PG-2>Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj - Source of Inspiration

The Marathas were at the forefront in the 1857 mutiny against the British and gave wholehearted support for the same. Though they could muster support from a few Hindu Kingdoms in the North, most of them refused to oblige them. The lack of planning, proper co-ordination within Hindu rulers, lack of diplomatic efforts, firearms & communication facilities led to the failure of this mutiny. The Marathas have also whole-heartedly supported the Independence movement especially the �Quit India� movement of 1942 in large Numbers. Thus Marathas have carved out a place of pride for themselves in the History of India. It is a community of Natural Nationalists. The Marathas hold 'Chhatrapati Shri Shivaji Maharaj' ,who brought pride to this community at a very high esteem. This community became dominant in the politics of Maharshtra State after the formation of a Marathi speaking Maharashtra state in 1960.The community has prospered through the effective use of co-operative movement and brought employment in rural areas by establishing Sugar Factories,Spinning Mills,Banks,Milk Dairies and other institutions in co-operative sector. The co-operative sector holds complete control over this community in the countryside. Socially, the present day Marathas find themselves sandwiched between the Brahmins and Backward classes (including the Scheduled castes and tribes). The Brahmins acquired a higher social status thru the advancement made by them in Education, thereby acquiring good jobs in the private sector as well as the Government jobs and generally residing in towns & cities. The Backward classes got the Government jobs by virtue of their castes whereas the Brahmins overpowered them there in open competition. The only saving grace for this community is the small pieces of Ancestral lands they own and a few jobs created by them in the co-operative sector. The lands have also got reduced to a few thousand sq.ft (gunthas) over a period of time, due to family partitions. Though the present generation Maratha youth is taking education they find it difficult to get jobs competing with the Brahmins and other urban classes. The leading lights of this community are Rajarshi Shahu Maharaj of Kolhapur, Late Sayajirao Gaekwad of Baroda ,Late Yashwantrao Chavan (Ex-Deputy PM),Late Vasantraodada Patil(Ex CM Maharshtra),Late Balasaheb Desai (Ex Home Min. Maharashtra ,Shri. Yeshwantrao Mohite (Ex-Fin Min of Maharashtra),Prof. Shivajirao Bhosale,Late Vithalrao Vikhe Patil,Late Shivajirao Patil (Mathadi workers Leader).In the present generation Sharad Pawar (Leader of NCP) occupies the prime position. Attempts made by Late Shivajirao patil and now Mr Shasikant pawar to unite this commninity under the banner of �Akhil Bhartiya Maratha Mahasangh� have met with little success. The idea of Maratha Mahasangh was to put forth the views of this community to the Government on a common platform. Another organization �Maratha Sewa Sangh� headed by Mr Purushottam Khedekar have formed a new Religion called �Shiv Dharma�on January 12, 2005. This was basically to oppose to the Brahmin oriented Hindu religion which is full of blind beliefs and superstitions, inculcated in the minds over generations. This religion has found very little or negligible support from the maratha community since it stands on Brahmin hatred rather than sound fundamental ideology. This religion seeems to be a confused lot with social demands than religious or spiritual requirement. Maratha, amongst other things demand for "Reservation of seats in Government jobs & Educational institutions based on Economic considerations rather than Caste basis". A point the 'meritorious'amongst the forward castes have been making for so long. Marathas disillusioned with reservations for socialy backward classes and being pushed to the corner by the urbanised forward communities have demanded reservation for them in the backward classes which is opposed by the OBC's. Mr. Pratsingh Jadhav editor of Daily Pudhari has now taken up the cause with Maratha organisations. There is hardly any Maratha IAS/IPS officer through the UPSC channel whereas the SC officers like Sh.R.S.Gavai have made it to the position of Chief Secretary (Govt. Of Maharashtra) The Marathas have by and large peacefully accepted the social changes due to the Shahu-Ambedkar -Phule legacy and their own 'Bahujan Samaj' concept(i.e taking all sections of the society together). A word very often referred by politicians and used by Sh.Kanshiram for his political party. He was influenced with 'Bahujan Samaj' concept in Maharshtra while working at Ordnance Factory Khadki, Pune.Maratha's do not find place in the top 200 industrial or business families in the country. Present day Marathas find it difficult to accept the reservations extended to the creamy layers amongst the backward classes and the second generation of those who have availed the benefit once, whereas a maratha student coming from a lower middle class/poor family is denied the seat due to his caste. The going goes tough for Marathas as jobs in pulic as well as private sector are shrinking and they are getting hit where it matters the most; in employment. Still the community continues to live with pride inheriting the rich legacy and history. This was a small effort to tell you about the Maratha community in an impartial way.