Koregaon Bhima Shaurya Din: Ramdas Athawale to demand ₹200 crore funds for memorial

Union Minister of State Ramdas Athawale offered tributes at the obelisk dedicated to the memory of the fallen in the 1818 Koregaon Bhima battle on January 1, 2025.
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

A large crowd, including political personalities, gathered at Koregaon Bhima in Maharashtra’s Pune district on Wednesday (January 1, 2025) to mark the 207th Shaurya Din (Valour Day) and honour the 1818 battle of Koregaon Bhima. Union Minister Ramdas Athawale also mentioned requesting the government to allocate ₹200 crores for the expansion of the Vijaystambh (Victory Pillar) premises, as every year the place sees such a huge influx.

“On this day, our people fought Peshwas and this pillar reflects their bravery. Every year Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar visited this place, and now people from across the country have started visiting this place. A huge memorial should be built around the pillar, the government have started looking into it, but work is not completed. I will meet Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and get the approval of ₹200 crore for the memorial,” Mr. Athawale said to the media in Pune on Wednesday.

Annual Shaurya Din celebrations are held at Koregaon Bhima to celebrate the Battle of Koregaon, fought on January 1, 1818, where 834 British East India Company troops, including 500 Mahar soldiers, defeated the Peshwa’s 28,000-strong force. British erected Vijay Stambh which commemorates the battle that serves as a symbol of Dalit pride.

Prakash Ambedkar, founder president of Vanchit Bahujan Agadhi, Minister Dattatraya Bharne, Anandraj Ambedkar, State Minister Madhuri Misal and other leaders were also in attendance at Koregaon Bhima.

Meanwhile, Anandraj Ambedkar conveyed disappointment over Maharashtra’s Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Ministers Ajit Pawar and Eknath Shinde’s failure to visit the Stambh. “They hold these positions as people voted for them. If this day bore any importance then they should come here. The common man is never invited, they come here out of faith,” he said. Anandraj is the founder of the Republican Sena, an Ambekarite organisation and grandson of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar.

Security deployment

Every year the Koregaon Bhima on January 1, witnesses at least an influx of eight to 10 lakh people. As a part of special arrangements, atleast 5000 police personnel were deployed at the venue.

According to police, around 5000 police personnel and 2,000 home guards were deployed on bandobast duty around Jaystambh. The units from the State reserve police force, bomb detections, and disposal squad (BBDS) teams deployed to control the crowd.

On the technology front, CCTV cameras, drones, and face recognition cameras were installed to keep tabs on suspicious movements. Police have also made necessary arrangements concerning parking lots and other emergency services, including ambulances, and fire brigade.