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{{Short description|1818 battle of the Third Anglo-Maratha War}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=October 2018}}
{{Infobox military conflict
| conflict = Battle of Koregaon
| width =
| partof = [[Third Anglo-Maratha War]]
| image = [[File:Bhima Koregaon Victory Pillar.jpg|center|250px]]
| caption = Koregaon Bhima Victory Pillar
| date = 1 January 1818
| place = [[Koregaon Bhima]] (in present-day [[Maharashtra]], [[India]])
| result = Inconclusive<ref name="Rajivlochan_2018"/>{{sfn|Shraddha Kumbhojkar|2015|p=40}}
| coordinates = {{Coord|18|38|44|N|074|03|33|E|display=inline,title}}
| map_type = India
| map_caption = Location of Koregaon Bhima in India
| map_label = Koregaon Bhima
| status =
| combatants_header =
| combatant1 = {{flagicon|East India Company}} [[East India Company|East India Company]]
| combatant2 = [[File:Flag of the Maratha Empire.svg|22px|border]] Peshwa faction, [[Maratha Confederacy]]
| commander1 = Francis F. Staunton
| commander2 = [[Peshwa]] [[Baji Rao II]] [[Bapu Gokhale]] Appa Desai Trimbakji Dengle
| units1 = {{Tree list}}[[Bombay Army]]
**[[102nd Prince of Wales's Own Grenadiers|2nd Battalion, 1st Regiment Bombay Native Infantry]]
**Auxiliary Horse
**[[Madras Army|Madras Artillery]]{{Tree list/end}}
| units2 = {{Tree list}}[[Maratha Army]]
**[[Arabs in India|Arab]] Battalion
**[[Gosain]] Battalion
**[[Maratha (caste)|Maratha]] Battalion
{{Tree list/end}}
| strength1 = 500 infantry 300 cavalry 24 artillerymen 2 6-pounder cannons
| strength2 = 1800 infantry 2 cannons
| casualties1 = 275 killed, wounded or missing
| casualties2 = 500–600 killed or wounded (British estimates)
| notes = <ref name="Gazetteer1885" />
| campaignbox = {{Campaignbox Third Anglo-Maratha War}}
}}
The '''Battle of Koregaon''' was fought on 1 January 1818 between the [[British East India Company]] and the [[Peshwa]] faction of the [[Maratha Confederacy]], at [[Koregaon Bhima]].

A 28,000-strong force led by Peshwa [[Baji Rao II]] whilst on their way to attack the company-held [[Pune]], were unexpectedly met by an 800-strong Company force that was on its way to reinforce the British troops in Pune. The Peshwa dispatched around 2,000 soldiers to attack the force which sought entrenchment in Koregaon. Led by Captain [[Francis Staunton]], the Company troops defended their position for nearly 12 hours, before the Peshwa's troops ultimately withdrew, fearing the imminent arrival of a larger British force.

The battle was part of the [[Third Anglo-Maratha War|Third Anglo-Maratha war]], a series of battles that culminated in the defeat of the Peshwa rule and subsequent rule of the British East India Company in nearly all of Western, Central and Southern India.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Amin |first1=Agha |title=Atlas of Third Maratha War-Volume 1: First ever detailed cartographic description of the Maratha and Pindari War (Cartographic Depictions of Indo Pak British Military History) (Volume 35) |date=23 September 2017 |publisher=Createspace |isbn=978-1977547941 }}</ref> There is a "victory pillar" ([[obelisk]]) in Koregaon commemorating the battle.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Macmillan |first1=Michael |title=The Last of the Peshwas, a Tale of the Third Maratha War |publisher=Forgotten Books}}</ref>

== Background ==

By the 1800s, the [[Maratha Confederacy|Marathas]] were organized into a loose confederacy, with the major constituents being the [[Peshwa]] of [[Pune]], the [[Scindia]] of [[Gwalior State|Gwalior]], the [[House of Holkar|Holkar]] of [[Indore State|Indore]], the [[Gaekwad dynasty|Gaekwad]] of [[Baroda State|Baroda]], and the [[Bhosale]] of [[Nagpur State|Nagpur]].<ref>{{cite book |author=Surjit Mansingh |title=Historical Dictionary of India |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6HAeAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA388 |year=2006 |publisher=Scarecrow Press |isbn=978-0-8108-6502-0 |pages=388 }}</ref> The British had subjugated and signed peace treaties with these factions, establishing [[Residencies of British India|Residencies]] at their capitals. The British intervened in a revenue-sharing dispute between the Peshwa and Gaekwad, and on 13 June 1817, the Company forced Peshwa [[Baji Rao II]] to sign an agreement renouncing claims on Gaekwad's revenues and ceding large swaths of territory to the British. This treaty of Pune formally ended the Peshwa's titular overlordship of other Maratha chiefs, thus officially ending the Maratha confederacy.<ref name="MT_2008">{{cite book |author=Mohammad Tarique |title=Modern Indian History |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DR2oAQAAQBAJ&pg=SA1-PA15 |publisher=Tata McGraw-Hill |year=2008 |isbn=978-0-07-066030-4 |pages=1.15–1.16}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |author=Gurcharn Singh Sandhu |title=The Indian Cavalry: History of the Indian Armoured Corps |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6qTeAAAAMAAJ |year=1987 |publisher=Vision Books |isbn=978-81-7094-013-5 |page=211 }}</ref> Soon after this, the Peshwa burnt down the British Residency at Pune, but was defeated in the [[Battle of Khadki]] near Pune on 5 November 1817.<ref name="JFR_2006">{{cite book |author=John F. Riddick |title=The History of British India: A Chronology |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Es6x4u_g19UC&pg=PA34 |year=2006 |publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group |isbn=978-0-313-32280-8 |pages=34 }}</ref>

The Peshwa then fled to [[Satara (city)|Satara]], and the Company forces took complete control of Pune. Pune 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, Maharashtra|Shirur]], if needed.<ref name="CharlesDatta1918"/> 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.<ref name="Peter_1837">{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Fds2AAAAMAAJ&pg=PA542 |title=Rise and progress of the British power in India |volume=2 |author=Peter Auber |publisher=W. H. Allen & Co. |year=1837 |pages=542–550 }}</ref> 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.<ref name="Gazetteer1885" /><ref name="CharlesDatta1918">{{cite book |author1=Charles Augustus Kincaid |author2=Dattātraya Baḷavanta Pārasanīsa |title=A history of the Maratha people |url=http://www.forgottenbooks.com/readbook_text/A_History_of_the_Maratha_People_v3_1000347281/241 |year=1918 |publisher=Oxford University Press |pages=212–216|author1-link=Charles Augustus Kincaid }}</ref>

=== Peshwa's forces ===

The Peshwa's army comprised 20,000 cavalry and 8,000 infantry. Out of these, around 2,000 men were deployed in the action, constantly reinforced during the battle.<ref name="RGB_2008">{{cite book |author=Reginald George Burton |title=Wellington's Campaigns in India |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UAxEpTvTxrQC&pg=PA164 |year=2008 |publisher=Lancer |isbn=978-0-9796174-6-1 |pages=164–165 }}</ref> The force that attacked the Company troops consisted of three infantry parties of 600 soldiers each.<ref name="Gazetteer1885" /> These soldiers included [[Arab people|Arabs]], [[Gosains]] and [[Maratha (caste)|Marathas]] (the caste).<ref name="RGB_2008"/> The majority of the attackers were Arabs ([[mercenaries in India|mercenaries]] and their descendants), reputed to be the finest among the Peshwa's soldiers.<ref name="HTP_1825">{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Uq5jAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA160 |title=History of the Political and Military Transactions in India During the Administration of the Marquess of Hastings, 1813-1823 |volume=2 |author=Henry Thoby Prinsep |publisher=Kingsbury, Parbury & Allen |year=1825 |pages=158–167 |author-link=Henry Thoby Prinsep }}</ref><ref name="RVR_1916"/> The attackers were supported by a cavalry and two pieces of artillery.<ref name="Peter_1837"/>

The attack was directed by [[Bapu Gokhale]], Appa Desai and Trimbakji Dengle.<ref name="Gazetteer1885" /> Trimbakji was the only among these to enter the Koregaon village, once during the attack.<ref name="JGD_1826"/> The Peshwa and other chiefs stayed at Phoolsheher (modern Phulgaon) near Koregaon.<ref name="TEC_1884">{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yjjehtJoLQgC&pg=PA16 |title=Life of the Honourable Mountstuart Elphinstone |volume=2 |orig-year=1884 |year=2011 |author=Thomas Edward Colebrooke |publisher=Cambridge University Press |pages=16–17 |author-link=Thomas Edward Colebrooke |isbn=9781108294928 }}</ref> The titular Maratha [[Chatrapati]], [[Pratap Singh, Raja of Satara|Pratap Singh of Satara]], also accompanied the Peshwa.<ref name="JGD_1826"/>

=== Company forces ===

The Company troops dispatched from Shirur comprised 834 men, including:<ref name="Gazetteer1885">{{cite book |title=Gazetteer of the Bombay Presidency |volume=18 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dboMAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA244 |year=1885 |publisher=Government Central Press |pages=244–247 }}</ref><ref name="JGD_1826"/>

* [[102nd Prince of Wales's Own Grenadiers|2nd Battalion, 1st Regiment Bombay Native Infantry]]—Around 500 soldiers led by Captain [[Francis Staunton]]. Other officers included:
** Lieutenant and Adjutant Thomas Pattinson
** Lieutenant Connellan
** Lieutenant Jones, 10th Regiment
** Assistant-Surgeon Wingate
* Auxiliary Horse—Around 300 under Lieutenant Swanston, Madras Establishment
* [[Madras Army|Madras Artillery]]—24 European and 4 Native, with two [[6-pounder gun]]s, led by Lieutenant Chisholm. Assistant-Surgeon Wyllie (or Wyldie) was the only other artillery officer.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Carter |first1=Thomas |last2=Long |first2=William Henry |title=War Medals of the British Army and How They Were Won |publisher=Norrie and Wilson |location=London |pages=40–41 |date=1893 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4QgwAAAAYAAJ&dq=%22WAR%20MEDALS%20of%20the%20BRITISH%20ARMY%2C%20and%20HOW%20THEY%20WERE%20WON%22%201893&pg=PA221}}</ref>

The Company troops of Indian origin included [[Mahar]]s, [[Maratha (caste)|Marathas]], [[Rajput]]s, [[Indian Muslims|Muslims]], and [[Indian Jews|Jews]].<ref name="Vasant_2003">{{cite book |editor=Vasant Moon |title=Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar, Writings and Speeches |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6H9DAAAAYAAJ |year=2003 |publisher=Government of Maharashtra |page=5 |quote="22 were Mahars or Parwaris (identified by their names ending with ''nak''), 16 were Marathas, 8 were Raputs, two were Muslims, and one or two were probably Indian Jews"}}</ref> This was mostly the troops that Capt. Staunton had raised three months ago with the object of strengthening the defense of Poona that was already under British control.<ref name="Rajivlochan_2018">{{cite news |author=M Rajivlochan|title=Bloody Scrum, Glorious Victory |url=https://www.outlookindia.com/magazine/story/bloody-scrum-glorious-victory/299701}}</ref>

==The battle==
[[File:British defence plan during Battle of Koregaon.jpg|thumb|350px|British defence plan during Battle of Koregaon]]
The Company troops left Shirur at 8 pm on 31 December 1817. After marching all night and covering a distance of 25 miles, they reached the high ground behind [[Talegaon Dhamdhere]]. From there, they spotted Peshwa's army across the [[Bhima River]]. Captain Staunton marched up to [[Koregaon Bhima]] village, which was located on the banks of the river. The village was surrounded by a low mud wall. Captain Staunton made a [[feint attack|feint]] of crossing the shallow Bhima river. A 5,000-strong infantry, which was slightly ahead of the Peshwa's base, retreated to inform him about the presence of British forces. Meanwhile, Staunton stationed his forces in Koregaon instead of crossing the river. He secured a strong position for his guns, posting one of them to guard an approach from the Bhima river (which was running almost dry), and another to guard the road from Shirur.<ref name="Gazetteer1885" /><ref name="CharlesDatta1918" />

After the return of his 5,000-strong infantry, the Peshwa dispatched three infantry parties of [[Arabs|Arab]], [[Gosains|Gosain]] and [[Maratha (caste)|Maratha]] soldiers. Each party comprised 300–600 soldiers. The parties crossed the Bhima River at three different points, supported by two cannons and rocket fire. Peshwa's troops also made a feint attack from the Shirur road.<ref name="CharlesDatta1918" /><ref name="JGD_1826">{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ffcRAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA432 |title=A History of the Mahrattas |volume=3 |author=James Grant Duff |publisher=Longmans, Rees, Orme, Brown, and Green |year=1826 |pages=432–438 |author-link=James Grant Duff }}</ref>

By noon, the 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. The Company troops successfully defended the village.<ref name="Gazetteer1885" /><ref name="CharlesDatta1918" />

Peshwa's forces ceased firing and left the village by 9 pm, driven by the fear of approaching British reinforcements under General Joseph Smith.<ref name="RVR_1916">{{cite book |url=https://archive.org/stream/thetribesandcast20583gut/20583.txt |title=The Tribes and Castes of the Central Provinces of India |volume=I |author=R. V. Russell |publisher=Macmillan and Co. |location=London |year=1916 |isbn=9781465582942 |page=363 |quote=The Arabs attacked us at Koregaon and would have certainly destroyed us had not the Peshwa withdrawn his troops on General Smith's approach. |author-link=Robert Vane Russell }}</ref><ref name="TJ_2007">{{cite book |author=Tony Jaques |title=Dictionary of Battles and Sieges: F-O |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Dh6jydKXikoC&pg=PA542 |year=2007 |publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group |isbn=978-0-313-33538-9 |pages=542 }}</ref> At night, the Company troops managed to procure a supply of water.<ref name="JGD_1826"/> The Peshwa remained near Koregaon on the next day but did not launch another attack. Captain Staunton, who was not aware of General Smith's advance, believed that the Peshwa would attack the Company troops on the Koregaon-Pune route. On the night of 2 January, Staunton first pretended to go in the direction of Pune but then marched back to Shirur, carrying most of his wounded soldiers.<ref name="Peter_1837"/><ref name="JGD_1826"/>

According to the ''Interesting Intelligence from the London Gazette'': "Accounts have been received from Lt Col Burr, dated the 3rd (January, 1818), intimating that Capt. Staunton, commanding the 2nd battalion 1st regiment of Bombay Native Infantry, had been fortunately able to commence his march back to Seroor, with 125 wounded, having buried 50 at Goregaum (sic), and left 12 or 15 there, badly wounded; that the Peshwa had proceeded Southward, General Smith in pursuit, which had probably saved the battalion."<ref>"Interesting Intelligence from the London Gazette" (June 1818) page 550</ref>

== Casualties ==

Out of the 834 Company troops, 275 were killed, wounded or missing. The dead included two officers — Assistant-Surgeon Wingate and Lieutenant Chisholm; Lieutenant Pattison later died of his wounds in Shirur.<ref name="Gazetteer1885" /> Among the infantrymen, 50 were killed and 105 wounded. Among the artillery, 12 were killed and 8 were wounded.<ref name="HTP_1825"/> The dead Company soldiers of Indian origin included 22 [[Mahar]]s, 16 [[Maratha (caste)|Marathas]], 8 [[Rajput]]s, 2 [[Indian Muslims|Muslims]], and 1-2 [[Indian Jews|Jews]].<ref name="Vasant_2003"/><ref>{{cite book |author=V. Longer |title=Forefront for Ever: The History of the Mahar Regiment |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gAceAAAAMAAJ |year=1981 |publisher=Mahar Regimental Centre |page=14 |quote=One hundred and thirteen men and two British Officers were wounded. Of the men of the 2/1st Regiment Bombay Native Infantry who fell in action, 22 were Mahars or Parwaris (identified by their names ending with "nak"), 16 were Marathas, 8 were Rajputs, two were Muslims, and one or two were probably Indian Jews. }}</ref>

According to the British estimates, around 500 to 600 of Peshwa's soldiers were killed or wounded in the battle.<ref name="Gazetteer1885" />

[[Mountstuart Elphinstone]], who visited Koregaon two days later on 3 January 1818, wrote that the houses had been burned and the streets were filled with dead bodies of horses and men. There were around 50 dead bodies lying in the village, most of them of the Peshwa's Arab soldiers. There were six dead bodies outside the village. In addition, there were shallow graves of 50 native sepoys, 11 European soldiers and the 2 deceased officers belonging to the Company forces.<ref name="TEC_1884"/>

== Aftermath ==
When Elphinstone visited the battle field shortly after its completion, he found that the Company soldiers had completely lost their morale and were reluctant to believe the praises that were showered on them .<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rlrqUU7MaoAC&pg=PA406|title=The British Conquest and Dominion of India|author=Penderel Moon|author-link = Penderel Moon | publisher=India Research Press|year=1999|isbn=0-7156-2169-6|pages=406}}</ref>

General Smith arrived in Koregaon on 3 January, but by this time, the Peshwa had already left the area.<ref name="HTP_1825"/> A company force led by General Pritzler pursued Peshwa, who tried to escape to [[Mysore State|Mysore]]. Meanwhile, General Smith captured [[Satara (city)|Satara]], the capital of Pratap Singh. Smith intercepted Peshwa in a battle on 19 February 1818 at Ashtoon (or Ashta); Bapuji Gokhale was killed in this action. The Peshwa then fled to [[Khandesh]], while his [[jagirdar]]s accepted the Company's suzerainty. A dejected Peshwa then met with [[John Malcolm]] on 2 June 1818, and surrendered his royal claims in exchange for a pension and a residence in [[Bithoor]]. Trimbakji Dengle was captured near Nashik and imprisoned at the [[Chunar Fort]].<ref name="Peter_1837"/>

As a reward for their bravery in the Battle of Koregaon, the 2nd battalion of the 1st Regiment of the Bombay Native Infantry was made [[Grenadier]]s. Their regiment came to be known as [[102nd Prince of Wales's Own Grenadiers|1st Grenadier Regiment of Bombay Native Infantry]].<ref name="Gazetteer1885" /> The official report to the British Residents at Poona recalls the "heroic valour and enduring fortitude" of the soldiers, the "disciplined intrepidity" and "devoted courage and admirable consistency" of their actions.<ref name="EPW"/>

Captain Staunton was appointed an honorary [[aide-de-camp]] to the [[Governor General of India]]. The [[List of East India Company directors|Court of Directors]] presented him with a sword and a sum of 500 [[Guinea (British coin)|guineas]] (gold coins). Later in 1823, he became a Major, and was appointed a companion of the [[Order of the Bath|Most Honourable Military Order of the Bath]].<ref name="Gazetteer1885" />

General [[Sir Thomas Hislop, 1st Baronet|Thomas Hislop]] called the battle "one of the most heroic and brilliant achievements ever recorded on the annals of the army".<ref name="Gazetteer1885" /> According to M.S. Naravane, "this gallant defense by a small number of Company's troops against an overwhelming Maratha force is rightly considered one of the most glorious examples of valour and fortitude in the annals of the Company's forces."<ref name=Naravane>{{Cite book |last=Naravane |first=M.S. |title=Battles of the Honorourable East India Company |publisher=A.P.H. Publishing Corporation |year=2014 |isbn=9788131300343 |pages=83–84}}</ref>

General Smith, in his official report of this battle, wrote, "The action at Koregaum was one of the most brilliant affairs achieved by any army in which European and Native soldiers displayed the most noble devotion and most romantic bravery under pressure of hunger and thirst almost beyond human endurance.<ref>[http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/ARMY/images/Poona%20Horse.pdf Poona Horse] bharat-rakshak.com</ref>

== Decisiveness ==
Neither side achieved a decisive victory in the battle.{{sfn|Shraddha Kumbhojkar|2015|p=40}} Shortly after the battle, [[Mountstuart Elphinstone]] described it as a "small victory" for the Peshwa.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=X3YBAAAAMAAJ |title=Peshwa Bajirao II and The Downfall of The Maratha Power |author=S. G. Vaidya |publisher=Pragati Prakashan |year=1976 |page=308 |quote=In his Journal Elphinstone wrote that the Peshwa had gained a small victory at Koregaon }}</ref> Nevertheless, the East India Company government praised the bravery of its troops, who could not be overpowered despite being outnumbered.{{sfn|Shraddha Kumbhojkar|2015|p=40}}

Notwithstanding this, the battle being one of the last ones to be fought in the [[Third Anglo-Maratha War]], is since recognised as a Company victory after the war ended with Peshwa's defeat.{{sfn|Shraddha Kumbhojkar|2015|p=40}}

== Legacy ==
=== Memorial ===
To commemorate its fallen soldiers, the East India Company commissioned a "victory pillar" (an [[obelisk]]) in Koregaon.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bTY-AAAAMAAJ |title=Western Colonial Policy |author=Nisith Ranjan Ray |publisher=Institute of Historical Studies |year=1983 |page=176 }}</ref> The inscription of the pillar declares that Captain Staunton's force "accomplished one of the proudest triumphs of the British Army in the East."{{sfn|Shraddha Kumbhojkar|2015|p=40}}

=== Significance to Mahars ===
[[File:Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar and his followers at 'Vijaystambha', Bhima-Koregaon, Tal. Haveli, Pune (Maharashtra) to salute to the brave Mahar Regiment's soldiers who won the battle.jpg|thumb|[[B. R. Ambedkar]] and his followers at the Koregaon victory pillar on 28 December 1927]]
The Koregaon pillar inscription features the names of the 49 Company soldiers killed in the battle.<ref name="Doranne1992">{{cite book |author1=Doranne Jacobson |author2=Eleanor Zelliot |author3=Susan Snow Wadley |author3-link=Susan Snow Wadley |title=From untouchable to Dalit: essays on the Ambedkar Movement |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3WcMAQAAMAAJ |year=1992 |publisher=Manohar |page=89 |isbn=9788185425375 }}</ref> 22 of these names end with the suffix ''-nac'' (or ''-nak''), which was used exclusively by the people of [[Mahar]] caste.{{sfn|Shraddha Kumbhojkar|2015|p=40}}<ref>{{cite book|author=Basham, Ardythe|editor=Das, Bhagwan|title=Untouchable soldiers: the Maharas and the Mazhbis|date=2008|publisher=Gautam Book Centre|location=Delhi|isbn=9788187733430|page=27|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vNrwIinNdH0C&pg=PA27}}</ref> The obelisk was featured on the [[Mahar Regiment]]'s crest until Indian Independence. While it was built by the British as a symbol of their own power, today it serves as a memorial of the Mahars.<ref name="EPW">{{cite journal |last=Kumbhojkar |first=Shraddha |title=Contesting Power, Contesting Memories – The History of the Koregaon Memorial |journal=The Economic and Political Weekly |year=2012 |url=http://www.epw.in/special-articles/contesting-power-contesting-memories.html |access-date=2012-10-19}}{{Subscription required}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|author=Kumbhojkar, Shraddha|editor1=Geppert, Dominik|editor2=Müller, Frank Lorenz|title=Sites of Imperial Memory: Commemorating Colonial Rule in the Nineteenth and, Chapter three: Politics, caste and the remembrance of the Raj: the Obelisk at Koregaon|year=2015|publisher=Oxford University press|isbn=9780719090813|pages=39–52|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NeCSDAAAQBAJ&pg=PP39}}</ref>

The Mahars were considered [[untouchability|untouchable]] in the contemporary caste-based society. The Peshwas, who were the 'high-caste' [[Brahmin]]s, were notorious for their mistreatment and persecution of the untouchables.{{sfn|Shraddha Kumbhojkar|2015|p=43|ps=:"The Peshwas, Brahmin rulers of western India, were infamous for their high caste orthodoxy and their persecution of the Untouchables."}} Because of this, the [[Dalit]]s (former untouchables), after independence, saw the Koregaon obelisk as a symbol of their victory over the high-caste oppression.{{sfn|Shraddha Kumbhojkar|2015|p=49}} Dalit leader [[B. R. Ambedkar]] visited the site on 1 January 1927. To commemorate his visit to the site, now thousands of his followers visit the site every New Year's Day.{{sfn|Shraddha Kumbhojkar|2015|p=47}} A number of Mahar gatherings have also been held at the place.<ref name="Doranne1992" />

On 1 January 2018, [[2018 Bhima Koregaon violence|clashes]] erupted between Hindu groups and Dalit Buddhist groups during the commemoration of this battle.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rediff.com/news/report/pix-dalit-protests-rock-mumbai-over-bhima-koregaon-pune-violence/20180102.htm|title=Pune's Dalit protests reach Mumbai, suburbs affected|website=Rediff|accessdate=11 June 2023}}</ref> This led to further violent protests and rioting in Mumbai and Maharashtra for two days.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/maharashtra-tense-a-day-after-clashes-during-bicentenary-celebrations-of-koregaon-bhima-battle/article61485220.ece|title=Protests spread in Maharashtra post clashes during bicentenary celebrations of Bhima-Koregaon battle|date=2 January 2018|accessdate=11 June 2023|via=www.thehindu.com}}</ref>

===Films===
''[[The Battle of Bhima Koregaon: An Unending Journey]]'' is a 2017 documentary by Indian filmmaker [[Somnath Waghmare]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.deccanherald.com/content/606276/docu-film-intriguing-1818-battle.html|title=Docu-film on intriguing 1818 battle premieres in Bengaluru|date=2017-04-14|website=Deccan Herald|language=en|access-date=2019-12-08}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/art-and-culture/victory-of-the-voiceless-5010574/|title=Somnath Waghmare's documentary explains why the Battle of Bhima Koregaon is important to Dalits|date=2018-01-04|website=The Indian Express|language=en-US|access-date=2019-12-08}}</ref> It explored the role of 500 [[Mahar]] soldiers in Battle of Koregaon on 1 January 1818 against the [[Peshwa]] dynasty.

''[[The Battle of Bhima Koregaon (film)|The Battle of Bhima Koregaon]]'' is an upcoming Indian [[Hindi]]-language [[historical drama|period war drama film]] directed and produced by Ramesh Thete under his banner Ramesh Thete Films.<ref>{{cite news |title=Am directing film on Koregaon Bhima battle: Ex-IAS officer |url=https://www.outlookindia.com/newsscroll/am-directing-film-on-koregaon-bhima-battle-exias-officer/1907639 |access-date=13 January 2021 |work=Outlook |date=2 August 2020}}</ref> The film stars [[Arjun Rampal]] as the Mahar warrior Sidhnak, and [[Digangana Suryavanshi]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tellychakkar.com/movie/movie-news/digangana-suryavanshi-star-opposite-arjun-rampal-the-battle-of-bhima-koregaon|title=Digangana Suryavanshi To Star Opposite Arjun Rampal In The Battle of Bhima Koregaon?|website=Telly Chakkar}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Varma |first1=Lipika |title=Arjun Rampal's upcoming movie delayed |url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/entertainment/bollywood/160620/arjun-rampals-upcoming-movie-delayed.html |access-date=13 January 2021 |work=Deccan Chronicle |date=16 June 2020 |language=en}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Battle of Saragarhi]]
*[[Mahar Regiment]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

=== Bibliography ===
{{refbegin}}
* {{cite book |author=Shraddha Kumbhojkar |chapter=Politics, caste and the remembrance of the Raj: the Obelisk at Koregaon |editor=Dominik Geppert and Frank Lorenz Müller |title=Sites of Imperial Memory: Commemorating Colonial Rule in the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NeCSDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA39 |year=2015 |publisher=Manchester University Press |isbn=978-0-7190-9081-3 }}
{{refend}}

{{MarathaEmpire}}

[[Category:Conflicts in 1818|Koregaon]]
[[Category:Military history of British India|Koregaon]]
[[Category:Battles involving the Maratha Empire|Koregaon]]
[[Category:Battles involving the British East India Company|Koregaon]]
[[Category:History of Pune]]
[[Category:1818 in India]]
[[Category:Dalit history]]
[[Category:January 1818]]
[[Category:1810s battles|Koregaon]]

Battle of Koregaon - Revision history

FWQGina861152045 at 17:28, 26 March 2026