Ram Shastri
Encyclopedia
Ram Shastri Prabhune was the Chief Justice (Mukhya Nyayadhish) in the apex court of the Maratha Empire
in the latter half of the 18th century, during the heyday of that empire. He is best remembered for having passed strictures against the sitting Peshwa
of the time for instigating murder. Ram Shastri's integrity in public affairs is regarded as a model for all times.
Ram Shastri held office under the Peshwas during the latter part of the 18th century. Known for his honesty and integrity, he even declined a royal gift made to his wife. He turned down the offer of an official mansion and continued to live in his humble ancestral home in the Brahmin quarter of the city on his modest income. It is said that his wife sold milk from their two cows and a buffalo in order to supplement his monthly income. This Brahmin
ical frugality complemented his wide and eclectic scholarship: he was renowned for his knowledge of law (including British law), philosophy, and the theories of statecraft and political science. He was proficient in the Sanskrit
, Marathi
, Hindi
, Urdu
and English
languages. As a young Brahmin student of Advaita vedanta
, he had studied the Vedas, Upanishad
s and Puranas and was so well-versed in the Hindu scriptures, that he was considered as an authority in Pune in those times. He once debated for five days with Shri Varadendra Teertha, pontiff of the Madhva
sect. After the debate, as a mark of respect and tribute to the scholarship of the pontiff he gave up his house and the structure is surviving to this day as the Shri Varadendra Swamy Mutt on Laxmi Road in Pune
. To this theological scholarship, he added in later life, a reading of the Quran and the Bible
.
. In 1772, Peshwa Madhavrao II Ballal died, leaving his brother Narayan Rao, a minor, as heir. Madhavrao's paternal uncle, Peshwa Raghunath Rao, was appointed regent in the minority of his nephew. The following year, an act infamous in the history of the Maratha Empire
was perpetrated when the young boy was murdered, at the behest either of the Regent or of his wife Anandibai
, by Raghunath Rao's guardsmen. On the quiet winter night of 17 December 1772, the assassins entered his private quarters at Shaniwarwada in Pune
; the boy-Peshwa ran for safety to the apartments of his uncle and aunt, knowing little about the true origin of the plot. These guardsmen then committed the murder in the very presence of Raghunath Rao and Anandibai.
Narayan Rao's wife delivered a son shortly after the death of her husband. However, the office of Peshwa was, at least nominally, an administrative office in the gift of the Chhatrapati
of Satara
. Raghunath Rao secured the office for himself. Nana Phadnavis and Ram Shastri brought into light the cause of Narayanrao's death. The ascent of Raghunath Rao did not prevent Ram Shastri from passing the most severe strictures against him in his judgment of the case. Raghunath Rao at first denied his role in the plot, and later pleaded the welfare of the state as his main motivation; the upright judge would not relent or even consider a plea for leniency. The law, he declared, was above the individual. Naturally, Ram Shastri's verdict was not honoured in what was essentially a political matter during a particularly fluid period in Maratha history (However, Raghunathrao was overthrown and Narayanrao's infant Sawai Madhavrao was appointed as the Peshwa in 1774). The fact that Ram Shastri was a Brahmin
, and that he enjoyed an unparalleled reputation in the affairs of the state, precluded any harm being inflicted on him by a vengeful Raghunath Rao. However, he was clearly persona non grata at the court of the usurper. Rather than remain a puppet chief justice, Ram Shastri, who had always maintained a frugal lifestyle, relinquished his office and privileges and left Pune.
.
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....
in the latter half of the 18th century, during the heyday of that empire. He is best remembered for having passed strictures against the sitting 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...
of the time for instigating murder. Ram Shastri's integrity in public affairs is regarded as a model for all times.
Biography
Apart from being born in a small town called Mahuli near Satara, little is known about the childhood or early life of Ram Shastri Prabhune. References to him are available only after he entered the service of the Peshwas.Ram Shastri held office under the Peshwas during the latter part of the 18th century. Known for his honesty and integrity, he even declined a royal gift made to his wife. He turned down the offer of an official mansion and continued to live in his humble ancestral home in the Brahmin quarter of the city on his modest income. It is said that his wife sold milk from their two cows and a buffalo in order to supplement his monthly income. This Brahmin
Brahmin
Brahmin Brahman, Brahma and Brahmin.Brahman, Brahmin and Brahma have different meanings. Brahman refers to the Supreme Self...
ical frugality complemented his wide and eclectic scholarship: he was renowned for his knowledge of law (including British law), philosophy, and the theories of statecraft and political science. He was proficient in the Sanskrit
Sanskrit
Sanskrit , is a historical Indo-Aryan language and the primary liturgical language of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.Buddhism: besides Pali, see Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Today, it is listed as one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and is an official language of the state of Uttarakhand...
, Marathi
Marathi language
Marathi is an Indo-Aryan language spoken by the Marathi people of western and central India. It is the official language of the state of Maharashtra. There are over 68 million fluent speakers worldwide. Marathi has the fourth largest number of native speakers in India and is the fifteenth most...
, Hindi
Hindi
Standard Hindi, or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi, also known as Manak Hindi , High Hindi, Nagari Hindi, and Literary Hindi, is a standardized and sanskritized register of the Hindustani language derived from the Khariboli dialect of Delhi...
, Urdu
Urdu
Urdu is a register of the Hindustani language that is identified with Muslims in South Asia. It belongs to the Indo-European family. Urdu is the national language and lingua franca of Pakistan. It is also widely spoken in some regions of India, where it is one of the 22 scheduled languages and an...
and English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
languages. As a young Brahmin student of Advaita vedanta
Advaita Vedanta
Advaita Vedanta is considered to be the most influential and most dominant sub-school of the Vedānta school of Hindu philosophy. Other major sub-schools of Vedānta are Dvaita and ; while the minor ones include Suddhadvaita, Dvaitadvaita and Achintya Bhedabheda...
, he had studied the Vedas, Upanishad
Upanishad
The Upanishads are philosophical texts considered to be an early source of Hindu religion. More than 200 are known, of which the first dozen or so, the oldest and most important, are variously referred to as the principal, main or old Upanishads...
s and Puranas and was so well-versed in the Hindu scriptures, that he was considered as an authority in Pune in those times. He once debated for five days with Shri Varadendra Teertha, pontiff of the Madhva
Madhwas
The Madhwa are one community of Brahmins of India, whose members follow the doctrine of Dvaita or Dualism as codified by Madhwa Acharya ....
sect. After the debate, as a mark of respect and tribute to the scholarship of the pontiff he gave up his house and the structure is surviving to this day as the Shri Varadendra Swamy Mutt on Laxmi Road in Pune
Pune
Pune , is the eighth largest metropolis in India, the second largest in the state of Maharashtra after Mumbai, and the largest city in the Western Ghats. Once the centre of power of the Maratha Empire, it is situated 560 metres above sea level on the Deccan plateau at the confluence of the Mula ...
. To this theological scholarship, he added in later life, a reading of the Quran and the Bible
Bible
The Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
.
Strictures against the Peshwa
Ram Shastri's most famous act of passing the death sentence on the ruling Peshwa of the time, Raghunath Rao for the murder of his own nephew, Peshwa Narayan RaoNarayanrao Peshwa
Narayanrao Peshwa was fifth Peshwa or ruler of the Maratha Empire from November 1772 till his death by murder in August 1773.-Early life and ascendancy to Peshwa:...
. In 1772, Peshwa Madhavrao II Ballal died, leaving his brother Narayan Rao, a minor, as heir. Madhavrao's paternal uncle, Peshwa Raghunath Rao, was appointed regent in the minority of his nephew. The following year, an act infamous in the history 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....
was perpetrated when the young boy was murdered, at the behest either of the Regent or of his wife Anandibai
Anandibai
Anandibai is infamous in Maratha history for successfully plotting the death of her nephew - the 13 year old king Narayanrao. Her husband Raghunathrao was acting regent and next in line for the throne, at the time of Narayanrao's death....
, by Raghunath Rao's guardsmen. On the quiet winter night of 17 December 1772, the assassins entered his private quarters at Shaniwarwada in Pune
Pune
Pune , is the eighth largest metropolis in India, the second largest in the state of Maharashtra after Mumbai, and the largest city in the Western Ghats. Once the centre of power of the Maratha Empire, it is situated 560 metres above sea level on the Deccan plateau at the confluence of the Mula ...
; the boy-Peshwa ran for safety to the apartments of his uncle and aunt, knowing little about the true origin of the plot. These guardsmen then committed the murder in the very presence of Raghunath Rao and Anandibai.
Narayan Rao's wife delivered a son shortly after the death of her husband. However, the office of Peshwa was, at least nominally, an administrative office in the gift of the Chhatrapati
Chhatrapati
Chhatrapati is the Indian honorific title equivalent to the European Emperor. It is more formally written as Kshetrapati, from the Sanskrit kshetra- and -pati...
of Satara
Satara
Satara is a city located in the Satara District of Maharashtra state of India. The town is 2320 ft. above sea-level, near the confluence of the Krishna and its tributary river Venna. The city was the capital of the Maratha empire in the 17th century, hence one of the the historical cities of...
. Raghunath Rao secured the office for himself. Nana Phadnavis and Ram Shastri brought into light the cause of Narayanrao's death. The ascent of Raghunath Rao did not prevent Ram Shastri from passing the most severe strictures against him in his judgment of the case. Raghunath Rao at first denied his role in the plot, and later pleaded the welfare of the state as his main motivation; the upright judge would not relent or even consider a plea for leniency. The law, he declared, was above the individual. Naturally, Ram Shastri's verdict was not honoured in what was essentially a political matter during a particularly fluid period in Maratha history (However, Raghunathrao was overthrown and Narayanrao's infant Sawai Madhavrao was appointed as the Peshwa in 1774). The fact that Ram Shastri was a Brahmin
Brahmin
Brahmin Brahman, Brahma and Brahmin.Brahman, Brahmin and Brahma have different meanings. Brahman refers to the Supreme Self...
, and that he enjoyed an unparalleled reputation in the affairs of the state, precluded any harm being inflicted on him by a vengeful Raghunath Rao. However, he was clearly persona non grata at the court of the usurper. Rather than remain a puppet chief justice, Ram Shastri, who had always maintained a frugal lifestyle, relinquished his office and privileges and left Pune.
In Popular culture
In the 1950s, the movie Ram Shastri, with screenplay by K.B. Dhawle, was produced by Prabhat Film CompanyPrabhat Film Company
Prabhat Film Company popularly known as Prabhat Films was an Indian film production company and film studios, formed in Kolhapur, Maharashtra, India in 1929, towards the end of silent films' era, by the noted film director V. Shantaram, along with V.G. Damle, K.R. Dhaiber, S. Fatelal and S.B...
.