Sexual violence and misdeeds of the Peshwa Maratha soldiers in Karnataka
Introduction There is a belief in today's mainstream political discourse in India that the Maratha Empire favoured ' Hindu nationalism '. This essay highlights how during their repeated invasions of Karnataka (Mysore Kingdom) in 17th and 18th centuries CE, Maratha soldiers committed sexual violence against Hindu Kannadiga women, after having deliberately destroyed dozens of towns and temples . There was also an instance when the Peshwa Maratha camp purified its entire camp after a member of Maratha Army's Brahmin advisor near had a sexual intercourse with a married Dalit woman near Shivamogga (Shimoga), around Jan. 3, 1792 when the town was captured from Tipu Sultan's army. 'Sketch of the advanced guard of the Mahratta army, coming to join Earl Cornwallis, near Seringapatam 26th May 1791' (1). Source : James Rennell, 1792, Downloaded from the website of Royal Collection Trust on Aug. 25, 2020 Witnessing the Maratha Empire barbarism T