# Capture of Delhi (1788)

The Battle of Delhi took place in 1788 between Ghulam Qadir Rohilla supported by Mirza Ismail Beg and Marathas under Mahadji Shinde who was asked by Shah Alam II to execute Ghulam Kadir. In which Mahadji Shinde becomes successful and executes Kadir.

## Background

In 1788, Ghulam Kadir, along with Mirza, initiated a campaign with the aim of capturing Delhi, the capital of the Mughal Empire. Their objective was to seize control and establish their dominance in the region. However, internal disputes within the Mughal Empire hindered Mahadji's ability to send troops to defend Delhi.
Despite Mahadji's awareness of the impending threat, he was unable to mobilize his forces effectively due to ongoing internal conflicts. As a result, on July 18, 1788, Ghulam Kadir and his forces successfully captured Delhi. Upon seizing control of the city, Ghulam Kadir took drastic measures to solidify his power. He forcefully removed Shah Alam, the Mughal emperor, from his throne and subjected him to the cruel act of blinding. The atrocities committed by Ghulam Kadir extended beyond the ruling elite; innocent civilians, including infants and helpless women, were subjected to starvation and deprivation. Tragically, the violence escalated as Ghulam Kadir's forces unleashed terror upon the city. Numerous men fell victim to indiscriminate killings, while princesses were subjected to heinous acts of rape. The capture of Delhi in 1788 marked a dark chapter in the history of the Mughal Empire, characterized by widespread suffering and barbarity inflicted upon its inhabitants.
A letter was sent by Sadashiv Dinkar to Nana mentioning this events who immediately reported this to Mahadji ( on September 1788). He became furious when learnt about the deeds of Ghulam, he immediately marched towards Delhi in order to teach Ghulam a lesson.

## Capture of Delhi

In October, Mahadji, accompanied by Rane Khan Bhai and Jiwabadada Baxi, arrived in Delhi. On October 2nd, the combined forces of Rana Khan and Jiwabadada defeated Ghulam and Ismail Beg, leading to the capture of Delhi. They proceeded to lay siege to the Agra fort, which they also captured, and reinstated a blinded Shah Alam to his throne. While Ismail Beg surrendered, Ghulam Kadir fled the area. Rana Khan, Raji Patil, Devji Gawli, and Baghirathrao Shinde were then sent to persuade Ghulam Kadir, eventually capturing the Aligarh fort. Ghulam Kadir subsequently fled.

## Battle of Meerut

After the Marathas had liberated Delhi, a hunt for Ghulam Kadir was mounted by the Marathas. Ghulam Kadir fled to Meerut, which in turn was encircled by the Marathas. After the conditions there had become intolerable, he managed to break the encirclement during the night with 500 horsemen and tried to escape to Ghausgarh. But during the engagement of his horsemen by a Maratha patrol, he lost sight of his entourage. Then his horse stumbled and broke its leg and he had to continue his escape alone and on foot. He reached Bamnauli (Uttar Pradesh), where he sought refuge in a house of a Brahmin and offered him a reward for a horse and a guide, who could lead him to Ghausgarh. But the Brahmin recognized him and alerted a party of Marathas, who captured him on 18 December or 19 December 1788.

## Execution of Ghulam Kadir

Ghulam Kadir remained in Maratha custody for some time but was initially unharmed. On 28 February 1789, Shinde received a letter from Shah Alam II demanding the eyes of Ghulam Kadir as the Shah would otherwise retire to Mecca and live as a beggar. Mahadji then ordered the removal of his eyes, nose, tongue, lips, and upper limbs, which were sent to Shah Alam in a casket. After this was done, his hands, feet, and genitals were cut off, and on 3 March 1789, he was hanged from a tree and beheaded at Mathura.

## Aftermath

Following Ghulam Kadir's execution in 1789 at Mahadji Shinde's camp, Shah Alam thanked Mahadji for administering what he deemed as appropriate punishment. This acknowledgment led to significant rewards for Mahadji, including the administration of Hindu pilgrimage sites like Vrindavan and Mathura. Shah Alam also issued a royal decree banning cow slaughter, reflecting his efforts to respect Hindu sentiments. Additionally, due to the Emperor's blindness, Mahadji was effectively made the de facto ruler of Delhi, solidifying his political authority. These events illustrate the complex interplay of politics and religion during late 18th-century India.