Thread by @Sam_Ey_Am

@RohitKa56644776 These arguments r often used by Maratha revisionists/apologists 2 wash their hands off the blood of people killed/plundered/raped[Esp. Hindu/Brahmin blood]
So here goes
1/n

@RohitKa56644776 "pindaris not marathas"
Facts
1. Pindaris looted towns captured at the orders of their Captains
coz this is how the army n they got their compensation
2. They were part of many campaigns
n caused massacres,looting,destruction 2 property of civilian population
Just way of war then

@RohitKa56644776 3. Knowing the above they were part of Parashuram Bahus contingent
3/n

@RohitKa56644776 "Parshuram bhau (maratha general )dont know pindaries are going to sringeri matt to loot"
4. Pindaris acted on orders of Maratha chieftains. Thinking that a contingent acts without knowledge of their masters is having very low opinion of the Marathas
4/n

@RohitKa56644776 or having very less knowledge of how armies operate
While Marathas fought the wars for empire n glory,they set loose these fringe contingents to loot towns residents
This was just a way of the campaign
5/n

@RohitKa56644776 Theres enough documented information on rich villages that were bullied for ransom and still looted
Simple logic was
Why would the Maratha soldiers attack fortified towns at huge cost of army lives, when they could get easy money by plundering a defenceless towns or temples
6/n

@RohitKa56644776 Shivaji is celebrated as a master guerrilla fighter, but people don’t talk of how the resources and expenses of this guerrilla warfare is managed. Its isn’t like Shivaji sang patriotic songs and village mothers just donated their pittance gold.
7/n

@RohitKa56644776 Just like plunder of Bengal, Shivaji plundered Karnataka towns and trading centres in 1660s and 1670s. Same was followed by later Peshwas, preceding the Sringeri incident the Maratha wars plundered the prosperous Mysore Kingdom.
8/n

@RohitKa56644776 Finally
"After he khow what pindaries are done . Parshuram bhau punished pindaries for their deed"
Absolutely false
9/n

@RohitKa56644776 The swamy of the Mutt writes to Peshwa chief of Maratha empire
Its only after the Peshwa command that Bahu returns the loot
Any other punishment to Pindaris is mere conjecture
Pindaris continue to be part of Maratha forces and continue same actions even after
10/n

@RohitKa56644776 Maratha armies were known for their indiscipline and excessive plundering of enemy territory
Sringeri isnt an isolated incident
They ransack Kudli Mutt and massacre all non-Brahmins
Kudli Swamy threatens 2 expel Bhau from Smarata sect of Brahmins
11/n

@RohitKa56644776 ...then Bhau donates a rupee 2 Brahmins of the Mutt n compensates Swamy with 4 lakh rupees
Sringeri was not the first temple town to be destroyed by the Maratha soldiers, nor the last
Temples at Melukote town were burnt in 1772 by Peshwa Madhava Raos men led by Triumbak Mama
12/n

@RohitKa56644776 Temple town of Devarayandurga was looted n burnt just a month or two after the Sringeri attack, so was Kudli Mutt mentioned above a few months later
13/n

@RohitKa56644776 Maratha soldiers looted grains and commodities after they lay waste of many towns from Dharwar to Srirangapatna during their march.
And sell them to [surprise surprise] Cornwallis army
14/n

@RohitKa56644776 What people miss is that this is only logical
Armies don’t march out of Pune equipped with all facilities for a long conquest across the Deccan to Mysore, they replenish n get paid as they go
However the Maratha apologists like history cleaned up, n Shivaji in a silk kurtha
n/n