Escape & Survival: Post-Panipat Journeys of Nana Farnavis & Mahadhaji Shinde

Marathi History Book Reading Session Summary

Political Aftermath: The Succession Crisis

Raghoba's Ambition:

• Nana Sahib's younger brother
• Wanted Peshwa position for himself
• Killed Narayan Rao (Nana Sahib's young son, age ~8-9)
• Claimed he ordered "Dharave" (arrest), not "Marave" (kill)
• Wife Anandi Bhai allegedly changed orders: "Dhru" → "Mu"
• Created the phrase "Dhru ca maa karne" (corrupt the original order into killing)

Succession Order:

1. Nana Sahib (died/defeated at Panipat)
2. Vishwas Rao (killed at Panipat)
3. Madhav Rao (became next Peshwa)
4. Narayan Rao (killed by Raghoba as child)

Assessment:

• Raghoba's extreme ambition was destructive to Maratha rule
• Prioritized personal power over empire stability

Nana Farnavis: From Court Attendant to Statesman

His Role at Panipat:

• Age 19, just being groomed as courtier (not trained warrior)
• Came with mother and wife
• Not properly trained in battle tactics/gear
• Became burden on campaign (needed defense, food, resources)
• Watched Bhau's final stand from near the action
• Miraculously escaped despite proximity to final collapse

His Escape Journey:

Initial Advice (from Ramaji Panth):

• Strip off expensive clothes, ornaments, horse
• Dress as commoner with loincloth/dhoti only
• Go on foot with minimal group
• Reason: Status symbols make you target for Afghans
• Without obvious wealth = safer

The Flight:

1. First Attack: Less than 1 course (4 km) from Panipat, Afghans killed some companions and guide; Nana let go
2. Second Attack: 12 courses later, Afghans killed all remaining colleagues; Nana hid in tall grass, escaped
3. Exhaustion March: Walked 16 courses (32 miles) without food/water; forced to eat tree leaves
4. Hindu Gosavi's Help: Found hut of Hindu monk who gave food and shelter
5. Merchant's Cart: Next merchant offered ride to Jaipur, but Nana suspicious of treachery, walked instead
6. Raiwiri Refuge: Rich man Ramji Das gave week of shelter
7. Jat Stronghold Dig: Reached with escort from merchants
8. Wife's Safety: Learned wife was taken to Jinji by Visoji Burhan Purkar (safe with relation Naropant Gokhale)
9. Dakkan Journey: From Dig, headed south toward Dakkan
10. Mother's Death: Learned mother died during escape (deep melancholy), initially wanted to retire to Kashi/Varanasi
11. Return to Service: Friends convinced him to return, perform last rites, rejoin Nana Sahib Peshwa (who was advancing north)

Later Life:

• Became major statesman and courtier to successive Peshwas
• Important diplomat and administrator
• Founded second pillar of strength for Maratha recovery

Mahadhaji Shinde: Escape Through Violence

Background:

• Related to Tajshinde clan (relative of Shinde family)
• Young but escaped Panipat
• One leg permanently injured

His Mistake:

• Unlike Nana: didn't discard horse or status symbols
• Rode high-energy horse (valuable animal)
• Made him visible target for looting/robbery

The Chase & Attack:

• Stout, tall Afghan Pathan chased him on horseback
• Thought Mahadhaji was wealthy/important (worth robbing or claiming prize)
• Mahadhaji initially escaped at speed but couldn't lose him
• Horse fell into ditch, Mahadhaji thrown
• Afghan caught up, drew sword
• Spat on Mahadhaji, struck his knee with sword
• Knee injury crippled him for life (leg became non-functional)

Lasting Trauma:

• Never forgot the incident for rest of life
• Couldn't sleep properly due to nightmares
• Haunted by memory of Afghan Pathan chasing him
• Constant PTSD symptoms

Later Achievement:

• Despite crippling injury, went on to do "great things"
• Returned to Delhi with army
• Became major figure in Maratha recovery

The Panipat Museum Artifact

Historical Item:

• Kelkar Museum had Howdah (royal elephant seat) from Panipat campaign
• Brought back from battlefield
• Evidence of Maratha presence and return journey
• No longer visible in museum (unclear what happened to it)

Bhau's Final Stand: The Deliberate Martyrdom

The Last Attempt:

• When army completely fled, all hope lost
• Took 50 remaining soldiers into Afghan camp
• Not attempting to win battle = accepting loss
• Committed to "Hautatmya" (martyrdom/deliberate self-sacrifice)

The Concept:

• "Hutaatma" = martyr
• "Hautatmya" = act of becoming martyr (deliberate self-sacrifice)
• Preferred death on battlefield to return alive
• "Better to die than come back alive"

Result:

• Charged into Afghan lines
• Died in combat
• Achieved his martyrdom

Key Themes

Status Symbols as Danger: Nana's escape proved that visibility = vulnerability. The more markers of wealth/status, the more likely to be targeted. Stripping to loincloth saved his life; Mahadhaji's refusal to abandon horse cost him his leg.

Luck vs. Preparation:

• Nana: got lucky multiple times but followed sound advice
• Mahadhaji: didn't follow advice, got unlucky, paid permanent price
• Both required luck to survive, but preparation improved odds

Institutional Survival: Unlike Bhau (who died), Nana survived and rebuilt. This reflects difference between personal honor (death) vs. institutional duty (survival to serve). Nana's choice to live enabled Maratha recovery.

Trauma as Legacy: Mahadhaji's injury wasn't just physical - psychological damage lasted lifetime. PTSD in 18th century manifested as nightmares, sleep deprivation, haunting memories.

Timeline

Where We Left Off: Two key survivors detailed - Nana Farnavis (future statesman) and Mahadhaji Shinde (future military figure). Both escaped, both traumatized, both recovered to rebuild Maratha power. The battle's survivors show that defeat wasn't absolute - some leadership survived to continue the struggle.

Panipat was absolute defeat, but not absolute destruction. Some men lived. Some escaped. Some stayed silent about their flight, others lied about their duty. Nana stripped to nothing and walked 32 miles through Afghan lands. Mahadhaji got his leg slashed and never slept properly again. Bhau died on his terms, in combat, as he chose. The battle ended, but its ghosts haunted the survivors for decades. What Panipat took was a generation's certainty. What it left behind was trauma, crippling, and unfinished business.