused them to lose the support of the people, who were crucial in the fight against foreign aggression, and instead turned them against the Marathas. 
• To have a fair and unbiased evaluation of the events at Panipat, it is crucial to conduct a critical analysis of contemporary accounts in both Persian and Marathi languages. New evidence may lead to the revision of old opinions. Some historians have been too harsh on Bhau for his defeat at Panipat, failing to consider the social, economic, and political context of the Maratha state. 
• While some believe that the use of heavy artillery was the cause of the Maratha defeat, it must be acknowledged that guerilla tactics would not have been effective in the northern terrain, and the Marathas survived at Panipat for two months due to their artillery. Furthermore, Kashi Raj and Shamlu, who served the opposing camp, gave the best accolades to the bravery and courage of the Marathas. 
• The Marathas fought for a noble cause as they were the only Indian power that bore the full force of the Durrani attack, while others either supported the enemy or remained neutral. According to Professor H.G. Rawlinson, "never before have the Maratha armies covered themselves with greater glory than when the most courageous soldiers of the Deccan sacrificed their lives on the battlefield of Panipat, fighting against the enemies of their religion and country." 
• Panipat, where such an important event in Indian history took place, is still a topic of great interest for historians and is revered by the people. It would be fitting to establish a national monument at this location to honor the memory of those brave Indians who fought valiantly against the invaders even in the face of their worst defeat.