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==Mastani in popular culture==
==Mastani in popular culture==
{{Expand-section|date=June 2008}}
{{Expand-section|date=June 2008}}
The story of Baji Rao and Mastani was made into a motion picture, ''Mastani'', directed by [[Dhirubhai Desai]], and released in 1955.<ref>{{imdb title|id=0213863|title=Mastani}}</ref> [[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|date=November 2007}}. 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.Currently a daily serial is being broadcast on [[ETV marathi]] by the name,'''''Shrimant Peshwa Bajirao Mastani'''''.<ref>[http://www.etv.co.in/e-tv-5/bajirao_mastani/index.html]</ref>
The story of Baji Rao and Mastani was made into a motion picture, ''Mastani'', directed by [[Dhirubhai Desai]], and released in 1955.<ref>{{imdb title|id=0213863|title=Mastani}}</ref> [[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|date=November 2007}}. 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.Currently a daily serial is being broadcast on [[ETV Marathi]] by the name,'''''Shrimant Peshwa Bajirao Mastani'''''.<ref>[http://www.etv.co.in/e-tv-5/bajirao_mastani/index.html ETV website]</ref>


==References==
==References==

Revision as of 10:37, 4 July 2010

Mastani
a painting said to be of Mastani
Born
Bundelkhand
Died1740
OccupationWife of Baji Rao I
Spouseshah
Children1
ParentMaharaja Chhatrasal

Mastani (died 1740) was the Muslim wife of Peshwa Baji Rao I (1699-1740), an Indian general and prime minister to the fourth Maratha Chhatrapati (Emperor) Shahuji. She is said to have been a beautiful and brave woman.[1]

Biography

Mastani was a daughter of a Hindu, Maharaja 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. He also gave 33 lakh gold coins to Bajirao, which was a huge amount in those days.

Mastani is often referred to as Bajirao's concubine or mistress. However it should be noted that she was his lawfully wedded wife.

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 Mastani 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.

The palace at Kothrud was dismantled and parts of this are displayed at a special section of Raja Keldar Museum.[1][2].

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.The site still exists at the mrutyunjay temple on karve road. 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]

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.

Cause of death

According to popular folklore, Mastani commited suicide after hearing about Bajirao's death, by drinking poison from a ring which she was wearing. Others say that she jumped into the funeral pyre of her husband and commited sati. No documentation is available to confirm the actual cause. however it is accepted that she did not live long after Bajirao's demise and died in 1740.[3]

Mastani's grave

Her grave is in Pabal. It is called Mastani's Samadhi and is maintained by Mr. Inamdar.[4]

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 14/1/1761 against Ahmed Shah AbdaliDurani, 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.

Mastani in popular culture

The story of Baji Rao and Mastani was made into a motion picture, Mastani, directed by Dhirubhai Desai, and released in 1955.[5] 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.Currently a daily serial is being broadcast on ETV Marathi by the name,Shrimant Peshwa Bajirao Mastani.[6]

References

  1. ^ a b Tribure India accessed 3 March 2008
  2. ^ a b c Rajakelkar Museuem accessed 3 March 2008
  3. ^ [1]
  4. ^ Mastani's grave
  5. ^ Mastani at IMDb Edit this at Wikidata
  6. ^ ETV website

Further reading

  • Godse, D. G. Mastānī, Pôpyulara Prakāśana, 1989 (Marathi)
  • Anne Feldhaus. Images of women in Maharashtrian society. SUNY Press (1998), p. 70.
  • Stewart Gordon. The New Cambridge History of India vol. 2 part 4: The Marathas 1600-1818. Cambridge University Press (1993),p. 130.
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