Deep Rising

Angry dalits add one more to Devendra Fadnavis’s long list of troubles

- Dnyanesh Jathar

Schools in Maharashtra observe the birth anniversary of social reformer Savitribai Phule on January 3. This time, however, the students were forced to remain at home owing to a ‘bandh’ call by dalit and left organisations in protest of the attacks on dalits who were celebrating the bicentenary of the battle of Bhima Koregaon.

On January 1, dalits from all corners of Maharashtra visit the obelisk memorial in Bhima Koregaon in Pune, built in the memory of Mahar soldiers who fought alongside the British as part of the Bombay Native Infantry troops and defeated the forces of Maratha Confederacy under Peshwa Bajirao II. Constructed by the British, the obelisk bears names of Mahar soldiers who sacrificed their lives in the battle. The practice of dalits paying tribute to the Mahar soldiers gained popularity after B.R. Ambedkar visited the memorial in 1927. This year being the bicentenary of the battle, the visitors ran into a few lakhs.