Dinesh Kamath's Editorial 'Who provoked the Maharashtra violence?' that was published in Newsband

Who provoked the Maharashtra violence?

Tension spread from Bhima-Koregaon, a village on the outskirts of Pune, on Monday. Every year on January 1, a large number of Dalits visit a memorial in Bhima-Koregaon to mark an 1818 battle in which the East India Company, with Mahar soldiers prominent in its ranks, had defeated the Peshwa. Bhima-Koregaon came to be marked as a site of Dalit valour especially with a visit by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar in 1927.

This year being the 200th anniversary, the commemoration was larger and more high-profile. The police should, therefore have increased security. Also a vandalisation attempt was made in late December near the samadhi of a Mahar who it is said had performed the last rites of Sambhaji, Shivaji’s son.

All these factors ended with the bandh in Mumbai and other places. Now who provoked the violence and caste tensions? These are the result of many factors ranging from contested histories to economic insecurities about jobs and livelihood.

Administration has been caught napping by the sudden outburst and spread of Dalit violence in Maharashtra. It would be too optimistic to hope that the standard response of the government in the form of judicial inquiry would lead anywhere. Recent Dalit atrocities have galvanised the community to assert themselves. The country’s social fabric is bound to come under greater strain as caste and religious animosity play out more often and youthful aspirations remain unfulfilled.

Are we heading for anarchy? The State administration should take action forthwith. The fact is it is all about a colonial war. Such celebrations should have been banned once and for all long ago. How come this war in which neither side achieved victory can be allowed to be celebrated at a long distance of time that too with the incidence of violence? How can you celebrate British victory over Indian King on Indian Land?

This is basically not celebration of victory. This is a place to hold rallies to consolidate the Dalit movement. The more you try to control it the more it will gain importance. Though caste and casteism are considered responsible for this in reality this is a movement to consolidate Dalit identity which has great potential in politics.

The chaos this incident has brought into city must be investigated. The alarming thing is that when education is trying to inculcate values of equality and unity, these type of disturbances affect minds. Little minds and youth shouldn't get carried away with this hatred and violence. This is reckless and fruitless.