Fall of the Mughal Empire v2.c27.s26: § 26. Troubles of the Maratha fugitives
Fall of the Mughal Empire v2.c27.s26
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§ 26. Troubles of the Maratha fugitives
v2.c27.s26.1
For the fugitives from Panipat the open road to the Deccan lay through the tract west and south-west of Delhi, *i.e.*, the Hariana country or the modern districts of Hisar and Rohtak. Here the Marathas reaped as they had sown in the past. Almost every year since 1754 they had crossed and recrossed this tract, pillaging or blackmailing the peasants and landlords alike with insane greed. Payment of the fixed revenue or tribute to one Maratha officer had not saved the village headmen from exaction by another. The tenants of the local chiefs who had joined the Maratha banners had been robbed by the Deccani troops, and appeals for redress even to their highest generals had only produced the comfortless reply, "They are soldiers; they always do it." [Malhar's speech to Imād-ul-mulk, 31 May 1754. *T. Ahmad Shahi.*]
v2.c27.s26.2
The numerous small scattered fragments of the vanquished army came here, worn out with hunger, ceaseless marching, and constant alarms, and went to the villages to beg for food and shelter. Then the justly incensed peasantry turned on them, robbing the stragglers of their arms, apparel and horses, and killing all who hesitated or attempted defence. When larger bands, moving under their generals, like Satvoji Jādav, appeared, they offered fight from within their walls. These generals, with half-dead horses fainting troops and no guns, were not in a position to attack any village, and had much ado to continue their retreat without being beaten and robbed. Even the women plundered solitary Deccanis without resistance. Many thousands of horses were here sacrificed and the broken remnant of that proud army at last reached shelter on foot, most of the men having been robbed of their *shāls* and coats and wearing nothing but a rag wrapped round their loins. [Raj. vi. 409.] The Baluch zamindars of Bahādurgarh and Farrukhnagar were particularly ruthless towards their infidel oppressors and eager to emulate their triumphant Durrāni brethren. They recognized Antāji Mānakeshwar by his horse and dress as a chieftain and slew him for the rich spoils. Many lesser captains met with the same ignominious end.
v2.c27.s26.3
It was only when the fugitives, now at their last gasp from 200 miles of flight without food or rest through a hostile population, reached the Jāt kingdom that they found a haven of refuge. Suraj Mal received them with every mark of kindness and hospitality, giving free rations to every Deccani soldier or camp-follower and medical attendance to their wounded, and, when they were rested and recovered, conveyance to their own city of Gwālior. Thus fifty thousand men and women, the sole survivors of the Bhāu’s camp at Pānipat, were saved. The Jāt queen was particularly liberal in her charity to the Brāhmans and respectful attention to the ladies of the Maratha race. Not a single man among them could have returned to the Deccan if Suraj Mal had so wished, as Father Xavier Wendel justly claims.*