'Panipat: An Account of the Last Battle of Panipat and of the Events Leading to It' originally written in Persian by Casi Raja Pundit.
This is the most detailed account we possess of the Third battle of Panipat, and is the impartial narrative of an eye-witness of what he saw and heard. The narrative of Casi Raja Pundit brings alive larger than life personalities from history—Sadashivrao Bhao, Ahmed Shah Abdali, and Ibrahim Gardi, among others.
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Coming up: A review of the book 'Panipat: An Account of the Last Battle of Panipat and of the Events Leading to It' originally written in Persian by Casi Raja Pundit.
Namaste Friends. My name is 'Shinil Subramanian Payamal' and you are listening to the Historylogy podcast.
Before I proceed, a full disclosure: This book was bought with my own money and not been provided to me by the publisher.
Little bit about the author:
Casi Raja Pundit, a mutasaddi or secretary in the service of Suja-ud-daula, Vazir of Oudh, was present at the third battle of Panipat and wrote an account of it in Persian. He was a Deccani who had followed the fortunes of his countrymen to Northern India and was equally at home in Persian and Marathi. His account was translated into English in 1791 by Lt. Col. James Brown, Resident at Delhi from 1782 to 1785. The translated account was edited in 1926 with an Introduction, Notes, and Appendices by H. G. Rawlinson, Professor at The Deccan College, Poona.
Let me read a brief description of the book:
QUOTE
It is the most detailed account we possess of the battle, and is the impartial narrative of an eye-witness of what he saw and heard. The narrative of Casi Raja Pundit brings alive larger than life personalities from history—Sadashivrao Bhao, Ahmed Shah Abdali, and Ibrahim Gardi, among others.
The Maratha Empire was the pre-eminent power in the subcontinent in the eighteenth century. In 1761, under the command of Sadashivrao Bhao in the third battle of Panipat, the Marathas lost to Abdali, and Sadashivrao Bhao was killed. However, as H. G. Rawlinson writes in his introduction, “A defeat is, under some circumstances, as honourable as a victory; and never, in all their annals, did the Maratha armies cover themselves with greater glory, than when the flower of the chivalry of the Deccan perished on the stricken field of Panipat, fighting against the enemies of their creed and country.”
UNQUOTE
Casi Raja wrote with immediacy and impartiality, having many friends in both armies, and he was equally impressed by the gallantry of the Marathas and by the masterly strategy of their opponent, the Abdali monarch.
The format of the book is very concise. At roughly 65 pages in Rawlinson’s edition (or 92 pages in some paperback reprints), the book delivers a succinct yet dense narrative—ideal for focused historical reading without excess editorial padding.
The focus remains tightly on the battle and events immediately preceding it. For those seeking in-depth socio-political or post-battle analysis—such as the demographics or subsequent impact—further secondary studies will be essential. Pundit himself admits limits when discussing Deccan events beyond his experience.
The translation by Lt. Col. James Brown is lucid and preserves the impartial tone of the original, making it accessible to English-speaking readers. Rawlinson’s editorial additions further enhance the text, providing context, maps, and genealogies that enrich the reader’s understanding.
Conclusion:
Panipat is a historically significant, highly focused eyewitness account. It offers valuable insight into the Third Battle of Panipat and the personalities involved, delivered in a compact and readable format. Its authenticity stems from firsthand observation and informed distance—yet its brevity and translation choices mean it works best in conjunction with modern historical scholarship.
For broader or updated historical framing around Panipat and its ramifications, consider studying:
Modern scholarly works by Dr. Uday Kulkarni, S. N. Sen, or others on late‑18th-century Maratha politics and military structure.
I give this book 4.25/5.
The book is available only in Paperback format and not yet made available in Kindle and Audible formats. I have given the respective buy links in the show notes. Please check them out for the latest prices.
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