Lootere Bandits of British India E03 Web Series
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00:00Run...run...run...
00:30Run...run...run...
01:00The history is witness that every new system gives birth to new types of criminals.
01:20With every changing system, the conditions and ways of the criminals change.
01:27In 19th century British India, some robbers were terrorized.
01:33They shook the modern system from the roots.
01:37They made the lives of not only ordinary people, but also the British people miserable.
01:44Let's see the stories of these notorious characters based on the available documents.
01:52Lootery Bandits of British India
02:23Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj established the Ashta Pradhan Mandal to establish a good administration.
02:30One of the Ashta Pradhan Mandal was Peshwa.
02:37But in a few decades, Peshwa made his position so strong that he became more powerful than Chhatrapati.
02:45In 1759, Peshwa became a descendant of Maratha rule.
02:54Peshwa ruled most of the Indian subcontinent.
02:59And all this was possible because he had the leaders like Bhonsle, Gayakwad, Holkar and Shinde.
03:12Shinde is the name that changed over time and became Sindhiya.
03:17Because the English could not pronounce the word Shinde correctly.
03:23All these people together controlled the various areas of Peshwa's power with full force.
03:30This is another thing that these leaders and landlords came out so powerful after a while
03:37that they took over their own areas and became rulers themselves.
03:42When Marathas went to attack North India, many people benefited from it.
03:48One such people was Pindari.
03:51Pindari was a people of Peshwa.
03:55They used to run with the Maratha army.
03:57When Marathas used to conquer a place, Pindari used to loot it and take whatever wealth they could get.
04:08Pindari's rise was in the last phase of Mughal rule.
04:12There were many reasons behind it.
04:15Primarily, it can be said that the armies of Mughal army and other Rajwars were also dying.
04:23One of the reasons behind the depletion of the army was that there was a shortage of money.
04:34It was necessary to find another source of income for the army and the unemployed soldiers.
04:41They did not know any other work.
04:44Their main task was to fight.
04:46In such a situation, these former soldiers also started fighting and looting in their groups with the Pindaris.
04:54These people were not of the same nationality.
04:57They were not even followers of the same religion.
05:01It was necessary that most of them were Muslims.
05:05And the only link between them was that they were looting everything.
05:17Run! Run!
05:41Most of the Pindaris were former soldiers.
05:46But not all of them were like this.
05:49Some were born as Pindaris.
05:52Like Kareem Khan, who was one of the leaders of the Pindaris.
05:57There were some who were forced to accept Islam in their childhood and were included in the Pindaris.
06:05An example of this is Chittu Pindari.
06:07Chittu Pindari
06:10They were ready to include every person, tribe, nomadic community or society in themselves.
06:18They were ready to loot at any moment.
06:23Whether they were Afghans, Marathas, Chaats or anyone else.
06:29These groups were formed by the people of every religion and society.
06:33Because of this, they became a mixture of different religions and cultures.
06:41And this became a special identity of these Pindaris.
06:51Tell me, where is your master?
06:54Tell me, where is your master?
06:56Tell me, where is your master?
07:02Tell me, where is your master?
07:08Tell me, where is your master?
07:11You must have heard that there is no pocket in the end.
07:16Where will you go hiding so much wealth?
07:19Father! Father!
07:21Leave my father.
07:23Leave my father.
07:25I beg you, leave my father.
07:28Leave my father.
07:32Leave my father, father.
07:35Father!
07:39You have wealth and respect.
07:42Think what you have to save.
07:44All the wealth and ornaments are in the courtyard.
07:49The Pindaris had no mercy in their hearts.
07:53Whoever came in their way, they would crush him mercilessly.
07:58In history, the Pindaris have written dozens of stories about the punishments given to the citizens.
08:07This is the reason that as soon as they heard their name, they would stand in front of everyone's room.
08:12The cold wave of fear would run behind every citizen.
08:17Now you have taken all the wealth.
08:20Father!
08:21At least leave my daughter.
08:24Father!
08:26Father!
08:29Father!
08:31Father!
08:33At least leave my daughter.
08:37In the written history of the Pindaris, there is also a story that when a group of Pindaris started looting north of Machilipatnam,
08:51they looted 349 villages for 10 consecutive days.
08:58As if there was an earthquake.
09:00They burned and destroyed dozens of villages.
09:03They killed a total of 682 citizens or injured them badly.
09:09They had also harassed 3,600 people badly.
09:13It is seen that the Pindaris had looted a total of 2.5 lakh rupees in silver at that time.
09:23The life of the Pindaris was somehow on the roads.
09:28They would travel for months in search of loot and beatings.
09:34They would easily spend their lives in very few things.
09:38If they could get food and water, their work would go on smoothly.
09:44They were great horse riders.
09:47They had the strength to cover a distance of about 30 to 40 miles at a time.
09:55Sometimes they would go up to 50 to 60 miles.
10:00They would also feed their horses with opium so that their animals would not feel tired.
10:07They would also bring carrier animals from the same place where they looted.
10:13They would deposit their money on these carrier animals and bring them back.
10:18The Pindaris were such that the share of the loot was decided by the leaders of the group and the elders.
10:28Everyone would get the right share.
10:31But most of the loot would go to the leaders and their elders.
10:37Some shares would be sold to the citizens during fairs and festivals and turned into silver coins.
10:45This was no less than a festival for the Pindaris.
10:58Wow!
11:14You were amazing, Ganni.
11:17I remembered something when I saw you.
11:20Hey, Abibullah.
11:21Yes, sir.
11:22Put the food on the table.
11:23It is not right to make the king wait.
11:25Many Maratha leaders used the Pindaris.
11:29On the other hand, the Pindaris used to get the kingship and power from the Pindaris when they were in trouble.
11:37The Pindaris were divided into two main groups.
11:41One was the Shinde-Shahi Pindari, which was supported by the Shinde or Sindhi powers.
11:49The other was the Holkar-Shahi Pindari.
11:52They had the protection of the Holkar rulers.
11:56Holkar and Shinde were the main rulers of India.
12:02I accept the gift from my son-in-law, Karim.
12:10Tell Karim that I am very pleased with his progress.
12:14What are you doing? Do you even know what you are doing?
12:18Remove this.
12:22Oh, Mr. Holkar.
12:25Please come.
12:26I welcome you.
12:35The Holkar rulers had the protection of the Holkar rulers.
12:39They had the protection of the Holkar rulers.
12:41Are you busy with the protection of the looters or do you have some time for the protection of the Maratha culture?
12:49By the end of the 18th century, the Pindaris worked with the armies of the Shinde-Shahi and Holkar-Shahi.
12:56But in 1799, when Yashwantrao Holkar came to power,
13:01he formed an army under the leadership of a Pathan named Amir Khan.
13:08And gradually, the Pindaris reduced their help.
13:14The culture belongs to those who have power.
13:17And power is controlled by wealth.
13:20The Holkars also filled their treasures with this business.
13:27Mr. Holkar,
13:29the day I have a huge army like yours
13:34and a brave commander like Amir Khan,
13:40that day I will write my own culture.
13:43Yashwantrao Holkar was an influential Maratha leader.
13:47He had understood that if the British had to be stopped,
13:50then the Marathas had to come together and fight.
13:54In this effort, Yashwantrao Holkar had also reached Pune from Indore.
13:59The British had also understood that if the Marathas had to be stopped,
14:03then Yashwantrao Holkar had to stop them.
14:06For this reason, the British gave Yashwantrao Holkar an unconditional proposal.
14:12Yashwantrao Holkar accepted this proposal and signed a treaty.
14:17Despite signing the treaty, Yashwantrao Holkar continued to unite the Marathas against the British.
14:25You will write culture only when the British allow you to.
14:30They are pretending to be friends with us.
14:32They are looking for a chance to weaken us.
14:35But we will not only show our weakness, but also our strength.
14:39We will unite and kick the British out of this motherland.
14:42Otherwise, we will not leave this motherland.
14:46Daulatrao Shinde was going through a very difficult financial crisis.
14:52He was able to solve this problem because of his relations with the Pindaris and their protection.
15:00This was ultimately a two-way deal.
15:04The Pindaris used to reach the Marathas when they had to face a problem.
15:09In return, they used to get protection from the Marathas.
15:13On the other hand, a portion of the loot of the Pindaris used to be given to the Marathas as protection.
15:22Some of the Pindaris were rewarded with properties from the Marathas.
15:27They used to live in these properties and even collect taxes from there.
15:32But surprisingly, they did not have any political ambitions.
15:36They were happy in the life of looting and wanted to live such a life.
16:06The Marathas were not happy with the Pindaris.
16:10The Pindaris were not happy with the Marathas.
16:14The Marathas were not happy with the Pindaris.
16:18The Marathas were not happy with the Pindaris.
16:22The Marathas were not happy with the Pindaris.
16:26The Marathas were not happy with the Pindaris.
16:30The Marathas were not happy with the Pindaris.
16:33Or the Marathas were not happy with the Pindaris.
16:44.
16:48You are very eager just like a Pindari woman.
16:52You could even be a part of our clan.
16:56Let me go or kill me.
17:00Ok let me think.
17:03Karim Bhai, this is wrong.
17:08The rest is our profession.
17:10Don't do this, Bhai.
17:12Don't do this.
17:14Stay within your limits, Chitu.
17:16And drink as much liquor as you can.
17:28Karim Bhai's success is on his head.
17:33He will drown.
17:35Chitu Bhai, the time has come.
17:38You start a new path for yourself and for us.
17:44For the British rulers, in their part of the state,
17:48there was a lot of tension due to the terrorism,
17:51looting and looting of the Pindaris.
17:55In those days, in every Maratha state,
17:58there used to be a British representative
18:00who was called a resident.
18:03He was an important link between the British government
18:07and the local rulers.
18:09In those days, there used to be a resident
18:12with the Shinde rulers,
18:14whose name was John Malcolm.
18:17And Malcolm knew very well
18:20what, how and how many relations
18:23existed between the Shinde and the Pindaris.
18:28Your Highness, they are not just robbers.
18:32They are the children of Satan.
18:35Our people are very scared.
18:38We have to do something.
18:41Look, Mr. Malcolm.
18:42I won't be able to help you in this matter.
18:45Because these Pindaris don't follow my instructions.
18:49And anyway,
18:50the relationship between me and these Pindaris
18:53is like oil and water.
18:56By the way, there are other problems, Mr. Malcolm,
18:59towards which you should pay attention.
19:02Meaning?
19:03The people with whom you are going to negotiate
19:05are the ones who are going to take away your roots.
19:08Whom are you talking about?
19:11Why are you making me open my mouth now?
19:13Let it be.
19:15By the way,
19:17Mr. Holkar had come here.
19:19I had a conversation with him and...
19:29What?
19:35Mr. Malcolm,
19:37if our conversation is over...
20:00Mr. Malcolm,
20:02our constable Chittu Pindari has accepted this gift.
20:06Since when has Chittu become a constable?
20:10If you are merciful, Mr. Malcolm,
20:12he will also become a constable.
20:14Daulat Rao Shinde was very close to the British government.
20:19He used to incite the Pindaris
20:21to loot the British government's shares as much as possible.
20:27To incite the British government
20:29and to take revenge,
20:31the Maratha rulers used the Pindaris
20:34as a kind of shadow war.
20:44So, Chittu has experienced the strategy of war.
20:48What?
20:53The Maratha rulers were not ready to listen to the British.
20:57But the pressure of the British on the Maratha rulers
21:00was increasing day by day
21:02when they took action against the Pindaris.
21:05Now, it was impossible for the Maratha rulers
21:08to ignore the British.
21:11But by then, Karim Khan had grown to such an extent
21:15that it was difficult to control him.
21:45If anyone disobeys, he will be killed.
21:50In 1806, Karim Khan had a large share in the government.
21:56Karim Khan and his gang
21:59used to earn around 15 lakhs of silver per year
22:04or a little more.
22:07Karim Khan's terrorist activities were spread all over
22:10and they even reached Peshwa Bajirao.
22:16Daulat.
22:20Greetings, Mr. Peshwa.
22:39Daulat,
22:40Daulat.
23:10I am not mistaken.
23:12It's you.
23:14It's possible that Karim Khan is not aware of the increasing government.
23:21Sometimes, the danger is so close
23:24that it is not visible.
23:28Daulat Rao had a very sweet relationship with Karim Khan.
23:33He used to take a share of his loot.
23:36But there was a time when Daulat Rao was under heavy pressure
23:41to end his relationship with Karim Khan.
23:46The representatives of the British government
23:48were constantly keeping an eye on Daulat Rao.
23:52They had even raised concerns about Karim Khan's relations with Daulat Rao.
23:58Till now, Karim Khan's power had increased so much
24:03that Daulat Rao thought it best not to get into a direct dispute with him.
24:08Daulat Rao then decided
24:10that he would deal with Karim Khan in a different way.
24:16Tell Mr. Shinde that Karim Khan has come.
24:24Come, come, Karim Khan.
24:26Your Majesty, you called me. I have come.
24:30How are you, Karim Khan?
24:31I am fine.
24:34What are you looking at?
24:36I am ready and anxious for your gift.
24:39And your reward is also waiting for you.
24:43I will get it myself.
24:57This is treason, Mr. Shinde.
25:01This is treason.
25:06This is treason.
25:14This sign indicated to the entire army around Daulat Rao
25:20that Karim Khan is now trapped.
25:24And then what happened?
25:26Daulat Rao's army attacked Karim Khan's fort
25:30and started arresting his people and taking them into their captivity.
25:37Karim Khan's arrest gave Daulat Rao relief.
25:40This arrest satisfied the British, Peshwa and other Maratha leaders.
25:48However, this was just a show.
25:50And he never wanted the Pindaris to stop giving shelter.
25:55Chittu, the new son-in-law of the Pindaris.
26:01My blessings are with you.
26:04Daulat Rao gave his Shinde-Shahi flag to Chittu.
26:08During Karim Khan's imprisonment, Chittu Pindari strengthened his position.
26:14It was still necessary for Daulat Rao to give shelter to the Pindaris.
26:19Even if he had to betray the Peshwa and the British, he was willing to do so.
26:27Chittu Pindari was also an important figure in his political career.
26:33Villagers, listen.
26:35This village is now under Chittu Pindari's control.
26:39And we don't want any bloodshed here.
26:43All of you, come out of your houses with your belongings.
26:49I promise to spare your lives.
26:55Come on, get out.
26:58The British government was very worried about the Pindaris.
27:05The British also had their own problems.
27:08One of them was their business.
27:11Officers, the time has come to put an end to this Pindaris menace.
27:17The Marathas had their chance, enough chances.
27:21But they have chosen not to be with us.
27:25Now, Daulat Rao has always been dependent on the Pindaris.
27:29But he never gave the fully required attention to his armies.
27:34And I know that snake.
27:36As soon as he realizes the true force of our strength,
27:42he'll come to us back.
27:45So, we're going to start with the soldiers colliding over here,
27:50getting them from here.
27:53So, gentlemen, what we're going to do here, we're going to...
27:56Dada, these Pindaris are done for.
27:59These white snakes won't spare anyone.
28:03Why are you so happy?
28:05Dada, my uncle had seen the Pindaris fighting with his own eyes.
28:11There was bloodshed everywhere.
28:15Even today, when my uncle remembers the Pindaris fighting,
28:18his clothes get wet.
28:20Hey, fool.
28:22Do you think these dogs are here to dry your uncle's clothes?
28:26No.
28:27It's all Afim's doing.
28:29My in-laws have taken my life by raising Afim and Neel.
28:37Now, it's Malwa's turn.
28:40In comparison to Afim grown in Bihar and Bengal areas by the British,
28:45Afim from the fields and forests of Malwa area was much better and better.
28:53Its price was also good in China.
28:55This is why the British government wanted Afim to remain in Malwa.
29:02But the Pindaris had become the biggest obstacle in this matter.
29:07And this was the reason why they were determined to kill the Pindaris.
29:14If the Pindaris were not killed,
29:17it was decided that the British Afim business would not grow.
29:22Officers, we need to mobilize our troops at our disposal.
29:28And we will attack from multiple fronts.
29:30We're coming in with the 3rd Battalion,
29:33bringing them in, like I told you from the map,
29:36from here to there, and they'll be...
29:41Take care.
29:43Sir, the Pindaris are already forewarned.
29:46Because of the unfortunate delay from our side, they are already on the run.
29:50Well, they can run as fast as they can.
29:54But they cannot hide.
29:57To control the activities of the Pindaris,
30:01Governor General Hastings formed a large army.
30:05The number of this army was about 1,20,000.
30:09He divided the entire army into small pieces
30:12and planned to surround the Pindaris from all sides.
30:17The British government prepared a plan
30:20to not only expel the Pindaris from their areas,
30:24but to eradicate them from their roots.
30:29First of all, they targeted the smaller Pindaris and their tribes.
30:35They were much smaller than the leaders of the larger tribes,
30:38like Chittu Pindari or Kareem Pindari.
30:42They were not even as powerful.
30:45For this, the British started their special strategy,
30:49i.e. attack and rule.
30:53Listen, listen, listen.
30:55The British government has now come to save you from the terror of the Pindaris.
31:02These robbers are on the run to save their lives.
31:07That is why the Governor General has given you this freedom
31:12that if you want to take revenge for the atrocities committed against you
31:16or if you want to take back your stolen valuables,
31:19then you will have complete freedom.
31:22This order has been issued by the Governor General.
31:26The British were very clever
31:28and encouraged the villagers to stand up against the Pindaris.
31:32Because of this, the Pindaris now had to face not only the British
31:36but also the villagers.
31:38They incited the villagers to fight the Pindaris for their protection.
31:44And in return, the government will give them complete help.
31:49In this way, the British did not use their army
31:54and also saved a lot of their wealth.
32:02The British also decided that the land, fort or treasure
32:06that they would take back from the Pindaris,
32:09they would give it to their owners.
32:13And behind this clever plan,
32:16the main objective was to get the support of the Maratha leaders.
32:21The Maratha leaders were not yet ready to help the British.
32:26The Maratha leaders were targeted by the Governor General Histings
32:30who used to give shelter to the Pindaris.
32:33Now these Maratha leaders were feeling threatened by the British
32:38and were ready to make a treaty with the British.
33:08During this time, Kareem Khan was released from the captivity of Daulat Rao.
33:22Now he started trying to stand up again along with his son Durga.
33:27During this time, the British government also intensified the attacks on the Pindaris.
33:33Although the Pindaris were very cruel,
33:36they never got a chance to face the army.
33:41They were still fighting with people who could never face them.
33:47And this was the only reason that they started losing to the British army.
33:54Now the Pindaris needed shelter.
33:57For help, they started knocking on the doors of the Maratha leaders.
34:28The Governor General asked his officers to file a small case against the Pindaris
34:37and hang them immediately.
34:41And if any Pindari leader and his companion surrendered,
34:47they should not be allowed to die.
34:50During this time, Chittu Pindari had joined hands with the Holkar Shahi.
34:54Although Yashwant Rao Holkar died in 1811,
34:58the Holkar Shahi was still against the British.
35:00Kareem Pindari, who was under the heavy pressure of the British government,
35:04wanted Chittu Pindari to join him.
35:08And because of their mutual strength,
35:12they could make better deals with the British.
35:18Chittu, my brother, it's time to forget the past.
35:22Now it's a matter of life and death.
35:24We will only survive if we fight together.
35:27It's not just a matter of life and death, Kareem Bhai.
35:30The war with the British has already started.
35:33And in this war, I am with the Holkars, not you.
35:36Chittu, we are Pindaris.
35:38We are looters, not fighters.
35:41Kareem Bhai, you have been in prison for years.
35:45And now the scene has changed.
35:47New relations, new friendships have been formed.
35:53You have always been naive, Chittu.
35:56No matter how much the scene has changed,
35:59no one can defeat the Holkars now.
36:03Now the sun will never set in their rule.
36:10Till now, the plan of the British army was going well.
36:14The Maratha leaders were signing treaties with the British one after the other.
36:20Now there is no one left to give shelter to the Pindaris.
36:50After wandering in the jungle for many days,
36:53Kareem Khan surrendered himself to the British.
37:05Kareem Khan.
37:07The British forgave him
37:09and gave him land near Gorakhpur to live.
37:14Chittu Pindaris, you are a traitor.
37:17He gave him land near Gorakhpur.
37:19Chittu Pindaris decided that he would stay behind the Holkar army.
37:24After that, the Holkar rulers and Aamir Khan made a treaty with the British.
37:30Because of this, many of his companions left Chittu Pindaris.
37:36Many Pindaris surrendered themselves to the British government.
37:41But Chittu did not give up till the end.
37:45He fought like a brave warrior.
37:48He never surrendered himself to the British government.
37:54He fought with a few companions
37:58and finally made the jungles his home.
38:16Chittu Pindaris
38:20Chittu Pindaris
38:25Chittu Pindaris
38:30Chittu Pindaris
38:35Chittu Pindaris
38:40Chittu Pindaris
38:43Chittu Pindaris
38:48Chittu Pindaris
38:53Chittu Pindaris did not surrender himself till the end.
38:57He wandered in the jungle with his companions.
39:00It is said that he died in a lion attack.
39:04After the third Anglo-Maratha war, the Maratha Empire ended.
39:08Surprisingly, there was no important battle in this war except one.
39:14In December 1817, in Madhipur, the Holkar army faced the British army.
39:20In which 800 British soldiers were killed.
39:23As far as the Pindaris are concerned,
39:25the British army searched the entire Malwa while chasing them.
39:30But it was very difficult for the Pindaris and the British army to face each other.
39:35There was only one incident where the British army killed a thousand Pindaris.
39:40The Pindaris then fled and started living among the common people.
39:46No one knew about them later.
39:49The third Anglo-Maratha war is also known as the Pindari war.
39:55Dada, what did we say?
39:57After all, these white people freed us from the Pindaris.
40:02Yes, but who will free us from these white people?
40:32To be continued...