Unrest in Maharashtra.
Bhima Koregaon Unrest
Maharashtra witnessed riots , processions and vandalism during 1st week of January. This was mainly due to rift between Dalits and Marathas. It is unfortunate that even after 70 years of Independence the rift created by Britishers has remained intact and their strategy of “Divide and Rule” has kept us divided even now.
The village Koregaon had witnessed battle between Britishers and Peshwas 200 years ago. There are claims and counter claims about who won. However later Britishers erected Victory Pillar at this location. The place got significance due to visit of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar to this location on 1st January 1923. The British regiment had mahars ( now called as dalits) in their army who faught on behalf of britishers against peshwas. Peshwa regiment had another upper cast sainiks including Marathas.
Every 1st January Dalits gather here to pay respect to their forefathers who got killed in this battle.This year the significanace was that battle completed 200 years. The gathering of Dalits was much more than anticipated. There is also memorial of Gaikwad who had lit pyre of Raja Sambhaji in same vicinity. The history says that Raja Sambhaji was killed by Mughals and his trusted soldier Gaikwad performed last rites. The section of historians feel otherwise. It so happened that some miscreants vandalised this memorial. This started chain of stone pelting and policemen were unable to control mob.
The violence claimed death of one youth who was just passerby and had no role in function or otherwise. He was wearing jacket with picture of Raja Shivaji. It was interpreted that he is Maratha and violence which followed resulted into his death. This is very unfortunate incidence and shameful for all of us. Why kill someone just because he belongs to particular community ?
Later on Dalit organizations declared bandh and gave series of interviews on TV. During Bandh Maharashtra has witnessed arson , fire , stone pelting and even vandalizing cars which were parked. Of course there was damage to public property like buses etc. As usual Chief Minister of Maharashtra has ordered high level enquiry in this incidence. This enquiry shall take long time to submit its draft and pubic would have forgotten this incidence by then.
There is something more to this incidence than just clashes between 2 groups. The rift between Marathas and Dalits has been brewing for quite some time now. There was one incidence in Kopardi in which one girl was brutally raped and murdered. In this case girl was Maratha and miscreants were Dalits. This has witnessed massive uproar against this incidence across Maharashtra. This has forced Government to put this case on fast track and accused have been sentenced to death penalty. In another incidence Dalit youth who was in love with upper cast girl was killed.
As such these kind of incidences can be termed as act by miscreants and honour killing which is happening in other parts of country as well. But unfortunaltely it has been given caste colour.
There are many questions which arise and probably we do not have answers for the same.
1) Why portay and glorify battle in which Indians lost to foreigners ?
2) Britishers used local persons in their army and took control of all factions of India. Are we going to glorify that fact or learn from them ?
3) When it was known that this function at Koregaon is being held and expected to have good footfall then why administration was lax about the same ?
4) There is supreme court directive against bandh and also political parties to be held responsible and recovery to be made from them for the damage. Why Maharashtra Government is not acting on same ?
DPK Udas
Datt.udas63@gmail.com
Maharashtra witnessed riots , processions and vandalism during 1st week of January. This was mainly due to rift between Dalits and Marathas. It is unfortunate that even after 70 years of Independence the rift created by Britishers has remained intact and their strategy of “Divide and Rule” has kept us divided even now.
The village Koregaon had witnessed battle between Britishers and Peshwas 200 years ago. There are claims and counter claims about who won. However later Britishers erected Victory Pillar at this location. The place got significance due to visit of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar to this location on 1st January 1923. The British regiment had mahars ( now called as dalits) in their army who faught on behalf of britishers against peshwas. Peshwa regiment had another upper cast sainiks including Marathas.
Every 1st January Dalits gather here to pay respect to their forefathers who got killed in this battle.This year the significanace was that battle completed 200 years. The gathering of Dalits was much more than anticipated. There is also memorial of Gaikwad who had lit pyre of Raja Sambhaji in same vicinity. The history says that Raja Sambhaji was killed by Mughals and his trusted soldier Gaikwad performed last rites. The section of historians feel otherwise. It so happened that some miscreants vandalised this memorial. This started chain of stone pelting and policemen were unable to control mob.
The violence claimed death of one youth who was just passerby and had no role in function or otherwise. He was wearing jacket with picture of Raja Shivaji. It was interpreted that he is Maratha and violence which followed resulted into his death. This is very unfortunate incidence and shameful for all of us. Why kill someone just because he belongs to particular community ?
Later on Dalit organizations declared bandh and gave series of interviews on TV. During Bandh Maharashtra has witnessed arson , fire , stone pelting and even vandalizing cars which were parked. Of course there was damage to public property like buses etc. As usual Chief Minister of Maharashtra has ordered high level enquiry in this incidence. This enquiry shall take long time to submit its draft and pubic would have forgotten this incidence by then.
There is something more to this incidence than just clashes between 2 groups. The rift between Marathas and Dalits has been brewing for quite some time now. There was one incidence in Kopardi in which one girl was brutally raped and murdered. In this case girl was Maratha and miscreants were Dalits. This has witnessed massive uproar against this incidence across Maharashtra. This has forced Government to put this case on fast track and accused have been sentenced to death penalty. In another incidence Dalit youth who was in love with upper cast girl was killed.
As such these kind of incidences can be termed as act by miscreants and honour killing which is happening in other parts of country as well. But unfortunaltely it has been given caste colour.
There are many questions which arise and probably we do not have answers for the same.
1) Why portay and glorify battle in which Indians lost to foreigners ?
2) Britishers used local persons in their army and took control of all factions of India. Are we going to glorify that fact or learn from them ?
3) When it was known that this function at Koregaon is being held and expected to have good footfall then why administration was lax about the same ?
4) There is supreme court directive against bandh and also political parties to be held responsible and recovery to be made from them for the damage. Why Maharashtra Government is not acting on same ?
DPK Udas
Datt.udas63@gmail.com
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