Today is the Jayanti of Sadashiv Rao Bhau, commander of Maratha forces at the Battle of Panipat, often judged harshly by historians for his failure there . But one who played a major role in the expansion of the Maratha empire, a great warrior, but a poor strategist.

Much like the other Maratha hero, Sambhaji, Bhau is quite often judged harshly by historians, for his failure at Panipat. And with good reason, while a brilliant warrior, he was an absolutely poor strategist, and not really suited to handle the political dynamics.

But it was under Bhau, that the Maratha Empire expanded further, as he consolidated on the gains of Baji Rao 1’s conquests, and the same with the Peshwa Balaji Baji Rao, who actually built up Pune, took the empire to it’s zenith. Sadly both would be remembered for Panipat.

Sadashiv Rao Bhau was born near Pune on August 4, 1730, into an illustrious legacy, his father Chimaji Appa, had secured the entire Western coast from Portuguese, and spread the Maratha empire all over the Konkan. His uncle, was none other than the legendary Baji Rao 1.

Having lost his parents at an early age, Bhau grew up in the care of his aunt Kashibai, who treated him like her own son. He was tutored by Ramchandra Shenvi, one of the shrewdest political brains among the Marathas then.

When Babuji Naik and Fateh Singh Bhonsle, failed in the task to capture Karnataka, it was Bhau who took it up. Leaving Pune on December 5 with Mahadoba Purandare and Sakharam Bapu, at just 16 years of age, he embarked on his mission.

Ajra, south of Kolhapur was where Bhau had his first major victory, defeating the Nawab of Savnur, capturing fort of Bahadur Bhenda. Chauth was levied and around 36 Parganas became a part of the empire.

That started the victory march for Bhau, as city after city in Northern Karnataka fell, Kittur, Gokak, Bagalkot, Badami, Basavapatna, Navalgund, all overran by him. Mind you Bhau was just 16 years old when he not only undertook the campaign but also succeeded.

At just 16 years, when many would still be finding their feet, Sadashiv Rao Bhau conquered most of North Karnataka, became the Diwan of the Peshwa, his own cousin Balaji Baji Rao. Routed the Nizam of Hyderabad at the Battle of Udgir, and forced him to surrender.

The Nizam of Hyderabad was decisively routed in the Battle of Udgir in 1760 by Bhau, and had to surrender Ahmadnagar, Daulatabad, Bijapur to him. At 20 Bhau was the master of the Deccan, having overran most of Northern Karnataka, and making the Nizam eat humble pie.

It also helped that Bhau had two excellent advisers Mahadoba Purandare and Sakharam Bapu, in his Karnataka campaign, and his tutoring by Ramachandra Shenvi, one of the best political brains among the Marathas, gave him a solid foundation.

Just as Bhau was lording over the Deccan, the news of Ahmed Shah Abdali’s arrival reached the Marathas. Dattaji Scindia was killed at the Battle of Burari Ghat, and Abdali was on the way to Delhi, in alliance with the Nawabs of Avadh, Rohillkhand as well as some Rajput chiefs.

Recalled from Udgir to Partur, Bhau was choosen by the Peshwa to lead the Maratha campaign in the North against the Afghans, a decision that turned out to be rather hasty. While Bhau was pretty much at home in the Deccan, the North was not really a familiar territory to him.

Bhau was pretty much at sea, when it came to the internal political dynamics in the North among the Rajputs, Jats and likes of Scindia, Holkar. And this proved to be a major disadvantage, as he failed to get the powerful Rajput, Jat, Sikh chieftains on his side.

While Bhau was a brilliant warrior, he was not the best of strategists, and negotiation, was not exactly his forte. Add to that his rather overbearing, often arrogant attitude, refusal to engage, meant he lost out on crucial support of the Northern kings.

Also Bhau's strategies were rather bizzare, nothing better to explain his act of carrying 100,000 civilians, including family members and pilgrims wanting to visit the temples in North on a military campaign. A totally disastrous tactic if ever there was one.

You do not take along civilians during military campaigns, as they often prove to be a burden, but Bhau carried a whole batch of pilgrims who wanted to visit the temples in North. They just became an additional burden on the Army, stretching the logistics and supplies.

Also Bhau adopted new tactics of infantry and artillery, as against the traditional Maratha reliance on hit and run tactics, which he felt would not work in an open plains warfare like in the North. However some like Holkar were not ready to accept this.

Holkar felt that the army was not yet fully trained in infantry and artillery, to make a switchover from the traditional hit and run Maratha tactics, Bhau neverthless went ahead, in spite of objections, and formed an artillery of 10,000.

Though Holkar and Scindia tried to get the Rajput Jats and the Sikhs on the Maratha side, it did not work out. The Maratha tendency to interfere in the succession battles of the Rajput rulers did not go down well with the latter, as also their collection of tribute.

In the meantime Holkar and Scindia persuaded Bhau to strike an alliance with Suraj Mal, who did join, inspite of the fact that he had no love lost for the Marathas. However Bhau’s rather overbearing nature, meant that the Jats did not give full fledged support.

The Jat rulers controlled the food supplies around Delhi, and Bhau’s attitude towards them would cost them really bad at Panipat. He also rejected the offer of Sikhs to aid him against the Afghans and that meant he lost one of the most vital support ever.

Again another disastrous tactic, as the Sikhs were battle hardened when it came to the Afghans, they knew their strategies well, Bhau missed out on a great opportunity here. Bhau took Delhi with a strong artillery attack in 1760, driving out Durrani from there.

However the Marathas got no support from the local chieftains in and around there. Bhau advanced further north, and the fort of Kunjipura near Karnal was taken in a blitzkrieg attack, using artillery and infantry.

Durrani was forced to flee from Kunjipura, as his entire garrison was massacred by the Marathas. It was a comprehensive victory for the Marathas over the Afghans at Kunjipura, some of Abdali’s best generals were killed.

Once again presence of a large number of civilians in the Maratha contingent meant the supplies at Kunjipura were exhausted fast. Exasperated by the loss, Ahmed Shah Abdali himself entered the fray, making a daring cross across the Yamuna at Baghpat.

The Marathas however managed to block Abdali’s return route back to Afghanistan, and soon there was a fierce skirmish at Sonepat. Though the Afghans lost 1000 men, they managed to drive the Marathas back, and completely cut off their supply lines.

By Nov 1760, Durrani cut off the Maratha’s access to Delhi, and they were now trapped from all ends. Besieged in Panipat, the Afghans, managed to cut off all food supplies to the Marathas, who were now trapped at all ends.

Finally with his soldiers morale running out, and starvation rampant, Sadashiv Rao Bhau had no option but to call for war. Jan 14, 1761 on Makar Sankranti, the 3rd Battle of Panipat, as the Marathas and Afghans clashed in one of the most decisive battles ever.

Till 2 PM, the Marathas actually managed to break the Afghan forces, Bhau himself leading a spirited attack. So fierce was the assault of the Marathas led by Bhau, that the Afghans ran from the battle field.

Just when the Marathas seemed to be gaining the upper hand, Vishwas Rao, the Peshwa's son was hit by a stray bullet, tat was turning point.Taking advantage of Vishwasrao’s death, Durrani attacked the Marathas, with 10,000 troops, totally encircling them.

Bhau along with Ibrahim Khan Gardi and Jankoji Scindia was surrounded by the Afghans, while Holkar fled from the battlefield. Bhau along with Ibrahim Khan Gardi put up a spirited fight against the Afghans, however Vishwas Rao’s death demoralized the Marathas

When he saw his nephew Vishwas Rao dead Bhau dismounted from elephant and plunged straight into the battle.However the Marathas seeing the empty howdah thought Bhau too had fallen and were demoralized further now.

He fought to the last, even though he knew it was a losing cause, before he finally fell like a hero on the battle field. One of the greatest Maratha heroes, Sadashivrao Bhau, perished on the field of Panipat, fighting till the last.

He in many ways revolutionized the Maratha army, bought in artillery and infantry, moved away from their traditional hit and run tactics. It was Bhau who bought in Ibrahim Khan Gardi, who played a vital role in the artillery segment, and died in Panipat along with him.

Bhau also bought in European mercenaries, employed the latest artillery, in a way modernized the Maratha Army. He might be judged harshly by historians, but he lived, fought and died like a true hero on Panipat. #

Sadashiv Rao Bhau, will be judged harshly, for his failure at the Battle of Panipat. But his campaign to expand the Maratha empire over the Deccan at just 16 years, and his fight until the last at Panipat, even when facing certain defeat, makes deserving of respect #Naman