THERE IN LIE HIS ASHES.....
Raverkhedi, a small hamlet on the shores of the Narmada river in MadhyaPradesh, is the place where Baji Rao1 breathed his last.
Infallible in battle, but hounded by the Brahmins of Maharashtra, over his love for Mastani, he was in the end a tortured soul. His never say die attitude and enormous strength finally came to an end a long way away from his beloved Shaniwar Wada.
There was a check post in Raverkhedi which was used by the Marathas as a base camp before crossing the Narmada River, on their way to the Northern Territories. Today the only sign of this Check post is a Stone Arch as shown in the picture. A square foundation remains inside this Arch which is believed to be where Baji Rao resided when in Raverkhedi.
Outside flows the Narmada and on its banks lies the Shrine of Baji Rao.
The ASI has put up a plaque which reads "This Chatri is believed to contain the ashes of the Peshwa Baji Rao who died in 1740A.D".
Nana Saheb Peshwa with the help of the Gwalior state is assumed to have built this monument.
Today the monument is at peril as it could be submerged by the dams of Omkareshwar and Maheshwar dams built on the Narmada river. The ASI has so far said that a huge retaining wall would be built around the shrine to safe guard it from the waters but neither the ASI nor the Project officials are giving any guarantees about whether it would really save the shrine.
Baji Rao who strived to make a name for Maharashtra, and succeeded, today finds no recognition from the Govt. of Maharashtra.
It is indeed a grave issue that we, who pride ourselves with our glorious history and the Government who reaches out to the world inviting them to savour our heritage, can be so lackadaisical, when it comes to actually saving the same heritage.
BajiRao and so many such great warriors have conceptualised a free India, but it is a sad reflection, to see the remains of what was a glorious era, to simply vanish from our sight.
Acknowledgements: Dr. Pr. K Ghanekar, Mr. Parag Patil, Mr. Shripad Kulkarni.
Infallible in battle, but hounded by the Brahmins of Maharashtra, over his love for Mastani, he was in the end a tortured soul. His never say die attitude and enormous strength finally came to an end a long way away from his beloved Shaniwar Wada.
There was a check post in Raverkhedi which was used by the Marathas as a base camp before crossing the Narmada River, on their way to the Northern Territories. Today the only sign of this Check post is a Stone Arch as shown in the picture. A square foundation remains inside this Arch which is believed to be where Baji Rao resided when in Raverkhedi.Outside flows the Narmada and on its banks lies the Shrine of Baji Rao.
The ASI has put up a plaque which reads "This Chatri is believed to contain the ashes of the Peshwa Baji Rao who died in 1740A.D".Nana Saheb Peshwa with the help of the Gwalior state is assumed to have built this monument.
Today the monument is at peril as it could be submerged by the dams of Omkareshwar and Maheshwar dams built on the Narmada river. The ASI has so far said that a huge retaining wall would be built around the shrine to safe guard it from the waters but neither the ASI nor the Project officials are giving any guarantees about whether it would really save the shrine.
Baji Rao who strived to make a name for Maharashtra, and succeeded, today finds no recognition from the Govt. of Maharashtra.It is indeed a grave issue that we, who pride ourselves with our glorious history and the Government who reaches out to the world inviting them to savour our heritage, can be so lackadaisical, when it comes to actually saving the same heritage.
BajiRao and so many such great warriors have conceptualised a free India, but it is a sad reflection, to see the remains of what was a glorious era, to simply vanish from our sight.
Acknowledgements: Dr. Pr. K Ghanekar, Mr. Parag Patil, Mr. Shripad Kulkarni.
