Dattaji Shindia : The best general of Peshwa Balajirao

Dattaji Sindhia was the second son of Ranoji Sindhia and Minabai alias Nimbabai . Minabai gave birth to three sons of Ranoji , Jayappa, Dattaji, Tukoji .Jayappa was the eldest among the three and Tukoji, the youngest .Dattaji Sindhia distinguished himself in the campaign of the Doab(Safdarjung-Pathan war) of 1751 for the first time .Dattaji was a first-rate soldier in courage and enterprise, though lacking in sagacity and diplomatic tact. Peshwa aptly characterized Dattaji in a letter of 30 Aug. 1755, "Dattaba's nature is that of a [mere ] soldier; hence he presses violently on at the wrong time and place." Dattaji was the ablest general in those times .He was young , daring and a loyal  soldier of Peshwa . This is  evident from Raghunathrao’s letter to Peshwa dated 16^th February 1757 “Abdali is strong  it requires very great resources to chastise him. Send Dattaji Sindhia quickly to me from the Deccan” .

After the assassination  of Jayappa  Sindhia on 25th July, 1755 in Nagore during the Marwar campaign  Dattaji became the head of the Sindhia family and guardian of young Jankoji , the son of Jayappa . Jankoji was proclaimed as the new chief  and the legal successor of Jayapa and all official letters were issued in his name and under his seal, and the writers of the time used the word Jankoji where Dattaji was the person really concerned. After this unfortunate  assassination ,Dattaji and Jankoji rose to the occasion and  conducted the war all the more vigorously, having received speedy reinforcements from the various Maratha captains who were on duty at different places. Antaji Mankeshwar immediately started from Bundlekhand and successfully prevented Madho Singh of Jaipur and other Rajput parties from reaching Nagore for Bijay Singh's succour .  Bijay Singh was soon brought to his knees mainly by the Sindhian arms, although he tried to organize a formidable coalition of northern powers, including the Emperor, his Wazir, Najib-ud-daula, the Rohilla, Pathans and others, in order to put down the Marathas . By the end of the year Bijay Singh's position became so untenable that submission to Sindia's mercy was his only way of escape. He paid Dattaji a personal visit in January 1756 and agreed to the terms that were imposed. Bijay Singh  agreed to pay a fine of 50 lacs, ceded Ajmer and Jalore, and gave his cousin Ram Singh a half share of his kingdom. Dattaji kept possession of Ajmer and had it strongly garrisoned for defence.[The provinces of Agra and Ajmer were handed over to Peshwa by the Mughals in 1752] . He gave away Jalore to Ram Singh . After ending this Marwar campaign Dattaji returned (June-1756) to his own fief of Ujjain  and then proceeded to Pune .  Here in Pune Dattaji and Jankoji Sindhia  trained Viswasrao , the eldest son of Peshwa  and participated in the Sindakhed campaign of 1757 against the Nizams .

 After Raghunathrao and Malharrao extended Maratha rule to Lahore , Peshwa dispatched his most daring soldier to carry on the further affairs of North Hindustan  after  settling the affairs with Nizam .Dattaji married Bhagirathibai in March 1758 and left Pune in May .Dattaji reached Delhi towards the end of 1758 .  The Sindhia chief  was assigned the duty of 1.) reducing the burdens of Maratha treasury 2.) Settling the affairs of Delhi 3.) Managing the Maratha control over Panjab 4.) to Crush Najib Khan , 5.)to  take  Benares, Ayodhya and Allahabad from Shuja-ud-daula 6.)to lead an expedition into Bihar and Bengal , and occupy Patna immediately .Dattaji somehow managed the affairs of Delhi and entrusted the management of Punjab into the hands of Sabaji Sindhia( a Sindhian kinsman) . Dattaji then turned eastwards to take on Najib Khan and then lead the campaign in Bihar and Bengal .  But Dattaji  somehow fell into the trap of Najib Khan and he tried to utilise the services of this treacherous Rohilla chief Najib Khan for crossing the Ganges and proceeding further to Bihar. Dattaji waited for the construction of the bridge and spent his time for performing his religious ceremonies and holy dip in the Ganges at Garhmukteshwar . Towards the end of June the monsoon arrived, the river rose in floods and Najib Khan urged that the operations of the bridge could not be pushed on. Dattaji saw through Najib's game clearly and began counter measures to defeat it. Najib Khan had taken shelter in Shukartal , Dattaji continued the siege of Shukartal till 15th December 1759 . Dattaji could not continue his enterprise  because he received more alarming news from the west about the fifth invasion of Abdali . Sabaji Sindhia escaped from Punjab to join the Sindhian camp at Shukartal. Dattaji decided to prevent Abdali from reaching Delhi and he turned towards Karnal on 24^th December a battle was fought between the Sindhian army and the Afghans at Taraori (south-east of Thaneshwar) . Where Dattaji received a setback and the Afghan army crossed the river Jamuna and entered the Doab . Soon after Abdali crossed  the river Najib came out of his hiding place to join his Patron .Dattaji quickly rushed to Delhi and encamped in the vicinity of Majnu's hillock, two miles to the north of Delhi and posted his men to guard the fords along the river Jamuna. Meanwhile Hafiz Rahmat Khan, Dundi Khan, Mulla Sardar, Sadullah Khan and other Rohillas chieftains of Rohilkhand  joined Abdali.

In the morning of  10^th January 1760 , the Rohillas of Najib Khan attempt a crossing at Barari-ghat  . Sabaji Sindhia who was guarding the ghat resisted the enemies with his few men, after reporting the attack. Dattaji rushed from his camp on a horse to prevent this intrusion darting his spear at the enemies . But the Rohilla snipers hidden in the bushes were waiting for this opportunity , they shot down Dattaji with a bullet shot. The Bhaubakhar describes his death as when Dattaji fell off his horse with a bullet wound and was lying there on the battle field . Raghoba Pagnis said to Rajaram Chopdar, “ Do you go up to Qutubshah and say to him that Dattaji Shinde lies wounded on the field and that he should take him off the field .”Rajaram Chopdar saw Qutb Shah on his elephant and having known him for long, saluted him said in the Muslim tongue, "Saheb, our Patil has fallen, please save him." Qutb Shah asked him to take him there. Upon reaching Dattaji he asked him, “Will you fight us again”. To Which he replied bravely “Bachenge to aur bhi ladenge .” Enraged, Qutb Shah unsheathed his sword, kicked Dattaji over, and beheaded him, despite Rajaram's pleas . Dattaji’s body was cremated by Rajaram Chopdar.

Viswasrao : आमचा विश्वास पानीपतात गेला

Viswasrao was the eldest son of  Peshwa Balajirao from his first wife Gopikabai  on 2nd March 1742. Viswasrao had inherited the looks of his grandfather Bajirao and had even exceeded his charm .G. S. Sardesai writes that there was no one more handsome in Peshwa’s family than Viswasrao . Raghunath Yadav author of one of the Panipat Bakhar had stated “पुरुषांत देखणा विस्वासराव व बाईकान्त देखणी मस्तानी”  . On 2nd May , 1750  Viswasrao married Lakshmibai, the daughter of Sadashiv Hari Dikshit Patwardhan, a leading banker in Poona town.

 Viswasrao was trained by  Dattaji and Jankoji Sindia and he undertook his first military campaign against the Nizams in the Sindakhed Campaign(1757). Peshwa gave the command of the impending campaign to his eldest son Vishvasrao, then only  fifteen years old , in order to afford him experience for his future position in the State. Damaji Gaikwad and other chiefs joined the army in due course. The Maratha forces under Viswasrao left Poona on 27 August in the direction of Aurangabad, the Peshwa and Sadashivrao halted on the Godavari to watch the operations beyond. Aurangabad was the main objective for the Marathas to reduce and for the Nizam to defend. Hostilities began in November. Nizam Ali was put in charge of the campaign by Salabat Jang. As the Marathas were marching upon Aurangabad, they received news that Ramchandra Jadhav a powerful Maratha commander in the Nizam's service was coming rapidly from Bhalki to remove the threat to the capital. In order to prevent Jadhav attacking the Peshwa's army before Aurangabad, Dattaji learning that Ramchandra Jadhav was at Sindkhed quickly moved upon that place and at once invested it. These surprisingly quick movements were most effective. The small rampart of Sindkhed was not likely to hold out long. Nizam Ali with Ibrahim Khan Gardi at once marched from Aurangabad to Sindkhed, in the wake of Dattaji's men to relieve the pressure upon Jadhav, which increased every moment when swarming Marathas quickly gathered from various , directions. A fierce struggle between the two opponents raged for nearly a month round that small place. Nizam Ali and, Ibrahim Khan effected a junction with Jadhav and tried to break out all in a body through the Maratha cordon on 12th December under the shelter of their powerful artillery. A fierce battle was fought continuously for four days at the gate of Sindkhed, when Nagoji Mane a supporter of Jadhav was killed along with many of his followers. On 16th December darkness set in towards evening and the combatants parted. Victory remained with the Marathas. The next few days decided the fate of the campaign. Hordes of Maratha cavalry came sweeping upon the Nizam's forces. On 17th December Nizam Ali acknowledging defeat sent Vithal Sundar to the Maratha camp begging for terms. Peace was concluded by the Nizam ceding to the Peshwa territory worth 25 lakhs along with fort Naldurg. Ceremonial visits by the two principals at Sakharkhedla ratified and confirmed the treaty on 29th December 1757.

Two years later on  9th November 1759 Kavi Jang, the keeper of Ahmadnagar surrendered the place to the Peshwa on receiving a handsome reward in money and jagir. This led at once to a fresh outbreak of hostilities between the two neighbours. Peshwa entered it with due pomp on  29th November . Sadshivrao , Raghunathrao , Viswasrao and most of other chief Maratha Sardars too assembled in Ahmadnagar.

 Nizam Ali's army in order to counter this military gain of Marathas moved first to Bedar and then to Dharur. Sadshivrao , Raghunathrao , Viswasrao moved South-east from Ahmadnagar .The Nizams sent their main army ahead to the fort of Dharur and stayed with their slow moving artillery .The Maratha armies quickly rushed in the direction of Bidar to prevent the Nizams from reaching  Dharur . Battle began between Marathas and Nizams on 20th January near Udgir, about 50 miles northwest of Bidar. The Nizam army marched out from Udgir in a hollow square and slowly moved towards Ausa , skirmishing all along the way . Fifteen miles before they could reach the fort they were surrounded by the Marathas on all the sides .Marathas then fell upon their rear . On 3rd February ,1760 the Nizam army was completely routed at Ausa and Nizam Ali accepted his defeat and sued for peace. Viswasrao displayed great archery skills in this Battle .

When Sadshivrao Bhau was appointed to lead the Panipat campaign , Viswasrao was appointed as the nominal head of the Maratha army . It has been stated in Marathi chronicles that Gopikabai ,the wife of Peshwa did not wanted Bhau to be promoted to higher offices as she feared that this may harm the prospects of her own family members . After the victory of Udgir , she became cautious about the rising fame of Bhau and when she came to know that Bhau was leading a large army in North . She insisted on sending Viswasrao along with Bhau to battle against Abdali as she did not wanted Bhau to take all the accolades after defeating Abdali and wanted Viswasrao to play a bigger role . By sending Viswasrao as a nominal head she also ensured a check over Bhausaheb  as she feared that he might set up an independent principality of his own in North when enjoying supreme command there without a partner .Few Historians have expressed a view that the appointment of Viswasrao for the campaign had nothing to do with Gopikabai‘s opinion , it was entirely the Peshwa‘s own decision. So that Viswasrao could get the requisite experience in the north, while few others claim that Bhau asked for Viswasrao‘s presence as the Peshwa‘s son would provide some weight to Bhau's own authority.

After the victory in Delhi a Darbar was held and Viswasrao was presented homage by Maratha sardars. False rumours spread around  that Viswasrao was placed  as the emperor and when Bhausaheb came to know about these facts he deposed  the Mughal  Emperor Shah Jahan Sani and  proclaimed  Shah Alam as the emperor and appointed  his son Jawan Bhakht as his regent  . After the victory at Kunjpura a  grand Durbar was held at which gold was presented to Viswas Rao on 19th October, coinciding with the occasion of the Vijaydashmi .

In the finale battle of Panipat , Viswasrao led the troops of Huzarat  and came down heavily on the Afghan centre under Shah Wali composed of 16,000 Durranis . The Maratha cavalry  around 13,000 strong broke up the enemy's centre killing or wounding three thousand Afghans in Shah Wali‘s post  . “The Marathas drank them up like the water of an ocean” .Shah Wali himself was left with hundred or two hundred horses and fifty zamburak camels  and the remaining Durranis in the Afghan centre fled from the battle field .Unfortunately between 2 and 3 P.M. Viswasrao after receiving a sword cut in the neck and an arrow wound on his left eye-brow fell from his horse Dilpak with a bullet shot . Viswasrao‘s body was brought to Bhau who ordered it to be placed on his own riding elephant in the rear seat of which Bapuji M. Hingane was seated .To Vishvasrao Sadashivrao was deeply attached. Bhau himself had trained Viswasrao himself and had been his constant guardian and companion in the wars of South India .At the time of departure from Patdur the weeping mother of Viswasrao , Gopikabai was promised by Bhau about the safety of her son. The boy had returned his uncle's affection and seems to have loved him more deeply than even his own father. The kaifiyat reports a letter by Viswasrao to Peshwa “You will surely get other sons like me , but not other brothers like Bhausaheb” .Viswasrao’s body was later found dead on a elephant  by Barkhurdar Khan’s men and his body was criminated by Kashiraj . There is a common pun in Maharastra आमचा विश्वास पानीपतात गेला which  is definitely due to the loss of Viswasrao at Panipat.

Balwantrao Mehendele : The right Hand man of Bhausaheb

Balwantrao Mehendele was the right hand man of Sadashivrao Bhau . He was also a Chitpawan Brahaman and was the maternal uncle of Nana Phadnavis  and his  father's mother was the sister of Peshwa Balaji Vishwanath. He was also the brother of the first wife of Sadshivrao , Umabai.  Balwantrao was married to Laxmibai who accompanied her husband in the Panipat campaign . She bore him a son who survived the disaster at Panipat and became famous by the name Appa Balwant.

Balwantrao’s carrer was given a push by Peshwa Balajirao. He accompanied Peshwa and Sadashivrao in a number of expeditions in South India and stood by the side of Peshwa in all the wars against Tarabai and Damaji Gaikwad . In the Karnatak campaign of 1757 Peshwa returned in May after leaving Balawantrao as his deputy to finish the remaining work of the expedition .Nawab of  Kadappa, which claimed the districts of Kolar, Hoskot and Balapur once forming the Jagir of Sahahji the father of Shivaji , was subjugated by the prowess of Balavantrao Mehendale. Abdul Majid Khan the Nawab of Kadappa was a man of valour and resources. In the fierce engagement fought between Sidhout and Kadappa on 24th September 1757, the Khan was killed along with four hundred of his men. The same night Kadappa was captured. Balwantrao then  levied contributions from the Palegars round about Sira, Hoskote, Mulbagal and other places . He was ordered to capture Bednur and Chitradurg , but growing tension between the Marathas and Nizams which led to the battle of Sindakhed (December -1757) called him away northwards . After the Maratha victory at Sindakhed Balwantrao along with Gopalrao Patwardhan and Visaji Krishna Biniwale led a campaign in South India upto the seas on the eastern coast of India. In the battle of Udgir , Balwantrao played a very important role and acted as the deputy of Sadashivrao . It was he who  used to lead  the troops of Huzarat as the right hand man of Sadashivrao  .When Sadashivrao was chosen to lead the Panipat campaign , Balwantrao  accompanied him to North India. Like Sadshivrao this was also the first campaign of Balwantrao in North India.

Almost all Marathi chronicles of Panipat campaign like Bhausahebanchi Bakhar and Bhausahebanchi Kaifiyat accuse Balwantrao of being  arrogant, hot headed and abusive. He is said to be making fun of old Malharrao Holkar and Jankoji Sindhia  on various occasions  and has been portrayed as a villain in the Panipat Campaign  . Infact  Balwantrao was a man of sharp tongue  and these accusations cannot be termed totally wrong .  It was he who insisted on crossing river Chambal and proceeding to North India rejecting the advice of Malhararo . Balwantrao was dispatched from Mathura along with Imad-ul-Mulk and Surajmal Jat to capture Delhi .Balwantrao captured the city but failed to capture the Red Fort. It was actually  the cannons of Ibrahim Khan which forced the Afghan keeper to deliver the fort.

He accompanied Sadashivrao and Maratha army to Kunjpura and thence to Panipat .In the surprise attack of Jankoji Sindhia on 22nd November , Balwantrao failed to render timely support and was so criticised on this point . On 7th December 1760 the Rohillas led by Najib Khan’s brother Sultan Khan fell upon the Marathas. The assailants reached the very edge of the Maratha trenches . The Rohilla foot soldiers took advantage of intense darkness of that night  and penetrated inside the trenches . The Gardi musketeers and Balwantrao with the Huzurat horses fell heavily on the Afghans and drove them back with great slaughter. Najib‘s uncle Khali-ul-Rehman  was killed in the battle and over three thousand of the Rohilla infantry fell in the field and even among those that survived most were wounded very badly . Unhappily in the moment of victory a chance bullet struck Balwantrao Mehendale at around 7 PM at night, who was leading the charge . He fell down from his horse with a bullet in his chest while trying to stem the flight of his men by galloping up to the exposed front line during the first Afghan onrush. The Rohillas crowded upon the fallen General ; one slashed at his face ; another began to sever his head in order to carry it away in triumph. But half a dozen Maratha horsemen galloped up to the spot and rescued their chief's body from mutilation, though with the neck half cut through. The engagement ceased about three hours after nightfall. His body was saved from mutilation by Khanderao Nimbalkar. Sadashivrao felt deeply the loss of Balwantrao, who was his staunch supporter and advisor .After this incident the morale of the Maratha army deteriorated day by day and never again was any serious offensive attack carried out by the Marathas. The loss of this Brahman General was never compensated .  Had Balwantrao lived till the battle of Panipat , he must have led the charge of the Huzarat instead of Viswasrao and the panic created after Viswasrao was shot must have had  less effect . Balwantrao's widow Laxmibai committed sati and was burnt with her husband's body leaving behind a son of 14 years named Krishnarao under the care of Bhau The boy survived the disaster and was later famous by the name Appa Balwant .

My Article on Bhausaheb Sadashivrao published in Weekly Samarthan

My Article on  Bhausaheb Sadashivrao published in Weekly Samarthan,  a Martahi weekly newspaper  on 2nd July , 2012.

Ibrahim Khan Gardi : The Muslim Commander in the Maratha army

Ibrahim Khan Gardi was one of the Gardis trained by de Bussy . The term " Gardi " came to be applied to the troops and officers trained by Bussy with strict regulations about discipline, uniforms, arms, marches and other military essentials, which were till then conspicuous in India by their absence, and which the Marathas with their strong self-will particularly hated . Bussy spent the first three years of  his life in India (1747-49) in selecting proper well-built candidates for service with a strong physique and measured height and in training them for the purposes of infantry and artillery during field-operations and sieges. Ibrahim Khan was the son of Muzaffar Khan Gardi’s  sister. Ibrahim Khan was in the services of  Nizam Ali and was highly attached to him and had participated in the battle of Sindakhed against the Marathas in which the Marathas won .Nizam Ali also had a lot of affection for Ibrahim Khan , he along with his chief officials attended the marriage of the daughter of this Gardi commander .But Ibrahim Khan was a a trifle inferior to Muzaffar Khan in the technicalities of his profession. In this connection Salabat Jung once remarked: “Bussy had no difficulty in getting rid of Muzaffar Khan at a moment's notice. Ibrahim Khan stands no  comparison in that respcct.”  In June 1758 Bussy was recalled and he left the services of Nizam Salabat Jung . After Bussy's departure affairs took a rapid turn for the worse in the Nizam's State. Basalat Jang and Nizam Ali quarrelled over the power to manage the administration as Salabat Jang was a mere figure-head, playing into the hands of his powerful ministers. During the war on the east coast, Captain Forde of the British East India Company marched into the Northern Sarkars  and captured those districts for themselves : neither Basalat Jang nor Nizam Ali could prevent this. The latter demanded from Salabat Jang the sole management of affairs : but Salabat Jang was afraid of his own life being attempted by Nizam Ali's Gardis headed by Ibrahim Khan. He therefore stipulated that he would entrust him with all powers provided he dismissed Ibrahim Khan from his service. This he agreed to do. Ibrahim Khan was dismissed by Nizam Ali in October 1759 and the latter was given full powers of administration by Salabat Jang. Raja Vithal Das  paid the arrear of three lakhs  in full immediately and expelled Ibrahim Khan Gardi from the services of Nizam Ali on 9th October. When Sadashivrao at Poona learnt of Ibrahim Khan's dismissal, he at once engaged him in his employ with the help of one Keshavrao Panse , having already fully satisfied himself about the latter's honesty and capacity. This was the reason that provoked Muzaffar Khan, the rival gardi commander  to attempt Bhausaheb's life. Ibrahim Khan was to join service at Poona on November 5, 1759.

Sadshivrao granted Ibrahim Khan the sole management of Peshwa’s artillery .Ibrahim Khan entered the services of Peshwa with 12,000 French-trained sepoys forming 12 battalions of thousand men each. Ibrahim Khan led Peshwa’s artillery in the battle of Udgir and fought against the gardis of Nizam Ali .In this battle Ibrahim Khan displayed an impressive show of his French capacities and talent.  Impressed by his capacities Sadshivrao decided to take Ibrahim Khan in the Panipat campaign. Ibrahim Khan set out from Patdur with 8,000 gardi sepoys . Ibrahim Khan proved useful at Delhi and Kunjpura where his guns created havoc in the Afghan camps. Regarding this Nana Phadnavis wrote on 28th November : “The Afghans have been impressed by him” . Impressed by this general of Sadshivrao , the Afghans tried to detach him from the Marathas in the name of religion but this loyal general boldly turned down all lucrative offers. It was on the advice of Ibrahim Khan that Sadshivrao decided to entrench himself at Panipat .Finally in the main battle fought on 14th January , it was his war plan (of moving in a hollow square formation) that was implemented by Sadshivrao . Just before the battle  Ibrahim Khan rode up to Bhausaheb and said "Ram ! Ram ! You were highly displeased with me because every month I used to take from you, with bold insistence, order for the cash payment of our salary, running to six lakhs of Rupees. This month your treasure has been looted and we have got no order of payment. Never mind that today I shall discharge my duty". In the battle the gardis fell on the right wing of the Afghans and the Rohillas received huge causalities . In the first half of the battle Ibrahim Khan remained the undisputed champion in that part of the field. So fierce was Ibrahim Khan Gardi’s attack that only a few Soldiers remained with their chiefs and one leader could not inquire about another. The old Hafiz Rahmat Khan said, "Set my palki down in front of Dundi Khan, so that I may be slain before his face.". Dundi Khan came down from his horse and cried out, " Comrades! our life and honour are perishing. Bring me news of Hafiz Rahmat Khan" .Towards the end of the battle Ibrahim Khan was captured in wounded condition and most of his gardi soldiers were killed in the battlefield. Ibrahim Khan was later tortured and  executed on the orders of Abdali .There is also a mention of Fatheh Ali Khan Gardi who led a night attack on the Afghan camp on 19th November 1760 , who was the brother of Ibrahim Khan Gardi. What happened to Fatheh Ali Khan is nowhere recorded . It has also been stated that the son and brother-in-law of Ibrahim khan died in the battle field.

Sadashivrao Bhau : The Maratha Senapati in the Panipat Campaign

Sadashirao Bhau , the commander-in –chief of the Maratha army  during the Panipat campaign was the was son of Chimaji Appa (born on 5^th July 1730) , the younger brother of Peshwa Bajirao .Sadshivrao’s  mother was Rakmabai, the sister of Trimbakrao Pethe (famous by the nickname Trimbakrao Mama) .Rakhmabai’s family originally belonged to Guhagar in the Dapoli district of the Konkan where they held the position of Mokadam(headman , chief ) of the Kasba of Guhagar. Her father Visaji Krishna Pethe , was given an inam in Kiwale , in the Taluka of Haveli province of Poona, by  Chatrapati Shahuji on 17^th November ,1722. Visaji Krishna  was the Kamavisdar of Khandesh and after his death in 1728 Trimbakrao succeeded to his post .

Sadshivrao’s father was the far more attractive personality than Bajirao. His mind was bent towards study. His manners were pleasing. His temper was sweet and reasonable. It often happened that the Deccan nobles, unwilling to approach Bajirao  and to risk a sharp, discourteous refusal, reached their object by winning to their cause Chimaji Appa, against whose persuasive pleading even Bajirao was rarely proof. It was Chimaji Appa who saw that Bajirao's sons were educated, were invested with the sacred thread, were united to suitable wives and taught the high morality and noble truths of the Hindu faith. It was he who defeated and killed Sidi Sat, and but for his  perseverance and energy Bassein would most likely never have fallen. Had he lived longer, he would doubtless have controlled the quarrels of Raghunathrao and Sadashivrao, both of whom revered him as their father, and thus saved his country from the disaster of Panipat.
                                                 

Sadshivrao’s  mother Rakmabai  died on the 31st August 1730 . Chimaji then married his second wife Anapurnabai on 9th December 1731 .She bore him one daughter named daughter Bagabai, who married Gangadharnaik Onkar. Chimaji Appa himself died at Poona on 17th December 1740 (at a young age of 34) and Anapurnaba became sati on his pyre. Sadshivrao was brought up by his grandmother (mother of Bajirao and Chimaji Appa) Radhabai . Sadshivrao was married to Umabai on 7^th February , 1740 .She gave birth to two sons who died soon. Umabai herself died on 22nd March ,1750 and Sadashivrao then married Parvatibai the daughter of Bhikaji Naik  Kolhatkar of Pen on 26^th April ,1750 .Parvatibai escorted Sadshivrao in the Panipat campaign and survived the disaster .

Sadshivrao undertook his first campaign in Karnataka in 1746 because Babuji Naik and Fateh Singh Bhonsle failed in  the task assigned to them .Sadshivrao  left Poona on 5^th December, 1746 with Mahadoba Purandare and Sakharam Bapu as his political advisers. The campaign continued till May 1747 mostly in the western Karnatak region. In January 1747 he won his first battle at Ajra, south of Kolhapur .The Navab of Savnur was chastised , the fort of Bahadur Benda was reduced and chauth was levied from the region between the rivers Krishna and Tungabhadra . All together 36 parganas were captured in this campaign.

After the death of Chatrapati Sahahuji on 15th December 1749 , Peshwa urged that in the interest of the State, the executive power must remain in his own hands and that he would not tolerate any interference with the administration from the Pratinidhi, or the Sachiv or any one else. As a result Singhad fort was taken forcibly from the Sachiv (6^th July ,1750). Like the Sachiv the Pratinidhi too rebelled against the Peshwa . Sangola near Pandharpur was a small fortified post belonging to the Pratinidhi . Sangola was held by  Dadoba Pratinidhi’s Mutalik Yamaji Shivdev . Peshwa despatched Sadashivrao Bhau and Ramchandra Baba with an adequate armed force and Ramraja himself at their head to take possession of Sangola from Yamaji Shivdev. The latter resisted and waged a short struggle of two weeks; but being overpowered by the Peshwa's artillery, Yamaji delivered Sangola into Sadashivrao's hands on the Dassara day, 25th September.[ Ramchandra Bawa Suktankar was appointed as as the Peshwa's agents with Sindhia. Ranoji Sindia and Ramchandra Bawa pulled together well and kept on cordial terms with each other. After Ranoji's death Jayappa became the head of the family and his relations with Ramchandra Bawa soon came to be severely strained. Jayappa became disgusted with Ramchandra Baba's greed and compelled the Peshwa to recall him to the south, just about the time that  Shahu died(15th December 1749)]

Sadashivrao and Ramchandra Baba executed some bold and quick measures at Sangola .But this the Peshwa felt as an encroachment on his own powers. He bitterly resented Sadashivrao's action at Sangola and the two cousins were nearly on the point of an open rupture. In this situation Mahadoba quietly withdrew from all office work and retired to his home at Saswad, thus easing the tension so far as lay in his power. Sadashivrao, however, took a different line of action, being encouraged and financially helped by Ramchandra Baba. He demanded from the Peshwa full power to conduct the administration, not approving the lenient method adopted by the latter. The Peshwa refused to surrender his power on any account. Sadashivrao thereupon threatened to resign and seek service under Sambhaji Raja of Kolhapur, who had written to him, offering him the post of his Peshwa with a jagir of five thousand along with the possession of three important forts Bhimgad, Pargad and Vallabhgad, all on the border of Kolhapur and Belgam. Happily the dispute was soon reconciled and nothing untoward happened in consequence. This was in the closing months of 1750, when Sadashivrao met the Peshwa after his expedition to Sangola.

In January, 1751  Sadshivrao escorted Peshwa into an expedition into Karnataka . Sadashivrao’s commander Trimbak Suryaji captured the fort Trimbak on 2nd December 1751 .Nasik  was also  occupied and here the Peshwa rapidly erected palaces and temples. Though fort Trimbak was temporarily given back to Muslim control, it was recaptured by the Marathas within two years, the Masjid was pulled down and the original temple restored. Peshwa and Bhausaheb paid their first ceremonial visit to this temple of Trimbakeshwar in November 1754. Several minor forts in the vicinity such as Kamala, Tringalwadi, Bitinga and others came at the same time into Maratha possession. Shivaji's birthplace fort Shivner was taken a little later in ,1756.

On 20th March Sadashivrao  captured the fort of Holi Honnur standing at the junction of the rivers Tunga and Bhadra. Peshwa and Sadshivrao together  captured Dharwar on 14th May. Thence on the way to Poona they halted at Kolhapur and were cordially received by Raja Sambhaji and his queen Jijabai, who gave Bhausaheb the forts of Bhimgad, Pargad, Vallabhgad and Kalanidhi along with the district of Khanapur, in fulfilment of an engagement which had been contracted earlier .Sadshivrao thereafter  escorted Peshwa in a number of campaigns in south India. Sadshivrao himself led the Maratha army against the Nizams in the battles of Sindkhed(1757) and Udgir (1760) .It was Sadshivrao who looked after the administrative and financial matters of the Maratha empire.

Muzaffar Khan Gardi  bore bitter hatred towards Sadashivrao, and when the latter entertained the services of Ibrahim Khan, a rival Gardi commander, Muzaffar Khan sought to wreak his revenge. On the evening of 28th October 1759 as Sadashivrao was transacting his routine business in his tent at the Garpir of Poona, the Khan's son-in-law Haidar Khan suddenly stabbed Sadashivrao in the back. Fortunately the wound though severe did not prove fatal. An immediate inquiry was made and eight culprits including Muzaffar Khan and his son-in-law were blown away from guns on October 30.

Sadshivrao Bhau was appointed by Peshwa Balajirao to lead the Panipat campaign . In this campaign Bhausaheb selected men  belonging to his own party like Balwantaro Mehendele and Nana Purandare. Bhausaheb wrote to almost every principle chief of Hindustan for assistance in driving off this Afghan Invader. He sent his personal agents to Madho Singh of Jaipur and Vijay Singh of Marwar , Shuja-ud-daula of Awadh and many more .But Bhau received no positive response except from Surajmal Jat of Bharatpur .On the way to Delhi  Bahusaheb performed pilgrimage at Muchukund Teerth (Dholpur) , Mathura and Vrindavan . While Sadshivrao was performing his religious ceremonies , Ibrahim Khan battered the red fort with his cannons and forced its Afghan keeper to deliver the fort into Maratha hands. Throughout the rainy season negotiations were held between the Marathas and Afghans. In all negotiations Bhausaheb had no free hand for all important decisions he used to refer to Peshwa.

After the rains Bhausaheb thought of attacking Kunjpura .  On the way to Kunjpura Bhausaheb deposed the Mughal Emperor Shah Jhan Sani (III) , who was appointed by the wicked Imad-ul-Mulkh after the murder of Emperor Alamgir (II) and appointed the fugitive Mughal Emperor Shah Alam on the Mughal throne.

Kunjpura was easily taken and Abdus Samad Khan, the faujdar of Abdali at Sarhind was killed in the encounter . Mia Qutub shah , who had cut-off the head of Dattaji Sindhia was executed on the orders of Bhau. After Kunjpura Bhausaheb moved to perform pilgrimage at Kurukshetra .On the way to Kurukshetra Sadshivrao learnt that Abdali had crossed Jamuna at Bagpat and was heading towards them. Bhausaheb then rushed towards Delhi and finally settled at Panipat. Here Bhausaheb acting on the advice of Ibrahim Khan decided to entrench himself in the hostile city of Panipat. This entrenchment continued in the severe winter of November, December and January .The route southward from  panipat was blocked by Abdali’s army and soon there started a starvation in the Maratha camp.

Tired of waiting and the starvation in the Maratha camp compelled Sadshivrao to launch a finale attack on 14^th January , 1760 . The Maratha army was to move in a triangular formation under the cover of canons with Sadashivrao and Viswasrao at the centre and the non-combatants at their back. The contingents of Sindhia and Holkar , Jaswantarao , Anataji mankeshwar, sons of Pilaji jadhav were placed on the right hand side of the Maratha centre . Ibrahim Khan, Damaji Gaikwad and Vithal shivdev were on the left side of Sadshivrao .

Bhausaheb was seated on an elephant and Viswasrao led the charge of the Maratha centre .Earlier on most occasions it was Balwantarao who led the charge but after the death of this brave Brahman military general this responsibility was undertaken by the brave and young nephew of Bhausaheb. The Maratha horsemen of huzurat (personal cavalry of peshwa) fell heavily on the Afghan centre led by Abdali’s Wazir Shah Wali Khan .In the first half of the battle the Afghan centre was cut into pieces. Atai Khan , the slayer of Govindpant and the nephew of Shah Wali Khan was killed and most of the Afghans started fleeing from the battle field. Around 2 P.M. Abadali sent reinforcement in the Afghan centre which came like a bolt from the blue on the Marathas . Viswasrao was hit by a bullet shot around 3 P. M. And he fell from his horse. His dead body was brought to Bhausaheb. Bhausaheb then dismounted his elephant and mounted his horse to lead the charge.  The site of the vacant Ambari created panic in the Maratha camp and most of the Marathas deserted the battle field. According to Bhausaheb’s Kaifiyat Bhausaheb continued the battle with his small number of loyal followers . Tukoji Sindhia who had rushed from Maratha right wing to support Bhausaheb said : “ Maharaj , you have crossed all limits of kshatriya dharma , it is best you leave the battle now” . To which Bhausaheb replied “ Tukoji Baba , now where will i go ? Look at the condition of Raosaheb(Viswasrao) . What face will i show to Nanasaheb. I have promised Ibrahim Khan that I will not leave the battle field”   . Hearing this Tukoji dismounted his horse and began his fight on foot . Suddenly he noticed some blood on his hand and came to know that he has been shot .

What happened to Sadashivrao is not exactly known , there are various versions of the story of his end one narrated by Kashiraj is accepted by most .There are many stories  spread all around in the Panipat region regarding the finale fate of Sadshivrao .