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{{Infobox military person
| name = Bhaskar Ram Kolhatkar or Bhaskar Pant/ Bhaskar Pandit
| native_name =
| native_name_lang = भास्कर राम कोल्हटकर/भास्कर पंत
| image =
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption =
| birth_date =
| death_date = March 30, 1744
| birth_place = [[Maratha Empire]]
| death_place = [[Bengal Subah]]
| birth_name =
| allegiance = [[Nagpur Kingdom]]
| serviceyears = 18th century
| commands = ''[[Dewan]]'' of [[Raghoji I Bhonsle|Raghuji Bhonsle]]. Commander of [[Bhonsles of Nagpur|Nagpur Maratha]] army.
| battles = [[Maratha invasions of Bengal]]<br>Maratha conquest of [[Chhattisgarh]]<br>[[Siege of Ratanpur]]<br>[[First Battle of Katwa]]
| battles_label =
| spouse =
| relations = *Narayan Ramaji (father)
*Kanber Ram (brother)
}}'''Bhaskar Ram Kolhatkar''', known as '''Doshyu (Dacoit) Bhaskar Pandit''' by the [[Bengal Subah|people of Bengal]], was a Maratha general and statesman. He was the ''[[dewan]]'' (revenue minister)<ref name="journal 2">{{cite book |last1=Alka |first1=Grover B. L. & Mehta |title=A New Look at Modern Indian History (From 1707 to The Modern Times), 32e |date=2018 |publisher=S. Chand Publishing |isbn=978-93-5253-434-0 |url=https://www.google.co.in/books/edition/A_New_Look_at_Modern_Indian_History_From/bkRxDwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Bhaskar+Pant&pg=PA28&printsec=frontcover |language=en}}</ref> of the [[Nagpur Kingdom|''raja'' of Nagpur]], [[Raghoji I Bhonsle|Raghuji Bhonsle]].<ref name="india">{{cite book |last1=Wheeler |first1=James Talboys |title=The History of India from the Earliest Ages: pt. I. Mussulman rule. pt.II. Mogul empire. Aurangzeb |date=1881 |publisher=N. Trübner |url=https://www.google.co.in/books/edition/The_History_of_India_from_the_Earliest_A/BpQboYaGnuwC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Bhaskar+Pant&pg=PA544&printsec=frontcover |language=en}}</ref><ref name="journal">{{cite book |title=Journal of Historical Research |date=2003 |publisher=Department of History, Ranchi University. |url=https://www.google.co.in/books/edition/Journal_of_Historical_Research/UBBDAAAAYAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=Pandit+Bhaskar+Ram+Kolhatkar&dq=Pandit+Bhaskar+Ram+Kolhatkar&printsec=frontcover |language=en}}</ref> He played an important role in the [[Nagpur Kingdom|kingdom of Nagpur]]'s expansion. The [[Maratha invasions of Bengal|first Maratha invasion of Bengal]] in 1741, as also the third in 1744, was led by him.<ref name="india"/><ref name="journal"/> He was an able military leader, proven by his success in the [[Maratha invasions of Bengal]] and conquest of [[Chhattisgarh]].<ref name="sarkar"/><ref name="chandrapur"/> He was killed by [[Alivardi Khan]] on March 30, 1744.<ref name="culture">{{cite book |title=The History and Culture of the Indian People |date=1951 |publisher=G. Allen & Unwin |url=https://www.google.co.in/books/edition/The_History_and_Culture_of_the_Indian_Pe/zQ9uAAAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=Bhaskar+Ram+Kolhatkar&dq=Bhaskar+Ram+Kolhatkar&printsec=frontcover |language=en}}</ref><ref name="india">{{cite book |last1=Wheeler |first1=James Talboys |title=The History of India from the Earliest Ages: pt. I. Mussulman rule. pt.II. Mogul empire. Aurangzeb |date=1881 |publisher=N. Trübner |url=https://www.google.co.in/books/edition/The_History_of_India_from_the_Earliest_A/BpQboYaGnuwC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Bhaskar+Pant&pg=PA544&printsec=frontcover |language=en}}</ref>

==Early life==
Bhaskar Ram was born to one Narayan Ramaji and his brother was Kanber Ram.<ref name="orissa">{{cite book |title=History Of Orissa Vol Ii |date=1931 |url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.81347/page/n145/mode/2up?q=Bhaskar+Ram+Kolhatkar&view=theater}}</ref>

==Career==
===Invasion of Bengal===
{{Main|Maratha invasions of Bengal}}
[[Raghoji I Bhonsle|Raghuji Bhonsle]] sent him with a strong force to [[Bengal Subah|Bengal]] to collect ''[[chauth]]'' (tribute) from the [[Nawabs of Bengal and Murshidabad|Nawab of Bengal]] for the first time in 1741, and for the second time in 1744.<ref name="sehgal">{{cite book |last1=Sehgal |first1=Prabha |title=Political History of Modern and Medieval India in the 18th Century: A Study of Inter-state Relations, Wars and Diplomacy |date=1992 |publisher=Sanjay Prakashan |url=https://www.google.co.in/books/edition/Political_History_of_Modern_and_Medieval/rD9uAAAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=Bhaskar+Ram+Kolhatkar&dq=Bhaskar+Ram+Kolhatkar&printsec=frontcover |language=en}}</ref><ref name="chandrapur">{{cite book |title=Maharashtra State Gazetteers: Chandrapur |date=1974 |publisher=Directorate of Government Print., Stationery and Publications, Maharashtra State |url=https://www.google.co.in/books/edition/Maharashtra_State_Gazetteers_Chandrapur/EWVDAAAAYAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=Bhaskar+Ram+Kolhatkar&dq=Bhaskar+Ram+Kolhatkar&printsec=frontcover |language=en}}</ref><ref name="journal"/><ref name="india"/> By 1742, he bought [[Orissa]] under his control with the help of Mir Habib, formerly in the service of [[Alivardi Khan]], and captured the neighborhood of [[Kolkata|Calcutta]] and [[Chinsurah|Hughli]].<ref name="sarkar">{{cite book |last1=Sarkar |first1=Sir Jadunath |title=Sir Jadunath Sarkar Commemoration Volumes: Life or letters of Sir Jadunath Sarkar |date=1957 |publisher=Department of History, Panjab University |url=https://www.google.co.in/books/edition/Sir_Jadunath_Sarkar_Commemoration_Volume/FFzRAAAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=Bhaskar+Ram+Kolhatkar&dq=Bhaskar+Ram+Kolhatkar&printsec=frontcover |language=en}}</ref>

===Conquest of Chhattisgarh===
{{Main|Siege of Ratanpur}}
The [[Bhonsles of Nagpur|Bhonsle Maratha armies]] passed through [[Chhattisgarh]] on their way to invade the Odia kingdoms in eastern India. Bhaskar Pant invaded the [[Haihaiyavanshi Kingdom]] at the close of 1740. According to Sir Charles Grant, his army is said to have consisted of 40,000 men, chiefly horse. The branch Haihaiyavanshi ruler of [[Raipur]], Amar Singh, did not oppose him. However, the Haihaiyavanshi ruler of [[Ratanpur, Chhattisgarh|Ratanpur]], Raghunath Singh offered resistance by shutting himself in his fort. According to Sir Charles Grant, Raghunath Singh was bowed down with a heavy sorrow, which was the loss of his only son. He refused to take any interest in the government for nearly a year. At best, he was a feeble man, but now worn out with years and afflicted in mind. The ''raja'' made no effort to defend his kingdom and waited till Bhaskar Pant reached his capital. Even then, there was no resistance from the defenders. Bhaskar Pant bought his guns to play on the fort, and soon a part of the palace was in ruins. At this point, one of the ''[[Rana (title)|Ranis]]'' (queen) named Laxmi hoisted a white flag on the ramparts of the fort. The gates for opened, and the invading Marathas entered the fort and looted the city.<ref name="central"/><ref name="africa and asia">{{cite book |title=Estudios de Asia y Africa |date=2002 |publisher=El Colegio de México. |url=https://www.google.co.in/books/edition/Estudios_de_Asia_y_Africa/6_i5AAAAIAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=Haihayavanshi+Kingdom&dq=Haihayavanshi+Kingdom&printsec=frontcover |language=es}}</ref><ref name="bilaspur">{{cite book |last1=Khan |first1=Zakiya Tasneem |title=Bilaspur: A Study in Urban Geography |date=1994 |publisher=Northern Book Centre |isbn=978-81-7211-049-9 |url=https://www.google.co.in/books/edition/Bilaspur/zNf01j_2knsC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Bhaskar+Pant&pg=PA14&printsec=frontcover |language=en}}</ref>

A fine of one lakh rupees was imposed on the town and all the wealth that remained in the treasury was seized. Then the country was pillaged in all directions by the Maratha army. However, Raghunath Singh was not harmed in any manner and allowed to rule at [[Ratanpur, Chhattisgarh|Ratanpur]] under the suzerainty of the Marathas. Having crushed the Haihaiyavanshi king, the nominal overlord of the many petty chieftains and surrounding states, the Marathas demanded that the petty rulers submit to them, and the rulers did.<ref name="central">{{cite book |last1=Grant |first1=Charles |title=The Gazetteer of the Central Provinces of India |date=1870 |publisher=Education Society's Press |url=https://www.google.co.in/books/edition/The_Gazetteer_of_the_Central_Provinces_o/PbcBAAAAYAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Bhaskar+Pant&pg=PA94&printsec=frontcover |language=en}}</ref>

[[Raigarh]] fell to the Bhonsles in 1741, and by 1742 Maratha control over the kingdom was firmly established.<ref name="past">{{cite book |last1=Dube |first1=Saurabh |title=Untouchable Pasts: Religion, Identity, and Power Among a Central Indian Community, 1780-1950 |date=19 March 1998 |publisher=SUNY Press |isbn=978-0-7914-3688-2 |url=https://www.google.co.in/books/edition/Untouchable_Pasts/jl-dIbI5kKwC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Haihayavanshi+Kingdom&pg=PA27&printsec=frontcover |language=en}}</ref>

==Assassination==
[[Alivardi Khan]] invited Bhaskar and other Maratha leaders to entertainment at Mankara, near [[Katwa]]<ref name="katwa">{{cite book |title=New History Of The Marathas Vol-ii 1707-1772 (1948) |date=1948 |publisher=B. G. Dhawale, Bombay |url=https://archive.org/details/dli.ernet.236031/page/205/mode/2up?q=Bhaskar+Ram+Kolhatkar&view=theater}}</ref> in a large tent.<ref name="journal 2"/> They were not aware of the assassins in the shadows, whom Alivardi Khan had employed. The assassins rushed out and killed all of the 21<ref name="katwa"/> Maratha leaders. The head of Bhaskar Pant was bought before Alivardi Khan.<ref name="culture">{{cite book |title=The History and Culture of the Indian People |date=1951 |publisher=G. Allen & Unwin |url=https://www.google.co.in/books/edition/The_History_and_Culture_of_the_Indian_Pe/zQ9uAAAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=Bhaskar+Ram+Kolhatkar&dq=Bhaskar+Ram+Kolhatkar&printsec=frontcover |language=en}}</ref><ref name="india">{{cite book |last1=Wheeler |first1=James Talboys |title=The History of India from the Earliest Ages: pt. I. Mussulman rule. pt.II. Mogul empire. Aurangzeb |date=1881 |publisher=N. Trübner |url=https://www.google.co.in/books/edition/The_History_of_India_from_the_Earliest_A/BpQboYaGnuwC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Bhaskar+Pant&pg=PA544&printsec=frontcover |language=en}}</ref> This turn of events enraged [[Raghoji I Bhonsle|Raghuji]] and he conducted brutal annual raids into Bengal, until 1751.<ref name="ias">{{cite book |last1=Kumar |first1=Praveen |title=Complete Indian History for IAS Exam: Highly Recommended for IAS, PCS and other Competitive Exam |publisher=Educreation Publishing |url=https://www.google.co.in/books/edition/Complete_Indian_History_for_IAS_Exam/SLw6DwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Bhaskar+Pant&pg=PA279&printsec=frontcover |language=en}}</ref><ref name="modern">{{cite book |last1=Alka |first1=Grover B. L. & Mehta |title=A New Look at Modern Indian History (From 1707 to The Modern Times), 32e |date=2018 |publisher=S. Chand Publishing |isbn=978-93-5253-434-0 |url=https://www.google.co.in/books/edition/A_New_Look_at_Modern_Indian_History_From/bkRxDwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Bhaskar+Pant&pg=PA28&printsec=frontcover |language=en}}</ref>

The [[Bargi]] dacoits led by Bhaskar Pant into Bengal caused so much destruction that lullabies were composed in which mothers would use the fear of a Maratha raid to get their children to go to sleep. These poems are popular amongst Bengalis even today, one traditional song translated is as follows-

When the children fall asleep, silence sets in, the Bargis come to our lands
Bulbuls have eaten the grains, how shall I pay the nawabs tax demands?<ref name=":0">{{cite book|last=Ahmed|first=Wakil|title=Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh|publisher=[[Asiatic Society of Bangladesh]]|year=2012|editor1-last=Islam|editor1-first=Sirajul|editor1-link=Sirajul Islam|edition=Second|chapter=Folk Literature|editor2-last=Jamal|editor2-first=Ahmed A.|chapter-url=http://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Folk_Literature}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=The story behind the lullaby: Maratha invasions in Bengal |date=7 June 2020 |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/readersblog/picknpolitics/the-story-behind-the-lullaby-maratha-invasions-in-bengal-21157/ |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Daniyal |first1=Shoaib |title=Forgotten Indian history: The brutal Maratha invasions of Bengal |url=https://scroll.in/article/776978/forgotten-indian-history-the-brutal-maratha-invasions-of-bengal |website=Scroll.in}}</ref>

==Further reading==
*{{cite book |last1=Wheeler |first1=James Talboys |title=The History of India from the Earliest Ages: pt. I. Mussulman rule. pt.II. Mogul empire. Aurangzeb |date=1881 |publisher=N. Trübner |url=https://www.google.co.in/books/edition/The_History_of_India_from_the_Earliest_A/BpQboYaGnuwC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Bhaskar+Pant&pg=PA544&printsec=frontcover |language=en}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}
[[Category:Warriors of the Maratha Empire]]

[[Category:History of Nagpur]]

[[Category:18th-century Indian people]]

Bhaskar Ram Kolhatkar - Revision history

Bot at 19:08, 17 December 2022