Ibrahim Khan Gardi

Ibrahim Khan Gardi (died 14 January 1761) was a South Indian Muslim general of the Maratha Empire. An expert in artillery, he initially served the Nizam of Hyderabad, before working for the Peshwa of the Maratha Empire. As a Maratha general, he commanded a force of 10,000 men, infantry and artillery. He was captured and killed by the Durrani soldiers during the Third Battle of Panipat in 1761.

Military career Ibrahim Gardi was a South Indian Muslim soldier of fortune. He was an expert in artillery and was in service of Nizam of Hyderabad. He served Nizam Ali Khan, Asaf Jah II and was highly attached to him and had participated in the Battle of Palkhed against the Marathas in which the Marathas won. He commanded an army of Hyderabadi Muslims.

Training in French discipline He trained to the French discipline as commandant de la garde to de Bussy, Due to Ibrahim Khan's extreme sense of loyalty to his master Sadashivrao Bhau, he fought to the end till he was captured after all his famed Maratha musketeers laid down their lives, one by one, or simply vanished during the night of 14 January 1761 when darkness fell on the battlefield. Some of Ibrahim Khan's artillery detachment with infantry and musketeers kept on fighting while defending their positions until sunset to escape in the darkness of night. To this date, some of the Pardhi communities' folklore have various songs in praise of Ibrahim Khan as well as Suleiman Khan Gardhi.

Ibrahim Khan was caught by Afghans from Shuja-ud-Daula's captivity and brought before Ahmad Shah Durrani in a severely injured condition. According to Kasiraj Pundit, Abdali ordered him to be brought into his presence and insultingly asked him, "How a man of his courage came to be in such a condition?" Ibrahim Khan answered that no man could command his destiny; that his master was killed, and himself wounded and prisoner; but that, if he survived, and his Majesty would employ him in his service, he was ready to show the same zeal.

Ibrahim Khan's courage under attack from Afghan, Oudh and Rohilla forces distinguishes him from others and makes him a memorable hero in folklore and songs in the Deccan region.

His young son was freed by Hafiz Rahmat Khan Barech.

Aftermath

The family and army of Ibrahim Khan Gardi kept on serving Peshwas as personal guards as well as musketeers until the end of the Peshwa rule in 1818.

After end of the Peshwa's rule, his private army was disbanded by British Raj and some along with others from the Maratha armies joined services of the East India Company as sepoys, musketeers, cavalrymen in infantry and artillery units – especially in The Poona Horse in 1818, Bombay Sappers, Madras Sappers, and Maratha Light Infantry.

In popular culture Ibrahim Khan Gardhi was portrayed by Mukesh Khanna in TV series The Great Maratha and also portrayed by Nawab Shah in 2019 film Panipat.