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Important Battles (By Sumith
Kumar Puri - The King)
| King Porus V/s Alexander
the Great at The Battle of Hydaspes |
YEAR
BATTLEFIELD
KINGDOM
OPPONENT
|
326
BC
JHELUM (HYDASPES)
PURUVANSHI / INDIA
GREEK / PERSIA / MACEDONIA / (DEFECTIVE) INDIA |
RESULT
|
The Puruvanshi Indian Armies of
King Porus routed the Macedonian, Greek, Persian and (Defective)
Indian Armies of Alexander the Great, thereby ending the
victory run and conquest of the world by Alexander. Alexander
and his armies marched back to Greece. |
Chandgragupta Maurya V/s Seleucus Nicator I at The Seleucid-Mauryan
War |
YEAR
BATTLEFIELD
KINGDOM
OPPONENT
|
305
BC
INDUS RIVER VALLEY
MAURYA
/ INDIA
GREEK / PERSIA / MACEDONIA |
RESULT
|
The Mauryan Indian Armies of Chandragupta
Maurya won decisively over the army of Selucus. They captured
(or were ceded) the earlier satrapies of Alexander - which
included Indus Valley, Gandhara, Punjab, Kashmir, Hindu
Kush and all areas upto Eastern Afghanistan. In return,
the Mauryans gave Seleucus 500 war elephants. |
Bharat Chakravartin Ashoka Maurya V/s King of Kalinga at
The Battle of Kalinga |
YEAR
BATTLEFIELD
KINGDOM
OPPONENT |
261 BC
ORISSA (KALINGA)
KALINGA
MAURYA / INDIA |
RESULT
|
The Kalinga war is one of the major
and bloodiest battles in the history of India. Kalinga
put up a stiff resistance, but they were no match for Ashoka's
brutal strength. The bloodshed of this war is said to have
prompted Ashoka to adopt Buddhism. It completed the
conquest of almost all of present day India, Pakistan and
territories of Afghanistan, Iran, Bangladesh, Nepal and
Bhutan. |
Prithviraj Chauhan V/s Sultan Shahāb-ud-Din Muhammad
Ghori at The First Battle of Tarain
Prithviraj Chauhan V/s Sultan Shahāb-ud-Din
Muhammad Ghori at The Second Battle of Tarain
|
YEAR
BATTLEFIELD
KINGDOM
OPPONENT |
1192 AD,
1191AD
KURUKSHETRA (TARAIN)
RAJPUT / INDIA
GHURID / TURKS |
RESULT
|
In the first battle, Ghori (who
originates from Iran) and his Turkic army were routed and
chased for nearly 40 miles by Prithviraj. Ghori army broke
ranks and fled, Ghori was injured and escaped with the help
of his loyal servants from the battlefield. Ghori's defeated
army retreated to Lahore and, thereafter, returned to Ghazni.
Prithviraj ignored the advice of his advisers and did not
pursue the retreating army, which was a decision he later
regretted. The deceitful Ghori, on reaching Lahore sent
an envoy to demand submission of Ghori. Prithviraj refused
to comply and understood the ploy. In the subsequent year,
Prithviraj's gesture was repaid by Ghori who re-attacked
Prithiviraj with a stronger army. Ghori attacked the Rajput
army again, this time before dawn. Rajputs had a tradition
of fighting from sunrise to sunset. Although they were able
to quickly form formations, they suffered losses due to
surprise attack before sunrise. Rajput army was eventually
defeated and Prithviraj was taken prisoner. Prithviraj was
blinded and taken as prisoner to Ghor. This battle is the
turning point in Indian history, in terms of religion and
foreign rulers; marking the start of rule by Delhi Sultans.
For close to next six centuries, India was under muslim
rule from Delhi Sultans to Mughals. |
Zahir-ud-din Muhammad Babur Beg V/s Sultan Ibrahim Lodi
at The First Battle of Panipat |
YEAR
BATTLEFIELD
KINGDOM
OPPONENT |
1526 AD
PANIPAT
DELHI SULTANATE / AFGHANS
MUGHAL / UZBEKS |
RESULT
|
Babur (who originates from Uzebkistan)
belongs to the Chagtai Khanate of Mongols. Mongols, who
were never allowed to enter India by the brave resistance
of the Delhi Sultans - finally found a way. A very decisive
victory for Babur, resulted in formation of the glorious
Mughal (Persian word for 'Mongol') Empire. The victory came
very swiftly due to modern field artillery of the Mughals
and a better war strategy. |
Jalal-ud-Din Muhammad Akbar V/s Raja Hemachandra Vikramaditya
at The Second Battle of Panipat |
YEAR
BATTLEFIELD
KINGDOM
OPPONENT |
1556 AD
PANIPAT
RAJPUT / AFGHANS / INDIA
MUGHAL / UZBEKS |
RESULT
|
Hemu was the Chief of Army and
Prime Minister of Adil Shah Suri.He fought Afghan rebels
across North India from the Punjab to Bengal and the Mughal
forces of Akbar and Humayun in Agra and Delhi winning 22
consecutive battles. Thus, he was one of the best known
Hindu generals who was crowned the King. From 1192AD to
1857AD, this was the only time that a Hindu ruler had decisively
captured back the throne of Delhi. Akbar with his general,
Bairam Khan put in their last effort to keep the Mughal
flag flying high in India; through this challenge. Their
plan was to flee India if they were to lose this battle.
Hemu lost a battle that he had almost won, when he was struck
dead by an arrow which pierced the eye and the brain. Hemu
was beheaded and the skull hung on the Delhi Darwaza at
Kabul. His torso hung outside the Purana Qila at Delhi.
Akbar was crowned the King and Mughals came back to the
throne. |
Ahmed Shah Durrani V/s Marathas at The Third Battle of Panipat |
YEAR
BATTLEFIELD
KINGDOM
OPPONENT |
1761 AD
PANIPAT
DURRANI / AFGHANS
MARATHA / INDIA |
RESULT
|
Ahmad Shah Durrani (who originates
from Afghanistan) declared a jihad (Islamic holy war) against
the Marathas, and warriors from various Pashtun tribes,
as well as other tribes such as the Baloch, Tajiks, and
Muslims from South Asia answered his call. By 1760, the
Maratha groups had coalesced into a big enough army under
the command of Sadashivrao Bhau. Once again, Panipat was
the scene of a battle for control of northern India. The
Third battle of Panipat was fought between largely Muslim
armies of Abdali and the largely Hindu Maratha army. It
was waged along a twelve-kilometre front, and resulted in
a decisive victory for Ahmad Shah. Mughals regained nominal
control of small areas and remained an empire until 1857.
The unity of of Marathas was lost after the battle, they
started assembling and regained control of North by 1771.
The Maratha empire ended in 1818 after three wars with the
British. |
British East India Company V/s Sikh Empire at The First
Anglo-Sikh War
British East India Company V/s
Sikh Empire at The Second Anglo-Sikh War |
YEAR
BATTLEFIELD
KINGDOM
OPPONENT |
1845 AD,1848
AD
PUNJAB
SIKH / PUNJABI
BRITISH EAST INDIA COMPANY |
RESULT
|
Though the Sikh army fought valiantly,
they lost the wars decisively against the British. The aftermath
was a loss of territory, wealth and respect. A treaty also
granted the Koh-i-noor diamond to the British. The Sikh
ambitions to extend their territory into Afghanistan, Kashmir
and also Eastwards were thwarted. The Sikh Empire dissolved
in 1849, giving rise to princely states including the British
province of Punjab comprising present-day Haryana, Delhi,
Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh, Islamabad, Punjab
(Pakistan) and Kyber Pakhtunkhwa. |
Republic of India V/s Islamic Republic of Pakistan, 1947
Republic of India V/s Islamic Republic of Pakistan, 1965
Republic of India V/s Islamic
Republic of Pakistan, 1971
Republic
of India V/s Islamic Republic of Pakistan, 1999
|
YEAR
BATTLEFIELD
COUNTRY
OPPONENT |
1947 AD,
1965 AD, 1971 AD, 1999 AD
KASHMIR, PUNJAB/LAHORE, BANGLADESH, KARGIL
REPUBLIC OF INDIA
ISLAMIC REPUIBLIC OF PAKISTAN |
RESULT
|
At the partition of India in 1947, the princely state
of Jammu and Kashmir had aceded to the Republic of India
- as each of the princely states were given a choice to
join any of India or Pakistan. But tribal forces of Pakistan
caused incursions in Jammu and Kashmir. This was the first
battle, resulting in a UN mediated ceasfire in late 1948
and thereby the Line of Control. As per law of accession
in force at the time of partition, princely state of Jammu
and Kashmir belongs to the Republic of India. Pakistan argues
that it has been a forced submission and continues for its
right over Jammu and Kashmir. The next war was in 1965,
when Pakistan Army crossed the borders and forced its way
right upto near Tarn Taran. Surprised by the attacks, India
responded equally well by crossing the borders reaching
within the vicinity of Lahore, effectively neutralizing
and taking a very high strategic advantage over the opponent.
India had the upper hand, when a UN mediated ceasfire was
enforced. In 1971, the war for the liberation of
East Pakistan was a very decisive victory for the Indian
armies alongwith Bangladeshi Army. It led to the formation
of Bangladesh. In 1999, the intrusions in Kargil,
Batalik, Dras and nearby areas led to a retaliation by Indian
army to push back the infilitrators. The Indian army pushed
back all infilitrators in Kargil and associated areas to
regain control over all lost territories. Under the pressure
of US, Pakistan finally pulled back all troops from India.
The conflict came to an end and India set conditions for
talks with Pakistan. The sensitive issue of Jammu and Kashmir
continues to be the primary tension between the two countries.
It is a highly debated topic as Jammu and Kashmir also has
a high majority of native muslims. Although, simply put,
it is a part of Republic of India historically and via all
international, legal laws. |
Republic of India V/s People's Republic of China, 1962 |
YEAR
BATTLEFIELD
COUNTRY
OPPONENT |
1962 AD
AKSAI CHIN, NEFA
REPUBLIC OF INDIA
PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA |
RESULT
|
Tibet's primary population is Buddhist.
Buddhism originated from Hindusim, as Gautama Buddha belonged
to the Hindu Kshatriya Shakya clan. Historically and otherwise,
Tibet is more aligned towards India than China. After India
gained Independence, there has been a move to further improve
relations with Tibet. In the events leading to the war,
China perceived a threat and believed there is a strong
Indian aggression in Tibet. Also, there were political ploys
on each side to attain supremacy and remove perceived (and
actual) infilitrators. In the ensuing war, China had a decisive
military victory over India, pushing back all control to
within the Line of Actual Control and the McMahon Line.
There were no territorial gains or any other military gains,
on either side. There was a unilateral ceasfire called by
the Chinese premier as the chinese had reached their claim
lines and did not want to advance further. |
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