Balaji Baji Rao
Peshwa of Maratha Empire
In office 1740–1761
Monarch	Chhattrapati Shahu Rajaram II
Preceded by	Bajirao I
Succeeded by	Madhavrao I
Personal details
Born	December 8, 1720
Died	June 23, 1761
Religion	Hinduism

Nanasaheb Peshwa (b.8 Dec. 1720, d. 23 Jun. 1761), also known as Balaji Baji Rao, was the son of Bajirao from his marriage with Kashibai and one of the Peshwa of the Maratha Empire. He contributed heavily to the development of the city of Pune, India. He was appointed as Peshwa by Chattrapati Shahu himself. At time of his death in 1749, the issueless Shahu made him the Peshwas of Maratha Empire.

Contribution to Pune city [edit]

During his 20 year reign (1740 to 1761), Balaji Bajirao completely transformed Pune from a nagar into a vast city. He established many new neighbourhoods (called peths) like Nana Peth, etc. and developed few like Shaniwar Peth, Ravivar Peth, Somwar Peth, Budhwar Peth. He built the famous Parvati temple atop a hillock that overlooks the city and built the first permanent bridge across the river Mutha. (That bridge was made of wood, so the new concrete bridge that stands at the same location today is also called Lakdi Pool or 'the wooden bridge'. He also established a reservoir at the nearby town of Katraj to provide clean running water to the city. The 250 year old system is still functioning.

His career saw some of the best and worst moments of the Maratha empire. Maratha power in India reached its peak under his reign. Balaji Bajirao, his uncle (Kaka) Chimaji Appa (younger Brother of Bajirao-I), his cousin Sadashivrao Bhau (Chimaji Appa's son), and his younger brother Raghunathrao were successful in establishing and consolidating Maratha dominance in India. By 1760 AD the borders of Maratha Empire had crossed Peshawar (presently in Pakistan. However, he is partly responsible for the defeat of the Marathas at the Battle of Panipat (1761).

The Battle of Panipat [edit]

Nanasaheb lost his cousin, Sadashivrao Bhau (the son of Chimaji Appa), and his eldest son, Vishwasrao, at the Third Battle of Panipat. He could not recover from the shock, and died soon after probably from a consumptive illness. He was succeeded by his second son, Madhavrao Peshwa who restored the glory of Maratha Empire by establishing its supremacy over northern india.

See also [edit]

• Maratha Empire
• Maratha
• Peshwa
• Madhavrao Peshwa
• Mahadji Shinde

Further reading [edit]

• "Balaji Bajirao (Nanasaheb) Peshwa" by Prof. S. S. Puranik
• Solstice at Panipat by Uday S. Kulkarni, Mula Mutha Publishers,2nd edition, 2012.

External links [edit]

• Painting of Nanasaheb by Zha

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