A major incident took place in Akkalkot on Sunday, where Pravin Gaikwad, the Maharashtra State President of the Sambhaji Brigade, was manhandled and black ink was smeared on his face by members of the Shivdharma Foundation. The incident occurred during a program organized by Fattesingh Shikshan Sanstha and Sakal Maratha Samaj, where Gaikwad was invited.
Shivdharma Foundation activists objected to the reference made by Gaikwad to Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj as Sambhaji, calling it inappropriate. They were also angered by what they claimed was an insult to Swami Samarth.
The event quickly escalated, and they not only blackened Gaikwad’s face but also raised strong slogans against him. Following the attack, tension gripped the area, and the police had to intervene to control the situation.
Earlier, the Shivdharma Foundation had protested against the Sambhaji Brigade and even held a hunger strike. Now, they have warned of a bigger protest, announcing a grand march in front of the Vidhan Bhavan on the first day of the upcoming monsoon session.
The Shivdharma Foundation has also declared that unless the Sambhaji Brigade stops using the name of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj ‘inappropriately’ in the name of their organization, they will intensify their protests. Activists from Pune, Satara, Kolhapur, Sangli, and Solapur are expected to join.
Who is Pravin Gaikwad?
Originally from Akluj, Pravin Gaikwad is a founding member and the current president of the Sambhaji Brigade. He is widely recognized for his leadership in the Sambhaji Brigade and has been a prominent voice in social and political activism for many years.
The Brigade has actively engaged at the grassroots level to promote the socioeconomic development of the Maratha community. It has also focused on addressing what it considers to be historical inaccuracies in widely accepted narratives. Whether it was the vandalism at the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute over its alleged association with James Laine—whose book on Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj sparked controversy—or the removal of the statue of Waghya, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's loyal dog, near his samadhi in Raigad, the Brigade regards these actions as attempts to correct distorted versions of history.
