Bhima Koregaon violence: A first person account of what exactly happened in Pune

In the midst of the violence that broke out in Bhima Koregaon, a small village on the outskirts of Pune, that left one dead, one person's account of her experience has gone viral on social media.

18-year-old Tejaswini Tabhane shared her experience on Twitter, as a first-time traveller to the place.

A student of Economics from Delhi University at Miranda House, Tabhane said that all those present knew why they were there. "Their awareness amazed me. They knew they were there to celebrate the battle which our ancestors won against the casteist Peshwas exactly 200 years back," she said on Twitter, as part of a thread.

Adding that the presence was not limited to the battle, Tabhane said that the presence was the 'reclamation of human personality'.

"They were their to take inspiration to keep fighting against the casteist rule. This "neo Peshwai" is truly not new to us. We have been fighting continuously and our fight existed in pre-2014 India also!" she added.

She further stated that people were told to not carry with them any candles, incense sticks or garlands. Because we were not there to 'pray'. "People who were coming to pay a tribute there was constantly being told to not carry with them any candles, incense sticks or garlands. Because we were not there to 'pray'."

Amidst all the news of violence that has happened around Bhima Koregaon, let me share my experience of visiting this place for the first time which no mainstream media will tell you.
 

— Tejaswini Tabhane (@Tejaswi2406) January 2, 2018

Read the full thread here