Parshuram Bhau Patwardhan

Parshuram Bhau Patwardhan of Tasgaon

Brahmibhat  Haribhat Patwardhan was the doyen of the Patwardhan Clan. He had 7 sons.

Krishna
Trayambak
Govind
Ramchandra
Bal
Mahadev and
Bhaskar.

Out of these, Trymbak, Govind and Ramchandra, became famous for their bravery.
Govindrao came to be employed with Balaji Vishwanath Peshwa. Due to his bravery and loyalty, he was gifted with a cavalry of 5,000 horses and the rank of General in the Peshwa's army. In due time all his other brothers too joined Govindrao. The Patwardhan brothers played their part in the battles of Malwa (1728, 1740 ), Delhi (1737, 1739 ), Bundelkhand (1741), Gujrat (1731, 1755) and Karnataka aginst the Nawab of Savnur, The Nizam, Hyder and Tipu Sultan.
Unfortunately as Govindrao was waging a battle in the south, none of the brothers could go with Bhausaheb Peshwa to Panipat.

Though after 1750 they administered and safe guarded the southern boundaries of Maharashtra completely.

The Patwardhans fought for the Maratha Empire from 1740 to 1800. In these 60 years almost all the breadwinners laid down their lives for the empire.

Parshurambhau Patwardhan, the son of Ramchandra Patwardhan, was just such a nobleman.

Bereaved of his father at the age of 13. He was brought up by his mother and uncle, Govindrao. His first encounter on a battle field was at Shrirangapattam, at the age of 17. Since then he fought for the empire in every battle till the age of 60.
His prime was spent in battles against:

1)   The Nizam of Sindhakhed

2)   Haider at Rattehalli

3)   The First Maratha - British war : Where he pursued General Guard, and made him beat a hasty     retreat from Borghat to  Panvel (Near Mumbai).
   

4)   Tipu Sultan had laid seige at Nargund,
      Parshuram bhau was successful in overthrowing that siege.

5)  He seized the fort of Dharwad and was instrumental in unfurling the Maratha flag on the fort.

6) After Shrirangapattam, the biggest challenge of his life was in the battle of Kharde, against the         Nizam in 1795. A big chunk of the success in this battle goes to Parshuram Bhau.

After the end of the battle of Panipat in January 1761, it was thought that the Maratha power had waned. The Nizam of Sindhakhed created a stir by not heeding to the ransom, he was supposed to pay an amount of 25lakhs which was not a paltry sum. Parshuram bhau, then, won the fort of Daulatabad from the Nizam.

After Nana saheb Peshwa's death, Madhavrao became the Peshwa. As he was still underage, his uncle Rahoba dada took over the running of the empire. Nobody was happy with this arrangement. Madhavrao was an able commander and administrator and he soon  assumed control. This created a rift between the two.
Fed up with the machinations of Raghoba dada's rule and not finding any way out, Parshuram bhau sided with Madhavrao. In anger, Raghoba, confiscated all his properties and he, Paarshuram bhau had to take cover with the Nizam.

In 1763 a huge battle was fought at Rakshasbhuvan between Madharao's Marathas and the Nizam. The Peshwa defeated the Nizam and freed, along with Parshuram bhau, all the other Sardars who had subjugated themselves to the Nizam.

Parshuram Bhau played an important role in many battles after this as well as siding with  Nana Phadnawis in the famous Barbhai episode.
He was given the task of looking after the safety of Gangabai, ( the widow of the slain Narayanrao Peshwa), who was then in a family way. Sawai Madhavrao was born and annointed as the next Peshwa in this very tense period.

In this whole interval the other Patwardhan brothers too played their part in many battles. After the demise, while at war, of Gopalrao, Vamanrao and Pandurang, the mantle of the Patwardhan clan fell on Parshuram bhau. This was around 1777.

The Jagir of Tasgaon became his home. It is situated. near Sangli and Miraj in Maharashtra.
Tasgaon was the station of Parshuram bhau with a compliment of 122 troops and weapons. In the larger scheme of things he was, however only a 1/3rd stake holder of the Miraj sansthan. Hence within the Mirajkar Patwardhans, the Tasgaon Rajwada and the surrounding  territory became his personal province. This came to be known as Kashe Tasgaon.

Not much is known of this principality between 1650 and 1770. It was only after Bhau took over that Tasgaon gained prominence.
Parshuram bhau was a devotee of Lord Ganesh. He built a temple in Tasgaon. To this day, the temple draws enormous crowds of devotees from the region during the yearly Ganesh Utsav.

There is a different form of architecture which catches the eye when you see the Rajwada. Tasgaon and the surrounding areas were under the rule of Adilshah of Bijapur till it was won over and became part of the Maratha Emire. The Northern gate of the Rajwada and the Northern wall are relics of the Adilshahi Era.

In a career which spanned 60 years, Parshuram bhau took part in almost 100 battles. His end too came on the battlefield. In 1799 while in battle with the Karvirkars of Kolhapur, he was severely wounded. It is said that he was taken to the Maharaja of Kolhapur in this critical state. No mercy was shown to him howevr and he was killed. A gruesome end for a brave and noble warrior.

The Tasgaon Rajwada, today is the residence of Mr. Rajendra Patwardhan. He is the 7th descendant of Parshuram Bhau, from the Tasgaon Branch.
The Rajwada and temple although difficult to maintain, is painstakingly looked after by Mr. Rajendra Patwardhan.

Some of the paintings found on the walls in the Rajwada. The colours are natural dyes.



Courtsey:  Mr. Rajendra Patwardhan
                  Photographs: Mr Jay Prayag.