38 Facts About Baiza Bai

Baiza Bai was one of the wives of Daulat Rao Scindia, the ruler of Gwalior princely state in India, and served as regent after his death.

Baiza Bai's parents were Sunderabai and Sakharam Ghatge, Sarjerao Deshmukh of Kagal, a member of the nobility under the Bhonsle rulers of Kolhapur.

Baiza Bai was known as a horsewoman, and had been trained to fight with a sword and spear.

Baiza Bai accompanied her husband during the Maratha wars with the British, and she fought against Arthur Wellesley, the future Duke of Wellington, at the Battle of Assaye.

Scindia looked to Baiza Bai for help in administrative and state matters.

Baiza Bai obtained high positions for her relatives in the Scindia court.

Baiza Bai was reported to have held anti-British sentiments, which led to trouble between him and his king.

Under the terms of the same treaty, Baiza Bai was granted a jagir of 200,000 rupees annually.

Baiza Bai appears to have adopted her father's anti-British stance in her younger days.

Baiza Bai was fiercely opposed to the Scindia surrender of Ajmer to the British.

Baiza Bai had several rivals, including Deoba Gawali, the Subahdar of Gwalior.

Baiza Bai suspected Gawali of instigating the crime, and under her influence, Daulat Rao dismissed him from his position.

Baiza Bai was able to keep the former's political manoeuvring in check, but she was heavily invested in their firms.

Baiza Bai was involved in money-lending, bills of exchange, and speculation, all of which made her immensely wealthy.

In Ujjain, Baiza Bai was the head of two banking firms: Nathji Kishan Das and Nathji Bhagwan Das.

Baiza Bai had hoped she might write off the loan, but she insisted that the principal and interest were repayable to her personally.

The Company sought to raise the funds from Mani Ram, but he refused under pressure from Baiza Bai to extend any further credit.

Baiza Bai anticipated them by putting in a request for a million rupees from Major Stewart, the Resident.

Baiza Bai intended to keep the rule of the Scindia kingdom in her hands.

Baiza Bai then tried to persuade the British that her married daughter's unborn child might become the Scindia heir.

Baiza Bai requested his permission to confiscate their property and exile them.

Baiza Bai requested that her regency be allowed to continue.

When Jankoji attained majority, Baiza Bai was demoted to Queen Mother.

Baiza Bai had restricted his education as he grew up; now, she refused to add his name to the state seal and restricted his freedom.

Baiza Bai went on to claim that he was incapable of rule.

Baiza Bai intended the revolt to occur on the last day of Muharram, as the tazias were taken into the mosque.

Baiza Bai found out about the plot and scuppered it by ordering the tazias to be organised before dawn, at which time the conspirators were asleep.

Baiza Bai collaborated with the British in the suppression of Thuggee, and banned female infanticide.

Baiza Bai refused to do so, but did stay in Allahabad for a period.

Baiza Bai managed to maintain control over the treasure she took with her during her flight from Gwalior.

The women bonded over horsemanship when the Bai mocked the English style of side-saddle riding.

Baiza Bai challenged Parkes to ride in the usual way whereupon Parkes endeared herself to the Rani by riding in Mahratta style in Maratha costume.

Parkes recounted how Baiza Bai's ambitions were stymied by the British as well as the Indians in her coterie.

Parkes reported how the Baiza Bai was forcibly moved from camp to camp, while her monies were often confiscated under duress.

Baiza Bai managed to keep the British at bay, alternately indicating that she was a pious woman engaged in the worship of God and claiming that her income from the British was insufficient.

Baiza Bai was able to take the Scindia queens to safety to Narwar.

In Benares, Baiza Bai is said to have built the colonnade around the Gyanvapi well in 1828.

Baiza Bai built a temple on the Pishachavimochan ghat on the Shipra River, which was her own chhatri.