Today (17th Feb) is the anniversary of Lahuji Raghoji Salve, also known as ‘Krantiveer’ (Brave Revolutionary) ‘Vaastad’ (Master) Lahuji Salve. He was an activist, thinker, social reformer and revolutionary. Lahuji is also referred to as Lahujibuwa ‘Mang’ as he was from the untouchable ‘Mang’ caste group. Lahuji is one of the many forgotten freedom fighters whose big contributions to the struggle has remained unnoticed.

He was born in 1811 at village Peth at the foothills of the fort of Purandar in the Maharashtra state of India. His father Raghoji Salve migrated to Pune for employment. They lived in ‘Mithgunj’ area which is now known as ‘Mahatma Phule Peth’ in Pune. Born as an untouchable, he did not have any access to formal education. His father taught him wrestling and he became an expert wrestler, which eventually conferred him the title of ‘Vastaad’ (Marathi word for MASTER). Lahuji owned a gymnasium at Ganjpeth in Pune.

Some of the most prominent revolutionaries of that time visited the gymnasium notably Jyotiba Phule, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Vasudev Balwant Phadke, Sadashivrao Paranjpe, Moro Vithal Walvekar. Lahuji not only taught them martial arts but also acted as a mentor preaching the need for Indian freedom from British Raj and the upliftment of Untouchables.

Lahuji got acquainted with Jyotirao Phule’s work for the liberation of depressed classes by educating them. Lahuji Salve and Ranoji Mahar teamed in together to work on the cause of spreading Mahatma Phule’s objective of education for the depressed classes in Pune. They started preaching the importance of education to their brethren untouchables. Lahuji and Ranoji urged their fellow untouchables to send their children to the schools started by Mahatma Phule. Mahars and Mang together constitute most of the untouchables’ population.

Lahuji was a believer and follower of Satya Shodhak Samaj (Truth Seekers Society, Founded by Mahatma Jotiba Phule) and its principles. He adhered and preached these principles amongst his brethren.

Even though Lahuji acted as a mentor to some of the prominent Indian freedom fighters not much information on works of Lahuji is available. The legacy of Lahuji is alive in the form of various government-sponsored physical education and social reform-related initiatives.

A few years ago, a shrine built by Lahuji to honour his father, at Wakdewadi in Pune was demolished by the municipal officials of Pune for roads expansion work. Lahuji had built the memorial at the place where his father had taken an oath to give his life for the cause of Indian freedom struggle. The shrine was known as Mangir Baba, mispronunciation of Mang Veer Baba (The brave Mang) shrine. This brought Lahuji Raghoji in news for some time. He will be always a source of inspiration for the 93% population (Non-Hindu) of India.

Let all the miseries go, and the kingdom of righteous Baliraja come!

Author – Obed Manwatkar
Originally published at https://obedmanwatkar.wordpress.com/2020/02/17/lahuji-salve/