Abdali's Departure & The Afghan-Maratha Rivalry Setup (1757)

Marathi History Book Reading Session Summary

The Retreat Suggestion (March 1757)

Attack the Rear?

The Proposal:

• Someone (possibly Antaji Mankeshwar) suggested to Raghunath Rao Peshwa
• Strategy: Attack Abdali's rear columns as he retreats
• Guerrilla tactics - hit the supply train
• Raghunath Rao declined

Why He Refused:

• Probably didn't have adequate army to execute
• Abdali had developed a fearsome reputation
• Not something to undertake lightly
• Needed proper preparation and sufficient numbers

The Dispersed Maratha Forces (March 17, 1757)

Letter from North India

Who Was Where:

The Problem:

• Forces could not be assembled
• Too dispersed
• Not enough strength to confront Abdali
• Had to let him leave

The Massive Loot (March 26, 1757)

Badrinath's Account

From One Fort Alone:

• 20 lakh rupees looted
• Significant wealth from just one location

The Scale of the Haul:

• 28,000 animals loaded with loot
  • Camels
  • Elephants
  • Wolves
  • Bulls
  • Horses

Cities Completely Looted:

• Delhi - totally drained
• Agra - completely looted
• Vrindavan - stripped bare
• Bled them dry

Even the Animals Were Stolen:

• Merchants used donkeys/animals for transport
• Abdali even took the pack animals
• Needed them to carry his loot
• Nothing left behind

The Weapons Haul

What He Took, What He Left

Left Behind:

• Cannons brought to attack Surajmal Jat's fort
• No space on animals (prioritized loot over cannons)
• Abandoned the siege weapons

Took With Him:

• All swords found in Delhi
• Cannons from the Red Fort (Badshahi Killa)
• Best weapons he could carry

Why Weapons Mattered:

• War was his business model
• Needed superior war machine to keep looting
• Latest equipment = winning battles = more loot
• Investment in future invasions
• Would be back again and again

Mughalani Begum: The Betrayed Conspirator

The Woman Who Got Nothing

What She Did:

• Provided treasure map to Abdali
• Told him where all the hidden wealth was
• Invited him to loot Delhi
• Expected reward

What She Got:

• Deceived by Imad ul-Mulk (no reward)
• Deceived by Abdali (no reward)
• Nobody gave her anything
• Both sides used her, then discarded her

Her Fate

The Retirement:

• Rejected the small pension offered
• Moved to Lahore
• Lived in dejection
• Totally disheartened
• All her schemes came to nothing

The Punishment:

• Jahan Khan (Abdali's commander) beat her
• For her arrogance
• Humiliated by the very people she helped

The Sikh Resistance Begins

Attacks on the Column

What Happened:

• On the way back to Afghanistan
• Sikh warriors attacked Abdali's columns
• Abdali was most vulnerable while traveling
• Army in a long line formation
• Perfect target for hit-and-run attacks

Why Sikhs Were Effective:

• Gave Abdali tough times
• Harassed his retreat
• Not a major army yet, but growing

The Sikh Organization

Their Structure:

• Small armies: 200-500 fighters each
• Separate leaders for each band
• Not united into one force
• Disorganized overall
• But militaristic and fierce

Why They Were Militarizing:

• Being persecuted by Muslims in Punjab
• Had to defend themselves
• Out of necessity, not choice
• Reform movement → warrior community

The Hindu Problem:

• Hindus in Punjab were not battle-ready
• Not warlike people
• Sikhs provided the resistance to Muslims
• Filled the military vacuum

Abdali's Revenge: Destroying Holy Sites

The Retaliation

What He Destroyed:

• Kartarpur - Sikh holy site
• Amritsar - Sikh holy site (Guru's doors destroyed)

Why:

• Revenge for Sikh attacks on his retreat
• Had to go through Punjab to reach Afghanistan
• Deliberately desecrated sacred places
• Sent a message

The Pattern:

• Sikhs attack → Abdali retaliates by destroying temples
• Violence escalating
• Religious conflict intensifying

Taimur Shah: The Governor of Punjab

Abdali's Son Stays Behind

The Appointment:

• Taimur Shah (Abdali's son) became Subedar of Lahore
• Based in Lahore (capital of Punjab)
• Left to control the province
• Abdali's way of holding Punjab

The Resistance Continues:

• Sikhs gave Taimur tough times
• He was staying, they were local
• Constant harassment
• Ongoing struggle for control

Abdali's Goal:

• Abdali would cross Punjab and go to Afghanistan
• But wanted son controlling Punjab
• His only territorial ambition (for the tax revenue)
• Rest of India = just for looting

The Lasting Impact of 1757

What People Remembered

The Atrocities:

• Massacres in Mathura (Hindus slaughtered)
• Massive looting of wealth
• Temple destruction throughout the region
• Total devastation

The Psychological Damage:

• Very distressing attack
• Not something people would forget easily
• Burned into collective memory
• Trauma lasting for generations

The Power Structure After Abdali Left

Who Got Control

Najib Khan's Reward:

• Abdali gave government controls to Najib Khan
• His loyal Rohilla follower
• Now in strong position

The Reality:

• Mughal Emperor - namesake only, powerless
• Wazir - very weak
• Najib Khan - strong position but...
• Rohilla forces - only 10-15,000 soldiers

The Problem:

• 10-15k was no match for Marathas
• Neither in numbers
• Nor in war tactics
• Nor in valor
• Rohillas were outclassed

The Maratha Return

Filling the Vacuum

During Abdali's Presence:

• Marathas had totally dispersed
• Tactical retreat
• Couldn't face him directly
• Waited him out

After He Left:

• Started coming back
• Re-establishing hegemony in North
• Total vacuum of power
• Emperor weak, wazir weak
• Najib Khan insufficient
• No big dog in town

The Maratha Advantage:

• Superior in every way to Rohillas
• Natural candidates to fill power vacuum
• Expanding empire northward
• Picking up where they left off

The Great Rivalry: Afghans vs. Marathas

Two Powers, One Target

The Setup:

• 1757 invasion set up this rivalry
• Both wanted North India
• Both knew it was the money purse
• Both had ambitions to control it

The Afghan Perspective

What They Wanted:

• Punjab - only territorial goal (for taxes)
• Delhi - to loot periodically
• No permanent rule - just raid and leave

Why They Needed India:

• Afghanistan had nothing
• No riches, no money
• To get wealth = come to India
• Delhi and nearby areas = where the money was
• Business model: periodic raids

Their Status:

• Foreigners to India
• Afghanistan = separate country
• Could come and go (no visa requirements)
• Invaders
• Even recognized as such at the time

The Maratha Perspective

What They Wanted:

• Expand empire northward
• Control North India permanently
• Collect tributes and taxes
• Build proper administration

Their Advantage:

• In their own country
• India was their home
• Not foreigners
• Not invaders
• Natural claimants to Mughal successor status

The Money Problem:

• Constantly needed funds
• Couldn't conquer North without money
• Armies need salaries
• Equipment, horses, supplies
• Had to keep raising funds

The Critical Difference: Foreign vs. Domestic

The Contrast:

Why This Mattered:

• Afghans would come and go
• Marathas would stay
• Made the conflict inevitable
• One had to win, one had to lose
• Stage set for confrontation

The Book's New Section

Part Two Begins

The Title:

• "Khanda Don: Grishma"
• Volume/Part Two
• "Grishma" (meaning unclear - possibly "summer"?)

The Implication:

• Major section break
• New phase of the story
• The rivalry phase
• Building toward confrontation

Timeline

Key Players

Key Themes

1. The Missed Opportunity - Should have attacked the retreat
2. The Betrayed Conspirator - Mughalani Begum got nothing
3. The Rise of the Sikhs - Beginning to organize and resist
4. Religious Retaliation - Destroying holy sites as revenge
5. The Loot Economy - War as business for Abdali
6. The Power Vacuum - Everyone too weak to control North
7. Foreign vs. Domestic - The fundamental difference
8. The Inevitable Clash - Two powers, one target
9. The Money Problem - Can't conquer without funding
10. The Stage is Set - Rivalry that will lead somewhere

The Geography of Control (1757)

Afghan Control:

• Attaq (disputed)
• Peshawar (border area)
• Lahore (through Taimur Shah)
• Punjab (contested with Sikhs)

Maratha Control:

• Deccan (home base)
• Central India (traditional areas)
• Attempting: North India, Delhi area

No Control:

• Delhi - weak emperor, weak wazir, Najib Khan insufficient
• Transition Zone - up for grabs

The Business Model Comparison

Abdali's Model

The Cycle:

1. Invade India when need money
2. Loot Delhi systematically
3. Take maximum wealth
4. Return to Afghanistan
5. Build Afghan empire with Indian loot
6. Repeat when funds run low

The Sustainability:

• Punjab = steady income (keep it)
• Delhi = one-time scores (raid periodically)
• Model worked multiple times
• Will continue working

Maratha Model

The Strategy:

1. Conquer territory
2. Build administration
3. Collect regular taxes/tributes
4. Reinvest in army
5. Expand further

The Challenge:

• Need money to conquer
• Need to conquer to get money
• Chicken and egg problem
• Constant fundraising

Critical Insights

Why Raghunath Rao Declined the Rear Attack

The Calculation:

• Abdali's reputation was fearsome
• His army was experienced
• His general skills were proven
• He was dangerous even in retreat

What Would Be Needed:

• Properly prepared force
• Good-sized army
• Can't attack "lightly"
• Risk of being destroyed

The Guerrilla Option:

• Suggested strategy: Skirmish warfare
• Pounce, create trouble, vanish
• Attack for 1-2 hours, then disappear
• Come back, attack again
• Don't fight open battle
• Harass the column repeatedly

Why It Could Work:

• Army in column formation (vulnerable)
• Can't regroup easily when marching
• Supply train exposed
• Not a fair fight (that's the point)

Why Raghunath Rao Still Refused:

• Still needed capable army
• Even guerrilla warfare has risks
• Didn't have the forces available
• Better to let him leave

The Sikh Evolution

From Religious Reform → Warrior Community:

• Started as reform of Hinduism
• Guru Nanak simplified theology
• "One God" message
• Reduced Brahmin importance

Why They Militarized:

• Persecution by Muslims forced it
• Had to defend themselves
• Became warriors out of necessity
• Now a force to be reckoned with

Their Growing Organization:

• Still in early stages (1757)
• Small bands, separate leaders
• Not unified yet
• But fierce and effective
• Attacking Abdali shows confidence

The Power Vacuum Problem

Everyone Too Weak:

• Mughal Emperor = powerless
• Wazir = ineffective
• Najib Khan = only 10-15k (insufficient)
• No single power could control North

Who Could Fill It:

• Only Marathas had the strength
• But they were in the Deccan (far away)
• Distance made control difficult
• Would have to build presence

The Opportunity:

• Vacuum won't last forever
• Either Marathas fill it
• Or Abdali keeps raiding
• Or someone else rises
• But status quo unsustainable

The Weapons Priority

What Abdali Kept:

• Red Fort cannons (best ones)
• All swords from Delhi
• Latest military technology

What He Left:

• Cannons used against Jat fort
• Too heavy to transport
• Prioritized loot over all weapons

The Logic:

• War machine = future income
• Must stay superior
• Latest weapons = winning battles
• Winning battles = more loot
• Investment in the business

Foreshadowing

What This Sets Up:

1. Abdali will return - just a matter of time
2. Marathas will expand north - filling vacuum
3. Sikhs will grow stronger - organizing resistance
4. Najib Khan insufficient - can't hold North
5. Collision inevitable - two powers, one target
6. Money problem persists - Marathas need funds
7. Punjab remains key - both sides want it

The Question:

• When Abdali returns (not "if")
• Will Marathas be ready?
• Will they have money?
• Will they have forces in place?
• Or will it be 1757 again?

March 1757: Abdali leaves India loaded with loot, 28,000 animals carrying treasures, weapons, everything he could grab. Sikhs harass his retreat. He destroys their holy sites in revenge. His son Taimur stays in Lahore as governor. Marathas start creeping back into the vacuum. Najib Khan holds Delhi with insufficient forces. The stage is set. Two powers want the same territory. One is foreign and just wants to raid. The other is domestic and wants to rule. The rivalry has begun. The collision is inevitable. The only question is when.