Panipat War – Battle of Panipat

A mention of the word Panipat to any Indian at once evokes a sense of nationalism, and conjures visions of fierce battle, warfare, skirmishes and a desire to occupy a pre-eminent position in the Indian sub continent i.e. South Asia.

Panipat war – battle of Panipat is an important chapter in the history textbooks of all Indian school students. The history of Panipat consists of three major battles fought in the region within two centuries. It is a period when North Indian military history was more intricately involved with that of Central Asia, more closely with Afghanistan. Each of the battles held at Panipat led to a turning point in Indian history and hence, their importance in Indian history is reiterated time and again.

The First battle of Panipat was in the year 1526 which saw the emergence of the Great Moghuls; it was a battle in which gunpowder in firearms and field artillery was tested. It was a Battle between two sub continental mega powers-the Delhi Sultanate of Ibrahim Lodi and Babur, the Ruler of Kabul. In this battle the Lodhi’s outmoded force of 40,000 men and 400 elephants were no match to a trim swift artillery force of about 8000 men of Babur’s which was well strategized with leadership skills and far better maneuverability in field. Ibrahim Lodhi was killed in battle and thereafter Babur established the rule of the Moghuls in India which in the next 30 yrs spread over Kabul, Kandahar, Delhi and Punjab.

The Second battle of Panipat was in the year 1556 which was fought between the Pusthun ruler of the Suri dynasty, Md. Adil Shah and the Moghul ruler Akbar who was in the first year of his rule. The former was assisted by the ruler of Chunar, Samrat HemChandra Vikramaditya, known as “Hemu” who acted as the military chief in the Battle. He took over Delhi & Agra. However, the Moghuls had a matching leader and Chief Minister assisting Akbar, by the name of Bairam Shah. He gathered a large army and retook Delhi having killed Hemu in Battle. This battle exemplified how matching leadership skills made the difference between winning and losing a war.

The Third Battle of Panipat in the year 1761 was fought between the Afghans and the Marathas. It was at a time when the Peshwa Rule of the Marathas replaced the decline of the Moghul Rule and covered the whole of north India. Afghan ambitions to occupy the northern regions of India was once again fostered by the unpopularity of the Peshwas. The Aghan ruler Ahmed Shah Abdali employed new warfare strategies placing himself at the centre of his moving forces so that he could oversee the flanks on all sides. They were swift and tough with men and materials drawn from the difficult Pashtu & Rohilla terrains of the North West India. They defeated the Marathas after a protracted fight over two months. The battle is considered one of the largest fought in the 18^th century.

The Battles of Panipat were fought to establish hegemony over the fertile plains of North India. The invaders brought in newer warfare techniques, co-ordination and leadership qualities; they exposed obsolescence in the native forces which indeed was a lesson for the native rulers.