| Kashibai Bajirao Ballal | |
|---|---|
| Shrimant Peshwin | |
 Peshwin of the Maratha Empire | |
| Tenure | 17 April 1720 – 28 April 1740 |
| Predecessor | Radhabai Barve |
| Successor | Gopikabai |
| Peshwin Dowager of the Maratha Empire | |
| Tenure | 28 April 1740 – 27 November 1758 |
| Predecessor | Radhabai Barve (mother of Bajirao I) |
| Successor | Gopikabai |
| Born | Kashibai Joshi (1703-10-19)19 October 1703 Chaas Village, Pune,Maratha Empire |
| Died | 27 November 1758(1758-11-27) (aged 55) Satara,Maratha Empire,Bharath (India) |
| Spouse | |
| Issue |
|
| House | |
| Father | Mahadji Joshi |
| Mother | Shiubai |
| Religion | Hinduism |
Kashibai Bhat was the first wife ofBajirao I, thePeshwa (Prime Minister) to the fourth MarathaChhatrapati (Emperor)Shahu. With Bajirao, she had four children, includingBalaji Baji Rao andRagunath Rao. Balaji succeeded Bajirao as Peshwa upon the latter's death in 1740. Also following Bajirao's death, Kashibai fostered her step-son,Shamsher Bahadur, whose mother was Bajirao's second wife,Mastani.[1][2]
Kashibai was the daughter of Mahadji Krishna Joshi and Bhabanibai ofChas, belonging to a wealthy banker family.[3] She was fondly called "Laadubai" and was born and raised in Chaaskaman village, which is located 70 kilometers away fromPune. Kashibai's father, Mahadji Krishna Joshi, was originally fromTalsure village inRatnagiri and later shifted to Chaaskaman. Mahadji was a wealthysahukar (moneylender) as well as thesubedar of the Maratha empire inKalyan, a factor which played a strong role in the alliance of Bajirao and Kashibai.[4] Mahadji had also helped the reigningMaratha emperor (Chhatrapati)Shahu in his difficulties and as a reward was appointed as his treasurer.[5] Kashibai also had a brother named Krishnarao Chaskar.[6]
According to historian Pandurang Balkawade, Kashibai was quiet and soft-spoken and suffered from a type ofarthritis.[7]
Kashibai was married to Bajirao I on March 11, 1720, in a household ceremony atSaswad.[8] The marriage was a happy one and Bajirao was essentially monogamous by nature and the family tradition.[9][4] Kashibai and Bajirao had four sons together.Balaji Baji Rao (nicknamed "Nanasaheb"), was born in 1720 and was later appointed Peshwa by Shahu in 1740 after Bajirao's death. Their second son Ramchandra died young. Their third sonRaghunath Rao (nicknamed "Raghoba")[2] served as the Peshwa during 1773–1774 while their fourth son Janardhan Rao also died young.[6] Since mostly male members of the Peshwa family were out on the battlefield, Kashibai controlled the day-to-day running of the empire, especially of Pune. And it was possible because of her social nature.[4]
Bajirao took a second wife,Mastani, the daughter of Hindu kingChhatrasal ofBundelkhand from his Muslim concubine. However, this marriage was not accepted by the Bhat family. Kashibai is also noted to have not played any role in the household war waged by the Peshwa family against Mastani.[10] Historian Pandurang Balkawade notes that various historical documents suggest that she was ready to accept Mastani as Bajirao's second wife, but could not do so going against her mother-in-law Radhabai and brother-in-lawChimaji Appa[11]
As theBrahmins ofPune boycotted the Peshwa family due to Bajirao's relations with Mastani[citation needed], Chimaji Appa and Nanasaheb resolved to force the separation of Bajirao and Mastani in early 1740.
While Bajirao was out of Pune on expedition, Mastani was put under house arrest. Nanasaheb had sent his mother Kashibai to meet Bajirao.[12] Kashibai is said to have served him on his deathbed as a loyal and dutiful wife[10] and has been described as highly devoted to her husband.[1] She and her son Janardhan performed thelast rites.[13]
Mastani died in 1740 soon after Bajirao's death and then Kashibai took care of their sonShamsher Bahadur and made facilities to train him in weaponry.[11] She became more religious after her husband's death. She performed various pilgrimages and stayed inBanaras for four years.[14] On one such tour she was accompanied with 10,000 pilgrims and had expenditure of rupees one lakh.[15] Returning from a pilgrimage in July 1747, she commissioned a temple dedicated toShiva in her hometown Chas naming it Someshwar Temple. Built in 1749, the temple stands on a 1.5 acres (0.61 ha) land and is popular forTripurari Poornima celebrations and finds mention in the Marathi bookSahali Ek Divasyachya Parisaraat Punyachya as a tourist spot nearPune.[11]
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
