| Mastani | |
|---|---|
| Maharani | |
 A portrait ofMastani (dated 18th century) | |
| Born | 29 August 1699 Mausahaniya,Agra Subah,Mughal Empire (modern-dayChhatarpur district,Madhya Pradesh,India) |
| Died | 28 May 1740(1740-05-28) (aged 40) Pabal,Pune,Maratha Empire (modern-dayMaharashtra,India) |
| Burial | |
| Spouse | |
| Issue | Shamsher Bahadur I |
| House | Bundela (by birth) Bhat (by marriage) |
| Father | Chhatrasal |
| Mother | Ruhani Bai Begum |
| Religion | Shia Islam |
Mastani (29 August 1699 – 28 April 1740) was either the daughter of NizamAsaf Jah I of Hyderabad orChhatrasal Bundela of Bundelkhand.[1][2][3] She was the second wife of the MarathaPeshwa (Prime Minister)Baji Rao I. The marriage was arranged to promote diplomatic ties with theMaratha Empire.[3][4] Her relationship within the Maratha Brahmin family has been subject of both admiration and controversy[5][6] and well adapted in Indian novels and cinema.[7][8][9][10][11]
Mastani was born toChhatrasal, and his Persian concubineRuhani Begum.[12][13] Her father was the founder of thePanna State.[14] She and her father were followers of thePranamiSampradaya, a Hindu sect based on theBhakti worship of Sri Krishna, but as her mother wasShia, she was also a follower of Shia Islam.[11]
Accounts, however with regard to her origin vary. Some consider her the daughter of theNizam, while others refer to her as a courtesan of the court of some Muslim chief.[1] The Nizam on suggestion of his wife married her to Bajirao to promote diplomatic relations with Marathas.[3][4]
In 1728, NawabMuhammad Khan Bangash invaded Chhatrasal's kingdom, defeated him and besieged his capital. Chhatrasal secretly wrote to Bajirao requesting his help. But being occupied in a military campaign in Malwa Bajirao did not respond until 1729 when he marched on towards Bundelkhand. Ultimately Bajirao defeated Bangash after reachingJaitpur nearKulpahar in presentUttar Pradesh.[6]
In gratitude, Chhatrasal gave Bajirao the hand of his daughter Mastani, dominion overJhansi,Sagar andKalpi - amounting to a third of his kingdom. After his marriage to Mastani, he also gifted Bajirao with 33 lakh gold coins and a gold mine.[10][15] At the time, Bajirao was already married. He, however, accepted out of regard for Chhatrasal.[5]
Back in Pune, the marriage was not generally accepted because of the tradition of monogamy. Mastani lived for some time with Bajirao at his palace ofShaniwar Wada in the city ofPune. The palace's north-east corner held Mastani Mahal and had its own external doorway called Mastani Darwaza. Bajirao later built a separate residence for Mastani atKothrud in 1734,[16] some distance away from Shaniwar Wada. The site still exists at theMrutyunjay temple on Karve road. The palace at Kothrud was dismantled and parts of this are displayed at a special section ofRaja Dinkar Kelkar Museum.[17][16]
Mastani bore a son who was named Krishna Rao at birth, within a few months of Bajirao's first wife Kashibai delivering a son. The boy was eventually named Shamsher Bahadur I.
After the closely following deaths of Bajirao and Mastani in 1740,Kashibai took the 6 year-old Shamsher Bahadur under her care and raised him as one of her own. Shamsher was bestowed upon a portion of his father’s dominion ofBanda andKalpi. In 1761, he and his army contingent fought alongside the Peshwa in theThird Battle of Panipat between the Marathas and Afghans. He was wounded in that battle and died a few days later at Deeg.[18]
Mastani died in 1740, shortly after Bajirao's death. Her cause of death is unknown. According to some, she died of a shock after perceiving her husband's death. But, many believe that she committed suicide after she heard of Bajirao's death by consuming poison. Mastani was buried in the village ofPabal. Her grave is called bothMastani'ssamadhi andMastani'smazar.[15][19]
Shamsher Bahadur's sonAli Bahadur I was given the Rajputana provinces that came in Mastani's dowry -Jhansi,Sagar andKalpi. During theIndian Rebellion of 1857 his sonNawab Ali Bahadur II responded to arakhi fromRani Laxmibai ofJhansi and fought against the British.[20][21] Ali Bahadur (Krishna Singh) established his authority over large parts of Bundelkhand and became the Nawab of Banda. The descendant of Shamsher Bahadur continued their allegiance to baihi bai fought the English in the Anglo-Maratha War of 1803. His descendants were known as Nawabs of Banda. But after the defeat of Ali Bahadur, the British abolished the Banda state.
Of his own sweet will The Rajput king bestowed a large number of Personal Jagir to Bajirao near Jhansi and further offer hand of her daughter Mastani born from his Muslim Concubine
