Visit The Kotwal Wada In Camp, Home Of The Man Who Protected Pune From Anarchy In Peshwa Era

Maharashtra is the karmabhoomi of many freedom fighters and fearless warriors who continue to inspire us with their bravery and the love for their motherland. One such patriot was Ghashiram Kotwal whose residence still stands tall in Camp. So, let’s visit this city gem shall we?

Picture Credit: Hindustan Times

Maharashtra is the karmabhoomi of many freedom fighters and fearless warriors who continue to inspire us with their bravery and the love for their motherland. One such patriot was Ghashiram Kotwal whose residence still stands tall in Camp. So, let’s visit this city gem shall we?

Picture Credit: Flickr

As the name clearly indicates, Kotwal is a person who takes care of a town or a city and manages the civic duties of the area including its sanitation, health, fixing house tax etc. However, Ghashiram Kotwal, the caretaker of Pune had an additional responsibility of protecting the city too. He formed a police force which was operated from six chowkies and had 115 men. Kotwal was not only smart but also incredibly resourceful as he had strong relationships with influential people and even had a network of spies. Was he a real life James Bond? In fact, Ghashiram Kotwal was considered to be the right hand of Nana Phandis who needless to say was an important name in the Peshwa Era.

Picture Credit: The Times Of India

As glorious as Kotwal’s rise was, his fall and death was horrific to say the least. According to the engravings outside his residence in camp, one night a few of his men locked up a group of Telangi Brahmins who were found loitering around in the streets after night curfew. The very next day, 21 out of the 34 people who were arrested got suffocated and died in the prison because of lack of ventilation. Kotwal was held responsible for the same. Angry of the dictatorial ways of Kotal and the death of his peers, an angry brahmins of Pune came to the house and he was dragged outside the house. He was shackled and paraded in the city on an elephant, facing backward and eventually stoned to death. You will find different versions of these anecdotes in literature.

Picture Credit: ED Times
As far as his residence is concerned, Even though the structure of the wada decayed during the British era, it looks fairly well-maintained now. Only a part of the Kotwal Wada is now open for public visit and that too only with the permission of the defence authorities.
So peeps, did you know the story of this interesting story dating back to the Peshwa Era?
News Source: Pune Mirror and Hindustan Times