Maharashtra Board Class 7 History Chapter 11 Marathas The Protectors of the Nation PDF Download

Marathas – The Protectors of the Nation

After Bajirao I, Shahu Maharaj appointed his son Balaji Bajirao alias Nanasaheb the Peshwa. Following the invasion of Nadirshah, there was instability in Delhi. In these circumstances, Nanasaheb tried to stabilize the Maratha rule in the North. Ahmadshah Abdali posed a challenge to the Marathas at Panipat. We shall learn about these developments in this chapter.

Situation In The North

The region to the north-west of Ayodhya province at the foothills of the Himalayas was called Rohilkhand in the 18th century. The Pathans who had migrated from Afghanistan had settled in this region. They were known as Rohillas. The Rohillas had wrought havoc in the Doab region of the Ganga and Yamuna rivers. The Nawab of Ayodhya invited the Marathas to subdue the Rohillas. The Marathas chastised the Rohillas.

Teacher's Note

The Marathas were strong fighters who protected India from invaders. Just like the soldiers who protect our country today, the Marathas protected India from foreign enemies.

Exam Trick

Remember: Rohillas = Afghan fighters who lived in north India. Chauthai = tax that Marathas could collect. These words are important for exams.

Points to Remember

Rohilkhand was in the foothills of the Himalayas.
Rohillas were Pathans from Afghanistan.
The Nawab asked Marathas to fight the Rohillas.
Marathas won this battle easily.

Conflict With The Afghans

Ahmadshah Abdali, the ruler of Afghanistan, was attracted by the riches of India. He marched on the Punjab in 1751 CE. There was anarchy in the Mughal territory. The Mughals were facing the threat of Abdali's invasion. In these circumstances, the Mughals found it necessary for their own protection, to seek the help of the Marathas. The Emperor was sure of the Maratha strength and integrity. There was no other power strong enough to protect Delhi. Therefore, the Emperor entered into a treaty with the Marathas in April 1752. According to this treaty, the Marathas agreed to protect the Mughal power from enemies like the Rohillas, the Jats, the Rajputs and the Afghans. In return, the Marathas were to get cash money, the right to collect chauthai in the territories of the Punjab, Multan, Rajputana, Sindh and Rohilkhand and the Subhedari of Ajmer and Agra provinces.

As per the treaty, the Peshwa sent the Shinde-Holkar armies for the protection of Delhi on behalf of the Chhatrapati. When Abdali learnt that the Marathas were marching to Delhi, he went back to his country. Because the threat of Abdali was thus thwarted due to the Marathas, the Emperor gave them Chauthai rights to the Mughal subhas. These subhas included Kabul, Kandahar and Peshawar. Though the subhas were previously a part of the Mughal empire, now they were part of Abdali's Afghanistan. As per the treaty, it was a duty of the Marathas to win the subhas back from Abdali and annexe them to the Mughal Empire. Abdali however, wanted to bring under Afghan control, the region up to the Punjab. So a conflict between the Marathas and Abdali was imminent and inevitable.

Raghunathrao, brother of the Peshwa Nanasaheb, accompanied by Jayappa Shinde and Malharrao Holkar, undertook the campaign of North India to combat Abdali.

The local rulers in the north saw the Marathas from the South as their competitors. They did not take into account the broad vision of the Marathas and remained neutral, offering no help to the Marathas. They did not like the Maratha supremacy and interventions in the Delhi court. Surajmal Jat and Rani Kishori were the only ones who helped the Marathas wounded in the battle of Panipat.

Also, some of the orthodox sects in the North saw Marathas as people belonging to other religions. They, too, left aside the broad vision of the Marathas. They persuaded Abdali to invade India with a view to reducing the Maratha might. They expected that Abdali would defeat the Marathas and drive them away back to the South, beyond the river Narmada.

Teacher's Note

This shows us an important lesson. Even when facing a common enemy, some people would not help because they were selfish. Today also, we should stand united against dangers.

Exam Trick

Remember: Local rulers did NOT help Marathas. This is why Marathas lost the first battle. Unity is important - remember this for exams.

Points to Remember

Abdali invaded India five times.
Local rulers stayed neutral and did not help.
Some religious groups also opposed Marathas.
Only Surajmal Jat and Rani Kishori helped the Marathas.
Abdali wanted to control Punjab and beyond.

The Maratha Standard On Attock

Najibkhan was a Rohilla chief. He found it hard to tolerate the Maratha supremacy in the North. At the behest of Najibkhan, Abdali invaded India again. This was the fifth time he had invaded India. He captured Delhi. He returned to Afghanistan with a huge booty. Raghunathrao and Malharrao Holkar marched to the North again. They captured Delhi. Then, driving out Abdali's officers, they captured the Punjab. The Marathas pursued Abdali's soldiers right up to Attock in 1758 CE. The Maratha standard was raised at Attock. Attock is in present day Pakistan. From Attock, the Marathas pushed the campaign up to Peshawar. However, they did not make proper arrangements to look after this newly conquered territory.

Teacher's Note

The Marathas reached Attock in Pakistan. This shows how far north they went to fight for India. This was a great achievement for their military power.

Exam Trick

Remember: Attock 1758 = Maratha standard raised there. Attock is in Pakistan today. This is an important date for exams.

Points to Remember

Najibkhan asked Abdali to invade India again.
This was Abdali's fifth invasion of India.
Marathas captured Delhi again.
Marathas raised their flag at Attock in 1758 CE.
They did not manage the new territory well.

Dattaji's Valour

To get a firm hold over the Punjab and to crush Najibkhan, the Peshwa sent Dattaji Shinde and Janakoji Shinde to the North. Dattaji went to the North. Keeping Dattaji engaged in negotiations, Najibkhan established contacts with Abdali. He requested Abdali to come to his help. On receiving the message from Najibkhan, Abdali invaded India again. Dattaji and Abdali confronted each other at Buradi Ghat on the banks of the Yamuna. A fierce fight ensued. Dattaji showed tremendous valour. He met with a heroic death in this battle.

Dattaji fought very bravely. At last, he was severely wounded and collapsed on the battleground. Najib Khan Rohilla's adviser Qutub Shah stepped down from his elephant and came towards Dattaji. He asked Dattaji, "क्यों पेलजी, हमारे साथ तुम भी लहँगे?" Dattaji was in a wounded state. But after hearing these words of Qutub Shah, he replied with pride, "हाँ, बचेंगे तो और भी लहँगे।"

Teacher's Note

Dattaji died fighting bravely for his country. This shows the courage of Maratha soldiers. We should remember such brave fighters in our history.

Exam Trick

Remember: Dattaji = brave fighter who died at Buradi Ghat. He fought even when wounded. His courage is important to remember.

Points to Remember

Dattaji Shinde was sent to Punjab to fight Najibkhan.
He fought at Buradi Ghat on the Yamuna river.
Dattaji was severely wounded in the battle.
He showed great courage even when dying.
He died a heroic death in this battle.

Sadashivraobhau

Nanasaheb sent his cousin Sadashivraobhau and eldest son Vishwasrao to the North to crush Abdali. Sadashivraobhau was Chimajiappa's son. He had with him, a huge army and a powerful artillery. Ibrahimkhan Gardi was the chief of the artillery. He had defeated the Nizam in the battle of Udgir in 1760 CE, on the strength of this artillery.

Teacher's Note

Sadashivraobhau had good weapons and soldiers. Strong artillery was important in battles. Today, modern weapons help armies in the same way.

Exam Trick

Remember: Sadashivraobhau = cousin of Nanasaheb. He had strong artillery. Ibrahimkhan Gardi = artillery chief. Remember these names and their roles.

Points to Remember

Sadashivraobhau was Nanasaheb's cousin.
Vishwasrao was Nanasaheb's eldest son.
They led a huge army to fight Abdali.
Ibrahimkhan Gardi was the artillery chief.
Good artillery helped them win earlier battles.

The Battle Of Panipat

In his campaign of the North, Sadashivraobhau captured Delhi. The armies of the Marathas and Abdali confronted each other at Panipat. On 14 January 1761, the Marathas opened the battle by attacking Abdali's army. This was the Third Battle of Panipat. Vishwasrao fell a victim to an enemy bullet in the battle. When Sadashivraobhau learnt this, he fiercely attacked the enemy in a frenzy. He disappeared in the battle fray. Seeing that their leader had disappeared, the Maratha soldiers lost courage. At that very moment, the reserve contingents of Abdali launched an attack on the Marathas with a fresh vigour. The Marathas were defeated. A whole generation of young men in Maharashtra was killed. Many brave Sardars fell on the battlefield. The Marathas believed that an outsider like Abdali had no moral right to rule here. The Marathas fought at Panipat with the broad perspective that India is for Indians.

Teacher's Note

The battle of Panipat was very important. Many young soldiers died here. But the Marathas fought for a big idea - that India should be ruled by Indians, not by foreigners.

Exam Trick

Remember: Third Battle of Panipat = 14 January 1761. Vishwasrao died. Sadashivraobhau disappeared. Marathas lost. About 1,50,000 people died. This is very important for exams.

Points to Remember

The Third Battle of Panipat was on 14 January 1761.
Vishwasrao, Nanasaheb's son, died in this battle.
Sadashivraobhau disappeared during the fighting.
Marathas were defeated by Abdali's army.
About 1,50,000 people were killed in this battle.

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