Posted:
Sorry if I am intruding here. Peshwa Balaji Vishwanath did have a mistress, a non-Brahmin woman who bore him a son called Bhikaji. Because he was born illegitimate he took up the surname Shinde, probably his mother's surname. He also had siblings who were not sired by the Peshwa. His mother was either an abandoned wife or a widow whom Balaji took under his wing, and ensured maintenance for her and her children. Bhikaji joined Bajirao's army after he grew up.
Concubinage was a common practice in those days and as long as the kept woman did not infringe on the man's family life she was tolerated. Radhabai must have been hurt but she would have expected such a thing as Balaji was rarely home and spent many months in a year away on combat missions.
The mistresses took care of the man's carnal need during such times as they were often free to travel with the man unlike his wife who was straddled with the responsibility of managing the home.This was also true for Bajirao's mistress Mastani who was a trained rider and accompanied Bajirao on his campaigns, unlike the stay-at-home Kashi.
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