GANESH BABARAO SAVARKAR, AN UNSUNG

HERO OF INDIA
HewastheelderbrotherofVinayakDamodarSavarkar,alsoknownasVeerSavarkar(whois
sufficientlyfamous),whohasseverallandmarksinMumbaiandMaharashtranamedafterhim.
BothbrothersweredeportedandincarceratedatthehorribleCellularJailinAndamansIsland.
ButweknowonlyaboutyoungerVinayak,nobodytalksaboutGaneshtheelderbrother,
why?Whatisthecatch?

TodayIndiaisfree,becauseofselflesspeoplelikehim.
GaneshBabaraoSavarkarwasproactive.Hehadballs,unlikethe"napunsaks"whomwe
worshiptoday,andtakepublicholidaysintheirname.

MahatmaGandhiwaslovedbytheBritish,forhis"nonviolence".Afewthousandwhite
BritishChristianinvadersruledovermillionsofIndiansfor300years.EvenHitlerridiculed
Bose"Whattypeofcowardsareyou,Indiansmillionsofyoucantdriveawayahandfulof
Britishfromyourcountry?"
GaneshBabaraoSavarkar(June13,1879March16,1945)wasagreatbutunsungIndian
freedomfighter.HewastheeldestoftheSavarkarbrothers,Ganesh,Vinayak,andNarayan.
WeIndianknowonlyaboutVinayakaslaterinlifehebecamethe"whiteChristianinvaders
typeoffreedomfighter".ThesenakedtruthsareboundtoshockalltheIndians.

VinayakDamodarSavarkarorVeerSavarkar,wasalsoincarceratedatAndamanswherehis
elderbrotherGaneshBabaraowasalreadyin.
VinayakSavarkarappealedtotheBritishforclemencyin1911andagainduringSirReginald
Craddock'svisitin1913attheCellularjail,citingpoorhealthintheoppressiveconditions.
VinayakSavarkartacticallysignedastatementendorsingthetrial,verdict,Britishlawandfair
Britishjustice,andrenouncingviolence,abargainforfreedom.Literallyhegaveasignedand
stamped"Charactercertificate"tothevileBritishinvader.
IherebyacknowledgethatIhadafairtrialandjustsentence.Iheartilyabhormethodsof
violenceresortedtoindaysgonebyandIfeelmyselfdutyboundtoupholdlawandconstitution
tothebestofmypowersandIamwillingtomakethe[1919MontagueChelmsfordReforms]a
successinsofarasImaybeallowedtodosoinfuture"
WHATADISGRACEHISELDERBROTHERBABARAOWOULDNEVEREVERHAVE
DONETHIS.

VeerSavarkarappealedforclemencywithinayearofhisreachingtheAndamans.Inoneofhis
communications,totheBritishhesays,...ifthegovernmentintheirmanifoldbeneficenceand

mercyreleaseme,Iforonecannotbutbethestaunchestadvocateofconstitutionalprogressand
loyaltytotheEnglishgovernmentwhichistheforemostconditionofthatprogress....Moreover,
myconversiontotheconstitutionallinewouldbringbackallthosemisledyoungmeninIndia
andabroadwhowereoncelookinguptomeastheirguide.
OnMay2,1921,hewasmovedtoajailinRatnagiri,andlatertotheYeravdaCentralJail,
wherehelivedincomfort.
HewasfinallyreleasedonJanuary6,1924understringentrestrictionshewasnottoleave
RatnagiriDistrictandwastorefrainfrompoliticalactivities.
VinayakSavarkarinastatementissuedon19December1947,expressedjoyattherecognition
oftheclaimofJewishpeopletoestablishanindependentJewishstateofIsrael,andlikened
theeventtothegloriousdayonwhichMosesledthemoutofEgyptianbondage.Heregretted
India'svoteattheUnitedNationsOrganisationagainstthecreationoftheJewishstateterming
thevoteapolicyofappeasementofMuslims.
ForthissolestatementRothschildwasgratefultohim.Anddespitedamningevidenceagainst
him,intheMahatmaGandhiassassinationcase,onJan30th1948,hewasletfree.
ThemainaccusedintheMahatmaGandhi'sassassinationcasewereShankarKistaiya,Gopal
Godse,MadanlalPahwa,DigambarBadge,NarayanApte,VinayakD.Savarkar,Nathuram
Godse,andVishnuKarkare,allofwhomwerearrested,asaccomplicesandconspirators..
VinayakSavarkarwasarrestedon5February1948,fromhishouseinShivajiPark,andkept
underdetentionintheArthurRoadPrison,Mumbai.
Godseclaimedfullresponsibilityforplanningandcarryingouttheattack,Howeveraccordingto
DigamberBadgetheapprover,on17January1948,NathuramGodsewenttohavealastdarshan
ofVinayakSavarkarinBombay,beforetheassassination.

WhileBadgeandShankarwaitedoutside,NathuramandAptewentin.

OncomingoutNarayanAptetoldDigamberBadgethatVeerSavarkarblessedthem
"Yashasvihounya"besuccessfulandreturn.
AfterGandhi'sassassinationSavarkar'shomeinMumbaiwasstonedbyangryHindumobs.
Badge'stestimonywasrejectedbytheBritish(onrecommendationofJewsRothschild),as
lackingcredibilityandVeerVinayakSavarkarwasreleased..Rothschildsandtheirstooge
WinstonChurcillwouldNOTharmanybodywhosupportsJewsandIsrael.
OnlyafterthedeathofNehru,theCongressgovernment,underPrimeMinisterShastri,started
topayVeerSavarkaramonthlypension.OnFeb26th1966,VeerVinayakSavarkarrenounced
medicines,foodandwaterleadingtohisowndeathonFebruary26,1966.
NotasingleministerfromtheMaharashtraCabinetshowedupinthecremationgroundtopay
homagetoSavarkar.InNewDelhi,theSpeakeroftheParliamentturneddownarequestthatit
payhomagetoSavarkar.PMMorajeeDesaiandCongressHomeministerYBChawanrefused
tovisitthecellofVeerSavarkarwhentheywenttoCellularjail.

AftertheunveilingofportraitofVeerSavarkarintheIndianParliamentinFebruary2003there
wasalotofmudslingingagainsthimintheEnglishnewspapers.Themainaccusationwasthat
VeerSavarkarapologisedforhisdeedstoseekreleasefromjailinAndamanIslands.
OK,nowImuststopdigressinginthismanner
Imustgetbacktomysubjectmatter,GaneshBaburaoSavarkartheelderbrotherofVeer
VinayakSarvarkar.Thismanwentthroughthesametortureashisyoungerbrother,buthewas
madeofsteelandnevereverwouldagreetoadishonourableclemencypleaevenifhewasfried
inboilingoil.
GaneshBabaraoSavarkar'slifestorymaketerrificreading.Thisisthemeaningofloveforthe
motherlandandashiningexampleofindefatigablehumanspirit.Hisstorymustbeavailablein
everyMilitaryEstablishmentinIndia.OurIndianjawansmustknowabouthim.NOTRahul
GandhiorDigVijaySinghorAmbikaSoniorKapilSibal..
GaneshSavarkarsproactiveresistanceagainsttheBritishcolonialgovernmentinIndia,caused
himtobetransportedforlifetoCellularjail.
Forthisunfairdeportation,thethencollectorofNasik,JacksonwasassassinatedbyAnant
LaxmanKanhere,anotherunsungfreedomfighter,indirectretaliation.

Kanhere,on21December1909,shotJackson,theCollectorofNashikofBritishIndia.
NashikwasahubofantiinvaderactivitiesunderarevolutionaryorganizationAbhinavBharat
SocietyfoundedbyGansehBabaraoSavarkar..Theyheldsecretmeetingsandplanned
organizedresistance
Jackson,theBritishCollectorofNasik,wasawareoftheseactivities.
Jacksonstartedmixingwithlocalpeople.UnlikeotherBritishofficers,hecreatedanimageof
himselfasaIndianpeoplefriendlyofficer.HegaveunsolicitedpropagandathathewasaVedic
literateBrahmininhispreviouslifeandthatwaswhyhefeltsomuchfatherlyaffectiontowards
theIndianpeople.
JacksonusedtotalktopeopleinMarathiandhadsomeknowledgeofSanskrit.Inreality,his
intentionsweretomakethepeoplefeelthattheyaregoodandsafeinslaveryandhencehadtoto
squealonanyantiBritishactivities.
Shoutingthesloganof'VandeMataram'writtenbyBankimChandraChattopadhyayin1882was
enoughreasontobeimprisonedforsedition.

On20July1905,LordCurzonannouncedthepartitionofBengal.Thisraisedastormofprotest
throughoutthecountry.BabaraoGaneshorganizedaspateofpatrioticlecturesinNashik.The
atmosphereinNashikbecamechargedwithpatrioticfervour.
TheannualDassaraprocessionorganizedbytheMitramelwasreturningfromtheKalika
Mandir.BabaraoandothermembersraisedloudjoyfulslogansofVandeMataram.Onthe
pretextthattheseslogansdisturbedtheBritishresidents,aBritishpoliceofficer,gaveahard
blowonBabaraosheadwithhisbaton.
Enraged,Babarao(whohadballs)leaptuponhimandcaughthimbyhisthroatandthrashed
himsoundly.
GaneshBabaraoSavarkarwasarrestedpromptly.Allthiswasatrap,andhefellintoitneatly.
TheBritishjustwantedhimoutofNasik.
ThearrestedrevolutionariesweretriedbeforetheFirstClassMagistrateofMalegaondivision,
W.Plunkett.ItdraggedonforoneyearandbecamefamousthroughoutMaharashtraasthe
VandeMataramtrial.
JacksonwasinstrumentalingettingBabaraoindictedforwritinga16pagesongbookofKavi
Govind.Hehadalsoplantedsomeincriminating"bombmakingmanuals"inhishouseatTulsi
Vrindavan.Theverdictwasaforegoneconclusion.
Asproof,thathewasaterrorist,theBritishgovernmentsubmittedfrivolouslyincourtthat
Babaraohadwornhisdhotiinaparticularfashionandwasalsowearingthelangot(smallinner
loingarment)inapeculiarmanner!
JusticeBCKennedypronouncedthejudgementon08June1909.Hegrandlyruled:ThePenal
Codehasgivenmeverylittleleewaytodecidethequantumofthepunishment.Undersection
121,IsentenceGaneshDamodarSavarkartoTransportationforLifeorkaalapani(lit:black

waters;incarcerationintheblackholeoftheAndamans)andorderforfeitureofhisentire
propertyandUndersection124A,Isentencehimtotwoyearsrigorousimprisonment.This
sentencehastobeservedsimultaneouslywiththesentencegivenundersection121.
BabaraowasnowmadetodontheprisonersgarbandtheyellowcapmeantfortheKaalaPani
prisoners.

On09June1909,atelegramwassentfromNashiktoLondoninformingthenewsofBabaraos
overseastransportation.ThenewscreatedawaveofseethingangeramongtheIndian
revolutionariesinLondon.
On01July1909,apatriotMadanlalDhingraassassinatedCurzonWylieatapublicmeetingin
London.
HowmanyofyouknowofanIndianbythenameofDhingra?AllyouknowisSoniaGandhi,
AmbikaSoni,AnandSharma,KapilSibal,BRAmbedkar,TeestaSetalvadetc,right?
05July1909,ameetingwasheldinCaxtonHalltocondemnMadanLalDhingra.AgaKhan
wasintheChair.ThemotionwasproposedbyBhavanagariandsecondedbyAmirAli.Aga
Khanputthemotiontovote.
Afterseeingmanyraisedhands,hedeclaredthatthemotionwaspassedunanimously.Savarkar
stoodupandcried,"No,notunanimously.Thereareopponentsofthemotionaswell.Take
downmyname,itisVinayakDamodarSavarkar.Iopposethismotion.

AEurasiannamedPalmerhitVeerSavarkarnearhiseyemakinghimbleedprofusely.
Savarkarsaid,"Istillopposethemotion."
MPTAcharya,afriendofSavarkarthenhammeredPalmerwithastick.Surendranath
Banerjee,aknownBritishstooge,(whowouldbeknightedlater)expressedhisfakeanger.He
said"VinayakSavarkarhasarighttohavehissay.Itisoutrageoustoattackhim.
VinayakSavarkarwantedtoDhingra'sashestoberespectfullycollectedandsenttoIndiafor
immersioninIndianrivers.
SeveralmembersofSecretaryMorley'sCouncilfavouredlifeimprisonmentratherthanthedeath
sentenceforDhingra.Theyfearedthathismartyrdomwouldignitefurtheractsofretribution.
Dhingra'svalourinfuriatedKingEmperorEdwardVII.Inaletterdated17August1909,he
wrotetoMorleythatIndiansbebarredfromcomingtoEnglandwithoutvalidreason.Such
studentslearntreasonwhileinEnglandandinciteothersbackhome,hefumed.

Inhismemoirs,WilfridScawenBlunt,theBritishpoetandwriterwhoalsoservedinthe
DiplomaticServicewrites(entrydated24July1909)writes,"NoChristianmartyreverfacedhis
judgesmorefearlesslyorwithgreaterdignity...ifIndiacouldproducefivehundredsuchsons,as
resolutewithoutfear,shewouldachieveherfreedom".

Itwasrecordedinmedicalevidenceatthetrial,that,whenarrested,Dhingra'spulsebeatno
quickerthannormal,norfromfirsttolast,hasheshownanysignofweakening."Falserumors
werespreadbytheBritishthathehadBhangandhencehispulsewasstrongandsteady.
OnthedayofDhingra'smartyrdom,leafletsentitled'IrelandHonoursDhingra'weredistributed
andpastedonwallsinIreland.
BackhomeinIndia,theDeputySuperintendentofPoliceGuyderthrewthebaittoBabaraoWe
havearrestedyourtwobrothers.Tellmethenamesofrevolutionariesandtheiraddressesin
Nashik.Ifyouprovidethisinformation,wewillreleaseyouandyourbrothers..Wewillensure
yourprotectionafteryourreleaseandprovideamonthlypensiontoyou.Donotbeafraid.
ItwasunthinkableforBabaraotoexposehiscolleaguesforselfishreasons.SeeingBabarao
smiling,GuyderthreatenedBabarao.GuydercriedIfyoudoNOTgivemealistandfull
information,beassuredthatyouwillgetasecondTransportation
BabaraolaughedandsaidThequestionofasecondtransportationwouldarise,onlyifIsurvive
thefirstone,right?.Sowhybother?
GuyderwasfuriousIunderstandyourcleverwitticisms.Remember,thenameisGuyder.I
haveseenseveralpatriotslikeyouandhavebroughtthemtoheelwithwhiplashes.Willyou
openyourmouthornot?DoyouseewhatIhavewithme?
Andheshowedtheelectricshockdevicewithwires.Themeresightoftheseelectricwireswas
enoughtomakethemosthardenedcriminalssoiltheirpants.
Guyderaskedthriceandgaveshocksaftereverynegativeanswerhegot.Allthreetimeshis
bodyflexedlikeabentbowinexcruciatingpain,butnotawordescapedfromBabaraoslips.
Guyderhadtoacceptdefeat.AsBabaraoturnedtolimpbacktohiscell,Guydercouldnotbut
helpexclaim,Bravebloodyfella!

TheresidentsofNashikhadimmenserespectforBabarao.Todemoralizethem,theBritish
paradedBabaraoinfetters.Babarao,thelion,wasparadedindisgracethroughthestreetsof
Nashikwithhishandsandfeetinhandcuffsandfetters,theyellowcapservingadirewarning
andstrikingterrorintheheartsofallonlookers.
Formelodramaticandsarcasticeffecttheymadehimcarryabundleofhisclothes,plateand
waterpotbalancedprecariouslyonhisback.Smirkingarmedguardswalkedinfrontandbehind
him.
Babaraobravedthishumiliationwithfortitude.Peopleintearslineduponbothsidesofthe
streettohavehislastdarshan,beforewasshippedoff.
GaneshDamodarSavarkarwassentencedtolifeimprisonmentanddeportation,overseasat
Andamans.HewastransportedtoAndamansontheshipMV.Maharaja.Thisshipwouldmake
ninetripstotheAndamansinayearandtransportprisonersfromMadras,Calcuttaand
RangoontotheAndamans.
Intheunderbellyofthisshipwasalongandnarrowcage.Prisonerswouldbepackedlike
sardinesinthiscageandchained..Thestenchintheship'sillventilatedcompartmentwas
unbearable.

IwouldsuggesttoeverypatrioticIndian,tovisitthisjail,likehowMuslimshavetogoto
Mecca.Onlythenyouwillunderstandwhyyouandyourchildrenarefreeandhappytoday.
IhaveseenthisCellularjailatPortBlair,myself.
TheCellularJailwascompletedin1906andthenumberofprisonersithousedwasashighas
14086.Likeanpredatoroctopushavingeightarmstocatchitsprey,theCellularJailhadseven
protrudingarmsorwingsfromthecentralwatchtower.TheJailwasconstructedwithseven
wings,spreadingoutlikeasevenpetalflower.Initscentreithadatowerwithaturret.

Connectedtothiswerethethreestoreyhighsevenwingswith698isolatedcells.Thatiswhyit
wascalledtheCellularJail.Eachwinghadthreefloorswith698cells.Eachcellmeasured4.1by
1.9metres,justenoughforoneconvict.ThesesmallcellsgavetheCellularJailitsname.Allthe
sevenwingsoftheCellularJailhadameetingpointatthecentralwatchtowerforentryandexit.
Eachcellhadseparateironboltsandlockingdevicesoutside,beyondthereachoftheprisoners
hand.Thoughtherewasnochanceofanescape,therewasconstantvigilby21wardens;seven
oneachfloorfacingtheirrespectivewings.
Thereweresentriesinthecentralwatchtower.Tominimizethechancesofcommunication

betweentheconvictsandtoisolatethemfromeachother,theconstructionoftheCellularJail
wasmadesuchthatthefrontportionofeachwingfacedthebacksideoftheotherwingata
sufficientdistance.

TherewerenodormitoriesintheCellularJail.OnarrivalinthcellularJail,convictswouldbe
placedinsolitaryconfinementforsixmonths.Thishelpedtotonedowntheirvigourandvitality
anddemoralizethem.
ThustheCellularJailwasaprisonwithinaprison!
InMarch1868,238prisonerstriedtoescapefromCellularjail.ByApriltheywereallcaught.
OnecommittedsuicideandoftheremainderSuperintendentWalkerordered87tobehanged.
Therewasasolitaryfirststrike,beforethemasssecondstrikeundertheleadershipofBabarao.
MahavirSingh,anassociateofBhagatSingh(Lahoreconspiracycase)protestedtheinhuman
treatmentmetedtotheprisonersandsatinhungerstrike.Hewasforcefedmilkwhichwentinto
hislungsandhedied.Hewastiedtoastoneandthrowninthesea.

TheEmpireofJapaninvadedtheAndamanislandsin1942anddrovetheBritishout.The
CellularJailthenbecamehometoBritishprisoners.Duringthisperiod,SubhasChandraBose
alsovisitedtheislands.TwooutofthesevenwingsoftheJailweredemolishedduringthe
Japaneseregime.In1945,theBritishresumedcontrolwiththeendofWorldWarII.
AnothertwowingsofthejailweredemolishedafterIndiaachievedindependence,with
Nehrusconnivance.
Thisledtoprotestsfromseveralformerprisonersandpoliticalleaderswhosawitasawayof
erasingthetangibleevidenceoftheirpersecution.Theremainingthreewingsandthecentral
towerwerethereforeconvertedintoaNationalMemorialin1969.Thecentenaryofthejail's
completionwasmarkedon10March2006.Manyerstwhileprisonerswerefelicitatedonthis
occasionbytheGovernmentofIndia.TheyweretakeninSCIshipsaspassengers.
BabaraowouldbeatAndamanslikealivingcorpseinatinycellforthenext25yearsasper
theBritishsentence.
TheinfamousIrishjailorBarrie,theterroroftheCellularJailwasapprisedofthearrivalof
BabaraoGanesh,togivehimspecialtreatment.HesoughtoutGaneshandloudlyexplainedto
himtherulesandregulationsoftheCellularJail.Ifyoubreakrules,rememberyouwillhaveto
dealwithmehethreatened.
HespentmostofhistimeindoingCHAKKIPEESINGorextractingoilfromcoconutshard
labourthroughouttheday.Theprisonerwouldbeyokedlikeabullocktothemetalbarandmade
topushitaroundinacirclesothatdriedcoconutpieceskeptinacentralreceptaclewouldget
crushedandoilwoulddrip
Afterhedidhispartofchakkipeesing,hewouldbehandcuffedtoahookonthewallathis
height.ThecookwasaMuslim,andaBritishinformer,whowouldputlightdosesofKerosene
inthefood,givinghimbloodystoolswithmucous,andmakinghisdehydratedandweak.When
BabaraoGaneshpassedstoolswhilehangingonhiswrists,thejailerwouldbeathimupfor
dirtyingtheplace.

Theotherpoliticalprisoners,allknewtheworthofGaneshSavarkar.Theytriedtheirbestto
makehimcomfortable.Theywouldweavebundlesofthecoarsecoconuthuskandthrowit
towardsBabaraosoastolightenhisburden,onweavingday.InhelpingBabarao,theother
prisonerswereriskingterribletorture,andbeatingsbythewarden.KnowingthisBabaraowould
refusehelpfromhisfellowprisoners.
JacksontorturedVamanSakharamKhare,awellknownlawyer,forpleadingforGaneshand
KharelosthismentalbalancewhenhispropertywasconfiscatedbyJacksonandsenttojail.
HegotheduefromAnantLaxmanKanhere.
Kanhere,a19yearoldstudenttookapistolandemptieditonJacksononthenightof21
December,1909attheVijayanandTheatre,Nashik.Inhisdeclaration,Kanheresaid,Ihavejust
donemyduty.JacksonwasinstrumentalinthedeportationofGaneshBaburaoSavarkar"
Kanheresdignityandcourageinthefaceofcertaindeathmovedeventhesentencingjudge
JusticeHeetontoexclaim,WhatapitythatIhavetosendsuchahandsomeandcourageous
youthtothegallows.

Babaraowasmarriedattheageof13toYesuvahini.Hewasayogiandusedtopractise
austeritiessuchassurvivingongheeandwateronlyafullmonth,andremainingawakeforlong
timeswithoutsleeping,toexpandhisconsciousness.
Thereisnocomingtoconsciousnesswithoutpainandpenance.
YesuvahiniusedtoliveintheupperstoreyoftheDatarfamilyhouseinNashik.Thepolicecame
andconfiscatedthehouseholditemsincludingherPujaitems.theyexactlyknewwhatthey
weredoing..ItwasYesuvahinishabitnottotouchfoodorwaterwithoutperformingpujaand
wateringthetulsiplant.

Tearsstreamingfromhereeyes,shewenttothelocalcemeteryandlaydown.Shewaschildless
andyoung.HerhusbandBabaraoGaneshSavarkarwastransportedtoKaalaPaniforlife.After
noon,akindwomangavehersomepujavesselsandYesuvahinireturned,performedherdaily
ritualsandatefood..

TheDatarslookedafterYesuvahinitillherdeath.MadameCamausedtosendRs30every
month,whichYesuvahinigavetoNarayanrao.Ofthis,BaburaosyoungestbrotherNarayanrao
wouldspendRs.15onhisowneducationandRs.15wouldbegivenforYesuvahinisupkeep.
MeanhileNarayanraowasarrestedonthefalsechargesofthrowingabombontheviceroyMinto
.ThisarresttookawayYesuvahinislastmoralsupport.Forthischildlesswoman,Narayanrao
waslikeherownson.NarayanraowasreleasedbytheBritishon18December1909.
Narayanraowasarrestedagainonthemidnightof23December.Hewasmercilesslytortured.
InLondon,theotherbrotherVinayakTatyaraoSavarkarwasarrestedforhisallegedroleinthe
Nashikconspiracy(tokillJackson).On24December1910,VinayakSavarkarwassentenced

totransportationforlifeatCellularjailAndamansIslands,andNarayanraowassentencedtosix
monthsrigorousimprisonment.
VirtuallyeverypatrioticyoungmaninNashikwasplacedinhandcuffs.Areignofterrorwaslet
looseinNashik.Peoplefortheirownsurvivalstartedshunninganyonewaslinkeddirectlyor
indirectlytorevolutionaryactivities.
PeoplenowturnedtheirbacksonYesuvahini,asthepolicewerewatchingeveryinchofher
movements.ThepoetGovindhadcomposedamovingpoemspeciallyforYesuvahini.Thefirst
lineofthesongwassankatirakshamamakaantkaant(protectmefromcrisis,dear
husband).
Narayanraocompletedhisprisonsentenceandwasreleased.Nocollegewaswillingtoadmit
him.HewenttoCalcuttaandsomehowsecuredadmissionintheNationalMedicalCollege.
CalcuttawasfarfromNasik.Hewaswatchedallthetime.In1912,whenabombwashurledin
DelhionLordHardinge,hewasarrestedandbroughttoPunebutwasreleasedafterafewdays.
In1916,hequalifiedasadoctorandmarriedShantabhai.
Yesuvahiniledafrugallife.Shehadtwosetsofwornoutclothes..Shehadlostallinterestinlife
andwasmalnourished.Herhealthwasnowfailing.In1918,herwholebodywasswolledand
shewasbedridden.NarayanraoandhiswifeShantabaiwerebyhersidewhenherendcame.

Yesuvahinihadbecomedelirious..ShegaveonelastpitifulglanceatNarayanraoandpassed
awayon20April1919.Threedaysaftershedied,anofficialletterarrivedfromtheBritish,
morbidmockeryatitsbestThereisnoobjectiontoYashodabaiSavarkargoingtothe
Andamanstomeetherhusband.Thistypeofafoul"cockasnook"moveisunthinkablein
SanatanaDharmaorinanyculturedsociety.
Fromthewardentotheclerk,mostofthejailofficersintheCellularJailwereMuslims.They
wouldcolludewithBarrieandprovetheirloyaltytohimbycommittingatrocitiesonthe
prisoners.TheywouldinducetheprisonerstoembraceIslambythreateningthemwith
punishment,luringthemwithtobaccoandgivingthemfoodwhichwasNOTlacedwith
keroseneandhumansweat..
Onanaverage,twoorthreeHinduprisonerswouldgetconvertedineverymonth.Togetfood
withoutKeroseneandwringedoutsweat,convertedMuslimprisonerswouldnolongerdine
withtheirfellowHinduprisonersbutwouldopenlydinewithMuslimprisoners.
Onedayunabletotoleratethecontinuoussmellofkeroseneinhisfood,Ganeshthrewhisfood
away.Thissuddenactsmashedthefloodgatesofhumanemotion.Soondiscontentbecamea
fullblownrevolt.Throwingawayfoodbyprisonerswasconsideredtobeagraveoffence.

Prisonerswouldbeforcedtoeatupthelastmorselofthrownfoodfromthefloor.Babarao
resolutelyrefusetoeatthefoodfromthefloor.
BabaraothustooktheleadinthisfirstevermassstrikeatCellularjail.Barriesingledout
Nandgopal,andBabaraoastheleaders.Babaraowaspunishedoncrossbarfettersandstanding
handcuffsforaweek.Theyweregivennothingtoeatfortwelvedaysexceptforthingruellaced
withquinine...Thestrikewentonforseveraldays.Intheend,itwasBarrieandtheBritishwho
hadtorelentashangingenmassewasNOTanoption.

Barreagreedtostopthechakki(kolu)punishment,givelightworkandsendthepolitical
prisonersoutsidetheCellularJailtodowork,aswasthecasewithotherprisoners.Thestrike
wascalledoff.Babaraowassparedofthekolu,andmadetobreakdrycoconuts.

Eachprisonerwasgiventoreadonebookatatimeifhesodesired.Theprisonerswerenot
expectedtoexchangebooks.Iftheydidso,theywerepunished..Beforethestrikeonlyoneletter
tohome(andthattoocensored)peryearwasallowed.
BabaraosyoungerbrotherVinayakTatyaraoarrivedattheCellularJailon04July1911.
SavarkarbrothersBabaraoandVinayakdidn'tknowofeachotherinthesamejailbutindifferent
cells,fornearlytwoyears.
ThenewsthatTatyaraowasalsolodgedintheCellularJailwasbrokentoBabaraobyWamanrao
JoshiwhohadbeensentencedtoTransportationforLifeintheJacksonmurdercase.Vinayakof
courseknewthathiselderbrotherwassomewhereinthejail.

TatyaraofinallysucceededinmeetingBabarao.Thebrothershadlastmetin1906when
TatyaraowasreadytodepartfromMumbaiharbourtogotoEnglandtobecomeabarrister.They
werenowmeeting5yearslaterin1911undertotallydifferentcircumstances.

ThecoronationofKingGeorgeVandQueenMay(orQueenMaryasshewaslatercalled)took
placeatWestminsterAbbeyon22June1911.Laterthatyear,theKingandQueentravelledto
IndiafortheDelhiDurbaron12December,wheretheywerepresentedtoanassembledaudience
ofIndiandignitariesandprincesastheEmperorandEmpressofIndia.
GeorgeworethenewlycreatedImperial.CrownofIndiaattheceremony.Hewouldshowthat
hewasinchargeofthedestinyofIndia.Hewentforaquickwin.
TheKinggavecarrotandsticklargesse.TheBritishgovernmentwouldreleaseallpolitical
prisonersasagoodwillgesture.Alltheprisonerswerelinedup.Barrieandthejail
superintendentmarchedin.Eachprisonerwascalledceremoniouslyandtheextentof
commutationofhissentencewasannounced.WhenBabaraosturncame,onemeaslymonthwas
reducedfromeachyearofhisjailsentence.
ByAugust1918,Baburaosweighthaddroppeddowntoamere42kilosandhehadshooting
painfromhisgallbladder.Towardstheendof1919,whenhecouldnolongerwalk,thejail
superintendentsent

Babaraossputumforexamination.Thedoctorsdiagnosedtuberculosis.Initially,political
prisonerswouldnotbesenttohospital,theywerelefttodie.
Duetothestrikebythepoliticalprisoners,andduetoordersfromBritain,thejailofficials
graduallystartedsendingsickpoliticalprisonerstohospital.EvenVinayakTatyaraowaskeptin
hospitalforoneyearwhenhefellill.ButBabaraowasnotsofortunate.Neitherdidhereceive
anymedicinesnorwashesenttohospital.Evenwhenhehadfeverof102F,diarrheaand
cough,hewasmadetodohardlabour.
Backhometheyoungestbrother,Narayanraomadeearnesteffortstosecurethereleaseofhis
twoelderbrothersBabaraoandTatyarao.BabaraosfirstletterfromtheAndamansreached
NarayanraoinJuly1912.
On24December1919,theBombayGovernmentsaidthatitwaswillingtoconsidertheproposal
forclemencyincaseofallpoliticalprisonersexcepttheSavarkarbrothers!Inatelegramdated
30December1919,theGovernmentofIndiasecondedtheopinionthattheSavarkarbrothersbe
excludedfromgeneralclemency.
InFebruary1920,LokmanyaBalGangadharaTilakhimselfwrotedirectlytoMontague
demandingthatTatyaraobefreed.Inamemorandumdated30March1920,Savarkarlisted
variousreasonswhyBabaraoVinayakandheshouldbereleased.TheBombayGovernment
couldnotcareless.
In1920,theNationalUnionpresentedamemorandumtothegovernmentdemandingtherelease
oftheSavarkarbrothers.Thememorandumhad70000signatures.InFebruary1920the
Governmentrefusedtoacceptthispetitionontheflimsygroundsthatitwasnotaddressedtothe
CabinetMinisterforIndiajustashamexcuse.
InanarticleentitledSavarkarbrotherswritteninYoungIndiadated26May1920,Mahatma
GandhisupportedthedemandfortheirreleaseoftheSavarkarbrothers.MahatmaGandhihad

thepowerBritishwouldlistenonlytohim.SothepeopleofIndiawereforcedtofollow
Gandhiji.Gandhijiwastheirtypeoffreedomfighter.Hewasnonviolent.
ItwasnowwellknowninIndiathatGaneshBabaraoSavarkarwoulddiesoonofgallbladder
inflammation.AlreadyKanhareandDhingrahadshownwhatcouldhappentotheBritishwhen
itcametoGaneshSavarkar..

BabaraoandTatyaraowerenowaskedtopacktheirbelongings..Therewashappinessand
celebrationsinCellularjail.Manycriedwithjoy,somebroughtflowers,othersgavegifts.The
brothersweremoved.Inhisfarewelladdress,TatyaraoVinayak,thelawyerfromBritain,gave
amessagetothosepresent:Ekdev,ekdesh,ekaashaa,Ekjaati,ekjeev,ekbhaashaa(One
god,onecountry,oneaspiration,Onecommunity,onelife,onelanguage)

On02May1921,theguardtoldthemthataposseofguardshadarrivedtoaccompanythemto
themainland.BothBabaraoandTatyaraoweremadetostandnearthegatesoftheCellularJail.

Theywerehandedovertotheirnewguards.Theguardsaidthatitwasnotnecessarytobind
theminfettersanymore.Babaraohadenteredthesegatesin1910,Tatyaraohadfollowedhim
in1911..
ThetwobrothersstartedwalkingtowardstheseatoboardMV.Maharajatoatearfullfarewell.
Afterahorribleseacrossing,whentheysawIndiascoastline,TatyaraoexclaimedtoBabarao,
Baba,lookatBharatmata.Bothstoodupandfoldedtheirhandsin
reverence.SwatantryalakshmikijaiVandeMataram!!(SalutetotheGoddessofLiberty!Salute
totheMotherland!!).
AfterlandinginCalcutta,thetwobrotherswerekeptforfifteendaysinAliporejail.On26May
1921,theywereseparated.BabaraowasescortedbytwoBritishguardsanddraggedawayashe
couldnotwalkbecauseofthegallbladderpain.Tatyaraowonderedifthiswasthelasttimehe
wouldbeseeinghisbrotheralive.
Babaraowasputinatrain..Aftertwodays,hewasinanotherjail..Itwasthenthathewastold
thatthiswasBijapurjailforsolitaryconfinement.TwoguardsledBabaraothroughanarrow
tunnelandthrownintoadarkdungeonfullofmosquitoesandinsectsretributionforthestrike
heleadattheCellularjail.
Justwhenhewasthinkingpositive,thatatleastthereisnochakkitopeese,thepettywarden
andacoupleofguardsthrustahugewheatgrinderandasackofwheatintothecell.Thatis
yourpunishment.Ifyoudonotgrindthiswheattofinepowderinanother8hours,youshall
receivefurtherpunishment
Forlasttwelveyears,BabaraohadbeensubjectedtotheworsttortureandhecouldNOTeven
stand.Diarrhoea,migraine,coughandtuberculosiswereallslowlywastingawayhisbody.But
Babaraosspiritandpridewasuncommon.Hemusteredhislastreservesandstartedgrinding
thechakki.GaneshspentanotherfivemonthsinBijapurlaboringthisway.Theperiodfrom
November1921toJanuary1922wasspentatthedoorstepofdeath.

ItwasinthebeginningofDecember1921thattheyoungestbrotherNarayanraofinallygot
permissiontomeetBabarao.WhenhewenttomeetBabaraoinjailthewardenrudelytoldhim,
TakeoffyourbloodyGandhicap.Youcannotseehimthatway.Infuriatedbythisinsult,
NarayanraoturnedbackwithoutmeetingBabarao.HeshotofftelegramstotheViceroy,District
Magistrateandtoallthenewspapers.TheGovernmenthadtorelent.Narayanraohadhisway.
ButwhatNarayanraonowsawbeforehimwasalmostalivingcorpse.Babaraocouldnotspeak
morethanaminuteatatimebeforehewouldbecomebreathlessandhecouldnotlookatthe
light.WhenNarayanraoreachedMumbai,hepublicizedtheharrowingtreatmentbeingmeted
outtoBabaraowiththeassistanceofHornimanofBombayChronicle.
Thishadthedesiredeffect.TowardstheendofJanuary1922,Babaraowasshiftedoutofthe
horribleBijapurJail.HewaspromptlylodgedintheSabarmatiJail.Babaraohadspentthe
periodfromMay1921toJanuary1922inBijapurJail.Theseeightmonthsofsolitary
confinementwereevenmoreterriblethantheyearsintheCellularJail.
OnJanuary1922,BabaraowasshiftedtotheSabarmatiJailagaininsolitaryconfinement.
TheotherinmatesofSabarmatijailwereconvincedthatBabaraowouldnotrecover.TheSindhi
leaderJairamdasDaulatramfeltthatagreatmanlikeBabaraomustnotdiethisway.Hewrotea
reportonBabaraosconditionwiththeintentionofsendingittoNarayanrao.Oneofprison
officialskindlyagreedtosmuggleitoutofprisonathisownrisk.

HetooktheletterandwentstraighttotheGandhiashraminSabarmati.HemetaMaharashtrian
GandhiannamedKakarnamakandaskedhimtoposttheletterfromKarnavati(now
Ahmedabad).Thisprecautionwastakenjustincasetheletterwasfoundandthesenderwas
traced.
TheprisonofficialexplainedtoKakarnamakthatafellowMaratha,BabaraoSavarkar,thegreat
revolutionarywascountinghislastmomentsinSabarmatiJail.Theletterwrittentohisyounger
brotherwouldgiveBabaraothesatisfactionofdyingonhisbrotherslap.
ThattrueGandhianreplied,thewayhewastutored,IamafollowerofGandhiandafirm
believerintruthandnonviolence.Doingclandestineactivitiesisagainstourphilosophyand
hencetantamounttosin.Forgiveme.Ishallnotbeabletocomplywithyourrequest.
TheprisonofficialwasdumbstruckanddismayedattheGandhiansattitude.Heturnedback
withoutaword,gavemoneytoatotalstrangerandaskedhimtoposttheletteratKarnavati.
Atthetime,thenationalleadershiphadpassedintothehandsofMahatmaGandhiand
GandhijididNOTwantanyBabaraoGaneshSavarkararound.
NetajiBosewouldunderstandwhatImean.
TheletterreachedNarayanrao.Onreadingitscontents,Narayanraostartedrunningfrompillarto
posttoarrangeforBabaraosmedicaltreatment.ACivilSurgeonlandedinSabarmatiJailto
examineBabarao.TheCivilSurgeonexaminedBabaraofrom9.00amto2.00pm.Heopined
thatBabaraomayliveforanother12daysatthemost.
HeconveyedhisopiniontotheAdministrator.FearingthattheGovernmentwouldbe
answerableifBabaraoweretodiewithinthefourwallsoftheprison,theAdministratorpromptly

issuedordersforBabaraosrelease.HealsowrotetoNarayanrao,Yourbrotherhasbeen
released.MakeyourownarrangementstotakehimawayfromSabarmatiJail.
ItwasonlyaftertheGovernmentwasconvincedthatBabaraowouldsurelydiethathewas
finallyreleased.Hewasbroughtoutofjailonastretcher.Ashewasbeingtakenout,Bhansali
embracedBabaraoandbegansobbinglikeachild.Therewasnotadryeyearound.
BabaraofinallyemergedoutofSabarmatijailonastretcher.HehadenteredjailinJune1909.It
wasinSeptember1922thathewasfinallyreleased.Babaraothusspentoverthirteenyearsin
prisonunderthemostharrowingconditions.Butthetollwassevere.Thismountainofavirile
yogihadbecomeavirtualcorpse.

Babaraounderbrotherlyloveandcare,defiedlogicanddeath.Hemiraculouslysurvived.
Hewasdestinedtoliveforanothertwentythreeyears.
ThespiritofBabaraowasintact.Theyearwas1923.MamaraoJoglekar,theeminentHindu
leaderfromAkola(Maharashtra)wastravelingfromKalyantoNashikbytrain.Seatedopposite
tohimwasProfessorDamodarGaneshPadhyefromNashik.Asthetrainhaltedatastation,
Padhyealightedfromthetraintobuysomefruits.Hekepthispugree(traditionalMaharashtrian
headgear)andumbrellaonhisseatandlefthisseat.
Assoonashealighted,aburlyPathanshiftedfromhisseat,threwawayhisbelongingsandsat
thereinhisplace.WhenPadhyecameback,hewassurprisedtoseethePathanthere.Padhye
pleadedwiththePathantoallowhimtooccupyhisrightfulplace.However,thearrogantPathan
startedactingtoughabusingfrailPadhye.
Suddenly,asicklyfrailpassengerwhowassittingtwoplacesawaygotupandleapedonthe
Pathan.ApparentlytrainedinwrestlinghebroughtdownthePathaninamomentandsittingon

thePathanschest,startedrainingblowsonhim.Next,hetuggedsohardatthePathansbeard
thatahandfulofhaircameoff.AndthatsnappedthePathanbacktoreality.
ThePathanstartedhowlinginpain.Terrified,hebeatahastyretreat.ShoutingTobaa,Tobaa,
YaAllah,thePathanwenttoanothercompartment.
MamaraoJoglekarwhowasawitnesstothisremarkableincidentaskedthesicklypassengerhis
name.
MynameisBabaGaneshSavarkarwasthereply!

AnewphaseinBabaraoslifestarted.Thiswasthephaseasthinker,writerandorganizer.Till
hediedBabaraodevotedhimselftothetaskofawakeningHindusociety.Hetriedhisbestto
closethefissuresafellowMaharashtrian,aMaharbythenameofBRAmbedkar,asastoogeof
theBritish,introducedtoHindusociety..

BabaraowrotethebookRashtramimansavaHindusthancherashtraswaroopin1931whenhewas
inKashi.Thisiswidelyregardedashisbestwork.Hewouldstartanfreedom
fightingorganisationbythenameofRSS.BabaraowoulddesigntheflagofRSS.Hewould
writethepledgeforRSS.
Towardstheendof1924,BabaraoarrivedinNagpur.Hewasputupattheresidenceof
AdvocateVishwanathraoKelkarwhowashisdistantrelativeandDr.Hedgewarsclosefriend.
Babaraousedtoattractpatrioticyoungsterswhereverhewent.HisstayinNagpursawseveral
youngstersvisitinghimanddiscussingthestateofthesadstateofIndiaandHindusociety.
AmongtheseyoungsterswasDr.Hedgewar.Babaraobecameconvincedthattherewasnoone
moresuitablethanDr.Hedgewartocarryforwardthefreedomfightingactivities.Dr.Hedgewar
translatedhislongcherisheddreamintorealityonVijayadashmidayin1925.Thiswasthe
beginningoftheRashtriyaSwayamsevakSangh(RSS).

RSSwouldcounterthepropagandaofBRAmbedkar,bydeeds.BRAmbedkar,onbehalfof
theBritishwouldbeshoutingfromtherooftopsaboutBritsihrulebeingbetterforthelower
castesthanselfrule.
TherewasNILcasteisminRSS.TheRSScadresknewnotnorcarednotwhowasBrahminand
whowasuntouchable.Theyatetogetherandslepttogether.Theydrankwaterfromthesame
tumbler.
ThiswasatimewhentheBritishstartedhangingtheIndianfreedomfightersenmasse,forflimsy
reasons,usingtraitorMuslimIndiansasconniversandfalsewitnesses..
MahatmaGandhisaid"WhenIvisitedtheRSSCamp,Iwasverymuchsurprisedbyyour
disciplineandabsenceofuntouchablity."HepersonallyinquiredtolowcasteSwayamsevaksand
foundthattheywerelivingandeatingtogetherinthecampwithoutbotheringtoknowtheir
castes.ThiswasUtopia.

EvenahighstrungcharacterlikeBRAmbedkar,whocouldNOTseeoutsidetheDalitprism,
admitted"ThisisthefirsttimethatIamvisitingthecampofSanghvolunters.Iamhappyto
findabsoluteequalitybetweenSavarniyas(Uppercast)andHarijans(Lowercast)withoutany
onebeingawareofsuchdifferenceexisting.WhenIaskedaskedDrHedgewarwhetherthere
wereanyuntouchablesinthecamp,herepliedthatthereareneither"touchables"nor
"untouchables"butonlyHindus..
BRAmbedkarandMahatmaGandhiknewintheirhearts,thattheirHarijanuplifttheorywas
onlyonpaper,andonlyRSShadthemeansandpowertoconvertitintopractise.Sincewhenhas
deedsbecomelessimportantthanwords?
BabaraooftenwonderedwhyGandhijiplacedSanskritafterArabic,PersianandUrduinorderof
importance.HefeltsadatthewayGandhijiappeasedtheMuslimsandhadunderhanddealings
withtheBritish.

BRAmbedkarwhowasgroomedbyWinstonChurchilltodriveawedgeintotheheartof
Hinduism,wassentforHighereducationtoOpiumdrugfundedColumbiaUniversity,ownedby
BritishEastIndiaCompany.HewasironicallygivenBharatRatna.
BRAmbedkardidNOTwantBritishtoleaveIndia.HedidNOTspendasingleminuteofhis
lifeinanyfreedomstruggle.Idareanybodytoprovemewrong.Whentheentirenationhad
risenagainsttheBritishin1857,onlytheMaharcasteofBRAmbedkar,hassupportedthe
British,alongwiththeSikhs.ResteverbodyincludingMuslimsfoughtagainstBritain.
GandhistreacheryagainsttherevolutionariesandGandhiseffortstocrowntherabidIslamic
NizamasthesovereignofafuturesovereignHindusthan,andtheappeasementpoliciespursued
bytheCongressdeeplypainedBabarao.
In192425,BabaraowasinDhantoli(Nagpur)torecuperatefromillness.There,hemeta
scholarfromAndhraPradeshwhohadatreasureofinformationonJesusfromoldSanskrit
archives.ThescholarmentionedtoBabaraothatRamaswamyIyer,aresidentofMadras(now
Chennai)haddonesomeresearchwhichprovedthatJesuswasaHindu.Itisawellknownfact
thatJesuswasinKeralaforthreeyearslearningAyurveda,mediationandhealing,beforehe
burstuponthesceneatJerusalemsuddenlyasafullgrownadult.
AsevidencetoshowthatChristcametoHindusthan,BabaraomentionsbookssuchasNaatha
Naamaavali,TarikhiAjam,IkmabaUdadinandBarlantheJosephet.Babaraotooconcluded
thatJesuswasaHindu..HeexhortedtheChristiansinHindusthantoacceptthefactthattheyare
notdifferentfromtheHindusbutmembersofacultestablishedbyaHinduphilosopher,like
Buddha..
Babaraoswellwisherswouldthenwarnhimthathewouldlosepopularityandbeshunnedby
thepeopleatlargeandCongressmeninparticularifhecontinuedtocriticizeGandhi.Babarao
wouldcalmlyreplythathehadforsakenhishome,hearthandwifeforthesakeofhis
motherland.HewouldcontinuetoexposeGandhisantiHinduactivities,andthetruth,evenif
thatmeantinvitingcontemptandridicule.

On14March,1945,helosttheabilitytospeak.Hecouldbarelybreathe.Hiswholebodywas
swollen.Whenhewasshiftedfromhissickbed,hundredsofredantswerefoundonthemattress.
Theattendingdoctorsgaveuphope.
On16March,Babaraossenseofpainvanished..Hepassesawayataround2.15pm.
Thousandsofpeoplestartedpouringfromdifferentvillagesandtowns.Amassivefuneral
processionstartedandlakhsofpeopleincludingMuslimsandChristians,showeredflowersat
differentplaces.TheBhagwaflagoftheRashtriyaSwayamsevakSanghwasloweredathalf
mastandtheSanghprayerwassung.
ThenDr.NarayanraoSavarkarlitthepyreandtheflamesengulfedBabaraoslifelessbody.
Keepingthefuneralpyreaswitness,thousandsofIndiansvowedtocarryonthesacredlife
missionofBabaraomaaphaleshukadaachana(expectnotthefruittheBhagwadGita).
BackinLondon
On17thAug1909,aChristianpreachernamedHudsonwalkeduptoDhinghratosayafinal
Christianprayerforhim.ButDhingraturnedhimawaysayingthathewasaHindu.The
DeputyUnderSheriffofLondonMetcalfreadoutthedeathwarranttoDhingrainthepresence
ofDeputyGovernorHalesofPentonvilleprisonandaskedhimtheusualquestions.

ButDhingraignoredtheirquestionsandwalkedcalmlytothenoose.Hisbraveryleftthe
accompanyingoffcersdumbfounded.OfficerPierpointstoodatthehangman'snoosewaitingfor
Dhingra.Dhingrasmiledathimandascendedthestepstotheplatform.Hehimselfplacedthe
nooseroundhisneck.
Soonthereafter,thewoodenplatformunderneathwaswithdrawn.Dhingra'sbodydroppedeight
feetandlayhanging.Asperconvention,hislimpbodywaslefthangingforhalfanhour.When
hisbodywasbroughtdown,thefacewassmiling.
HehadavengedtheillegaldeportationtoKaalapani,ofagreatIndianpatriotbythenameof
GaneshBabaraoSavarkar.
DhingrawishedthatlastritesaccordingtoHinduDharmashouldbeperformedonhisdeadbody
anditshouldbecremated.ManyHinduspetitionedtotheHomeSecretaryMrHerbert
GladstonethatDhingra'sbodyshouldbehandedovertothem,asseveralBrahminswerereadyto
performthelastrites.
Thisrequestwasdenied!Thelastwishofamansenttothegallowswasdeniedsuchwas
Britishjustice!Hisbodywasputinacoffin,whichwasburiedwithintheprisonpremises.
AfterDhingrawenttothegallows,theTimes,Londonwroteaneditorial(24July1909)titled
'ConvictionofDhingra".Theeditorialsaid,"Thenonchalancedisplayedbytheassassinwasofa
character,whichishappilyunusualinsuchtrialsinthiscountry.Heaskednoquestions.He
maintainedadefianceofstudiedindifference.HewalkedsmilingfromtheDock."


MadanlalDhingrasfinalstatementwasasinspiringashisactions.TitledChallengeitreadas
follows:
Challenge
1."Iadmittheotherday;IattemptedtoshedEnglishbloodasanhumblerevengeforthe
inhumanhangingsanddeportationsofpatrioticIndianyouths.Inthisattempt,Ihaveconsulted
nonebutmyownconscience;Ihaveconspiredwithnone,butmyownduty.
2."Ibelievethatanationhelddowninbondagewiththehelpofforeignbayonetsisina
perpetualstateofwar.Sinceopenbattleisrenderedimpossibletoadisarmedrace,Iattackedby
surprise;sincegunsweredeniedtome,Idrewforthmypistolandfired.
3."AsaHinduIfeltthatawrongdonetomycountryisaninsulttoGod.Hercauseisthecause
ofSriRam!HerservicesaretheservicesofSriKrishna!Poorinhealthandintellect,asonlike

myselfhasnothingelsetooffertotheMotherbuthisownbloodandsoIhavesacrificedthe
sameonheraltar.
4."TheonlylessonrequiredinIndiaatpresentistolearnhowtodieandtheonlywaytoteachit,
isbydyingourselves.ThereforeIdieandgloryinmymartyrdom!ThiswarofIndependence
willcontinuebetweenIndiaandEngland,solongastheHinduandtheEnglishraceslast(ifthe
presentunnaturalrelationdoesnotcease!)
5."MyonlyprayertoGodis:MayIberebornofthesameMotherandmayIredieinthesame
sacredcause,tillthecauseissuccessfulandshestandsfreeforthegoodofhumanityandthe
gloryofGod!"
VandeMataram
Dhingra'smartyrdomevokedtherespectofsomemembersoftheCabinet.Thiswasdisclosed
latertoBluntbyWinstonChurchill.Bluntwrites(MyDiaries,Vol.2,p.288,entryfor03
October1909),
"Againwesatuplate.AmongthemanymemorablethingsChurchillsaidwasthis.Talkingof
Dhingra,hesaidthattherehasbeenmuchdiscussionintheCabinetabouthim.LloydGeorge
hadexpressedtohimhishighestadmirationofDhingra'sattitudeasapatriot,inwhichhe
shared"Hewillberememberedtwothousandyearshence,aswerememberRegulusand
CaractacusandPlutarch'sheroesandChurchillquotedwithadmirationDhingra'slastwords,
asthefinest,evermadeinthenameofpatriotism"

Idonotcareformylife.Youareallpowerful.Youcandowhatyoulike.Butremember,that
onedayIndiashallbepowerfulandthenweshalldowhatwelike"werehislastwordswhenthe
Englishjudgereadhissentence.

DuringhisbriefstayinLondon,Gandhi,themuchtoutedapostleofnonviolence,deplored
MadanlalDhingraandotherrevolutionariestopleasetheBritish,declaredthemanarchistsand
said,Iskillinghonourable?Isthedaggerofanassassinafitprecursorofanhonourabledeath?
Dhingrasmartyrdomandhislaststatementevokedwidespreadsympathyandadmirationin
Ireland.PostersentitledIrelandHonoursDhingraalongwiththelaststatementadornedthe
wallsinIreland.
MadanLalDhingra'scoffinwasexhumedon12December1976inthepresenceofNatwar
Singh,thenActingHighCommissionerforIndiaandthecoffinflownbacktoIndia.
MadanLalDhingralivesonintheheartsofhiscountrymen.

Now,somedoodhkadoodhpaanikapaani
ThecryJAIHINDwasNOTcoinedbyNetajiBose.ItwasmadebyDrChampakaraman
Pillai,whoformedtheBerlinCommitteeinGermanytoassistfreedomfightersbeforethe
1stWorldwar.HehaddirectdealingswithHitler.HediedonMay28th,1934undersuspicious
circumstances,becauseheaskedforawrittenapologyfromHitlerwithadeadline,for
derogatoryreferencetoIndiansinhisbookMeinKamph..HisasheswerescatteredinKaramana
RiverinThiruvananthapuram.Hisashescouldnotbebroughtinbefore,duetoobjectionsfrom
GandhijiandNehru.TheIndianNavy'swarship,I.N.S.Delhi,flyingtheflagofFreeIndia,
broughtthegreatpatriotPillai'sashestoCochinonSeptember16,1966.Hehadcometo
MadrasonGermanbattleship,SSEmdenandangrezkagharmeinghuskemaara.

RashBehariBosewasinJapantakingshelterwithMitsuruToyama,headofthedreaded
Yakuza.
BaghaJatinthegreatpatriotwasinchargeinIndiatheBengalTigerofIndia.
PanditShyamajiKrishnavarma,formedIndianHomeRuleSociety,IndiaHouseinLondon.His
ashestoowererejectedbyGandhiandNehru.FinallyBollywoodactorVinodKhanna,
NarendraModi,andothersetcpulledlevers,andthisgreatpatriot'sasheswasofficiallyhanded

overtotheChiefMinisterofGujaratStateonAugust22,2003,bytheVilledeGenveandthe
Swissgovernment,55yearsafterIndianIndependence.