YASHWANTRAO HOLKAR

While flipping over the pages of Maratha empire, the Indian history has find the spectrum of its own which many don't know about. From Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj to Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj of Kolhapur, from Peshwa Bajirao to Yashwantrao Holkar the countless incidents of Maratha(n) bravehearts are unknown to many. This article presents the tale of a Maratha, who gave a crushing defeat to the British East India Company.

THE ERA OF SUCCESSION

The Holkars were the iron-hearted dynasty of brave Kings and queens who ruled over Indore. Ahilyabai Holkar, one of the greatest queen born on the soil passed away on 1795. She was succeeded by Tukoji Rao Holkar who ruled for only 2 years. Yashwantrao had to face a turbulent time as the era of succession dawned upon the Holkar throne. Yashwantrao had 3 brother namely; Kashirao Holkar, Malharrao Holkar, Vithojirao Holkar who seem to be worth enough to succeed the throne for many. Yet the siblings felt, the deserving Malharrao to be the heir of the throne. The battle of Lakhairi against the Europeans and Scindias was an open testimony of Malharrao's bravery. Behind the glory of support received by him, the fire of jealousy ignited in Kashirao who wished to get the taste of power; Kashirao immediately drew an alliance with the Scindias. Many believed Scindias to be the arch-nemesis of the Holkars, hence Kashirao's decision was condemned by his brothers. Daulat Rao Scindia immediately went to action mode. He gave a surprise attack on Malharrao. Daulat swiftly imprisoned Malharrao's wife and Yashwantrao's daughter. Yashwantrao and Vithoji escaped and took refuge at Nagpur. But Bhonsle of Nagpur imprisoned them. The Holkar brothers sneaked out of the situation with the help of Bhavani Khatri.

Yashwantrao now knew the real face of "loyalty". Support for Yashwantrao stirred slowly among the crowd. His attention drew towards the expansion of Holkar, yet he knew he had to craft alliance for the same. The Rajput dynasty of Pawars was suffering from rebellions by the minister. Holkar saw the light of an opportunity to get ahold of. The Holkar army rode over the lands of Rajputs. The commander from the rebellion's side, Shevelier Duddres received crushing defeat. The Holkar army's roar reached till Maheshwar. This episode reflected Yashwantrao's capability of ruling Indore.

BATTLE OF PUNE

Yashwantrao was crowned as the king of Indore. A ceremony that bestowed the power of Holkar on a right hand, Yashwantrao had an ambition to unite the Northern and Southern states under the umbrella of the Marathas. His mission unfolded with his campaign up north by attacking Ujjain. As the Holkars moved up North, Vithojirao planned to play the cards of politics in South. Vithoji openly declared his partnership with Amrutrao of Pune. The people of those times believed Amrutrao to be more capable than Peshwa Baji Rao-II to hold the title of Peshwa.

Peshwa Baji Rao II immediately sent the minister of affairs to arrest Vithoji. Vithoji's wife and son were arrested. The enraged Peshwa ordered a death sentence to Vithojirao to be trampled upon by an elephant. Many recommendations fell upon the Peshwa to double back from his decision, to avoid skirmishes on the map of Maratha empire. Yet, the Peshwa ruled out those concerns and continued with the prosecution. Yashwantrao was shocked by the news of his brother's death. He swore to take revenge for the death of his 2 brothers.

Yashwantrao started his revenge by adding fuel to the Ujjain war-sight. The Holkar went wild on general Hassing's (foreign army general of Scindia) army. Over 3000 soldiers had fell upon the fury of Holkar army. Yashwantrao drove the Scindias out of the city. This defeat was a major embarrassment for the Scindias. With another revenge to be seeked, Yashwantrao marched towards Peshwas of Pune. He sent a letter of 4 powerful demands to the Peshwas. The Scindias taking refuge at Pune did not even had opportunity to take a sigh of relief. Peshwa Baji Rao II was astonished by seeing the conditions of that letter sent All of the demands were rejected and last prayers to stop the war upcoming fell. Yashwantrao immediately rode with his army to the city of Pune. Scindias and Peshwas designed a powerful regiment of over 25000 men and powerful cannons to defend themselves. The joint army of Scindia and Peshwas fell upon the Holkar at Hadapsar. The Holkars attacked the joint army of Pune strategically. The powerful blow of Holkar gave the Peshwa, a signal to back-off till Sinhagarh fort near Pune. The army pounced their way till Jejuri. The Holkars won the city and asked Peshwa to return to Pune to sign the terms. Many believe that Yashwantrao had sent food supplies at Sinhagarh for Peshwa, so that he would not feel insecure for the terms. The Holkar wished for a peaceful and smooth return of territories with Peshwas and Scindias.

Baji Rao did not had any will to bow to the Holkars, yet he trembled under the voice of Holkar echoing across the Maratha confederation. With the Holkars at Pune, Baji Rao felt insecurity rising around him at Sinhagarh fort. Hence, he rode his way to Raigarh away from Pune. The growing ambition of British East India company led to a feast, when they understood the situation of Peshwa. A proposal was sent by them to the Peshwa; "Accept the subsidiary alliance by us, which will allow the professional English infantry to replace yours. In return you will have to submit the sovereignty of Peshwa(n) territory to the British East India Company." Baji Rao was threatened to be replaced by his brother for the throne by the British. He signed the treaty at Vasai.

BRITISH ENTRANCE IN MARATHA POLITICS

While the subsidiary alliance was signed, Yashwantrao handed over the Peshwaship to Peshwa Amrutrao. He tried to refresh the whole situation of Maratha politics into a stable form. After the job done he returned to Indore. But after returning, Yashwantrao observed the stirring of allegiance to the British company by various Indian rulers. He understood the motive of British in India, and swore to drive them out of the nation. While Holkar returned to Indore, the British asked Peshwa Baji Rao II to return to Pune, to be reinstalled as the Peshwa of the state. Baji returned to Pune. But now Baji Rao understood the real face of British! His powers were nominal and the great title of Peshwa was left to him just for namesake. The British were successful in playing a trick against Peshwa Baji Rao II. Yashwantrao was alarmed, he immediately forged an alliance with Daulat Rao Scindia and Raghuji Bhosale. But the cunning Daulat had cooked up a plan to drive Holkar out of the game, once the British were kicked out by the alliance. He drew a letter with his motive and sent it to Baji Rao II. This letter was caught by Peshwa Amrutrao, who betrayed the Holkars by sending this letter to General Wellesley of British company. Wellesley hatched a plan after reading the letter. He sent the letter to Yashwantrao, to design a chaos in the Maratha confederacy. Yashwantrao was baffled. He pulled himself out of the alliance and also the Maratha confederacy. While he could plan a backup over the situation, Scindias fell completely at the Battle of Assaye and Raghuji lost against the British. Holkars were isolated completely. Yashwantrao expected a storm to roll upon Indore.

THE FINAL WARCRY

A letter was announced at the court of Indore by British East India Company official General Perron. The letter begged Holkar to sign a subsidiary alliance. Yashwantrao pointed to his horse and saddle and said

"My country and property are upon the saddle of my horse, and please God, to whatever side the reins of the horses of my brave warriors shall be turned, the whole of the country in that direction shall come into my possession."

After this incident Yashwantrao understood that British were scared of him. He rode his way and crushed General Fawcett of British empire at Bundelkhand. The British governor general has reportedly wrote letter to General Lake to suppress Yashwantrao as he was a "gun pointed on British expansion in India". He further defeated General Mason at Kota. Many describe his character during a war to be frightening for an enemy. He does not leave enemy on his route just like his brother Malharrao. He pointed his army to lay a siege at Delhi to free Shah Alam of Mughal empire, with hopes to draw another alliance. Yet he had to back off as British seemed to route him. He turned over to Deeg and British had to be a silent spectator for the situation. He went back to Bharatpur and made an alliance with the Jats. British succesfully made their way towards Ujjain and Indore, and get hold of the capital region. Yashwantrao was dejected.

British started dividing Holkar territory bit by bit. Bhavani Khatri was given a district in Delhi with a palace referred to presently as the Namak Haram Ki Haveli (Traitor's palace). Jats signed peace with British and Holkar planned to leave Bharatpur. Holkar drew up an alliance with the Chhatrapati and Scindia. Maharaja Ranjit Singh from Punjab, Throne of Jaipur and Bhosales of Nagpur joined for the cause. British East India Company was terrified from this alliance, from the all in colossal war of independence. Governor general Wellesley repeatedly asked Lord Lake to drive out Yashwantrao. Yet Lake replied, "It is an impossible task to pursue Holkar, he has a fantasy of killing Europeans!" Lake tried persuading Ranjit Singh to back out from this alliance. Ranjit Singh left the alliance and the domino effect proceeded. Everyone abandoned Holkar again.

During this time, General Wellesley of East India Company was replaced by Cornwallis. Cornwallis had carefully observed Holkar's strength. He simply did not wished to lose the army fighting against the life threatening enemy. Afraid of Holkar's power, he immediately drew up a peace treaty with them. Over the bank of river Beas the treaty was signed and Indore, Ujjain, Kota was handed over to Yashwantrao. The territory of Indore remained the only Maratha sovereign state, against the shadow of fall of the whole Maratha confederacy.

LEGACY OF YASHWANTRAO HOLKAR

Yashwantrao was successful in defending Indore. It is said that he had made an arms and ammunition factory and recruited over a lakh of soldiers to wage a war against the British East India Company. Sadly the great Holkar took his last breath on October 27, 1811. He sacrificed his whole life in waging a war against the British. He suffered multiple hits of downfall repeatedly, but never let the Maratha sword down over the feet of foreigners. His life is an open letter of Maratha bravery.

“First Country, and then Religion. We will have to rise above caste, religion, and our states in the interest of our country. You too must wage a war against the British, like me." ~Yashwantrao Holkar