Sambhaji Brigade

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Sambhaji Brigade is an organization of Maratha and Bahujan youths^{[citation needed]} affiliated with a larger politico-cultural organization, the Maratha Seva Sangh (Maratha Service Association), formed to pursue long standing ethnic grievances and protect the interests of the Marathas ^[1]. The Sambhaji Brigade is named after Sambhaji, son of the first Maratha king Shivaji, a seventeenth century C.E. warrior-king (1627—1680) who defended the area now known as the Indian state of Maharashtra from the Mughals.

History

Sambhaji Brigade is a decade old organization^{[citation needed]} working for the upliftment of Marathas and Bahujans which has influenced local politics, and has earned a reputation among some Western scholars as "an educational, forward-thinking institution which blames Brahmins for their ethnic elitism and for all the social problems due to the privileged position of Bramhanical Hinduism. As James Laine himself said, “There’s a 100 year-history of Brahmins rejecting the royal claims of Shivaji’s family and a 100 year-history of Marathas criticizing Brahmin dominance of scholarship.“ ^[2]

Sambhaji Brigade became known for violence after some of its members attacked the staff and archives of the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute in Pune on January 5, 2004 ^[3]. This incident was fed by disagreement with some controversial statements found in a book about Shivaji by James Laine, the Arnold H. Lowe Professor of Religious Studies at Macalaster College ^[4].

Ideology

Sambhaji Brigade has a reputation for having “deeply progressive, if not leftist ideological commitments“ ^[5]. Their views are directed at the ethnic and social privilege of Brahmins, believing that Brahmins have been exploiting the common people, especilly Dalits. Sambhaji Brigade believes that the Brahmins' dominant cultural position^{[citation needed]} blocks India's progress ^[6]. An alternative religion propounded by the Maratha Seva Sangh and Sambhaji Brigade on January 12, 2005 is Shivdharma^[7].

Achievements

The organization has had some limited success in many parts of Maharashtra^{[citation needed]} by exploiting the caste equations and trying to consolidate an anti-brahmin vote bank. Their members are not only Marathas, but there are youth from other castes who have joined this organization^[quantify].

References

External links

• Manjiri Maghav Damle, "Maratha group flays Sambhaji brigade", Times of India (21 Jan 2004, 1653 hrs IST)
• Shivdharma website
• "James Laine’s Shivaji: Hindu King in Islamic India and the attack on the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute", Complete Review Quarterly, Vol. V, No. 1. (February, 2004)
• Article about Sambhaji Brigade in The Week Magazine - broken link June 17 2009
• Shailesh Gaikwad, "Meet Khedekar, man in the BORI shadow", expressindia.com(January 08, 2004)
• "Loksatta editor Kumar Ketkar's residence attacked", expressindia.com, [Jun 05, 2008 1402 hrs IST)
• "'Maratha' activists vandalise Bhandarkar Institute", Times of India (6 Jan 2004, 0352 hrs)
• Mahesh Vijapurkar, "NCP activists attack Zee TV office; Bhujbal resigns", hindu.com (December 24, 2003)
• Attack on Loksatta editor's home "For asking why a Shivaji statue, Loksatta Editor’s home attacked", Indian Express (Jun 06, 2008 at 1138 hrs IST)
• Shubhangi Khapre, "Now, Marathas want reservation", dnaindia.com (September 18, 2008 4:20 IST)