The Battle of Burdwan(বর্ধমানের যুদ্ধ) occurred at Burdwan between Bengaland the Maratha Empire in March 1747. When the Maratha forces advanced towards Bengal from Orissa, Mir Jafar and Ataullah Khan, commanders of Nawab Alivardi Khan’s army, retreated towards Burdwanwithout resisting the invaders. As a result, Alivardi Khan dismissed both of them and amassed an army to defend against the invading Maratha forces of Janoji Bhonsle and Mir Habib. After intense fighting, Alivardi Khanmanaged to repulse the Marathas in this battle.
Battle
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In 1747, the Marathas led by Janoji Bhonsle, began to raid, pillage and annex the territories of the Nawab of Bengal, Alivardi Khan in Orissa. Syed Hidayat Ali Khan, the Faujdar in Bihar, who was on an expedition to the hill-passes of Raingarh, that the Maratha cavalry numbering 40,000 had sacked the town of Midnapore and set granaries and villages ablaze.
A Mahout and its rider in service of the Mughal Emperor Muhammad Shah.
During the Maratha invasion of Orissa, its Subedar Mir Jafar and other officials such as Ataullah Faujdar of Rajmahalcompletely withdrew all forces and without any resistance awaited the arrival of Alivardi Khan and the Mughalarmy.
When the Alivardi Khan received letters warning of the approach of Maratha, he was disillusioned by this unforeseen invasion, with some of his advisors blaming their aligned companion Asaf Jah I, the Nizam of Hyderabad for negligence in the Deccan.
In order to counter the eminent threat, Alivardi Khan rallied a Bengali army of nearly 10,000 troops consisting of levied troops and militia from Burdwan and Birbhum Sadgops, Bagdis, Santhals and Aguri peasants and Georgian Qizilbash, Pashtun and Bhumihar mercenaries. Alivardi Khan then informed the Mughal Emperor Muhammad Shah of the invasion and rode ceaselessly for almost three days towards the ruins of Bardhaman where the Marathas established occupation.
Alivardi Khan is known to have introduced and placed his artillery on large movable platforms that were driven by oxen.
After reaching the ruins of Bardhaman, Alivardi Khan’s Pashtun Cavalry and Bhumihar Infantry vanguard under the command of Musahib Khan Mohmand were completely overrun. The howdah of Nafisah Khanam (the wife of Alivardi Khan) had been captured and the elephant named Landah was dragged towards the Maratha encampment. Unwilling to abandon his command over the vanguard, Musahib Khan Mohmand, son of Umar Khan Mohmand, one of Alivardi Khans commanders, led what remained of the vanguard’s Sowars, Mahouts and Sepoys in order to attack the pillagers. Although the Howdah of Nafisah Khanam had been liberated, Musahib Khan Mohmand and his troops fell in battle, their courage being compared to that of Rostam by Alivardi Khan.
According to Ghulam Husain Tabatabai, when Alivardi Khan was reunited with his wife Nafisah Khanam, his forces were completely surrounded by Marathas, who had entrenched themselves a various positions whilst Alivardi Khan’s forces faced starvation. After carefully planning the battle ahead, Alivardi Khan organized his forces by placing baggage trains in the center and artillery carriages around his army. Khelat Chandra Chowdhury prepared his Birbhum Skirmishers for assault. Saulat Jang had finally arrived from Murshidabad with reinforcements and provisions.
Alivardi Khan then sent a baggage train containing fine carpets, silks and ewersinto his opponents lines, provoking the Maratha to gather and loot the baggage trains. This action had exposed the Marathas to Alivardi Khan’s advancing artillery carriages. While Khelat Chowdhury prepared his Sowars on the left and right flanks and completely routed Janoji Bhonsle and his remaining Maratha infantry.
Very soon Rajnarayan Ghosh arrived with even more provisions and fodder for Alivardi Khan’s forces.
The Alivardi Khan dismissed the shamed Mir Jafar at Murshidabad for not having done much.