Volume II,Issue IV, March 2026
Volume-II, Issue-IV, March, 2026 |
Received: 21.03.2026 | Accepted: 21.03.2026 | ||
Published Online: 31.03.2026 | Page No: | ||
DOI: 10.69655/atmadeep.vol.2.issue.04W. | |||
পিণ্ডারিদের উত্থান ও বিকাশ ব্রিটিশপূর্ব ভারতের রাজনৈতিক প্রেক্ষাপট পুলক সরকার, স্বাধীন গবেষক, পশ্চিমবঙ্গ, ভারত |
Pulak Sarkar, Student, Department of History, Rabindra Bharati University, West Bengal, India | ||
ABSTRACT | ||
This essay analyses the origin, development, and
political role of the Pindaris in the period preceding the establishment of
British rule. In the context of the Mughal Empire’s decline and the rise of
Maratha power, the Pindaris first emerged as auxiliary cavalry for various
Indian armies. Subsequently, under Maratha chiefs, they became a significant
military element by conducting looting and destructive activities in enemy
territories. By the end of the 18th century, the weakness of the Maratha
Confederacy and the lack of central control helped the Pindaris gradually
evolve into an independent force. Under leaders such as Karim Khan Pindari and
Chitu Pindari, they began conducting raids for their own interests, and their
relationship with the Maratha power became largely strained. Through an
analysis of their military structure, social composition, and economic
foundation, this essay demonstrates that they were a multi-ethnic and
unorganized group whose primary goal was the acquisition of wealth through plunder.
At the same time, their internal conflicts, lack of centralized leadership, and
mutual rivalries weakened their political stability. In conclusion, it can be
said that even before British rule, the Pindaris had emerged as a significant
yet volatile force, whose rise and development were deeply connected to the
political instability and power shifts of contemporary India. | ||
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