In the hands to hand fight, the Marathas artillery could not play its part but the Afghan muskets helped the Afghans to win the battle. They were individualists and refractory. The ill- disciplined Marathas lost the day to the well organized and well disciplined Afghan troops. Sardesai has attributed the Maratha defeat at Panipat to the following causes: Raghunath Rao failed to maintain order and discipline among the Maratha agents in the north.
Holkar failed to restrain Najib Khan from doing mischief. The Peshwa failed to go to the north and adjust matters when it was yet time to mend them. Bhau Saheb failed to keep women and non-combatants behind at Bharatpur or at Delhi. After the death of Vishvasrao, Bhau Saheb should not have rushed headlong into the fight. Most of the Maratha horses had died on account of starvation in the camp at Panipat and the Marathas had to fight without their horsed.
They were accustomed to fight only with their horsed and not without them and no wonder they failed. Sardesai thinks that it is wrong to say that the Marathas lost the battle of Panipat because they gave up guerilla warfare. Balaji Bajirao was a man of refined tastes, found of luxurious life and enoying splendor and fine arts.
During his regime , the social life of Maharashtra underwent great changes, in many directions. Hence, the Marathas failed to stand victorious against them.
Above all, Ahmad Shah Abdali was a better commander. He used better war tactics and forced the Marathas to raise their head against him. Sardesai and Shezwalkar have praised the qualities of Abdali as a capable commander. Ahmad Shah Abdali concluded friendly pacts with the rulers of Rohilkhand and Avadh. They instigated the Muslim s of northern India and sought their help.
The Marathas advanced towards northern India without consolidating their position in the south. It harmed them.
AS the Peshwa was not present in northern India, the Marathas nobles could not work unitedly. There is a tale about this battle. When the Marathas were besieged at Panipat, short of supplies and provisions, Abdali would ride around the camp every night. A member of an upper caste will not eat with a lower caste or have food cooked by him.
Then we have won. Panipat was lost by the divide within India and Indians. The politicos of the Maratha court conspired to send Sadashiv Bhau to his defeat. In the Maratha army there were dissensions, with chieftains often coming to blows. Many of the Maratha allies backed out at the last moment in part due to the arrogance and obstinacy of Sadashiv Bhau and so many Indian rulers conspired to defeat them. The same divisions exist in Indian society and polity even today and the chasm only seems to be widening.
Ajay Singh is a renowned author and military historian who has authored four books and over articles. Views expressed are personal. Home News India. Remembering Panipat: Blackest day in Indian history and what we can learn from it Divisions of caste, and creed and religion all conspired to bring about this defeat Ajay Singh Updated: January 14, IST.
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