Bundele's Defeat & Supply Line Victory for Abdali

Marathi History Book Reading Session Summary (Continuation)

Recap: The Supply War Context

Bundele had been successfully cutting off supplies to Abdali's camp through attacks on the Doab region, especially the Mirath supply hub. This caused inflation and panic among Abdali's Afghan allies. Abdali decided to eliminate this threat.

The Reinforcements Arrive

Abdali's Solution:

• Abdali's Prime Minister Shahawali Khan's nephew, Atai Khan, arrived from Kabul
• Brought 10,000 fresh soldiers
• Represented Abdali's reserve capacity from Afghanistan
• Fresh troops ready for immediate action

The Assignment:

• Shahawali Khan ordered Atai Khan to deal with Bundele
• Nazib Khan provided local knowledge and guides
• Mission: Locate and eliminate Bundele
• Clear the Doab of Maratha interference

The Trap & Attack

Jeta Gujar's Betrayal:

• Local landlord who was supposed to pay tribute to Bundele
• Instead informed Abdali of Bundele's exact location
• Gave Abdali the settlement names and whereabouts
• Solved his tribute problem and got Abdali's help simultaneously

The Ambush Setup (December 17-20, 1760):

• Atai Khan crossed Yamuna near Baghpat (reversing Abdali's earlier crossing direction)
• Marched into Doab where Bundele was collecting tributes
• Used deception: carried Maratha commander's flag (Naro Shankar's flag)
• Bundele's army thought reinforcements were arriving

The Surprise Attack:

• At Qaziabad, Bundele was awaiting tribute payments
• Afghan forces approached under false colors
• Attack came when Maratha forces were unprepared
• Superiority in numbers and freshness: 10,000+ Afghan vs. 7,000 Maratha

Bundele's Death

The Final Moment:

• Bundele was engaged in routine daily tasks when attack commenced
• Recognized danger immediately and ran for his horse
• Couldn't mount quickly (age and fitness factor)
• Colleagues twice attempted to help him mount
• Afghans closed too quickly, forced companions to flee
• Left behind as others escaped
• Beheaded by Afghan forces

The Aftermath:

• Bundele's head taken by Afghans
• First delivered to Nazib Khan
• Then sent to Abdali
• Sent to Bhau as a message on December 22, 1760

Strategic Implications

Maratha Plan Defeated:

• Bundele's death ended all Maratha attempts to starve Abdali
• Supply choking strategy was their "last resort"
• Without Doab interference, Abdali's supplies are now secure
• Inflation in Afghan camp ends

Pressure Mounts on Marathas:

• Forced to consider direct military engagement
• Can't hope for Abdali to weaken gradually
• Their own supply situation remains precarious (coin minting limited)
• Battle becomes inevitable rather than optional

Significance of Bundele:

• Elderly commander, 30 years of service to Peshwa
• Not a traditional warrior but administrator/strategist
• Effectiveness showed intelligence matters more than youth
• His loss was strategic blow, not just loss of a general

Abdali's Strategic Response Shows

Flexibility: Rather than wait for supply lines to be completely cut off, took immediate action Reserve Capacity: Fresh troops from Kabul demonstrated deeper resource base than Marathas Adaptation: When strategy of attrition wasn't working, pivoted to direct elimination Intelligence: Used local informants (Jeta Gujar) effectively

Timeline

Key Insights

The End of Starvation Strategy: With Bundele dead, the Maratha hope for victory through economic pressure dies. They must now fight.

Age vs. Skill: Bundele's failure wasn't due to lack of ability—his strategy worked brilliantly. It was simply outmaneuvered by Abdali's decisive action.

Local Loyalty Issues: Jeta Gujar's quick switch to Abdali showed Marathas didn't have deep local support. Doab was strategically important but politically unsecure.

The Cost of Distance: Bundele was 1500 km from Pune headquarters. Communication was slow and uncertain. When Abdali moved quickly, there was no way to warn or reinforce him.

Where We Left Off: The last Maratha offensive strategy has failed. Bundele's head is on its way to Bhau as a message. The Marathas now have no choice but direct confrontation. All strategic options have collapsed. The path to Panipat battle is now inevitable.

Bundele was the most effective weapon the Marathas had—not a cavalry commander or a strategist of battles, but a man who understood how to cripple an enemy without fighting. He nearly starved Abdali's camp through sheer persistence. But he was sixty years old, and when the Afghans came, they came with ten thousand fresh soldiers who didn't give him time to think. One old man's effectiveness couldn't outweigh being outnumbered and exhausted. His death meant the Maratha dream of victory without a great battle was over. Now only blood would settle it.