The Pune Riot (Dalits and Marathas)
I really don't why a battle almost 200 years ago originally happened between Maratha Indians and British East India Company whose soldiers included Indian dalits too is significant today; in spite of considering it as a struggle for independence. Though the battle had dalit victory, dalits were forced to fight in British side, what-so-ever today our society agrees caste equality and secularism and no longer any Indian needs to fight in enemy side. What is the relevance of that victory against their own country! Wouldn't it be better if people stay together in brotherhood as no such old troubles exist presently?
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BACKGROUND
By 1800 Marathas were organised into some loose confederacies like Peshwa of Pune, Sindia of Gwalior, Holkar of Indore, Gaekword of Baroda and Bhonsle of Nagpur. The British had suppressed all of them and signed peace treaties with them establishing British residencies over there and involving in their revenue sharing. British forced Peshwa to sign a treaty that ceded the territory to them and forced them renounce their claims over revenue of Gaekword. Thus on 13 June 1817 Peshwa titular overload ship officially ended. Soon after Peshwa Marathas burned the British Residencies at Pune and revolted but defeated in the Battle of Khadki near Pune on 5th November 1817. Further Peshwa fled to Satara (in Maharashtra) meantime British took complete control of Pune and was placed under Colonel Charles Barton Burr while a British force led by General Smith pursued Peshwa. Smith feared that Peshwa could escape to Konkan and overpower the small British detachment there. Therefore, he instructed Colonel Burr to send reinforcements to Konkan, and in turn, call in for reinforcements from Shirur, if needed. Meanwhile, the Peshwa managed to escape beyond Smith's pursuit, but his southward advance was constrained by the advance of a Company force led by General Theophilus Pritzler. He then changed his route, marching eastwards before turning north-west towards Nashik. Realizing that General Smith was in a position to intercept him, he suddenly turned southwards towards Pune. Towards the end of December, Colonel Burr received news that the Peshwa intended to attack Pune, and asked the Company troops stationed at Shirur for help. The troops dispatched from Shirur came across the Peshwa's forces, resulting in the Battle of Koregaon
The Peshwa's army comprised 20,000 cavalry and 8,000 infantry.These soldiers included Arabs, Gosains and Marathas (the caste). The majority of the attackers were Arabs (mercenaries and their descendants), reputed to be the finest among the Peshwa's soldiers.The Company troops of Indian origin included a number of soldiers from the Bombay Native Infantry, including the Mahar Dalits, Marathas, Rajputs, Muslims, and Jews. Because of the Mahar involvement in the Company force, the Dalit activists regard the battle as a heroic episode in Dalit history.
Arabs took control of a temple on the outskirts of the village. One of the temples was retaken by a party led by Lieutenant and Assistant Surgeon Wyllie. The Arabs also captured the sole gun guarding the river, and killed eleven gunners, including their officer Lieutenant Chisholm. Driven by thirst and hunger, some of the Company's gunners suggested negotiating a surrender. However, Captain Staunton refused to yield. A group led by Lieutenant Pattison retook the gun, and found Lieutenant Chisholm's body with the head cut off. Captain Staunton declared that this would be the fate of those who fall into the enemy hands. This encouraged the gunners to fight on. Further the Company troops successfully defended the village. Thus Company won the fight.
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BACKGROUND
By 1800 Marathas were organised into some loose confederacies like Peshwa of Pune, Sindia of Gwalior, Holkar of Indore, Gaekword of Baroda and Bhonsle of Nagpur. The British had suppressed all of them and signed peace treaties with them establishing British residencies over there and involving in their revenue sharing. British forced Peshwa to sign a treaty that ceded the territory to them and forced them renounce their claims over revenue of Gaekword. Thus on 13 June 1817 Peshwa titular overload ship officially ended. Soon after Peshwa Marathas burned the British Residencies at Pune and revolted but defeated in the Battle of Khadki near Pune on 5th November 1817. Further Peshwa fled to Satara (in Maharashtra) meantime British took complete control of Pune and was placed under Colonel Charles Barton Burr while a British force led by General Smith pursued Peshwa. Smith feared that Peshwa could escape to Konkan and overpower the small British detachment there. Therefore, he instructed Colonel Burr to send reinforcements to Konkan, and in turn, call in for reinforcements from Shirur, if needed. Meanwhile, the Peshwa managed to escape beyond Smith's pursuit, but his southward advance was constrained by the advance of a Company force led by General Theophilus Pritzler. He then changed his route, marching eastwards before turning north-west towards Nashik. Realizing that General Smith was in a position to intercept him, he suddenly turned southwards towards Pune. Towards the end of December, Colonel Burr received news that the Peshwa intended to attack Pune, and asked the Company troops stationed at Shirur for help. The troops dispatched from Shirur came across the Peshwa's forces, resulting in the Battle of Koregaon
The Peshwa's army comprised 20,000 cavalry and 8,000 infantry.These soldiers included Arabs, Gosains and Marathas (the caste). The majority of the attackers were Arabs (mercenaries and their descendants), reputed to be the finest among the Peshwa's soldiers.The Company troops of Indian origin included a number of soldiers from the Bombay Native Infantry, including the Mahar Dalits, Marathas, Rajputs, Muslims, and Jews. Because of the Mahar involvement in the Company force, the Dalit activists regard the battle as a heroic episode in Dalit history.
Arabs took control of a temple on the outskirts of the village. One of the temples was retaken by a party led by Lieutenant and Assistant Surgeon Wyllie. The Arabs also captured the sole gun guarding the river, and killed eleven gunners, including their officer Lieutenant Chisholm. Driven by thirst and hunger, some of the Company's gunners suggested negotiating a surrender. However, Captain Staunton refused to yield. A group led by Lieutenant Pattison retook the gun, and found Lieutenant Chisholm's body with the head cut off. Captain Staunton declared that this would be the fate of those who fall into the enemy hands. This encouraged the gunners to fight on. Further the Company troops successfully defended the village. Thus Company won the fight.
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Today some kind of provocation occurred ( like temple attack) and they(some dalit groups) connected it with the background and got infuriated following the "bandh" tomorrow by them.
Rahul Gandhi said:
"A central pillar of the RSS/BJP’s fascist vision for India is that Dalits should remain at the bottom of Indian society. Una, Rohith Vemula and now Bhima-Koregaon are potent symbols of the resistance."
In a way that statement is like another support to the ongoing riot which should be avoided in such cases to avoid further violence. As an opposition leader he should try to support the government in putting down the riot. More than 25 vehicles got burned and another 50 damaged in stone pelting. On person is reported dead in the riot so far.
Let them understand the need for peace as the government has taken right measures to arrest the group that provoked them.
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