3rd Battle of Panipat (1761) – Modern India History Notes

The Third Battle of Panipat was fought on January 14, 1761, at Panipat, between a northern expeditionary force of the Maratha Empire and a coalition of the King of Afghanistan, Ahmad Shah Durrani, and two Indian Muslim allies—the Rohilla Afghans of the Doab, and Shuja-ud-Daula, the Nawab of Oudh. Militarily, the battle pitted the Marathas' French-supplied artillery and cavalry against the Afghans' and Rohillas' heavy cavalry and mounted artillery (zamburak and jizail) led by Ahmad Shah Durrani and Najib-ud-Daulah, both ethnic Pashtuns (the former is also known as Ahmad Shah Abdali). This article will explain to you about 3rd Battle of Panipat which will be helpful in Modern Indian History preparation for the UPSC Civil service exam.

3rd Battle of Panipat – Background

• The Mughal Empire's decline following the 27-year Mughal-Maratha war (1680–1707) resulted in rapid territorial gains for the Maratha Empire.
• Gujarat and Malwa came under Maratha control under Peshwa Baji Rao.
• Finally, on the outskirts of Delhi in 1737, Baji Rao defeated the Mughals, bringing much of the former Mughal territory south of Delhi under Maratha control.
• This brought the Marathas into direct conflict with Ahmad Shah Abdali's Durrani empire.
• Ahmad Shah Durrani established the Durrani Empire in Afghanistan in 1747. He annexed Lahore in 1747.
• In the years since, he has seized control of Punjab and Sindh as well. Timur Shah, Durrani's son, was the governor of Lahore.
• Bajirao, the Maratha Peshwa, was able to capture Lahore and drive out Timur Shah.
• In 1759, he raised a Pashtun army and made several gains against the smaller Maratha garrisons in Punjab.
• The Mughals only had a nominal control over Delhi. Many people were concerned about the Marathas' rapid rise and petitioned Durrani to put a stop to their expansion.
• He then formed a broad coalition against the Marathas with his Indian allies, the Rohilla Afghans of the Gangetic Doab.

Role of Shuja-ud-Daulah

• The Marathas and Afghans both attempted to bring the Nawab of Awadh, Shuja-ud-Daulah, into their camp.
• By late July, Shuja-ud-Daulah had decided to join the Afghan-Rohilla coalition, preferring to join the 'army of Islam.'
• This was a strategic setback for the Marathas, as Shuja provided much-needed funds for the Afghans' lengthy stay in North India.
• It is doubtful that the Afghan-Rohilla coalition would be able to continue their conflict with the Marathas in the absence of Shuja's support.

Reasons for Afghan Victory

• The combined army of Durrani and his allies outnumbered the Maratha army.
• Shuja-ud-Daulah's assistance was also crucial, as he provided the necessary funds for the Afghans' lengthy stay in northern India.
• The Maratha capital was in Pune, and the battlefield was a long-distance away.
• The Maratha camp finally arrived in Delhi and took the city in August 1760.
• A series of skirmishes along the Yamuna's banks followed, as did a battle at Kunjpura, which the Marathas won against an Afghan garrison of about 15,000 men.
• However, in October, Abdali bravely crossed the Yamuna at Baghpat, cutting off the Maratha camp from their base in Delhi.
• This eventually escalated into a two-month siege led by Abdali against the Marathas in the town of Panipat.
• During the siege, both sides attempted to cut off the other's supplies, but the Afghans were far more successful.
• By the end of November 1760, they had cut off almost all food supplies into the besieged Maratha camp.
• The food in the Maratha camp ran out by late December or early January, and thousands of cattle died.
• In early January, reports of soldiers dying of starvation began to circulate.

The course of the 3rd Battle of Panipat

• With no supplies and dying soldiers, the Maratha chiefs pleaded with their commander, Sadashiv Rao Bhau, to let them die in battle rather than starve to death.
• The Marathas left their camp to march towards the Afghan camp in a desperate attempt to break the siege.
• Over 125,000 troops were involved in the battle, which lasted several days.
• Prolonged skirmishes erupted, with both sides suffering losses and gaining ground.
• After destroying several Maratha flanks, the forces led by Ahmad Shah Durrani emerged victorious.
• The extent of the losses on both sides is estimated to be as follows:
  • In the fighting, between 60,000 and 70,000 people were killed.
  • The number of injured and detainees taken varies greatly.
  • The day after the battle, approximately 40,000 Maratha prisoners were slaughtered in cold blood.

Consequences of the 3rd Battle of Panipat

• Immediately following the battle, the Afghan army massacred thousands of Maratha soldiers and civilians in Panipat's streets.
• The defeated women and children were sold as slaves in Afghan camps.
• Around 40,000 Maratha prisoners were slaughtered in cold blood just a day after the battle.
• Among those killed in battle were Sadashivrao Bhau and the Peshwa's son Vishwasrao.
• Balaji Bajirao, the Peshwa, never recovered from the shock of the debacle.
• Both sides suffered a high number of casualties.
• The Maratha rise was stifled, but ten years later, under Peshwa Madhavrao, they retook Delhi.
• Durrani did not stay in India for very long. In Delhi, he reinstatedMughal Shah Alam II as Emperor.

Result of the 3rd Battle of Panipat

• The battle halted further Maratha advances in the north and destabilised their territories for approximately ten years.
• This ten-year period is marked by the reign of Peshwa Madhavrao, who is credited with reviving Maratha dominance after the defeat at Panipat.
• In 1771, ten years after Panipat, Peshwa Madhavrao led a large Maratha army into North India in an attempt:
  • to re-establish Maratha dominance in the region.
  • punish obstinate powers that had either sided with the Afghans, such as the Rohillas, or had shaken off Maratha dominance following Panipat.
• This campaign's success can be viewed as the final chapter in the long storey of Panipat.

Conclusion

The Third Battle of Panipat fought in 1761 between the Marathas and Ahmad Shah Abdali, effectively ended the Marathas' ambition to rule over India. The battle is regarded as one of the largest fought in the 18th century, with possibly the highest number of fatalities reported in a single day in a classic formation battle between two armies.

FAQs

MCQs

1. Who was the main leader of the Marathas in the Third Battle of Panipat?

A) Balaji Baji Rao
B) Nana Sahib
C) Sadashiv Rao Bhau
D) Mahadji Shinde

2. Which foreign invader led the Afghan forces in the Third Battle of Panipat?

A) Nadir Shah
B) Ahmad Shah Abdali
C) Timur
D) Babur

3. What was the primary cause of the Third Battle of Panipat?

A) Maratha-Afghan rivalry for control of northern India
B) Maratha invasion of Bengal
C) British intervention
D) Religious conflict

4. Which of the following was a major consequence of the Third Battle of Panipat?

A) Rise of the Sikh Empire
B) Decline of Mughal authority
C) Maratha expansion
D) Establishment of British control over India

5. In which year was the Third Battle of Panipat fought?

A) 1757
B) 1761
C) 1775
D) 1784

GS Mains Questions and Answers

Q1: Analyze the causes and consequences of the Third Battle of Panipat.

Answer: The Third Battle of Panipat was caused by the power struggle in northern India following the decline of the Mughal Empire. The Marathas sought to establish their influence over Delhi and northern territories, while Ahmad Shah Abdali aimed to reassert Afghan control. The battle resulted in a decisive victory for Abdali, severely weakening the Marathas. The loss created a power vacuum in northern India, which was later exploited by the British. The battle also halted the Maratha expansion and led to the further decline of the Mughal Empire.

Q2: Discuss the impact of the Third Battle of Panipat on the Maratha Empire.

Answer: The Third Battle of Panipat dealt a devastating blow to the Maratha Empire. The loss of key military leaders and a significant portion of their army weakened the Marathas, preventing them from recovering their former strength. This defeat also disrupted their expansionist ambitions in northern India, and they eventually lost political dominance to the British. Despite the setback, the Marathas continued to hold influence in western and southern India for some time.

Q3: Examine the role of Ahmad Shah Abdali in shaping the outcome of the Third Battle of Panipat.

Answer: Ahmad Shah Abdali played a pivotal role in the Third Battle of Panipat by organizing a coalition of Afghan, Rohilla, and other northern Indian forces to confront the Marathas. His strategic military leadership, combined with better supplies and coordination among his forces, led to the defeat of the Marathas. Abdali's victory not only reaffirmed Afghan control over northern India but also significantly altered the balance of power in the region. The battle secured his legacy as a key figure in 18th-century Indian politics.

Previous Year UPSC CSE Questions

1. UPSC CSE Prelims 2017: Who was the main leader of the Afghan forces in the Third Battle of Panipat?

A) Babur
B) Ahmad Shah Abdali
C) Timur
D) Nadir Shah

Answer: B

Explanation: Ahmad Shah Abdali, also known as Ahmad Shah Durrani, led the Afghan forces during the Third Battle of Panipat in 1761, defeating the Marathas.

2. UPSC CSE Mains 2019 (GS Paper 1): "The Third Battle of Panipat marked a turning point in Indian history." Discuss.

Answer: The Third Battle of Panipat, fought in 1761, was a decisive conflict that significantly influenced the power dynamics of 18th-century India. It marked the end of Maratha aspirations to dominate northern India and established Ahmad Shah Abdali as a key regional player. The defeat of the Marathas created a power vacuum that eventually facilitated the rise of British dominance. The battle also highlighted the fragmentation of Indian polities, weakening the Mughals, Marathas, and other regional powers, paving the way for British expansion.