New History of the Marathas v3.c37.74

v3.c37.74

Narayanrao, the youngest of Balajirao’s three sons, born on 10th August 1755, was now seventeeen years of age. He had been married to Gangabai Sathe when he was not yet eight, on 18th April 1763. He was much attached to Parvatibai, the widow of Sadashivrao Bhau, having been made over to her care to lessen the pangs of her distressful situation. Once in 1765 and again in 1769, Narayanrao had accompanied his brother the late Peshwa in his expeditions to the Karnatak. On the latter occasion he had received a wound in his wrist at the storming of fort Nijgal at the end of April 1770. He had been taught reading, writing and arithmetic with a working knowledge of the Sanskrit scriptures. During the last year or two of the previous regime, Narayanrao was associated with Sakharam Bapu in order to train him in the disposal of administrative work. His character and his performance of his duties had never satisfied his brother Madhavrao, who often expressed great fears about his future. Immediately on his accession the following opinion of his capacity was reported from the Poona Court. “The Shrimant is impatient and irritable, his levity becomes apparent; he acts rashly upon the information conveyed to him by petty and irresponsible persons. He is yet a child and does not follow the guidance of Sakharam Bapu. The tiger is gone, now the jackals alone remain behind. God save the State.”² . At the beginning, however, the uncle and the nephew pulled well together for a time. Narayanrao soon began to imitate the stern ways of the late Peshwa and could not often restrain himself from showing open disrespect on occasions to Sakharam Bapu and other elderly officials about him.