I couldn’t help chuckle.
Here was the regime about which I have rarely read anything good.
For instance, historian Setu Madhavrao Pagdi’s (सेतु माधवराव पगडी) first hand account of the last days of the Nizam regime from his autobiography-Jeevansetu (जीवनसेतु) 1969- describes how rotten it was.
On March 11, 1795, Marathas vanquished Nizam in the battle of Kharda. For a change all Maratha chieftains fought together.
Nizam’s army had played havoc before the battle. Among other things, they had slaughtered cows in the temple complex at Ambejogai आंबेजोगाई.
(Please note during 1770-1791, many mainly Chitpavan Brahmin chieftains of Maratha army indulged in looting of Hindu shrines including mutts of Shankaracharya and Ramanujacharya. Source- Marhati Lavani by M V Dhond 1956 मर्हाटी लावणी म वा धोंड)
Historian T S Shejwalkar त्र्यंबक शंकर शेजवलकर gave a radio-speech on this battle 'Khardyachi Ladhai' (खर्ड्याची लढाई).
Shejwalkar rued how Marathas wasted the opportunity to eliminate Nizam. He argued how this blunder of Marathas costed Indian union dearly in 1947.
Even today, Nizam and his legacy continue to grab attention and resources.
His Chowmahalla palace complex is being restored to its former glory while Maratha’s Shaniwar Wada शनिवार वाडा continues to languish, remains ghostly.
Princess Esra at the Chowmahalla palace complex (pic courtesy: Outlook)
Dalrymple had written an excellent essay arguing against Naipaul and the right wing tendency to look at Islam and its contributions to the Indian subcontinent from a simplistic and singular perspective of "veni vedi vici," followed by loot, plunder and rape of the Hindu women. You will enjoy reading it.
ReplyDeleteI didn't know about looting by Marathas. Will definitely read about the battle of Kharda. Thanks for the pointer.
Thanks Chetan.
ReplyDeleteI had read that essay.
I am soon going to write about "inspirational history" where once again some of this will come up.