What happened at the Battle of Bhima Koregaon?

• A small village in Pune district of Maharashtra, Bhima-Koregaon, named after river Bhima, is associated with an important phase of Maratha history. 
• In the battle of Bhima Koregaon on January 1, 1818, the British, with just 834 infantrymen — about 500 of them from the Mahar community (dalit) — and 12 officers defeated the 28,000-strong army of Peshwa Bajirao II.
• It was one of the last battles of the Third Anglo-Maratha War (1817-18), which ended the Peshwa domination.

Symbol of dalit emancipation

• The battle attained a legendary stature for Dalits, who consider the win as a victory of the Mahars against the injustices perpetrated by the Peshwas.
• A pillar, known as Vijay Sthamb (victory pillar), was installed by the East India Company (EIC) in memory of those who fought for them in the battle.
• It is at this pillar that thousands of Dalits come to pay respect every year on January 1.
• Babasaheb Ambedkar’s visit to the site on January 1, 1927, revitalised the memory of the battle for the Dalit community, making it a rallying point and an assertion of pride.
• The Marathas advocate a nationalism point of view for the battle in which a native kingdom stood against the British colonialism.
• Thus the two communities are at the opposite sides of the divide even after 200 years in commemorating the battle.

Why in News?

The incident has been in news repeatedly for more than two years due to ongoing judicial cases regarding a violence that broke out during the commemoration of the battle in 2018.

Bhima Koregaon violence

• 2018 marked the 200th year of battle and hence there was a larger gathering at Bhima Koregaon as compared to previous years.
• During the celebrations there were violent clashes between Dalit and Maratha groups.
• Tensions had started simmering on December 29, 2017, the day Govind Gopal Mahar’s memorial, in nearby village Vadhu Budruk, was found desecrated. The incident found mention in the Elgar Parishad, a big public conference organised by Dalit and Bahujan groups on December 31, 2017.
• Police have alleged that inflammatory speeches were made in the event and that led to the violence next day (January 1, 2018).