News:The people of Maharashtra is gearing up to celebrate the 202nd Anniversary of Bhima-Koregaon War.
Facts:
About Bhima-Koregaon War:
- Bhima Koregaon is a small village in Pune district of Maharashtra.In 1818,a battle was fought here between the forces of the Peshwa and the British.
- The British army comprised primarily of Dalit soldiers.They had joined the British army after Peshwa Bajirao II had insulted the Mahar community and terminated them from the service of his army.
- On the other hand,the Peshwa army was led by the Peshwa Bajirao II which had an upper caste domination.
- The Dalit-dominated British troops defeated the Peshwa army.The victory was seen as a win against caste-based discrimination and oppression.
Significance of Bhima-Koregaon:
- The victory has come to be seen as a symbol of Dalit pride because a large number of soldiers in the Company force were the Mahar Dalits.
- Babasaheb Ambedkar had also visited the site in 1927 to revitalise the memory of the battle for the Dalit community making it a rallying point and an assertion of pride.
