Destruction of Dalit Tomb May Have Caused Bhima Koregaon Unrest

Was the desecration of Gopal Govind’s memorial in Vadhu Budruk the spark that lit the Bhima Koregaon powder keg?

A bike set ablaze by protestors in Vikroli, Mumbai on 3 January 2018. 

(Photo: PTI)

The destruction of a Dalit hero’s tombstone at Vadhu Budhruk around 30 kilometres from Pune on 29 December – not just the anniversary event of the Bhima Koregaon Battle – may have been the real trigger for the violence that took place near Bhima Koregaon and other parts of Maharashtra on 1 January, reports suggested.

The incident took place on 29 December, when a stone inscribed with text honouring Mahar Dalit hero Govind Gopal was removed overnight, and the area around it desecrated, reported Indian Express.

A Historical Disagreement

The tombstones of Govind Gopal and Sambhaji are located in the same square in Vadhu Budruk village. The Dalit community reveres Govind Gopal, a Mahar, as the hero who defied Mughal emperor Aurangzeb and performed the last rites of Sambhaji, the eldest son of Maratha king Shivaji.

But according to a Pune Mirror report, a number of residents of Vadhu Budruk have, for the last three years, believed Sambhaji and Govind Gopal weren’t alive during the same period, and that the Dalit hero didn’t deserve to have his tombstone at the spot.

On the night of 28 December, a board was placed on Govind Gopal’s tombstone, asserting that he had in fact performed the last rites of Maratha king Sambhaji, despite the controversy that had been fomenting. 

We have records to prove that Sambhaji Maharaj and Govind Gopal never lived at the same time. When we questioned this, some villagers put up a board on his tombstone, crediting him with performing the Maharaj’s last rites. This was the same board that was removed.

Somnath Bhandare, President, Dharmavir Sambhaji Maharaj Smriti Samiti

On the night of 29 December, the board was removed and Govind Gopal’s tombstone was vandalised, triggering tensions in the village.

Siddharth Dhende, leader of the Republican Party of India, in an interview with Pune Mirror, said that blaming the Bhima Koregaon Anniversary event on 31 December and 1 January, was merely an attempt to deflect attention from the real cause of the violence, ie: the desecration of Govind Gopal’s tomb.

The tombstone of Govind Gopal has always been here, with historical references. Why is this question arising now? If clarifications are needed, the government should appoint a committee to probe history. It is right-wing leaders like Milind Ekbote and Sambhaji Bhide who instigated this violence. An inquiry is needed.

Siddharth Dhende

Who Was Responsible For Desecrating the Tomb?

Forty-nine people were booked for the desecration of the site and 9 were arrested. Cases were registered against Sambhaji Bhide and Milind Ekbote under the SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act at Pune’s Pimpri police station, for inciting communal hatred and violence.

The two are yet to be arrested.

Sambhaji Bhide, one of the two leaders booked under the SC/ST Atrocities Act(Photo Courtesy: Facebook)

In 2008, Bhide, also known as Bhide Guruji, made headlines when his followers attacked moviegoers and vandalised movie halls screening Jodhaa Akbar.

Sambhaji Bhide with Prime Minister Modi.(Photo Courtesy: Facebook)

According to a Mumbai Mirror report, Milind Ekbote has 12 cases registered against him. The offences range from trespassing to rioting, criminal intimidation, and attempts to incite hatred and enmity between communities. It adds that Milind Ekbote has been convicted in five of these cases.

Milind Ekbote, leader, Samast Hindu Aghadi (Photo Courtesy: Facebook)

What Now for Govind Gopal’s Tombstone?

Maharashtra Minister of State for Home (Rural), Deepak Kesarkar on 2 January said, "We are going to repair the vandalised structure above Govind Gopal's tombstone. As far as appointing a committee to look into the history, we do not want to distort history and will be glad to leave the facts as they are."

(With inputs from Indian Express, Mumbai Mirror, and Pune Mirror)

(Breathe In, Breathe Out: Are you finding it tough to breathe polluted air? Join hands with FIT in partnership with #MyRightToBreathe to find a solution to pollution. Send in your suggestions to [e-mail] or WhatsApp @ [phone])