14. Sack of Brahmavart

Nanasaheb left Brahmavart with Raosaheb, Balasaheb, and the women of the household. They took some family heirlooms with them. It included the ochre robe which Ramdas had given to King Shivaji, handed down to Peshwas by King Shahu later. Rest all was left, and they set out at sun-down. People saw them leaving, and cried. The scene could be only compared to that of Lord Ram leaving Ayodhya at the beginning of his 14-year exile.

On reaching the river bank, Nanasaheb paid obeisance to Ganga. Mother, you blessed us all these years, and now you have willed that we leave. Saying so, they boarded a barge. Nanasaheb said to the people who had gathered there: Do not follow us further. We have spent some good time together. I will never forget you. Go back home, we will meet again. 

Before the barge set off,  Nanasaheb asked the fishermen -- who were supposed to steer it --  to get down. We would steer it ourselves, he said. So fishermen got off. Barge sailed in the darkness, lit up only by candles. People had lined both the banks of the river. Upon reaching midstream, Nanasaheb had the candles put out. Then he threw the heirlooms into water. When people saw that candles were out, they thought Nanasaheb had sunk the barge, alongwith  its passengers. Wave of grief swept the onlookers.

(But it was only a camouflage. The barge took them to Lucknow, where the ruling Muslim Queen gave them shelter.)

The British attacked Brahmavart on the third day of Nanasaheb's departure.  They killed every native man in sight. British soldiers entered houses and dug up the floors to get buried treasures. Those who were fleeing were looted. The pillage went on for two full days. People became penniless.

It stopped on the third day, when the Government issued a fiat and reestablished order. Those who were involved in the mutiny were arrested and hanged.