The tale of the Rastes starts centuries before today, as a family called the Gokhales native to a small town called Velneshwar off the Konkan coast. How the Gokhales got the surname Raste has multiple stories attached to it. Gokhales are one of two families to have gotten this title, the other being the Phataks.
This family was charged with looking after the collection & transportation of rasad (food supplies) from Konkan to Bijapur. According to one story, this job earned them the title ‘Rasade’ which eventually became ‘Raste’. However the most popular tale says that one of their ancestors came across some abandoned treasure which he gave to the sultan of Bijapur. The sultan remarked, “Rasad pohochanewala Gokhale bada Rasta aadmi hain!” Rasta is a Marathi word that has Persian roots & means fair & honest. There is a third tale which is distinct from the first two. According to this version, one of the Rastes served as a judge and in the course of his work, delivered a verdict against his own son. This led to the Sultan of Bijapur awarding him with the title ‘Raste’ for his integrity & fairness.
Decades later, in 1710, two brothers from the Raste family, Bhikaji Naik & Sadashiv Naik decided, like many other Kokanasthas, to migrate to the Desh (Plateau Region of Maharashtra). They settled in Satara, taking up the profession of moneylending. Soon Bhikaji Raste, their patriarch became one of the leading saukars of his times, even lending money to the Chhatrapati himself. It was his daughter, Gopikabai, whose marriage to Bajirao Peshwa’s son, Nanasaheb, in 1730, one day after the Bhoomipoojan of Shaniwar Wada, enabled the Rastes to become one of the most prominent noble families of the Deccan.
There are many stories as to how this marriage happened. According to one story, Bajirao’s mother, Radhabai, was impressed by a 6 year old Gopikabai and arranged her marriage to her grandson. Another story suggests that the marriage was initiated by Shahu Maharaj himself. This union & Gopikabai's entry into the Peshwa household in 1730 determined many of the political events of the next 40 years.
In addition to Gopikabai, Bhikaji Raste had 8 other children, one girl, Sagunabai, married to man called Appaji Gadgil and 7 sons, Malharrao, Ganapatrao, Anandrao, Lakshmanrao, Gangadharrao, Ramchandrarao and Jeevanrao.
The eldest, Malharrao had been made a general by Nanasaheb and he led many campaigns in Malwa & Karnataka. He, and Anandrao were given several provinces in Karnataka like Talikot, Athani, Bagalkot. Malharrao minted silver coins which were known as Malharshahi rupees. A series of mistakes brought about Malharrao's fall from favor. After the death of Nanasaheb Peshwa, Malharrao chose to side with Raghunathrao Peshwa unlike the rest of his brothers who sided with Madhavrao Peshwa. He later even indulged in aiding the Nizam of Hyderabad during the loot & destruction of Pune in 1763. Madhavrao Peshwa, going against everyone’s wishes decided to fine him. This decision was a testament to the character of Madhavrao and showcased his integrity & fairness, the same qualities for which his maternal ancestors had received the title ‘Raste’ in the first place.
Malharrao died while hunting at Kenjalgarh. Since he didn't have an heir, his brother Anandrao was given his position. Anandrao, though younger than Ganapatrao, who was the next in line, took the place of Malharrao on the basis of his achievements.
The remaining brothers, Ganapatrao, Lakshmanrao, Gangadharrao, Ramchandrarao & Jeevanrao were all given high ranking positions under the Peshwas. Lakshmanrao was a vakil (Agent) of the Marathas in the court of Tipu Sultan. Gangadharrao was stationed at the Anantpur Fort in Karnataka. He later joined his sister Gopikabai at Nashik, where he stayed with her till her death. Since Gopikabai had lost all her 5 sons, it was Gangadharrao who performed her last rites. Ramchandrarao died without an heir while Jeevanrao’s only son died in battle.
Anandrao Raste had 2 children, a daughter & a son. After Anandrao's son died an untimely death, he adopted Ganpatrao's second son, Madhavrao Raste as his heir. Anandrao led campaigns in Karnataka under Madhavrao Peshwe & was instrumental in the development of Rasta Peth. Anandrao Raste in 1785, built his wada to the east of the erstwhile Somwar, Mangalwar & Nagesh Peths in an area called Shivpuri. He soon laid down a planned Peth around his Wada called Peth Shivpuri. This peth later came to be known as Rasta Peth.
The wada that Anandrao built here is one of the last surviving wadas in Pune, comparable in splendor to Shaniwar Wada & Vishrambaug Wada. It is a beautiful 5 storey structure with 2 chowks (central courtyards), Dindi Darwazas (A large door with a smaller door) tall enough for elephants to enter, parts of the original boundary wall, 36 staircases, a watchtower, Baradwari (a room with 12 windows), Sopas (Verandahs around a courtyard), Jharokhas, carved wooden windows, several Diwankhanas (Halls) and beautiful woodwork. One of these Diwankhanas also has a fountain whose tank is on the floor above.
In addition to the wada, the Rastes built several temples such as the Raste Ram Mandir, the Raste Datta Mandir & the Lakshmishwar Mandir along with a water supply system that brought water from Kondhwa to Rasta Peth.
This branch of the Raste Family was known as the Wai-Pune Rastes. In addition to this, there were other branches of the Raste family known as the Jamkhindi and Mehunpura Rastes. They lived in Raste Wada in Shaniwar Peth. Since they were the Mehune’s (brothers in law) of Nanasaheb Peshwa, the area around their wada came to be known as ‘Mehunpura’, a name used till date. In recent times this wada has been converted into a ceremony hall called Ashirwad Mangal Karyalay.
The Rastes along with the Patwardhans were one of the few families from the Peshwai that sustained their wealth through the colonial era. In its heyday, the wada had 30 cooks, each one specialising in a particular cuisine. There was a cook from Gwalior who cooked only meat dishes, one from Konkan who specialized in seafood and another from Sangli who made traditional Brahmani food. Adding to the splendor & beauty of the wada were numerous cisterns and fountains along with a menagerie of birds including peacocks, parrots and pigeons.
Today the Raste Wada houses a school in one of its many Diwankhanas, a LPG office, spaces leased out to coaching classes along with the private residences of the descendants of the Rastes. The cowsheds & stables have been converted into houses and rented out along with the servants quarters & the granary while the Charbagh gardens around the wada have given way to concrete buildings.
Very beautifully written. Love the content.