Biography
Malhar Rao was born on 16 March 1693 in the village of Hol, near Jejuri, Pune District to Khanduji Holkar of Vir. Malhar Rao grew up in Taloda (Nandurbar District. Khandesh) at house of his maternal uncle, Sardar Bhojirajrao Bargal. He later on got married to Gautama bai (d. 29 September 1761), his uncle's daughter in 1717. He also married Bana Bai Sahib Holkar, Dwarka Bai Sahib Holkar, Harku Bai Sahib Holkar, a Khanda Rani. This "Khanda Rani" status stems from the fact that she was a Rajput princess, he had sent his sword (khaaNdaa in Marathi) to represent him at the wedding, to maintain appearances.
He along with Balaji Vishwanath (who was later honoured by being appointed as the Peshwa), Baji Rao I, Santaji Bhosale, Khanderao Dabhade (who was later honoured by being appointed as the Senapati), Balaji Pant Bhanu assisted a young Shahu to consolidate his grip on an empire that had been racked by civil war and persistent attack by the Mughals under Aurangzeb. He rose from shepherd origins by his own ability. He was appointed by the Peshwa as one of the three sardars charged with collecting the revenues of Malwa in 1724. In 1726, he was appointed to the command of 5,000 strong cavalry, and in 1728, he was granted a jagir of eleven mahals. He was appointed as the Chief of the Army together with the Sarjami of seventy four parganas on 3 October 1730. He was granted two regions of Malwa on 2 November 1731. His grants were made hereditary to his issue by Gautama Bai, who also received Maheshwar, Indore and nine other villages on 20 January 1734.
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