The battle of Bhima Koregaon on January 1, 1818 has come to a narrative of Dalit assertion against Brahminical oppression; however it was a story of Indian Nationalism standing up to the colonial army of the East India Company.
Dr B.R. Ambedkar in one of his visits to Jaystambh said “Mahars had defeated Peshwas at Koregaon”.
One of the earliest accounts of the battle was published in 1885 in the three volume The Poona Gazetteer, exited by James Campbell, ICS, as part of series of Gazetteers of the Bombay Presidency.
The battle took place at the village of Koregaon situates 16 miles north-east of Pune, where 800 British troops faced 30000 Maratha on January 1, 1818. At that time Pune was under Colonel Charles Barton Burr, by the end of December he received intelligence that Bajirao intended to attack Poona. The second battalion of first regiment Bombay Native Infantry of 500 tank and file under Captain Francis Staunton, accompanied by 300 horse & 2 six pounder guns manned by 24 European Madras Artillerymen left Sirur for Poona at 8 pm on 31st December 1817. They came across the Peshwa’s army of 30000 Maratha Horse across the Bhima river. Fierce fighting followed and as night fell the attack lightened & British got water, by 9 pm the firing ceased & the Marathas left. Of the 834 British troops 275 were killed & the Marathas lost 600.
unbeatenknight 