पानीपत १७६१ (मराठा साम्राज्य एवं पानीपत महायुद्ध इतिहास)

THE JUDGMENT 121
Nana Phadnis, than whom no veracious and correct writer can be found, writes
definitely about this difference in his autobiography.⁹ The irritability of temper
and in general the loss of balance of mind, which is ascribed to the Peshwa
during his last illness, was not a sudden growth after Panipat, but was a
gradual development. Govindpant Bundele¹⁰ notes this change in the Peshwa's
temper even from the north. It will be seen from this detailed discussion that
the death of the Peshwa had little to do with the shock of Panipat. He would
not have survived it long, even if it had ended in a victory. We have thought
it necessary to enter into this detailed treatment of the problem as all historians
have fallen into the trap by treating it as a result of Panipat
We agree with Sir Jadunath¹¹ in thinking that the Peshwa's marriage at
Hiradpuri had nothing to do with the issue in the north, because we do not
think that the Peshwa was at this time in a fit physical or mental condition to
help Bhau by proceeding post haste to the north. It was a national misfortune
of the Marathas that the supreme head of the state should, in these critical years
not be in a fit condition to direct the affairs of the state with a single minded
devotion to the cause of the nation. A Shivaji or Santaji Ghorpade or Baji
rao would have possibly relieved Bhau by marching to Delhi in the rear of
Abdali in about a month with all the spare troops. Such an exploit was be-
yond the capacity of Balaji Bajirao (alias Nanasaheb), to judge from his
whole life.
HISTORICAL OPINIONS ABOUT THE BATTLE OF PANIPAT
That the disaster of Panipat ultimately led to the destruction of the
Maratha power, was understood by Rajwade more than forty five years ago.¹
Even before him, other historians had also said the same thing. But while the
foreigners were conscious of this result the Marathas were not, which only
means that they had no proper understanding of the situation and were thus
living in a fool's paradise. On the other hand, the English writers after Plassey
seemed to be perfectly conscious of the things shaping in those times. Their
knowledge and their self-consciousness ultimately made them the masters
of India.
A national disaster of the type of Panipat has naturally resulted in cast-
'ing a shadow of gloom over the Maratha nation. But the defeat has been
treated differently by various students of history, who have given quite a dif-
ferent turn to the whole discussion. Evans BELL wrote long ago that 'even the
battle of Panipat was a triumph and a glory for the Marathas. They fought
in the cause of 'India for the Indians,' while the great Muhammedan princes
of Delhi, of Oude and the Deccan, stood as de, intriguing and trimming. And
though the Marathas were defeated, the victorious Afghans retired and never
again interfered in the affairs of India." Prof. RAWLINSON writes,² 'A defeat is
9 Ait Patre Yadi 192, RAJ 6 415
10 RAJ 1.143
11 Fall, 2.364
1 RAJWADE I Introduction, p. 46.
2 KASHIRAJ Introduction, p. xiii.