CM Fadnavis Pays Tribute to Bajirao Peshwa on Birth Anniversary
Synopsis
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis marked the birth anniversary of Shrimant Thorale Bajirao Peshwa on August 18, 2026, saluting the legendary undefeated Maratha commander who expanded the empire and championed Swarajya across 18th-century India.
Key Takeaways
Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis paid tribute to Shrimant Thorale Bajirao Peshwa on his birth anniversary, August 18, 2026 .
Bajirao I was born on 18 August 1700 and served as Peshwa from 1720 to 1740 .
He is credited with fighting over 41 battles without a single defeat — one of history's most remarkable military records.
Under his command, the Maratha Empire expanded northward to Delhi , challenging Mughal supremacy.
Fadnavis invoked the ideal of Swarajya — self-rule — as the animating creed of Bajirao's campaigns.
The tribute reflects Maharashtra leaders' enduring practice of connecting governance to Peshwa-era Maratha heritage .
On a morning steeped in Maratha pride, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis offered a solemn salute to one of history's most formidable military commanders — Shrimant Thorale Bajirao Peshwa — on his birth anniversary, Tuesday, August 18, 2026.
In his tribute, CM Fadnavis honoured Bajirao as a 'legendary warrior who expanded the Maratha Empire and embodied unwavering devotion to Swarajya.' In Marathi, he offered a manacha mujra — a bow of deep respect — describing Bajirao as ranadhurандhar yoddhe, a warrior of supreme battlefield genius.
The Commander Who Never Lost a Battle
Bajirao I, born on 18 August 1700, served as Peshwa — prime minister — to Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj of the Maratha Empire from 1720 until his death in 1740. In two decades of command, he is credited with fighting over 41 battles and remaining undefeated in every one — a record that military historians regard as extraordinary even by global standards.
Under his leadership, the Maratha Empire expanded dramatically northward, reaching as far as Delhi and challenging Mughal authority at its seat of power. His swift cavalry tactics and ability to project force across the subcontinent reshaped the political map of 18th-century India.
Swarajya as a Living Creed
Fadnavis's invocation of Swarajya — the principle of self-rule first articulated by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj — carries deliberate weight. Bajirao inherited and amplified that ideal, framing Maratha expansion not merely as conquest but as the protection and extension of a sovereign Hindu polity. That framing continues to hold deep resonance in Maharashtra's political and cultural discourse.
The birth anniversary tribute reflects a consistent pattern among Maharashtra's leaders of invoking Peshwa-era heritage to connect contemporary governance to a proud regional legacy — one that cuts across party lines and speaks directly to Marathi identity.
Three centuries after Bajirao's campaigns, his name still commands a mujra from a sitting Chief Minister. That alone tells you everything about the enduring power of his legend.
Point of View
Anchoring governance in the Swarajya legacy of the Peshwa era serves a dual purpose: it deepens roots in Maharashtra's dominant Marathi-speaking electorate and positions the party as a custodian of Hindu political history. The choice of Bajirao — celebrated for military genius rather than dynastic lineage — also signals an emphasis on meritocratic heroism over aristocratic legacy, a framing that resonates with the BJP's broader ideological narrative.
NationPress
18 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Bajirao Peshwa's birth anniversary?
Bajirao Peshwa I was born on 18 August 1700 , and his birth anniversary is observed on that date each year.
Why is Bajirao Peshwa historically significant?
Bajirao I served as Peshwa of the Maratha Empire from 1720 to 1740 and is celebrated for fighting over 41 battles without a single defeat, dramatically expanding Maratha territory northward to Delhi .
What is Swarajya and why did Fadnavis mention it?
Swarajya means 'self-rule' and was the founding ideal of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's Maratha kingdom. Fadnavis invoked it to highlight Bajirao's role in upholding and expanding that principle of sovereign governance.
What did CM Devendra Fadnavis say about Bajirao Peshwa?
CM Fadnavis described Bajirao as a 'legendary warrior who expanded the Maratha Empire and embodied unwavering devotion to Swarajya,' offering a manacha mujra — a bow of deep respect — on the occasion of his birth anniversary.
Who was Bajirao Peshwa's king?
Bajirao I served as Peshwa — prime minister — to Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj of the Maratha Empire during his entire tenure from 1720 to 1740 .
