Source: – @TrueIndology / Twitter.
January 14. 1761
Remember the sacrifice of 100,000 Marathas who were slaughtered in Panipat defending the country against Jihadis from Afghanistan
An Indian "reformist" cleric Shah Waliullah had invited Afghan Abdali to "wage a Jihad against Hindu infidels to gain Paradise" pic.twitter.com/K8ObPUABXF
— True Indology (@TrueIndology) January 14, 2018
2) Maratha army led by Sadashiv Bhau crossed Vindhyas and planted the saffron flag at Panipat to face the invader
However, they could not find a single ally north of Vindhyas. They had reached Panipat on October 29 1760 and had exhausted their supplies. Their army was starved
— True Indology (@TrueIndology) January 14, 2018
3) In contrast, Muslim rulers of India supported Abdali including Najib Ud Daulah, the powerful chief of Rohilkhand(UP)
Even the Shia Nawab of Awadh, Shuja Ud Daulah joined Abdali's Jihad against infidels. Abdali thus had major North Indian alliances and was not short of food
— True Indology (@TrueIndology) January 14, 2018
4) Few days before battle, the Marathas had sent an appeal to Abdali. They offered a large amount for peace
Abdali's generals were open. But his Indian allies told Abdali "Don't be greedy. You will lose the merit of Jihad gained by slaying infidels". Peace proposal was rejected pic.twitter.com/bDq7n9rv30
— True Indology (@TrueIndology) January 14, 2018
5) The besieged Marathas were now starving to death. They had to fight. They went to Bhau's tent and cried out "We have not eaten a grain since two days. Better to die in battle than die out of hunger"
The reluctant Bhau had to fight the battle next day pic.twitter.com/nB4AESLgJ9
— True Indology (@TrueIndology) January 14, 2018
6) 14 Jan. When a starved 45,000 Maratha army (rest were non combatants) came out against a numerically superior Durrani army( perhaps almost twice in number) equipped with swivel guns,their fate was sealed
Yet, the Marathas fought bravely until 2, inflicted Afghan casualties
— True Indology (@TrueIndology) January 14, 2018
8) There was a youngster rallying the army. Indeed, his units inflicted thousands of casualties on Jihadis
This was 20 year old Vishvasrao, the Peshwa heir. He was nominal commander of Hindu forces. He was killed by Balochis who had fought for Abdalihttps://t.co/KCS6ZlptYN pic.twitter.com/C4V6zB4R9Q
— True Indology (@TrueIndology) January 14, 2018
