Shivaji and His Times c20.s4.7

c20.s4.7

(i) The extinction of the Peshwa's rule in 1817,—and even earlier, his virtual deposition from sovereignty in 1803,—naturally led to a revolution in the mental attitude of the Marathas. The fallen house of usurping Brahman ministers was felt to be a wrong horse to back and the old dynasty of Bhonslé kings came into vogue in public estimation and was exalted by the paramount British Power. One may even say that patriotism could now find a free vent and Shivaji could be professed as a national idol without any fear of exciting the jealous suspicion of the Chitpavan dynasty on the throne of Puna. It became a social and political disadvantage for a noble family in Maharashtra to describe its founder as a creation of the Peshwa period, rather than as a follower of Shivaji. Then began a mad struggle among them to rewrite their family history and represent their first famous ancestors as patriotic supporters of that great king in weal and woe. Witness the longing of every Greek State to get its name enrolled in the second Book of the Iliad. While some of these claims are true, all cannot be so.