What NCERT history textbooks get right about Marathas
The recent debate surrounding the NCERT revision of the Class VIII textbook Exploring Society: India and Beyond is suggestive of what can be called 'decentralisation of history'. It is the consequence of the rise of regional histories and scholars in academia. In the recent past, most of the textbooks jumped from the Mughal Empire to the British Raj. The long transition in the 18th century that led to the capture of political power by the British was mostly omitted. This subsequently led to the erasure of the story of resistance put up by various native/regional powers against the British. There were three Anglo-Maratha wars, four Anglo-Mysore wars, and two Anglo-Sikh wars, indicating that these powers vehemently resisted British power.
The revised NCERT intends to give a more holistic picture of medieval and early modern history, giving space to marginalised regional kingdoms such as the Ahoms and Gonds. Until recently, Medieval India was Mughal India. These new changes and debates open new dimensions of looking at historical events.
Here, I focus on the changes in the NCERT syllabus vis-à-vis the Marathas. Why do they matter? Were they the sturdiest contenders who fought the British? Did the British in effect take India from the Marathas more than from the Mughals or any other power?
Going through the new NCERT chapter on the Marathas, we see a resemblance with the Tamil Nadu History textbook of Class XI. There is a separate chapter on Marathas, and importance has been given to a ruler not heard enough of: Serfoji II. Marathas established their rule in Thanjavur after defeating the Nayak rulers of Madurai. This branch of the Marathas is popularly known as Tanjore Marathas. Serfoji II became the ruler of this kingdom in 1787. He was taught by a German missionary and mastered several European languages. He established a printing press. Serfoji's most striking initiative was the founding and management of free elementary and secondary schools for orphans and the poor in Thanjavur city. He also established Dhanvantari Mahal, a research institution that produced herbal medicine for both humans and animals.
Valiant women leaders like Tarabai and Ahilyabai Holkar have also been mentioned in the new NCERT book. This is no coincidence but corroboration of the importance of Maratha history in Indian historical discourse.
The second Anglo-Maratha War (1803-1805) is specifically important as it finally paved the way for the British to enter the coastal region. It was even more important because the British were successful in taking over Delhi, the symbolic seat of imperial power. Randolf Cooper, in his book The Anglo-Maratha Campaigns and the Contest for India, explicitly mentions that 'the Marathas were the last indigenous South Asian power that was militarily capable of not only halting but also rolling back the consolidation process that ultimately produced the British Raj.' These wars further suggested that the organisational capabilities of the Maratha armies were not inferior to the British.
Shivaji's army had a cosmopolitan character. He hired the Portuguese into his navy. Muslims were part of his naval armada. The Maratha armies in the 18th century were quite secular and included Hindus from every caste. The emergence of Maratha sardars such as Scindias and Holkars in north Indian politics in the 18th century alludes to their growing power. The history of the Marathas matters not just because of their victories, but also the socio-cultural setup they put in place. The Marathas were the most socially inclusive power, where a slipper bearer (Shinde) could go on to become a ruler. Amar Farooqui, in his work Sindias and the Raj, explains that Mahadji Shinde initiated a major overhaul of his military in the last quarter of the 18th century because of the possibility of an all-out war with the British.
The Mughals had put up a cloak of royalty and made desperate efforts to keep up appearances. The Mughal emperor faced defeat in the battle of Buxar. He lived in Allahabad for 12 years and only returned to Delhi on the promise of Maratha assistance (Mahadji Scindia and Tukoji Holkar). However, soon Ghulam Kadir, the Rohilla chief, wreaked vengeance on the Mughal emperor. Timely Maratha intervention saved the emperor and Delhi from more atrocities. The Mughal emperor could rule under the protection of the Marathas.
William Dalrymple, in his book The Anarchy: The relentless rise of the East India Company, rightly asserts that the Battle of Delhi (also known as the Battle of Patparganj) in 1803, a part of the Anglo-Maratha campaign, decided the future fate of India. The last power that could have ousted the Company had been humbled. One of the company officials, Thomas Munro, realised it with clarity and exclaimed, 'We are now complete masters of India'.
The writer teaches History at Shaheed Bhagat Singh College, University of Delhi
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