Baji Rao II
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Pratap Singh, Raja of Satara | |
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| Preceded by | Madhavrao II |
| Succeeded by | (Nana Sahib succeeded as a titular Peshwa) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 10 January 1775 Anandi Bai (mother) |
Baji Rao II (10 January 1775 – 28 January 1851) was the 13th and the last
Personal life
Baji Rao was the son of the former Peshwa
Raghunathrao's successor as Peshwa,
Pandita Ramabai has criticized him in her writings for marrying, at the age of 60, a girl who was only 9 or 10 years old.[1]
Holkar's conquest of Poona
After the death of Nana Fadnavis in 1800,
On the morning of 25 October, before the battle, Baji Rao had already sent preliminary terms for a treaty to the British. After the Holkar victory in the battle, he fled to Vasai, where he sought assistance from the British in Bombay.[2] Holkar set up an ad hoc council headed by Baji Rao's adoptive brother Amrut Rao, and ran the Peshwa's government in Amrut Rao's name.[3]
Treaty with the British
Baji Rao II concluded the
The British triumphed, and the Marathas were forced to accept losses of territories due to internal rivalries between Holkars and Scindias, and treachery committed in all the battles by Scindia's French and other European officers, who mostly handled the imported guns within the Maratha army—the Marathas failing to train their own men in sufficient numbers to handle imported guns.[citation needed]
Third Anglo-Maratha War
The raids of the
On 5 November 1817, the British Resident at Poona was attacked by Baji Rao II's army led by his Attorney Mor Dixit. Bajirao II could have won this battle had he not halted the progress of his forces by succumbing to the request of British Resident Elphinstone for a ceasefire. Baji Rao watched the battle that ensued between his troops and the British from a hill now called Parvati. This battle on 5 November 1817, referred to as the Battle of Khadki, resulted in Peshwa's defeat.[7]
Afterward, his troops moved to Garpir on the outskirts towards present-day Solapur Road to block the British troops coming from Jalna, but the treason of one of Baji Rao's chiefs, Sardar Ghorpade Sondurkar, led to his force withdrawing.[citation needed] Subsequently, Baji Rao captured Chakan Fort from the British troops. Meanwhile, the British placed Poona under Colonel Burr, while a British force led by General Joseph Smith pursued the Peshwa.[citation needed] Towards the end of December, Colonel Burr received news that the Peshwa intended to attack Pune, and asked the Company troops stationed at Shirur for help. The troops dispatched from Shirur came across the Peshwa's forces, resulting in the Battle of Koregaon. The Peshwa was unsuccessful in defeating the Shirur contingent, and was forced to retreat fearing the arrival of a bigger Company force led by General Smith.
Surrender and retirement
Five British columns set out after Baji Rao II in full cry, slavering at the thought of the 'prize money' that lay at the end of the chase. After running for five months from one fort to another, awaiting the promised help from Scindias, Holkars, and Bhosles that did not come, Baji Rao II surrendered to
To keep Baji Rao II under watchful eyes, the British selected a small village on the right bank of the Ganges at a place called
There were many stories making the rounds in the Court of Gwalior about Baji Rao II, where Manohar Malgonkar's grandfather P. Baburao was a minister.[
In popular culture
- The Marathi historical novelist N. S. Inamdar has written two books on the career of Peshwa Baji Rao II. The last Peshwa has been much-maligned by historians. In these novels, Inamdar tries to show the Peshwa in a different light. A person who was imprisoned in his childhood for a crime which was supposedly committed by his mother Anandibai, a person who came to the Peshwai not knowing the ABCs of politics, and a person who was in the wrong place at the wrong time.[citation needed]
- The first of the books, "Jhep" (1963), is actually based on the life of Trimbakji Dengle, who was a guard of the Peshwa and rose to become his chief minister (Karbhari). He helped the Peshwa resurrect the Peshwai from the ruins after the Second Anglo-Maratha War. He also tried to form a sort of coalition with some kings to try to overthrow British rule. In this he failed and the British framed him in the murder of the eminent Gangadhar Shastri (chief minister of the Gaekwad), and he was arrested. The Peshwa wasn't willing to give up his much-valued prime minister and was prepared to start a war against the British, but Trimbakji asked him to lie low and wait until the right time has come.[citation needed]
- The second book, "Mantravegala" (1969), is a sort of continuation of "Jhep". The difference is that "Jhep" deals more with the personal life of Trimbakji whereas "Mantravegala" deals with the personal life of Baji Rao between the years 1817 and 1818, and the Third and last Anglo-Maratha war. In the initial part of the book, Baji Rao is very angry that the English are constantly interfering in the affairs of the Maratha kingdom to a great extent.[citation needed] He is secretly making plans to destroy the British once and for all. He knows it will not be possible but wants to attempt it nonetheless. He frees Trimbakji from the prison in which the British have imprisoned him but refuses to acknowledge to Mounstuart Elphinstone that he was behind the release. Also, some Maratha chieftains are aiding marauders called the Pindaris who have harassed the British. They ask the Peshwa to stop the chieftains from aiding the Pindaris, which he says he cannot do. Finally, the Pindari War takes the form of the Anglo-Maratha war. In the initial part of the war, Baji Rao wins some battles as the British are caught unawares. But the British manage to defeat the Maratha chieftains and finally Baji Rao himself. He is made to give up the Peshwai (which is abolished) and is exiled to Bithur (near Kanpur). The book very beautifully captures the Peshwa's feelings and thoughts. His hatred of the British, his acknowledgement of his past mistakes (like refusing to accept Yashwantrao Holkar), his sadness at not being able to raise any children (all his children died very early or were stillborn), and also his last tearful farewell to Trimbakji at the end of the book.
Television & film
- In the 2001 Hindi historical drama series Lalit Mohan Tiwari.[citation needed]
- In the 2019 Hindi film Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi, Suresh Oberoi played the character of the exiled Peshwa.[citation needed]
See also
References
- ISBN 9781317334019.
[Peshwa] Bajirao II had married a girl of 9 or 10 when he was 60 and blind, to maintain the perpetual sacred fire [agnihotra]. This lady now lives in Nepal. Oh, the fate of our Indian women! Bajirao-saheb was a ruler who belonged to my caste, and he was also my kinsman. But that does not mean that I approve of his vices.
- ^ ISBN 9780300186659.
- ^ Arthur Wellesley Duke of Wellington (1877). A Selection from the Despatches, Treaties, and Other Papers of the Marquess Wellesley, K.G., During His Government of India. Clarendon. p. 218.
- ISBN 9788131300343.
- ISBN 978-0-07-066030-4.
- ISBN 978-81-7094-013-5.
- ISBN 978-0-313-32280-8.
Further reading
- Malgonkar, Manohar; Devil's Wind, Orient Paperbacks, New Delhi, 1972 (ISBN 0-241-02176-6)
- Vaidya, Dr. SG; Peshwa Bajirao II and the downfall of the Maratha power (5th ed.) 1976, Pragati Prakashan, Nagpur, India.[full citation needed]
- Dr.Suman Vaidya,"Akhercha Peshwa" (Marathi) Pragati Prakashan, Nagpur [full citation needed]
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