The Battle of Koregaon was fought in 1818 between the British East India Company and the Maratha Confederacy, at Koregaon Bhima. The 25,000-strong Marathas, led by Peshwa Baji Rao II intended to attack Pune. On their way, they were met by a 500 Mahar soldiers.
The Company troops included predominantly Mahar soldiers belonging to the Bombay Native Infantry, and therefore the Dalit activists regard the battle as a heroic episode in Dalit history.
