Parvatibai

Infobox Person
name = Parvatibai

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caption =
birth_date =birth date|1734|04|06
birth_place = Phaltan
death_date = death date and age|1763|09|23|1734|04|06
death_place = Satara
other_names =
known_for =
occupation = Wife and administrator
nationality = Marathan

Parvatibai (6 April 1734 – 23 September 1763) was the daughter of Sardar Korde, a finance minister in Shahu's cabinet in the Maratha Empire. She was born in Phaltan, located in Satara district, Maharashtra, India.

Early marriage

At the age of three, Peshwa Baji Rao I and Chimaji Appa selected Parvatibai as a bride for Chimaji Appa's seven year old son Sadashivrao Bhau a gesture of appreciation for Korde's timely monetary help given during the 1731 conflict against the Dabhades at Dabhoi, conflicts in Gujarat and other political compulsions. The Peshwa womenfolk, especially Gopikabai, the Baji Rao's eldest daughter-in-law reluctantly accepted the match because she came from the Kayastha Prabhu community and not the Chitpavan Brahmin community of the Peshwas.

Chhatrapati Shahu himself performed the "kanyaadaan" of Parvatibai at Satara on the auspicious day of "Akshaytrutiya" in 1737.

Childhood

Parvatibai used to accompany Shahu during his hunting expeditions as Shahu considered Parvatibai one of his adopted daughters. Parvatibai, who was an expert equestrienne, also learned the skills of archery and musketry, especially the use of matchlocks specially procured from the French East India Co. Rajapur by Shahu. Parvatibai was well-versed in handling court administration.

Life in Sasvad

Parvatibai joined Sadashivrao Bhau when she reached puberty in 1745, soon after the death of her mother-in-law Sitabai. Parvatibai gave birth to her only daughter in 1747; the child was named Kashibai by Shahu himself at Satara. Sadashivrao Bhau and Parvatibai would never establish an intense love relationship or companionship as Baji Rao I and Mastani, or Madhavrao I and Ramabai, or even Raghobadada and Anandibai. Sadashivrao Bhau became involved in court administration at Pune-Sasvad, while Parvatibai and her daughter spent most of their time at Satara fort as Peshwa representatives, monitoring court intrigue closely to safeguard Peshwa interests.

Panipat campaign

Parvatibai diligently performed all administrative duties until May 1758 when she, her daughter Kashibai (age 11) and her niece Radhikabai (age 13), along with their entourage, left for Kurukshetra to perform a religious pilgrimage. They ended their trip at Kurukshetra where they remained until the until the Battle of Panipat in 1761. After Ahmad Shah Durrani's attack on the families and camp followers accompanying the Maratha army, Parvatibai assisted Sadashivrao Bhau in the administration of the camp. Sending her daughter and niece to the house of Sardar Hardas Singh of Majitha near Amritsar, she attempted to solicit aid from nearby Dogra Rajputs and continued assisting her husband in the administration of the camp. Bhau's forces were eventually routed and he was rendered comatose, dying on January 20th. Parvatibai inquired about the possibility of Durrani attacks on Kurukshetra and took precautionary measures against them but remained in the city as the Durrani forces were so badly mauled by battle they would be unable to attack without fresh troops. Parvatibai died at Satara on 23 September 1763 due to pneumonia.