John, <<" "Ishtur Phakra" means "Gallant Fighter">> The phrase 'Ishtur Phakra' or, more accurately 'IShTur FakDaa' is well-known to older speakers of Marathi, the local language of the area, and means "Stuart the Brave". The Marathas admired his bravery and called him FakDaa or 'Brave'. IShTur is the corruption of his name, its proper rendering being difficult for the locals, just as the British found many Indian words difficult to pronounce and changed them to make them easier on their tongue. Another name that the Marathas changed was that of the well-known Mountstuart Elphinstone. They made him 'alpiShTan'. As to why his grave is still honoured after so many years, I think it is because the simple minded villagers just continue any old tradition, even if they do not know the reason behind it. The British came in possession of that area within 20 years after the Peshwa was defeated in 1818. Capt. Stuart's memory being still fresh, custom, no doubt encouraged by official patronage, must have developed to take good care of it. After a few more decades the villagers forgot the original reason and the grave became for them yet another object of devotion. Once that state is reached, shear tradition and the Indian aversion to harm anything that is sacred, old or ancient, will ensure that the grave is taken care of. Arvind Kolhatkar, Toronto, August 28, 2010.e

There are two sources you could try. One is an online article written by a well known expert on Anglo-Maratha History Col. Anil Athale (retired) who questions the very existence of the brave ''Ishtooart''. You might like to get in touch with him and discuss further. See this story dated February 14, 2003: http://www.rediff.com/news/2003/feb/14spec.htm and also this - http://www.indianexpress.com/oldStory/18886/ The second is an old book - not online as yet, but a copy was available for sale here: ''Ishtur Phakde. A Gallant Englishman and other studies'' by KINCAID, C.A., 142pp, Bombay 1917. http://tinyurl.com/34gg3qz or http://www.abebooks.co.uk/servlet/BookDetailsPL?bi=2775833138&searchurl=bt.x=65&bt.y=11&sts=t&tn=Ishtur+phakde%3A+a+gallant+Englishman+and+other+studies Kincaid, as we know, was a great Indophile Briton. I have no idea about what he says (about Stewart) in this book, though. --- Harshawardhan_Bosham Nimkhedkar ----- Original Message ----- From: "Arvind Kolhatkar" John, <<" "Ishtur Phakra" means "Gallant Fighter">> The phrase 'Ishtur Phakra' or, more accurately 'IShTur FakDaa' is well-known to older speakers of Marathi, the local language of the area, and means "Stuart the Brave".