Govind Pant Bundele
Encyclopedia
Govind Ballal Kher historically known as ‘Govind Pant Bundele’, was a Military
General
of Peshwas in Northern India during 1733 to 1761. Peshwa Bajirao appointed him his trustee for the 1/3 kingdom rewarded to him by Maharaja Chhatrasal
in Bundelkhand
. He was the founder of the city of Sagar situated in the Central India.
family in village ‘Nevare’ in Ratnagiri
district of Maharashtra
in or around 1710. His father was Kulkarni
of the village and Govind Pant inherited this post on early death of his father. Being a vagabond, however, he was forced to leave the post and also his native place and was compelled to wander in the search of a job.
On recommendation by Antaji, Bajirao Peshwa assigned some jobs to Govind Pant and found him extremely useful. Soon he became Bajirao’s one of the most favorite.
When Bajirao got Bundelkhand
from Maharaja Chhatrasal
in 1733, he appointed Govindpant as his Administrator
and Power of attorney
for this newly annexed land.
In 1735-1736 with Peshwa
’s permission, he built a new town called ‘Sagar’ and made it his Capital.
He was always known to be the greatest ‘Fund raiser’ of the Maratha Empire
.
army under the leadership of Sadashivrao Bhau
during Battle of Panipat in 1761. He himself had trapped Ahmed Shah Abdali in the region between Ganges and Yamuna
(termed as Duab) and had made him totally helpless. Unfortunately however, a sheer misunderstanding led him to lose his life in an unexpected tussle with the troops under Abdali’s General Ataikhan. With a few soldiers with him, Govind Pant had entered Ataikhan’s camp with a presumption that it was none other than a Maratha camp.
, untimely retreat by Malharrao Holkar and death of Peshwa Vishwas Rao. Thirdly, accusing Govind Pant of corruption would mean underestimating the capabilities of Peshwa Bajirao and Nanasaheb as Govind Pant was their Power of Attorney continuously for more than 25 years.
Military
A military is an organization authorized by its greater society to use lethal force, usually including use of weapons, in defending its country by combating actual or perceived threats. The military may have additional functions of use to its greater society, such as advancing a political agenda e.g...
General
General
A general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given....
of Peshwas in Northern India during 1733 to 1761. Peshwa Bajirao appointed him his trustee for the 1/3 kingdom rewarded to him by Maharaja Chhatrasal
Maharaja Chhatrasal
Budelkhand Kesri Maharaja Chhatrasal , was a Bundeli warrior who chose to turn against the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb and seek to establish his own kingdom in Bundelkhand....
in Bundelkhand
Bundelkhand
Bundelkhand anciently known as Chedi Kingdom is a geographic region of central India...
. He was the founder of the city of Sagar situated in the Central India.
Early life
Govind Pant was born in a Karhade BrahminKarhade Brahmin
Karhade Brahmins are a predominantly Pancha Dravida Brahmins Marathi and Konkani speaking Hindu community in India.-Etymology and Origin:*The name Karháda or Karáda, is the...
family in village ‘Nevare’ in Ratnagiri
Ratnagiri
Ratnāgiri is a port city on the Arabian Sea coast in Ratnagiri district in the southwestern part of Maharashtra, India. The district is a part of Konkan.The Sahyadri mountains border Ratnagiri to the east...
district 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...
in or around 1710. His father was Kulkarni
Kulkarni
Kulkarni Marathi- Kannada- is a common family name in the Maharashtra and Karnataka states of India.The name Kulkarni is believed to be a combination of two words . Kula means the root of the family, and Karanika means one who maintains records or accounts...
of the village and Govind Pant inherited this post on early death of his father. Being a vagabond, however, he was forced to leave the post and also his native place and was compelled to wander in the search of a job.
Career
In the beginning, he worked under the then rising Maratha Generals Malharrao Holkar and Antaji Mankeshwar and got good experience of guerilla war and administration.On recommendation by Antaji, Bajirao Peshwa assigned some jobs to Govind Pant and found him extremely useful. Soon he became Bajirao’s one of the most favorite.
When Bajirao got Bundelkhand
Bundelkhand
Bundelkhand anciently known as Chedi Kingdom is a geographic region of central India...
from Maharaja Chhatrasal
Maharaja Chhatrasal
Budelkhand Kesri Maharaja Chhatrasal , was a Bundeli warrior who chose to turn against the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb and seek to establish his own kingdom in Bundelkhand....
in 1733, he appointed Govindpant as his Administrator
Administrator (law)
In law an administrator can be:* a person appointed by the court to handle the estate of someone who died without a will ....
and Power of attorney
Power of attorney
A power of attorney or letter of attorney is a written authorization to represent or act on another's behalf in private affairs, business, or some other legal matter...
for this newly annexed land.
In 1735-1736 with Peshwa
Peshwa
A Peshwa is the titular equivalent of a modern Prime Minister. Emporer Shivaji created the Peshwa designation in order to more effectively delegate administrative duties during the growth of the Maratha Empire. Prior to 1749, Peshwas held office for 8-9 years and controlled the Maratha army...
’s permission, he built a new town called ‘Sagar’ and made it his Capital.
He was always known to be the greatest ‘Fund raiser’ of the Maratha Empire
Maratha Empire
The Maratha Empire or the Maratha Confederacy was an Indian imperial power that existed from 1674 to 1818. At its peak, the empire covered much of South Asia, encompassing a territory of over 2.8 million km²....
.
Contribution to the Battle of Panipat
Govind Pant did his best to help the MarathaMaratha
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;...
army under the leadership of Sadashivrao Bhau
Sadashivrao Bhau
Sadashivrao Bhau was son of Chimaji Appa and Rakhmabai and nephew of Peshwa Baji Rao I and served as the commander of the Maratha army.-Birth and early years:...
during Battle of Panipat in 1761. He himself had trapped Ahmed Shah Abdali in the region between Ganges and Yamuna
Yamuna
The Yamuna is the largest tributary river of the Ganges in northern India...
(termed as Duab) and had made him totally helpless. Unfortunately however, a sheer misunderstanding led him to lose his life in an unexpected tussle with the troops under Abdali’s General Ataikhan. With a few soldiers with him, Govind Pant had entered Ataikhan’s camp with a presumption that it was none other than a Maratha camp.
Controversy
Veteran historian V K Rajwade holds Govind Pant responsible for the defeat of Marathas in the battle of Panipat (1761). Also he does not consider him as a man of importance. Moreover, he accuses him to be always corrupt. These allegations have however been refuted stating that the first two statements by Rajwade are contradictory to each other. Govind Pant can be held responsible only if he was a man of importance. Secondly, Marathas were on the verge of victory even after substantial time had passed for Govind Pant’s death. There were so many other reasons for the defeat including wrong decisions by Sadashivrao BhauSadashivrao Bhau
Sadashivrao Bhau was son of Chimaji Appa and Rakhmabai and nephew of Peshwa Baji Rao I and served as the commander of the Maratha army.-Birth and early years:...
, untimely retreat by Malharrao Holkar and death of Peshwa Vishwas Rao. Thirdly, accusing Govind Pant of corruption would mean underestimating the capabilities of Peshwa Bajirao and Nanasaheb as Govind Pant was their Power of Attorney continuously for more than 25 years.