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{{Short description|Part of First Maratha invasion of Bengal}}{{For|other battles|Battle of Katwa}}
{{aI-generated|date=April 2026}}
{{Infobox military conflict
| conflict = Battle of Katwa
| place = [[Katwa]], [[West Bengal]]
| partof = [[First Maratha invasion of Bengal]]
| combatant1 = {{flagicon image|Bengal subah flag (Nautical).svg}} [[Bengal Subah]]
| combatant2 = {{Tree list}}
*[[File:Flag of the Maratha Empire.svg|25px]] [[Maratha Empire]]
**[[File:Nagpur State flag.png|20px]][[Kingdom of Nagpur]]
{{Tree list/end}}
| commander1 = [[Alivardi Khan]]<br />[[Zain ud-Din Ahmed Khan]]<br />Mahdi Nisar Khan<br />Abdul Ali Khan<br />Saif Khan
| commander2 = [[Bhaskar Ram Kolhatkar]]
| strength1 = 16,000–17,000<ref name="sA" />
| strength2 = Unknown
| casualties2 = Heavy
| campaignbox = {{Campaignbox Maratha invasions of Bengal}}
| casualties1 = Heavy
| date = 27 September 1742
| result = [[Bengal Subah]] victory<ref>{{Harvard citation no brackets|Sarkar|1964|p=[https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.43007/page/n82/mode/1up 58]}} "'There was little loss on either side', as the English factory letter reports; but the Nawab's victory was complete, the Marathas had to leave all their tents, equipment and property behind"{{Break}}{{Harvard citation no brackets|Rahim|1971|p=293}} "ভাস্কর পণ্ডিত মহা ধূমবামের সহিত দুর্গা পূজা করিতেছিলেন। আলীবর্দীর আক্রমণে ভীত হইয়া তিনি কাটোয়া হইতে পলায়ন করেন (২৭শে সেপ্টেম্বর, ১৭৪২)।" {{Translation|Bhaskar Pandit was worshipping Durga with great splendour. Fearing the attack of Alivardi, he fled from Katwa (September 27, 1742)}}{{Break}}{{Harvard citation no brackets|Mishra|1970|p=21}} "The Marathas were defeated on 27th September, 1742 and they fled away."</ref>
| map_type = West Bengal#India
| map_relief = yes
| map_size = 320
| map_mark = Big battle symbol.svg
| map_marksize = 12
| map_label = '''Battle of Katwa'''
| coordinates = {{Coord|23|38|27|N|88|7|50|E|display=inline,title}}
}}

The '''Battle of Katwa''' was a decisive engagement fought on 27 September 1742 between the forces of Nawab [[Alivardi Khan]] of Bengal and the [[Maratha Empire|Maratha]] general [[Bhaskar Ram Kolhatkar|Bhaskar Pandit]] during the [[Maratha invasions of Bengal]]. Launching a surprise dawn attack amid the [[Durga Puja]] festivities at Daihat, Alivardi exploited flooded terrain to neutralize Maratha cavalry superiority. After an initial rout, the nawab executed a daring night crossing of the [[Bhagirathi River|Bhagirathi]] and [[Ajay River]] at Uddharanpur, overcoming the collapse of a boat-bridge that drowned 1,500 of his men. A force of 3,000 Bengal troops then struck the Maratha western flank, scattering the enemy toward Katwa and inflicting heavy losses.

== Background ==
During the monsoon interlude of 1742, both Alivardi and Maratha's were waiting for reinforcement. Bhaskar Pandit, dispatched two captains to his [[Raghuji I]] in [[Nagpur]] with urgent pleas for fresh troops, but these entreaties went unheeded. Determined to seize the initiative, Alivardi resolved to strike the Marathas before the roads dries.<ref>{{Harvard citation no brackets|Sarkar|1943|p=[https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.24396/page/n479/mode/1up 458]}}</ref>

== Prelude ==
Alivardi Khan camped in the suburbs of [[Murshidabad]], and devoted himself to fortifying his forces in anticipation of renewed hostilities with the Marathas once the monsoon season had concluded. The nawab's artillery underwent reorganization; a number of war elephants were trained to precede his own mount in formation; and a formidable flotilla was assembled by requisitioning vessels from [[Dhaka]], [[Malda district|Malda]], and [[Rajmahal]]. Alivardi further solicited assistance from the Mughal emperor [[Muhammad Shah]] ({{Reign|1719|1748}}) in [[Delhi]] and directed appeals to his deputies at [[Patna]] and [[Purnia|Purnea]] for support against the Maratha incursions. At the time [[Zain ud-Din Ahmed Khan|Zain ud-Din]] deputy of Patna received the nawab's summons.<ref>{{Harvard citation no brackets|Datta|1939|p=[https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.279485/page/n97/mode/1up 75]}}{{Break}}{{Harvard citation no brackets|Mishra|1970|pp=20–21}}</ref> Accordingly, Zain-ud-Din proceeded to Murshidabad at the head of 5,000 [[cavalry]] and between 6,000 and 7,000 [[infantry]], accompanied by Mahdi Nisar Khan and Abdul Ali Khan. Saif Khan likewise arrived from Purnea with a contingent of 5,000 men.<ref name="sA">{{Harvard citation no brackets|Datta|1939|p=[https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.279485/page/n97/mode/1up 75]}} "… Mahdi Nisar Khan and Abdul Ali Khan, paternal uncle and maternal grand-uncle respectively of the historian [[Ghulam Hussain Khan|Ghulam Husain]], at the head of 5,000 cavalry and about 6,000 or 7,000 infantry. Saif Khan also came from Purneah with 5,000 soldiers."{{Break}}{{Harvard citation no brackets|Sarkar|1964|p=[https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.43007/page/n80/mode/1up 56]}} "… when the reinforcements called up by him from his deputies in Purnia and Patna would reach him. They came to him accompanied by 5,000 and 12,000 men respectively, before the rainy season was over"{{Break}}{{Harvard citation no brackets|Mishra|1970|p=21}} "Mahdi Nissar Khan and Abdul Ali Khan, paternal uncle and maternal grand-uncle respectively of Ghulam Husain. He was accompanied by 5,000 cavalry and 6,000 or 7,000 infantry"</ref>

== Battle ==
Alivardi subsequently departed the suburbs of Murshidabad with his two nephews, his kinsman Abdul Ali Khan, and a disciplined and well-equipped force, while the terrain remained sodden and partially inundated. Meanwhile, Bhaskar Pandit was observing the [[Durga Puja]] festivities at Daihat,{{Efn|approximately five miles southeast of Katwa}} levying contributions from certain zamindars of western Bengal. On the third day of the festival, 27 September 1742, the nawab launched a dawn assault upon the Maratha encampment. Caught unawares, the Marathas fled toward [[Katwa]], abandoning a portion of their baggage and equipment. After several days' march, the nawab arrived at a position on the eastern bank of the [[Bhagirathi River]], opposite Katwa. At this juncture, the smaller [[Ajay River]] flows westward into the Bhagirathi. The principal Maratha force was encamped west of the Bhagirathi, facing the Ajay, while a detachment stood ready with artillery aboard a sloop anchored in the Bhagirathi adjacent to Katwa. Despite maintaining vigilant defenses, the Marathas held their fortified position; the nawab's artillery bombardment across the river, sustained for eight days, failed to dislodge them.<ref>{{Harvard citation no brackets|Datta|1939|p=[https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.279485/page/n97/mode/1up 76]}}{{Break}}{{Harvard citation no brackets|Sarkar|1964|pp=[https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.43007/page/n80/mode/1up 56–57]}}</ref>

The western flank of the Maratha army remained inadequately defended, prompting the nawab to devise a plan to assault it by secretly crossing both the Bhagirathi and the Ajay rivers. For several miles upstream from Katwa, both banks of the Bhagirathi lay beyond Maratha control. This enabled the nawab to construct a temporary bridge of boats across the Bhagirathi at [[Uddharanpur]] and to ferry his army to the north bank of the Ajay. The vessels were then released downstream, one or two at a time, until they reached the Ajay's confluence with the Bhagirathi, approximately one mile above the Maratha encampment. Utilizing these boats, the nawab directed the erection of a bridge across the Ajay before dawn, intending to cross the river undetected and evade Maratha notice. As the Bengal troops commenced crossing, however, one or two boats in the bridge's center gave way, resulting in the drowning of 1,500 soldiers. The structure was swiftly repaired, and before the first light of dawn appeared in the east, some 2,500–3,000 Bengal troops had gained the south bank of the Ajay. Advancing rapidly for a mile, they launched a sudden assault on the Maratha camp. The Marathas fled at once, without ascertaining the enemy's numbers or offering resistance. The Bengal forces pursued them relentlessly, inflicting heavy casualties. In the morning, the nawab dispatched reinforcements including elephants, cannon, and additional troops from the Ajay's opposite bank and soon arrived personally at the battlefield.<ref>{{Harvard citation no brackets|Datta|1939|p=[https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.279485/page/n99/mode/1up 77]}}{{Break}}{{Harvard citation no brackets|Sarkar|1964|p=[https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.43007/page/n81/mode/1up 57]}}</ref>

== Aftermath ==
Bhaskar fled to [[Panchet|Pachet]] and his detachments scattered in [[Bardhaman|Burdwan]], [[Hooghly district|Hooghly]], [[Hijli]].<ref>{{Harvard citation no brackets|Datta|1939|p=[https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.279485/page/n100/mode/1up 78]}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[Third Maratha invasion of Bengal]]
* [[Battle of Naubatpur (1745)]]
* [[Siege of Barabati (1745)]]
* [[Siege of Cuttack (1749)]]

== Notes ==
{{Notelist}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== Bibliography ==
{{refbegin}}
* {{Cite book |last=Datta |first=Kalikinkar |url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.279485 |title=Alivardi and His Times |date=1939 |publisher=University of Calcutta |language=en}}
* {{Cite book |last=Sarkar |first=Jadunath |author-link=Jadunath Sarkar |url=http://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.43007 |title=Fall Of The Mughal Empire 1739-1754 |date= |publisher=Orient Longman Ltd |year=1964 |edition=3rd |volume=I |language=en}}
* {{Cite book |last=Rahim |first=M. A. |title=Bangladesher Itihas |date=1971 |publisher=M. Alam Iden Press |editor-last=Rahim |editor-first=M. A |editor-link=Muhammad Abdur Rahim |edition=1st |location=Dhaka |pages=285–305 |language=bn |trans-title=Bangladesh's History |editor-last2=Abdul Momin |editor-first2=Chowdhury |editor-link2=Abdul Momin Chowdhury |editor-last3=Mahmood |editor-first3=A. B Mahiuddin |editor-last4=Islam |editor-first4=Sirajul |editor-link4=Sirajul Islam}}
* {{Cite book |last=Sarkar |first=Jadunath |author-link=Jadunath Sarkar |url=https://books.google.com/books/about/The_History_of_Bengal.html?id=DiUKAQAAIAAJ&redir_esc=y |title=The History of Bengal |date=1943 |publisher=The University of Dhaka |volume=II |location=Ramna, Dhaka |language=en}}
* {{Cite book |last=Mishra |first=Shree Govind |url=https://books.google.com/books/about/History_of_Bihar_1740_1772.html?id=iwEt0AEACAAJ |title=History of Bihar, 1740-1772 |date=1970 |publisher=Lawrence Verry Incorporated |isbn=978-0-8426-0172-6 |language=en}}
{{refend}}

[[Category:Conflicts in 1742]]
[[Category:1742 in India]]
[[Category:Battles involving the Bengal Subah]]
[[Category:Battles involving the Maratha Empire]]

Battle of Katwa (1742) - Revision history

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