Dattaji Rao Scindia
Dattaji | |
|---|---|
 Dattaji Scindia | |
| Born | c. 1723 |
| Died | 10 January 1760 (aged 36–37) |
| Allegiance |  Maratha Empire |
| Relations | Ranoji Scindia (father) Jayappaji Rao Scindia (brother) Jankoji Rao Scindia (nephew) Jyotiba Rao Scindia (brother) Tukoji Rao Scindia (halfbrother) Mahadji Scindia (halfbrother) |
Dattaji Rao Scindia, also known as Dattaji Rao Shinde, (1723 – 10 January 1760) was the second son of Ranoji Rao Shinde and Maina Bai, alias Nimba Bai. His elder brother was Jayappaji Rao Shinde and his younger brother was Jyotiba.[1]
Early life
He was the elder half-brother of Mahadaji Shinde who later became the confederacy head of Gwalior, and regent for his nephew Jankoji Rao Shinde from 1755 until his death.[citation needed]
Battle with Afghans and death
Dattaji Shinde was a Maratha military general who was given the command of Punjab during the Afghan-Maratha Conflicts over the regions of North India in 1758–59. The Peshwa gave him command of Punjab contingents with an army of 18,000 men to stop the Afghan Invasion led by Ahmed Shah Durrani. Marathas won the forts of Attock and Peshawar in 1757–1758 and wanted to expand their rule up to Kandahar. After many centuries had Hindu rule come in Punjab and Indus River since 1020, when Mahmud of Ghazni had defeated the Hindu ruler Trilochanpala. Raghunathrao then returned to Delhi.[citation needed]
In March 1759, Dattaji Shinde reached Macchiwara with a massive army but like Raghunathrao, Dattaji also did not want to stay in Punjab anymore. He wrote a letter to the Peshwa and deployed Sabaji Shinde to take garrison of Punjab with the assistance of Bapu Rao, and Dadu Rao. Dattaji himself went to fight with Najib-ud-Daula Rohilla in Ganga Valley. But due to absence of Sabaji in Rohtas Fort, Afghan under Jahan Khan attacked Attock and Rohtas fort and won. Sabaji and Sikhs once again allied and defeated Afghans in Battle of Lahore, (1759). Jahan Khan lost his son in battle and once again Afghans retreated to Afghanistan. This victory of Marathas made Ahmad Shah more aggressive. Afghans and Rohillas allied and sent Jahan Khan with the massive army of 60,000. Jahan Khan won Attock and Peshawar by defeating Maratha garrison. Jahan Khan then defeated Triyambak Rao's army of 6,000 and Abdali move towards south Punjab. they captured Lahore the capital of Punjab. Ahmad Shah attacked Dattaji's army of 2,500. Dattaji retreated to Delhi. Ahmed Shah Durrani now allied with Najib Khan Rohilla attacked on Dattaji once again in January 1760. Dattaji was defeated and killed by Mian Qutb Shah in the Battle of Barari Ghat at Barari ghat, on the plains of Rudhir, near Delhi on 10 January 1760.[2][3][4]
In popular culture
- In the 1994 Hindi TV series The Great Maratha, Dattaji's character was portrayed by Mangal Dhillon.
- In the 2019 Bollywood film Panipat, Dattaji Rao Scindia was portrayed by Milind Gunaji.
See also
References
- ^ Abhas Verma, "Third Battle of Panipat" , Bhartiya Kala Prakashan, ISBN 9788180903397
- ^ Jaywant Joglekar (2006). Decisive Battles India Lost (326 B. C. to 1803 A. D.). p. 85-86. ISBN 9781847283023.
- ^ N. G. Rathod (1994). The Great Maratha Mahadaji Scindia. p. 3. ISBN 9788185431529.
- ^ Jaswant Lal Mehta (2005). Advanced Study in the History of Modern India 1707-1813. p. 262. ISBN 9781932705546.