As visitors enter the iconic Shaniwar Wada in the heart of Pune, they are greeted by an equestrian statue of a warrior, spear in hand and facing north. The statue is of Shrimant Bajirao Ballal, also known as Baji Rao I or Bajirao Peshwa. He was the 7th Peshwa (Prime Minister) of the Maratha Empire. He is considered to be one of the greatest military generals of his time, along with being an outstanding cavalry leader and an accomplished statesman. During his 20-year tenure as the Peshwa from 1720 to…
