Lahuji Raghoji Salve
Encyclopedia
Lahuji Raghoji Salve also known as Krantiveer Lahuji Vaastad Raghoji Salve, Krantiveer Lahujibuwa Salve, was an activist, thinker
, social reformer and revolutionary
from Maharashtra
. Lahuji is also referred to as Lahujibuwa Mang, since he was from the Dalit Mang community or Adya Krantikarak since he was the mentor of Vasudev Balwant Phadke
who is known as the father of Indian armed struggle. Lahuji is one of the many forgotten freedom whose big contributions to the struggle are going unnoticed.
in Maharashtra. Lahuji was born into Matang
caste a Dalit
. His father Raghoji Salve migrated to Pune for employment. They lived in Mith gunj area which is now known as Mahatma Phule Peth in Pune
. Being a dalit Lahuji had not access to formal education. Lahuji's father taught him Pehlwani
and he became an expert wrestler, which eventually conferred him the title of Vastaad (Marathi word for Ustad
). Lahuji owned a talimkahana (gymnasium) at Ganjpeth in Pune. Some of the most prominent revolutionaries of that time visited the gymnasium notably Jyotiba Phule, Bal Gangadhar Tilak
, Vasudev Balwant Phadke
, Sadashivrao Paranjpe, Moro Vithal Walvekar. Lahuji not only taught them martial arts
but also acted as a mentor preaching the need for Indian freedom from British Raj and the upliftment of Dalits.
Recently a shrine built by Lahuji to honour his father, at Wakdewadi in Pune was demolished by the municipal officials of Pune for roads expansion work. Lahuji had built the memorial at the place where his father had taken an oath to give his life for the cause of Indian freedom struggle. The shrine was known as Mangir Baba, mispronunciation of Mang Veer Baba (The brave Mang) shrine. This caused major uproar in the Mang community and got Lahuji and Raghoji in news for some time. lahuji
Thinker
Thinker may refer to:*Intellectual, one who tries to use his or her intellect to work, study, reflect, speculate on, or ask and answer questions with regard to a variety of different ideas...
, social reformer and revolutionary
Revolutionary
A revolutionary is a person who either actively participates in, or advocates revolution. Also, when used as an adjective, the term revolutionary refers to something that has a major, sudden impact on society or on some aspect of human endeavor.-Definition:...
from Maharashtra
Maharashtra
Maharashtra is a state located in India. It is the second most populous after Uttar Pradesh and third largest state by area in India...
. Lahuji is also referred to as Lahujibuwa Mang, since he was from the Dalit Mang community or Adya Krantikarak since he was the mentor of Vasudev Balwant Phadke
Vasudev Balwant Phadke
Vasudeo Balwant Phadke was an Indian revolutionary and is widely regarded as the father of the armed struggle for India's independence. Phadke was moved by the plight of the farmer community during British Raj. Phadke believed that ‘Swaraj’ was the only remedy for their ills...
who is known as the father of Indian armed struggle. Lahuji is one of the many forgotten freedom whose big contributions to the struggle are going unnoticed.
Early life
Lahuji Raghoji Salve was born in 1811 at village Peth at the foothills of fort of PurandarPurandar
Purandar may refer to:* Purandar tehsil - for a tehsil in Pune, Maharashtra* Purandar fort - for a fort in Pune, Maharashtra...
in Maharashtra. Lahuji was born into Matang
Matang
Matang is a Dalit caste in the Indian states of Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka. Matangs are known as Madigas in Andhra Pradesh.Matang originally belong to Nagvansh, an ancient race of North India. This race was staunch follower of Shramanic religions like Jainism and Buddhism...
caste a Dalit
Dalit
Dalit is a designation for a group of people traditionally regarded as Untouchable. Dalits are a mixed population, consisting of numerous castes from all over South Asia; they speak a variety of languages and practice a multitude of religions...
. His father Raghoji Salve migrated to Pune for employment. They lived in Mith gunj area which is now known as Mahatma Phule Peth in Pune
Pune
Pune , is the eighth largest metropolis in India, the second largest in the state of Maharashtra after Mumbai, and the largest city in the Western Ghats. Once the centre of power of the Maratha Empire, it is situated 560 metres above sea level on the Deccan plateau at the confluence of the Mula ...
. Being a dalit Lahuji had not access to formal education. Lahuji's father taught him Pehlwani
Pehlwani
Pehlwani or Pahlavani or Kushti is a Persian style of wrestling popular in Iran, India, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh. It was developed in the Mughal era through a synthesis of Indian malla-yuddha and Persian Varzesh-e Bastani....
and he became an expert wrestler, which eventually conferred him the title of Vastaad (Marathi word for Ustad
Ustad
Ustad is an Arabized Persian word is a honorific title for a Muslim man in South Asia. The title precedes the name and is usually used for well regarded teachers and artists, most often musicians. It is applied and used via informal social agreement. It is abbreviated as ut. or ud.-References:*...
). Lahuji owned a talimkahana (gymnasium) at Ganjpeth in Pune. Some of the most prominent revolutionaries of that time visited the gymnasium notably Jyotiba Phule, Bal Gangadhar Tilak
Bal Gangadhar Tilak
Lokmanya Tilak –, was an Indian nationalist, teacher, social reformer and independence fighter who was the first popular leader of the Indian Independence Movement. The British colonial authorities derogatorily called the great leader "Father of the Indian unrest"...
, Vasudev Balwant Phadke
Vasudev Balwant Phadke
Vasudeo Balwant Phadke was an Indian revolutionary and is widely regarded as the father of the armed struggle for India's independence. Phadke was moved by the plight of the farmer community during British Raj. Phadke believed that ‘Swaraj’ was the only remedy for their ills...
, Sadashivrao Paranjpe, Moro Vithal Walvekar. Lahuji not only taught them martial arts
Martial arts
Martial arts are extensive systems of codified practices and traditions of combat, practiced for a variety of reasons, including self-defense, competition, physical health and fitness, as well as mental and spiritual development....
but also acted as a mentor preaching the need for Indian freedom from British Raj and the upliftment of Dalits.
Social Reform
Lahuji was born in the Mang caste and was an untouchable. Lahuji got acquainted with Jyotirao Phule's work for liberation of depressed classes by educating them. Lahuji Salve and Ranoji Mahar teamed in together to work on the cause of spreading Mahatma Phule's objective of education for the depressed classes in Pune. They started preaching the importance of education to their brethren dalits. Lahuji and Ranoji urged their fellow dalits to send their children to the schools started by Mahatma Phule. Mahars and Mang together constitute the most of the dalit population. Lahuji was a believer and follower of Satya Shodhak Samaj society and its principles, as founded by Jyotirao. He adhered and preached these principles amongst his brethren.Legacy
Even though Lahuji acted as a mentor to some of the prominent Indian freedom fighters information very less information on works of Lahuji is available. Legacy of Lahuji is alive in the form of various government sponsored physical education and social reform related initiatives.Recently a shrine built by Lahuji to honour his father, at Wakdewadi in Pune was demolished by the municipal officials of Pune for roads expansion work. Lahuji had built the memorial at the place where his father had taken an oath to give his life for the cause of Indian freedom struggle. The shrine was known as Mangir Baba, mispronunciation of Mang Veer Baba (The brave Mang) shrine. This caused major uproar in the Mang community and got Lahuji and Raghoji in news for some time. lahuji