Madhavrao I

Madhavrao I (Madhavrao Ballal Bhat; 14 February 1745 −18 November 1772) was the son of Peshwa Balaji Bajirao and grandson of Peshwa Bajirao I who served as 9th Peshwa of the Maratha Empire. During his tenure, the Maratha Empire recovered from the losses suffered during the Third Battle of Panipat, an event known as the Maratha Resurrection.

Quotes

• It was the wish of my revered father [Nanasaheb Peshwa] to obtain possession of Prayag and Benares. I have always had the same desire. It is my will, therefore, that these places may now be obtained, either by exchange or otherwise, as may be expedient.
  I beg that my venerable mother, who wishes to go to Benares to reside, may be permitted to do so.
  Let the annual charities at Benares be increased one-half from this date. Let two hundred thousand Brahmins be fed at Benares on my account and let each receive two pice (half-pence).
  • from his will dated 30 August 1772., quoted in Ashirbadi Lal Srivastava, Shuja-ud-Daulah, Vol. 1 (Calcutta: S.N. Sarkar, 1939), and in Vikram Sampath - Waiting for Shiva_ Unearthing the Truth of Kashi's Gyan Vapi-BluOne Ink (2024)