पानीपत १७६१ (मराठा साम्राज्य एवं पानीपत महायुद्ध इतिहास)

of the Nizam surrendered to the Peshwa—Sadashivrao Bhau becomes the hero of the day— The futility of the Peshwa's victory—Prestige overrules perspection, 33, The squabbles in the Peshwa's family—Raghunathrao refuses to take command of the north—Bhau or- dered by the Peshwa to the north—Vishwasrao the eldest son of the Peshwa placed at the head—Bhau's hands tied throughout the campaign, 34, Bhau's foibles—The divisions selected by Bhau—The difficulties in the march from Patdur to Delhi 35, Bhau's progress hampered by various causes—The Marathas have left Shivaji and Bajirao behind and follow the Mughal manners 36, Bhau invites all northern Indian states to send contin- gents in the fight against Abdali but none comes to his help—Tribes rise in rebel- lion against the Marathas—An epidemite amongst the horses 37, Abdali's plans to return held over through the machinations of Najib—Shuja-ud-daulah was wooed by both parties— Suspicions of Maratha aims 38, The difficult position of the Marathas in all directions— The Peshwa and his advisers cannot grasp the real situation—They miscalculate the enemy forces and attempt a wrong solution 39 Bhau's progress through Central India—Zeitgeist of the 18th century—No common policy for the whole of India—Fissures in the Maratha camp 40, Wisdom in Holkar's advice—Women and pilgrims clog the Maratha march— Nature also goes against the Marathas 41 The meeting with Shinde and Holkar—Dis- cussion of future plan—Bhau chalks out his line of action and proceeds to Delhi, 42, Delhi taken and its government settled 43 44, Peace parleys through the medium of Shuja— Bhau tries to win over Abdali's allies—He misjudges the motives of the various parties and also the abilities of Govindpant Bundele and others, 45, Bhau's army suffers from want of money—Minting down the silver of the Diwan i-khas 46, The Maratha collectors in the north fool both the Peshwa and Bhau—Bhau's legs pulled from Poona, 47, Loose administrative system of the Marathas—Shinde and Holkar fall in with Bhau's line of thought—Surajmal Jat goes back disgruntled—Surajmal's defection due to his selfishness and not to Bhau's insult 49 Abdali's movement in the Doab—Change of his camps— Going and coming of ambassadors 50, Nothing comes out of the peace talks—The condi- tion of the Maratha camp deplorable and deteriorating day by day, 51

CHAPTER IV KUNJPURA (October 1760) 52-61 The terrain to the north of Delhi 52, The sufferings of the Maratha army 53, Bhau takes steps to counteract Najib's propaganda against the Marathas—Shah Jahan Sani deposed and Shah Alam declared emperor—The good results of this step—The Sikhs in Lahore proclaim Bhausaheb and pray for his victory, 54, Alasingh of Patiala promises to join Bhau—Abdali's hold over the Panjab lost—A last effort at peace—Bhau proceeds to Kunj- pura for intercepting Abdus Samad Khan 55, Falling down of the Jamuna waters—Bhau's calculations based on wrong information—Attack on Kunjpura 56, Defeat and massacre of the Afghans—Marathas secured booty and wheat collected for Abdali—The idea of a pilgrimage to Kurukshetra miscarries Bhau's plan 57, Abdali crosses the Jamuna at Bhau's back and blocks Bhau's return to Delhi—Bhau orders a march back 58, Abdali crosses with his whole army at Gauripur before Bhau could intercept him 59, The Marathas receive their first rebuff at the hands of Abdali—A retrospect of Abdali's movement in the Doab and a contrast with the state of his army with that of the Marathas 60 Abdali's parallel move towards the north and coming to Baghpat—Search for a ford on the river— Abdali's daring in crossing the Jamuna 60 Description of his crossing—He comes to- wards Panipat 61

CHAPTER V PANIPAT (November-December 1760) 62-85 The Marathas confident of victory at the beginning—They had enough corn 62, Bhau puts his faith in Ibrahim Khan and fortifies himself at Panipat—He expects Govindpant Bundele to do the impossible, 63, Why Bhau waits after Govindpant's death not known— Perhaps waiting for help from the Deccan as previously promised 64, Strategic posi- tion at Panipat—Bhau aggressive during November, 65, Abdali obliged to retreat to the river side—Abdali's decision not to attack the Marathas in their fortified position and waste his power 66 Kashiraj's incorrect forebodings, 67, Balwantrao Mehendale's death —His wife goes Sati—The turning point in the struggle 68, the "Bakhar" criticism of Balwantrao wrong—Sir Jadunath's incorrect translation, 69, Abdali intercepts letters from the Maratha camp to Delhi and the Deccan—Thus knowing the Maratha plans, Govind- pant comes at last with money to Delhi and invades the Doab 70, Taken by surprise by Atai Khan and killed—He atones for all his sins with his life 71, Abdali tightens the siege and assumes offensive—Shifts his camp and blocks the Maratha road to Delhi— The party of Parashar Dadaji with money loaded on horses cut to pieces by the Afghans —The difficulties of the Marathas, 72, Their misfortunes by fire and scarcity—Cold, rain, and disease add to their sufferings 73 No knowledge of Bhau's plans and waiting—Con- flicting reports in the chronicles, 74 The decision to fight and Bhau's plan decided in consultation with Ibrahim Khan Gardi, 75; A retrospect of the trans-Ganges plans of the xxii