10-13-2005, 07:43 AM
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Peshwa Baji Rao I
After the death of the Hindu Warrior Shivaji the real revival of Hindu power came from Baji Rao I (1700-1740). The death of Shivaji's wayward but brave son Sambhaji (d. 1689) had accelerated internal disintegration of the Marathas which was set in motion by the death of Shivaji (d. 1680). Rajaram, Shivaji's second son gave the reigns of control to a figure known as the Peshwa (prime minister). Maratha nobles of high standing refused to acknowledge authority of the Peshwa. The old brigade opposed Baji Rao I to the very end. But he had a genius for spotting talent and groomed peasants and servants into generals of considerable repute. These - Holkars, Shindes and Pawars - were to become the mainstay of the Peshwa's forces.
He was an ambitious and far seeking man, and conceived the bold plan of turning the tables upon the declining Moghul Empire and invading Hindustan. "Now is the time," he exclaimed, "to drive the strangers from the land of the Hindus! Let us strike at the trunk of the withering tree, and the branches will fall off themselves. By directing our efforts to Hindustan, the Maratha flag shall fly from Krishna to Attock." From that day the faces of Marathas turned northwards. Every Maratha fort has its 'Delhi Gate'.
Baji Rao, aided ably by brother Chimaji Appa, fought 36 battles in all and never tasted a defeat. A simple, down to earth man, he mixed freely with his soldiers and set the trend of giving land to his men as 'Vatan' to ensure that the territory won stayed won. In the hindsight though, this had the effect of sowing seeds of the process of decentralisation as opposed to the centralised power which Shivaji sought to establish. The expansion of Maratha Raj under him was spectacular. In 1737, he arrived within the vicinity of Delhi in a surprise attack and split the joint force of Nizam and the Moghuls to defeat them both. The Moghuls surrendered and the Marathas were established as the supreme power in India. Nizam-Ul-Mulk, the string holder of Moghuls, refused to take protection of the Maratha army for obvious reasons. Baji Rao stayed in Delhi for a few days and retreated to the South to subdue the Portuguese. The decision backfired on the Moghuls as Nader Shah invaded and defiled Delhi in 1739. Nizam later moved over to Hyderabad to establish a dynasty of his own. Shortly afterwards, the stress of relentless campaigns claimed Baji Rao. Aged 40, he left this life in a tent among his bravest men in Ravarkhed on a campaign. His Muslim mistress Mastani committed suicide upon learning of his death.
Thanks to Baji Rao we found after seven hundred years the tide of Islamic invasion turned back to the very gates of Afghanistan and the saffron banner of Hindu victory range from the Himalayas to the South.Â
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Jadunath Sarkar says in his forward to "Peshwa Baji Rao I and Maratha Expansion":
"Baji Rao was a heaven born cavalry leader. In the long and distinguished galaxy of Peshwas, Baji Rao Ballal was unequalled for the daring and originality of his genius and the volume and value of his achievements. He was truly a carlylean Hero as king- or rather as `Man of action.' If Sir Robert Walpole created the unchallengeable position of the Prime Minister in the unwritten constitution of England, Baji Rao created the same institution in the Maratha Raj at exactly the same time."
J. Grant Duff says in "History of the Marathas":
"Bred a soldier as well as a statesman, Baji Rao united the enterprise, vigour, and hardihood of a Maratha chief with the polished manners, the sagacity, and address which frequently distinguish the Brahmins of the Concan. Fully acquainted with the financial schemes of his father, he selected that part of the plan calculated to direct the predatory hordes of Maharashtra in a common effort. In this respect, the genius of Baji Rao enlarged the schemes which his father devised; and unlike most Brahmins of him, it may be truly said- he had both- the head to plan and the hand to execute."
Sir R. Temple says in "Oriental Experiences":
"Baji Rao was hardly to be surpassed as a rider and was ever forward in action, eager to expose himself under fire if the affair was arduous. He was inured to fatigue and prided himself on enduring the same hardships as his soldiers and sharing their scanty fare. He was moved by an ardour for success in national undertakings by a patriotic confidence in the Hindu cause as against its old enemies, the Muhammadans and its new rivals, the Europeans then rising above the political horizon. He lived to see the Maratha spread over the Indian continent from the Arabian sea to the Bay of Bengal. He died as he lived in camp under canvas among his men and he is remembered among the Marathas as the fighting Peshwa, as the incarnation of Hindu energy."
http://groups.msn.com/hindu-history/rawarc...443692305751743<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
For those who claim that the Marathas had no Hindu conciousness and were only seeking power the following should refute this propaganda:
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->But Peshwa Balaji Bajirao's eagerness to acquire Ayodhya is reflected in one of his letters dated 23th February, 1759 to Dattaji Scindia, his General in the North wherein the Peshwa reminds Scindia that 'Mansur Ali's son (i.e., Shujauddaula} had promised to Dada (i.e. Raghoba} to cede Benares and Ayodhya" and instructs him to take hold to those places alongwith Prayag. (Cf. Sarkar J.N. Fall of the Moghul Empire, Vol. II, Calcutta, 1934 ff231-233)."
http://www.vhp.org/englishsite/e.Special_M...eatevidence.htm<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
After the death of the Hindu Warrior Shivaji the real revival of Hindu power came from Baji Rao I (1700-1740). The death of Shivaji's wayward but brave son Sambhaji (d. 1689) had accelerated internal disintegration of the Marathas which was set in motion by the death of Shivaji (d. 1680). Rajaram, Shivaji's second son gave the reigns of control to a figure known as the Peshwa (prime minister). Maratha nobles of high standing refused to acknowledge authority of the Peshwa. The old brigade opposed Baji Rao I to the very end. But he had a genius for spotting talent and groomed peasants and servants into generals of considerable repute. These - Holkars, Shindes and Pawars - were to become the mainstay of the Peshwa's forces.
He was an ambitious and far seeking man, and conceived the bold plan of turning the tables upon the declining Moghul Empire and invading Hindustan. "Now is the time," he exclaimed, "to drive the strangers from the land of the Hindus! Let us strike at the trunk of the withering tree, and the branches will fall off themselves. By directing our efforts to Hindustan, the Maratha flag shall fly from Krishna to Attock." From that day the faces of Marathas turned northwards. Every Maratha fort has its 'Delhi Gate'.
Baji Rao, aided ably by brother Chimaji Appa, fought 36 battles in all and never tasted a defeat. A simple, down to earth man, he mixed freely with his soldiers and set the trend of giving land to his men as 'Vatan' to ensure that the territory won stayed won. In the hindsight though, this had the effect of sowing seeds of the process of decentralisation as opposed to the centralised power which Shivaji sought to establish. The expansion of Maratha Raj under him was spectacular. In 1737, he arrived within the vicinity of Delhi in a surprise attack and split the joint force of Nizam and the Moghuls to defeat them both. The Moghuls surrendered and the Marathas were established as the supreme power in India. Nizam-Ul-Mulk, the string holder of Moghuls, refused to take protection of the Maratha army for obvious reasons. Baji Rao stayed in Delhi for a few days and retreated to the South to subdue the Portuguese. The decision backfired on the Moghuls as Nader Shah invaded and defiled Delhi in 1739. Nizam later moved over to Hyderabad to establish a dynasty of his own. Shortly afterwards, the stress of relentless campaigns claimed Baji Rao. Aged 40, he left this life in a tent among his bravest men in Ravarkhed on a campaign. His Muslim mistress Mastani committed suicide upon learning of his death.
Thanks to Baji Rao we found after seven hundred years the tide of Islamic invasion turned back to the very gates of Afghanistan and the saffron banner of Hindu victory range from the Himalayas to the South.Â
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jadunath Sarkar says in his forward to "Peshwa Baji Rao I and Maratha Expansion":
"Baji Rao was a heaven born cavalry leader. In the long and distinguished galaxy of Peshwas, Baji Rao Ballal was unequalled for the daring and originality of his genius and the volume and value of his achievements. He was truly a carlylean Hero as king- or rather as `Man of action.' If Sir Robert Walpole created the unchallengeable position of the Prime Minister in the unwritten constitution of England, Baji Rao created the same institution in the Maratha Raj at exactly the same time."
J. Grant Duff says in "History of the Marathas":
"Bred a soldier as well as a statesman, Baji Rao united the enterprise, vigour, and hardihood of a Maratha chief with the polished manners, the sagacity, and address which frequently distinguish the Brahmins of the Concan. Fully acquainted with the financial schemes of his father, he selected that part of the plan calculated to direct the predatory hordes of Maharashtra in a common effort. In this respect, the genius of Baji Rao enlarged the schemes which his father devised; and unlike most Brahmins of him, it may be truly said- he had both- the head to plan and the hand to execute."
Sir R. Temple says in "Oriental Experiences":
"Baji Rao was hardly to be surpassed as a rider and was ever forward in action, eager to expose himself under fire if the affair was arduous. He was inured to fatigue and prided himself on enduring the same hardships as his soldiers and sharing their scanty fare. He was moved by an ardour for success in national undertakings by a patriotic confidence in the Hindu cause as against its old enemies, the Muhammadans and its new rivals, the Europeans then rising above the political horizon. He lived to see the Maratha spread over the Indian continent from the Arabian sea to the Bay of Bengal. He died as he lived in camp under canvas among his men and he is remembered among the Marathas as the fighting Peshwa, as the incarnation of Hindu energy."
http://groups.msn.com/hindu-history/rawarc...443692305751743<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
For those who claim that the Marathas had no Hindu conciousness and were only seeking power the following should refute this propaganda:
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->But Peshwa Balaji Bajirao's eagerness to acquire Ayodhya is reflected in one of his letters dated 23th February, 1759 to Dattaji Scindia, his General in the North wherein the Peshwa reminds Scindia that 'Mansur Ali's son (i.e., Shujauddaula} had promised to Dada (i.e. Raghoba} to cede Benares and Ayodhya" and instructs him to take hold to those places alongwith Prayag. (Cf. Sarkar J.N. Fall of the Moghul Empire, Vol. II, Calcutta, 1934 ff231-233)."
http://www.vhp.org/englishsite/e.Special_M...eatevidence.htm<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->