Nana Saheb Peshwa was one of the key commanders of 1st War of Independence. Nana Saheb was born as Dhondu Pant to Narayan Bhatt and Ganga Bai. In 1827, he was adopted by Maratha Peshwe Baji Rao II. Through his adoption, Nana Saheb was heir-presumptive to the throne. When the First War of Independence broke out, he took over leadership of the mutineers in Kanpur. After seizing Kanpur, which had a small British garrison, Nana Saheb proclaimed himself the Peshwa and called for the total extermination of British power in India.
During his 20 year reign (1740 to 1761), Balaji Bajirao completely transformed Pune from a nagar into a vast city. He established many new neighbourhoods (called peths) like Nana Peth, etc and developed few like Shaniwar Peth, Ravivar Peth, Somwar Peth, Budhwar Peth. He built the famous Parvati temple atop a hill that overlooks the city and built the first permanent bridge across the river Mutha. (That bridge was made of wood, so the new concrete bridge that stands at the same location today is also called Lakdi Pool or 'the wooden bridge'). He also established a reservoir at the nearby town of Katraj to provide clean running water to the city. The 250 year old system is still functioning, but parts of it have been destroyed by careless development.