Today in Dalit History in our inaugural post for Dalit history month 2018 we celebrate the 200th anniversary of the valiant struggle of Mahar soldiers against Peshwa Brahmins in the famous battle of Bhima Koregaon on 1st January 1818. The Battle of Bhima Koregaon began as a battle between the Peshwa army and the British Company army in which many Mahars were present. This why this battle became a critical pace to fight Brahmin supremacy and oppression. For the caste oppression of the Peshwars were so great that the Mahars viewed the Peshawa Brahmins as even more violent than their white colonial rulers.

One of the earliest descriptions of Peshwa Brahmin brutality can be found in the account of Mukta Salve, who wrote: “Under (Peshwa) Bajirao’s rule, if any Mang or Mahar happened to pass in front of a gymnasium, they would cut off his head and play ‘bat and ball’ with their swords as bats and his head as a ball, on the grounds. When we were punished for even passing through their doors, where was the question of getting an education, getting the freedom to learn?”

The victory of the Company army was noteworthy because it comprised of only 900 soldiers compared to the 20,000–25,000 strong Peshwa Brahmin-led army. Among the 900 strong Company army, 500 were Mahars apart from 400 others comprising of Marathas, Muslims, Jews and Rajputs. Further, among those who died in this battle from the Company army were 22 Mahars besides 16 Marathas, 8 Rajputs, 2 Muslims, and 2 Jews.

The recent documentary The Battle of Bhima Koregaon by Somnath Waghmarethrows light on the celebration of this history, that finds no mention in any history textbooks, though it is celebrated every year by lakhs of people who gather at Vijay Stambh, the pillar that was erected as a memorial of victory in this battle.

This celebration has been going on for the past 200 years and is considered a pride of Maharashtra by Dalitbahujan people. However, this year, Milind Ekbote of Samast Hindu Aghadi, and Sambhaji Bhide of Shiv Pratishthan Hindustan, two Hindutva idealogues an extremist Brahmanical ideology, tried to instigate violence through a misrepresentation of this history that led to the death of 28-year-old Rahul Phatangale.

A large mass of Dalits came out to march in protest and held strikes in Mumbai and surrounding areas to protest against this violence. This led to thousands of young Dalit men being arrested and detained for defending Dalit history and our rights! Remembering Bhima Koregaon then is a celebration of our long history of Dalit resistance and a call to action to support the ongoing battle for justice for those who defended this holiday and are still facing charges for fighting for our history. #Jaibhim for all the Dalit history defenders.

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