Events leading up to the Battle of Panipat, 1761
By Jadunath Sarkar
Summary
A long narrative recounts the manoeuvres that culminated in the Third Battle of Panipat in January 1761 between Ahmad Shah Durrani and the Maratha confederacy. Using Persian chronicles, the author describes how the Afghan army, encamped on the banks of the Yamuna in October 1760, struggled for days to find a ford. Flooded waters and strong currents prevented a crossing; the Shah fasted and offered prayers until scouts located a safe passage. Thousands of men and animals drowned during the crossing, but by 25 October the main army was on the western bank and began moving north‑west toward Panipat. Meanwhile Sadashiv Rao Bhau, leading the Marathas, had fortified his position with a massive trench and rampart, and sent urgent messages to Govind Pandit in the Doab to cut off the Afghan supply line. Govind Pandit’s cavalry succeeded in restricting food reaching the Afghan camp; famine spread and soldiers mutinied. In response Ahmad Shah ordered his general Atai Khan to march secretly with two thousand horsemen to ambush Govind Pandit. Travelling forty kos overnight, Atai Khan surprised the Maratha force at dawn, routed it and personally killed Govind Pandit. He returned with the severed head, and the Afghan camp erupted in jubilation. The way was now open for supply trains to resume, relieving the famine. The article details daily skirmishes as the two armies advanced toward Panipat, noting the positions of Shuja‑ud‑Daulah and Najib‑ud‑Daulah and the trenches dug by Ahmad Shah at each encampment. It mentions the involvement of Rohilla and Awadh contingents and the uneasy negotiations with local chiefs. The author concludes by describing the opposing camps at Panipat, their fortifications and the psychological state of commanders on the eve of battle. Although he does not narrate the battle itself, he paints a vivid picture of the logistical challenges, tactical moves and personal rivalries that shaped the lead‑up to one of the most decisive confrontations in Indian history.
Conclusion
By focusing on the weeks before the battle, this study highlights the importance of logistics and intelligence in eighteenth‑century warfare. Ahmad Shah’s perseverance through the flooded Yamuna and his ruthless elimination of Govind Pandit contrast with the Maratha reliance on entrenched positions and stretched supply lines. The narrative conveys the sense of impending crisis that pervaded both camps and shows how contingency, rather than grand strategy alone, often decides the fate of empires.