Author: Colonel Anil Athale (retired)
Publication: Rediff on Net
Date: February 14, 2003
URL: http://www.rediff.com/news/2003/feb/14spec.htm
Maratha history seems all set to
go international as newspapers dated February 6 reported the launch of
a film project on the battle of Wadgaon, which took place between the English
and the Marathas in 1778-79.
In this classic battle, Maratha
general Mahadji Shinde lured the English up the Khandala ghats. Once he
trapped them in a country suitable for cavalry operations, his horsemen
harassed the English from all sides, attacked their supply base in Khopoli
and followed a scorched earth policy. Until, on the night of January 13-14,
the demoralised English began to retreat from Talegaon. The alert Marathas,
however, launched a fierce attack, forcing the English to withdraw to the
village of Wadgaon. Here, surrounded on all sides and starved for water
and food, the English finally surrendered to Mahadji Shinde. It was a defeat
such as never suffered by the British in India.
Unfortunately, the Marathas, in
a spirit of chivalry, let the English off the hook and permitted them to
retreat to Bombay (now, Mumbai) to fight another day. The episode was reminiscent
of Prithviraj Chauhan releasing the defeated Mohammed Ghori after the battle
of Thaneshwar.
Towards the early 20th century,
as there appeared the first stirrings of resistance in Maharashtra, the
colonial rulers saw the symbolic value of Wadgaon as a rallying point for
both Maratha pride and Indian nationalism and hastened to nullify it.
Lieutenant Stewart, who commanded
the advance English guard and was killed by the Marathas in the first week
of January while on a reconnaissance mission near Karla, was hailed by
the British as the 'hero' of the battle of Wadgaon. The actual battle occurred
nearly a fortnight after his death. History books in Maharashtra spoke
of Ishtur Fakda (Brave Stewart) and his (non-existent) heroics. A grave
in Wadgaon was identified as that of Stewart's and an annual fair begun
in his honour.
The memory of England's shameful
defeat was cleverly obliterated and replaced by the myth of a brave Englishman
who single-handedly fought hordes of natives.
Till recently, there was no monument
to celebrate either the Marathas' spectacular victory or General Mahadji
Shinde. Then, about seven years ago, a group of historians and public-spirited
citizens -- including industrialist Arun Firodia (CEO, Kinetic Engineering)
-- came together and erected a deepmala (a typical Maharashtrian tower
found in many local temples) to honour the victorious Marathas.
The main aim behind this effort
was to remind every Indian that even in this era of globalisation we are
second to none. It is a reminder of how Shinde's leadership and the military
skill displayed by the Marathas were world-class. But such is the apathy
of the concerned bureaucrats and politicians that Mahadji Shinde's statue,
which has been ready for two years, still awaits permission to be installed.
When this group learnt that an international
filmmaker -- Roland Joffe of City of Joy and Killing Fields fame -- had
been inspired to recreate the battle of Wadgaon on celluloid, they were
thrilled.
Unfortunately, from all indications
thus far, the film, which has been titled Invaders, is not about the Marathas.
Nor is it about the perfidy of the English. Instead, the film focuses on
the brave and dashing Lieutenant Stewart.
There is enough evidence of the
mythical nature of the legend of Ishtur Fakda. Even a blatantly pro-English
account of the Indian army like that by Philip Mason (A Matter of Honour
-- An Account of the Indian Army, its Officers and Men, Penguin Books,
1976, page 127) does not find any mention of Lieutenant Stewart in context
of the Wadgaon battle. Nor does A J Fortescue mention him in his authoritative
work on the history of the British army (A History of the British Army,
Vol III, Macmillan & Co, London, 1902). On the other hand, James Douglas
says in Bombay & Western India Vol II (Marston & Co, London, 1893,
page 445) that if the Marathas would have been as ruthless as Napoleon,
'not one man would have escaped from Wadgaon and the history of the East
would have changed!' Again, there is no mention of Stewart!
Why then is this obvious effort
being made to perpetuate the myth of the brave European and the 'honourable'
natives who not only respect but actually venerate a dead enemy?
With a budget of $40 million, Joffe
is bound to find many collaborators amongst Indians. As far as the denizens
of Bollywood are concerned, the less said the better. If some of them can
succumb to one phone call from Dubai, it is too much to expect them to
have any spirit of nationalism. And if he needs the help of someone from
Maharashtra to demolish Maratha pride... no problem! After all, it was
Balaji Natu who hoisted the Union Jack over Shaniwarwada, the seat of Maratha
power, on November 17, 1817.
Joffe, of course, will claim cinematic
licence. What is not clear is why the Government of India -- which claims
it is keen to restore the truth to history -- cannot at least ban him from
filming in India and subsequently ban the film from being imported into
the country!
