Koregaon Bhuma

Here's a brief history of the Koregaon Bhima battle that will help you understand this:

The Battle of Koregaon (aka Koregaon Bhima battle, or Bhima Koregaon battle) was fought between the British East India Company and the peshwa's army at Koregaon Bhima on January 1, 1818.

Legend has it that about 500 Mahar soldiers under the East India Company clashed with a 25,000-strong army of Peshwa Bajirao II.

Mahars, at this point, were considered an untouchable community, and were not recruited in the army by the peshwas.

Despite this, as per the Dalit version of the Koregaon Bhima battle, Mahars approached Peshwa Bajirao II to let them join his army against the British. Their offer was turned down. That is when the Mahars approached the British, who welcomed them into their army.

The Battle of Koregaon ended with the British-led Mahar soldiers defeating the peshwas. The victory was not just of a battle for the Mahars, but a win against caste-based discrimination and oppression itself.

In 1851, the British erected a memorial pillar at Koregaon Bhima to honour the soldiers -- mostly Mahars -- who had died in the battle.

On January 1, 1927, Bhimrao Ambedkarstarted the ritual of holding a commemoration at the site of this pillar, one that is repeated every year.

This year, that commemoration turned violent, for many non-Dalit Marathas don't feel the same way.

Those protesting the commemoration of the Koregaon Bhima battle victory are miffed because it basically celebrates the "British victory" against the Marathas.