पानीपत १७६१ (मराठा साम्राज्य एवं पानीपत महायुद्ध इतिहास)

6 PANIPAT: 1761
and Kabul was annexed by Nadir Shah in 1738. But all along, the idea of
these two provinces forming part of the Mughal's Indian Empire continued to
exist. All these provinces had separate Governors and Diwans in the best days
of the Mughal Empire. As gradual decay set in, sometimes more than one
province was placed under the charge of one person, and occasionally the
whole area came to be controlled by a single strong hand. During the anar-
chical times which followed Nadir Shah's invasion, Sind with portions of Mul-
tan as well as Kabul and Kandahar completely passed out of Indian hands.
Only the Panjab proper continued to be a debatable land for some time.
We have briefly noted the condition after Mir Mannu's death in 1753.
The Marathas cast the last die in the tragic drama with the slogan of the
complete integrity of the Indian Empire as built up by the Mughals with their
ancient boundaries. Unfortunately the Indian political world was not sufficiently
intellectually or morally advanced to grasp this fundamental idea and fight for it.
The Marathas had risen higher in transcending the bounds of race, language,
religion and sect. They took their stand on the basis of India for the Indians
to be governed and defended by themselves without foreign aid or interference.⁶
Malharrao Holkar accompanied Raghoba in this famous campaign,
while Sakharam Bapu was the Diwan and chief diplomatic adviser. The
⁶ I S—Aitihasik Sphuta Lekh 411.
Translation of Raghoba's letter, dated 4th May, 1758, from Lahore, received on 18th
June, 1758, by the Peshwa (Lele archives) :
“ We have already brought Lahore, Multan, Kashmir and other subahs on this
side of Attock under our rule for the most part and places which have not come under
our rule we shall soon bring under us. Ahmad Khan Abdali's son Taimur Sultan and
Jahan Khan have been pursued by our troops, and their troops completely looted. Both
of them have now reached Peshawar with a few broken troops. Ahmad Khan had invaded
Ispahan with his troops. But Jabar Shah (?), the Padshah of Iran, came out to meet him
and looted some troops of Abdali. So Ahmad has returned to Kandahar with some 12-14
thousand troops. Irani troops have come at their rear pursuing them. Jabarast Khan,
Mukarab Khan and other sardars and zamindars of those regions, who had joined Abdali
under compulsion, are now rebelling against his rule. They have written supplicatory
letters to me and are ready to enrol under us, so as to chastise Abdali. Thus, all have
risen against Ahmad Khan who has lost control over the regions. Even if Abdali goes to
Herat, he cannot hold on. In short, Abdali cannot get any more support from that side,
and so his power must wane. On that side, the Padshah of Iran has driven him into a
corner. On this side, we should do the same so as to establish our rule beyond Attock.
Your Honour had sent Abdul Rahim Khan Ahmad Khan's nephew and the (legal) heir
to the dominion of the Abdalis who had gone to Poona to seek your support, to us. We
have decided to establish him at some small place on this side of Attock to serve as his
base, and to appoint him to the subah of Kabul and Peshawar beyond. I am sending him
with Abdul Samad Khan whom we have captured at Sarhind with his Abdali troops, to-
gether with additional Irani and Mughal troops to support him. I hope that they will
begin the work of bringing those regions under control and with the (divine) support of
your Highness' auspicious valour, defeat Ahmad Khan once for all, so as to begin
our rule there. Myself and Malharba have received letters in his own handwriting from
the Padshah of Iran, inviting us to Kandahar soon so as to completely overpower Ahmad
and fix the boundary (between Iran and Hindustan) at Attock (the Indus). But we are
appointing Abdul Rahim, sent by Your Honour, to the subah of Kabul and are helping
him with troops and necessaries. Kabul and Kandahar—these two subahs were in the pos-
session of India from the times of Akbar to these of Alamgir. Why should (How can?)
we hand these over to the ruler of Vilayat (Iran)? Therefore we are giving those subahs
to Abdul Rahim here. He (the Padshah of Iran) also must not be caring very much for
these (rocky, unproductive, recalcitrant) provinces, he will rule over (his) Iran. We have
decided to establish our rule upto Kandahar (as in times of yore) and to despatch sweetly-
worded replies to the letters from Iran. Envoys from the rulers of Lati (Sind), Jammu
and Kashmir have arrived here (to settle the government of those regions)..”