MARATHA MARAUDERS OF BENGAL..... BARGIS/BORGIS
There is a very popular Bengali folk poem.........
ছেলে ঘুমালো পাড়া জুড়ালো বর্গী এল দেশে
বুলবুলিতে ধান খেয়েছে খাজনা দেব কিসে
ধান ফুরোলো পান ফুরোলো খাজনার উপায় কি?
আর কটা দিন সবুর কর রসুন বুনেছি।
chhele ghumalo, pada judalo bargi elo deshe
bulbulite dhan kheyechhe, khajna debo kise?
dhaan furolo, paan furolo, khajnar upaye ki?
ar kota din sabur koro roshoon bunechi!
When the children fall asleep, silence sets in, the Bargis come to our lands
Bulbulis (birds) have eaten the grains, how shall I pay the rent/tax?
Grain has finished, paan has finished, where do i get the tax money from?
wait a few more days, i have sown Lasoon(garlic)!!
Etymology
The Hatkar formerly when going on any expedition, took only a blanket seven hands long and a bear-spear (Barcha/Barchi in Marathi), and that on this account they were called Bargir, or Barga Dhangars or Bargi.
Bargi is corruption of a Marathi word Bargir which meant Horsemen who were provided with horses and arms by the Maratha Empire who were exclusively Hatkar in contrast to the Shiledar, who had their own horses and arms. The temper of Hatkars is said to be obstinate and quarrelsome.
They owned neither their horse nor their weapons . Both was provided for by the ruler . The bargirs were given regular salary of Rs 5 - 10 .
HISTORY
Alivardi Khan became Nawab of Bengal in April 1740, after defeating and killing Sarfraz Khan. His rule was challenged by Sarfraj Khan’s brother-in-law Rustam Jung, who was naib nazim (deputy governor) of Orissa.
Rustam Jung sought the assistance of the Maratha ruler of Nagpur, Raghoji I Bhonsle. He regained control of Orissa with the assistance of Marathas, who in the process discovered how easy it was to plunder the rich countryside in Bengal.
Raghoji I Bhonsale (died 1755) of the Bhonsale dynasty, was a Maratha general who took control of the Nagpur Kingdom in east-central India during the reign of Shahu. The Bhonsale family were originally headmen from Deor or Deur (presently in Koregaon Taluka, District Satara and was under Deshmukhi rights of Bhoite Clan), a village in Satara District. Raghoji's grandfather and his two brothers had fought in the armies of Shivaji, and to the most distinguished of them was entrusted a high military command and the collection of chauth (tribute) in Berar.
Alivardi returned to Orissa and again defeated Rustam Jung, but before he returned to Murshidabad, a Maratha cavalry under Bhaskar Pandit was sent to Bengal by Bhonsle. They entered through Panchet and started looting the countryside.
For about ten years, the Bargis raided and plundered Bengal every year. Contemporary chroniclers have left behind vivid descriptions of Bargi terror, their hit-and-run tactics and the helplesness of the Nawabab’s army in checking them. Alivardi showed exemplary courage and military skill in every frontal battle that took place, but the objective of the Bargis was not occupation of territory but plundering; they looted and burned bazaars.
The Bargi invasions came to an end in May 1751 after the Nawab and the Marathas reached an agreement, including the secession of Orissa.
Garh Panchkot is a ruined fort located at the foot hills of Panchkot in the district of Purulia, West Bengal, the ruins of the Panchkot Palace are a silent testimony to the Bargi attack during the 18th century. Garh Panckot was attacked by the “Bargi” and having defeated the King’s guards they destroyed it after looting and plundering the palace. The king was a Rajput chieftain who believed in Shaktism, although the temples reflect his inclination towards Vaishnavism. It is believed that all the 17 wives of the king committed suicide in a nearby well during the attack. Garh Panchkot has lied in ruin ever since.

Comments

  1. Unknown6 April 2018 at 14:56

    A soldier should never complain if taken on by the enemy! Lt.Col did you forget this basic lesson? All scum in Ali Vardy Khan's service should have been put to death!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Ameen Ahmed Tumkur14 June 2018 at 03:42

    The stories of Maratha Empire barbarism on non-Maratha across India are similar. Here's what Shivaji did to Kannadigas:
    http://historyofmysuru.blogspot.com/2017/12/hero-tyrant-or-just-another-king_26.html?m=1

    ReplyDelete

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