Today, we are going to learn about a history that fills everyone with pride upon hearing it. This is the history where 500 Mahars defeated an army of 28,000 Peshwas. Let’s uncover the truth of this historic event. As soon as the battle of bhima koregaon began, the Mahar soldiers attacked the Peshwa army like hungry lions. Each Mahar was overpowering 100 Peshwa soldiers.

Why Did This Battle Happen?

The Peshwa rule was deeply casteist. It is true that the policies of the Peshwa rule were Brahminical. Shudras were required to hang a pot around their necks to collect their spit so that the ground would not be defiled. They also had to tie a broom to their waist to erase their footprints. This signifies the extreme level of oppression faced by Dalits.

The nationalism that emerged in India was of two types. The first was Indian nationalism, which arose through industrialists, merchants, educated sections of society, and the emerging working class. The second was nationalism in the name of Hindu and Muslim religions, which began with landlords and princely states. Therefore, it is absurd to believe that the Peshwas were fighting for the nation.

The Truth About the Peshwas

It is important to note that the Maratha Empire had already declined once the Peshwas took control. Therefore, if anyone claims that this battle was between the Marathas and the British or between the Marathas and the Mahars, it is completely false. The Battle of Bhima Koregaon was fought between the Peshwas and the Mahars, and it was a battle of self-respect against the casteist arrogance of the Peshwas. That is why this battle holds special significance for the Dalit community. It cannot be limited to just a fight between two castes; rather, it was a battle against the Manu-driven oppressive system.

In 1713, after Shahuji became the Chhatrapati of the Maratha Empire, he appointed Balaji Vishwanath, a Chitpavan Brahmin, as the fifth Peshwa (Prime Minister). This marked the beginning of the Peshwa era. Gradually, the Peshwas became the real rulers of the Maratha Empire, while the Chhatrapatis were reduced to powerless figureheads, much like today’s presidents. The Peshwas, particularly the Chitpavan Brahmins, imposed the inhumane rules of Manusmriti on the Mahars due to their casteist mentality.

The Peshwas had taken over the Maratha Empire and had enforced the rules of Manusmriti. These rules were inhumane towards Shudras and untouchables. Untouchables were forced to carry brooms on their backs so that their footprints would be erased when they entered the city. They also had to hang pots around their necks to collect their spit so that the ground would not be dirtied. While some restrictions on Shudras already existed, these new rules were extremely cruel and unbearable. Those who refused to follow them were killed.

It is said that before the Battle of Bhima Koregaon, the Mahars approached the Peshwas and pleaded for the removal of these Manusmriti-based restrictions. However, the Peshwas were adamant and refused to make any changes.

The Battle of Bhima Koregaon (1st January 1818)

On New Year’s Day, 1818, the British army, including 500 Mahar soldiers, faced 28,000 Peshwa soldiers near Bhima Koregaon.

• The Peshwas were confident that they would win.
• But the Mahar soldiers fought like lions, attacking the Peshwa army fearlessly.
• Every Mahar soldier fought against 100 Peshwa soldiers.
• After 12 hours of battle, the Peshwa army collapsed and retreated.

This battle was not just about the British vs. the Peshwas. It was a fight for self-respect, where Mahar soldiers defeated the casteist Peshwa rule.

On January 1, 1818, while the world was celebrating the New Year, 500 Mahar soldiers of the British Light Infantry were preparing to face the army of 28,000 Peshwas. Peshwa Bajirao came to fight against 835 British soldiers on the banks of the Bhima River, of which 500 were Mahars. The British believed they would lose, but as soon as the battle began, the Mahar soldiers pounced on the Peshwa army like hungry lions. Each Mahar soldier fought fiercely against 100 Peshwa soldiers. This battle, which lasted an entire day, broke the morale of the Peshwa army. By nightfall, the Peshwa forces had surrendered.

The Mahars fought bravely for 12 hours without food or water and crushed the Peshwas. Perhaps the pain of humiliation and slavery was so deep that hunger and thirst did not matter. The Mahars succeeded in completely defeating the oppressive rulers’ army. They crushed the 28,000-strong Peshwa army, taking revenge for their caste-based humiliation and showcasing their indomitable strength against oppression.

There is a popular saying in India: “I’ve seen 56 like you” (तेरे जैसे 56 देखे). Like many idioms that originate from historical events, this phrase comes from the Battle of Bhima Koregaon, where just 500 Mahar soldiers crushed 28,000 Peshwa soldiers.

Legacy of Bhima Koregaon

In 1851, the British built a memorial to honor the 22 Mahar soldiers who were martyred in battle. This monument still stands today as a testament to the courage and valor of the Mahars.

Dr. B.R. Ambedkar used to visit Bhima Koregaon and encouraged Dalits to remember their history of bravery. That is why, every year, millions of Dalits visit Bhima Koregaon to pay homage to the Victory Pillar (Vijay Stambh) and remember their heroic past. However, even after India’s independence, the Manu-driven mindset refuses to acknowledge the valor of Dalits. Even today, Dalits have not been given fair representation in the Indian army. This caste-based discrimination, which has persisted for centuries, can no longer be tolerated. The fight against this injustice is what Bhima Koregaon represents.

Why Is This Battle Important?

Some media outlets, lacking a proper understanding of history, sometimes describe the Battle of Bhima Koregaon as a caste war, and at other times, as a rebellion against the country. But they fail to recognize that when an entire section of society is denied basic rights and forced to live worse than slaves, that place cannot be called a nation. India became a true nation only on January 26, 1950, when Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s Constitution came into effect. Therefore, the Battle of Bhima Koregaon was not a fight against the country, but a battle against the casteist system that had symbolized centuries of exploitation and oppression. However, the Manu-driven mindset still cannot accept this truth. They try to hide their caste-based oppression under the guise of patriotism. These are the same people who, through lies, hypocrisy, and deceit, have crushed the Dalit community for centuries and made their lives hell.

A Lesson from History

As Gautama Buddha once said, “No event happens on its own; it depends on previous events.” Similarly, the battle of Bhima Koregaon on January 1, 1818, was a fight for social change. The truth of this can be understood through two important poems by Savitribai Phule—’Peshwa Shasan’ and ‘British Shasan.’ In these poems, Savitribai clearly explains that Peshwa rule was a living hell for the Ati-Shudras and Shudras, while British rule was like heaven for them. She drew this conclusion from her lifetime experiences—witnessing humiliation and oppression under the Peshwas and seeing new opportunities under the British. For the British, a Brahmin and a Mahar were both simply Indian citizens, not people created from the ‘head’ or ‘feet’ of a god. This simple yet powerful comparison exposed the casteist system of the Peshwa era.

The British had exploitative policies and committed atrocities against all Indians. However, there was a difference—Brahmins, Baniyas, and Kshatriyas felt more oppressed under British rule. Dalit-Bahujans believed that their historical oppressors were now facing a greater force. This environment led Mahar soldiers to feel that they would be freer under British rule than they had been under the Peshwas. Therefore, defeating the Peshwa army in 1818 was not just about winning a battle. It was a victory over those who had imposed untouchability and oppression on the Mahars and Dalits for centuries.

The concept of nationalism and patriotism does not work in a society where caste and culture create deep divisions. Human beings naturally desire freedom, just as they desire food, air, and water. The desire for freedom…

Conclusion

The Battle of Bhima Koregaon was not about justice, dignity, and human rights. Even today, casteist forces try to erase this history, but the truth cannot be hidden.

Bhima Koregaon was a victory of the oppressed over the oppressors. It proves that no system of discrimination can last forever.