Suja Goes Neutral & The River Crossing Crisis (1760)

Marathi History Book Reading Session Summary

The River Crossing: Critical Geographic Reality

The FaceTime Map Discussion:

• Ganga and Yamuna rivers shown
• Delhi and Agra on WEST bank of Yamuna
• They're NOT in the Doab (between rivers)
• Doab is the area between Ganga and Yamuna

Abdali's Position:

• Between Ganga and Yamuna (in the Doab)
• Across river from Delhi

Bhau's Route:

• Coming from western side of Yamuna
• Coming from Delhi side
• Must cross Yamuna to get to Abdali

Bhau's Original Plan

The Strategy:

"His plan was to cross Yamuna and fight Abdali in the Doab where Abdali was located."

What Actually Happened:

• When Bhau reached crossing point (near Agra)
• Already monsoon season
• Yamuna was extremely wide
• Tough to cross

The Result:

"So he continued to Delhi. And from Delhi, he went all the way to Kurukshetra, which is north of Delhi. All along, he was on western bank of Yamuna. He never crossed."

The Game-Changing River Crossing

What Changed Everything:

• Sometime in September-October
• Abdali crosses Yamuna from Doab
• Gets onto western bank (same side as Bhau)

Bhau's Surprise:

"That was a huge surprise for Sadashiv Rao Bhau."

• Bhau had gone to Kurukshetra
• Thought he was safe
• Didn't expect Abdali to cross

Why Abdali Could Cross:

"Afghans had good skills to cross rivers."

• After monsoon (Sept 25th crossed with most army)
• Marvelous river-crossing ability

The Consequence:

"That was a game changer, because now war was upon them. Nothing blocking their stuff."

The Chambar River: One Month to Cross

When:

• June 1760 - Bhau crossed Chambar river

The Problem:

• Chambar is a small-time river
• "River by any stretch of imagination"
• Took one month to cross

The Implication:

"If he takes a month to cross Chambar, how long to cross Yamuna? Yamuna is huge river."

The Reality:

"Marathas did not master the technique of crossing rivers."

The Contrast:

• Abdali crossed many rivers from Afghanistan to Doab
• Somehow mastered technique
• With elephants, camels, horses, cannons, thousands of people

Bundeli Couldn't Build the Bridge

Why It Failed:

• Couldn't reach Suja physically
• Or maybe sent letter/messengers
• But couldn't build the bridge out of boats

The Threat:

• Abdali's army (20,000 soldiers) around Itawa area
• Govindapant only had small force
• Constant threat lurking
• Bridge takes several weeks
• "Can be ambushed or something"

The Conclusion:

"It's easier for us to conclude sitting now here. But if you're in situation..." - Much harder in reality.

Suja's Conditions: The Shah Alam Deal

What Suja Wanted:

"If you make Shah Alam as next emperor, and if you make me wazir, then I would come on your side."

Who Was Shah Alam:

• Previous emperor had been blinded
• Fled for hiding and protection
• Shah Alam was his name
• Imad-ul-Mulk had killed another emperor

Suja's Calculation:

• Can't trust Abdali (foreigner who'll leave)
• Can't trust Najib Khan (wants to be wazir himself)
• Once Abdali leaves, who protects Suja?
• No security guarantees

The Feeler:

• Sent through Shyamji Ranganath (Bhau's representative)

Bhau's Response:

"Yeah, no issue. I will do it."

• Immediately approved
• Willing to make Shah Alam emperor
• Make Suja wazir

The Proximity Problem

The Reality:

"Even with that, Abdali was close to Awadh and Bhau was hundreds of miles away. So that was the problem."

Why Abdali's Letters Carried More Weight:

• Right there in front of Suja
• 800 pound gorilla sitting nearby
• Bhau far away
• "Not easy to say I'm going with Sadashiv Rao"

Suja's Capital: Lucknow

The Situation:

• Capital city was Lucknow
• 100 kilometers north: town of Bithur
• Abdali's army camped at Bithur

The Decision:

"Because of that, Mr. Suja-ud-Daula changed his decision and said, I'm going to be neutral. Not taking part in any of this. I am your friend as well as everybody's friend."

Why He Changed Plans:

• Originally wanted to go to Patna (east)
• But Abdali only 100km away
• Too close for comfort
• If he goes to Patna and Abdali comes to Lucknow → robbed
• Whole thing becomes messy

His New Plan:

• Go to western border instead
• That's where Abdali is
• Need to make sure it's safe
• Can't leave Lucknow unguarded

The Afghan Alliance Solidifies

The Rohillas Join:

• Dunde Khan
• Hafiz Rehmat Khan
• Najib Khan

Why:

• Afghan soldiers of fortune
• Settled in India
• "That's where their loyalty lied"
• No questions asked
• Natural alliance

The Battle Lines:

"Because they now were on Abdali side, it was clearly the battle line spectrum."

The Indian vs Afghan Framework

The Reality:

"No matter how you look at it, whether Suja, whether Suraj Mal Jat, whether Rajputs or any others, Bangash - these guys were Indians. They had kingdoms in India. They were not in Afghanistan."

Afghan Camp:

• Rohilas
• Abdali (Afghan proper)

Indian Side:

• All sitting on sidelines
• Suraj Mal: "Don't want involved, on sideline"
• Bangash: Made Afghan affinity known (forefathers from Afghanistan)

The Framework:

"Indian power brokers vs Afghans - that is kind of clash that is going to take place."

The Communal Color Problem

Why Suja Mattered:

"If it were just between Afghans and Indians, that is good. Can rally Rajputs as Hindu war. But Suja was key because he was Muslim, Shia Muslim."

If Suja Stays Neutral or Maratha Side:

• No communal color
• Doesn't become Hindu vs Muslim
• Remains Afghan vs Indians
• No religious justification

If Suja Goes Afghan Side:

"Then it becomes Hindu battle. Hindu versus Muslim."

The Stakes:

• Suja had funds
• Suja had good-sized army
• If he goes there: gives them funds AND army
• Plus it becomes Hindu-Muslim battle

Key Figures

Geographic Details

Lucknow:

• Suja's capital
• 100km from Bithur

Bithur:

• 100km north of Lucknow
• Where Abdali's army camped
• Way too close

Patna:

• To the east
• Where Suja wanted to go
• Had to cancel (Abdali too close)

Kurukshetra:

• North of Delhi
• Where Bhau went
• Thought he was safe there
• Wrong

Major Themes

1. Geography is Destiny

Abdali 100km from Lucknow = Suja goes neutral. If he'd been 500km away, different outcome.

2. River Crossings Decide Wars

One month to cross small Chambar. Couldn't cross Yamuna at all. Abdali's mastery = game changer.

3. The Communal vs National Frame

If Suja neutral → Afghan vs Indian. If Suja joins Abdali → Hindu vs Muslim. Everything changes.

4. Proximity Trumps Promises

Bhau agreed to all Suja's conditions. But Abdali was RIGHT THERE. 800 pound gorilla wins.

5. The Surprise Factor

Bhau went to Kurukshetra thinking safe. Abdali's September crossing shocked everyone. War suddenly upon them.

Timeline

Where we left off: Suja went neutral because Abdali camped 100km from Lucknow. Bhau approved all his conditions but was too far away. Rohillas joined Abdali openly. Battle lines drawn: Afghan vs Indian. But if Suja had joined Abdali, would've been Hindu vs Muslim. Bhau never crossed Yamuna (Maratha weakness). Then Abdali shocked everyone by crossing Yamuna in September. Game changed. War suddenly real.

The river crossing was everything. Marathas couldn't do it. Abdali could. One month to cross tiny Chambar. Impossible to cross huge Yamuna during monsoon. So Bhau stayed on western bank. Thought he was safe at Kurukshetra. Then Abdali's Afghan river-crossing expertise shattered that illusion. September 25th, 1760: Abdali crosses. Bhau's safe distance evaporates. War is upon them.