21 April 1526. On an exceptionally hot Indian summer, two armies faced off on the sun baked fields of Panipat, just 70 kilometers North West of Delhi. The clash of arms that followed would last just six hours, but its impact would shape the nation for the next 300 years.
The story behind that epic clash, began with Zahir-ud-Din Mohammed – or Babur as history remembers him – embarked on his quest for an empire. He was just 13 when his father, the ruler of Fergana died, and he was hastily thrust on the throne. With that began his induction to the power play of Central Asian politics. Over the next decade and a half he was pushed out of Fergana, re-captured it, captured Samarkand, lost both, and then captured Kabul in 1504 which finally gave him a base. From there he cast his eyes covetously on India. Like his ancestors Timur Lane and Chenghis Khan, he launched repeated raids into that rich, undefended land, returning each time with treasures and experiences.
Babur and Ibrahim Lodhi
His raids gave him a glimpse of the vast potential of India. His moment came when he was invited by Daulat Khan, the Governor of Punjab to attack India and overthrow Ibrahim Lodhi – the weak, ineffectual ruler who sat on the throne of Delhi. Ibrahim Lodhi was a scion of the ruling Lodhi dynasty, but had turned many of his own nobility and generals against him through his high-handedness. When Daulat Khan’s invitation reached Babur, he found the temptation of Hindustan irresistible and made plans to come, not just to raid, but to rule.
He launched his first expedition in 1524. It was a disaster. His forces were defeated in the initial battles near Lahore itself. He fell out with Daulat Khan and in a pique he returned to Kabul. But that expedition taught him valuable lessons about his own weaknesses, his adversary and the conditions he would have to fight in. He returned again the next year and this time he was better prepared. He had built up an army of around 30,000 battle hardened warriors, largely cavalry who were highly trained in the concepts of fire and move. Armed with double curved, composite bows they could fire on the move, and outranged their opponents by over 70 yards. Best of all, in his wagon train, he carried an artillery park of around two dozen kazans, or heavy mortars, around 40-50 zarbzans or light cannons, and around 1000 flintlocks. On the strength of his artillery he would forge an empire.
Mughal Cavalry with double curved bow
Babur moved slowly from Kabul in November 1525. He crossed the Hindu Kush Mountains, the Chenab, Jhelum and Sutlej and reached Panipat in end March 1526. By then, the vast army of Ibrahim Lodhi had already encamped in the vicinity of Panipat and were waiting for him. What is surprising is that Ibrahim Lodhi allowed the invader to come so far. He should have engaged Babur at the Hindu Kush Mountains, or at any of the rivers he had to cross en route. The threat was virtually at the doorstep of Delhi when he decided to confront it.
Babur halted a little to the north of Panipat and established a defensive position using the town to cover one flank and some low hills to cover the other. In between he established a defensive line along a dried up river bed which he converted into a ditch. Along the ditch he lined up his wagon carts, chained in pairs. Gaps of 60- 70 yards were strategically placed through which his precious cannon could fire. On the flanks were larger gaps of around 150-200 yards through which his cavalry could sally. Behind that defensive line, he marshalled his forces and waited.
For three weeks both armies faced off, each waiting for the other to make the first move. None wanted to be the first to attack. Encounters were common as both sides skirmished virtually on a daily basis, to gauge their opponent. Then on the night of 19 April, Babur launched a large raid with around 5000 men on the Afghan camp. The raid was a disaster. The raiding parties stated late, moved in an uncoordinated manner and were detected by the Afghans, who attacked and forced the Mughals to flee leaving behind over 2000 dead. Babur, in his memoirs, claims it was a planned move, though in all probability it was just a botched up raid. But it had its effect. Confident after their easy victory, the Afghans decided to attack the Mughal camp the next day- exactly what Babur hoped they would do.
That morning of 21 April 1526, the armies assembled to the sounds of drums, whistles and gongs. Babur deployed in a classical Turkish formation, with a light screening force ahead, a covering force behind them, and the main force assembled behind the defensive perimeter. Babur himself commanded the center, (the Kol) with his son Humayun on the right flank (Baranghar) and his most trusted general Mohammed Mirza on the left flank (Jaranghar). Light cavalry contingents called Tulaqmas operated on the flanks, and in the rear was the strong reserve – the Iltimish – of around 10,000 heavy cavalry. The ace up his sleeve, his artillery, were deployed behind the wagon line positioned to bring down fire between the gaps, Each gun was carefully concealed and camouflaged to amplify its surprise and shock effect.
The Afghan army lined up in rows of 200 – 300 extending over 200 files deep. Leading the charge were the time-tested elephants. Surprisingly, the Afghans had not even reconnoitered the area and were not aware of the presence of the ditch or of Babur’s defensive layout. Nor did they have any idea of the cannon they were about to encounter for the first time.
The leading elements of Ibrahim Lodhi’s army encountered the screen and the covering force which withdrew, drawing the army toward an open field which Babur had selected as his killing area. As they approached Babur’s defensive layout, his guns opened up. The flash and thunder of guns scared the elephants who panicked and turned to flee, trampling over their own ranks. The gun fire took a heavy toll of the packed ranks and to compound the effect, Babur sent his light cavalry on both flanks who fired their arrows at long ranges, wheeled away, returned and fired again, each time causing heavy casualties but not entering into decisive combat.
As the leading elements of Ibrahim Lodhi’s army were being mowed down, the rear was not aware of the carnage ahead and continued pushing forward compressing the ranks like a concertina. The leading elements could not advance because of the ditch ahead. The entire army was being pushed into a tight knot in which cannons, arrows and gunshot took a deadly toll. Adding to the chaos were the elephants running amok.
With Ibrahim Lodhi’s army trapped inside the killing area, Babur launched his iltimish – his reserve. His 10,000 heavily armed cavalry moved from a flank and tore through the rear of Ibrahim Lodhi’s forces slashing and cutting their way through the bewildered ranks. Hemmed in from all sides, the Afghan army could neither maneuver, nor fight. It was carnage. Ibrahim Lodhi made a desperate attempt to break out with 5000 of his personal guard, but was killed himself. His body was discovered after the battle along with 25-30000 Afghans who fell in the field of battle. His body was washed and ceremoniously buried. The rest were not so fortunate. Their bodies were decapitated and a small hillock made of their severed head as a grisly warning to any future contenders.
The Battle
By noon it was over. Babur himself describes it “The battle commenced when the sun was spear high and lasted till midday when the enemy was completely broken. The mighty army, in the space of half a day, lay in the dust.” In the space of just six hours, his army had defeated a force almost twice its size, and established the Mughal Empire in India. There would be other battles – Khanua, Chausa, Bigram- before the empire was finally consolidated. These battles too would be fought on the same principles of fire and maneuver and their outcome would be the same. When the cannon smoke cleared, it would be the green flag with a golden lion emblazoned within, the flag of the Mughal Empire, that would rise victoriously. This flag would hold sway over the entire country for the next 300 years.