Raghoba Dada over Sadashiv Rao Bhau ?? This question keeps popping up everytime one reads the battle of Panipat. Under the flag of Nana Saheb, the Maratha Empire was at its Zenith. Many might point out fingers at him for opting Sadashiv Rao Bhau over Raghoba Dada which some believe led to the defeat of Marathas in the Panipat battle. Many people blame Nana Saheb for choosing Sadashiv Rao Bhau over Raghoba Dada which turned the discourse of entire Bharat and also the history of the sacred Punyabhumi. But let’s find out was the decision to pick Sadashiv Rao Bhau over Raghoba Dada correct. Let us first know about the achievements of Sadashiv Rao Bhau.

Ajra, south of Kolhapur was where Bhau had his first major victory, defeating the Nawab of Savnur, capturing fort of Bahadur Bhenda. Chauth was levied and around 36 Parganas became a part of the empire. That started the victory march for Bhau, as city after city in North Karnataka fell, Kittur, Gokak, Bagalkot, Badami, Basavapatna, Navalgund, all overran by him. Yamaji Shivdev’s revolt was crushed, and soon he became the Diwan of the Peshwa who was his own cousin.

The Nizam of Hyderabad was decisively routed in the Battle of Udgir in 1760 by Bhau, and had to surrender Ahmadnagar, Daulatabad, Bijapur to him. By now Bhau was the master of the Deccan, having overran both Karnataka as well as routing the Nizam. Just when he was lording over the Deccan, the news of Ahmed Shah Abdali’s arrival reached the Marathas, in alliance with the Nawabs of Avadh, Rohillkhand as well as the Rajput rulers of Jodhpur and Amber, a major crisis was on hand.Dattaji Scindia was killed at the Battle of Burari Ghat. Recalled from Udgir to Partur, Bhau was choosen by the Peshwa to lead the Maratha campaign in the North against the Afghans, a decision that turned out to be rather hasty. While Bhau was pretty much at home in the Deccan, the North was not really a familiar territory to him, especially the internal politics there. And this proved to be a major disadvantage, as he failed to get the powerful Rajput, Jat, Sikh chieftains on his side.

While Bhau was a brilliant warrior, he was not the best of strategists, and negotiation, was not exactly his forte. Taking thousands of pilgrims and their families wanting to visit the temples in North on a military campaign was a disaster. While Bhau was a brilliant warrior, he was not the best of strategists, and negotiation, was not exactly his forte. Taking thousands of pilgrims and their families wanting to visit the temples in North on a military campaign was a disaster. These pilgrims became a burden on the army, who had to take care of the logistics as well as supplies for them. The Maratha Army usually relied on swift blitzkrieg like attacks to overwhelm the enemy, so carrying civilians along was not going to work. Also Bhau adopted new tactics of infantry and artillery, as against the traditional Maratha reliance on hit and run tactics, which he felt would not work in an open plains warfare like in the North.

However some like Holkar were not ready to accept Bhau’s tactics of using artillery and infantry, as they felt the army was not adequately trained. He neverthless went ahead, in spite of objections, and formed an artillery of 10,000.

Though Holkar and Scindia tried to get the Rajput rulers, the Jat chieftain Suraj Mal and the Sikhs on the Maratha side, it did not work out. Another factor was the Maratha rulers interfering in the succession battles of Rajput rulers, which alienated many.

The Rajput rulers often had their own internal rivalries, and succession conflicts. And more often than not, you had the Marathas playing off one side against another. Typically it was Holkar vs Scindia in most of these cases.

In the meantime Holkar and Scindia persuaded Bhau to strike an alliance with Suraj Mal, who did join, inspite of the fact that he had no love lost for the Marathas. However Bhau’s rather overbearing nature, meant that the Jats did not give full fledged support.

He also rejected the offer of Sikhs to aid him against the Afghans and that meant he lost one of the most vital support ever. Again another disastrous tactic, as the Sikhs were battle hardened when it came to the Afghans, they knew their strategies well.

Bhau took Delhi with a strong artillery attack in 1760, driving out Durrani from there, however they got no support from the local chieftains in and around there. He advanced further north, and the fort of Kunjipura near Karnal was taken in a blitzkrieg attack.

Bhau took Delhi with a strong artillery attack in 1760, driving out Durrani from there, however they got no support from the local chieftains in and around there. He advanced further north, and the fort of Kunjipura near Karnal was taken in a blitzkrieg attack.

Once again presence of a large number of civilians in the Maratha contingent meant the supplies at Kunjipura were exhausted fast. Exasperated by the loss, Ahmed Shah Abdali himself entered the fray, making a daring cross across the Yamuna at Baghpat.

The Marathas however managed to block Abdali’s return route back to Afghanistan, and soon there was a fierce skirmish at Sonepat. Though the Afghans lost 1000 men, they managed to drive the Marathas back, and completely cut off their supply lines.

Finally with his soldiers morale running out, and starvation rampant, Sadashiv Rao Bhau had no option but to call for war.
Jan 14, 1761 on Makar Sankranti, the 3rd Battle of Panipat, as the Marathas and Afghans clashed in one of the most decisive battles ever.

Till 2 PM, the Marathas actually managed to break the Afghan forces, Bhau himself leading a spirited attack. So fierce was the assault of the Marathas led by Bhau, that the Afghans ran from the battle field.

Just when the Marathas seemed to be gaining the upper hand, Vishwas Rao, the Peshwa’s son was hit by a stray bullet, and that was the turning point.Taking advantage of Vishwasrao’s death, Durrani attacked the Marathas, with 10,000 troops, totally encircling them.

Bhau along with Ibrahim Khan Gardi and Jankoji Scindia was surrounded by the Afghans, while Holkar fled from the battlefield. Bhau along with Ibrahim Khan Gardi put up a spirited fight against the Afghans, however Vishwas Rao’s death demoralized the Marathas.

When he saw his nephew Vishwas Rao dead Bhau dismounted from elephant and plunged straight into the battle.However the Marathas seeing the empty howdah thought Bhau too had fallen and were demoralized further now.

He fought to the last, even though he knew it was a losing cause, before he finally fell like a hero on the battle field. One of the greatest Maratha heroes, Sadashiv Rao Bhau, perished on the field of Panipat, fighting till the last. (Credit-@Sadaashree)

Also the demands of Raghoba Dada to fight Abdali was way too high given the financial condition Maratha Empire was at. Abdali had a huge army accompanied by heavy a rtillery therefore defeat of Panipat was inevitable. But Marathas needed someone who had the caliber to take down the Abdali forces with limited manpower and light artillery and the one who had the caliber of no other than Sadashiv Rao Bhau. Also, he lost his son Vishwasrao in the battle. After he got the news of the defeat of Marathas in Panipat, Nana Saheb broke down and after a few days attained Sadgati.

It must be kept in mind that under Nana Saheb Marathas expanded their territory across the Indian Subcontinent, and became the most powerful empire. Yes, the defeat of Panipat took a heavy toll on Marathas but within 10 years of the Panipat, Marathas succeeded to repair the damage with Madhavrao as the Peshwa and Marathas successfully crushed the Malecchas under their feet once again.

 

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