John Nicholson vs Khanderao Dabhade

Nicholson served as a staff officer during the Battle of Chillianwala, a costly and indecisive engagement of the Second Anglo-Sikh War. The battle was a British tactical defeat against the Sikh Khalsa Army, with heavy casualties on both sides.

Nicholson was appointed Deputy Commissioner of Peshawar, a key frontier post in British India. In this role, he administered the region and managed relations with local Pashtun tribes, earning a reputation for firm governance.

Nicholson led the assault column during the British storming of Delhi, a key battle of the Indian Rebellion. He was mortally wounded during the attack and died days later, becoming a celebrated British martyr of the rebellion.

Khanderao Dabhade was appointed as the Senapati (commander) of the Maratha operations in Gujarat by Shahu I. This gave him authority over Maratha military and revenue collection in the region.

Khanderao Dabhade led Maratha forces against the Mughal governor of Gujarat at Balapur. The Marathas achieved a decisive victory, solidifying their control over large parts of Gujarat.

Khanderao Dabhade formalized the collection of chauth (25% tax) from Mughal territories in Gujarat. This system provided a steady revenue stream for the Maratha Empire and reduced Mughal influence.

Khanderao Dabhade opposed the Peshwa Baji Rao I's centralizing policies and his campaign in Malwa. This led to a political rift within the Maratha Empire, with Dabhade asserting his autonomy in Gujarat.