Mahadaji Shinde
This article needs additional citations for verification. (April 2016) |
Mahadji Shinde | |
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Meherban Shrimant ) | |
Spouse |
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Ranoji Rao Shinde | |
Mother | Chima Bai |
Religion | Hinduism |
Military career | |
Service/ | Maratha Army Pindaris (irregular) |
Battles/wars | See list
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Signature |
Mahadaji Shinde (23 December 1730 – 12 February 1794), later known as Mahadji Scindia or Madhava Rao Scindia,
Mahadji was instrumental in resurrecting Maratha power in North India after the Third Battle of Panipat in 1761, and rose to become a trusted lieutenant of the Peshwa, leader of the Maratha Confederacy . Along with Madhavrao I and Nana Fadnavis, he was one of the three pillars of Maratha Resurrection. During his reign, Gwalior became the leading state in the Maratha Confederacy and one of the foremost military powers in India. After accompanying Shah Alam II to Delhi in 1771, he restored the Mughal Empire in Delhi and became the Naib Vakil-i-Mutlaq (Deputy Regent of the Empire).[4] Mahadji Shinde's principal advisors were all Shenvis.[5]
Mahadji Shinde Fought about 50 Battles In His Lifetime against various opponents. He defeated the
Battles in Rohilkhand
The Marathas invaded
First Anglo Maratha War (1775–1782)
After the defeats of the able British generals, Goddard and Murre in
In 1787, Mahadji attempted to invade Rajputana but he was repulsed by the Rajput armies at Lalsot. However, he regrouped his forces and in 1790, he avenged his defeat by crushing the Rajput kingdoms of Jodhpur and Jaipur in the battles of Patan and Merta, thus capturing all of Rajputana.[14]
Following the
Relations with the Mughals
Shah Alam II spent six years in the Allahabad fort and after the capture of Delhi in 1771 by the Marathas, left for his capital under their protection.[16] He was escorted to Delhi by Mahadaji Shinde and left Allahabad in May 1771. During their short stay, Marathas constructed two temples in the Allahabad city, one of them being the famous Alopi Devi Mandir. After reaching Delhi in January 1772 and realising the Maratha intent of territorial encroachment, however, Shah Alam ordered his general Najaf Khan to drive them out. In retaliation, Tukoji Rao Holkar and Visaji Krushna Biniwale attacked Delhi and defeated Mughal forces in 1772. The Marathas were granted an imperial sanad for Kora and Allahabad. They turned their attention to Oudh to gain these two territories. Shuja was however, unwilling to give them up and made appeals to the English and the Marathas did not fare well at the Battle of Ramghat.[17]The Maratha and British armies fought in Ram Ghat, but the sudden demise of the Peshwa and the civil war in Pune to choose the next Peshwa forced the Marathas to retreat.[18]
The Maratha-Sikh treaty in 1785 made the small Cis-Sutlej states, autonomous protectorate of the
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Planquin gifted to Shinde from Mughal Emperor Shah Alam II at Jai Vilas Palace Museum, Gwalior
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Seals authorizing Mahadji Shinde as Wakil-i-Mutalik of the Mughal Empire
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Badshahi Panjaa - Hand, a dignity conferred upon Mahadji Shinde by the Mughal Emperor
Later years (1789-92)
In 1788, Isma'il Beg, a Persian who served as a general in the Mughal army along with a few hundred Mughal-Rohilla troops led a large-scale revolt against the Marathas, who dominated North India at the time. The reason for this revolt is unknown but most suspect that he was trying to resurrect the Islamic glory in North India and depose the Hindu Marathas. However, the revolt was immediately crushed and Isma'il Beg was defeated and executed by the Scindian armies. Thereafter, a Rohilla warlord named Ghulam Qadir, descendant of the infamously treacherous Najib-ud-Daualh and an ally of Isma'il Beg, captured Delhi, capital of the Mughals and deposed and blinded the Mughal emperor Shah Alam II, placing a puppet on the imperial throne. He unleashed untold atrocities on the royal family and common populace, slaughtering thousands and looting about 22 Crores. However on 2 October 1788, Mahadji Scindia, upon hearing this news, quickly re-assembled his army and captured Delhi, torturing and eventually killing Ghulam Qadir and restoring Shah Alam II to the throne.[24][25][26]
He worked with the English during the revolt of 1781 and played an important role in capturing Maharaja Chait Singh of Benares and crushing the revolt [27]
Another achievement of Mahadji was his victory over the
After the making peace with Tipu Sultan of Mysore in 1792, Mahadji is said to have exerted his influence to prevent the completion of an alliance between the British, the Nizam of Hyderabad, and the Peshwa against Tipu.[citation needed]
Spouses
Shinde has a total of nine wives including:
- Annapurnabai (from Nimbalkar family of Beed)
- Bhavanibai (from Ghatage family)
- *Parvatibai (Sister of Narsing Ghatage)
- Bhavanibai (from Mhaske-Deshmukh family of Sangamner)
- Gangabai (from Palavekar family)
- Radhabai (from Padamsinh Raul family)
- Bhagirathibai (from Kardekar family)
- Yamunabai (from Ramling Raul family)
- Lakshmibai (from Bhope-Kadam family of Tuljapur, Osmanabad
Death and legacy
After the Battle of Lakheri, Mahadji was now at the zenith of his power, when he died, at his military camp at Wanavdi near Pune on 12 February 1794. He left no male heir, and was succeeded by
Keeney, the English biographer of Mahadaji Shinde, has described Mahadaji as the greatest man in India in the 18th century.[28] Mahadaji Shinde's role was instrumental in establishing Maratha supremacy over North India.
Shinde Chhatri, located in Wanawadi, in Pune is a memorial dedicated to Mahadji Shinde. It is a hall that marks the spot of Mahadji Shinde's cremation on 12 February 1794. The three storied memorial in Rajput architectural style, is one of the most significant landmarks in the city.
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Portrait of Mahadaji Shinde by James Wales c.18th century
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Mahadji Shinde with Peshwa Madhavrao II
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Handwriting of Mahadji Shinde
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Army camp Bult by Shinde painted in 1813 by John Augustus Atkinson
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Statue of Mahadaji Shinde, inside the Shinde Chhatri
In popular culture
- In 1988 Doordarshan Serial Bharat Ek Khoj produced and directed by Shyam Benegal also picturised an episode where the titular role of Mahadaji Shinde was played by noted TV actor Shreechand Makhija.
- In 1994, a TV series named The Great Maratha aired on DD National based on the life history of Mahadji Shinde. Shahbaz Khan portrayed the character of Mahadji Shinde in this serials TV-series.
- In the 2019 Bollywood film Panipat, based on the third battle of Panipat, where Mahadji was injured, his role was played by Sanjay Khapre.
See also
References
- ISBN 8131732029
- ^ The title of his 1905 biography in the Rulers of India series - Wikisource transcription project
- ISBN 9788185431529.
- '^ Vakil-i-Mutlaq (Regent of the Empire)
- ISBN 9788185431529. Retrieved 21 July 2012.
- ^ Athale, Colonel Anil A (12 January 2018). "How a Maratha general defeated the British". Rediff News.
- ^ Edwin Thomas Atkinson (1875). Statistical, Descriptive and Historical Account of the North-western Provinces of India: Meerut division. 1875-76. p. 88.
- ^ The Great Maratha Mahadji Scindia by N. G. Rathod p.8-9
- ^ Poonam Sagar (1993). Maratha Policy Towards Northern India. Meenakshi Prakashan. p. 158.
- ^ Jos J. L. Gommans (1995). The Rise of the Indo-Afghan Empire: C. 1710-1780. Brill. p. 178.
- ^ a b Wellesley, Arthur (1837). The Despatches, Minutes, and Correspondance, of the Marquess Wellesley, K. G. During His Administration in India. pp. 264–267.
- ^ Rathod, N.G. The Great Maratha (1 ed.). Swarup & Sons. pp. 20–27.
- ^ Burkes Landed Gentry: Anderson of Northfield
- ISBN 9788126903948. Retrieved 26 May 2012.
- ^ Wellesley, Arthur (1859). Supplementary Despatches and Memoranda of Field Marshal Arthur, Duke of Wellington, K. G.: India, 1797-1805. Vol. I. pp. 269–279, 319.
"ART VI Scindiah to renounce all claims the Seik chiefs or territories" (p.318)
- Orient Longman. pp. 60–61.
- ISBN 9788171545780.
- ^ Chaurasia, Radhey Shyam (1947). History of Modern India: 1707 A.D. up to 2000 A.D.
- ISBN 9788131732021. Retrieved 21 July 2012.
- ISBN 9788126903948.
- ISBN 9780230328853.
By Mahadji Shinde's treaty of 1785 with the Sikhs, Maratha influence had been established over the divided Cis-Sutlej states. But at the end of the second Maratha war in 1806 that influence had been pass over to the British.
- ISBN 9788131732021. Retrieved 21 July 2012.
- ISBN 9788126903948.
- ^ Sarkar 1952, p. 323.
- ^ Malik 1982, p. 565.
- ^ Sarkar 1952, pp. 329–330.
- ^ Sampurnanand, Dr. चेतसिंह और काशी निवासियों का अंग्रेजों से युद्ध. Varanasi+Delhi: नागरीप्रचारिणी सभा.
- ISBN 8185431523, 9788185431529
Further reading
- Dalrymple, William (2019). The Anarchy: The Relentless Rise of the East India Company (Hardcover). New York: Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN 978-1-63557-395-4.
- Hunter, William Wilson, Sir, et al. (1908). Imperial Gazetteer of India, Volume 12. 1908–1931; Clarendon Press, Oxford.
- Keene, H. G. The Fall of the Moghul Empire of Hindustan e-text
- Karkare, Neelesh Ishwarchandra (2013). Shreenath Madhavji: Mahayoddha Mahadji Ki Shourya Gatha. Gwalior: Neelesh Ishwarchandra. ISBN 9789352670925.
- Karkare, Neelesh Ishwarchandra (2017). Tawaareekh-E-ShindeShahi. Gwalior: Neelesh Ishwarchandra. ISBN 9789352672417.
- Karkare, Neelesh Ishwarchandra (2013). [श्रीनाथ माधवजी : महायोद्धा महादजी की शौर्यगाथा / प्रथम संस्करण / प्रकाशन वर्ष - २०१३ / लेखक :- पण्डित नीलेश ईश्वरचन्द्र करकरे] / (Research book) Shreenath Madhavji: Mahayoddha Mahadji Ki Shourya Gatha/ First Edition
- Malik, Zahiruddin (1982). "Persian Documents pertaining to the tragic End of Ghulam Qadir Rohilla, 1780–1789". Proceedings of the Indian History Congress. 43: 565–571. JSTOR 44141288.
- Markovits, Claude (ed.) (2004). A History of Modern India: 1480–1950. Anthem Press, London.
- Mishra, Amitabh (1 January 2007). Heritage Tourism in Central India: Resource Interpretation and Sustainable Development Planning. Kanishka Publishers, Distributors. p. 42. ISBN 978-81-7391-918-3.
- Sarkar, Jadunath (1952). Fall of the Mughal Empire. Vol. III (2 ed.). Calcutta: M. C. Sarkar & Sons.
- "Mosque and Tomb of the Emperor Sultan Mahmood of Ghuznee". British Library. Retrieved 1 November 2014.
- 101 pilgrimages. Outlook India Pub. 2006. p. 79