On meeting Bhima Koregaon violence accused Sambhaji Bhide

As one enters Sangli, the turmeric town of Maharashtra, the influence of Maratha history can be seen written all over the grand wooden houses. From small mandals (groups) to chowks, almost everything is named after Hindutva icons. No wonder the controversial Sambhaji Bhide chose this place as his Karma bhoomi.

On reaching Sangli on December 4, we saw a huge procession in support of Bhide, who is fondly called as Bhide Guruji by his followers. The 85-year-old founder of Shiv Pratishthan Hindustan is accused of orchestrating the violence at the anniversary celebrations of the battle fought 200 years ago in Bhima Koregaon.

As we headed towards his house in Gaonbhag area, we were told that Guruji does not carry a cellphone (or "bhraman dhwani" as he calls it). So once he picks up his bicycle and leaves, no one knows his whereabouts. The Datta Niwas building is situated in a narrow bylane of the old town. A police van was parked outside the lane, even though Bhide has not been provided any security cover. As we neared his house, it seemed almost everyone knew the way to his first-floor abode. However, much to our disappointment, we found ourselves staring at a lock on the door. We left a small note at the doorstep.

Not too many people know about the staunch Hindutva ideologue, especially outside Maharashtra, but for those who have closely followed the state's identity politics, Bhide Guruji is a familiar name.

An ardent follower of Maratha warrior king Chhatrapati Shivaji, many say, Bhide's real name is Manohar but he calls himself Sambhaji after the Maratha king. Maratha organisations like Sambhaji Brigade or Maratha Mahasangh allege that Bhide, who is an upper caste Brahmin, deliberately professes Maratha history in a Brahminical perspective.

Guruji has a sizeable following in western Maharashtra, particularly in Sangli district, and parts of neighbouring Karnataka. The man with a magnum moustache is usually dressed in a white kurta pajama or dhoti, but never wears a footwear - no matter where he goes. His followers say that Bhide is an MSc in nuclear physics from Pune University and has also served as a professor in Pune's Fergusson College long ago.

In Sangli, Bhide is often seen riding a bicycle. He delivers sermons on Shivaji and Sambhaji, most of which are focused on the warrior kings as Hindutva icons.

In 2009, he found himself embroiled in a controversy when communal violence broke out in the twin cities of Miraj-Sangli in Sangli district during Ganpati visarjan over an arch, sporting a poster that depicted the slaying of Afzhal Khan - the most capable commander of Ali Adil Shah II of the Bijapur Sultanate - at the hands of Chhatrapati Shivaji. It was reportedly erected just a day before Ganesh visarjan. Even though many demanded his arrest, Bhide came out "victorious" without a single scratch.

The man is known for his fiery talks on the lives of Shivaji Maharaj heavily laced with hatred for Muslims. And until the recent Bhima Koregaon violence, which Bhide is accused of inciting along with Milind Ekbote, he was not known to be anti-Dalit.

Bhide's Shiv Pratishthan Hindustan is mainly known for training youths in physical education. Every year during Navratri, Bhide organises a marathon called "Durga Daud". Many prominent politicians in the past have graced the event.

Not widely known outside Maharashtra, Bhide made national headlines in 2014 when Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during a 2014 Assembly election rally in Sangli, reportedly referred to the hardcore Hindutva activist as one of his inspirations. "Bhide Guruji did not invite me here. I came here on his orders,” Modi had said during the rally," Modi had said.

Those close to Bhide say the once-RSS pracharak split from the Sangh Parivar following difference of opinion with former RSS chief Balasaheb Deoras. Ever since then he has been busy running the Shiv Pratishthan Hindustan, albeit on the lines of the RSS. Much like the practice in RSS shakhas, we came to know, Bhide and his followers gather at their office every morning for workout sessions.

We decided to catch up with him there. On a cold Friday morning, our team reached the Vishnu Ghat on the banks of river Krishna. A group of men had already begun their "surya namaskar" amid chanting of mantras. We were told that Bhide usually reaches by 5am. We kept waiting on the stairs of a temple watching another group of senior citizens practising laughter yoga.

A while later, Bhide came riding his old bicycle. After greeting us, the first thing he asked us to do was to put aside our cameras. He then asked us to join us in his morning prayers and introduced us to others as "guests of Sangli from Mumbai". The prayers started with "Jayatu Hindu Rashtram (long Iive the Hindu nation)".

While the prayers, offered to goddess Bhawani, praised Shivaji and Sambhaji, it was difficult to miss the religious undertones. After the prayers, the group got ready for another round of surya namaskar. Bhide, we were told, has added two additional surya mantras to the usual cycle in the name of Shivaji and Sambhaji.

After we joined him in his workout and prayers, the man seemed comfortable talking to us. As soon as he is asked about the Bhima Koregaon violence, he vehemently claimed innocence and said it was a political conspiracy. He even appealed for a thorough inquiry into the incident. Giving examples from Mahabharata, he told us that even "lord Krishna had to face allegations of theft".

As he got up to leave on his cycle cutting through a line of followers who had gathered to meet him, it was clear Bhide's no ordinary man.

Also read: How Bhima Koregaon battle anniversary turned into a riot