Maratha attacks on temples and towns of Karnataka in 17th & 18th centuries CE

Research and Author: Ameen Ahmed

A view of the Water Gate of the fort at Shivamogga town (Shimoga) in early 1900s. On January 3rd, 1792, during the 3rd Anglo-Mysore War, the Maratha Army under Parshuram Bhau destroyed 6,000 houses and abducted women, according to an eyewitness account.
Image source: 'Ellis Collection: Album depicting missionary life in South India', India Office Select Materials, British Library, London, UK. Image copied by Ameen Ahmed  during a visit to the British Library, London.

Summary
In today's India one often gets to hear how the Peshwas 'united Hindus' against the 'tyranny' of Mughals. But, buried in the cacophony of this mainstream narrative built over a century by those who support Maratha Empire, are the stories of Maratha Empire atrocities suffered by tens of thousands of non-Maratha Hindus across India- the Bengalis, Rajputs, Dilli-wallas, Tamils and not to forget the Kannadigas. This research traces about sixty sites- towns, villages and settlements of Hindus, as well as Hindu temples which faced destruction by Maratha Armies in their attacks on Karnataka (erstwhile Mysore Kingdom) in 17th and 18th centuries CE (1600s and 1700s). 

Some of these places never recovered. If accounts of English traveler Francis Buchanan are to be believed, probably over a 100,000 (one lakh) Kannadigas died. An example is Sathyagala in present day Chamarajanagara District. This place was a district headquarter having over a thousand houses, when armies of Peshwa Madhava Rao plundered it during their invasion of Karnataka in 1770. Famines followed almost all Maratha attacks, as these barbarians usually destroyed crops as well. It is said that four hundred families died of hunger at Sathyagala in the famine that followed the Peshwa's attack. Even if each family had seven members (a married couple with two parents and three kids), the number of deaths would run to two thousand eight hundred humans!

Maratha - Mysore conflicts in 1600s

The troubled relationship between the Maratha warriors and Karnataka's rulers dates back to Shivaji's father Shahji, in 17th century (1600s). In 1639, Mysore Hindu King Kanthirava Wodeyar is said to have defeated and killed a large number of troops of Bijapur Sultanate led by Randaulah Khan and Shahji when they attacked Srirangapatna (1). Shivaji himself led many attacks on the towns and manufacturing areas of Karnataka. His incursions into North Karnataka and destruction of towns there have been mentioned numerous times in British Gazetteers, particularly the Gazetteer of the Bombay Presidency, 1883, which quotes John Fryer, a British doctor who traveled to India during Shivaji's time (2). According to historian Hayavadana Rao (1943 CE), Shivaji also attacked Srirangapatna but was defeated by its Mysore King Chikkadevaraja Wodeyar. Shivaji is said to have then looted areas around this place (3). When Aurangzeb dismantled the Muslim sultanates of Deccan in 1680s, Mysore Kingdom under Chikkadevaraya Wodeyar formed an alliance with the Mughals. And, in 1696 when a troop of Maratha soldiers on their way to Ginjee fort in Tamil Nadu decided to try their luck at making a quick buck off the Srirangapatna treasury, the Wodeyar again gave them a resounding defeat.

The Ganga dynasty-built Sri Ranganatha Swamy Temple at Srirangapatna, Mandya District. Kantiraya Wodeyar defeated an army of Bijapur Kingdom led by Shahji (Shivaji's father) and Ranadaulah Khan in 1639. The Maratha Armies are said to have subsequently invaded Srirangapatna many times to extract payments from the Hindu Wodeyar Kings. 
Pic: Author

Early 18th century - Attacks by Peshwa Baji Rao in 1720s

Aurangzeb and Chikkadevaraya died within a few years of each other in the first decade of 18th century CE (1700s). Across the Indian sub-continent the Marathas quickly gained territory at the cost of the Mughals. Post Chikkadevaraya, Kannadigas heard the 'Har Har Mahadev' battle shrieks of invading Marathas more often, as the Peshwa led Maratha horse came down to extract payments from Srirangapatna. 

In 1720 CE, Mughals ceded parts of their territory in Konkan to Maratha Peshwa. This included the northern part of Kanara region (present day Uttara Kannada district). In 1726 CE Peshwa Baji Rao invaded Karnataka all the way up to Srirangapatna, causing harm to many Kannadigas.  The territory of Sonda was plundered and trade had come to a stand still. The peaceful Kannadigas of Bednur, in Karnataka's Malnad region are said to have fled in terror leaving behind their fields uncultivated. Finally, the Kannadiga rulers of Sonda and Bednur agreed to pay the dreaded Chauth tax (1/4th of a kingdom's revenue), which caused misery to the ordinary people (ibid., 2). It is said that the Peshwa forced the Hindu Wodeyar King to pay him a ransom (4). 

By 1740s, European colonial powers, chiefly the British and French were involved in a do or die struggle with each other to establish themselves in India. This was a part of their and their allies' conflict in regions across the globe. An off shoot of this was that the British documentation of events, as they saw or heard them, gained more prominence. They not just wrote but also translated, into English, many publications written by people of the Indian sub-continent in languages including Kannada and Persian. This literature points out to the numerous times when Marathas gained ransom from the Mysore rulers- Mysore Wodeyars and Haidar Ali - Tipu Sultan. It also gives an insight into the suffering of the ordinary Kannadigas during the Maratha invasions.

A map tracing nearly sixty Hindu towns & temples of Karnataka that suffered from the attacks of Maratha Empire in 17 & 18 centuries CE. Updated on 30 Aug. 2020.

Destruction by Peshwa Balaji Baji Rao's men in 1750s
During the invasions of 1750s, the Hindu Maharaja of Mysore had to pay a ransom of Rs. 1 crore (a big sum in those days) according to Kirmani, a contemporary of Haidar Ali and Tipu Sultan (5). In late 1750s, writes the same author, the Marathas occupied much of Mysore Kingdom and laid waste to farms and towns. Makalidurga and Bengaluru were the only places not to fall into the hands of the Marathas thanks to the resistance put by the Kannadigas under Hyder Ali, who then was still subservient to the Maharaja. But the frustrated Marathas destroyed villages around Bengaluru.

There are numerous references to Peshwa invasions of Mysore Kingdom by authors of early 19th century (1800s), one of whom is Francis Buchanan (6). Buchanan claims to have traveled from Madras, through the regions of Baramahal (north-west Tamil Nadu), Malabar (current Kerala state), Wodeyars' Mysore Kingdom and Coastal Karnataka, between 23 April 1800 and 6 July 1801. A few of these areas were part of Bombay or Madras Presidencies. He has written on the social, economic, and political life that he claims to have seen and heard along way. It must be noted here that Buchanan was appointed by Marquis Wellesley, Governor General of India for this job. His journal, based on this journey, was published on orders of Directors of the East India Company in 1807. Although his stories seems to be written with a purpose of providing legitimacy to the British conquest of Mysore Kingdom and its subsequent exploitation, he has been in the past and continues even now, to be quoted extensively by those seeking to establish a modern India based on Hindu-nationalism. These include lawmakers elected to Indian parliament.

View of Yoga Narasimhaswamy Temple at Melukote in Karnataka. The temples of this Hindu holy town were burnt by Maratha soldiers in an invasion of Peshwa Madhava Rao in 1771-72 CE. Pic: Author     

During his visit, Buchanan stayed in many towns as well as villages, and traveled across farmland. He documented stories of many areas that were affected by the Maratha invasions throughout 18th century.

Buchanan mentions the following destruction:
1) Sathyagala (Anglicized: Satteagala): This village in present day Kollegal taluk of Chamrajanagar District was 'destroyed in a Marattah invasion before the time of Hyder, it was entirely ruined and most of the children and cattle were swept away.' It is to be noted that Haidar Ali ascended to power in 1761 CE and this destruction in all probability refers to the Maratha invasions of late 1750s.

2) Sonda, Sirsi Taluk, Uttara Kannada District: When Immady Sadasiva was the king, the town suffered from attacks by Marathas led by Gopal Rao (Anglicized: Row).

Chinya village in Mandya District of Karnataka was a prosperous town until the Marathas under Peshwa Madhava Rao destroyed it in early 1770s.

Destruction by Peshwa Madhava Rao's men in 1770s: 

Here is a list based on Buchanan's book:

Tumakuru District:
1) Madhugiri town: It was apparently prosperous under Haidar Ali but suffered under Maratha rule.

Mandya District:
2) Chinya village (Anglicized: Chinna), Nagamangala Taluk: The village was desolate when Buchanan visited it on 28 August 1800. He writes this 'Chinna is a poor ruinous place. It was formerly of some note; but about 30 years ago it was destroyed by the Marattah army, then attacking Hyder, and it has never since recovered.'
3) Melukote (Anglicized: Mail-cotay), Mandya District: This is a popular Hindu pilgrimage centre having numerous Hindu temples. It was often the scene of Mysore-Maratha battles. During their invasion in 1771, the terror of Maratha soldiers was so great that Brahmins deserted the place in fear. But the Maratha soldiers set afire to the temple chariots (rathas or raths) to lay their hands on the iron in them burning down many temples in the process. Writing on 29 August 1800, Buchanan claimed that Melukote had not yet recovered from its destruction by the Marathas.

Mysore District:
4) Katte Malalawadi (Anglicized: Cuttay Malalawadi): Here's what Buchanan writes about its destruction by Baji Rao. "About midway is Cuttay Malalawadi, a large mud fort, and the chief town (Kusba) of a district (Taluc). About thirty years ago it was fully inhabited and had a large suburb (Petta); while the cultivation all around was complete. At that period, a Marattha army, commanded by Badji Rao, laid waste to everything, and most of the inhabitants perished of hunger. So complete was the destruction, that even the excellent government of Hyder did not restore to the district more than one half of its former cultivation. The town never regained its inhabitants and was occupied by forty or fifty houses of Brahmans, who lived scattered amid the ruins."  

Chamarajanagara District:
5) Sathyagala:  Apparently, this village had about a thousand houses. According to Buchanan, 'a party of Marattah plunderers ravaged all this neighbourhood; and they were followed by a dreadful famine, in which 400 of the families in Satteagala perished of hunger.' Even if each family had seven members (a married couple with two parents and three kids), the number of deaths would run to 2,800 humans!
6) Singanallur (Anglicized: Singanaluru): This hamlet in Kollegal Taluk, Chamrajanagar District, located between Kollegal and Hanur towns, was 'destroyed'.

Kodagu District:
7) Suntikoppa (Anglicized: Sunticopa), Madikeri Taluk, Kodagu (Anglicized: Coorg) District: According to Buchanan this place was 'devastated by Maratha Peshwa'. 

Davanagere District:
8) Basavapatna (Anglicized: Baswa-pattana), Channagiri Taluk: Destroyed during the 1771-72 Maratha invasion it was apparently rebuilt by the British after the final Anglo-Mysore War in 1799.


Chikmagalur District: 
9) Siddaramanahalli (Anglicized: Siddaramanahally), Kadur Taluk): 'Affected' 

Chitradurga District: 
10) Hiriyur (Anglicized: Heriuru): 'Affected'. 

11) Chikkalaghatta (Anglicized- Aligutta): 'Land was barren due to Marhata invasions of 1771.' 

Hassan District:
12) Banavara (Anglicized: Banawara): 'Suffered'. 
13) Nagapuri, (Anglicized: Naga-puri): Haidar Ali built a fort amidst hills to protect people but still could not prevent the Marathas from plundering it in 1771-72.
14) Javagal village, also known as Javagallu (Anglicized: Jamagulla), Arasikere Taluk: 'A large place that never recovered from the Marhata invasion.'
15) Shantigrama, also known as Grama, Hassan District: Suffered under Maratha invasion.

A view of Madhugiri hill and fort, Tumakuru District. This prosperous town was destroyed by repeated invasions of the Maratha Armies, including by Balwant Rao in 1791. According to the Mysore Gazetteer published over a century later in 1897, the town never recovered from the destruction of the Maratha armies. Pic: Author

Destruction by Parshuram Bhau and Hari Pant led Maratha Armies in 1790s
Contemporary sources of the decisive 3rd Anglo Mysore War waged by British, the Maratha Armies led by Hari Pant (Anglicized: Hurry Pant) and Parshuram Bhau (Anglicized: Persuram Bhow) and the Nizam of Hyderabad speak of horrendous misery of Kannadigas. Parshuram Bhau's name appears numerous times in these sources associated with burning, looting, plundering, mass-murders, rapes, abduction of young girls, particularly the Shudras. Bhau did not even spare Sringeri, one of Hinduism's holiest sites. Tipu wrote a letter to the Chief priest (Guru) of Sringeri Mutt on July 6, 1791 expressing his anguish at Maratha army attack on Sringeri Mutt, the destruction of the Sri Sharadamba idol and murder of Brahmins there. He released money to repair the temple and reinstall the statue (7). 

Edward Moor was part of Captain Little's detachment that supported Parshuram Bhau's invasion of Mysore Kingdom in 1790-92. He wrote an eye-witness account of the destruction carried out by Maratha soldiers (8). Here are some accounts by him:

Chikkamagaluru District:

1) Ajjampura (Anglicized: Adjampoor): 'Plundered' by Bhau on his way back from Srirangapatna to Maratha territories, on April 17, 1792, even after the war had ended. 

Chitradurga District:

2) Chitradurga town (Anglicized: Chittledroog): Looted, Looting parties around it.

3) Hireguntanur (Anglicized: Guntnoor): Burnt. 
Note: The author mentions a village named Guntoor located ten miles north of Chitradurga. Hireguntanur is located about 8 miles west of the city. This village along with Chikkaguntanur are the only ones that sound similar to what the author has written. Chikkaguntanur is a mile closer to Chitradurga. 

4) Hiriyur (Anglicized: Heriuru):  A town of 'industry and content' that was 'ransacked and destroyed by these ruin spreading miscreants'. Burnt. 
5) Ramadurga (Anglicised: Ramghurry): 'Plundered' by Bhau on his way back from Srirangapatna to Maratha territories, on April 19, 1792, even after the war had ended. 
6) Thalaku (Anglicized: Tulkh), Challakere Taluk: Looted and burnt.

The Maratha Armies under Parshuram Bhau and Hari Pant turned Sira Fort (above) into their head quarters when they camped here in 1791 during the 3rd Anglo Mysore War. The Maratha horsemen are said to have destroyed all villages around. At one village MN Kote (Tumakuru District), they are said to have carried away young girls when they could not plunder the town. Pic: Author. 

Davanagere District:

7) Channageri: Moor wrote about seeing ten villages burning at a single time on the Maratha-English army march from Channagiri to Holehonnur, in December 1791.

8) Dondraghatta (Anglicised: Dunderguttee), Channageri Taluk: Burnt.

9) Harihar (Anglicized: Hurryhar): 'Scenes of death and destruction'.

10) Mayakonda (Anglicised: Micondah): Moor marched with his English detachment from Mayakonda to Chitradurga on August 16, 1791. He wrote that, before the arrival of Maratha Army this region 'was in a high state of cultivation and well peopled; but the corn is now destroyed for pasturage, and the villages for plunder.'

11) Siregere (Anglicised: Seergurry): Deserted. Bhau's 'looties' or pindaries found roaming around. 

12) Santhe Bennur (Anglicised: Santa Bednur): 'Plundered' by Bhau on his way back from Srirangapatna to Maratha territories, on April 22, 1792, even after the war had ended.

Remnants of the centuries' old fort at Dharwad. The town of Dharwad was plundered by the soldiers of Appa Saheb, son of Maratha General Parshuram Bhau, during its siege in 1791 CE. Earlier, in 17th century, this region was plundered by Shivaji, the founder of Maratha Empire. 

Dharwad District:
13) Dharwad town: Looted and burnt.
14) 'A number of small towns and villages in the vicinity of Dharwar' were 'razed'.

Shivamogga District:
15) Bedara Hosahalli (Anglicized: Baderooelly), Shivamogga Taluk: This village, located on the banks of Tunga river, was looted. 
16) Gajanur (Anglicized: Gajanoor): Burnt and looted.

18) Holehonnur (Anglicised: Hooly Honore): Looted. Houses burnt. 

17) Kagekodmagge (Anglicised: Kamoga): Burnt
18) Shivamogga (Shimoga) Town: Looted and partly burnt. An accomplice of Bhau had an intercourse with the wife of a Dalit and the entire Peshwa camp was 'purified'. 

Tumakuru District:

19) Chikka Nayakana Halli (Anglicized: Chicklehooly): Maratha soldiers quarreled with everyone enroute and carried away things without paying. 

20) Devarayanadurga (Anglicized- Dooridroog): Looted and 'burnt completely'.

21) Other destruction:
Mulberry cultivation of the farmers was destroyed by the 'Grand Army' i.e. English and Maratha soldiers.

The other eyewitness account of the war comes from another English soldier Major Dirom. He has written an extensive account of the final phase of the war starting with the joining of Maratha Armies with that of Lord Cornwallis' in May 1791 till its end with Tipu's capitulation in Mar. 1792, in his book which he published in 1793 (9). Dirom corroborates many of the incidents mentioned by Moor.

Buchanan has mentioned the below destruction that occurred in this war:

Chamarajanagara District:
1) Sathyagala, Kollegal Taluk: All 1,000 houses were destroyed by Maratha army during Cornwallis' invasion.

Chitradurga District:
2) Kodaganur (Anglicized: Koduganar): Whole of Chitrakal (Chitradurga) province was 'reduced to a desert' by Bhau. 
3) Chikkalaghatta (Anglicized- Aligutta): Land was barren due to Marhata invasions of 1771 and then again by Bhau in 1791. 
4) Hiriyur town: Affected by Bhau's invasion and the subsequent famine that followed. 
5) Belaguru (Anglicized- Belluguru), Hosadurga Taluk: Buchanan visited this on 8 May 1801 and found that the land was uncultivated due to Bhau's army passing by.

Davanagere District:
6) Malebennur town: Destroyed.
7) Harihar town: Bhau looted the people and many died of hunger. 

Hassan District:
8) Garudanagiri village: Was found to be depopulated on 9th May 1801 due to Bhau. 
9) Banavara: Suffered by invasions of Bhau.
10) Hassan town: Buchanan claims only one quarter of agriculture remained due to the Maratha invasion.

Mandya District:
11) Nagamangla town: This was visited on 21 August 1800. Before Bhau's invasion the town had 1,500 houses and only 200 remained after his destruction. Apparently 150,000 (1.5 lakh) palm trees were cut. Half the farmers, mainly from the Tigala community, had fled the area.
12) Palhalli village: Suffered from Maratha Army 'terror'.
13) Between Sicanay Pura & Muloor, west of Srirangapatna. Modern names unknown: Agriculture destroyed by the Marhata army and Cornwallis' invasion.

Shivamogga District:
14) Bhatkal town  was plundered by the Maratha army during Cornwallis' invasion. 
15) Mandagadde was a prosperous town until Bhau destroyed it. 
16) Shivamogga (Shimoga) town: Bhau destroyed all 6,000 houses and carried away women.
17) Kudli Mutt and village was plundered and burnt. Bhau's men did not even spare the Kudali Swamy Mutt which was burnt. Bhau is said to have murdered all Shudras of the town in cold blood despite them being unarmed and not taking part in the war.  But it is to be note that the kind-hearted Kudli Swamy helped people in the famine that followed the destruction by Maratha army.
18) Sasvehalli (Anglicized: Sahasivahally): Visiting this place on 4 April 1801 Buchanan found the country desolate 'due to Bhow'.

A view of the Madhugiri - Sira main road passing through the village of Badavanahalli in Tumakuru District.  The village 'fell into the hands of Bhau's army' in 1791 CE. According to Francis Buchanan, half of the population had not recovered by 1801. 

Tumakuru District:
19) Byalya (Anglicized- Dodda Bailea), Madhugiri Taluk: 'Suffered extremely'. 
20) Madhugiri town: 'Destruction completed'. 
21) Badavanahalli, Madhugiri Taluk: Half of population not recovered in 1801 after the village 'fell into the hands of Bhau's army' in 1791.
22) Sira: During Dilwar Khan's reign the town had 50,000 houses which were reduced to 300 by the Marhata invasions. In 1791, the Maratha army under Hari Pant and Parshuram Bhau camped at the Sira Fort.
23) Villages around Sira: Bhau and Hari Pant's men 'Destroyed most of the villages in the neighbourhood' which continued to be 'in ruins' when Buchanan visited it in 1801.
24) Sira to Midgeshi town: Country laid waste by Parasuram Bhau yet to recover. 
25) Mooka Nayakana Kote or MN Kote (Anglicized: Muga-Nayakana-Cotay): During one of their looting sprees the Maratha horse attacked the village. The villagers fought back, and the Maratha army looters had to retreat but not before carrying away young girls.
26) Chikka Nayakana Halli town: Buchanan visited this place on 20 and 21 August 1800. Apparently Bhau's men looted this place, both while marching onto as well as returning back Srirangapatna. The Maratha invasion destroyed half the arecanut and coconut crop and the trees were cut down.
27) Turuvekere town: This was visited on 21 Aug. 1800. Author claims there was 'merciless destruction' by Bhau. The horsegram fields and arecanut gardens were desolate.

Uttara Kannada District:
28) Bailuru near Honnavara: Suffered.

The 17th century Devarayanadurga Fort near Tumakuru City. This was a prosperous town until 1791 when it was looted by Maratha Army led by Parasuram Bhow. Pic: Author. 

Later British observations:

Lewin Botham Bowring wrote this, in 1871, about the destruction in Chitradurga District by the Maratha Army in 1790-91 (10): 'In former days, the Chitaldroog district was much exposed to the depredations of the Mahrattas, whose principal leader, Parsuram Bhau ruthlessly plundered the northern part of the Mysore province. It was no uncommon thing for the whole population to desert their homesteads, leaving their houses, and carrying with them all their portable property, while, under the appellation of the 'Valase,' they wandered about the country till the invaders retired, and circumstances enabled them to return to their native villages. The remarkable affection displayed by Indians towards their homes is perhaps unequalled in any country, the dreary barren hills of the Chitaldroog district being as much prized by the people as if they were a paradise upon earth.' 

While Buchanan visited many towns and farms 10 years after Bhow's destructive campaign and claimed they had not recovered, Bowring writes 80 years later that Shivamogga Town had still not recovered from the ravages.
'During the wars with Tippu Sultan, Shimoga was attacked, however, by the Mahrattas, under Parsuram Bhao, who ruthlessly plundered the country, and left marks of devastation from which the people have scarcely yet recovered.'

The Gazetteer of the Bombay Presidency (1883) summarises the observations  of various British authors and officers like Wilks and Arthur Wellesley, on Maratha invasions of Karnataka, in the following words:

'I have investigated on the spot and examined the traces of the merciless ravages of Parashuram Bhau in 1791 and 1792. Many districts once well peopled have not a trace of a human being. 

Of the ruin it caused Lieutenant Moor, who was with Parashuram's army from 1790 to 1792, gives the following details: On their way south the route of the army (Narrative, 52) was marked by ruin and devastation. Every village and town was razed with the ground and the road strewed with bullocks and horses. In ten miles as many destroyed villages were seen without a soul to tell their names. When (Narrative, 141) we consider the ruin spread by such a host of locusts we are inclined to think the curse of God could not have fallen on the Egyptians in a more terrible form. Even after the war was over, on their way north, the Marathas continued (Narrative, 225) to plunder the towns and villages on the line of march. It was more like the beginning of a war than the beginning of a peace. The army suffered frightfully from want of grain and from want of fodder. To escape starvation the English contingent was forced to leave the main army. Before they left rice had risen to three five and six shillings the pound (3, 5, 6 rupee the sher). Scarcely a sound was heard in the once noisy camp. Horses and bullocks were dying everywhere or standing listless and famine stricken with their melancholy masters seated beside them (Narrative, 228, 229, 231).  

The Duke of Wellington (Supplementary Despatches, I. 345) described the Marathas in Maisur and eastern Kanara as a curse to human nature.'

Rice.B.L. (1897) observed that Madhugiri Town, which was besieged for 3 months in 1791 by Maratha Army led by Balavant Rao, had still not recovered from the destruction, over a century later (11). 

The Imperial Gazetteer, volume 7, 1908 records the sacking of Basavapatna by Bhau in 1791. (12)

The British reinstalled the Wodeyar dynasty in Mysore State in 1799. As an ally of the British the Mysore Maharaja provided resources to East India Company to fight the Marathas including the crucial Battle of Assaye where Arthur Wellesley defeated the Maratha Armies which contributed to the end of the Maratha Empire soon. As the British gained upper hand subjugating the native states, a surprise benefit for the ordinary people of these states was the lack of wars. But the same people soon realised that while the British taxed them and provided insulation from outside invasions they also burdened them with the miseries of famines and the mass perishing of men and beasts alike.

Conclusion
Like the Mughals, the expansionist aims of Maratha rulers put them in conflict with the many kingdoms- Hindu as well as Muslim. Peshwa armies displayed their ruthlessness and people who suffered at their hands were often fellow Hindus. Jadunath Sarkar one of India's prominent historian of the early 20th century (1900s) has written extensively on Mughals and Marathas particularly Shivaji and the later Mughals. His has detailed the suffering of ordinary residents- mostly Hindus, in Bengal, Delhi and elsewhere at the hands of the Maratha armies (13). The atrocities of Maratha soldiers in India, particularly in Karnataka (erstwhile Mysore Kingdom) are a largely forgotten chapter. A search of literature by contemporaries of 17th and 18th century Maratha rulers reveals great details of such atrocities in Karnataka, as elsewhere. In the context of ongoing vilification of kings with Muslim names it is important to remember that barbarity of a ruler's sword knew no faith then, as it is today.

Note: This is an ongoing research. I will be updating this page as I lay my hands on more information and analysis. 

References:

1) Imperial Gazetteer, vol.18, 1908.

2) Gazetteer of the Bombay Presidency, vol. XV, Part 2 - Kanara, 1883.

3) Rao, C. Hayavadana., History of Mysore (1399-1799 AD), 1943.

4) Wilks, Mark., ‘Historical Sketches of the South of India’, vol. 1 of 3, 1817. 

5) Miles, W., 'The history of Hydur Naik', Meer Hussein Ali Khan, Kirmani, 1842. 

6) Buchanan, Francis., 'A journey from Madras through the countries of Mysore, Canara, and Malabar', in 3 volumes, 1807.

7) Shastry, A.K., The Records of the Sringeri Dharmasamsthana, Sringeri Matha, Sringeri, 2009.

8) Moor, Edward., 'A narrative of the operations of Captain Little's detachment, and of the Mahratta army, commanded by Purseram Bhow; during the late confederacy in India, against the Nawab Tippoo Sultan Bahadur', J.Johnson, London, 1794.

9) Dirom, Alexander., 'A narrative of the campaign in India, which terminated the war with Tippoo Sultan in 1792', published in 1793.

10) Bowring, Lewin B., 'Eastern Experiences', 1871.


11) Rice, B.L., 'Mysore A Gazetteer compiled for Government', 1897.

12) 'The Imperial Gazetteer of India, Vol 7, Bareilly to Berasia', 1908 (new edition). 

13) Sarkar, Jadunath., Fall of Mughals, vol. 1, 1964.

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ಈ ಬ್ಲಾಗನ್ನು ಕನ್ನಡಲ್ಲಿ ಓದುವುದಕ್ಕಾಗಿ ಇಲ್ಲಿ ಕ್ಲಿಕ್ ಮಾಡಿ

इस ब्लॉग को हिंदी में पड़ने के लिए यहाँ क्लिक करें  
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Hero, Tyrant or just another king? Shivaji's rule in Karnataka

Sexual violence and misdeeds of the Peshwa Maratha soldiers in Karnataka

Koodli massacre- The forgotten brutalities of Maratha Empire in Karnataka

Persecution and massacres of Hindu Lingayats in context of religious conflict based politics

Aurangzeb’s friendly relations with Chikkadevaraja Wodeyar, Mysore Kingdom’s most successful independent Hindu King

The forgotten reservations - How Brahmins survived 18th century wars in Mysore Kingdom

Victims or Perpetrators? - Nayars of Kerala in 18th & 19th century CE

Some British atrocities on civilians of south India during Anglo-Mysore Wars 

How Mysore Kingdom overcame Britain’s industrial revolution inventions

The Srirangapatna uprising of 1857 CE

How Haidar Ali and Tipu Sultan led India's first united front against the East India Company

How America celebrated a warrior from Mysore in 1781 CE 

When America named racehorses after Tipu Sultan and Haidar Ali over 240 years ago

Tipu Sultan’s foreign diplomacy through the letters of Thomas Jefferson

Tipu Sultan and Haidar Ali, an inspiration for America’s founding fathers, revolutionaries and Confederate Congress

Governments' lust for people's gold