Pre-Battle Strategies and Command Philosophy (Late November 1760)

Marathi History Book Reading Session Summary

The Historical Context: Panipat's Strategic Significance

Previous Battles at Panipat

First Battle (1526): Babur vs. Ibrahim Lodhi

• Mughal invader defeats Delhi Sultanate
• Babur wins decisive victory
• Establishes Mughal dynasty foundation
• Mughal rule becomes dominant

Second Battle (1556): Akbar vs. Hemu

• Akbar defeats regional challenger
• Consolidates Mughal power
• Hemu led resistance (described as powerful)
• Akbar's victory secures Mughal dominance

Third Battle (1761): Abdali vs. Marathas

• Decisive confrontation between Afghan and Maratha power
• Will determine northern India dominance
• Whoever wins controls Delhi access
• Consequences will reverberate for centuries

Why Panipat Repeatedly?

The Geographic Reality:

• Controls Grand Trunk Road (Delhi-Lahore)
• Major transportation artery for armies
• Any major force moving north-south must pass here
• Gates the access to Delhi
• Strategic chokepoint in Indian geography

The Pattern:

• All three battles involve:
  • Large invading/defending armies
  • Control of northern India at stake
  • Decisive outcomes
  • Long-term consequences
  • Multiple powers competing

The 1760 Specific Context:

• This is third major battle at same location
• 235 years after Babur
• 204 years after Akbar
• Shows importance of geography
• Shows how history repeats

The Road System and Troop Movement

The Grand Trunk Road Network

What It Connects:

• Grand Trunk Road: Delhi to Lahore
• Major highway for armies and commerce
• Only road suitable for 100,000+ soldiers
• Passes through Panipat town
• Critical for logistics and movement

Why Abdali Must Use It:

• Needs to return to Afghanistan
• Cannot cross deserts with large force
• Needs supply line back north
• Only practical route is Grand Trunk Road
• Must go through Panipat area

Why Marathas Intercept There:

• Trying to prevent his escape
• Want to keep him south of Panipat
• Want to destroy him before he leaves
• Panipat is natural interception point
• Geography forces the battle

Alternate Routes Don't Exist

The Water Canal:

• Ancient canal carrying sweet water near Panipat
• Built in past (unclear when)
• Named in Marathi sources
• Flows near village (Asandha)
• Critical for supplying armies

Modern Development:

• Grand Trunk Road built later (during British era)
• Two modern canals now exist
• Railway line added later
• In 1760: only traditional routes existed
• Geography more limiting then

The Muslim Population Context

Panipat's Religious Composition

The Demographics:

• 1760: Majority Muslim population in Panipat
• This situation continued until 1947
• Muslim majority for entire 187-year period
• Independence partition changed this
• 1947: Situation transformed dramatically

The Significance:

• Muslim-majority town
• But ruled by Delhi/Mughal/Afghan powers
• Local population affected by all battles
• Town strategically important regardless of demographics
• Religion of population doesn't change strategy

The Civil Dimension:

• Defensive walls around city
• Fort in middle (Bhui Kot)
• Dargas (Muslim saint memorials) present
• Multiple entry/exit gates
• Traditional fortified city structure

The Strategic Fortifications

Maratha Defensive Planning

Ibrahim Khan Gardi's Strategy:

• Position camp ahead of Panipat town (north of it)
• Keep town in back (potential retreat/refuge)
• Build massive camp fortifications
• Dig protective trenches around entire camp
• Create defensive line against assault

The Trench System:

• Dug 2-3 feet deep minimum
• Encircles entire Maratha camp
• Prevents cavalry from rapid entry
• Slows down assault forces
• Creates controlled defensive space

Why This Formation:

• Artillery needs protected position
• Afghans known for rapid cavalry strikes
• Surgical strikes (ganimikawa) their specialty
• Trenches force them to slow approach
• Allows artillery to prepare targeting
• Protects supply lines and equipment

The Panipat Town Advantage:

• Can retreat into town if necessary
• Elevated position (small hill)
• Defensive walls still intact
• Alternative defensive position
• Multiple fallback options available

The Command Structure and Factional Tensions

The Maratha Leadership Problem

The Nominal Commander:

• Vishwas Rao (age 19)
• Title: Commander-in-Chief
• Actual experience: Minimal
• Authority: Limited
• Role: Ceremonial mostly

The Young Officers:

• Jankoji Shinde (age 19)
• Young and inexperienced
• No serious battle background
• Considered too young for major decisions
• Limited respect from veterans

The Old Warriors:

• Holkar (age 67)
• Decades of fighting experience
• Defeated repeatedly by Afghans
• Surgical strike specialist
• Sidelined due to age and politics

The Middle Generation:

• Vintsoor (age 56)
• Experienced commander
• Didn't come to northern campaign
• With main Maratha forces
• Respected but not primary decision-maker

The Real Authority:

• Bhau effectively controls decisions
• Age 29 (too young for absolute authority)
• But politically more powerful
• Overrides older commanders' advice
• Creates internal tension and friction

The Strategic Divide: Holkar vs. Bhau

The Fundamental Disagreement

Holkar's Lifetime Philosophy:

• 40+ years fighting career
• Primarily relied on cavalry
• Never had access to modern artillery
• Developed ganimikawa tactics (surgical strikes)
• Evolved strategy around what he had

The Ganimikawa Approach:

• Small rapid strikes against enemy
• Avoid large frontal battles
• Use mobility for advantage
• Hit and run tactics
• Strategic retreats when needed
• Fight another day philosophy

Bhau's Artillery Focus:

• Modern European-style warfare
• Long-range cannon fire dominance
• Frontal assaults with support
• Disciplined coordination
• Different tactical approach
• More direct confrontation

Why Holkar Lost Against Afghans

The Problem:

• Afghans more agile than him
• Caught him by surprise
• Even ganimikawa didn't save him
• They defeated him despite his tactics
• Speed and adaptability > his experience

The Learning:

• Even experienced Holkar lost
• Shows Afghans formidable
• His methods not adequate
• Need new approach
• Bhau's artillery solution might work

The Political Dynamic

Holkar's Position:

• Sidelined due to Bhau's authority
• Advice ignored or dismissed
• Young commander overruling veteran
• Creates resentment and tension
• Reduces effectiveness of his contributions

Why Bhau Trusted Others:

• Holkar came from Shinde clan
• Bhau's advisor (Mehendare) distrusted Holkar
• Generational prejudice against Holkar
• Young leaders distrust old methods
• Political factors override merit

The Operational Reality

Holkar's Strategic Vision

His Recommendation:

• Avoid direct battle with Abdali
• Use ganimikawa tactics instead
• Look for opportune moments
• Know when to retreat strategically
• Fight when conditions favorable

His Calculation:

• Abdali wants to go home
• Won't stay indefinitely
• Can harass, pressure, avoid big battle
• Eventually he'll leave
• Then Marathas win without fighting

His Experience:

• 1756-1758: Maratha dominance when Abdali absent
• Same strategy worked then
• Could work again with patience
• Previous success proves concept
• Holkar has done this before

The Timing Problem

The Distance Issue:

• Marathas were in Kurukshetra
• 150+ km from river crossing
• By time they reacted: Abdali already across
• By time they could catch up: escape was prepared
• Timing made his strategy impossible

The Opportunity Lost:

• Should have stayed near Delhi
• Could have stopped crossing
• Could have destroyed vulnerable army
• Kurukshetra detour cost them this
• One decision (pilgrimage) changed everything

Bhau's Military Innovation

The Modern Approach

Artillery as Centerpiece:

• Bhau saw artillery's potential
• Kunjapura victory proved effectiveness
• Changed his strategic thinking
• Now convinced it's the answer
• Willing to fight directly

The Discipline Requirement:

• European-style warfare needs coordination
• Maratha army culture emphasizes individual valor
• Tension between old (individualism) and new (coordination)
• Bhau pushing for disciplined execution
• Not all soldiers naturally adapted

The Cavalry Integration:

• Later Marathas mastered combined arms
• Cavalry working with artillery
• At Panipat: Still learning this
• Not fully effective yet
• Evolution in progress

The Competitive Philosophies

Command Style Comparison

Abdali's Approach:

• Strategic, not hands-on warrior
• Directs from back, not from front
• Uses chess-like thinking
• Calculates long-term consequences
• Modern command model

Bhau's Approach:

• Warrior first, strategist second
• Believes in front-line leadership
• Direct engagement with enemies
• More traditional warrior code
• Old command model

The Dattaji Factor:

• Called Abdali "Na Mardh" (not a real man)
• Believed general must fight in front
• Got killed fighting in front
• His approach traditional but costly
• Abdali's approach: unconventional but effective

The Evolution of Warfare

The Old Way (Dattaji):

• General in the front
• Personal combat and valor
• Directly leads troops
• Dies with his soldiers
• Heroic but dangerous

The New Way (Abdali):

• General in command center
• Directing operations
• Using intelligence and strategy
• Survives to fight again
• More effective long-term

The Hybrid (Bhau):

• Wants to be both
• Strategic thinker and warrior
• Wants to show personal valor
• Gets involved in fighting
• Risk of losing commander in battle

The Assessment Phase

What Both Sides Are Doing

Maratha Evaluation:

• Assessing Afghan cavalry capability
• Testing defensive formations
• Observing Abdali's methodology
• Identifying strengths/weaknesses
• Preparing counter-strategies

Afghan Evaluation:

• Assessing Maratha artillery effectiveness
• Testing formation resilience
• Observing Maratha command structure
• Identifying vulnerabilities
• Preparing tactical responses

The Mutual Understanding:

• Both are formidable opponents
• Neither can be easily defeated
• Both have significant advantages
• Both have potential weaknesses
• Battle will be closely matched

The Stalemate and Waiting

Why No Immediate Battle

The Rational Calculation:

• Too much risk in hasty attack
• Both armies equally strong
• Consequences too great
• Better to assess first
• Wait for optimal conditions

The Emotional Restraint:

• Both experienced generals
• Know when to hold back
• Know destructiveness of battle
• Know stakes are enormous
• Willing to wait for proper moment

The Physical Factors:

• Winter weather ongoing
• Supply lines being consolidated
• Fortifications being built
• Troop morale being assessed
• Waiting helps all preparations

Key Players and Their Philosophies

The Underlying Tensions

The Generational Conflict

Young vs. Old:

• Bhau (29) overriding Holkar (67)
• New methods vs. proven experience
• Innovation vs. tradition
• Modern warfare vs. classical warfare
• Different trust in technology

The Authority Question:

• Bhau has political power despite age
• Holkar has military experience but no authority
• Advice is ignored or dismissed
• Creates resentment and tension
• Reduces military effectiveness

The Outcome Risk:

• If Bhau wins: validates his approach
• If Holkar's caution was right: too late to change
• If battle goes wrong: Bhau gets blamed
• If Holkar vindicated posthumously: no help
• Institutional tension affects performance

Where This Leads: By late November 1760, both armies are settled in their positions. Maratha defenses are being built. Afghan reconnaissance is ongoing. The wait-and-see period will continue through December and into January. During this time, intelligence will be gathered, weaknesses identified, and strategies refined. Both commanders understand the stakes. Both understand the opponent's capability. Neither is rushing into battle. But both know it's coming. And both are preparing mentally, physically, and strategically for the clash that will determine the future of India.

Two generals, two philosophies. Abdali waiting in camp, calculating, directing. Bhau eager to fight, confident in his artillery, dismissing the old man's caution. Holkar watching from the sidelines, knowing what he knows, unable to make anyone listen. And winter deepens. And the armies wait. And everyone wonders: when the time comes, which philosophy will be right? The cautious patience of the old man who's seen empires rise and fall? Or the aggressive confidence of the young innovator with his big guns? Nobody knows yet. But January is coming. And then everyone will know.