‘We are no strangers to terror’

Even though there was a 25 per cent reduction in the number of Ambedkar followers who thronged Chaityabhoomi at Shivaji Park this year, a vast majority of them were unfazed by last week’s terror attacks in the city.

Proud to belong to the ‘Mahaar Battalion’ some professors from Pune, who had come to commemorate Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar’s death anniversary at Shivaji Park on Saturday, chose to call themselves the ‘terror community.’

“The first battalion on the border in any war is the Mahaar battalion called the infantry battalion because it fights on foot. We have always lived amid terror and it’s no stranger to us. We are a terror community but we believe in terrorising the terrorists on the border for the welfare of our country,” said Prof VA Jadhav of Central School, Dhapodi in Pune.

“Our ancestors have lived in jungles without food and shelter among tigers. The terrorists know that if they dare to touch us they’ll be torn to shreds. If you see us in huge numbers today it’s because we are unafraid,” said Milind Bodke professor of electronic science Modern College.

Taking a leaf from history, Jadhav remembered Jiva Mahale, a dalit, who was Shivaji’s bodyguard and rescued Shivaji when Afzal Khan’s private secretary, Krishnaji Bhaskar Kulkarni attacked him. “There is a saying in Marathi,’Hota Jiva Mhanun Vachala Shiva’ (Because of Jiva; Shivaji survived the attack),” said Shivaji Kadam, a retired teacher.

Bhima Koregaon in Pune, provides insight on the Mahaar battalions on January 1, every year to pay homage to the dalit soldiers who have died serving the country.

b_linah@dnaindia.net