The Story behind Shaniwar wada (A haunted Fort in Pune)
(Based on true events)
The Story behind Shaniwar wada
(image Courtesy: Wikipedia)
In order to maintain anonymity and yet give an unbiased account of what happened, I will refrain from giving names. Except of those who were directly involved.
It was a cold night, the moon was full and was witness to what happened. In fact so much blood was shed that night that the moon was defiled by stains as well. I've led armies into battles, blood is not new and not grotesque to me, and yet that night, the sight of blood stains across the galleries, the lawns and the porch were enough to render me sick.
We were all aware that Anandibai was envious of the position held by the young Narayanrao. We knew this because she was openly spiteful. She would demand to be given equal amount of excesses that were given to the him. She had to be told in plain words that he was the future Peshwa (provisional in charge) and that she and her children had no title or claim to the excesses, luxuries and respect that he was privy too. Naturally this upset her.
After the death of Narayanrao's father Nanasahib and his brothers, the young boy was declared as the Peshwa ( Provisional in charge) at the age of sixteen.
The prince was inexperienced in matters of warfare. He displayed no valor and no smartness. He wasn't a fiery lad waiting to jab his sword into people's guts. He was soft spoken and kind. Most of us were convinced that he'd never make a good warrior, but he'd make a good Peshwa, a just one at least. While most boys his age would shoot arrows into pigeons, he would feed them grains and nurse their broken wings. He was compassionate. We all adored the child and agreed that he bore no qualities of his valiant father. He was like his mother, loving, compassionate and of timid disposition. Could he lead an army into war? Probably not. Would he be able to save his own life? Turns out, no, he could not.
Narayanrao's paternal uncle Raghunathrao was appointed as the administrative head and main strategist. He would remain in charge until his nephew, the young prince would come of age. Raghunathrao's wife Anandibai saw this as an opportunity and began to poison her husband about the young prince. When word got out that Raghunathrao was plotting against his nephew, it was decided by the prince's advisors that the uncle be imprisoned and tried for treason.
This infuriated Anandibai even more and she undertook a step so distasteful that we shudder at the thought of it. The Peshwas had been in conflict with a central Indian tribe called the Gardis. Anandibai connived with them to plan her husbands escape. Raghunathrao sent a written order to the tribal assassins directing them to capture the young prince. He wrote in Marathi, the regional dialect saying
"Narayanrao la Dhara"
(Which translates to "capture Narayanrao")
Anandibai intercepted this letter and changed one letter in the directive. She changed "d" to "m" thus saying
"Narayanrao la Mara"
(Which translates to " kill Narayanrao")
When the assassins received the message they geared up to kill the young prince.
That moonlit night, the assassins scaled the walls of Shaniwarwada In complete preparedness to execute the prince.
Narayanrao who was asleep in his room, may have stirred due to noisy footfalls outside his room. Whatever may have woken him up, he sensed danger, he sensed a threat to his life because he screamed for help.
The chilling cries of the prince resonated throughout the fort. He dodged the assassins, and ran in the direction of his imprisoned uncle. He jumped down a flight of 16 stairs, ran the entire distance from his chamber, across the frontyard, across sprawling and intertwining galleries in the direction of the prisons, barefoot all the while screaming "kaka mala vachwa"
(Which translates to "Uncle, save me")
Raghunathrao looked on, perhaps unaware that his nephew was being killed and not being captured. I say unaware because he remained unmoved. I like to believe that he didn't know the fate of his nephew. I'd like to attach ignorance to his stoicism.
The assassins caught hold of the boy, ten feet's distance from his uncle. They hacked him mercilessly. The Assassins may have displayed so much brutality in his execution because of their hatred towards the Prince's father.
Whatever their reason, they showed no sympathy. No sign of stopping. Each blow that they hammered into the bloodied body of the boy gave them a new high. They hacked him into so many pieces that his body couldn't be carried away in one go. His body had to be collected, gathered, some parts were even found meters away. I helped gather him, that's the last service I rendered to the Peshwas before I left Shaniwarwada.
His deafening echo screaming kaka mala vachwa, still resonates in my ears every time I gaze up into the bereaved face of the full moon.
The Story behind Shaniwar wada
(image Courtesy: Wikipedia)
In order to maintain anonymity and yet give an unbiased account of what happened, I will refrain from giving names. Except of those who were directly involved.
It was a cold night, the moon was full and was witness to what happened. In fact so much blood was shed that night that the moon was defiled by stains as well. I've led armies into battles, blood is not new and not grotesque to me, and yet that night, the sight of blood stains across the galleries, the lawns and the porch were enough to render me sick.
We were all aware that Anandibai was envious of the position held by the young Narayanrao. We knew this because she was openly spiteful. She would demand to be given equal amount of excesses that were given to the him. She had to be told in plain words that he was the future Peshwa (provisional in charge) and that she and her children had no title or claim to the excesses, luxuries and respect that he was privy too. Naturally this upset her.
After the death of Narayanrao's father Nanasahib and his brothers, the young boy was declared as the Peshwa ( Provisional in charge) at the age of sixteen.
The prince was inexperienced in matters of warfare. He displayed no valor and no smartness. He wasn't a fiery lad waiting to jab his sword into people's guts. He was soft spoken and kind. Most of us were convinced that he'd never make a good warrior, but he'd make a good Peshwa, a just one at least. While most boys his age would shoot arrows into pigeons, he would feed them grains and nurse their broken wings. He was compassionate. We all adored the child and agreed that he bore no qualities of his valiant father. He was like his mother, loving, compassionate and of timid disposition. Could he lead an army into war? Probably not. Would he be able to save his own life? Turns out, no, he could not.
Narayanrao's paternal uncle Raghunathrao was appointed as the administrative head and main strategist. He would remain in charge until his nephew, the young prince would come of age. Raghunathrao's wife Anandibai saw this as an opportunity and began to poison her husband about the young prince. When word got out that Raghunathrao was plotting against his nephew, it was decided by the prince's advisors that the uncle be imprisoned and tried for treason.
This infuriated Anandibai even more and she undertook a step so distasteful that we shudder at the thought of it. The Peshwas had been in conflict with a central Indian tribe called the Gardis. Anandibai connived with them to plan her husbands escape. Raghunathrao sent a written order to the tribal assassins directing them to capture the young prince. He wrote in Marathi, the regional dialect saying
"Narayanrao la Dhara"
(Which translates to "capture Narayanrao")
Anandibai intercepted this letter and changed one letter in the directive. She changed "d" to "m" thus saying
"Narayanrao la Mara"
(Which translates to " kill Narayanrao")
When the assassins received the message they geared up to kill the young prince.
That moonlit night, the assassins scaled the walls of Shaniwarwada In complete preparedness to execute the prince.
Narayanrao who was asleep in his room, may have stirred due to noisy footfalls outside his room. Whatever may have woken him up, he sensed danger, he sensed a threat to his life because he screamed for help.
The chilling cries of the prince resonated throughout the fort. He dodged the assassins, and ran in the direction of his imprisoned uncle. He jumped down a flight of 16 stairs, ran the entire distance from his chamber, across the frontyard, across sprawling and intertwining galleries in the direction of the prisons, barefoot all the while screaming "kaka mala vachwa"
(Which translates to "Uncle, save me")
Raghunathrao looked on, perhaps unaware that his nephew was being killed and not being captured. I say unaware because he remained unmoved. I like to believe that he didn't know the fate of his nephew. I'd like to attach ignorance to his stoicism.
The assassins caught hold of the boy, ten feet's distance from his uncle. They hacked him mercilessly. The Assassins may have displayed so much brutality in his execution because of their hatred towards the Prince's father.
Whatever their reason, they showed no sympathy. No sign of stopping. Each blow that they hammered into the bloodied body of the boy gave them a new high. They hacked him into so many pieces that his body couldn't be carried away in one go. His body had to be collected, gathered, some parts were even found meters away. I helped gather him, that's the last service I rendered to the Peshwas before I left Shaniwarwada.
His deafening echo screaming kaka mala vachwa, still resonates in my ears every time I gaze up into the bereaved face of the full moon.
This story ! I am scared from every nerves of my body!
ReplyDeletehaha You should go visit Shaniwar Wada on full moon nights
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