New History of the Marathas v3.c37.100

v3.c37.100

Haripant Phadke upon hearing the news ran out and surrounded the palace with his troops and artillery ; but not knowing what exactly was happening inside, he could not open fire upon the building. In the mean time Sardars, officials and others including Nana Phadnis met in conference at the Budhwar Police Station and deliberated upon the measures to be adopted. Bhavanrao Pratinidhi, Maloji Ghorpade and other influential persons went to the palace to obtain correct news of what had happened. The Gardis were guarding the palace and admitted these gentlemen to R’rao’s presence on laying down their arms outside. When they came in, they found R’rao seated in the court-yard of the ground-floor surrounded by the Gardis with drawn swords. In the mean time some of them plundered the furniture, utensils, both of the kitchen and the chapel, gold and silver plate, and other articles with whatever they could lay their hands on. The visitors blamed Raghunathrao for allowing such atrocities and pacifying the clamouring Gardis with the help of some city bankers. It was nearly midnight before the Gardis allowed the dead bodies to be removed and the funeral rites to be performed. The mangled parts of the Peshwa’s body were collected and carried away in a bundle for cremation, after R’rao had been proclaimed by the Gardis as the master of the State and joined by the officials of his choice. Sakharam Bapu felt the shock so severely that he did not care to take any part in the new administration. Indeed he was so overcome and distracted that he roamed away from the city stung by the idea that he was unable to fulfil the solemn pledge he had given to Madhavrao and Ramabai to protect Narayanrao. He feared the Sati’s curse.