Ibrahim Khan Gardi: The Unsung Hero of Panipat

Ibrahim Khan Gardi: The Unsung Hero of Panipat

Ibrahim Khan Gardi’s patriotism, loyalty and ability to fight in difficult circumstances makes him a hero.

In the 1700s, the Mughals experienced a decline after a tumultuous lineage and hereditary conflicts initiated by Aurangzeb’s death. The Marathas gained prominence and marched northwards towards Delhi. They captured provinces in the south of Delhi and further in Punjab. This was followed by a direct confrontation with the Durrani army led by the Afghan king Ahmad Shah Abdali. A war began between the two kingdoms. It would become one of the largest battle of the 18^th century, known as the third battle of Panipat. This battle also gave us our unsung hero, Ibrahim Khan.

The third battle of Panipat was fought between the Marathas. They were led by Sadashiv Rao Bhau on one side. On the other side was the Afghan army. It was led by Ahmad Shah Abdali and supported by the Nawab of Awadh and the Rohillas. The Marathas expected support from the Nawabs of Awadh. However, the Nawab chose to support the Afghan rulers. He considered it his only choice as a Muslim ruler. Without his support the Afghan army couldn’t have managed to continue in the warfare. Those were the times when communalism was ignited by the people in power, yet Ibrahim Khan Gardi was different. His patriotism and loyalty were stronger than any religion.

When the Marathas were not supported by the then rulers of India, the Mughals, Ibrahim Khan was the only Muslim in a Maratha army whose immense contributions still echo in the history of the third battle of Panipat even today. Ibrahim Khan had earlier fought against the Marathas owing to his associations with Nawab Ali, but with the turn of fate he was appointed in Rao’s army shortly before the war. Khan was known for his artillery skills and was trained under the French General Marquis de Bussy. Gardi was in fact the title given to officers who were the disciples of General-de Bussy in the art of warfare and artillery.

In the battle with Nizam Ali, Ibrahim Khan displayed an impressive show of his French capacities and talent which became the root cause for his inclusion in the battle of Panipat by Rao. Ibrahim Khan proved his valor in Delhi and Kunjpura where his guns and his troop of 9000 men created havoc in the Afghan camps which in turn ignited the Afghans to use Khan on their side in the name of religion. But Khan’s heroism is reflected in his continued loyalty towards Marathas. And, thus Ibrahim Kahn became so important that it was on his advice that Sadashiv Rao decided to entrench himself in Panipat. Even on the day of the main battle fought on 14th January , it was his war plan that proved effective and it was his praises that reached the Delhi court which was deeply anxious about the war field just 70 kms away from the capital.

Ibrahim Gardi was captivated from the battlefield under Abdali who forced him to join his army and seek forgiveness for fighting on Maratha’s side despite his Muslim identity. Ibrahim Khan stayed loyal to his people and refused to join those against whom his army had so valiantly fought, reflecting his devout love for mother land over anything else. The repercussions of it was not unknown to Gardi, yet he chose to be tortured to death over disloyalty towards Marathas.

The Marathas lost a lot of manpower, its army was tortured and beheaded, even the non- combatants were captured but the stories of their courage and determination went down the history and Ibrahim Khan’s good will towards his land still resonates. And, most significantly what remained of the long battle was the stories of loyalty of a Muslim General Ibrahim Khan whose loyalty made him the not only the real hero of the Battle of Panipat but one who will always be remembered for his noble actions.