MAHARANI BAYAJABAI SHINDE DAKHKHANCHI SAUNDARYALATIKA

THIS IS AN AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF ‘BAYAJABAI SHINDE’, WHO IS ALSO KNOWN AS INDIA’S FIRST WOMAN BANKER. SHE CAME FROM THE GHATGE FAMILY. SHE INHERITED INDEPENDENCE AND BRAVERY FROM HER FATHER SARJERAO GHATGE. SHE WAS UTTERLY BEAUTIFUL. SHE WAS MARRIED TO MAHADAJI SHINDE’S DESCENDENT DAULATRAO SHINDE. SHE PARTICIPATED IN POLITICS AS WELL AS WAR AFTER MARRIAGE. AFTER HUSBAND’S DEATH SHE TOOK RESPONSIBILITY OF GWALHER REGIME. ONLY IN HER SIX YEARS REIGN SHE INCREASED BUSINESS AND TRADE RESULTING IN INCREASE OF GWALHER’S WEALTH. SHE ORGANIZED HER MILITARY WELL AND MAINTAINED LAW AND ORDER AGAINST THUGS AND PENDHARIS. SHE ADOPTED HER SON JANKOJI AND FACED AMPLE DIFFICULTIES FOR THAT DECISION. HER GRANDCHILD JAYAJIRAO SHINDE GAVE HER DUE RESPECT AND TOOK CARE OF HER WISELY.