Dattaji Shinde's Punjab Campaign & Strategic Appointments (1759)

Marathi History Book Reading Session Summary

The Double-Dealing of Madho Singh

Secret Alliance with Abdali

Madho Singh of Jaipur was playing a dangerous double game:

• Publicly: Agreeing to pay tribute to Marathas
• Secretly: Corresponding with Abdali and following his instructions
• Mission from Abdali: Obstruct Marathas at every opportunity

Malhar Rao's Ignorance:

• Malhar Rao Holkar had no idea about this secret alliance
• He was operating under the assumption that Madho Singh was cooperating

The Strategy:

• Madho Singh used every opportunity to create trouble for the Marathas
• This was direct advice from Abdali
• All northern powers were coordinating against Maratha expansion

Delhi Power Dynamics (Early 1759)

Force Positions

When Dattaji and Jankoji arrived at Delhi:

• Malhar Rao was still in Pune (not yet in the north)
• The two Shinde commanders were at the gates of Delhi

The Vazir's Promise

Mughal Vazir (Imad-ul-Mulk):

• Promised to pay tribute/indemnity to Dattaji
• This was to buy time and appease the Marathas
• Money was always the negotiation tool

Crossing the Yamuna (January 1759)

Burari Ghat Encampment

Strategic Position:

• Dattaji's army camped at Burari Ghat on the Yamuna River
• Location: A few miles north of Delhi
• Yamuna flows on the western side of Delhi, leaving the city on the western bank

The Crossing:

• Water levels had receded (post-monsoon period)
• Timing: January 1759 (dry season)
• This allowed troops to cross from western to eastern bank

Why Cross?

• To pursue Najeeb Khan Rohila
• Rohilas' territory (Rohilkhand) was on the eastern side
• Dattaji wanted to pressure this natural enemy

The Peshwa's Power Play

Deciding the Vazir Position

Unprecedented Authority:

• The Peshwa (sitting in Pune) was now deciding who becomes Vazir of the Mughal court in Delhi
• This shows how far Maratha power had extended
• The Emperor in Delhi had become essentially a puppet

The Target:

• Peshwa wanted to remove Imad-ul-Mulk from the Vazir position
• This was part of ongoing political maneuvering

Personality Contrast: Dattaji vs. Malhar Rao

Different Leadership Styles

Dattaji Shinde's Approach:

• Brusque and impatient (Adhir = impatient)
• To the point (Tuttak = direct, no-nonsense)
• Wanted results quickly
• No time for "hanky panky discussions"
• Demanded action and compliance immediately

Malhar Rao Holkar's Approach:

• More patient and accommodating
• Willing to engage in longer negotiations
• Not as quick to demand immediate action
• More diplomatic in style

Impact on Mughal Court:

• The Delhi court had to adjust to this new, more aggressive Maratha personality
• Previous dealings with Malhar Rao had been more relaxed
• Now they faced a soldier who would "brook no nonsense"

Dattaji's Order to Imad-ul-Mulk:

• He ordered (pharmaula) Imad to accompany him
• Purpose: To preserve relationship with the emperor
• This was not a request—it was a command

The Punjab Problem

Why Punjab Was a Headache

Distance from Home:

• Punjab was extremely far from Maharashtra (Maratha homeland)
• Cultural differences: Different language, customs
• Climate: Much colder than Maharashtra

Why They Couldn't Leave:

• Contractual obligation: Marathas had signed agreement to protect Mughal Empire
• Punjab was under constant threat from Afghan invasions
• Abdali could use it as entry point to Delhi

The Maratha Dilemma:

• Soldiers didn't want to stay in Punjab long-term
• But they had to maintain presence to fulfill their duty
• It was a constant burden

The Population Problem

Two Competing Power Centers:

1. Muslim Majority:

   • Punjab's population was predominantly Muslim
   • They viewed Marathas (Hindu) as outsiders
   • Natural resistance to Maratha authority

2. Rising Sikh Power:

   • Sikhs were gaining strength and organization
   • Multiple Sikh tribes operating in Punjab
   • Had aspirations of their own political power
   • Even though Hindu-Sikh relations were close, Sikhs said: "You're outsiders, this is our home"

Caught in the Middle:

• Marathas had to deal with hostile Muslim citizenry
• AND navigate Sikh aspirations for independence
• Sikhs were anti-Muslim but also wanted Marathas gone
• Neither group wanted foreign (Maratha) rule

Supply and Support Issues

Marathas Were Struggling With:

1. Shortage of supplies (Sadhanancha abhav)
2. Local population against them
   • Muslims opposed them religiously
   • Sikhs opposed them politically
3. Distance from supply lines
4. Weak Mughal authority to back them up

The Realization:

• Dattaji came to understand the massive obstacles in safeguarding Punjab
• He realized this was potentially a losing battle
• Questions arose: "Is it really worth staying here?"

The Western Push (April 1759)

Reaching the Sutlej River

Timeline: Up until April 1759

Geographic Progress:

• Dattaji pushed all the way to the Sutlej River
• Sutlej = major river flowing through Punjab
• Eventually empties into the Indus River (Sindhu)
• This was moving westward into deeper Punjab territory

Meeting with Sabaji Shinde

Sabaji Shinde:

• Came from Peshawar (far northwest, near Kabul/Afghanistan border)
• Likely a relative of Dattaji (possibly not brother, but family)
• Had been stationed in Peshawar to watch the Afghan invasion route

Purpose of Meeting:

• Dattaji needed to understand the political situation from someone on the ground
• Sabaji had been based in that region and knew the dynamics
• Strategic discussion about defending the western frontier

Strategic Appointments in Punjab

Dattaji's Mission

Primary Objective from Peshwa:

1. Stabilize Punjab
2. Understand the political landscape
3. Make key appointments so Maratha presence could be maintained
4. Prevent outside aggression (mainly from Afghanistan)

The Appointments:

The Strategy:

• These commanders and their armies would safeguard respective regions
• Create a defensive network across Punjab
• Prevent Abdali from using Punjab as invasion corridor to Delhi
• Intercept any Afghan forces before they could threaten Delhi or eastern territories

The Larger Strategic Picture

Abdali's Threat Assessment

Why Punjab Mattered:

• Any Afghan invasion must pass through Punjab to reach Delhi
• Punjab had to be stable with strong Maratha leadership
• The goal: Stop Abdali in Punjab, not let him get further east

The Challenge:

• Abdali's armies were familiar with the terrain
• They had support networks in the region
• Maratha armies were overstretched and undersupplied

Implementation Phase

What Came Next:

• Dattaji began implementing the Peshwa's strategy
• First element: Secure and stabilize Punjab ✓
• Next objectives:
  1. Move towards Delhi and handle Najeeb Khan
  2. Head east towards Bengal for revenue collection
  3. Maintain communication lines

Resource Constraints

Why This Was Nearly Impossible

Sabaji Shinde's Problem:

• He was "Peshawar's man" but had insufficient forces
• Given a critical job without adequate resources
• Expected to defend the most vulnerable invasion route
• This foreshadows future problems

Pattern of Overstretching:

• Marathas kept taking on more territory
• But couldn't provide enough troops or supplies
• Commanders set up to fail
• The empire was expanding faster than capacity to hold it

Key Figures in This Session

Geographic Context

Key Locations:

• Delhi - Mughal capital, Maratha staging ground
• Burari Ghat - Yamuna crossing point north of Delhi
• Yamuna River - Natural barrier, crossed when water low
• Punjab - Northwestern province, constant threat zone
• Sutlej River - Major Punjab river, Dattaji's western limit
• Peshawar - Far northwest, near Afghan border
• Lahore - Punjab capital city
• Atak - Northern strategic town
• Multan - Southern Punjab city

Timeline

• January 1759 - Dattaji camps at Burari Ghat, crosses Yamuna
• January-April 1759 - Operations in and around Delhi area
• April 1759 - Pushed west to Sutlej River, met Sabaji Shinde
• After April 1759 - Made strategic appointments across Punjab

Major Themes

1. Overextension

The Marathas were trying to control too much territory with insufficient resources.

2. Cultural Clash

Hindu Maratha armies trying to govern hostile Muslim populations and navigate Sikh aspirations.

3. Leadership Styles Matter

Dattaji's aggressive, no-nonsense approach contrasted sharply with previous Maratha diplomacy.

4. Secret Alliances

Regional powers like Madho Singh were coordinating with Abdali behind Maratha backs.

5. The Punjab Dilemma

A territory that HAD to be defended but was nearly impossible to hold effectively.

What's Coming Next

Immediate Priorities:

• Dattaji must maintain Punjab stability
• Deal with Najeeb Khan situation
• Eventually move east toward Bengal for revenue
• Keep defensive network functioning with limited resources

Looming Threats:

• Abdali is watching and waiting
• Secret alliances working against Marathas
• Undersupplied commanders vulnerable
• Long supply lines and distance from home

The Marathas are playing a dangerous game—stretched thin across hostile territory, relying on commanders who don't have enough support, facing enemies who are coordinating behind the scenes. Dattaji's aggressive style might get things done quickly, but the structural problems of holding Punjab remain unsolved.