Capture of Delhi (1788)

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Battle in Indian subcontinent fought between forces of Marathas and rohillas

Capture of Delhi (1788)

| Location|

Delhi, India

|

Result|  Maratha Victory[1]
Territorial
changes|  Delhi captured by Marathas
Belligerents
Rohilkhand Kingdom
Mughals under Ismail|  Maratha Confederacy
Commanders and leaders
Ghulam Kadir
Mirza Ismail Beg |  Mahadji Scindia
Ali Bahadur
Rane Khan
Jiwabadada Baxi
Baghirathrao Shinde
Raji Patil
Devji Gawli
Strength
1500+|  Unknown

The Battle of Delhi took place in 1788 between Ghulam Kadir Rohilla supported by Mirza Ismail Beg' and Marathas under Mahadji Shinde who was asked by Shah Alam II to execute Ghulam Kadir. In which Mahadji Shinde becomes successful and executes Kadir.[2][3][4]

## Background

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In 1788, Ghulam Kadir, in conjunction with Mirza, initiated a campaign with the aim of capturing Delhi, the capital of the Mughal Empire. Their objective was to seize control and establish their dominance in the region. However, internal disputes within the Mughal Empire hindered Mahadji's ability to send troops to defend Delhi.[1][5]

Despite Mahadji's awareness of the impending threat, he was unable to mobilize his forces effectively due to ongoing internal conflicts. As a result, on July 18, 1788, Ghulam Kadir and his forces successfully captured Delhi. Upon seizing control of the city, Ghulam Kadir took drastic measures to solidify his power. He forcefully removed Shah Alam, the Mughal emperor, from his throne and subjected him to the cruel act of blinding. The atrocities committed by Ghulam Kadir extended beyond the ruling elite; innocent civilians, including infants and helpless women, were subjected to starvation and deprivation. Tragically, the violence escalated as Ghulam Kadir's forces unleashed terror upon the city. Numerous men fell victim to indiscriminate killings, while princesses were subjected to heinous acts of rape. The capture of Delhi in 1788 marked a dark chapter in the history of the Mughal Empire, characterized by widespread suffering and barbarity inflicted upon its inhabitants.[1][5]

A letter was sent by Sadashiv Dinkar to Nana mentioning this events who immediately reported this to Mahadji ( on September 1788). He became furious when learnt about the deeds of Ghulam, he immediately marched towards Delhi in order to teach Ghulam a lesson.

## Capture of Delhi

[edit]

In October, Mahadji, accompanied by Rane Khan Bhai and Jiwabadada Baxi, arrived in Delhi. On October 2nd, the combined forces of Rana Khan and Jiwabadada defeated Ghulam and Ismail Beg, leading to the capture of Delhi. They proceeded to lay siege to the Agra fort, which they also captured, and reinstated a blinded Shah Alam to his throne. While Ismail Beg surrendered, Ghulam Kadir fled the area. Rana Khan, Raji Patil, Devji Gawli, and Baghirathrao Shinde were then sent to persuade Ghulam Kadir, eventually capturing the Aligarh fort. Ghulam Kadir subsequently fled.[2][1][3]

## Battle of Meerut

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Battle of Meerut (1788)

| Location|

Meerut, India

|

Result|  Maratha victory.
Territorial
changes|  None
Belligerents
Kingdom of Rohilkhand|  Maratha Empire
Commanders and leaders
Ghulam Kadir (POW)|  Ali Bahadur
Mahadji Shinde
Strength
1000-1500|  Unknown
In some sources this battle is also called as Battle of Mathura instead of Meerut.

Following his escape from Aligarh, Ghulam Kadir sought refuge in Meerut, where he found himself engaged in a fierce confrontation with the forces of Ali Bahadur and Mahadji Shinde. Despite facing overwhelming odds, Ghulam Kadir displayed remarkable courage as he battled against his adversaries for a period lasting nearly one and a half months.As the conflict wore on, Ghulam Kadir's position became increasingly untenable, ultimately compelling him to flee once more. Ali Bahadur and his forces pursued Ghulam Kadir relentlessly, determined to bring an end to his reign of terror. However, their efforts were initially thwarted by the cover of darkness, which obscured Ghulam Kadir's whereabouts.It was during this critical juncture that a local Brahmin, moved by a sense of duty or perhaps enticed by the promise of reward, divulged to Ali Bahadur the whereabouts of Ghulam Kadir. Acting swiftly upon this information, Ali Bahadur mobilized his troops and hastened to the location indicated by the Brahmin. In a decisive turn of events, Ali Bahadur's forces succeeded in capturing Ghulam Kadir, bringing an end to his campaign of violence and terror. The capture of Ghulam Kadir marked a significant victory for Ali Bahadur and Mahadji Shinde, signifying the restoration of peace and stability to the region.[1]

## Execution of Ghulam Kadir

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The execution of Ghulam Kadir at Mahadji's camp in 1788-1789 stands as a stark testament to the power dynamics and brutality prevalent during the era. Ghulam Kadir, initially received with conventional treatment upon his arrival at the camp, found himself embroiled in a grim turn of events following a letter from Shah Alam to Mahadji.[1][5]The letter, issued by Shah Alam, demanded the grisly mutilation of Ghulam Kadir's eyes under the threat of the Emperor's resignation to a life of destitution in Mecca should the demand remain unmet. Responding to this ultimatum, Mahadji yielded to Emperor Shinde's entreaty, leading to a series of ruthless actions.On an appointed day, Ghulam Kadir underwent a sequence of mutilations, beginning with the removal of his eyes. The next day witnessed the successive extraction of his nose, tongue, lips, and upper limb, plunging Ghulam Kadir into a state of excruciating suffering.The ordeal didn't cease with these grievous mutilations.[6][1] Subsequently, Ghulam Kadir endured the severance of his hands, feet, and genitals, further exacerbating his torment. These acts of violence culminated in his ultimate execution.March 3, 1789, marked the tragic conclusion of Ghulam Kadir's torment as he was hanged from a tree and subsequently beheaded. His demise, emblematic of the ruthlessness and coercion prevalent in the political landscape of the time, serves as a somber reminder of the perils faced by individuals ensnared in the webs of power and intrigue during this tumultuous period.[3][5][6]

## Aftermath

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Following Ghulam Kadir's execution in 1788-1789 at Mahadji Shinde's camp, Shah Alam, the Emperor of India, expressed gratitude to Mahadji for administering what he deemed as appropriate punishment. This acknowledgment led to significant rewards for Mahadji, including the administration of Hindu pilgrimage sites like Vrindavan and Mathura. Shah Alam also issued a royal decree banning cow slaughter, reflecting his efforts to respect Hindu sentiments. Additionally, due to the Emperor's blindness, Mahadji was effectively made the de facto ruler of Delhi, solidifying his political authority. These events illustrate the complex interplay of politics and religion during late 18th-century India.[1]

## References

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1. ^ a b c d e f g h Rathod, N. G. (1994). The Great Maratha Mahadaji Scindia. Sarup & Sons. p. 114\. ISBN 978-81-85431-52-9.
2. ^ a b Mehta, Jaswant Lal (2005-01-01). Advanced Study in the History of Modern India 1707-1813. Sterling Publishers Pvt. Ltd. pp. 595–596. ISBN 978-1-932705-54-6.
3. ^ a b c The Director Of Archives (1954). Sindhia As Regent Of Delhi (1954). pp. 17–19.
4. ^ Misra, S. c (1981). Sindhia-holkar Rivalry In Rajasthan. p. 99.
5. ^ a b c d Deodhar, Y. n (1962). Nana Phadnis And The External Affairs Of The Maratha Empire. pp. 125–128.
6. ^ a b Dalrymple, William (2019-09-10). The Anarchy: The Relentless Rise of the East India Company. Bloomsbury Publishing. p. 304\. ISBN 978-1-4088-6440-1.

*[POW]: Prisoner of war