Raghoji Bhangare

Indian Freedom Fighter Naik Raghojirao Ramjirao Bhangre Patil of Devgaon
Naik Raghojirao Ramjirao Bhangare
Born	Raghoji Ramji Bhangare 8 November 1805 (1805-11-08) Devgaon, Akole, India
Died	2 May 1848 (1848-05-03) (aged 42)
Cause of death	Hanged
Burial place	Umbhrai, Shahapur taluka, Thane, Maharashtra
Nationality	India
Other names	Raghuji Raghojee
Citizenship	Indian
Occupation	Agriculturist
Years active	1844 - 1848
Era	British era
Organization	Bandkari
Title	Bandkari Patil of Devgaon Chief of Kolis of Bhangre clan Naik of rebel army
Predecessor	Ramjirao Manajirao Bhangre
Movement	Indian independence movement
Criminal charges	Murder Blackmailing Looting
Partner	Ramaji Kirve
Father	Ramjirao Manajirao Bhangare
Family	Bapuji Bhangare (brother)

Raghojirao Bhangre statue in Ahmadnagar

The Raghojirao Ramjirao Bhangre ^[1] also spell Bhangaria ^[2] (8 November 1805 – 2 May 1848) was an Indian revolutionary who challenged and defied British rule in the Bombay Presidency. ^[3] He was the son of Ramji Bhangare, a Koli who also resisted the British rule and was subsequently hanged in Cellular Jail. ^[4] He was only ten years old when he took up arms against British rule in Maharashtra. ^[5]

Raghoji Bhangare turned to rebellion after his mother was tortured by British officials with the assistance of some Marwadis of village. ^[6]

The Indian social activist, thinker, anti-caste social reformer and writer from Maharashtra Jyotirao Phule may have been inspired by the revolts of Raghoji Bhangre, among others. ^[7] The revolts of Raghoji Bhangare are considered as highly significant in the history of Maharashtra. Compared to the revolts made by Raghoji Bhangre, the other revolts were not very significant though they continued to take place until 1946-47. ^[8]

Raghoji Bhangre became known by the honorific title Bandkari for his exploits. Bandkari means leader of rebellions in the Marathi language. ^[9]

Early life

Raghoji was born in 1805 to Ramjirao Bhangre in Deogaon of Akole in Western Ghat of Maharashtra in British India. ^[10] His family members included Mahadev Koli who was active in the Indian independence movement. His father Ramji Bhangre also served as Jamadar in the British Police ^[11] though he later gave up the job and revolted against British government. After death of his father, he succeeded his father as Patil of Devgam and head of family. ^[12]

Revolutionary activities

In 1818, the Maratha Empire was defeated by British in the Battle of Koregaon. After that the tribals of Maharashtra took to slavery and Raghoji Rao raised against British rule in the minor age. He captured the British treasure and he was declared as an Outlaw. After that he resisted the government in Poona. In 1844, Raghoji along with his brother Bapuji Bhangre led the anti-british uprisings in Ahmednagar, Nashik and Pune district. ^{[13] [14]} Raghoji with his brother Bapuji Bhangre cut off the noses of british officers, Sahukars and Zamidars. ^[15] After that the Captain Giberne seized a party of rebels. At 20 September 1844, Raghuji killed an officer and ten constables in the hills. In 1845, his rebellion spread over Pune, Satara and Purandar. A reward of five thousands rupees was announced for the capture of Raghoji. ^[16]

Death

On 2 May 1848, Bhangre was caught by Lieutenant-General Gell and hanged. ^{[17] [2]}

Tribute

Raghoji Bhangre Jayanti celebration by maharashtra police 2007

In 2014, The Chief minister of Maharashtra, Prithviraj Chavan inaugurated a Circuit House in Thane named after Raghoji. ^[18]

See also

• Rama Kirve
• List of Koli states and clans

References

1. "Adivasis celebrate and demand of basic amenities on 'World Indigenous Day'". Mumbai Live. Retrieved 7 April 2019.
2. Kennedy, Michael (1985). The Criminal Classes in India. New Delhi, India, Asia: Mittal Publications. pp. 92: The year 1845 was rendered famous in Koli history by the excesses of the notorious Raghoji Bhangria who, becoming an outlaw, organized bands of Kolis with whom he roamed the countryside revenging himself on avaricious Marwadis by cutting off their noses. Strong measures broke up his gangs but not till the Marwadi community for the most part had fled in terror. Raghoji was ultimately caught at Pandharpur by Captain Gell, convicted and hanged.
3. Guha, Sumit (2 November 2006). Environment and Ethnicity in India, 1200-1991. New Delhi, India, Asia: Cambridge University Press. pp. 103: The Koli identity nonetheless persisted and they retained their militant reputation. Down to the mid-nineteenth century the policing of a substantial area was in the hands of different Koli naiks appointed by the colonial government. However, their powers were curtailed after they colluded with the famous Koli rebel Raghoji Bhangare, who successfully defied the government for two years. None the less, during the great crisis of 1857, the colonial regime turned to the Koli militia, and raised an irregular corps from among them to combat Bhil insurgents in Ahmadnagar and Nasik. ISBN   9780521028707.
4. ढोमणे, सौ शिल्पा (21 April 2016). Veer Raghoji Bhangre / Nachiket Prakashan: वीर राघोजी भांगरे (in Marathi). Nachiket Prakashan.
5. Hardiman, David; Hardiman, Professor of History David (1996). Feeding the Baniya: Peasants and Usurers in Western India. New Delhi, India: Oxford University Press. pp. 226: Ragnu Bhangare was about ten years old when he rebelled against the British and was subsequently transported for life. Raghu was allowed in time to succeed to the patilship of Devgaon. ISBN   978-0-19-563956-8.
6. Ghurye, Govind Sadashiv (1957). The Mahadev Kolis. New Delhi, India, Asia: Popular Book Depot. pp. 13: yet within a decade or so Raghoji Bhangare raised his banner again and the turmoil lasted till A.D. 1848. The immediate cause of Raghoji's revolt was the torture of his mother, and its objective was the Marwadi merchants who assisted the British officials.
7. 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, Asia: Cambridge University Press. p. 111. ISBN   978-0-521-52308-0.
8. Hangloo, Rattan Lal; Murali, A. (2007). New Themes in Indian History: Art, Politics, Gender, Environment, and Culture. New Delhi, India, Asia: Black & White. p. 391. ISBN   978-81-89320-15-7.
9. Krishan, Shri (7 April 2005). Political Mobilization and Identity in Western India, 1934-47. SAGE Publishing India. ISBN   978-93-5280-307-1.
10. Authors, Multiple (2 August 2022). Tribal Leaders of the Freedom Struggle - Special Release. New Delhi, India, Asia: Amar Chitra Katha. pp. 34: Raghoji which belonged Bhangre clan was born on 8 November 1805 to Mahadeo Koli tribe of Maharashtra. ISBN   978-93-94610-24-8.
11. Sunthankar, B. R. (1988). Nineteenth Century History of Maharashtra: 1818-1857. New Delhi, India, Asia: Shubhada-Saraswat Prakashan. pp. 408: 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 of Pune. ISBN   978-81-85239-50-7.
12. 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, Asia: University of Minnesota. pp. 283: Ramji Bhangare transported for life, his son, Raghuji, became patil of Devgaon and the head of the family. Yet, Raghuji was prevented from succeeding to his father's military post as the Jamadar of the Ghat Police in North Konkan.
13. Divekar, V. D. (1993). South India in 1857 War of Independence. New Delhi, , India, Asia: 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 different Koli sub-castes. Bapu was caught by the British on 18 August 1845.
14. Шалькевіч, Вячаслаў (1973). Скорина и скориниана. New Delhi, India, Asia: Изд-во "Право и экономика". pp. 139: In 1844, the Kolies renewed their rebellious activities in the Ahmadnagar and Nasik regions under the leadership of Raghu Bhangre and Bapu Bhangre. ISBN   978-985-442-076-9.
15. Gāre, Govinda (1976). Tribals in an Urban Setting: A Study of Socio-economic Impact of Poona City on the Mahadeo Kolis. New Delhi, India, Asia: Shubhada Saraswat Publications. pp. 26: They started attacking and robbing Zamindars and money-lenders who were exploiting them. The movement became strong in 1846 A.D. under the leadership of Raghoji Bhangare. Raghoji with his many followers ran over Ahmednagar and Nasik districts, cutting the noses of British officials and local landlords.
16. Kulkarni-Pathare, Dr Ravindra Thakur, Reshma (17 February 2020). MAHATMA JYOTIRAO PHULE. New Delhi, India, Asia: Mehta Publishing House. pp. Colonel Macintosh had cracked down on the rebellion led by the Bhangares. Bapu Bhangare had been imprisoned. Raghoji Bhangare had somehow escaped and was in hiding. The government had announced an award of Rs. 5000 for anybody delivering Raghoji to them. ISBN   978-93-5317-404-0.
17. Keer, Dhananjay (1997). Mahatma Jotirao Phooley: Father of the Indian Social Revolution. New Delhi, India, Asia: Popular Prakashan. pp. 16: The revolt raised by Bapu and Raghoji Bhangre was suppressed in 1848. Raghoji Bhangre was hanged on 2 May. 1848. ISBN   978-81-7154-066-2.
18. "Uddhav distances himself from Saamana edit against Gujaratis". The Indian Express. 3 May 2014. Retrieved 7 April 2019.

Further reading

• Krishan, Shri (7 April 2005). Political Mobilization and Identity in Western India, 1934-47. New Delhi: SAGE Publishing India. ISBN   9789352803071.