Peshwe brigade wins over MP govt

PUNE, May 4: History lovers concerned over the fate of Bajirao Peshwe-I's samadhi located in the Narmada river valley at Raver-Khedi in Mad...

PUNE, May 4: History lovers concerned over the fate of Bajirao Peshwe-I’s samadhi located in the Narmada river valley at Raver-Khedi in Madhya Pradesh (MP), can rest their worries with the rulers of the neighbouring State conceding their demand for its protection.

A delegation of the Bajirao Peshwe-I Smarak Samiti on a visit to that State to observe the 257th death anniversary of the gallant Peshwe last month, was assured by MP Deputy Chief Minister Subhash Yadav that the samadhi will be protected by all means.

The MP government had announced its intention to shift the samadhi to an alternate site in 1994 as the existing location fell within the submersible area of the proposed Maheshwar irrigation scheme on Narmada river. However, history lovers here opposed the decision on grounds that the samadhi was a national monument and cannot be shifted from the “sacred soil.”

Story continues below this ad

“The inscription on the samadhi structure erected by Bajirao-I’s trusted lieutenant Ranoji Shinde proclaims that the Peshwe’s mortal remains were consigned to flames on April 28, 1740, and the ashes were placed beneath this structure,” according Ashok Ranade, a history enthusiast and member of the visiting delegation.

Speaking to The Indian Express, he narrated that Bajirao would frequent Sanavat, now a taluka place about 28 kilometers from Raver-Khedi, to participate in the annual celebrations of Piran-Peer and Shitala Devi. Besides, the Peshwe had one lakh soldiers permanently stationed at nearby Indore and Gwalior, Ranade said.

“History books tell us that Bajirao-I, the victorious prime minister of Chhatrapati Shivaji’s descendant Shahu, was marching towards Delhi to stop the plundering Nadir Shah when he took ill and subsequently died on the banks of Narmada,” he added.

These facts were related to the deputy chief minister by the Smarak Samiti’s secretary Prafullachandra Tawade when they met on April 30. “Yadav was very forthcoming and promised us that the samadhi will be protected,” recalled Ranade.

Story continues below this ad

Prior to this, members of the Smarak Samiti visited the samadhi site on the occasion of Bajirao-I’s death anniversary on April 28. They met Narmada Corporation’s chief engineer A K Agarwal and local MLA Tarachand Patil to express their desire of opening a military preparatory school in Raver-Khedi. The Smarak Samiti also sought proper maintenance of the samadhi, which structurally resembled Chhatrapati Shivaji’s samadhi on Raigad fort. The Archaeology department had posted two security personnel at the site but the national monument deserved better treatment, Ranade felt.