Thread by @SadaaShree

Ibrahim Khan Gardi, one of the heroes of Panipat, renowned for his prowess with the artillery, loyal to his master Sadashiv Rao Bhau, fought till the end, refused to surrender to Abdali and was tortured to death.
Thread on a hero whose story needs to be known more.

The Gardis are basically a group of tribes such as Bhils, Vanzaras, Pardhis, Mahadeo Koli, Masan Jogi residing mostly in Marathwada region. They were especially renowned for ther skill in artillery and handling cannons, and they served the Peshwas as their personal guards.

Ibrahim Khan Gardi was initially serving with the Nizam, and had fought against the Marathas during the famous Battle of Palkhed, renowned for his artillery skills on the battlefield.

He was trained by the French General De Bussy, who was in alliance with the Nizam then, making him accquainted with the latest artillery techniques. It was this prowess that impressed the Peshwa Balaji Baji Rao who wanted him in the army.

The Peshwa sent Bhau to negotiate with the Nizam, to get Gardi to join the Maratha army. He agreed to join on the condition that the Marathas would not attack Hyderabad, to which Bhau agreed.

Gardi became the deputy commander in chief, heading a huge battalion of 10,000 men consisting of cavalry, artillery, infantry, archers as well as musketeers. His valour and integrity, made him close to both the Peshwa and Bhau.

When Panipat began, Gardi had suggested using cannons extensively to break down the Afghan frontline, and only then deploy the cavalry. However some of the Maratha generals envious of Gardi’s growing influence with Bhau and the Peshwa, refused to heed the instructions.

Gardi was heading the left most flank of the Maratha army, and Abdali ordered his forces to surround and destroy that part. Bhau ordered two cavalry units under Vitthal Vinchurkar and Damaji Gaikwad to protect the Gardi division.

However their inexperience and overenthusiasm, saw them charging at the Rohillas all by themselves. It was a disastrous tactic, as the cavalry were armed only with swords, making them a fair target for the Rohilla artillery, who easily picked them off.

The Rohillas soon encircled the Gardis, and outflanked the Marathas, while Shah Wali pressed on from the front, as the Gardis fell one by one. Ibrahim Khan Gardi however kept defending resolutely as the combined Afghan-Rohilla attacks failed to dislodge him from his position

It was one of the bloodiest phases of the battle as around 12000 Afghan cavalry and infantry men fell from the cannon fire unleashed by the Gardis.

Even when the news of the Peshwa’s son Vishwas Rao, falling on the battle field, reached Ibrahim Khan, he still kept defending against a much larger Afghan army, till one by one all his soldiers fell, and he was left standing alone.

Some of the Maratha sardars and generals had already fled from Panipat, sensing impending doom, but Ibrahim Khan Gardi, fought resolutely till the end out of sheer loyalty to his master, inflicting heavy losses on the Afghans.

After he was captured Ibrahim Khan was kept in captivity at the tent of the Nawab of Awadh, Shuja-ud-Daulah. Knowing this Abdali demaned Shuja to present Ibrahim to him. Though Shuja was reluctant considering Gardi was wounded badly, he had to agree under pressure.

Soon Gardi was bought before Abdali, who asked him

“Are you the commander of 10 platoons of the Maratha Army?”

“Yes”

“And you served the French before”

“Yes that is why I got the title of Gardi”

“And then you served the Nizam” “Yes”

Ahmed Shah Abdali rebuked Gardi mockingly

“You left the Nizam and joined the Marathas. You served the Kafirs spoke in their language, you should be ashamed of yourself and repent for what you have done”.

To which Ibrahim Khan shot back.

“Shame and repentance what for? Does one feel shame for loving one’s own land? Why should I repent for shedding blood to defend my land Abdali?”

When an infuriated Abdali asked-“Do you know whom you are speaking to?”
Ibrahim replied back.
"Yes I know, what can you do apart from taking my life? And whoever you are, for sure you are not the angel of God."

“It is strange being a Muslim you ruin your life for the Kafirs”

"You do not know a true Muslim Abdali,The one who destroys his land, the one who joins hands with the foreigners seeking to invade the land is not a true Muslim ever"

Abdali threatened him

"“You have sinned Ibrahim siding with the Kafirs against your fellow Muslims, repent else you shall be cut into pieces”.

Ibrahmi calmly retorted

“You can only cut my body into pieces, what else can do you do?"

“I am giving you one last chance, seek repentance and you shall be freed, we will give you a good position in our army”

"If you let me free , I shall return to Pune, and this time come back once again to Panipat to destroy the rest of your army, along with you"

“I am giving you one last chance Ibrahim, repent for your sins”

“A martyr never repents Abdali. You should be the one repenting for killing the defenseless, the wounded and the prisoners”.

And then Ibrahmin Khan Gardi was brutally tortured to death, cutting off his arms and limbs one by one, as he beld to death, but refused to surrender or ask for mercy. Until he finally fell lifeless on the battlefield of Panipat, a hero loyal to his master till the end.

Even after his death, the Gardis kept serving the Peshwas, till the end of their rule in 1818, after which they joined th East India Company, serving as sepoys, musketeers in the Poona Horse, Bombay Sappers and Maratha Light Infantry.

Ibrahim Khan Gardi, fought the Afghans till the end, refused to surrender to Abdali, remained loyal to the Marathas till the end, preferred death to dishonor. A true hero, whose story needs to be known more. #Salute