Raghoba Bharari: The Grand Campaign That Bankrupted the Empire (1758)

The Weather Problem, The Money Problem, & The Day Everything Collapsed

The Name of the Campaign

"Raghoba Bharari"

What It Means:

• Raghoba = Raghunath Rao (nickname: "Raghoba Dada")
• Bharari = When a bird of prey makes a big leap/flight

Why This Name:

• Raghunath Rao went all the way to Attock
• Further than Marathas had ever gone
• Like a massive leap
• Campaign to the northwest corner of India

The Symbolism:

• Maratha Kingdom started with Shivaji - just three districts
• Slowly grew drastically
• Now thousands of Maratha soldiers in Attock
• Something tremendous

The Legacy:

• Raghobadada is credited with this tremendous victory
• His pinnacle/high point of career
• Had never been done, never done again

The Irony:

"He also caused a lot of troubles later on, but let's not get into that."

The Nephew Gets Peshawar

Abdur Rahman's Reward

What Raghunath Rao Did:

• Gave Abdali's nephew Subhedarship of Peshawar
• The nephew who came to defect from his uncle

Raghunath Rao's Plan:

• Stayed in Lahore for about one month only
• Didn't want to stay longer
• Gave Adina Beg the title of Subedar of Punjab
• Appointed Mughal officers under him

The Deal:

• Every year Adina Beg promised:
• Send tribute of 75 lakh rupees

The Sikh Problem

Why Raghunath Rao Used a Proxy

The Rising Sikhs:

• Sikhs were rising in Punjab
• Had several groups (no central command yet)
• Working toward same goal: bringing their own power in Punjab

Raghunath Rao's Understanding:

• Guessed it wouldn't be easy to control Punjab
• Didn't want to control it first-hand
• That would pit Marathas against Sikhs

The Religious Connection:

• Sikhs considered same/similar to Hindus at the time
• Sikhism and Hinduism not that different in Punjab then
• Sikhs were more militant
• But smaller compared to Hindu majority

The Pattern:

• In Hindu households, elders would become Sikh
• Because Sikhs were more militant
• They would do warfare

The Strategy:

"Raghunath Rao didn't want to take the fight with the Sikhs. He understood that they are on the ascendancy."

The Solution:

• Let Adina Beg be Subedar
• As long as he pays tribute (it was all about money)
• Adina Beg will be the face of Mughal power
• But left behind small chunk of Maratha army for maintenance

The Disillusionment

Why Punjabis Hated Marathas

The Reception:

• Disappointment with Marathas
• Didn't look upon them positively
• Disillusionment

Why:

1. Total foreigners - didn't speak the language
2. Only concern: tribute and money
3. Same as Abdali's goals - just money, not governance
4. No intention to settle down or govern long-term

The Equivalence:

"Both Abdali and Marathas, basically their goals were the same: tribute, money."

The Climate Problem

Why Marathas Couldn't Stay

VERY IMPORTANT POINT:

The Weather Pattern:

• Punjab weather different than what they were used to
• In the Khan (Deccan), weather is much warmer
• As you go north, becomes fairly cold
• Marathas not used to cold weather
• Especially winter - four months of cold

Why This Matters:

"This also has importance to the Panipat battle as well."

The Geography:

• Panipat is as north as Punjab towns/cities
• Today Panipat is in Haryana state (adjacent to Punjab)
• Weather pattern exactly the same
• Weather can be very cold during winter
• Marathas not used to that weather

Translation: The weather will be a factor at Panipat. ❄️

The River Problem

The Five Rivers & Monsoon Season

The Challenge:

• After monsoon begins (mid-June)
• For about four months during monsoon
• Difficult to cross rivers

Punjab's Geography:

• Five rivers including Sindhu
• All five/four rivers dump into Sindhu
• Carries on toward Arabian Ocean
• Have to cross these five rivers coming from Afghanistan
• Big obstacle

The Reality:

• No bridges at that time
• Crossing rivers = major problem
• Especially with large army

The Financial Impossibility

Why They Had to Leave

The Economic Reality:

"To keep a large Maratha army in Punjab was not economically possible for Maratha or Peshwa."

The Question: How to sustain them?

• Pay their salaries
• Provide supplies
• All the logistics

Not possible due to monetary situation.

The Letter to Pune

Raghunath Rao's Report

What He Wrote:

• Told Peshwa all he had done in northern campaign
• The great success he had

The Wise Decision:

• Decided to come back
• Would be in deeper hole financially if stayed longer

The Problem:

• Peshwa sitting in Pune
• Not swayed by military glory
• Peshwa = very good politician
• Understood the great success
• But in his eyes: success = financial success

The Question:

"What did Raghoba/Raghunath Rao bring back?"

If money is lacking: What good is the rest of the accomplishment?

The Borrowed Money

How the Campaign Was Funded

The Reality:

• To fund Raghunath Rao's northern campaign
• Peshwa collected lots of money from moneylenders
• At some point: have to return the money
• At least as much as you borrowed

The Consequence:

"If you can't do that, then you go into deeper hole as a Maratha Empire. Nobody likes it."

The Disaster: Raghunath Rao Came Back in DEBT

The Financial Catastrophe

What Happened:

• When Raghunath Rao came back
• He was in debt - big time
• Peshwa was NOT impressed at all

The Relationship:

• Raghunath Rao = Nana Saheb's younger brother
• Took it personally

The Expectation vs Reality:

• Expectation: Surplus money for Marathas to grow
• Reality: Deeper hole than before
• Whatever he borrowed to go north
• Didn't even bring back that much money

Critical Point: This is why Peshwa wasn't happy despite the military success.

The Temple Visit: Kashi

The Holy City

What Happened:

• Peshwa himself came to Kashi (Varanasi) before this
• Took a holy dip in the Ganga

Why Kashi:

• One of holiest Hindu cities
• City of Lord Shankar (Shiva)
• Very important pilgrimage site

Location: Kashi/Varanasi on the Ganga River

The Burning Ghats

Manikarnika Ghat

What Shankar Represents:

• The Destroyer (in the Hindu trinity)
• Creator, Sustainer, Destroyer

Where Shankar "Lives":

• Manikarnika Ghat in Kashi
• The ghat where bodies are burned

What You See:

• Ghat full of burning pyres
• Dead bodies brought there
• Being burned constantly
• Lots and lots of fires

Why:

"Shankar is the destroyer. He doesn't mind roaming around these ghastly sites where bodies are being burned. That's where he lives or wanders."

The Uniqueness:

• You don't see this with other gods
• Shankar is comfortable with death and cremation
• Makes sense: he's the destroyer

The Letter to Holkar-Shinde

The Orders

What Peshwa Wrote:

• Ordered Shinde-Holkar to finish the job in north
• Continue what Raghunath Rao started
• Complete the conquest

The Confidence:

"Once the order goes to Shinde-Holkar, it's as good as the job is done. I have no worries."

Translation: These guys will get it done. Peshwa has full faith.

The Same Day Disaster

Adina Beg's Death

The Timing:

"The day Mr. Raghunath Rao landed in Pune, on the same day, Adina Beg was dead in Lahore."

How: Assassinated? [Details to come]

The Setback:

• This is BAD
• Raghunath Rao had dealt with Adina Beg
• Had agreements with him (75 lakh tribute, etc.)
• But he's dead

The Consequence:

"Now this is tough. What to do? It will create instability and restlessness."

The Collapse:

• Whatever arrangements Raghunath Rao put in place
• Now they look like they will collapse

The Son-in-Law Fails

Khwaja Can't Hold Punjab

Who Took Over:

• Khwaja [somebody]
• Adina Beg's son-in-law (zawai)

The Problem:

• Not able to defeat Afghan revolt in Punjab
• Afghans hadn't forgotten about Punjab
• Punjab = lots of taxes and revenue
• Afghan tribes probably had blessings of Abdali
• They were revolting

The Result:

• Khwaja couldn't defeat these Afghan tribes
• They won out over him
• Created instability

Sabaji Shinde Steps In

Holding the Line (Barely)

Who Was Left Behind:

• Sabaji Shinde was left with some force by Raghunath Rao

What He Did:

• Somehow controlled the Afghan tribal revolt in Punjab
• Took control of Peshawar
• Essentially in charge now

Not Official:

• Not declared Subedar (would create trouble with locals)
• They wouldn't like it (he's an outright foreigner)
• But he had practical control
• Because of him, there was stability

The Pattern Continues

The Moment He Left

What Happened:

• Sabaji Shinde stepped out of Punjab (maybe went to Delhi)
• Afghan tribes that had quieted down
• Surged back up again

The Realization:

"Now it became clear that it was difficult to maintain superiority or total control over these Afghan tribes for Sabaji Shinde because he was far away from his power base (Deccan)."

The Force:

• Probably left with 7,000-10,000 horse
• Not enough

The Hegemony

How Far Maratha Influence Went

Peshwa's Hegemony:

• Up to Attock (on Sindhu River)
• As far north as Marathas had ever gone
• Sabaji still able to maintain tenuous control

Who Was Sabaji Shinde:

• Brother of Jayapa Shinde (deceased, killed during siege)
• Also brother of Dattaji Shinde
• One of five Shinde brothers
• Younger brother even

The Division:

• Sabaji Shinde based in Punjab
• Dattaji Shinde based in Delhi
• Dattaji now in charge of northern army

The Mughal Emperor: Powerless

Reduced to Red Fort

The Reality:

• Mughal Emperor = namesake only
• No power to appoint Subedars or officers
• Totally reduced to within the walls of Red Fort

Attock = New Boundary:

• Attock became the boundary in the north
• Of Maratha "empire" (loose term)
• Far north, on border with Afghanistan
• Tremendous achievement

The Debt Problem (Revisited)

The 80 Lakh Increase

The Numbers:

• Raghunath Rao went on northern campaign
• Huge loan sought from moneylenders
• Both Malhar Rao Holkar and Raghunath Rao

When They Came Back:

• That huge loan was still intact (almost)
• New ground was covered (went to Afghanistan)
• But Nana Saheb Peshwa heavily in debt

The Increase:

• There was an addition of 80 lakh rupees
• The debt even increased in size

Over Budget: They were 80 lakh rupees MORE in debt.

Nana Saheb: The Financial Manager

The Man Who Cared About Money

His Strengths:

• Could go to battle
• But more interested in: governance, administration, finances

His Reaction:

• Didn't like it at all
• Fact that they were going deeper into debt
• Over budget by 80 lakh rupees
• On top of what they'd already sought

The Situation:

• Raghunath Rao has returned
• But new trouble is brewing
• Shinde brothers left in north to figure it out

In Punjab:

• Sabaji Shinde somehow keeping it together (barely)

In Delhi:

• Dattaji overall in charge of northern frontiers
• But based in Delhi

Key Players

Timeline

Geographic Context

The Weather Problem:

• Punjab/Haryana = cold in winter (4 months)
• Panipat = in Haryana, same cold weather
• Deccan/Khan = much warmer
• Marathas not used to cold

The River Problem:

• Five rivers in Punjab
• No bridges
• Monsoon season = even harder to cross

The Distance Problem:

• 1,000+ miles from Deccan to Punjab
• Power base = Deccan
• Too far to maintain effectively

Key Themes

1. The Name Says It All

• "Bharari" = great leap of a bird of prey
• Never done before, never done again
• Raghobadada's pinnacle

2. The Weather Will Matter

• Cold winter = problem for Marathas
• Important for Panipat battle
• They're not prepared for it

3. Financial Disaster

• Military glory ≠ financial success
• Came back deeper in debt
• Nana Saheb NOT impressed
• 80 lakh MORE in debt

4. Proxy Leadership Failed

• Adina Beg died immediately
• Son-in-law couldn't handle it
• Afghan revolts resumed
• Arrangements collapsed

5. The Sikh Factor

• Raghunath Rao wisely avoided fighting them
• They were rising
• Used Adina Beg as buffer
• But that buffer is now gone

6. Sabaji's Impossible Task

• Left with insufficient force
• Far from power base
• Moment he leaves, revolts resume
• Tenuous control at best

7. Same Goals as Abdali

• Marathas also just wanted money/tribute
• Didn't want to settle or govern
• Punjabis disillusioned with both
• No difference between invaders

Critical Insights

Why the Campaign Failed Financially

The Math:

1. Borrowed huge loans from moneylenders
2. Went to Punjab, reached Attock/Peshawar
3. Didn't bring back enough to repay
4. Actually increased debt by 80 lakh
5. Nana Saheb expected surplus, got deficit

The Expectation:

• Military success → capture territory → collect tribute → repay loans + profit

The Reality:

• Military success → weak administration → can't hold territory → can't collect sustained tribute → still owe money + MORE debt

The Adina Beg Timing

The Coincidence:

• Same day Raghunath Rao lands in Pune
• Adina Beg dies in Lahore

What This Means:

• All arrangements immediately vulnerable
• No strong local leader to maintain order
• Afghan revolts resurge
• Everything Raghunath Rao set up = collapsing

The Metaphor:

• Built a house of cards
• Strong wind (Adina Beg's death) knocked it down
• Before Raghunath Rao even got home

The Shinde Brothers' Burden

Five Brothers:

1. Jayapa Shinde - dead (killed in siege)
2. Dattaji Shinde - Delhi, northern command
3. Sabaji Shinde - Punjab, barely holding
4. Two others - not mentioned yet

The Impossible:

• Hold Punjab with insufficient force
• Far from home base
• Afghan revolts constant
• No financial support
• Climate hostile
• Rivers blocking retreat

They're being asked to hold something that can't be held.

The Climate Foreshadowing

Why This Matters:

"This also has importance to the Panipat battle."

The Setup:

• Marathas not used to cold
• Punjab cold = Panipat cold (Haryana)
• Four months of winter
• Will be fighting in that weather eventually
• They don't know how to handle it

The Omen: Their inability to stay in Punjab due to weather = foreshadowing their problems at Panipat.

Foreshadowing

What's Coming

The Financial Crisis:

• 80 lakh MORE in debt
• Nana Saheb unhappy
• Brothers expected to fix it
• But how? With what money?

The Military Crisis:

• Sabaji barely holding Punjab
• Dattaji managing Delhi politics
• Insufficient forces
• Adina Beg dead
• Afghan revolts ongoing
• Abdali will return

The Weather Crisis:

• Can't stay in Punjab long-term
• Cold winters unbearable
• But they've committed to holding the north
• What happens when winter comes at Panipat?

The Inevitable:

"Now things are coming into picture. Hopefully in a couple of pages we'll get into the real story. We'll see how it shakes out."

1758: "Raghoba Bharari" - the great leap to Attock and Peshawar. A name for the ages, a campaign that goes further than any Maratha ever went. Rose water and lights and memorials and glory. But underneath? A financial disaster. Came back 80 lakh rupees deeper in debt than when he left. Nana Saheb is pissed. His younger brother made promises and arrangements with Adina Beg, but the day Raghunath Rao lands in Pune, Adina Beg dies in Lahore. Everything collapses. Afghan revolts surge back. Sabaji Shinde left behind with insufficient force, barely holding on, far from home in the cold that Marathas can't handle. The moment he leaves an area, revolts resume. It's tenuous. It's unsustainable. It's expensive. The Punjabis hate the Marathas as much as they hated Abdali - same goals, just tribute and money, no real governance. The great campaign's legacy: massive debt, weak administration, hostile climate, and a false sense of achievement. The bird of prey made its great leap. But it couldn't stay in the air. Now it's falling.