Marwat Khan Lodhi
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PUNE: Documents giving details of the Rs 92.23 lakh expenditure incurred by the Marathas on the third battle of Panipat have been discovered by history scholar Pandurang Balkawade at the state department of archaeology (Peshwe daftar).
"So far scholars have not found such documents detailing expenditures incurred on battles during Chhatrapati Shivaji's rule or even the Peshwa rule," said Balkawade. It would also help study how Marathas may have raised such huge amount for the campaign, he added.
The third battle of Panipat is one of the important chapters in the history of the Maratha empire. It took place on January 14, 1761 and Afghan king Ahmed Shah Abdali defeated the Marathas in the battle. Abdali had attacked Delhi and Peshwa Nanasaheb sent his cousin Sadashivrao Bhau with ammunition, army and money to fight the battle.
Balkawade studied several documents in Modi script at the state archaeological department and found the document giving the entire budget of the Marathas for the battle. The campaign for the battle started under the leadership of Sadashivrao Bhau on March 19, 1760. And the battle took place on January 14, 1761.
Balkawade told TOI: "The whole mission cost Rs 92.23 lakh, which would today translate into almost Rs 900 crore. The document gives detailed information about the ammunition used by the Marathas, infantry, camels, elephants, 18 factories set up temporarily to manufacture items required for the battle, the expenditures on detectives, barbers, tailors, carpenters, masons, blacksmiths, guards, and labourers among others."
Another document, giving details of Rs 14.71 lakh spent by the Marathas after winning Delhi and the Red Fort, was also found by Balkawade. "On August 2, 1760, the Marathas won back Delhi from Abdali. On August 10, they won the Red Fort. The document showed that Rs 14.71 lakh was spent on maintenance, security and city administration. Today this amount would be equal to Rs 150 crore," he said.
Balkawade said, "The notings show expenditure on all the market places, residential places, maintenance of the army posted at the Red Fort. It also minutely details donations given to saints, pontiffs, mullahs, maulawis and fakirs, besides expenditure on maintenance of temples and mosques. These notings show that the Marathas had a secular approach in governance."
History scholar Mandar Lawate said, "This is the first notings about the expenditure incurred by the Maratha empire on the battle. Balkawade's research can help focus on many unknown aspects of the empire. The documents should be translated into Marathi and published for the benefit of scholars who cannot read the Modi script."
Another history scholar Ninad Bedekar said that the documents were available at the Peshwe daftar but no one tried to translate them and find out the information. "Balkawade's research will help us understand and study the economic aspect along with other aspects of the battle. The details of the money that the Marathas raised and the way they spent it help one understand the grandeur of the Maratha empire, economic activities and business during the battle of Panipat. Another interesting thing to study would be how they raised such a huge amount for the battle," he said.
In 1761, battle of Panipat cost Marathas Rs 93 lakh, say papers - The Times of India
"So far scholars have not found such documents detailing expenditures incurred on battles during Chhatrapati Shivaji's rule or even the Peshwa rule," said Balkawade. It would also help study how Marathas may have raised such huge amount for the campaign, he added.
The third battle of Panipat is one of the important chapters in the history of the Maratha empire. It took place on January 14, 1761 and Afghan king Ahmed Shah Abdali defeated the Marathas in the battle. Abdali had attacked Delhi and Peshwa Nanasaheb sent his cousin Sadashivrao Bhau with ammunition, army and money to fight the battle.
Balkawade studied several documents in Modi script at the state archaeological department and found the document giving the entire budget of the Marathas for the battle. The campaign for the battle started under the leadership of Sadashivrao Bhau on March 19, 1760. And the battle took place on January 14, 1761.
Balkawade told TOI: "The whole mission cost Rs 92.23 lakh, which would today translate into almost Rs 900 crore. The document gives detailed information about the ammunition used by the Marathas, infantry, camels, elephants, 18 factories set up temporarily to manufacture items required for the battle, the expenditures on detectives, barbers, tailors, carpenters, masons, blacksmiths, guards, and labourers among others."
Another document, giving details of Rs 14.71 lakh spent by the Marathas after winning Delhi and the Red Fort, was also found by Balkawade. "On August 2, 1760, the Marathas won back Delhi from Abdali. On August 10, they won the Red Fort. The document showed that Rs 14.71 lakh was spent on maintenance, security and city administration. Today this amount would be equal to Rs 150 crore," he said.
Balkawade said, "The notings show expenditure on all the market places, residential places, maintenance of the army posted at the Red Fort. It also minutely details donations given to saints, pontiffs, mullahs, maulawis and fakirs, besides expenditure on maintenance of temples and mosques. These notings show that the Marathas had a secular approach in governance."
History scholar Mandar Lawate said, "This is the first notings about the expenditure incurred by the Maratha empire on the battle. Balkawade's research can help focus on many unknown aspects of the empire. The documents should be translated into Marathi and published for the benefit of scholars who cannot read the Modi script."
Another history scholar Ninad Bedekar said that the documents were available at the Peshwe daftar but no one tried to translate them and find out the information. "Balkawade's research will help us understand and study the economic aspect along with other aspects of the battle. The details of the money that the Marathas raised and the way they spent it help one understand the grandeur of the Maratha empire, economic activities and business during the battle of Panipat. Another interesting thing to study would be how they raised such a huge amount for the battle," he said.
In 1761, battle of Panipat cost Marathas Rs 93 lakh, say papers - The Times of India
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That's a very interesting read. Please also quote the source for the benefit of the reader. 
