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{{Short description|Maharaja of Gwalior (c 1730–1794)}}
{{More citations needed|date=April 2016}}
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2014}}
{{Infobox royalty
| name = Mahadji Shinde
| title = Meherban Shrimant [[Sardar]] [[Shinde]] [[Baghatur#List_of_individuals_with_this_title|Bahadur]]<br/> Naib Vakil-i-Mutlaq<br />[[Amir]]-ul-Umara<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=sxhAtCflwOMC&pg=PA334 Page 334], A Comprehensive History of Medieval India: Twelfth to the Mid-Eighteenth Century, By Salma Ahmed Farooqui, Publisher: Pearson Education India, 2011, {{ISBN|8131732029}}</ref>
| image = Portrait of Mahadaji Scindia.jpg
| caption = ''Mahadaji Shinde'' by James Wales
| succession = [[File:Flag of the Maratha Empire.svg|border|33x30px]] [[Maratha Empire|Maratha General]]
| reign = 18 January 1768 — 12 February 1794
| coronation = 18 January 1768
| predecessor = [[Manaji Rao Scindia|Manaji Rao Shinde]]
| successor = [[Daulat Rao Scindia|Daulat Rao Shinde]]
| birth_date = {{circa|1730}}
| death_date = 12 February 1794 (aged 64)
| death_place = [[Shinde Chhatri|Wanawadi]], [[Pune]], [[Maratha Empire]] (present-day [[Maharashtra]], [[India]])
| spouse = 9 wives{{plain list|
* Annapurnabai (from Nimbalkar family of Beed)
* Bhavanibai (from Ghatage family)
* Parvatibai (Sister of Narsing Ghatage)
*Bhavanibai (from Mhaske-Deshmukh family of Sangamner)
*Gangabai (from Palavekar family)
*Radhabai (from Padamsinh Raul family)
*Bhagirathibai (from Kardekar family)
* Yamunabai (from Ramling Raul family)
* Lakshmibai (from Bhope-Kadam family of Tuljapur, Osmanabad)}}
| issue = Bala Bai<br />Chimna Bai
| full name = Shrimant Madho (Madhoji) Rao Shinde
| house = [[Scindia|Shinde]]
| father = [[Ranoji Rao Scindia|Ranoji Rao Shinde]]
| mother = Chima Bai
| religion = [[Hinduism]]
| image_size = 200px
}}
'''Mahadaji Shinde''' (b. 23 December 1730 – 12 February 1794), later known as '''Mahadji Scindia''' or '''Madhava Rao Sindhia''',<ref>The title of his 1905 biography in the [[Rulers of India series]] - [[s:Index:Mádhava Ráo Sindhia and the Hindu Reconquest of India.djvu|Wikisource transcription project]]</ref> was a [[Maratha]] statesman and ruler of [[Ujjain]] in [[Central India]]. He was the fifth and the youngest son of [[Ranoji Rao Scindia]], the founder of the [[Scindia|Scindia dynasty]].

==The Maratha Resurrection in North India==
Mahadaji was instrumental in resurrecting Maratha power in North India after the [[Third Battle of Panipat]] in 1761, and rose to become a trusted lieutenant of the [[Peshwa]], leader of the [[Maratha Empire]]. Along with [[Madhavrao I]] and [[Nana Fadnavis]], he was one of the three pillars of [[Maratha Resurrection]]. During his reign, Gwalior became the leading state in the [[Maratha Empire]] and one of the foremost military powers in India. After accompanying [[Shah Alam II]] to [[Delhi]] in 1771, he restored the [[Mughal Empire|Mughals]] in Delhi and became the Naib Vakil-i-Mutlaq'' (Deputy Regent of the Empire).<ref>Vakil-i-Mutlaq'' (Regent of the Empire)'''</ref> Mahadji Shinde's principal advisors were all Shenvis.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uPq640stHJ0C&q=1771+scindia&pg=PA8 |title=The Great Maratha Mahadaji Shinde - N. G. Rathod - Google Books |access-date=2012-07-21|isbn=9788185431529 |year=1994 |last1=Rathod |first1=N. G. }}</ref>

He annihilated the power of Jats of Mathura and during 1772-73 he destroyed the power of [[Pashtuns|Pashtun]] [[Rohillas]] in [[Rohilkhand]] and captured [[Najibabad]]. His role during the [[First Anglo-Maratha War]] was greatest from the Maratha side since he defeated the British in the [[Battle of Wadgaon]] which resulted in the Treaty of Wadgaon<ref>{{cite news |last= Athale|first= Colonel Anil A|date=12 January 2018|title=How a Maratha general defeated the British|url=https://www.rediff.com/news/column/how-a-maratha-general-defeated-the-british/20180112.htm|newspaper=Rediff News}}</ref> and then again in Central India, single handed, which resulted in the [[Treaty of Salbai]] in 1782, where he mediated between the [[Peshwa]] and the [[East India Company|British]].

In 1787, Mahadji attempted to invade [[Rajputana]] but he was repulsed by the [[Rajput]] armies at [[Battle of Lalsot|Lalsot]]. However, he regrouped he forces and in 1790, he defeated the Rajput kingdoms of [[Jodhpur]] and [[Jaipur]] in the battles of [[Battle of Patan|Patan]] and [[Battle of Merta|Merta]], thus capturing all of Rajputana.

==Treaty of Salbai==
{{main|Treaty of Salbai}}
[[File:Mahadaji Sindhia entertaining a British naval officer and military officer with a nautch (2nd version).jpg|thumb|250px|Mahadaji Scindia entertaining British officers with a [[nautch]]]]

After the British defeat, [[Warren Hastings|Hastings]] through Murre proposed a new treaty, known as the [[Treaty of Salbai]], between the Peshwa and the British that would recognize [[Sawai Madhavrao]] as the Peshwa and grant [[Raghunath Rao]] a pension. The treaty also returned to Shinde all his territories west of the Yamuna and so was made to withdraw to Ujjain. A resident, Mr. David Anderson (1750-1825), of St. Germains<ref>Burkes Landed Gentry: Anderson of Northfield</ref> (who had negotiated the treaty) was at the same time appointed to Mahadji's court.

After the [[Treaty of Salbai]] in 1782, he invaded and overpowered the [[Rajput states]], particularly [[Jodhpur State|Jodhpur]] and [[Jaipur State|Jaipur]] through the [[Battle of Patan]] and the [[Battle of Merta]].<ref name="Books.google.co.in">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=D_v3Y7hns8QC&q=mahadji+sindhia+punjab&pg=PA13 |title=History Of The Marathas - R.S. Chaurasia - Google Books |access-date=2012-05-26|isbn=9788126903948 |year=2004 |last1=Chaurasia |first1=R. S. }}</ref>

==Later years==
Mahadji became ''Naib Vakil-i-Mutlaq'' (Deputy Regent of the empire) of Mughal affairs, and the Mughals also gave him the title of ''[[Amir-ul-Umara]]'' (head of the amirs) in 1784.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sxhAtCflwOMC&q=daulatrao+scindia+punjab&pg=PA334 |title=A Comprehensive History of Medieval India: From Twelfth to the Mid ... - Farooqui Salma Ahmed, Salma Ahmed Farooqui - Google Books |access-date=2012-07-21|isbn=9788131732021 |year=2011 |last1=Ahmed |first1=Farooqui Salma }}</ref>

In 1788, [[Isma'il Beg]], a [[Persians|Persian]] who served as a general in the Mughal army along with a few hundred Mughal and Rohilla troops led a revolt against the Maratha Empire, the major power which dominated North India at the time. The reason for this revolt is unknown but most suspect that he was trying to bring the Mughals glory back to North India and depose the Marathas. However the revolt was crushed when Ismail Beg along with his soldiers was destroyed and killed by Mahadji Scindia's armies. After his death, a Rohilla chief named [[Ghulam Kadir]] and an ally of Isma'il Beg, took over Delhi, capital of the Mughal dynasty and deposed and blinded the Mughal emperor [[Shah Alam II]], placing a puppet on the Delhi throne. However on 2 October 1788, Mahadji Scindia, upon hearing this news, quickly assembled his army and recaptured Delhi, killing Ghulam Kadir and restoring Shah Alam II to the throne and acting as his protector.{{Sfn|Sarkar|1952|p=323}}{{Sfn|Malik|1982|p=565}}{{Sfn|Sarkar|1952|pp=329–330}}

He remained loyal to the English during the revolt of 1781 and played an important role in capturing Maharaja Chait Singh of Benares and crushing the revolt <ref>{{Cite book |last=Sampurnanand |first=Dr |title=चेतसिंह और काशी निवासियों का अंग्रेजों से युद्ध |publisher=नागरीप्रचारिणी सभा |location=Varanasi+Delhi}}</ref>

Another achievement of Mahadji was his victory over the [[Nizam]] of Hyderabad's army in a battle.{{citation needed|date=February 2022}}

After the peace made with [[Tipu Sultan]] of Mysore in 1792, Mahadji exerted his influence to prevent the completion of a treaty between the British, the Nizam of Hyderabad, and the Peshwa, directed against Tipu.{{citation needed|date=February 2022}}

==Death and legacy==
[[File:Shinde Chhatri.jpg|thumb|[[Shinde Chhatri]], Wanawdi, [[Pune]]: A memorial dedicated to Mahadji Shinde]]
After the Battle of Lakheri, Mahadji was now at the zenith of his power, when he died, at his military camp at Wanavdi near Pune on 12 February 1794. He left no heir, and was succeeded by [[Daulat Rao Scindia]].

Keeney, the English biographer of Mahadaji Shinde, has described Mahadaji as ''the greatest man in India in the 18th century''.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=uPq640stHJ0C&pg=PA156 Page 156], The Great Maratha Mahadaji Scindia, By N. G. Rathod, Publisher: Sarup & Sons, 1994, {{ISBN|8185431523}}, 9788185431529</ref> Mahadaji Shinde's role was instrumental in establishing Maratha supremacy over [[North India]].

[[Shinde Chhatri]], located in Wanawadi, in [[Pune]] is a memorial dedicated to Mahadji Shinde. It is a hall that marks the spot of Mahadji Shinde's cremation on 12 February 1794. The three storied memorial in Rajput architectural style, is one of the most significant landmarks in the city.

==In popular culture==
* In 1988 Doordarshan Serial [[Bharat Ek Khoj]] produced and directed by [[Shyam Benegal]] also Picturised an episode where the titular role of Mahadaji Shinde was played by noted TV actor [[Shreechand Makhija]].

* In 1994, a TV series named ''[[The Great Maratha]]'' aired on [[DD National]] based on the life of Mahadaji Shinde. [[Shahbaz Khan (actor)|Shahbaz Khan]] portrayed the character of Mahadji Shinde.

* In the 2019 [[Bollywood]] film ''[[Panipat (film)|Panipat]]'', Mahadaji Scindia was portrayed by Sanjay Khapre.

==See also==
*[[Mahadji Scindia Sports Complex]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Further reading==
* {{Cite book |last= Dalrymple |first= William |year= 2019 |title= The Anarchy: The Relentless Rise of the East India Company |location= New York |publisher= Bloomsbury Publishing |type= Hardcover |isbn= 978-1-63557-395-4}}
* Hunter, William Wilson, Sir, et al. (1908). ''Imperial Gazetteer of India'', Volume 12. 1908–1931; Clarendon Press, Oxford.
* [[Henry George Keene (1826–1915)|Keene, H. G.]] ''The Fall of the Moghul Empire of Hindustan'' [https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/1470 e-text]
* {{cite book |last= Karkare |first= Neelesh Ishwarchandra |year=2013 |title= Shreenath Madhavji: Mahayoddha Mahadji Ki Shourya Gatha |location= Gwalior |publisher=Neelesh Ishwarchandra |isbn=9789352670925}}
* {{cite book |last= Karkare |first= Neelesh Ishwarchandra |year=2017 |title=Tawaareekh-E-ShindeShahi |location= Gwalior |publisher=Neelesh Ishwarchandra |isbn= 9789352672417}}
* Karkare, Neelesh Ishwarchandra (2013). [श्रीनाथ माधवजी : महायोद्धा महादजी की शौर्यगाथा / प्रथम संस्करण / प्रकाशन वर्ष - २०१३ / लेखक :- पण्डित नीलेश ईश्वरचन्द्र करकरे] / (Research book) Shreenath Madhavji: Mahayoddha Mahadji Ki Shourya Gatha/ First Edition
* {{Cite journal |last= Malik |first= Zahiruddin |year= 1982 |title= Persian Documents pertaining to the tragic End of Ghulam Qadir Rohilla, 1780–1789 |journal= Proceedings of the Indian History Congress |volume= 43 |pages= 565–571|issn= 2249-1937 |jstor= 44141288}}
* Markovits, Claude (ed.) (2004). ''A History of Modern India: 1480–1950''. Anthem Press, London.
* Mishra, Amitabh (1 January 2007). Heritage Tourism in Central India: Resource Interpretation and Sustainable Development Planning. Kanishka Publishers, Distributors. p. 42. {{ISBN|978-81-7391-918-3}}.
* {{Cite book |last= Sarkar |first= Jadunath |author-link=Jadunath Sarkar |year= 1952 |title= Fall of the Mughal Empire |location= Calcutta |publisher= M. C. Sarkar & Sons |edition= 2 |volume= III |url=https://archive.org/details/dli.ernet.1681/page/n1/mode/2up}}
*"Mosque and Tomb of the Emperor Sultan Mahmood of Ghuznee". British Library. Retrieved 1 November 2014.
*101 pilgrimages. Outlook India Pub. 2006. p. 79

==External links==
{{Commons category|Mahadaji Scindia}}

{{s-start}}
{{s-hou|[[Scindia|Scindia Dynasty]]|12 February 1794}}
{{s-reg|}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Manaji Rao Scindia]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Gwalior State|Maharaja of Gwalior]]|years=1768–1794}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Daulat Rao Scindia]]}}
{{end}}

{{MarathaEmpire}}

{{Authority control}}

{{Indian Independence Movement}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Madhavrao Scindia}}
[[Category:1730 births]]
[[Category:1794 deaths]]
[[Category:Scindia dynasty of Gwalior]]
[[Category:Peshwa dynasty]]
[[Category:Indian military leaders]]
[[Category:Hindu monarchs]]

Mahadaji Shinde - Revision history

Bot at 15:02, 28 October 2022