Baka Bai
| Baka Bai | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1774 |
| Died | 1858 (aged eighty-four) Raghoji II Bhonsle |
| House | Bhonsle (by marriage) |
| Religion | Hinduism |
Baka Bai (1774-1858) was a
king of Nagpur. After her husband's death, she played a key role in the intrigues at the royal court of Nagpur.[1][2][3][4]
Life
Nagpur politics
Baka Bai was the fourth and favourite wife of
Nagpur Kingdom.[3][2] She was present at the Battle of Argaon in 1803, in which the Marathas were defeated.[1]
After her husband's death on 22 March 1816, Baka Bai brought her step-son Parsoji II Bhonsle to the royal palace, who succeeded to the throne of the kingdom
.
Parsoji II was blind, lame and paralysed, thus soon after his accession he became totally deranged, and it became necessary to appoint a
Appa Sahib assassinated Dharmaji Bhonsle, persuaded several members of Bakabai's faction to support him in his endavour of becoming regent, and acquired the regency.[7]
By January 1817,
Appa Sahib established his authority in court and poisoned Parsoji II to eliminate any obstacles in his path to the throne.[8] Appa Sahib immediately ascended the throne before any opposition by Baka Bai's faction.[5][9]
Appa Sahib was defeated at the Battle of Sitabuldi by the British and a treaty was signed on 9 January 1818, reducing Nagpur to tributary status. However, shortly after the treaty was concluded he renewed resistance, raising the local Gonds in rebellion, who burnt Makardhokra, Amgaon, Dighori, and other villages belonging to Baka Bai.[5][9][3]
When
the unjust policy, but eventually agreed to receive a pension along with the other Bhonsle family members.[13][14] She received the largest share of the pension, Rs. 1,20,000.[13][3] However, despite her protests, the Nagpur treasury was thoroughly looted by the British after the annexation of the kingdom.[6][13]
Revolt of 1857
During the
Revolt of 1857 there was unrest in Nagpur and the whole of the Central Provinces, but due to Baka Bai using all her power and influence to help the British government, a large uprising was prevented.[15][16] This greatly pleased the British government, because as a leading Maratha kingdom which had been recently annexed, its defection to the rebel cause would have served as an important centre of revolt to the Maratha region and to the north of the Nizam's dominions.[11][5]
Death
Baka Bai died sometime in September 1858, aged eighty-four. She was remembered for her piousness, especially in the Hindu community of the Central Provinces.[1]
Legacy
Baka Bai is often represented as a traitor, who supported the colonial
British Government despite her kingdom being annexed by them.[17]
However, this is not completely true, as she was considered hostile to the British government.the kingdom by peaceful means, since she wanted to secure titles and privilges for her descendants.[15] She succeeded in creating a new title for her adopted descendants- "Raja Bahadur of Deur".[16]
Light on her character has also been shed in the book "Nagpur ke Bhonsle" (Bhonsles of Nagpur).[17][18]
References
- ^ a b c d e f Smith, George (1888). Stephen Hislop: Pioneer Missionary & Naturalist in Central India from 1844-1863. J. Murray.
- ^ a b Wills, C.U. The Nagpur State in the 18th century. p. 215. Archived from the original on 23 January 2017.
- ^ a b c d e Russel, R.V. (1908). Maharashtra State Gazetteers: Bhandara. Director of Government Printing, Stationery and Publications, Maharashtra State.
- ^ Bhatia, O. P. Singh (1968). History of India, from 1707 to 1856. Surjeet Book Depot.
- ^ a b c d e f Central Provinces District Gazetteers: Nagpur. Archived from the original on 19 January 2017.
- ^ a b c Maharashtra State Gazetteers: Chandrapur. Maharashtra, India: Directorate of Government Print., Stationery and Publications, Maharashtra State. 1960.
- ^ a b "Chanda under the Bhonsles of Nagpur". Central Provinces District Gazetteers- Chanda. Mumbai: Directorate of Government Print., Stationery and Publications, Maharashtra State. 2006.
- ^ Duff, James Grant (1878). History of the Mahrattas. Times of India Office. p. 529.
- ^ a b Report on the administration of the Central Provinces: for the year ... 1892/93 (1894). 1894.
- ^ ISBN 978-81-313-0034-3.
- ^ ISBN 978-1-5287-6963-1.
- ^ Hunter, William Wilson (1908). Imperial Gazetteer of India, Volume 17. 1908–1931. Clarendon Press, Oxford.
- ^ a b c RĀU, Vakeel of the Maha Ranees of Nagpore HANUMANT (1854). The Spoliation of Nagpore. J. F. Bellamy.
- ^ The Calcutta Weekly Notes. Weekly Notes Office. 1912. p. 1059.
- ^ a b Justice, International Court of (1960). Affaire Du Droit de Passage Sur Territoire Indien (Portugal C. Inde). International Court of Justice.
- ^ a b "Shrimant Raje Bahadur Raghojirao ... vs Shrimant Raje Lakshmanrao Saheb on 18 July, 1912".
- ^ a b "बाकाबाईला खलस्त्री ठरविणे चुकीचे". Maharashtra Times (in Marathi).
- ^ Nagpur Ke Bhosale 1730 Se 1854 - नागपूर के भोसले १७३० से १८५४ - Sahyadri Books , Bhalchandra R. Andhare, Hindi Book On Nagpurkar Bhosale.
