203rd Anniversary of the Bhima-Koregaon Battle | 02 Jan 2021

Why in News

The victory pillar (also known as Ranstambh or Jaystambh) in Bhima-Koregaon village (Pune district of Maharashtra) celebrated the 203rd anniversary of the Bhima-Koregaon battle of 1818 on 1st January, 2021.

  • In 2018, incidents of violent clashes between Dalit and Maratha groups were registered during the celebration of the 200th anniversary of the Bhima-Koregaon battle.

Key Points

  • Historical Background:
    • A battle was fought in Bhima Koregaon between the Peshwa forces and the British on 1st January, 1818.
    • The British army, which comprised mainly of Dalit soldiers, fought the upper caste-dominated Peshwa army.
      • The British troops defeated the Peshwa army.
    • Peshwa Bajirao II had insulted the Mahar community and terminated them from the service of his army.
      • This caused them to side with the English against the Peshwa’s numerically superior army.
      • Mahar, caste-cluster, or group of many endogamous castes, living chiefly in Maharashtra state and in adjoining states.
        • They mostly speak Marathi, the official language of Maharashtra.
        • They are officially designated Scheduled Castes.
    • The defeat of Peshwa army was considered to be a victory against caste-based discrimination and oppression.
    • It was one of the last battles of the Third Anglo-Maratha War (1817-18), which ended the Peshwa domination.
    • Babasaheb Ambedkar’s visit to the site on 1st January, 1927, revitalised the memory of the battle for the Dalit community, making it a rallying point and an assertion of pride.
  • The Victory Pillar Memorial:
    • It was erected by the British in Perne village in the district for the soldiers killed in the Koregaon Bhima battle. It has attained legendary stature in Dalit history.

Source:IE