पानीपत १७६१ (मराठा साम्राज्य एवं पानीपत महायुद्ध इतिहास)

SYNOPSIS OF CONTENTS CHAPTER I Pages THE MARATHAS IN THE PANJAB AND BEYOND, 1758-59 1-17 Ahmad Shah Abdali's invasions of India and the contract between the Emperor of Delhi and the Peshwa, 1; Effect of the transfer of the Subahs to the Peshwa 2; How Deccan Politics affected the Peshwa's policy towards Delhi, 3; Abdali's arrangement for the govern- ment of India and the Panjab, 5; How his plan came to be thwarted 5 The Maratha slogan for the governance of the Indian empire, 6; Raghunathrao's letter to the Peshwa reiterating the Maratha ideal, 6; Note his invasion of the Panjab and the Maratha entry into Lahore 7; The Peshwa recalls Raghoba to the Deccan and Adina Beg dies, 8; Tukoji Holkar pushes on to Peshawar, to support Abdul Rahim Khan, Ahmad Shah's nephew and a claimant to the Afghan throne 9; Dattaji and Janakoji Shinde go upto the Satlaj, but soon return towards Delhi 10; The flaw in the Maratha policy in the Panjab 10; Their line of communication stretched by 500 miles, 11; The Poona Court had no correct idea of the adventure they were entering in 12; Sabaji Shinde not a fit man to counteract the personality of Ahmad Shah Abdali 12; Abdali's return from Khorasan and Jahan Khan's invasion of the Panjab 13; The Peshwa's recall of Dattaji Shinde, a disastrous step, 14 Financial loss to the Marathas in their Panjab glory, 14; Raghunathrao's advice to Dattaji and Janakoji to beware of Najib Khan 15; Malharrao's advice to the contrary 15; Ghaziuddin's treacherous behaviour towards the Marathas, 15; Dattaji enters into negotiations with Najib 15; Najib's plot against the Marathas and his invitation to Ahmad Shah Abdali—The Marathas had no information of this plot—Dattaji duped as a result, 16; Najib pins down Dattaji for four months—Sabaji's return from the Panjab— Bapuji Trimbak meets with disaster in the Satlaj Doab—End of the Panjab episode 17 CHAPTER II 5 SUKARTAL, BURADI AND AFTER, 1749-60 18-30 Dattaji Shinde alienates Ghaziuddin but cannot win over Najib, who has both the means and the freedom to create mischief, 18; The strategic position of Sukartal—Dattaji besieges Najib in it 19; Abdali enters the Panjab—Madhavsingh of Jaipur makes his stand against Malharrao Holkar—Shuja comes to the help of Najib—Dattaji sends Govindpant Bundele to attack the Ruhela lands beyond the Ganges—He precipitately runs back at the coming of Shuja's troops and the rumours of Abdali's coming, 20; Sabaji joins Dattaji— The emperor Alamgir murdered at the instigation of the Wazir and a new emperor Shah Jahan brought to the throne—The Wazir joins Dattaji—Dattaji raises the siege of Sukartal and goes to meet Abdali 21; Abdali catches Dattaji unprepared and eludes him after- wards joining Najib—Dattaji retreats towards Delhi and calls in Malharrao to his help 22; Malharrao delays—Ahmad Shah and Najib advance towards Delhi—The guarding of the fords by Dattaji—Abdali eludes and crosses over to Buradi—Its situation 23; Dat- taji's plan—Has no idea of engaging with the Afghans till the arrival of Malharrao—Is obliged to meet in the difficult terrain on the bank of the Jamuna—Is overpowered and slain 24; The wounded Janakoji with the whole Shinde contingent runs back and is pursued by the Afghans 25; The description of the retreat he meets Malharrao at Kot Putali— Malharrao's life philosophy—Its contrast with the temperament of the Shindes 26 Mal- harrao's new strategy to meet the Afghan menace—Ghaziuddin's double dealing 27; The Peshwa's dire need of money—Seems to auction the Wazir's post between Ghaziud- din and Shuja—Surajmal Jat makes a common cause with the Marathas—Ahmad Shah invites the northern states to rise against the Marathas but all sit on the fence 28 Abdali's campaign south of Delhi—The Marathas enter the Doab but surprised at Sikandra- bad—Run back to Agra after heavy massacre 29; Holkar and Shinde retreat into the Jaipur territory and wait for the help from the Deccan—Abdali takes Ramgad and can- tons in the Doab—Diplomatic talks with trans-Ganges Ruhelas 30 CHAPTER III SADASHIVRAO'S APPOINTMENT FOR NORTHERN INDIA, 1760 31-51 None in the Deccan prepared for Dattaji's death—Peshwa in the thick of fight with the Nizam—His position thought to be of a dictator in India, 31; Bussy recalled from Hyderabad—Terminates the French influence in the Deccan—The Peshwa succeeds in de- taching Ibrahim Khan a pupil of Bussy and begins hostilities against the Nizam—The bat- tle of Udgir where the Nizam brothers are completely overpowered 32; Half the dominions xxi