The First Battle of Panipat

On the plains of Panipat the prize of India was up for grabs.

700 bullock drawn carts lashed together by chains formed a barrier in front of the army. Sufficient gaps had been left in between to let the cavalry charge through.

On the other side stood 100,000 men with 100 elephants.

The Timurid was sadly outnumbered but he had brought with him a new fangled weapon that was just coming into use in Turkey and Europe. And this was not his first time in India. He had tested its power earlier at Bajaur.

‘You are a born general.’ The emissary had stood before him, his head held low. He had brought with him gifts such as none had seen before. There were plates of jewels, not just rubies and turquoises that had been seen before in Badakshan, nor the heavy chunky Turki jewellery of the times but pearls and cornelians heaped over glittering diamonds, delicate filigree and brightly plumaged birds.

‘Sultan Ibrahim Lodi, he is nothing but an Afghan…he is young…careless in his movements, marches without orders, halts and retires without method and is enraged without foresight.’

The emissary’s eyes had not moved from his feet.

‘My master has vowed to march upon Agra if you will march upon Delhi.’

For the first time Babur had caught a glimpse of luminous eyes even though the head continued to be held low.

The battle began at half-past nine in the morning. The decisive moment came by late afternoon. The cavalry wheeled furiously around the enemy flanks delivering a charge in its rear.

The events of that first milestone of Indian history – 326 BC – were being repeated. The day would be counted as the second milestone in Indian history.

The sun went down touching the sky with a million tints of orange, scarlet and gold.

Sultan Ibrahim Lodi lay dead amongst 15000 of his men.

‘By the grace and mercy of Almighty God,’ said Babur aloud; ‘this day has been made easy for me.’

Babur marched into Delhi. His son Humayun was despatched to Gwalior whose prince’s body lay beside Ibrahim’s.

As for Agra? There was no news.

The most powerful of the Hindu princes of India had failed to keep his word.

He was exhausted but there was not a moment to be lost.

Babur marched upon Agra.