Kashi Ram Shivadev: The Bilingual Witness to Panipat (1734-1760)

Marathi History Book Reading Session Summary

The Key Historical Figure: An Unexpected Observer

Who Is Kashi Ram Shivadev?

His Background:

• Brahmin scholar and administrator
• Marathi-speaking (originally from Maharashtra)
• Learned Farsi language later
• Working as a "Dubashi" (bilingual translator)
• Bridge between two cultures and languages

His Timeline:

• In 1734: Congratulated Bajirao I on victory
• Service to Bajirao I's forces
• Later: Employed in Suja Uddaula's court
• By 1760: Still active and observing
• At Panipat: Eyewitness to massive event

His Age Context:

• Around 60 years old during Panipat (1760)
• Had 26 years experience (1734-1760)
• Witnessed major events
• Veteran observer of politics
• Elderly but still sharp

The Dubashi Role: Linguistic Bridge

What A Dubashi Does

The Definition:

• "Dubashi" = one who speaks two languages
• Translator between Marathi and Farsi
• Facilitates communication across languages
• Cultural mediator
• Political liaison

Why It Mattered:

• Maratha commanders spoke Marathi
• Afghan/Persian court spoke Farsi
• Needed translation layer
• Needed cultural understanding
• Needed neutral go-between

His Unique Position

The Language Expertise:

• Knew Marathi from birth
• Learned Farsi working in Suja's court
• Could navigate both systems
• Understood both mentalities
• Invaluable bridging figure

His Political Leverage:

• Was with Suja Uddaula court
• Wrote letters on Suja's behalf
• Had inside access to decisions
• Knew what was being discussed
• Understood secret negotiations

The Middle Man: Between All Three Powers

Suja Uddaula's Position

Who He Was:

• Nawab of Doab region
• Caught between Marathas and Afghans
• Neither fully supporting either side
• Playing both sides when possible
• Trapped by geography and circumstance

His Origins:

• Ancestors from Iran
• Court spoke Farsi
• Persian administrative system
• But ruling Indian territory
• Awkward hybrid position

His Role in Triangle:

• Madhyastha (middleman)
• Between Bhau (Marathas)
• Between Abdali (Afghans)
• And between both powers
• Neutral but pressured

Kashi Ram's Access

His Knowledge:

• Knew what Suja was discussing
• Knew Maratha-Suja conversations
• Knew Afghan-Suja interactions
• Knew secret negotiations
• Knew which side was winning negotiations

His Intelligence Value:

• Three-way communications
• All languages available
• All perspectives understood
• Unique vantage point
• Ultimate insider position

His Understanding:

• No purely military intelligence
• But strategic/diplomatic knowledge
• Knew intentions, not tactics
• Understood which side would yield
• Could predict outcomes

His Historical Record: The Memoir

Writing After the Battle

The Timeline:

• Battle of Panipat: January 14, 1761
• Memoir written: 19 years later (~1780)
• After all major events settled
• After he had time to reflect
• Safe to publish views

The Source Material:

• Personal observations
• Conversations he overheard
• Letters he translated
• Official documents he handled
• Firsthand experience

The Value:

• Only bilingual witness we know of
• Only person in all three camps
• Only person with full picture
• Marathi + Farsi languages
• Professional documentation

Abdali's Army Composition: October 18, 1760

The Force Strength

The Cavalry Organization:

• 24 regiments total
• 1,200 cavalry per regiment
• Total: 28,800 cavalry troops
• Elite force composition
• Heavy cavalry concentration

The Guard Duty:

• Slaves provided guard duty
• One mile periphery around Abdali's tent
• Protecting commander-in-chief
• Concentric security rings
• Abdali's personal safety paramount

The Weapons Arsenal:

• "Jamburak" = large diameter guns
• Camel-mounted artillery
• Swivel guns on camel backs
• Typical Afghan weaponry
• Designed for mobile warfare

The Gap: Maratha vs. Afghan Artillery

The French Technology:

• Maratha: French latest technology
• French-trained gunners
• Long-range capability (2 km)
• Rapid-fire capability
• European innovation

The Afghan Equipment:

• Traditional heavy guns
• Camel-mounted weapons
• Limited range (~500m or less)
• Slower to reload
• Older technology

The Advantage:

• Maratha: 4x range advantage
• Maratha: faster fire rate
• Maratha: better accuracy
• Afghan: mobility advantage
• Afghan: terrain familiarity

The Importance of First-Hand Evidence

Why Kashi Ram Matters

The Reliability:

• Was actually there
• Witnessed events directly
• Translated official communications
• Not relying on hearsay
• Professional documentation

The Perspective:

• Saw all three sides
• Understood all languages
• Knew all intentions
• Had access to secrets
• Could judge motivations

The Credibility:

• No obvious bias (not Maratha or Afghan)
• Professional (trained observer)
• Educated (Brahmin scholar)
• Experienced (26 years service)
• Aged at observation time

His Sub-Camp Position

The Locations:

• First: Delhi (observing)
• Then: Panipat (in Suja's tent)
• Within larger Abdali camp
• Multiple sub-camps (Rohila, Suja, Abdali's own)
• Nested camp structure

The Advantage:

• Could move between camps
• Observed all three perspectives
• Saw supplies, morale, tactics
• Noted quality of commanders
• Assessed realistic strengths

The Strategic Picture He Provides

What We Learn From Him

The Intelligence:

• Abdali had 28,800 cavalry (not just vague "large force")
• Specific regiment structure
• Specific weapons capabilities
• Specific guard arrangements
• Professional military organization

The Comparison:

• Marathas had different artillery
• Marathas had different organization
• Marathas had different tactics
• Afghans had mobility advantage
• Marathas had firepower advantage

The Assessment:

• Not simply "Marathas strong" or "Afghans strong"
• More nuanced: Different strengths
• Marathas: Firepower and fortifications
• Afghans: Mobility and experience
• Battle outcome = who uses strengths better

The Documentary Value

For Historical Understanding

What He Captured:

• Force composition details
• Weapon specifications
• Camp organization
• Leadership visibility (Abdali's actions)
• Intelligence gathering practices

What He Understood:

• Not just numbers but quality
• Not just weapons but tactics
• Not just organization but morale
• Not just structure but strategy
• Complete military picture

The Irreplaceable Perspective:

• Bilingual witness
• Educated observer
• Professional documenter
• Insider position
• Decades of experience

His Unique Contribution to History

The Missing Voice

In Most Histories:

• Either Maratha accounts
• Or Afghan accounts
• Or British observations
• Rarely do we have insider
• Rarely bilingual witness
• Rarely middleman perspective

What Kashi Ram Provides:

• Bridge between cultures
• Translation of intentions
• Understanding of both sides
• Neutral assessment capability
• Proof of legitimacy to both views

The Value for Us:

• Can verify facts through translation
• Can check biases
• Can understand both sides
• Can appreciate complexity
• Can see war from unique angle

The Context of His Service

The Trajectory

1734:

• Serving Bajirao I
• Documenting Maratha victories
• Professional scribe/translator
• Building reputation

1760:

• At Panipat witnessing
• 26 years of experience
• Aged 60 years old
• Observing greatest battle
• Recording for posterity

Post-1761:

• Documented what he saw
• Waited 19 years to publish
• Likely due to safety concerns
• Wanted accurate reflection
• Wanted proper context

The Professional Documentation

The Letter Writing

His Role:

• Wrote letters for Suja
• Translated diplomatic communications
• Recorded conversations
• Documented negotiations
• Professional scribe

What He Preserved:

• Official correspondence
• Diplomatic exchanges
• Strategic discussions
• Troop movements
• Supply arrangements

The Archive Value:

• These letters survived
• Historical record preserved
• Details documented professionally
• Not emotional accounts but factual
• Reliable source material

The Elderly Observer

Why Age Matters Here

His Perspective:

• 60 years old in 1760
• Had seen 26 years of warfare
• Understood patterns
• Could predict outcomes
• Experienced perspective

His Credibility:

• Not young and rash
• Not emotionally involved
• Not personal grudges
• Professional distance
• Trained objectivity

His Understanding:

• Recognized this as historic moment
• Understood significance
• Wanted to document accurately
• Waited to be safe before publishing
• Valued accuracy over speed

Where This Leads: Kashi Ram Shivadev is the closest thing we have to an impartial observer of the Third Battle of Panipat. Bilingual, educated, with access to all three camps, he provides documentary evidence of forces, weapons, organization, and strategy. His memoir written 19 years after allows reflection without immediate fear. He bridges Marathi and Farsi worlds, understands both mentalities, and can judge both sides fairly. In a war of propaganda and selective histories, his voice—despite being unknown to many—provides crucial balance.

He was sixty years old and had been watching empires rise and fall for twenty-six years. He spoke both languages. He moved between all three camps. He translated the words that meant life or death. When the battle came, he was there. And when it was over, he wrote down what he'd seen. Not for glory. Not for revenge. Just for the record. For history. For the truth.