It is one of the last battles of 3rd Anglo-Maratha War in January 1818, between Maratha ruler Baji Rao Peshwa II and the British East India Company along with the local Mahar community.
The battle brought an end to the domination of Peshwas.
Historically, Mahars were considered as untouchables.
Maratha King Shivaji, nevertheless, recruited large number of Mahars into the Maratha Army in the 17th
However, relations between Mahars and Peshwas turned sour after Baji Rao II reportedly insulted the community by rejecting their offer to serve the army.
This made them to side with the English against the Peshwa’s numerically superior army.
After the victory, British erected a commemorative victory pillar (Koregaon Ranstambh) in Bhima-Koregaon village in 1818.
This year, the event commemorating the 200th anniversary of the battle had been met with protests in Maharashtra.