Role of Women in Maratha Politics (1620-1752 A.D.)

"The book presents an analytical study of the characteristic of the Maratha women—their activities concerned with the problems of state-craft, their victories and failures, the handicaps and limitations under which these women had to rally the available resources in men and material in the face of heavy odds of the Muslim and Moghul interferences. In the galaxy of such women nine outstanding personalities have been included, seven of them belonged to the Bhonsle family who were directly connected with the rulers of the Maratha Confederacy. They were-Jijabai (1620-74 A.D.); Soyarabai (1674-80); Yesubai (1689-1719 A.D.); Tarabai (1700-52 A.D.); Sakwarbai, Sagunabai and Virubai the queens and mistress of King Shahu respectively. The other women who figure in this work are Radhabai (1700-52 A.D.); wife of Balaji Vishwanath and mother of Peshwa Bajirao; and Umabai Dabhade (1728-52 A.D.) wife of Khanderao Dabhade, Senapati of Shahu. The most redeeming feature of Maratha women was their service to the cause of their family and the state which may be called exemplary but no attempt has been made to present a total picture of their activities in the Maratha political panorama during this period (1620-1752 A.D.) which have been highlighted in this work. Vaidya’s book would prove a valuable source material for all centres of women Studies and Research in the Universities and Colleges.