The book under review owes its idea to a UGC grant for research on “Language and culture: History of Maharashtra through the study of Lavanis”. The writer focusses on the 18th century to unravel the culture of an interesting region and period. It was a time when the Brahmin Peshwas ruled the Maratha kingdom. The Deccan, over which they held sway, consisted of Maharashtra, and parts of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka.
Shirgaonkar argues that far from being the Dark Age it was portrayed to be, it was a period that nourished old forms of culture, gave rise to new, and aided in the synthesis of the old and the new. Mughal and Rajput cultural elements as well as the European entered the region and got assimilated into the Maratha culture. The central location facilitated cultural winds to sweep across it. With the sardars being their agents in the North, the Peshwas grew in wealth and power. New bazaars that were established and mobile military camps became conduits of culture, as beautiful artefacts, jewellery, and textiles from many regions of the country were sold here, she points out.
The Peshwas wished to enhance their lifestyle, their adornment, and their architecture. Poona grew in importance and the Shanirwarada — the Peshwa mansion, with its well appointed gardens and orchards — became the centre of administration and culture.
Institutions
Apart from discussing the various spheres of culture such as the performing art forms, festivals, textiles and ornaments, the author takes a close and hard look at socially sanctioned institutions and evils, such as the practice of keeping mistresses and women slaves, the Kunbins.
Among the textiles she dwells on, the grand tradition of the weaving of the Paithani saree, the wonder in silk and gold, thrives even today. Bafta, calico cloth from Broach; chintz, printed dyed cloth from Burhanpur; Chanderi, gossamer weave from Madhya Pradesh; and Khinkhab, brocade fabric from Benaras, among others, come in for scrutiny.
As for the ornaments, the Mohanmal, the Chandrahar and the Mughal Laffa (for the neck); the Bugadi, Kap, and Vel (for the ears); and the pearl-studded Nath (for the nose) are noteworthy.
She describes the various festivals celebrated with grandeur in the Maratha court — Ganeshotsav, Dasara, and Vasantpanchami. The practice of sprinkling coloured water during Holi was a Rajput influence. “The city of Pune could splash colour only after the Peshwa did so,” she says.
On the darker side was the kind of treatment meted out to women under institutions and practices that enjoyed societal sanction and legitimacy. The mistresses were maintained by the rich, with the Peshwas heading the list.
More despicable was the practice of enslavement of women. Known as Kunbins, the bonded women were forced to do menial work for their master who could also exploit them sexually, and anyone who tried to escape was jailed. Widows were not only ill-treated but were given the Kunbin tag, should anyone indulge in adultery.
Folk arts
Among the folk performing arts, the Tamasha and the Lavani are dealt with in detail. How the Lavanis became very erotic during the time of the Peshwas is explained.
The author has covered her ground painstakingly, building up her arguments cogently. The presentation could have been enhanced and the list of illustrations placed at the end rather than the beginning. Overall, the book is informative and well researched. The work is a mosaic that neatly pieces together various aspects of 18th century cultural life, expanding our understanding of that period.
