Panipat Was Not a Defeat, Say Speakers at War Memorial Day Event in Pune

Reported by Shoaib Tadvi
Kasba Peth, 13th January 2026: The 265th Panipat War Memorial Day was commemorated in Pune on Sunday by the Panipat War Memorial Committee and Shaniwarwada Chowk Mitra Mandal, Kasba Peth, at Yajnavalkya Ashram. The event paid tribute to Maratha warriors who fought in the Battle of Panipat and honoured soldiers who continue the tradition of service to the nation.

The programme was presided over by Lt Gen Rajendra Nimbhorkar (Retd.). Several eminent personalities were present, including Pradeep Rawat, Chairman of Itihas Sanshodhak Mandal; historian Pandurang Balkawade; former IAS officer and Chanakya Mandal founder Avinash Dharmadhikari; Dinesh Gandhi, Chairman of Udyam Vikas Cooperative Bank; and Rahul Punde, Karyavah of the RSS Kasba Division.

‘Panipat Was Not a Defeat’: Lt Gen Hasabnis
A key address was delivered by Lt Gen Sudarshan Hasabnis (Retd.), who was conferred with the Sadashivrao Bhau Peshwe Award. He called for a reassessment of historical narratives surrounding the Battle of Panipat.

“Panipat was not a defeat for the Marathas. It represented courage, leadership and an unyielding spirit. History has often been written selectively. The younger generation must study Panipat in its full context to understand the strength of the Maratha Empire,” he said.

He added that the discipline, bravery and sacrifice of Maratha soldiers should be remembered as symbols of resistance and national pride rather than loss.

Awards for Military Service and Social Contribution
As part of the ceremony, Colonel Prasad Purohit was awarded the Veer Yoddha Dattaji Shinde Award in recognition of his service to the nation. Girish Krishnakant Potfode, a social worker from Kasba Peth, received the Kasba Bhushan Award for his contribution to social welfare and community development.

Organisers stated that the awards were meant to acknowledge commitment to national service and social responsibility.

Remembering Maratha Legacy
Speakers highlighted the importance of preserving historical accuracy and cultural memory while recalling the contributions of Sadashivrao Bhau, Vishwasrao, Dattaji Shinde and other Maratha warriors.

The event was convened by Sunil Tambat, President of Shaniwarwada Chowk Mitra Mandal. Members of the organising committee, including Dinesh Bhilare, Vishram Manere, Jitendra Nijampurkar, Ajay Satpute and Vijay Jadhav, coordinated the programme.

The ceremony concluded with a call for youth to study history critically and uphold the legacy of courage and resilience demonstrated by the Maratha warriors, alongside a pledge to honour the nation’s armed forces.