Historical Battles in Ancient & Medieval Bharat

[nachiket]

Absolutely.
In battle of plassey - 12 odd cast iron cannons went against 30 or more cannons of the Bengal state. And you knw what happened next.
But our 'thops' are also good are good as well. This piece of history is behind us. That 1000 year humiliation is also never going to happen again.

If you look at the state of indigenous defence r&d for most of our post-independence history and the lack of focus and support to it even now, you might be right to wonder whether we learnt any lessons from the historical debacles. I mean we are importing rifles from the US right now for the Army.

[nachiket]

The question is why were they dependent on a single leader and why was the defeat not avenged , shows there was lack of institutional planning which continues to this day.

You may have confused Peshwa Madhavrao with someone else (probably his older brother Vishwasrao who died at Panipat) if you were talking about the defeat at Panipat. Madhavrao was only 16 at the time of Panipat and did not fight there. He became the Peshwa a few months after the battle of Panipat when his father, Peshwa Nanasaheb (aka Balaji Bajirao) died. His uncle Raghunathrao was made regent.

As for avenging the defeat, as Adrija has pointed out 10 years later the Marathas had got back their territory in the north and even occupied Delhi again. The Rohillas who had sided with Abdali were defeated by Mahadji Shinde in 1772-73 as well. Najib Khan Rohilla was already dead by then however, so the Marathas dug his bones out and destroyed his grave after defeating his son in battle.

Madhavrao's problems during his reign were mainly because of infighting with his uncle Raghunathrao. He would have achieved a lot more even in the short time he had had it not been for Raghunathrao scheming and going against him at every juncture, especially during their campaigns in the south against the Nizam and Hyder Ali.

[YashG]

Absolutely.
In battle of plassey - 12 odd cast iron cannons went against 30 or more cannons of the Bengal state. And you knw what happened next.
But our 'thops' are also good are good as well. This piece of history is behind us. That 1000 year humiliation is also never going to happen again.

If you look at the state of indigenous defence r&d for most of our post-independence history and the lack of focus and support to it even now, you might be right to wonder whether we learnt any lessons from the historical debacles. I mean we are importing rifles from the US right now for the Army.

Yes. Quite so. This cant/shudnt be allowed to go on for any longer.

[Virendra]

Book Release: Prithviraj Chauhan - a Light on the Mist in History
Namaste Everyone,

Prithviraj Chauhan – the household historic name in India that evokes passion and emotions alike; an immortal chapter of India’s bloody yet glorious history. Many have been intrigued with the controversies on historical figures like him? Did you ever wonder what truth lies beyond the layers of exaggeration, bias and myths that fill the whole spectrum of narratives of historical Prithviraj?
This book on Prithviraj Chauhan tries to peel off and present the answer to such questions. Please read and share with near and dear ones who might be interested.
Genre - History, Non-fiction
Formats - Paperback, E-Book
Paperback:
White Falcon Publishing Bookstore - https://store.whitefalconpublishing.com ... in-history
Amazon - https://www.amazon.in/dp/1636400191
https://www.flipkart.com/prithviraj-cha ... 83d5763021
E-Book : Kindle Edition - https://www.amazon.in/dp/B08KHF857P/
ISBN: 978-1-63640-019-8
Pages: 250
Language: Non-Tharoor English

Note: As soon as my cost in publishing is recovered, any & all further author royalty from this book’s sale will be donated to a charity. Charity details & evidence of fund transfers shall follow if/when we cut over to that stage.



Thank you
Blog - https://agrippedsoul.wordpress.com
Twitter- @virendrarathore

[Virendra]

Book's preface

[tsarkar]

Well done, Virendra! Its always been a pleasure reading your well researched posts here and I'm sure the book will reflect your meticulous attention to details and facts. I ordered my book online.

[Virendra]

Thanks tsarkar!
I hope it meets your expectations.

[Srutayus]

Hi Virendra,
Unable to purchase the Kindle version from the US.

[rajkumar]

Battle of Diu 1538 - Ottoman-Portuguese War for India DOCUMENTARY https://youtu.be/_P6PIndpEAc via @YouTube

[Virendra]

Hi Virendra,
Unable to purchase the Kindle version from the US.

Hi Srutayus,
Please go to amazon.com on browser and lookup the Kindle edition. It is downloadable from there.

If any of you guys finishes reading the book. You're most welcome to pen a no holds barred review on social media or blogs.

Regards,
Virendra

[ramana]

Virendra will get the book and read.
Lots of myths around Prithviraj Chauhan.

[Virendra]

Virendra will get the book and read.
Lots of myths around Prithviraj Chauhan.

Sure Ramana. When you're done, feel free to write a no holds barred review at the platform of your choosing - Amazon, social media etc.

Regards,
Virendra

[rajkumar]

Battle of Palkhed, 1728 AD Mughal - Maratha Wars https://youtu.be/5ooOWQdYE_A via @YouTube

[tsarkar]

Hi Virendra,

Finished reading your book. As someone who loves facts over fiction, I really liked the way you went through multiple sources and discussed the merits of each source before finally settling on your analysis.

Some additional things I would have liked were -

1. Map of the second invasion like the first one
2. Photos of the various plates, pillars & inscriptions referred in your book.
3. More details on Hariraja and Govindraja IV after the death of Prithviraj. That would have given a sense of continuity.
4. Who was the mother of Govindraja IV?
5. What really happened to Prithviraj between Tarain 1 & 2 that changed a dynamic go getter to a lackluster performance.
6. I find Vigraharaja IV's exploits far more impressive than Prithviraj III's. Why is he less popular than P3?
7. More details on Govindraja Tomar of Delhi. He seems to be a great general in both battles
8. Some more on the rescue attempt by Udayraja Gauda
9. Where were Udayraja Gauda and Skanda?

Lastly to answer the following questions -
1. Why P3 defeated Paramardi but didnt capture territory?
2. Why P3 defeated Ghori but let him go on payment of ransom?
3. Why P3's neighbours were generally antagonistic?

One can find the answers in the Marathas.

The Chauhan territories were arid not supporting agriculture and in the absence of trade, revenue came from tribute. The Marathas mounted raids for Chauth. That made them very unpopular with other people.

P3's battles with Paramardi and Chalukyas were primarily tribute driven than for territorial acquisition like the Maratha Chauth raids. And needless to say, the tribute raids made P3 unpopular with his neighbours.

Similarly I speculate the ranson money paid by Ghori was seen as more valuable than killing him. Anyways killing would have not have any long term effect given that other adventurer generals like Aibak or Iltutmish were anyways biding their time.

Aurangzeb's killing of Sambhaji has zero effect in neutralizing the Maratha confederacy given that Santaji, Dhanaji, etc continued to fight the Mughals.

In that light, Prithviraj decided to ransom Ghori rather than kill him. Similarly Ghori too kept Prithviraj alive initially given that the Turks would have lacked manpower to rule Ajmer and Chauhan state. A client ruler would have generated more revenue for them. They installed Govindraja IV on the throne for the same reason.

[tsarkar]

Personally I am very happy you covered the military aspects of Tarain 1 & 2 in proper detail.

The famous Rajput Charge in Tarain 1 destroying Ghurid wings and the horse archer flank attacks in Tarain 2.

Tarain 2 was very similar to Roman defeat in Battle of Carrhae where Parthians used light horse archers and heavy cavalry cataphracts alternately.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Carrhae

You are absolutely right in pointing out that Indians were better in melee battle while the Turks & Afghans in maneuver battle. Much later Portuguese and British emphasize this point of avoiding melee and engaging in the distance using cannons and muskets. They advise retreat instead of melee if the enemy comes close.

You covered the difficulties in breeding and maintaining horses in India. My good friend Col. Jhala of Remount & Veterinary Corps Center at Saharanpur will attest to this. The British overcame this with their thoroughbred horses that combined performance with hardiness to Indian subcontinental conditions.

As sweet revenge, horses bred in India and Indian Cavalry men defeated the Turks in WW1 in Islamic Heartlands of Palestine.

Col Jhala headed the RVC Center at Saharanpur that bred thoroughbreds in large numbers until the turn of the century when mechanization and aircraft made horses totally obsolete.

[Virendra]

Hi Virendra,
Finished reading your book. As someone who loves facts over fiction, I really liked the way you went through multiple sources and discussed the merits of each source before finally settling on your analysis.

Thank you for your valuable feedback.

Some additional things I would have liked were -
1. Map of the second invasion like the first one

Agreed. I am neither a historian nor had one to proof read the manuscript. Not having a reliable as well as capable person for review has been a hindrance.

2. Photos of the various plates, pillars & inscriptions referred in your book.

I have only used what has been published elsewhere in journals like Indian Antiquary, Epigraphia Indica and other books. So, tough to get hands on original pics for good quality prints. What can instead be done is, manually typed lines of the inscriptions can be sent for printing.

3. More details on Hariraja and Govindraja IV after the death of Prithviraj. That would have given a sense of continuity.

I could have but the thesis was not only Prithviraj. But even there only and only the controversies, myths and questions around him. Thus to keep it tight I didn't wander elsewhere. Even then it became 250 pages

4. Who was the mother of Govindraja IV?

Covered at the last page. Mostly likely Ichhini Paramar. There isn't enough information available to conclude though. And wherever I couldn't conclude, I preferred to respect the reader and let them form their own conclusions, instead of shoving my half baked ones down their minds.

5. What really happened to Prithviraj between Tarain 1 & 2 that changed a dynamic go getter to a lackluster performance.

I think not much changed at the end of Prithviraj except his army at Tarain-2 being smaller. Bigger change was that Ghori prepared much better and executed to the book. But I agree it can be expanded upon a little better than what has been done at Pg 115, within the short chapter focused on the interim between Tarain-1 and Tarain-2.

6. I find Vigraharaja IV's exploits far more impressive than Prithviraj III's. Why is he less popular than P3?

Why are films more popular than the plain old vanilla truth
Prithviraj's story just resonates better with people not only because of its own juice. But also because of its sitting at the crucial curve of Indian destiny and Indians have kept on gazing back at that curve ever since.
Not only Vigrahraj's (military) exploits are impressive but he also had a love marriage, similar to what is said about Prithviraj (i.e. Sanyogita)

7. More details on Govindraja Tomar of Delhi. He seems to be a great general in both battles

I have it covered at pages 133-34. But couldn't expand further because of, like I already said, the limited scope of this book.

8. Some more on the rescue attempt by Udayraja Gauda

Its historicity is debated so I didn't spend much time on it.

9. Where were Udayraja Gauda and Skanda?

No idea Most likely stuck in other pressing concerns. After all, by the end of 1180s there was no dearth of Prithviraj's enemies locally.
We have only one source to link Skanda with this whole canvas - VirudhhaVidhiVidhvansa written by ones of his own descedants.

Lastly to answer the following questions -
1. Why P3 defeated Paramardi but didnt capture territory?
2. Why P3 defeated Ghori but let him go on payment of ransom?
3. Why P3's neighbours were generally antagonistic?

1. It is not exceptional among kshatriyas to invade each other just to humiliate the other side and prove who was the boss. Further, there's no reason to assume that Prithviraj didn't win any territory. He may have, bardic literature speaks of it while mentioning the treaty between the two sides as I've written in the book as well. But he surely lost that (if any) in next few years as Parmardi's inscriptions soon appear in places thought to have been invaded and taken over by Prithviraj.
2. Regular medieval practice. You will find plenty of examples in Turkish Sultanate era as well.
3. Not sure who was more notorious. Prithviraj or his neighbours. But medieval Kingdoms would almost always fight each other. We place too much focus on infighting while it was prevalent in our enemies as well. Infighting is just a tiny point of the long list of reasons for why we failed in Tarain-2 (and elsewhere as well). I reserved a whole chapter(15th) to go through the reasons.

The Chauhan territories were arid not supporting agriculture and in the absence of trade, revenue came from tribute. The Marathas mounted raids for Chauth. That made them very unpopular with other people.
P3's battles with Paramardi and Chalukyas were primarily tribute driven than for territorial acquisition like the Maratha Chauth raids. And needless to say, the tribute raids made P3 unpopular with his neighbours.

Similarly I speculate the ranson money paid by Ghori was seen as more valuable than killing him. Anyways killing would have not have any long term effect given that other adventurer generals like Aibak or Iltutmish were anyways biding their time.

Agreed on the climate and terrain part. But Prithviraj's kingdom wasn't heavily dependent on raids/tributes for finance. They had decent trade, prominent trade routes going through their kingdom. Yes, tribute can be one more reason and add-on financial resource. PrithvirajVijaya's description also indirectly supports that. However, such a collection is completely absent from his inscriptions declaring these successful raids like on Parmardi. Coming to Chalukyas, again no source even faintly mentions that Prithviraj asked for tribute from either the Chalukyas or there vassals of south Rajasthan.

In that light, Prithviraj decided to ransom Ghori rather than kill him. Similarly Ghori too kept Prithviraj alive initially given that the Turks would have lacked manpower to rule Ajmer and Chauhan state. A client ruler would have generated more revenue for them. They installed Govindraja IV on the throne for the same reason.

Ghori had his own Kingdom and warring neighbours to worry about. His activities in India betray a complete lack in going thorough and shows his eagerness to return. Can be compared to Mughals had made India their settlement. Ghori just wanted political and financial lordship .. from the top. Perhaps he would have done the same if a Gahadavala prince would have agreed, but they fought. Speculative anyway.
Govindraj's compromise in an otherwise illustrious lineage was settled by the author of Hammir Mahakavya by showing (discrediting) him as being banished from the Chauhan Kingdom by his father, due to some misconduct.

Lastly, may I request you to please pen a small review/feedback (else paste this post itself) at Amazon or any social media platform of your liking.
I intend to donate all author royalties in charity once my cost is retrieved.

Thanks again.

Regards,
Virendra

[sanman]

Just posting the famous military banner of Maharaja Ranjit Singh: