Sadashivrao Bhau was a Diwan Peshwa who served the Maratha army as its Commander-in-Chief at the Third Battle of Panipat (1761). He is also known as Bhau and Bhausaheb.
Wiki/Biography
Sadashivrao Bhau was born on Friday, 4 August 1730 (age 30 at time of death) in Saswad, Pune. His zodiac sign is Leo. He completed his education in Satara, Maharashtra under his teacher, Ramchandrababa Shenvi.
Family, Caste & Wife
Bhau was born into a Maratha Family. His father was Chimaji Appa, who died when Bhau was 10 years old. Bhau’s mother Rakhmabai died when he was a month old, and later, his father married Annapurnabai. Bhau was raised by his grandmother, Radhabai and aunt, Kashibai. Peshwa Baji Rao was his paternal uncle, and Nanasaheb Peshwa was his cousin.
Father Sadashivrao Bhau-Pandit Chimaji Saheb
Peshwa Baji Rao
Kashibai
Nanasaheb Peshwa
Bhau married twice. His first wife was Umabai, and from her, he had two sons. After his death, he married Parvatibai, who accompanied him in the Third Battle of Panipat, 1761.
Sadashivrao’s wife- Parvati Bai
Early Life of Sadashivrao Bhau
In 1746, the task was given to Babuji Naik and Fateh Singh Bhonsle in Karnataka where they failed, which was then handed over to Sadashivrao Bhau. On 5 December 1746, Bhau left Pune with his political advisors, Mahadoba Purandare and Sakharam Bapu and undertook his first campaign in Karnataka which continued until May 1747. In January 1747, Bhau won his first battle at Ajra, south of Kolhapur in the 36 Parganas. was captured by the Marathas. He colonized the cities of Kittur, Parasgad, Gokak, Yadwad, Bagalkot, Badami, Navalgund, Umbal, Giri, Torgal, Haliyal, Harihar, and Basavapatna.
After the resignation of Mahadjipant Purandare, Bhau became Diwan Peshwa. He won many battles in which he rebelled against Yamaji Shivdev, won the Battle of Udgir (1760), and captured the fort of Daulatabad. One of the most remarkable battles of his leadership was the ‘Third Battle of Panipat (1761).’
Daulatabad Fort
Third Battle of Panipat (1761)
In January 1760, Nanasaheb Peshwa got news that Ahmad Shah Abdali (leader of the Afghan army) had invaded the Punjab region in India. All Muslims in North India made an alliance with Abdali in the name of religion. Nanasaheb chose Sadashivrao to lead the Maratha army to Delhi and fight Abdali.
On 14 March 1760, his army of 45,000-60,000 men started their journey from Patdur, which was then joined by non-combatants including family members, who wanted to make a pilgrimage to a Hindu holy site in northern India. After that, his army was joined by the Marathas Holkar and Scindia.
Bhau used hit and run tactics that helped him win previous battles. He formed a unit consisting of 10,000 infantry and 50 pieces of artillery. Holkar and Scindia tried to influence Bhau to ally with Rajputs, Sikhs, Shuja-ud-Daula, and Muslim leaders in northern India. The Rajputs refused to support him in battle; because the Marathas had interfered a lot in the internal and political affairs of Rajputana.
Holkar and Scindia asked the powerful leader of Rajasthan, Suraj Mal, to join them in the battle. Suraj Mal does not trust Bhau, so, Holkar and Scindia give words of respect to Suraj Mal for his personal safety. Suraj Mal accepts their proposal and agrees to join the Maratha team. Due to the non-cooperation of the Jat and Rajput kings, shortages of food and other supplies arose. Bhau’s arrogant attitude made the situation even more difficult as he failed to convince the regional kings to support him in the war. He also decided to capture King Suraj Mal who was ready to ally with the Marathas. Suraj Mal returned to Ballabhgarh Fort and refused to support him further.
Emperor Suraj Mal
Bhau also rejected the offer from the Sikhs for the alliance, so, he did not get any supplies from Punjab as well. The Maratha camp reached Delhi on 1 August 1760, but due to lack of food, after that, they moved about 110 km north of Delhi to Karnal and captured the village of Kunjpura on the west bank of the Yamuna River where Bhau killed the entire Afghan battalion. in Kunjpura Fort. Abdali had already crossed the Yamuna River on its eastern bank, so, he could not save his battalion; because the Yamuna River is flooded.
Painting by Ahmad Shah Abdali
Abdali could not tolerate this setback and decided to cross the river at any cost. On October 17, 1760, he began to move from Shahdara with his army and troops. A village man in exchange for money showed them the way to cross the Yamuna River at Baghpat (a small town midway between Delhi and Panipat on the east bank of the Yamuna). The Marathas failed to stop them and set up a defensive force at Panipat.
Abdali succeeded in blocking the Maratha route south towards Delhi. By the end of November 1760, Abdali cut off almost all the food supplies of the Maratha camp. On 13 January 1761, the leader of the Marathas begged Bhau to allow them to die on the battlefield rather than die of starvation. The next day the Marathas left their camp and moved towards the Afghan camp. The armies of the Marathas and the Afghans faced each other on January 14, 1761.
Pictures Depicting the Third Battle of Panipat
The Marathas almost won the battle till evening, but when Vishwasrao (Bhau’s nephew) died on the battlefield, the whole scenario changed. On seeing his nephew dead, Bhau moved towards the enemy forces. The Afghans attacked him, and he was also killed on the battlefield by Abdali’s army.
Map of India in 1760
End of Battle
According to several sources, Bhau’s headless body was found in a pile of corpses after three days of war. His head was later found hidden by the Afghan army. His body was cremated according to Hindu rituals, and his ashes were taken for visarjan in Kashi.
Although according to some other sources, perhaps, Bhau survived the battle and lived his life secretly elsewhere. Bhau’s wife Parvatibai refuses to accept that her husband is dead as his body has never been found. She never lived the life of Bhau’s widow.
Death
Bhau died on the battlefield of the ‘Third Battle of Panipat’ on 14 January 1761 (Makar-Sakranti day) in Panipat, Haryana.
Facts/Trivia
- In 1770, someone claimed that he was Sadashivrao, but he turned out to be an impostor.
- There is an area in Pune, named after Bhau as ‘Sadashiv-Peth.’
- A memorial park was created to honor the ‘Third Battle of Panipat’ at Kala Amb, Panipat, Haryana.
Memorial of the Third Battle of Panipat
- In 2019, a Bollywood film was released on the ‘Third Battle of Panipat’ titled ‘Panipat- The Great Betrayal,’ in which Arjun Kapoor played the role of ‘Sadashivrao Bhau’ and Sanjay Dutt played the role of ‘Ahmad Shah Abdali.’
Arjun Kapoor as Sadashivrao Bhau
Categories: Biography
Source: SCHOOL TRANG DAI
