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| Magic Happens when u go through these pages |
A lot of people
these days ask me" If I were not an engineer what would I be ?" The
expectation that they have is a writer of a sort . But to my interest advocacy
would be the profession I would have chosen . Sure , I love words but what I
love more is the application of words. I learn words not to get the meaning
while I read but to implement the same words while I speak with people or when I write . Advocacy has appealed to me
ever since I have read some parts of history. People like Napoleon, Adolf
Hitler , Winston Churchill were not only effective military generals but they
were also blessed with good advocates to mark there achievements off the field.
Why go international ? You are not a Maratha
if you are unaware about instrumental role of Jeeva Mahal in Pratapgad war
where Shivaji Maharaj killed Afjal Khan.
Throle Bajirao Peshve …. The Invincible warrior who was never registered
with a defeat on a field should be complimented more for his Advocacy Skills
than the Bravura in plotting a particular battle. But the best was yet to come.
This is rightly said that the night is darkest just before the dawn. The
darkest part of night arrived in form of
Loss of third battle of Panipath . Not only was that a economic loss but a
moral defeat. It is said every house in Maharashtra has a ancestor lost in the
battle of Panipath. It required more than Law , Order and Financial Discipline
to shape the structural economy of once magnanimous Maratha Empire. The empire
was in ruins and the responsibility of bearing such a huge load of loss was
critical. Young Madhavrao Peshwe , age 16 , steps up.
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| Thorle Bajirao Peshwe |
King is as good as
his attorneys. Shivaji Maharaj had baggage of people like Tanaji Malusaray ,
Jeeva Mahal , Dadoji Kontdev but more than anybody Jejau Maasaheb who contributed with blood and sand in laying the strong foundation of Swarajya. Same was the
case with Thorle Bajirao Peshwe. His team had the likes of Shindes , Holkars ,
Gaikwads and Pawars. All of them have credentials that render Bajirao
Invincible. But the same cant be said about Madhavrao Peshve. Even after having
a long list of brave family members they were all to lenient to shoulder the
burden of Empire. In such a scenario it needed much more than the ability of
Madahvrao to get Marathi out of the zone of this fluid economy . Enter RAM
SHASTRI.
The integrity of
this man is unparalleled in the accent of Maratha empire post Panipath. Ram
Shastri was astute man apt in knowledge of Law ,State Affairs and Politics. His
debacle with a pontiff took 5 days of argument to settle. He was the one who
stood like a rock behind the young Madahvrao.
Considering the poor economy that Maharashtra was suffering he even
refused the royal gift made to his wife. The period marks Shakespeare
Portryal of lady McBeth with young decisive Narayanrao being a faint copy of
Hamlet. The highlight of Ramshastri's life was the case of narayan rao's death.
To understand the case let me tell you a story….
Raghunathrao(Raghoba Dada) was the uncle of Madhav rao Peshwe. He always caustic about being second
best . Being youngest son of Throle Bajirao Peshwe and Maratha Empire in
its heyday , the guy was treated as a
prince. But that was no compromise for his bravery. Raghoba dada was a valiant swordsman and an
astute cavalry leader. Having said that , the facts stays till date he was too
innocent to run the State Affairs. Innocence
is a bad word when it comes to describe the Prime Ministers (दौलतीचे पेशवे). It was due to the bravado of this man
that the Maratha Empire spanned from Karnatak to Auttock (now in south
Afganistaan). He was the military general during the Auttock Regime.
Unfortunately Good soldiers don’t make a good king.At that time his elder
brother Nanasaheb Peshwe was the Prime Minister and he was a General.
The cloud of Peshwai
was marked with libidinous lining and Raghoba dada was no exception and so was
his elder brother Nanasaheb. Nanasaheb was instrumental in developing Pune
city. He did build a lot of good structures like Parvati , Katraj Dam (old
one), revamping of Shaniwar Wada but he was also the one who legalized
brothels. One of the establishments still stands tall juxtaposing Shaniwar Wada
(the residence of peshwe) and that street is called Budhwar Peth. On 14th Jan
1761 , Makar Sankranti day , while the entire Maratha generation vanished on
the field of Panipath, Nanasheb was busy in his 3rd matrimonial ceremony with a
9 year old. Even Raghoba dada did not go on a war owing to the fulfillment of
his lustful desires. With a loss of
manpower and economy Nanasaheb could not sustain the pressure and died soon
thereafter. Raghoba was more than sure that prime ministry is his. But the King
had different plans. He opted for young
blood in Madhavrao Peshwe and made him the PM. Thus struck the first discord in
Peshwa family.
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| Sawai Madhavrao Peshwe in the center at Ganesh Bhavan in Shaniwar Wada |
No matter how great
were his war tactics , family feud took Raghoba away from the battlefield and
always kept him out of war zone. Young Dynamic Madahvarao with Ramshastri and
Nana Phadanvis took over the Maratha Empire
when it was in shambles and was under the burden of huge debts. The discipline
was almost nonexistent. It was the time when Madhavrao looked all the
depts. Administration Accounts and Treasury. The family feud between
uncle and his nephew grew bitter and bitter. To analyze the character ,
and to state a fact Raghunath rao
was not a bad person but having a bad company is what makes him worst
amongst all of Peshwa Clan. He tried an assassination attempt on Madahvrao
which was futile. Madhavrao had to take some tough decisions to bring an end to all of misery. This is where Raghunathrao
faces a house arrest. Even his wife is accused with the same charges and faces house arrest.
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| Sawai Madhavrao Peshwe |
When you are
deprived of your likelihood for a long time , justifications of your actions or
inactions is immaterial. Thus began the ugliest episode in Martha history. A
nephew killed by his own uncle when uncle wasn't even sure what orders are
carried by his soldiers. It so happened….
Somewhere in 1773 Gardi gaurds enter Shaniwar Wada and create chaos.
Sumer Singh Gaardi is the agent of chaos who leads this commotion. Raghoba and
his wife are facing a house arrest since he unsuccessfully tried to backstab
recently expired Madhavrao Peshwe. Raghunath rao wanted to be a Peshwa of
highest order , but first he had to free himself out of house-arrest. The
patrol was not so stern as the Maratha Empire did not yet finish mourning for
there late king. Advantage Raghoba. He sent a message to Sumer to catch the
recently acting minister 18 years old Narayan Rao Peshwa (elder brother of
Madahvrao) . Literally saying , नारायणला धरावे !! The message not only got intercepted but also
manipulated by none other than his beloved wife Anandi. Little did anybody
know ,the one alphabet manipulation would cost Narayanrao his life. The manipulated message was नारायणला मारावे !! Literally meaning ,
Kill Narayan. Raghoba had no idea of
this
mis-communication.
mis-communication.
The Gardi's created a turmoil. Made Narayanrao run for his life.
Narayanrao , confused agitated scared all at the same time started to rescue
himself. The innocent kid thought his uncle would come to his rescue. He ran
for his life chanting "काका मला वाचवा"( save me uncle). It was just matter of time that Raghoba saw
his own nephew slaughtered rite in front of him and he had no idea what orders
were supposed to be carried out.This sorry act brought ill fame to
administration of Peshwe.
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| Ram Shastri |
The matter needed
investigation of sorts. Ram Shastri carried out the investigation and the
official matters were looked by Nana Phadanvis. The investigation conclusively
ended with Raghunath rao, Anandi, and Summer Singh guilty. But the brat that Raghoba was denied his
charges , pleading the welfare of the state was his main motivation. The judge
did not consider the plea for leniency. Rather than staying the puppet of Chief
Justice , Ramshastri stayed true to his job. Raghunatrao , Anandibai and Sumer
Singh were found guilty and ordered to be prosecuted. Althought Raghunath Rao
was aquitted , Anandi was declared an offender of the state and Sumer as the
culprit. This was a stern decision , given the fluid period in Maratha empire.
Ramshastri handled
such a complex case and conclusively passed the strict decision. The man with
frugal lifestyle that he had , he stayed the same. After passing the decision,
he relinquished his office and privileges and left for pilgrimage.
इति: राम शास्त्री!!
