Hidden Figures Of History

A book on a forgotten Maratha warrior who was influenced by Shivaji but chose to side with the British and Clive is out. A conversation with the author on the pivotal role of the fighter in the Battle of Arcot.

- AKASH CHATTERJEE

Murarirao Ghorpade, an 18th-century Maratha warrior who built his own militia to achieve Hindavi Swarajya (rule of the people of the land), and whose help was sought by the Peshwas, the French, and the British, is a shadowy figure in India's history-writing, known to few. Biographer and author Reeta Ramamurthy Gupta says: "In Maratha history, the focus has been mainly on Shivaji Maharaj, Sambhaji Maharaj, and Bajirao. Ghorpade's role wasn't clear to me till I spoke to the locals living around the Gooty Fort in present-day Anantapur district. As I peeled the layers, I realised that what's unique is that Ghorpade's story faces south, even though much of the documented Maratha history faces north. This was an untold story, and it piqued my interest."

The book,