Vasudev Balwant Phadke
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Vasudeo Balwant Phadke (Marathi: वासुदेव बळवंत फडके) (1845-11-04–1883-02-17) was an Indian revolutionary and is widely regarded as the "father of the armed struggle" of India's independence. Moved by the plight of the farmer community in Maharastra, he formed a revolutionary group, known as Ramoshi, which waged a struggle to overthrow the British Raj
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[edit] Early years
Phadke was born on 1845-11-04 in Shirdhon village in Raigad district, Maharashtra. He took up wrestling, riding and fencing at an early age and soon became an expert at these skills. He dropped out of high school and took up several differnet jobs after that. In 1870, he joined a public agitation in Pune that aimed at addressing people's grievances. Phadke then founded an institution, the Aikya Vardhini Sabha, to educate the youth.
In 1875, after the then Gaikwad ruler of Baroda was deposed by the British, Phadke launched protest speeches against the government. Severe famine coupled with the evident apathy of the British administration propelled him to tour the Deccan region, urging people to strive for a free republic. Unable to get support from the educated classes, he turned to the Ramosis, Kolis, Bhils and Dangars, and organised around 300 men into an insurgent group. A secret organisation named "Ramoshi" was established that aimed at liberating India from British rule. Phadke and other members of Ramoshi launched a series of raids on the British treasury, especially during the famines of 1860, and used their booty to feed famine-affected farmer communities. As his raids continued, his follower-base expanded and his monetory situation improved. Phadke came into the limelight when he attacked the city of Pune itself and caught the British soldiers off guard. He had a complete hold on Pune for few days.
[edit] Capture and death
However, Phadke's plans to organize several simultaneously attacks across the country met with very limited success. He once had a direct engagement with the British army in the village of Ghanur, whereafter the government offered a bounty for his capture. Not to be outdone, Phadke in turned offered a bounty for the capture of the Governor of Bombay, announced a reward for the killing of each European, and issued other threats to the government. He then fled to Hyderabad State to recruit Rohilla and Arabs into his organisation. The British move to offer a bounty for his capture met with success: someone betrayed Phadke, and he was captured after a fierce fight at Hyderabad on 21 July 1879. His own diary and autobiography provided evidence to have him sentenced for life. Phadke was incarcerated at Aden and hanged on 17 February 1885 for having committed high treason against the crown.
[edit] Legacy
Phadke's exploits are sometimes held to have inspired Bankim Chandra Chatterjee to write the patriotic novel Anand Math. In 1984, the Indian Postal Service issued a 50 paise stamp in honour of the revolutionary. A chowk in South Mumbai near Metro Cinema is named in his honour.
[edit] References
- Vasudeo Balwant Phadke – Indian Posts
- Historical perspective
