Collection of translations

Below you will find links to the translations of selected letters from the Peshwe Daftar Volumes. There are 40 volumes in total, organized into topics around each military campaign or war. The letters printed in these volumes in Devanagari, are a selection from a large corpus of unpublished letters in the Modi script.

The present published volumes, contain many letters that lay out details of battles, military campaigns, tactics, siege operations, which have so far never been translated into English for a wider non Marathi audience.

This is an attempt to parse through the entire series, select important ones that offer more nuance than is presently known on military matters and strategy. Some volumes contain a great many letters worth translating, and some have very few, or none. I hope the researchers of Maratha military history find this useful in their study.

Volume I: Udgir

Volume II: Panipat

Volume III: Janjira

Volume X: Bajirao & the Nizam , Volume XII : Bajirao & Dabhade

Volume XIII: Malwa

Volume XIV : Bajirao's northern campaign, Volume XV: Bajirao in Delhi

Volume XVI: Liberation of Vasai & Bombay campaign

Volume XX: Bhonsles of Nagpur

Volume XXI: Balaji Bajirao's northern campaigns

Volume XXV: Balaji Bajirao & the Nizam

Volume XXVII: Balaji Bajirao's northern campaigns part II

Volume XXVIII: Balaji Bajirao's Carnatic campaigns

Volume XXXIV: Liberation of Vasai & Bombay campaign part II

Volume XXXVI: First Anglo Maratha War

Volume XXXVII: Peshwe Madhavrao's southern campaign - Part I , Part II, Part III


Historical Papers pertaining to Mahadji Shinde

Below is sets of letters contained in 'Historical Papers pertaining to Mahadji Shinde' edited by G.S Sardesai, which contain some valuable details of battles in the first Anglo Maratha war, and against other powers in the late 1700s.

First Anglo Maratha War - Northern theatre

Mahadji Shinde's battles in Hindustan

Maratha - Mysore wars


Aitihasik Lekh Sangraha

A series of some 15 volumes published from 1880s to 1930s by Vasudev Khare, it contains a great amount of detail about military matters, battles and army movements. This is a selection of important battles from all the volumes.

Volumes I - XV


Brahmendra Swami's Charitra

The Appendix contains letters sent by Bajirao, Chimaji Appa to Shri Brahmendra Swami, their guru. They contain details of important campaigns to Delhi, the Battle of Bhopal, and the Vasai campaign.

Letters to Brahmendra Swami


Vaidya Daftar

The Vaidya Daftar has several letters regarding Raghuji Bhonsle's Bengal campaigns between 1741-51.

Vaidya Daftar


Bhau Saheb’s Bakhar

This is a translation of the bakhar of Sadashivrao Bhau written shortly after 1761.

Bhau Saheb’s Bakhar


Aitihasik Patra Vyavahar

Several letters regarding treaties, battles and negotiations.

Letters