Mastani
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| Mastani | |
 a painting said to be of Mastani
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| Born | Bundelkhand? |
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| Died | 1740 |
| Occupation | Wife of Baji Rao I |
| Children | no |
| Parents | Maharana Chhatrasal |
Mastani (died 1740) was the muslim wife of Peshwa Baji Rao I (1699-1740), an Indian general and chief minister to the fourth Maratha Chhatrapati (Emperor) Shahuji. She is said to have been a beautiful and brave woman.[1]
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[edit] Biography
Mastani was a daughter of a Hindu, Maharana Chhatrasal (1649-1731), of Bundelkhand province,[2] and was borne by his Persian Moslem wife. When a Mughal chief from Allahabad, Mohammad Khan Bangash, invaded Chhattrasal’s kingdom during 1727-28 and imprisoned him and his family, Chhattrasal sent a secret message, seeking help, to Baji Rao, who happened to be on a military campaign in the vicinity of Bundelkhand. Bajirao came to the rescue of Chhatrasal, defeated Bangash's army, and restored Chhatrasal to his throne. In gratitude, Chattrasal gave Bajirao his daughter Mastani, and also a third of his kingdom, including Jhansi, Sagar and Kalpi.
Mastani was a skilled horse-rider, and she accompanied Baji Rao on his military campaigns. According to legends, she was skilled in spear-throwing and swordsmanship. She was also a talented dancer and singer. Both Masatani and Baji Rao's wife, Kashibai, bore sons to Baji Rao within a few months of each other. Kashibai's child died at an early age. Mastani's child was named Shamsher Bahadur.
However, Baji Rao's love for his half-Moslem wife Mastani, and neglect of Kashibai angered his mother, Radhabai. In deference to Radhabai, Baji Rao's brother, Chimnaji Appa, tried to send Mastani into exile. Baji Rao's son, Balaji, also tried to coerce Mastani into leaving his father, but she refused. Enraged by her growing influence on Baji Rao, and Baji Rao's neglect of Kashibai, Balaji had Mastani placed under house arrest for a time, while Baji Rao was on military campaign.
Mastani lived for some time with Baji Rao at his palace of Shaniwar Wada in the city of Pune. The palace's north-east corner held Mastani Mahal and had its own external doorway called Mastani darwaza. Because of his family's intolerance of Mastani, Baji Rao later built a separate residence for Mastani at Kothrud in 1734,[2] some distance away from Shaniwar Wada. Court records (Bakhars) during Bajirao's regime specifically never included any reference to her.[citation needed] Historians have determined that the paintings of Mastani in both Raja Kelkar museum and Wai museum are not authentic.[citation needed]
[edit] Death
In April 1740, while Baji Rao was inspecting his lands at Khargon, he suddenly became ill and died. Baji Rao's wife Kashibai, his brother Chimnaji Appa, his son Balaji (Nanasaheb), and Mastani came to Khargon. Bajirao's mortal remains were consigned to flames on 28 April 1740, at Raver Khed on the banks of the Narmada River. Mastani died at Pabal Village near Pune, soon afterwards.
Kashibai took Mastani's six-year-old son Shamsher Bahadur (also named as Krushnarao) into her household and raised him as one of her own. Shamsher grew up into a formidable warrior and fought in the Third Battle of Panipat in 1761 against Ahmed Shah Abdali, alongside his half-cousin Sadashivrao Bhau and his half-nephew Vishwasrao, Nanasaheb's son. Shamsher Bahadur, barely 27 at the time, lost his life along with Sadashivrao Bhau and Vishwasrao in that battle. Shamsher Bahadur's son, Ali Bahadur, ruled over Baji Rao's lands in Bundelkhand, and founded the state of Banda, Uttar Pradesh.
[edit] Movies
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The story of Baji Rao and Mastani was made into a motion picture, Mastani, directed by Dhirubhai Desai, and released in 1955.[3] Sanjay Leela Bhansali announced in 2003 that he wanted to make a film titled "Bajirao Mastani", but he has indefinitely postponed the project.[citation needed]. A Marathi serial, "Rau", was produced in the 1990s, based on a Marathi book of the same name by historical novelist N. S. Inamdar about the life story of Baji Rao and Mastani.
[edit] References
- ^ a b Tribure India accessed 3 March 2008
- ^ a b c Rajakelkar Museuem accessed 3 March 2008
- ^ Mastani at the Internet Movie Database
- Godse, D. G. Mastānī, Pôpyulara Prakāśana, 1989 (Marathi)
[edit] External links
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