TARA BAI THE VALIANT MARATHA QUEEN .. memory neglected

                             TARA BAI,  THE VALIANT MARATHA QUEEN ..  memory neglected

                                                Col    Prof Dr K Prabhakar Rao veteran 

                        True.. Her memory has been neglected.  Tarabai was the wife of Chatrapathi Raja Ram and she was from family of Mohites. Her father Hambir Rao mohite was the commander in chief of maratha army during shivajis times and commanded great respect. In fact, Tara bai managed  maratha  kingdom after sudden death of  her husband  Chatrapathi Raja Ram as regent of her son  till Sahuji was  released from  mughal captivity after death of Aurangzeb.  Sahuji was the captive  son of  Sambhaji  maharaj who was betrayed to Mughals  along with his mother by Suryaji pisal  after the  capture of Sambhaji maharaj to Mughals at Sangameswar. He was betrayed by Ganoji shirke to Mughals  at Sangameswar  Sambhaji was tortured and killed at tulapur in Mughal captivity. Sahu and his mother were taken to Delhi as captives where sahu grew up under the care of the emperor.. It was  a clever policy of mughals to ignite inner fight among maratha princes for the throne. Sahu was released by Bahadur shah I the Mughal emperor. As expected, Tara bai wanted her own son to be crowned while Sambhaji faction supported Sahuji. Many battles were fought  by  them and  Sahuji faction won and sahuji  was crowned as chatrapathi successor to sambhaji maharaj. After few years as a re conciliation, he permitted his  step brother to rule at Kolhapur.  The  real authority  in the empire   however  rested with Chatrapathi sahu maharaj at  Satara. Tara bai   withdrew into retirement after coronation of sahu maharaj. She agreed to stay at satara without any political power. People forgot her with rise of peshwas who wielded real power even during sahujis life time. Marathas are divided between Tarabai and sahu faction. Winner will always write history and opponent is neglected. although she protected the kingdom for seven years in the absence of a king .  Finally she had to withdraw her claim  for her  son. Result is obvious.  However we must respect her and build a memorial at her grave. 

                  Rajarams tomb is on Singhad fort near pune.   It is among wild growth in fort  in the fort uncared as seen  in 1976 . No one cares for it. A lone  pujari lights a lamp at  his tomb  after opening the door.. It is  a sad  chapter of Tarabai a valiant queen of marathas. Her grave  at Mahuli satara dist lies  uncared amidst debris and weeds. It is high time a memorial is built at the grave with a proper tomb.