Abdali's Final Diplomatic Push & Bhau's River Struggles (June 1760)

Marathi History Book Reading Session Summary

The Nature of the Conflict: Afghan vs Indian

The Setup:

"Because Dunde Khan, Hafiz Rehmat Khan and Najib Khan allied openly with Abdali, nature of conflict became: Afghans versus powers within Hindustan."

Why It Hinged on Suja:

• If Suja stays on Maratha side → Afghans vs Hindustani power
• If Suja goes on Afghan side → Muslims vs Hindus

Why This Mattered:

"It's not advisable or desirable for Marathas to have that kind of conflict, Muslim versus Hindu. Because it then polarizes all Muslims to fight against them."

Suja's Situation:

• In two minds, confused
• Would rather go on Maratha side
• Had reservations about Abdali
• But Abdali at his doorstep - had to be careful

Bhau's Logical Argument

The Pitch:

"We are the protectors of Mughal Empire and Mughal seat of power in Delhi. Abdali is not."

Why:

• Abdali is outsider
• Lives far away
• Will come once every 2-4 years
• Not there being 24/7 like Marathas can be
• Not long-term ally
• Won't protect you

The Offer:

• You want to be wazir?
• Mughal Empire has to be protected
• We're here to protect it
• Join our side

The Minimum:

"If you cannot be openly on my side or Maratha side, then at minimum, stay neutral."

The Last Ditch Effort: Sadrunisa Begum

Bhau's Final Move:

"To make last ditch effort, he sent Govindapant to meet with Sadrunisa (Suja's mother)."

Why:

• Bhau knew she has influence on policymaking in Suja's kingdom
• She was shrewd woman
• Wife of Safdar Jung

Her Position:

• Already leaned towards Maratha side
• Preferred Suja go with Marathas rather than Abdali

The Limitation:

"She could convince Suja, but royal and sovereign was Suja. Whole power structure was male dominated. She had some influence but didn't have complete power."

The Result:

"Even after doing all that, there was no promise or acknowledgement. He didn't come up with anything that could be relied upon."

• No aswasan (assurance)
• Nothing that could be trusted
• Troublesome situation

Abdali's Counter-Move: The Childhood Friend

The Genius Strategy:

"Abdali was able to find a childhood friend of Safdar Jung or of Sadrunisa Begum."

Who She Was:

• Not an ordinary woman
• Royal queen of Muhammad Shah (now dead)
• He was killed by Imad-ul-Mulk
• Now widow
• Was the first lady at the time
• Political personality, shrewd woman
• Well versed in diplomacy and policymaking

Why This Worked:

• Childhood friends with Sadrunisa
• Sent by Abdali to turn her

The Grudge:

• Her entourage (200 women) had been looted by Maratha army
• "So she must not have good opinion of Marathas"

What She Did:

• Met with both Sadrunisa (Suja's mother) AND Suja
• Insisted they go to Abdali side

The Tilting Scale: Suja's Confusion

The Marathi Proverb:

"You don't know which way you want to lean. You are confused."

Suja's State:

• Sometimes leaning this way
• Sometimes leaning that way
• Wasn't sure what was right decision

The Diplomatic Escalation: Jahan Khan's Turn

After the Lady's Diplomacy:

"Now it was turn of Jahan Khan."

Who Was Jahan Khan:

• Abdali's commander
• Now trying to convince Suja

What He Accomplished:

"Jahan Khan had taken control of every major post other than Itawa."

The Situation:

• Marathas kept control of Itawa only
• Everything else: Jahan Khan controlled

The Ultimate Move: Najib Khan Sent

Why Send Najib:

"He rolled dice of sending Najib Khan to Suja, because even Jahan Khan could not do the job. Suja needed further convincing."

What Abdali Told Najib:

"Suja-ud-Daula's influence and capability are great. He is as good as Wazir of Hindustan."

The Stakes:

• He has good military power
• If he joins Marathas → drastically negative impact on us

Why Najib Specifically:

• Not just any diplomat or professional lawyer
• Personal confidant of Abdali
• Everyone knew: Najib Khan is as good as Abdali

Their Relationship:

"Abdali and Najib Khan's relationship was solid. Not only that, they were like one. Najib Khan totally trusted and looked at Abdali as his savior."

Why Abdali Didn't Go Himself:

• Considered himself on par with emperor
• Suja was small-time personality
• If Abdali goes → lowering his value
• "Not some small fish who he's stooping down to beg favor"
• Must send important emissary instead
• Najib is not ordinary emissary - one-time deal
• Important personality, everybody knows works for Abdali

The Bad Blood: Safdar Jung vs Abdali

The History:

"In few years back, Safdar Jung had big role to play in defeating Abdali. So there was bad blood."

The Challenge:

"Najib Khan has to do lot of hard work to change Suja's mind because he was predisposed to not joining Abdali because of prior background of father fighting Abdali. There was bad blood and Abdali was defeated in that thing."

The Mental Block:

"To reverse that mental block that Suja had, Najib Khan has to work very hard to change that mentality."

The Delicate Negotiations

Abdali's Understanding:

"These negotiations are so delicate. It cannot be dealt with by sending professional lawyers or diplomats, messengers or via letter."

Why In-Person Mattered:

• Mental block can't be removed by letter
• Can't send professional diplomats
• Has to be one-on-one heart-to-heart conversation in person
• Or else no deal
• Somebody of important stature
• Otherwise Suja won't move from mental position "I don't trust this guy"

Why This Was Critical:

"That's why it was critical that Najib Khan along with some people goes to visit Suja-ud-Daula."

Bhau Crosses Chambar (Month of June 1760)

The Event:

"In month of June 1760, Bhau had crossed Chambar river."

The Problem:

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

The Implications:

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

The Reality:

"Marathas did not master technique of crossing rivers."

The Contrast:

• Abdali crossed many rivers from Afghanistan to Doab
• With elephants, camels, horses, donkeys, cannons, people
• Thousands and thousands
• "How do you take elephant across river? That's special case, tough one, camel even."
• Somehow found a way out
• But Marathas did not

The Monsoon Problem

The Timing:

"By mid or end of June, he crossed Chambar finally. Monsoon had begun."

Why This Mattered:

• Early June: monsoon begins
• Whole earth is soggy
• Not meant for armies to be on march
• All rivers have flooded

The Historical Pattern:

"Nobody did that in India ever because generally armies went to battle probably by November."

The Situation:

• Very difficult
• Soggy earth
• Animals can't walk properly
• Bullock carts - how do you drive when earth is soggy?
• Huge army: 80,000+ people
• Plus 50-60,000 civilians
• Like big village moving from one place to another

Bhau Hadn't Met Holkar Yet

The Problem:

• Malhar Rao Holkar stationed on outskirts of Delhi
• Got "zapped" by Abdali's forces
• Didn't want to be in thick of things
• Staying a little bit outside main areas

What Bhau Missed:

"Had he met with Holkar, he would be even more in know of how things were in north."

Why:

• Holkar had met Abdali's forces in battlefield
• Not Abdali personally, but Afghan army units
• Could tell things to Bhau
• But they hadn't met due to physical distance

The Distance:

• Chambar crossing means Bhau still 400-500 kilometers away

Bhau's Plan: Get to Doab

The Strategy:

"Bhau wanted to get into Doab. That means he has to cross Yamuna. There is no other way."

Why Itawa:

• Only Maratha-held city in Doab
• If he goes to Itawa, wants to meet Suja
• His plan was to do battle in Doab itself

The Urgency:

"Immediately without waiting several months. Because that's why they were going to north. There was no other purpose but to fight this battle."

The Follow-Up:

• Then go to Delhi
• Settle issues in Delhi
• Reinstall previous blinded personality as emperor
• Make Suja-ud-Daula new wazir

After Chambar Crossing

What Bhau Did:

• Crossed Chambar (north of it now)
• Chambar goes east-west
• Now on other side
• Camped out
• Waited for commanders to join him
• To decide how to go forward
• What strategies to apply

Key Figures

Major Themes

1. The Diplomatic Arms Race

Each side escalating who they send. Started with letters, messengers, then important commanders, finally Najib Khan (Abdali's right hand).

2. The Power of Personal Relationships

Childhood friend > professional diplomat. Heart-to-heart > letter writing. Personal touch matters.

3. The River Crossing Disaster

One month for tiny Chambar. Impossible for huge Yamuna. Maratha fatal weakness exposed.

4. The Bad Blood Factor

Safdar Jung defeated Abdali in past. Creates mental block for Suja. Hard to overcome.

5. The Timing Catastrophe

Monsoon makes everything worse. Soggy earth, flooded rivers, can't move properly. "Nobody did that in India ever."

6. The Male Power Structure

Sadrunisa favors Marathas but can't force decision. Male-dominated system limits her influence.

Timeline

Geographic Context

• Chambar River: Small river, took month to cross
• Yamuna River: Huge river, need to cross for Doab
• Itawa: Only Maratha city in Doab
• Doab: Target - where battle should happen
• Delhi Outskirts: Where Holkar stationed

Where we left off: Diplomatic escalation at fever pitch. Bhau sent Govindapant to Sadrunisa (got nothing). Abdali sent childhood friend (worked better). Then Jahan Khan. Still not enough. Finally Abdali sends Najib Khan - his personal confidant, "as good as Abdali himself" - for heart-to-heart talk with Suja. Meanwhile Bhau struggling with rivers: took MONTH to cross tiny Chambar. Monsoon making everything worse. Still 400-500km away. Hadn't even met Holkar yet. And Yamuna crossing looming - the big one. Bad blood between Safdar Jung and Abdali making Suja suspicious. But Najib Khan coming for ultimate diplomatic push.

The diplomatic war intensifies while Bhau crawls north through monsoon floods. One month for Chambar. Yamuna still ahead. Abdali's final weapon: Najib Khan, the personal emissary who is "like one" with Abdali. Heart-to-heart diplomacy vs distant promises. Childhood friends vs mother's advice. Proximity vs logic. Geography vs history. And somewhere in all this, Suja must decide: Afghan vs Indian? Or Hindu vs Muslim?