Dynamic Women Part 2

 

Gopikabai

The year...1730...Period...during Diwali...

Shahu Maharaj had gone to the Gokhale Naik  'Wada' on Laxmi Pujan day. The Gokhale's were money lenders who after leaving their home town of Velneshwar had settled down in Satara.

A young girl of five years was helping her aunt serve sweet meats to the guests. Shahu Maharaj was quite taken in by this lively girl. After finding out that she was the daughter of his host Bhikaji Shamrao Gokhale, he had addressed her father that she would be married into the Peshwa family.
He then conferred his wish to Bajirao1 and on 11th May 1730, Bajirao's son Nanashaeb was married with great fanfare to this girl at Wai.
Nanasaheb was 9 years old and this sprightly, vivacious girl was all of 5 years of age.

This was Gopikabai

Gopikabai came to stay at Shaniwarwada and so began her journey which eventually ended in her being the Peshwa's wife. He was conferred the title of 'Peshwa' in June 1740 after Bajirao1's death on 28th April 1740, by Shau Maharaj.

Gopikabai had the priviledge of being brought up by the matriarchs Radhabai, Kashibai and Annapurnabai. Wives of Balaji Vishwanath, Bajirao1 and Chimaji Appa's second wife, respectively.

Her character to a certin extent was formed while growing up by watching Rahdabai.

After coming of age Gopikabai travelled with Nanasaheb on his campaigns. She knew how to read and write and was well versed in the intricacies of administration and governing. When required she also took an active part in the Darbar.

At a very young age she was witness to the deaths of the stalwarts, Bajirao1, Mastani, Chimaji Appa ( Bajirao1's younger brother ), Kashibai and Annapurnabai.

This made her the head of the household at a very young age.

With Radhabai ageing rapidly and Kashibai mostly unwell, Gopikabai took on the mantle and dealt with all in a very authoritative manner. Her every move was calculated and there was always a motive behind her words and deeds.

Even though Radhabai knew that this girl with her abrasive and rude speech would not be able to hold the huge Peshwa family together, she was powerless to do anything about it. Gopikabai also made sure that her two brothers, Madhavrao and Anandrao were with Nanasaheb on his campaigns, ensuring their livelihood in Pune.

As Nanasaheb's Governance grew so did Gopikabai's stature. She made sure that everyone knew of her position as the Peshwa's wife and paid her due respect.

She travelled to Dhawalpur, Malva and Prayag between 1740 and 1741. She only returned to Pune after knowing that she was with child. Vishwasrao was born to her on the 22nd June 1742.

As Gopikabai could read and write Marathi, she would send out letters to the nearby fiefdoms and get news from around Pune. Gopikabai would also sit into meetings with Nanasaheb and would more often than not actively participate in the discussions.

Nanasaheb could not tolerate this interference. According to him these things were beyond the ambit of a woman and she should stick to household duties.

To put a stop to this meddling, he kept her away from learning the Modi script and so Gopikabai could not know of the dealings and documents which were sent in the Modi script. Furthermore Nanasaheb did not make any administrative decisions on Gopikabai's advice.

In the 1744 campaigne in Karnataka, even though she was expecting her second child, she accompanied Nanasaheb. At this time the Nawab of Sawanoor looked after her and her new born son Madhavrao.. Later Madhavrao would address the Nawab as his 'Mama'(Maternal Uncle). 

One more son was born to Gopikabai in 1748. His name was Yashwant but unfortunately he passed away after 3 years of age. Gopikabai did not grieve long and once again took charge of running the Shaniwarwada.

After the demise of Shahu Maharaj, Nanasaheb Peshwa was given the sole charge of running the Maratha Kingdom.

Gopikabai now had made up her mind that the title of Peshwa would be given to only the descendants of Nanasaheb.

With this burnning desire and ambition, she set out to get together such people who would only be valuable to Nanasaheb and her.

Gopikabai was a fair skinned, heavy boned, tall, beautiful and radiant woman. Her character of a brusque, clever, resolute, acrimonious diplomat did not go down well with most. She was known as the 'self illuminated' wife of the successful Peshwa.

Even at the age of 35 after 3 child births she remained strong. Six children were born to her out of which 3 survived. Vishwasrao who later died in the battle of Panipat, Madhavrao who became the Peshwa after the death of Nanasaheb and Narayanrao who was murdered in Shaniwarwada.

Gopikabai was jealous of the heroics of her nephew, Sadashivrao, her Brother In Law, Raghunathrao alias Raghoba dada and Mastani's Samsher Bahadur. That these persona's would take away the title of the Peshwa from her sons was something that always plagued her.She started to be vicious and spiteful to the others and found ways and means to provide their downfall.

She was the instigator in creating walls amongst the Sardars, The Family and other Important people.

She was the cause of the divide in the Peshwa Household.

Due to her constant rude and acrimonious behaviour towards her Brother In Law, Samsher and Sadashivrao the atmosphere in the harmonious Peshwa family turned turbulent.

Fed up with his wife's tactics, Nanasaheb turned to a life of pleasure. This was a blow to Gopikabai. The bigger blow came when Nanasaheb on his way to Panipat, got married at the age of 40 to girl of 9 years. (Although this was a political marriage as the money was required to fund the army which was required to reach Panipat).

That both Nanasaheb and Gopikabai were devastated after the deaths of both Sadashivrao Bhau and Vishwasrao, is an understatement. Nanasaheb never recoverd from this mishap.

After Nansaheb's demise on 23rd June 1761 at Pune, his son Madhavrao was given the 'Khitab' of Peshwa.

This was a turning point in Gopikabais's life. She was under the impression that she would still be at the top of the helm with Madhavrao being too young to look after the affairs of the state. She could not have been more wrong.

Although Mahdavrao had immense respect and love for his mother, he did not tolerate his mother's interference. He himself was a strong and ingenious administrator. It was not long before Gopikabai decided to leave Shaniwarwada and set up her house in Gangapur near Nashik.

Madhavrao built her a strong 3 storeyed and a 2 courtyard 'Wada' for her. Apart from this Belbaug and Gangapur were also given in her name for her upkeep.

She visited Shaniwarwada in 1771 when Madhavrao was ill. After his demise Narayanrao became the Peshwa in 1772. This was her last visit to Shaniwarwada. Gopikabai went there to be with her son and wife and once again participate in the affairs of the state. Unfortunately her arguments with Raghobadada and the Sardars made her leave and go back to Gangapur.

Narayanrao Peshwa visited her in Gangapur but even then her advice to him proved distastrous.

 'If Raghoba dada's behaviour does not change for the better towards you, then put him under house arrest', is the ill advice she gave Narayanrao.

This led to his murder in 1773 ( although this was not the only reason, I will write more about this in my next post. ), just 8 months after he became the Peshwa.

Gopikabai was so disturbed and distraught by this news that she stated " I will not eat or drink of the house which murdered my son". She left her wada and started living in an ashram, living the life of an ascetic, begging for alms.

Only after her Grandson Sawai Madhavrao was given the robes of the Peshwa, did she  return to Ganapur.

Sawai Madhavrao was only 40 days old when he was conferred the title. Gopikabai did not return to Shaniwarwada but made sure that her most trusted administrators, Nana Phadnis and Sakharam Bokil looked after the affairs of the state till Sawai Madhavrao came of age.

Age did not treat her kindly. A stroke made her an invalid and robbed her of clear speech. No medication had any effect and her end came on the 3rd. August at the age of 65.

Gopikabai was a dynamic personality, but her ambitious nature and selfishness caused such a rift in the Peshwa house hold that none of the latter Peshwa's could bridge it.