Balaji Pant Natu
Encyclopedia
Balaji Pant Natu was a British
spy working against the Marathas in the Third Anglo-Maratha War
. He belonged to the Chitpavan Brahmin community of Maharashtra
coming from the powerful Natu family in Pune. When the British forces entered Shanivar Wada on November 17, 1817, Natu unfurled the Union Jack over the building. Before he became an agent for the British governor of Bombay, Montstuart Elphinstone, he served for the Raste family.
Along with the installation of Pratapsinh Bhonsale
as the symbolic Chatrapati by the British, Balaji Pant Natu was selected to be his assistant, however, there was always hostility between Chitpavan Natu and the Maratha
rajah due to tensions based on caste lines. The hostility became worse and turned in to an open quarrel when Natu was asked by his employer, the British Resident James Grant (later known as ]]James Grant Duff]]), to rein in Pratapsinh on his personal spending. By 1819 Grant had been monitoring Natu for abuse of power. However Natu complained to Grant that the raja claimed that Grant had told him about Natu being involved in bribery. Due to this Natu no longer wanted to work under the raja and instead offered his services to Grant himself. Grant offered Natu a new position but Natu did not accept it because he thought it amounted to simply being a karkun or clerk. According to Grant's reports the departure of Natu was a very joyful event for the chatrapati and his mother.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
spy working against the Marathas in the Third Anglo-Maratha War
Third Anglo-Maratha War
The Third Anglo-Maratha War was the final and decisive conflict between the British East India Company and the Maratha Empire in India. The war left the Company in control of most of India. It began with an invasion of Maratha territory by 110,400 British East India Company troops, the largest...
. He belonged to the Chitpavan Brahmin community of Maharashtra
Maharashtra
Maharashtra is a state located in India. It is the second most populous after Uttar Pradesh and third largest state by area in India...
coming from the powerful Natu family in Pune. When the British forces entered Shanivar Wada on November 17, 1817, Natu unfurled the Union Jack over the building. Before he became an agent for the British governor of Bombay, Montstuart Elphinstone, he served for the Raste family.
Along with the installation of Pratapsinh Bhonsale
Bhonsle
The Bhonsle were a prominent clan within the Maratha clan system who served as rulers of several states in India.The most prominent member of the clan was Shivaji, the founder of the Maratha empire...
as the symbolic Chatrapati by the British, Balaji Pant Natu was selected to be his assistant, however, there was always hostility between Chitpavan Natu and the Maratha
Maratha
The Maratha are an Indian caste, predominantly in the state of Maharashtra. The term Marāthā has three related usages: within the Marathi speaking region it describes the dominant Maratha caste; outside Maharashtra it can refer to the entire regional population of Marathi-speaking people;...
rajah due to tensions based on caste lines. The hostility became worse and turned in to an open quarrel when Natu was asked by his employer, the British Resident James Grant (later known as ]]James Grant Duff]]), to rein in Pratapsinh on his personal spending. By 1819 Grant had been monitoring Natu for abuse of power. However Natu complained to Grant that the raja claimed that Grant had told him about Natu being involved in bribery. Due to this Natu no longer wanted to work under the raja and instead offered his services to Grant himself. Grant offered Natu a new position but Natu did not accept it because he thought it amounted to simply being a karkun or clerk. According to Grant's reports the departure of Natu was a very joyful event for the chatrapati and his mother.