Malhar Rao Holkar

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Subedar of Malwa

Malhar Rao

Jejuri, Pune District
Died20 May 1766(1766-05-20) (aged 73)
Alampur, Madhya Pradesh
Allegiance Maratha Empire
RankPeshwa's general[1]
Battles/wars
Spouse(s)Gautama Bai Sahib Holkar
Bana Bai Sahib Holkar
Dwarka Bai Sahib Holkar
Harkuwar Bai Sahib Holkar
Children
Tukojirao Holkar
Relations
(nephew and adopted son)

Malhar Rao Holkar (16 March 1693 – 20 May 1766) was a noble subedar of the Maratha Empire, in present-day India. He was one of the early officers along with Ranoji Scindia to help spread the Maratha rule to northern states and was given the estate of Indore to rule by the Peshwas, during the reign of the Maratha emperor Shahu I. He was founder of the Holkar dynasty that ruled Malwa.

Early life

Malharrao Holkar was born on 16 March 1693 to Khandu Ji Holkar in a

Maratha noble Sardar Kadam Bande. Bargal asked Malhar Rao to join his cavalry and soon after that he was placed in-charge of cavalry detachment.[2]

He married Gautama Bai Bargal (d. 29 September 1761), his maternal uncle's(Mama) daughter, in 1717. He also married Bana Bai Sahib Holkar, Dwarka Bai Sahib Holkar, Harku Bai Sahib Holkar, a Khanda Rani. This Khanda Rani status stems from the fact that she was a princess, he had sent his sword (khaandaa in Marathi) to represent him at the wedding, to maintain appearances.[citation needed]

Peshwa's service

Holkar lived at a time when it was possible for ambitious people to improve their standing substantially and in 1715 he was serving in forces under the control of Kadam Bande in

Nizam in the Battle of Balapur of 1720 and served with the Raja of Barwani.[3]

In 1721, having become disillusioned with Bande, Holkar became a soldier in the service of the Peshwa,

Bajirao. He became close to him and was soon able to move up the ranks. Participation in the Peshwa's campaign of 1723-24 was followed by a diplomatic role, settling a dispute with the state of Bhopal. Holkar was commanding a force of 500 men in 1725 and in 1727, he received a grant so that he could maintain troops in various areas of Malwa. Successful work during the Battle of Palkhed of 1728, during which he disrupted the supplies and communications of the Mughal armies, further increased his status. The Peshwa improved that as a counter to a perceived threat from less loyal supporters and by 1732, when the Peshwa gave him a large portion of western Malwa, Holkar had command of a cavalry force comprising several thousand men.[3]

War against the Mughal Empire and the Durrani Empire

One of the foremost commanders of the

Ishwari Singh. Granted an Imperial Sardeshmukhi for Chandore, for his gallantry in the Rohilla
campaign of 1748. From 1748 onwards, Malhar Rao Holkar's position in Malwa became firm and secure. Such was his terror that when Ishwari Singh learned that Malhar Rao is coming to arrest him, he killed himself. However, as an act of chivalry, Malhar Rao cremated his body as per the Hindu rituals.

He was called as the foster father of

Farukhabad
, they defeated the Rohillas and Bangash (March 1751-April 1752). When the Mughal Emperor learned that Ahmed Shah Abdali had attacked Punjab in December 1751, he asked Safdarjung to make peace with Rohillas and Bangash. On 12 April 1752, Safdarjung agreed to help Marathas but the Emperor didn't ratify the agreement and instead signed a treaty with Ahmed Shah Abdali on 23 April 1752. Meanwhile, the Peshwa asked Malhar Rao Holkar to return to Pune as Salabat Khan had attacked the city.

The

Raghunathrao. Raghunathrao in turn advised Holkar to sign a treaty with Suraj Mal. Malhar Rao Holkar assessed the situation and consented for the treaty due to possibility of isolation. This led to a treaty between both rulers on 18 May 1754. This treaty proved very beneficial for Maharaja Suraj Mal.[4]

Mughal Army of the Mughal Emperor Ahmad Shah Bahadur at the First Battle of Sikandarabad (1754). The Emperor left his mother, wives and a retinue of 8,000 women behind and fled to Delhi.[citation needed
]

Malhar Rao Holkar, Raghunathrao, Shamsher Bahadur, Gangadhar Tatya, Sakharambapu, Naroshankar and Maujiram Bania attacked Delhi on 11 August 1757 and defeated

Maratha Sardar
at that time.

He was raised to the rank of Subedar in 1757. Malhar Rao Holkar was defeated decisively by the cavalry of the Durrani Empire led by Jahan Khan at the Second Battle of Sikandarabad (1760)[citation needed]

Malhar Rao didn't help Dattaji Rao Scindia against Ahmed Shah Abdali and remained in Rajputana. Many historians criticize him for not coming to the rescue of the Scindias in the time of a national danger, while some historians speak in favour of his move by claiming that it would have weakened his position in Rajputana. He tried guerrilla warfare after the defeat and death of Dattaji Shinde and achieved some success with his dream of capturing Delhi under his rule coming true. However, due to open plains between the forests in North India, lack of geographical knowledge and lack of support from the locals, he was decisively defeated by the Afghan general Jahan Khan at Rewadi and at the Second Battle of Sikandrabad. With it, his dream of conquering Delhi ended.

He participated in the Third Battle of Panipat. He, along with Raja Surajmal is said to have advised Sadashivrao Bhau, Peshwa's cousin and the de facto commander of the Maratha army to leave all their heavy luggage, civilians and heavy static French-made cannons in any of the Maratha forts behind the Chambal river and perform the traditional Maratha guerrilla warfare against the Afghans until they retreat from India. His advice was refused by Sadashivrao partly because he believed in the European modernized form of warfare and partly because Malharrao's guerilla warfare failed against the Afghans. Some sources also state that Sadashivrao's advisors asked him to not pay any heed to Malhar Rao's advice's as he didn't want Bhau to cross Central India and see how he and other Sardars mishandled the situation.

He organized many raids against the Afghans and showed immense bravery, killing thousands of Durrani and Rohilla soldiers. He retreated from the battlefield of Panipat after seeing the Marathas losing and saved with him thousands of civilians and families of honorable Sardars. Many called him a coward for it while many argue that he was asked to save Parvatibai and many others by Sadashivrao himself if they are losing. Also if he would have remained in the battlefield, his light cavalry wouldn't have been able to do much against the Afghan Zamburaks and Jezails in a pitched battle. The most probable outcome would have been a delayed Maratha defeat.

He decisively defeated the Rajputs at the Battle of Mangrol and played a pivotal role in the

resurrection of the Maratha power in Central India. He also supported his daughter-in-law, Ahilyabai Holkar in laying foundation of her future glorious reign. He also helped Mahadji Scindia alias Shinde
in recovering form the debacle at Panipat and helped him in restoring the lost power of the Scindias.

Death and legacy

Ahilya Bai Holkar, at Alampur, Madhya Pradesh
.
Back view of Malhar Rao Holkar's Chhatrisamadhi at Alampur, Madhya Pradesh.

He died at

Ahilya Bai Holkar from committing sati.[5] Malhar Rao's grandson and Khanderao's young son Male Rao Holkar became the ruler of Indore in 1766, under the regentship of Ahilyabai, but he too died within few months in 1767. Ahilyabai became the ruler of Indore after the death of her only son with Khanderao. He is considered one of the architects of Maratha control over India.[6][7][8]

His daughter-in-law

Ahilya Bai Holkar built his samadhi Chhatri, at the spot of his cremation, at Alampur of Lahar in Bhind district of Madhya Pradesh state.[9][10]

In popular culture

References

  1. ^ Holkars of Indore Archived 30 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine
  2. ISBN 9788120619654
    .
  3. ^
    ISBN 9780521268837
    .
  4. ^ Dr. Prakash Chandra Chandawat: Maharaja Suraj Mal aur unka yug, Jaypal Agencies Agra, 1982, Pages 110-118
  5. ^ Images of Women in Maharashtrian Literature and Religion, edited by Anne Feldhaus, pp185-186
  6. ^ Advanced Study in the History of Modern India 1707-1813, by Jaswant Lal Mehta, pp606
  7. ^ Omkareshwar and Maheshwar: Travel Guide, p60
  8. ^ Indian States: A Biographical, Historical, and Administrative Survey, by R. V. Solomon, J. W. Bond, p.72
  9. ^ History of Bhind district
  10. ^ India Govt tender for the improvement of Malhar Rao Holkar's Chhatri at Alampur

Further reading

  • Hindustancha Yugpurush Malharrao Holkar by Madhukar Salgare - 2009 (Marathi)
  • Subhedar Thorale Malharrao Holkar Yanche Charitra by M.M. Atre - 1893 (Marathi)
  • Peshwa Maratha Relations and Malharrao Holkar by N.N. Nagarale 1989 (English)
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