Suraj Mal - Panipat and Its Sequel

Panipat and Its Sequel

Raja Suraj Mal, accompanied by Ghazi-ud-din Imad-ul-mulk, marched away to Tughlaqabad; grain became very dear (at Delhi) A large tract of the country about Delhi had been so completely ruined by constant ravages, that the Durrani became dependent on the country of Ruhelas for his supplies and the Maratha army drew theirs from Suraj Mal’s kingdom. There was an acute shortage of supplies. So it is no wonder that the Marathas had to fight on an empty stomach at Panipat.

Raja Suraj Mal’s position was so conspicuous and his attitude so important that even his neutrality was considered by both parties as worth securing. He could not be persuaded to join the Maratha again. He thanked his priest Rupram for his recent escape. The vigilant Abdali at once seized this opportunity to make an attempt to win over Suraj Mal. He knew that his enemies could not be decisively crushed till they had been deprived of such a strong base of operations as country of Suraj Mal. He had several times tried without success to detach the Jat Raja from the Marathas. He now opened the fresh negotiations with the Jat Raja, through Nawab Shuja-ud-daula. Raja Devi Dutt, Ali Beg (of Georgia), and others came, on behalf of Shuja-ud-daula to the Jat for negotiating the terms of a compromise. The Jat agreed to it, wore the khilat sent by Shuja-ud-daula and the Shah, and exchanged oaths. The practical result of this treaty was to ensure only the neutrality of Raja Suraj Mal, but not his active assistance on the Afghan side. He entered into this alliance with the Abdali only to provide against an emergency, and because complete isolation was too dangerous for any state in then prevailing political condition of India.