Third Battle of Panipat Was Fought in January 1761

When the Mughal state was declining by internal strife and revolt, the Marathas were growing in the Western India. Before the collapse of Maratha military power in the battle of Panipat 1761, the Maratha state under its Prime Minister (Peshwa) had become the symbol of the rising Hindu nationalism. The first two Peshwas (Balaji Vishwanath and Baji Rao) built up a strong and unified warrior state. Baji Rao died in 1740 but the Marathas continued to dominate the Indian subcontinent. The Rise of Peshwa Balaji Bajirao before Battle of Panipat 1761: The office of Peshwa had become hereditary in the family of Vishwanath. When Peshwa Bajirao died in 1740, his eldest son Balaji Baji Rao succeeded him as Peshwa and supreme power had passed into the hands of the Prime Minister eclipsing the authority of Chattrapati. Baji Rao is remembered by the people of Maharashtra for his humane administration. The administration of justice was improved and the civil and military courts became the guardians of the people’s rights. Panchayat system was reformed and a strong police force was stationed at Poona. He gave attention to trade and built roads, inns and temples and stabilized the Maratha Empire. Grant and Duff have written that Peshwa Balaji Baji Rao was one of those princes whose good fortune originated in the cause anterior to their times, obtained its consequences in national prosperity and a higher degree of celebrity than they may fully merit. Strategic Mistakes by Peshwa Bajirao Balaji: Balaji Baji Rao became Peshwa after the death of Baji Rao in 1740. It is true that Balaji Baji Rao was not as efficient as his predecessors Baji Rao and Balaji Vishwanath; he took advantage of the influence of his cousin Sadashiva Bhau. It was under the guidance of Sadashiv Bhau that the Maratha power reached its climax in 1760. Sardesai has written that the Peshwa made a mistake by taking the British help in crushing the rebellious Maratha navy which was commanded by his own general Angiras. He neglected to claim Bhonsle’s claim in Bengal when Siraj-ud-Daula (ruler of Bengal) was being hard pressed by the British before the battle of Plassey. When the battle of Plassey was fought between the British and Siraj-ud-Daula, it was the duty of the Peshwa to help him. He could have broken the back of the British at Plassey. The Peshwa had no business to go beyond Satluj in the North. He also paid undue attention to the politics in Delhi. He could not understand the real nature of the British game. If he had understood the all India politics, he would have acted otherwise. The result of his mistakes was that the British were able to establish themselves in Bengal, Bihar and Orissa. Causes of the Battle of Panipat 1761: Raghuji Bhonsle overran the whole of Central India and invaded Bengal. Between 1752 to 1756, the Peshwa secured the rights of Chauth of north India from the Mughal emperor. Punjab was occupied in 1758 and the Maratha flag was unfurled over the fort of Attock. The Maratha flag dominated the Subcontinent from Himalayas and the Indus to the Peninsula. All the territory which the Marathas did not own paid tribute. Maratha Empire Extended to the North West India: The occupation of Punjab brought the Marathas into direct conflict with Ahmed Shah Durrani, the ruler of Afghanistan. The Marathas were ready to face the challenge. Thus, the famous third battle of Panipat was fought in January 1761. Ahmed Shah Abdali/Durrani commanded an army of 40,000 cavalry and 35,000 infantry. The Maratha commander Sadashiv Bhau had an army 55,000 cavalry and 15,000 infantry along with 15,000 Pindaris. The Marathas were expert in guerilla warfare but Sadashiv Bhau decided to fight a pitched battle against the advice of his generals and his allies. The word Panipat means the town of weavers or the textile city. This battle was fought at Panipat because Panipat was like an entry point to India. When the ambassadors and the armies from Afghanistan and Persia, they had to come through the city and the open fields of Panipat. It was a large area of open fields where it was possible for armies to set up camps. Events leading to 3rd Battle of Panipat: In November-December 1761, Ahmed Shah Abdali crossed Indus with a large army and overran the whole of Punjab. Finding resistance impossible, Sabaji and Dattaji Scindhia had to fall back towards Delhi. Dattaji Scindhia was killed in a skirmish with the Afghans at Barai Ghat on 9 January 1760. Malhar Rao Holkar and Jankoji Scindhia also retreated and Abdali occupied Delhi. The Peshwa now decided to send Sadashiva Rau Bhau to Delhi. He recaptured Delhi on 22 August 1760 and marched into Punjab to face Abdali. Both the armies were handicapped for supplies and negotiated for peace. Since no meeting ground was found, the battle came on 14th January 1761. On the day of the battle, the Marathas had the upper hand. But Sadashiv Rao and Vishwas Rao (the son of the Peshwa) were killed. The death of the commander turned the tide of the battle. Mahadji Scindhia became lame while Malhar Rao Holkar ran for his life. The Afghans under Ahmed Shah Abdali won the third battle of Panipat. The news of the defeat reached Peshwa Balaji Bajirao when he was marching to Panipat with reinforcements. He returned to Poona where he died broken hearted in 1761, a few days later. The loss at the battle can be summed in the following words: “Two pearl (first grade commanders) have been dissolved. 27 gold mohars (second grade commanders) have been lost and of the silver (third level commanders) and the copper (common soldiers) the total can’t be reckoned.” Consequences of the Third Battle of Panipat: Dr. Sardesai has written that notwithstanding the terrible loss at the third battle of Panipat, the disaster decided nothing. In fact, it pushed forward in the distant sequel two prominent members of the dominant race: Nana Phadanavis and Mahadji Scindhia had escaped death on that fatal day. Elphinston has written that never was a defeat more complete and never was there a calamity that diffused so much consternation. J.N. Sircar has written that the third battle of Panipat was a nation wide disaster like Flodden Field. There was no home that had not mourn the loss of a member. An entire generation of leaders was cut off at one stroke. The third battle of Panipat decided the fate of India. The Marathas and the Muslims weakened each other in the deadly conflict, facilitating the aims of the British for Indian supremacy. Causes of the Defeat of the Marathas: 1. Ahmed Shah’s army was stronger and more mobile. 2. Sadashiv Bhau was no match for Ahmed Shah Durrani who was the best commander in Asia at those times. 3. The strength of the Marathas lay in guerilla warfare. Thus, the decision to fight pitched battle was a mistake. 4. The Marathas could not maintain their line of communication. Bhau’s army literally lived on the air while the Afghans kept their supply line open through Doab and Delhi. 5. While the Marathas were armed with swords and lance, the Afghan soldiers were armed with muskets. 6. Mutual jealousy of the Maratha commander weakened their side. Bhau and Malhar Rao Holkar did not like each other and wished for downfall. Thus, the commanders were individualistic in spirit and could not make a unified stand. Sidney Owens has written that the third battle of Panipat shattered the Maratha power to atoms and though the hydra-headed monster was not killed, it was so effectually scotched that it remained practically quiescent until the great British statesmen were in a condition to cope with and ultimately to master and disintegrate it. .

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