09-08-2006, 10:43 AM
<!--QuoteBegin-Bharatvarsh+Sep 7 2006, 12:39 PM-->QUOTE(Bharatvarsh @ Sep 7 2006, 12:39 PM)<!--QuoteEBegin-->A question for the experts here, I always wondered why the Marathas never tried to move into Kashmir, it was entirely possible for them to do so under Balaji Baji Rao or later under Mahadji but they never did, was there even any mention of such a plan or was it entirely undiscussed?
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<!--QuoteBegin-Bharatvarsh+Sep 7 2006, 12:39 PM-->QUOTE(Bharatvarsh @ Sep 7 2006, 12:39 PM)<!--QuoteEBegin-->A question for the experts here, I always wondered why the Marathas never tried to move into Kashmir, it was entirely possible for them to do so under Balaji Baji Rao or later under Mahadji but they never did, was there even any mention of such a plan or was it entirely undiscussed?
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Good point- I do not know if any experts have studied this point in depth before. However, I think it might be a sum of multiple causes each playing a role to a different degree:
1) After Banda Singh taking over the Sikh leadership they became openly anti-Jihad. This paved the way for a degree of clear collaboration between Sikhs and Marathas on matters pertaining to counter-Jihad operations in the north and in controling the puppet Mughal rulers. It appears that this alliance resulted in establishment of the some kind of agreement that the North-Northwest was mainly the domain of action of the Sikhs while the Marathas stopped at Delhi. The Marathas did not strictly adhere to this, capturing Attock and Lahore, but withdrew handing control to local powers, who were the Sikhs. Thus, it eventually fell to the Sikhs rather than Maharattas.
2) The Marathas were not fully acclimatized to fighting in colder conditions (also seen in other northern campaigns) and hence did not focus attention of logistically difficult terrain like Kashmir, especially if the Sikhs could hold the north-west frontier.
3)Till 1747 Kashmir was officially with the Mogols who were protectorates of the Maharattas. Hence Balaji Vishvanath and Bajirao in his earlier career probably did not bother to take Kashmir so far away from supply zones that were firmly under their control. After it went to the Afghans there was always the fear that the Rohilla jihadis could stab their rear if they operated too far north in Kashmir, limiting them in that direction.
[right][snapback]56954[/snapback][/right]
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<!--QuoteBegin-Bharatvarsh+Sep 7 2006, 12:39 PM-->QUOTE(Bharatvarsh @ Sep 7 2006, 12:39 PM)<!--QuoteEBegin-->A question for the experts here, I always wondered why the Marathas never tried to move into Kashmir, it was entirely possible for them to do so under Balaji Baji Rao or later under Mahadji but they never did, was there even any mention of such a plan or was it entirely undiscussed?
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Good point- I do not know if any experts have studied this point in depth before. However, I think it might be a sum of multiple causes each playing a role to a different degree:
1) After Banda Singh taking over the Sikh leadership they became openly anti-Jihad. This paved the way for a degree of clear collaboration between Sikhs and Marathas on matters pertaining to counter-Jihad operations in the north and in controling the puppet Mughal rulers. It appears that this alliance resulted in establishment of the some kind of agreement that the North-Northwest was mainly the domain of action of the Sikhs while the Marathas stopped at Delhi. The Marathas did not strictly adhere to this, capturing Attock and Lahore, but withdrew handing control to local powers, who were the Sikhs. Thus, it eventually fell to the Sikhs rather than Maharattas.
2) The Marathas were not fully acclimatized to fighting in colder conditions (also seen in other northern campaigns) and hence did not focus attention of logistically difficult terrain like Kashmir, especially if the Sikhs could hold the north-west frontier.
3)Till 1747 Kashmir was officially with the Mogols who were protectorates of the Maharattas. Hence Balaji Vishvanath and Bajirao in his earlier career probably did not bother to take Kashmir so far away from supply zones that were firmly under their control. After it went to the Afghans there was always the fear that the Rohilla jihadis could stab their rear if they operated too far north in Kashmir, limiting them in that direction.