Bapuji Bhangare[1] was a Koli Patil of Deogaon and Indian freedom fighter who challenged the British government in Maharashtra state of British India.[2] Bapuji Bhangare breakdown the British government strongly in Pune, Ahmadnagar and Nashik districts of Maharashtra.[3]
Bapujirao Bhangare Bandkari | |
|---|---|
 Bapuji Bhangare Tombstone | |
| Born | Bapujirao Bhangare |
| Cause of death | Hanged |
| Other names | Bapuji Patil |
| Occupation | Jagirdar |
| Years active | 1844 - 1848 |
| Era | British era |
| Organization | Bandkari |
| Movement | Indian independence movement |
| Criminal charges | Murders, Gang Robberys, Blackmailing, Plundering |
| Partner | Raghoji Bhangare (brother) |
| Parent | Ramjirao Bhangare (father) |
| Relatives | Javji Bamble (cousin) |
When he was captured by British troops, he was only 26 years old.[4] The young Jyotirao Phule may have been inspired by Bapuji Bhangare, among others.[5]
Early life
editBhangare was born to Ramji Bhangare who was Koli Patil of Devgaon, Jemadar of Ahmednagar police.[6] Bapuji was grown up in Jawhar State because his elder brother Rama Rao Bhangare was married to the sister of Raja of Jawhar State.[7]
Rebellion
editIn February 1844, challenged the British government in hilly tract of Western ghats of Konkan region of Maharashtra.[8] Bapuji along with his revolutionary army, attacked and looted the British supporting Sahukars, Moneylenders and village Patils.[9] In May month, attacked and plundered the villages in Akola, Igatpuri and Khed talukas because of controlled by British government. He based his revolutionary army in Koli country of Jawhar State in Konkan because his brother Rama Rao Bhangare was married to sister of Koli Raja of Jawhar State. He was fully support and shielded by ruler of Jawhar. Bapuji Bhangare along with other Koli chief Bhau Kengle levied tribute from British controlled territory. In January 1845, Bapuji attacked at Police station of Vada and captured the station but two of revolutionaries were killed in action.[10]
Large numbers of Kolis agriculturists of the above ghat villages who were suspected of helping the Koli revolutionaries were called into Rajur and ordered to give active help to the British authorities, while their families were detained as so-called 'security' to ensure that they carried out this task. These Koli peasants were forced to abandon their villages at the time when they should have been busy preparing their fields for the first rains. The conditions in the detention centres were moreover notoriously bad: the prisoners suffered from malnourishment and there were deaths from Cholera. Put into this intolerable situation, many other Kolis also revolted against British government. By 21 June 1845, British troops sent to capture revolutionaries and around 150 revolutionaries had been either captured or killed. Most prominent amongst them was Bhau Kengle captured at that time. In August Bapu Bhangare was double-crossed by a member of Mahar caste and captured by captain Liddel.[10] after capture of Bapuji, the rebellion was continued by his brother Raghoji Bhangare till 1848 and 2 May 1848, Raghoji also was hanged.[11]
Death
editBapuji Bhangare was captured by Captain Liddel on 18 August 1845 and sent to Ahmednagar central jail.[12] In November, he was tried for treasury and hanged.[10]
References
edit- ^ Gāre, Govinda (2003). Sahyādrītīla ādivāsī, Mahādevakoḷī (in Marathi). New Delhi, India: Ādima Sāhitya. pp. 76–127.
- ^ Kulkarni-Pathare, Dr Ravindra Thakur Translated From MARATHI to ENGLISH by Reshma (17 February 2020). MAHATMA JYOTIRAO PHULE- english. New Delhi, India: Mehta Publishing House. ISBN 978-93-5317-404-0.
- ^ Itihas. New Delhi, India. 1973. p. 139. ISBN 9789854420769.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - ^ Hardiman, David; Hardiman, Professor of History David (1996). Feeding the Baniya: Peasants and Usurers in Western India. New Delhi, India, Asia: Oxford University Press. p. 226. ISBN 978-0-19-563956-8.
- ^ O'Hanlon, Rosalind (22 August 2002). Caste, Conflict and Ideology: Mahatma Jotirao Phule and Low Caste Protest in Nineteenth-Century Western India. New Delhi, India: Cambridge University Press. p. 111. ISBN 978-0-521-52308-0.
- ^ Sunthankar, B. R. (1988). Nineteenth Century History of Maharashtra: 1818-1857. New Delhi, India: Shubhada-Saraswat Prakashan. pp. 408: In 1844 again the tribes organised a rebellion under the leadership of Raghu Bhangre and Bapu Bhangre, the two sons of a jamadar of the Ahmadnagar police, who was a Koli by caste . Their headquarters were the hilly country north. ISBN 978-81-85239-50-7.
- ^ Robinson, Frederick Bruce (1978). Adaptation to Colonial Rule by the "wild Tribes" of the Bombay Deccan, 1818-1880: From Political Competition to Social Banditry. New Delhi, India: University of Minnesota. p. 289.
- ^ Chaudhuri, Sashi Bhusan (1955). Civil Disturbances During the British Rule in India, 1765-1857. New Delhi, India: World Press. p. 168. ISBN 978-0-598-57785-6.
- ^ Ghodke, H. M. (2000). Mahārāshṭragāthā (in Marathi). New Delhi, India: Rājahãsa Prakāśana. p. 205. ISBN 978-81-7434-186-0.
- ^ a b c Hardiman, David (2007). Histories for the Subordinated. New Delhi, India: Seagull Books. pp. 111–112–132–147. ISBN 978-1-905422-38-8.
- ^ Keer, Dhananjay (1997). Mahatma Jotirao Phooley: Father of the Indian Social Revolution. New Delhi, India: Popular Prakashan. p. 16. ISBN 978-81-7154-066-2.
- ^ Divekar, V. D. (1993). South India in 1857 War of Independence. Lokmanya Tilak Smarak Trust. pp. 62: In 1844, anti - British uprisings in Pune area were led by two brothers, namely, Raghu Bhangre and Bapu Bhangre . Their followers included people of Koli caste. Bapu was caught by the British on 18 August 1845.