As a prominent opponent of the East India Company, she was eventually ousted from power and replaced on the throne by her adopted son Jankoji Rao Scindia II.

Her parents were Sunderabai and Sakharam Ghatge (1750–1809), Sarjerao Deshmukh of Kagal, a member of the nobility under the Bhonsle rulers of Kolhapur.

[2] In February 1798 in Poona, at the age of 14, she was married to Daulat Rao Scindia, the ruler of Gwalior, and became his favourite wife.

She accompanied her husband during the Maratha wars with the British, and she fought against Arthur Wellesley, the future Duke of Wellington, at the Battle of Assaye.

Following the Scindia defeat in the Second Anglo-Maratha War, a treaty signed with the East India Company explicitly excluded him from any governing role in Gwalior.

[8] In 1813, her brother Hindurao Jaisinghrao Ghatge was made Dewan of Gwalior, and in 1816, her uncle Babaji Patankar was offered the post.

[9] By 1809, Sarjerao Sakharam Ghatge had managed to insinuate himself back into the circles of power within the court though he remained unpopular.

[10] Baiza Bai suspected Gawali of instigating the crime, and under her influence, Daulat Rao dismissed him from his position.

Because of their interests in the areas of revenue collection, the Indian merchant bankers had established alliances with the princely states.

As the company's encroachment into their erstwhile spheres of influence became onerous, their political machinations began to pervade the Scindia court as well.

[12] While their connection to the land and the armies allowed them to mobilise resistance against British penetration, these merchant bankers were also able to support local business groups and establish trade links, particularly in opium, that undermined the company's monopolies.

There is correspondence between her and the governor general complaining about the British seizure of her banking house in Benaras, which would result in "the name of the firm [being] lost".

[15] As Baiza Bai was not seen to be amenable to British control, the East India Company thought to obtain a large loan from her in return for a tacit understanding of her Regency for life.

The Company sought to raise the funds from Mani Ram, but he refused under pressure from Baiza Bai to extend any further credit.

The competition in the opium trade from Central India had already badly affected the British; now their military and commercial operations in the territories began to suffer.

However, he did advise the British Resident in his court, Major Josiah Stewart, that he wanted Baiza Bai to rule as regent.

The British government rejected the argument on the basis that the Scindia court and the military had both accepted Jankoji's adoption.

The Resident forwarded the message to the Governor General's office, which refused to interfere in the internal matters of an independent state.

[6] The Governor General was upset by the attempted bribery, whereupon Jankoji asked if there would be any British objections should he order his guns to be fired on Baiza Bai.

Baiza Bai found out about the plot and scuppered it by ordering the tazias to be organised before dawn, at which time the conspirators were asleep.

A "sophisticated and ruthless businesswoman", she didn't pay her troops for long periods, forcing them to borrow funds from a bank she held.

By this time, the East India Company had changed its earliest stance of non-interference in Gwalior's state affairs.

She and her palace attendants fled to the Residency, where Cavendish treated her badly, refusing her entry into the building and allowing her only to pitch tents in his gardens.

[32] After Jankoji's death in 1843, Baiza Bai was able to marry her granddaughter Chimnabai to his successor Jayaji Rao Scindia.

The new maharaja would then inherit her massive fortune, reputed to be several crores of rupees,[33] but was thereby forced to deal with repayment of the various debts she owed the British.

[30] Among other terms of the deal, she was allowed to return to live in Scindia territory,[34] while the city and district of Ujjain would be restored to her control.

When the rebels led by Tantia Tope and Rani Lakshmibai of Jhansi occupied Gwalior, Baiza Bai along with Jayaji looked for British protection.

As a queen and dowager, she endowed temples and worship grounds across the Scindia domains as well as sacred sites in North India.