Battle of Kharda

Battle of Kharda
Part of Maratha-Nizam War
Image of the Fort of the Kharda
Date 11 March 1795 Location Kharda (modern-day Maharashtra) Result Maratha victory Ban of cow slaughter in the Deccan. [1] Territorial changes Nizam was forced to pay a large indemnity and cede territory of Daulatabad, Aurangabad, and Sholapur. [2]
Belligerents
Maratha Empire Peshwa Fraction Gwalior State Nagpur Kingdom Indore State Baroda State	Nizam of Hyderabad
Commanders and leaders
Sawai Madhavrao Daulat Rao Shinde Jiva Dada Bakshi Tukojirao Holkar Raghoji II Bhonsle Govind Rao Gaekwad	Asaf Jah II   [3] Arastu Jah Monsieur Raymond Lal Khan  †
Strength
83,000 cavalry	100,000 infantry, 59 heavy guns [4]

The Battle of Kharda also called the Battle of Khurla, took place in 1795 between the Nizam of Hyderabad and the Maratha Empire, in which the Nizam was defeated. ^{[5] [6] [7]}

During the Battle

The Battle of Kharda, fought on March 11, 1795, was a significant conflict between the Marathas and the Nizam of Hyderabad. Despite being under British protection, the Nizam received no support from Governor General John Shore, who adhered to a policy of non-intervention. ^[8]

This strained relations between the Nizam and the British. Notably, this battle marked the last instance of all Maratha chiefs uniting under the leadership of Parshuram Bhau Patwardhan. The Maratha army included a vast force of cavalry, gunners, bowmen, artillery, and infantry. ^[3]

The Nizam’s forces, commanded by Assud Ally and supported by French commander Michel Raymond, faced the Maratha troops led by Parshuram Bhau, Scindia, and Holkar. The Nizam fielded 17,000 infantry and cavalry, while the Marathas deployed 83,000 cavalry, 38,000 infantry, and 192 cannons. ^[8] Early in the battle, Lal Khan, a Pathan commander in the Nizam's army, injured Parshuram Bhau but was later killed by Hari Pant. The Nizam's infantry, under Raymond, launched an attack on the Marathas, but Jivabadada Kerkar, leading Scindia’s forces, countered effectively, forcing the Hyderabad troops to retreat to the fort of Kharda. ^[3]

The Marathas laid siege to the fort, cutting off the Nizam's supply lines. The siege, lasting 17 to 22 days, caused extreme hardships for the Nizam’s troops and animals, with many resorting to eating tamarind leaves. Conditions in the Nizam’s camp were dire, with water reportedly selling for a rupee per cup. ^[3]

Under immense pressure, the Nizam sought negotiations, which concluded in April 1795. As part of the terms, the Nizam agreed to dismiss his minister, Azeem-ul-Omrah, who had insulted the Peshwa. This decisive Maratha victory not only showcased their military strength but also strained the relationship between the Nizam and the British, ultimately altering the region’s political dynamics. ^{[3] [9] [ page needed ] [10]}

Treaty of Kharda

The treaty of Kharda banned cow slaughter in the Deccan. Nizam of Hyderabad after the Nizam was defeated in battle and forced to pay a large indemnity and cede territory to the Maratha Empire, including Daulatabad, Aurangabad, and Sholapur. ^[11]

Notes

1. Sardesai, Govind (1968). New History of the Marathas. Phoenix Publications. p. 375.
2. Sardesai, Govind (1968). New History of the Marathas. Phoenix Publications. p. 375.
3. Lal, K. Sajjan (1939). "The Battle of Kharda and Its Significance". Proceedings of the Indian History Congress. 3: 1340–1359. ISSN   2249-1937.
4. Roy, Kaushik (2011). War, Culture and Society in Early Modern South Asia. Routledge. p. 116.
5. Naravane, M.S. (2014). Battles of the Honourable East India Company. A.P.H. Publishing Corporation. p. 178. ISBN   9788131300343.
6. Stewart Gordon (1993). The Marathas - Cambridge History of India (Vol. 2, Part 4). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ISBN   9781139055666.
7. Jaques, Tony (30 November 2006). Dictionary of Battles and Sieges: A Guide to 8,500 Battles from Antiquity through the Twenty-first Century [3 volumes]. Bloomsbury Publishing USA. p. 524. ISBN   978-0-313-02799-4.
8. Sardesai Govind Sakharam (1948). New History Of The Marathas Vol-iii 1772-1848 (1948). B. G. Dhawale, Bombay. pp. 295–301.
9. Barua, Pradeep (1 January 2005). The State at War in South Asia. U of Nebraska Press. ISBN   978-0-8032-1344-9.
10. Dalrymple, William (2002). White Mughals. New Delhi: Viking by Penguin Books India.
11. Sardesai, Govind (1968). New History of the Marathas. Phoenix Publications. p. 375.

Further reading

• Kulkarni, G. T.; Kantak, M. R. (1980). Battle of Kharda: Challenges and Responses. University of California: Deccan College Post-Graduate and Research Institute.

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