January 1, 1818, is remembered as the date of the Battle of Bhima Koregaon. But beyond the rhetoric of modern celebrations lies a harsh truth, it was the beginning of the end for the Maratha Empire, the last true Hindu Swarajya, established by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, the lion of India, whose vision of dharma, courage, and self-rule inspired generations.
The Marathas were not just warriors, they were the protectors of Hindu dharma, the defenders of Swarajya, and the true authority even over Muslim kingdoms. By the early 19th century, Mughals and other Muslim states were mere protectorates of the Marathas, paying tribute, obeying their authority, and relying on Maratha strength for survival. The Maratha Empire represented the last bulwark of Hindu power in the subcontinent.
Yet the empire did not fall to external forces alone. At Bhima Koregaon, a small but treacherous section of Hindus, the Mahars and other so-called Dalit groups, chose to side with the British, fighting against their own people and rulers. Around 500 Mahars were part of the Company’s army, helping the invaders hold their ground against the Peshwa’s vastly superior forces. This was not valor for Swarajya, but complicity in the destruction of Hindu sovereignty. Their celebrated “victory” today is nothing more than a stain of betrayal on Hindu history.
The British, master tacticians of divide-and-rule, exploited this betrayal brilliantly. A seemingly minor skirmish at Koregaon led to strategic consequences that dismantled the Maratha Empire. Within months, Baji Rao II was defeated and pensioned off, and with him, the last bastion of Hindu Swarajya crumbled.
Make no mistake: the British did not conquer India by defeating the Mughals or other Muslim rulers. Those empires were already weakened, fragmented, and largely dependent on Maratha power. The real conquest began only after the fall of the Marathas, a collapse not caused by foreign might, but by Hindus who betrayed their own dharma, loyalty, and legacy of Swarajya.
The Marathas were more than rulers, they were symbols of Hindu pride, courage, and vision. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s Swarajya was built on dharma, honor, and sacrifice. Its end at the hands of internal traitors serves as a stark warning: no civilization falls faster than the one divided from within.
Bhima Koregaon is not a tale of valor for the Mahars, it is a lesson in betrayal. It reminds us that true honor lies with those who protect dharma and Swarajya, not those who serve the invader for personal gain. The Marathas fought, bled, and upheld the pride of Hindus, while others sold their legacy for the British gun.
Let history remember the Marathas as the last Hindu shield, and let betrayal be remembered as the price India paid for disunity.
