Sambhaji Brigade

Sambhaji Brigade is a social organisation based in Maharashtra, India. The organisation is named after king Sambhaji, son of the first Maratha king Shivaji[1] and gained exposure after they attacked and vandalised the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute in Pune in protest against American scholar James Laine’s book on Shivaji titled Shivaji: Hindu King in Islamic India.[2] Currently the head of this organisation is Pravin Gaikwad. Sambhaji Brigade demands reservation for Maratha community and wants inclusion of Marathas in Other Backward Caste (OBC) category. They also demand free education for Maratha children and registered marriages instead of religious ceremonies.[3][4] Organization has been criticized for their extremist anti-Brahmin views.[5][6][7]

Purushottam Khedekar

Purushottam Khedekar is one of the founder of this organisation, also prominent in the Maratha Seva Sangh, a related organisation. Purushottam Khedekar also wrote many anti-Brahmin books like Bhatta Cha Kardhankal (this book was written for termination of Brahmins) and Maharaj Mala Maaf Kara (this book abused Hindu saint Samarth Ramdas). The police had issued an arrest warrant against Khedekar for spreading anti-Brahmin issues and causing cast discrimination.[8][9] He is also the founder of Shivdharma along with Pravin Gaikwad.

History

Sambhaji Brigade is known for aggressive agitations. Their first violent protest was an attack on Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute. This was followed by uprooting of Dadu Kondev's Statue from Lal Mahal, then by attacks on Waghya dog's statue on Raigarh fort and then by attacks on R. R. Patil.

2004 James Laine incidence

A group of brigade members[1] attacked and vandalised the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute(BORI) in January 2004. The attack was prompted by the controversy over James Laine's controversial[10] book Shivaji: Hindu King in Islamic India (OUP, 2003); scholars from the institute had collaborated with Laine on information by for his the book about the founder of the Maratha Empire, Shivaji, which the group had viewed as blasphemy claiming that book features "derogatory remarks on Shivaji and his mother".[11][12][13] Angry mob of Sambhaji Brigade stormed the BORI and destroyed priceless manuscripts and artifacts. Then Prime Minister of India Atal Bihari Vajpayee condemned this violence though he upheld the importance of disagreement and debate in a democracy.[12] After the incident 72 members of the group were arrested.[11] In 2004 the director-general of police announced that a legal ban on the organization was being investigated, but as of 2015, organization has never been banned.[14]

Political support

It has been speculated that Sambhaji brigade has political support of Nationalist Congress Party(NCP).[15] After 2004 James Laine incidence, President of NCP Sharad Pawar also criticized James Laine's book, warned that "scholarship should not clash with public sentiments and faith". Also then Chief Minister of Maharashtra Sushilkumar Shinde, under pressure from the Maratha lobby in the NCP and his own party, the Congress, was hesitant about taking action against the violent protesters of Sambhaji Brigade.[12] In 2004 Government of Maharashtra also banned James Laines's book. However in 2010 Supreme Court of India left ban over book. Following to revoking ban, Sambhaji Brigade attempted to attack NCP leader and then Home Minister of Maharashtra R. R. Patil. However, RR Patil, had not just ignored the vandalism, but gave in to group's demand to ban Laine’s book.[15] [16]

In 2010 NCP-controlled Pune Municipal Corporation's (PMC) decision to remove the statue of Dadu Konddev was claimed to be consistent with the party’s policy to encourage demands of hardline Maratha groups. It is claimed that such a stance had helped the NCP maintain its dominance among the Maratha youth in Pune and rural Maharashtra.[15] Sambhaji Brigade was also involved in a protest to remove the statue of Dadu Konddev from Lal Mahal in Pune claiming that he was just introduced as teacher of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj by Brahmin historians. About 30 to 40 people entered Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) and attacked Mayor's office.[17] This led to a state wide protest by Political parties such as BJP, Shiv Sena and MNS.[18] Following to this Government of Maharashtra (which included NCP) removed name of Dadoji Konddev from school history books stating that Government's committee of historians found no evidence that Dadu Konddev was teacher of Shivaji.[19]


Attack on Waghya's Statue on Raigarh Fort

The group was also responsible for a protest and attack against a dog's (Waghya) statue located on Raigad Fort next to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's memorial. According to legend the dog (named Waghya) was Shivaji's dog. The group claimed that the dog was not real and there shouldn't be a memorial for it. This act was strongly opposed by local Dhangar community for they believe that the dog was real.[20] In fact many people say that Waghya was Chhatrapati Shivaji's dog and the reason for why the memorial was constructed over there.

Shivdharma

Sambhaji Brigade advocates creation of a new religion, different from established Hinduism, called Shivdharma with Shivaji, who himself was a Hindu but a said Mulnivasi, as its central figure. Purushottam Khedekar and Pravin Gaekwad are one of the prominent leaders of this New Religious Movement. This religion will be have all benefits of Indian cast system such as reservation, discount in fees for colleges etc. But this also means that Marathas will be included in Other Backward Cast (OBC). Maratha community today has status of warrior cast which is a higher cast. Due to formation of Shivdharma Maratha status will be relegated. Lots of Marathas have opposed this movement due to this reason.[21][22][23]

Gallery

External links

References

  1. 1 2 Nussbaum, Martha C. (2008). The Clash Within: Democracy, Religious Violence, and India's Future. Harvard UP. p. 240. ISBN 978-0-674-03059-6. Retrieved 13 January 2012.
  2. ↑ "Row over award to historian Babasaheb Purandare". The Hindu. 5 May 2015. Retrieved 16 July 2015.
  3. ↑ "Sambhaji Brigade Wants Marathas in OBC Category - Nov 12,2012". Outlook.
  4. ↑ "Sambhaji Brigade seeks inclusion of Marathas as OBC community". DNA India.
  5. ↑ "The rise of India’s EQ". http://www.hindustantimes.com/.
  6. ↑ "Shivaji is vote bank sabre, rattled in the face of history". Tehelka.
  7. ↑ Siddharth, Kelkar (22 November 2008). "Rift widens: Sambhaji Brigade flays Shiv Sangram chief - Indian Express". The Indian Express. Retrieved 13 January 2012.
  8. ↑ "News Archives: The Hindu". The Hindu.
  9. ↑ "BJP demands ban on book on Shivaji". Indian Express.
  10. ↑ "Supreme Court lifts ban on James Laine's book on Shivaji". The Times of India. 9 July 2010. Retrieved 16 July 2015.
  11. 1 2 "Front demands destroying copies of Laine’s book - Times Of India". Indiatimes. 16 January 2004. Retrieved 13 January 2012.
  12. 1 2 3 "Maharashtra govt bans James W. Laine's biography on Shivaji". India Today. 2 February 2004. Retrieved 16 July 2015.
  13. ↑ "The Hindu : Politics and the cult of the Chhatrapati". The Hindu. 1 April 2004.
  14. ↑ "Ban on Sambhaji Brigade likely: DGP - Times Of India". Indiatimes. 8 January 2004. Retrieved 13 January 2012.
  15. 1 2 3 "Why NCP needs Sambhaji Brigade.". Hindustan Times'. 28 December 2010. Retrieved 17 July 2015.
  16. ↑ Balakrishnan, S. (11 July 2010). "Sambhaji Brigade targets home min - The Times of India". Indiatimes.
  17. ↑ "Sambhaji Brigade attacks Pune Mayor's office". http://www.ibnlive.com/videos/india/pune-mayor-attack-347047.html. External link in |work= (help)
  18. ↑ dadu’s statue in Pune sparks statewide protests, Mumbai Mirror
  19. ↑ "Nothing against Brahmins in removing name of Konddev from text books: Maratha outfit". Indian Express. 7 June 2009. Retrieved 17 July 2015.
  20. ↑ Maratha outfit declares war on Shivaji's dog , IBN Live
  21. ↑ "Pune Terror 01/08/12 And The Ongoing Maratha-Bahujan vs Chitpawan Brahmin Caste War Across Maharashtr". countercurrents. 1 August 2012. Retrieved 16 July 2015.
  22. ↑ "MSS founder's wife quits BJP to join NCP". DNA. 21 September 2013. Retrieved 16 July 2015.
  23. ↑ "Why do Marathas denied Hinduism?". wordpress. Retrieved 16 July 2015.
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