DYNAMIC WOMAN.....ANUBAISAHEB GHORPADE

Life And Times Of Anubaisaheb Ghorpade

The Peshwa Dynasty is renowned for its men. Brave Heroes, Just Administrators, Compassionate and yet stern men.

It is a little known fact that the women in the Peshwa Dynasty were no less than Dynamic too. In my earlier posts under the heading of "Dynamic Women" I have written about Radhabaisaheb, Gopikabaisaheb, and Anandibaisaheb.

I now present to you Anubaishaeb Ghorpade. 

Anubai, the youngest sister of Baji Rao 1, was endowed with the same traits as her father Balaji Vishwanath and brothers Baji Rao 1 and Chimaji Appa. In fact it wouldn't be wrong to say that she was born with the finest aspects of each one of them.

Beautiful, Intelligent, Sprightly and Practical were just some of the facets of her personality. Married to Venkatrao Ghorpade ( Please refer to my earlier post on Venkatrao ),at the tender age of 6, she was the most indulged  in the Peshwa household. This though was never taken for granted by Anubai.
What never ceases to amaze me, time and time again, is how all these women handled responsibilities with such aplomb and practicality. 
It is impossible to write about Anubaisaheb without also writing about the events that unfolded between 1719 to 1783.. This period is the Life and Times of Anubaisaheb Ghorpade. Her History is intertwined with the Peshwa and Maratha History.

The Prinicipal Personalities that shaped her life:
1) Baji Rao 1      (her brother)
2) Chimaji Appa (her brother)
3) Nanasaheb Peshwa  (her nephew)
4) Madhavrao Peshwa (her grand nephew)
5) Venkatrao Ghorpade (her husband)
6) Narayan Venkat or Narayan Tatya (her son)
7) Tarabai  (Queen of Satara)
8) Jijabai    (Queen of Kolhapur) 
9) Parshuram Bhau Patwardhan (Trusted General of the Peshwa Government)

 As Venkatraao would be away on expeditions most of the time, Anubai would come to stay in Pune. Bajirao1 had built a wada for her, just behind Shaniwarwada. It is said that there used to be a tunnel from Shaniwarwada to the Ghorpade wada through which Bajirao would visit his sister.
The picture below shows a view from Shaniwarwada. In the background,you can see the roof tops of Nana wada to the extreme left, Ghorpade wada in the center and Biniwale wada to the right. A school has been built in the place of Ghorpade wada today and a picture of the wada is not available.

Anubaisaheb's husband Venkatrao Ghorpade being a Sardar in the Maratha army, was granted villages and Talukas, for his exemplary service by both Shahu Maharaj and Baji Rao1. As these were in close proximity to the Kolhapur State, Venkatrao found it prudent to maintain friendly relations with them. However this peace did not last long and in 1728 he broke his alliance with Kolhapur and swore his allegiance to Shahu Maharaj and Satara.

The Ichalkaranji crest

 VenkatRao Ghorpade's Hand Writing

After his demise, his son Narayan Venkatrao or Narayan Tatya  as he was known took over the reins of Ichalkaranji State. Being a minor, his mother Anubai helped him run the administration of the State. However Narayanrao, equally brave like his father but stubborn and willful soon lost interest in the administration. It is said that one of the reasons for this was Anubaisaheb taking an active interest in the running of the state. Hear I find the need to explain the situation following Venkatrao's demise.

Lacking the ability or capacity to govern the newly formed Ichalkaranji state, Narayan Rao was a disappointment. Fortunately Anubai, had inherited the heritage of wisdom, tact and courage, and together with the help of Nana Saheb and Bhau Saheb Peshwa and the civil and military officers of the State she managed to govern with the same ideologies as her husband.

!749-1750 was the year in which Shahu Maharj lay on his deathbed. Ramraja was raised to the throne of Satara. However his grand mother Tara Bai raised an objection and it was a difficult time for the Peshwa. Cornered by Ramraja in Satara and Sambhaji II in Kolhapur, who were against him, with tact and diplomacy he put an end to the plotting and planning to overthrow him as the Peshwa.

Nanasaheb then led an expedition to Hyderabad. Narayan Venkat was with him but just when victory was in sight, Nana Saheb had to rush back and face yet another challenge. Tarabai had dethroned Ramraja with the help of Damaji Gaikwad of Baroda and ceased the throne.

Anubai and Narayan Venkat assisted Nanasaheb in bringing about the defeat of Damaji Gaikwad and Queen Tarabai had to suffer the defeat.. In this period Anubai was a constant figure with Nanasaheb providing him with her army and supplies so necessary in battle.

Anubai's son did seem to mend his ways for a brief spell. He carried out an expedition in Carnatic ( Modern Karnataka ) in 1754 and was instrumental in winning both the battles.

In 1756 Anubai was with Nana Saheb in another expedition, this time against the Nawab of Sawanoor. Narayan Venkat joined her there but had to return to Ichalkaranji due to ill health. Once again with the help of the military personnel provided by Anubai, the battle was won.

1756 is known as the Golden period for the State of Ichalkaranji. Fortune had favoured the State. Jagir's, Inams' Deshmukhi's and Haks, revenues from forts and other villages made the state rich. Anubai always promoted the welfare of and gave precedence to her state, over coming all adversity. She also made sure that her state would be ready to help the Peshwa Government at any given time. Yes she was fortunate to be the daughter and sister of the Peshwas, but her resolve to the well being of her state spoke so well of her that not only the Peshwas but also the commonest of soldiers held Anubai in high esteem.

It could be said that the cause of Narayan Tatya's indifference to the administration of the state and his defiance to against the state and Anubai was Anubai herself. She was a formidable lady and a domineering one, circumstances had made her so. The precarious situation which she found Ichalkaranji in forced  her to take a hard stand. The continuous threat from Kolhapur. Pillaging and routing in her constituency by the Kolhapur rulers made her equally competitive. It is solely to her credit that she fought hard to keep her State from being annexed to the Kolhapur State.

The defeat of the Maratha Army in Panipat though was a severe blow to Nanasaheb Peshwa. He did not survive long. His son Madhavrao became the next Peshwa. He quickly followed in his fathers footsteps to regain the lost glory.

Different wheels were turning in the Kolhapur regency. Sambhaji the prince of Kolhapur had died during Nanasaheb's tenure. His mother Jijabai seized the throne. She was completely antagonistic towards the Peshwa. Nanasaheb then had every intention of annexing the state. Towards this end he asked Anubai to keep a watchful eye on all movements of Jijabai. It so came to happen that two rival queens were at loggerheads watching the others movements and thwarting each others plans.

Jijabai took her revenge on the Ichalkaranji state. Madhavrao reinstated her as the Queen of Kolhapur and permitted her to adopt a son. This he thought would ensure peace but it was the opposite. Jijabai, in 1764 saw her opportunity, when Narayan Tatya took a large contingent to the Carnatic. Her army attacked, plundered and looted the neighbouring villages which belonged to the Ichalkaranji State. Anubai seeked help from her wayward son Narayan Venkat but to no avail. 

In 1766 Anubai requested Madhavrao to recognise her grand son Venkatrao as Sardar. Madhavrao also commanded the Kolhapur State to restore all properties to Ichalkaranji which were usurped by Jijabai. Anubai and her grandson swiftly then raised an army with the help of Madhavrao Peshwa. A young Venkat went off for a battle with Madhavrao against Raghoba dada.

The one and only blunder that Anubai made was after the Battle of Panipat.

An imposter, calling himself "Bhau Saheb"came to Pune. Madhavrao  saw through him immediately, but for some reason Anubai believed him and even extended her help. It was proved later that his name was 'Sukhvidhan" and Madhavrao and his Government severely punished all those who had sided with the imposter.

The Ichalkaranji State too suffered the consequences. Madhavrao was so incensed with Anubai that he ordered Ichalkaranji to be annexed to Pune and the penalty of death was issued to Venkat. It was only after the trusted General of the Peshwa Government, Parshuram Bhau Patwardhan interceded that the death sentence was lifted. ( More about Parshuram Bhau Patwardhan in my next post.)

All the property of Ichalkaranji was confiscated until a fine of 1,25,000 rupees were paid to the Peshwa Government. This was a big blow to Anubai. All her life she prided herself to be astute and perceptive, but this one mistake completely broke her spirit. She stopped taking an active role in the administration of her beloved State after 1777. She devoted the rest of her life by going on pilgrimages and penances. A complete opposite role to that of an active and commanding one.

She breathed her last in the little village of Tulapur in 1783.

The Maratha Empire had lost another dynamic personality. The part that she played in nurturing and strengthening her Ichalkaranji State from 1745 to 1776 was no mean feat.

Anubai Saheb Ghorpade must go down in History as one of Maharashtra's famous and courageous Queens.

References: 1)The Story of Ichalkaranji 

                   Author:H. George Franks.                  

Photographs: 1)The Story of Ichalkaranji'

                    2)Pune Krishna Dhawal  

                     (A book of pictures of the bygone era.)

                       Compiled by Shri Mandar Lavate