Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) leader Thol Thirumavalavan has faced significant criticism after issuing a condemnation of the recent terrorist attack on Hindu tourists in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. While his statement expressed strong disapproval of the incident, he also took the opportunity to peddle his politics at a time when the nation is mourning the death of innocent lives lost to the terrorist attack.

In his statement, Thirumavalavan condemns the BJP-led government for its failure to ensure security, criticizing the 2019 revocation of Kashmir’s special status and the subsequent reduction of 180,000 troops during the COVID period, which he claims contributed to the security lapse.

காஷ்மீரில் பயங்கரவாதத் தாக்குதல் – படுகொலை :
————————
உள்துறை அமைச்சர் அமித்ஷா அவர்கள் பதவி விலக வேண்டும்!

விடுதலைச் சிறுத்தைகள் கட்சி அறிக்கை!
————————#காஷ்மீர் பஹல்காம் பகுதியில் தீவிரவாதிகள் நடத்திய தாக்குதலில் சுற்றுலாப் பயணிகள் 26 பேர்… pic.twitter.com/gjSQnAHWbZ

— Thol. Thirumavalavan (@thirumaofficial) April 23, 2025

In his two page statement, there was not a single mention of Pakistan or the terror outfit The Resistance Front (an offshoot of Lashkar-e-Taiba).

Netizens quickly highlighted past instances where VCK members, including MLA Aloor Shanavas, had referred to Kashmiri militants as “freedom fighters.“ A video resurfaced in which Shanavas praised Thirumavalavan for acknowledging the Kashmir conflict as a struggle for freedom rather than terrorism.

Following the brutal assault on Hindu tourists in the Pahalgam region of Jammu and Kashmir, Thirumavalavan issued a formal statement via his official account, saying, “I strongly condemn the horrific terrorist attack on innocent tourists in Jammu and Kashmir. Such acts of terror have no place in a democratic and civilized society. The perpetrators of this heinous crime must be identified, brought to justice, and punished with the utmost severity. I urge the Union Government to convene an all-party meeting to demonstrate that the entire nation stands united in rejecting terrorism and upholding peace and democracy.”

I strongly condemn the horrific terrorist attack on innocent tourists in Jammu and Kashmir. Such acts of terror have no place in a democratic and civilized society. The perpetrators of this heinous crime must be identified, brought to justice, and punished with the utmost…

— Thol. Thirumavalavan (@thirumaofficial) April 22, 2025

“I strongly condemn the horrific terrorist attack on innocent tourists in Jammu and Kashmir. Such acts of terror have no place in a democratic and civilized society. The perpetrators of this heinous crime must be identified, brought to justice, and punished with the utmost severity. I urge the Union Government to convene an all-party meeting to demonstrate that the entire nation stands united in rejecting terrorism and upholding peace and democracy.”

However, the internet wasn’t buying it. Many slammed Thirumavalavan for what they called a sudden performative concern, pointing out that his party has previously glorified terrorists. One video that particularly infuriated people shows MLA Aloor Shanavas saying, “Today, Kashmir is burning. You ask any leader their opinion about Kashmir. They will say Kashmir belongs to India, it is an integral part of India, and the ones who fight there are terrorists. People have the same opinion as the press spreads such a narrative, and the leaders in our country also say the same thing. But our leader Thirumavalavan, who has visited Kashmir and seen the situation, is the only brave Tamil leader who says the truth that what is happening there isn’t terrorism but a freedom struggle. Does any other leader say this truth?”

The separatist forces in Tamilnadu are more dangerous than the ones in Kashmir. One of them being @thirumaofficial who hails the jihadists as freedom fighters. Does the INDI alliance endorse this view ? @BJP4TamilNadu pic.twitter.com/eaUVM5u36e

— Vinoj P Selvam (@VinojBJP) April 23, 2025

The resurfaced clip fueled further criticism, with people accusing the VCK of double standards and playing to their political base, instead of standing firmly against terrorism in all forms irrespective of religion.

This isn’t the first instance where Thirumavalavan and his party, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), have shown a tendency to glorify individuals and groups widely recognized as terrorists by portraying them as “freedom fighters.”

Glorifying S.A. Basha – Mastermind Of The 1998 Coimbatore Blasts

Following the death of S.A. Basha, founder of the banned terror outfit Al-Ummah and the chief conspirator behind the 1998 Coimbatore bomb blasts that killed 58 and injured over 230 people, several Dravidian parties, including VCK, offered tributes that were seen as blatant appeasement of extremist elements.

Thirumavalavan took to social media to pay tribute, portraying Basha as a martyr for the Muslim community. He wrote that Basha, who had spent over 25 years in prison, remained steadfast in his beliefs and that his death was a significant loss for Muslims. He further stated that party leaders, including Deputy General Secretary Vanni Arasu, attended Basha’s funeral to offer their respects, calling it a “heroic tribute.”

He wrote, “Kovai Basha has lost his life after being in prison for more than a quarter of a century. Not only him, but also some of his relatives including his son Siddique were imprisoned and lost their lives. Even when his family was imprisoned to protect the interests of Muslims, he did not lose heart and lived with determination without wavering in his principles. It is sad that he died as a prisoner. However, it has become a history. His demise is a great loss for Muslims. Many leading comrades including Deputy General Secretary Vanni Arasu participated in his last rites on behalf of the party and paid him a heroic tribute. Salute to Kovai_Pasha.”

கால் நூற்றாண்டுக்கும் மேலாக சிறையில் தனது வாழ்வைப் பறிகொடுத்தவர் கோவை பாஷா அவர்கள். அவர் மட்டுமின்றி அவரது மகன் சித்திக் உள்ளிட்ட உறவினர்கள் சிலரும் சிறைப்படுத்தப்பட்டு வாழ்வை இழந்தனர். இசுலாமியர்களின் நலன்களைப் பாதுகாப்பதற்காக தனது குடும்பமே சிறைப்படுத்தப்பட்ட நிலையிலும் அவர்… pic.twitter.com/IuNNjuuksu

— Thol. Thirumavalavan (@thirumaofficial) December 18, 2024

Consistent Pattern of Supporting Extremist Groups

Thirumavalavan’s controversial comments aren’t new. He has previously drawn parallels between globally designated terrorist organizations—like Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis—and movements for self-determination, portraying them as justified resistance forces. He has even defended the LTTE, a banned terrorist outfit, suggesting they resorted to arms only after democratic processes failed them.

In an October 2024 speech, Thirumavalavan argued that militant groups in Palestine emerged in response to Israeli aggression, comparing them to the LTTE’s evolution in Sri Lanka. He claimed Palestinians, having lost the majority of their land to Israel, had no choice but to form groups like the PLO and later, Hamas, in self-defense.

Thirumavalavan said, “Generally they will say it as a terrorist organization, militant organization, then why was LTTE formed? Even after 25 years of struggle under the leadership of Selva in democratic way, the Sinhalese did not accept their demand. As there was need to speak in their language, armed groups appeared. Then what will the neighboring Islamic countries do without helping them? It will help them.”

He stated that initially, Palestinians ceded 40-45% of their land, but now Israel has taken over 90%, leaving only a small portion in the West Bank and Gaza. He then posed a question to the audience, “Now tell me, on whose side should we stand? Can you support Israel or the Jewish group that have driven out the Palestinians and occupied their land?”

He went as far as to draw a controversial comparison between the displacement of Dalits in Chennai and the plight of Palestinians. Referring to the Marwari business community in Sowcarpet, Chennai, Thirumavalavan likened their economic expansion to Israeli settlement, implying that the original residents of Chennai were being pushed out like Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank.

“What did the Jews do? They (Palestinians) gave them a piece of land and asked to stay within that. If we ask him (Marwaris) to stay within Sowcarpet, he should stay there.  What will happen if they expand to other areas like Anna Nagar and encroach entire Chennai? The Dalits, poor and the marginalized, those who stay on the banks of Cooum River are being shifted to Ottiyambakkam, Thoraipakkam, Semmenchery. This is called displacement. The natives of Chennai were shifted away to 40-50 kms saying that you’re being affected because of rains and floods. This is being done by the government itself. What happened there (Israel) was, as he (Jews) came, these people (Palestinians) had to flee. They attacked. Thousands of them were killed.“, he said.

பாலஸ்தீனம், லெபனான், சிரியா ஆகிய நாடுகளில் இனப்படுகொலை செய்யும் இஸ்ரேல் அரசின் பயங்கரவாதத்தை கண்டித்து விடுதலைச் சிறுத்தைகள் கட்சியின் சார்பில் தற்போது சென்னை வள்ளுவர் கோட்டத்தில் நடைபெற்ற ஆப்பாட்டத்தில் ஆற்றிய கண்டன உரை… pic.twitter.com/glH25XzAfZ

— Thol. Thirumavalavan (@thirumaofficial) October 14, 2024

Public Endorsement of Pro-Palestinian Protests

On multiple occasions, including on 31 October 2023, Thirumavalavan has participated in large-scale demonstrations supporting Palestine, aligning himself with various Muslim political organizations. These events often included inflammatory rhetoric against Israel and vocal support for groups like Hamas. He criticized India’s neutral stance at the UN and urged the global community to condemn Israeli actions.

Thirumavalavan spoke in an inflammatory fashion and supported Hamas in this war. Here is a transcript of his speech. “Israel is carrying out a brutal war of aggression. Israel must stop this war. The nations across the world, democratic countries are voicing their support for Israel to stop this brutality against the Palestinians.” 

Resolution Against India Abstaining From Voting Against Israel

He said, “Recently at the UN Assembly, Jordan proposed a resolution, and 120 nations voted in favour of it. 14 nations voted against it. 45 countries including India abstained from voting. Even if we count the countries that abstained and those who voted against the resolution, it is only 60 countries. But those who supported the resolution make up 120 countries. The world makes us realise the truth. That the war carried out by Israel on Palestine and the Gaza Strip is unjust, cruel, and terrible and this war needs to stop immediately. This is the voice of the world, the voice of all the democratic nations of the world. As a means to support that voice, today we have congregated here in the thousands.” He added, “When asked why we abstained from voting, they said that in the Jordan Resolution, there is no mention of Hamas, they have not spoken about the attack they carried out. So we abstained, said Yojana Patel, the Indian representative.” 

Called Israel An Occupier Nation

He called Israel an occupier nation and said, “Israel has occupied Palestine, that is the historical truth. They were chased out of Germany and several other European countries. They entered Palestine with banners saying Germans stabbed us, don’t destroy our hope. The same people are the ones who created Israel and terrorising and suppressing people, they are the Jews.“

He added, “Keeping aside the history of why they were chased out of Germany, the Jewish race is one which has only developed enmity with most of the countries in the world. Israel is not their ancestral land. Israel is not their motherland. With the help of superpowers like America, they occupied territory and created a country of their own and are killing and bringing about the genocide of the same Palestinians who gave them refuge.”

Comparing The Eelam War With That Of Palestine

Thirumavalavan compared the Srilankan Tamil issue with that of the Palestinians. He said, “Even in Eelam, the Singhalese are not the natives of that land. They went from India. But history has been hidden from all. They caused the genocide and massacre of the natives of that land, the Tamils. It continues to this day. The same thing has happened here (Palestine).”

He added, “In 2001, I attended a conference in Durban in South Africa. It was about opposing apartheid. Several Palestinians came there with banners. Even though I do not understand their language, I would stand with the Palestinians during their protests. I came across a flyer that was in English. They constantly spoke for freeing their land and requested the countries of the world to support them. Yasser Arafat, the leader of the Palestinian Liberation Movement would conduct exile Parliament and stress on these requests, same like how Eelam Tamils are having one.”

Hamas – A “Defence Force”

He called Hamas a defence force. He said, “We know that Hamas emerged as a contradictory movement of the Palestinian Liberation Movement. But that movement is the only one that protects the Palestinians. It is not a war-frenzy movement. It is not an occupier-frenzy movement. It is not a movement that hates other races. It did not start an attack on Israel unjustly. Hamas is a defence force that is there to protect Palestinians and Palestine’s land. It is being called a terrorist organisation and extremist organisation by the Sanathana forces in the United Nations Assembly.”

Justifying The Creation Of Hamas

Thirumavalavan also justified the reason for the creation of Hamas. He said, “What is the reason for the emergence of Hamas? Which country has been aggressed against/occupied by Hamas? On 7 October 2023, they carried out rocket strikes. It is not a war of aggression. It is a war against aggression. Shouldn’t India realize this? Shouldn’t America realise this? Is the attack carried out by Hamas a terror attack? or is the attack carried out by Israel a terror attack? Did the Palestinians occupy the Jewish nation or did the Jews occupy the Palestinian nation? Shouldn’t we know the answer to this question? It is a fact that the world knows. It is a historical fact that the Jews occupied the Palestinian nation.”

He also added, “Israel is an occupier nation created by the Jews with the support of America. Who is carrying out the terror attack here? Weren’t the Palestinians the ones who helped them when they came to Palestine raising their banners? Who is carrying out such a terrible attack with cluster bombs and phosphorus against the Palestinians who welcomed them? We are not gathered here on the basis of religion. We are united asking for justice. We are here to question the conscience of the countries of the world. Whenever there is a war between Israel and Palestine, America always comes forward to support Israel blindly.”

Condemning India’s Stand On The War

He called India’s stand on the war something that was influenced by “Sanathana forces”. He said, “Today, our Indian nation has become a subordinate of America and has come forward to support Israel blindly. They support America’s stand. Indian politics is based on justice but it is supporting injustice. It is supporting Jews who are an occupier nation. It is against the Palestinians who are the sons of the soil (natives). The BJP government is looking at the Palestinians as Muslims alone. It is not looking at the justice on their side. We want to accuse the BJP, RSS’s Muslim hatred politics has made us take a stand against the Palestinians. They are not looking at this problem, this problem between Hamas and Israel as a fight between occupiers and natives. Should the Palestinian people come back to Palestine or not? Should they not condemn the actions of Israel which is preventing Palestinians from returning?”

Gaza – Comparison With Chennai

Thirumavalavan compared Gaza to Chennai and complained about how Israel was torturing the citizens. He said, “Gaza which is under the control of Hamas is a small strip of land that is 10km wide and 41km long. 25 lakh people are living in a place which is not even a fifth of Chennai’s land area. More than 1 crore people live in Chennai. For the past 25 days, Israel has been carrying out brutal attacks via air and land. Countries like America and India are watching the spectacle. Where will this lead to? Even if these people think, let the people of Palestine find a solution to the problem, even then the Palestinians will win. If America does not intervene, if their supporters do not intervene, if their army doesn’t go, if they do not help with their weapons, if they do not help financially, Hamas will win and take over Israel.”

He also added, “In the name of destroying LTTE, India, and America supported the Sinhalese and took a stand against the Tamils. In the same way, they named Hamas a terrorist organisation, and in the name of destroying Hamas, they are killing innocent Palestinians. Dead bodies are being transported in containers. They are burying dead bodies en masse. Reports indicate that 50000 pregnant women are unsafe and in dangerous conditions. They cut off the electricity, oil, and water. This is not just a war against terrorism, it is a genocide.”

He called for a gathering, a show of support similar to the gathering of numerous people in Kerala to express support for Palestine. He said even in Tamil Nadu, millions of people stand in opposition to Israel’s brutal war, and that this conflict needed to be halted promptly. He condemned India’s stance and that it must be altered, and efforts will be made to exert pressure on India to raise its voice against the continuation of the war. 

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The post Pahalgam Terror Attack: DMK-Congress Ally Thirumavalavan Blames Modi Govt, Not A Word On Pakistan, Gets Slammed As Old Clip Calling Separatists/Terrorists As ‘Freedom Fighters’ Resurfaces appeared first on The Commune.

Former Union Minister Smriti Irani on Thursday tore into the Leader of Opposition (LoP) in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi over his opinion article reflecting on the ‘prowess’ of East India Company and accused him as well as the Congress party of insulting nation’s brave freedom fighters and martyrs.

Addressing a press conference, Smriti Irani said that it was unfortunate that they (Rahul Gandhi and Congress) don’t understand the valour of freedom fighters and their supreme sacrifices.

“They either aren’t aware of the bravery of Birsa Munda, heroic acts of Shivaji Maharaja, the sacrifices of Rani Laxmibai, the intrepidness of Mangal Pandey or tend to deliberately ignore their contributions to the country’s freedom struggle,” the former minister said in a presser.

Smriti Irani also expressed strong reservations over the article’s reference to the Britishers ‘supremacy’, in the first line, which apparently read – ‘India was silenced by East India Company’. “Had India been silent, Britishers would be ruling the country today” she retorted. Further taking a stinging jibe, Irani said, “It’s ludicrous that the family which turned a leading political party into a private limited company is talking about East India Company.”

Earlier in the day, the scions of Indian royal families also took exception to Rahul Gandhi’s article, where he wrote that India’s silence under the East India Company was not due to its business control but rather its oppressive control. They lambasted Congress MP Rahul Gandhi for describing the country’s former kings as “pliant maharajas” subjugated by the East India Company. Rajasthan Deputy Chief Minister Diya Kumari, the granddaughter of Man Singh II, the last Maharaja of Jaipur, voiced her disapproval on X, saying, “I strongly condemn Mr Rahul Gandhi’s attempt to malign the erstwhile royal families of India in an editorial today. The dream of an integrated India was only possible because of the utmost sacrifice of the erstwhile royal families of India.” Vikramaditya Singh, former Congress leader and grandson of Maharaja Sir Hari Singh, the last ruler of Kashmir, criticised Gandhi’s “superficial understanding of history.”

“The irony is that Mr Rahul Gandhi, coming from such immense privilege himself, would repeatedly attempt to malign the Maharajas’ colossal contributions to the Republic of India is appalling,” Singh wrote. Chaitanya Raj Singh, representing the former royal family of Jaisalmer, called the LoP’s claims “baseless and unacceptable,” remarking, “Perhaps Rahul Gandhi has forgotten who actually did the work of uniting India; he should look into the pages of history.” In an article in a leading daily, Rahul Gandhi wrote that the Easy India Company suppressed India by allying with, bribing and threatening more pliant maharajas and nawabs.

–IANS

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The post Those Who Turned Party Into Private Limited Company Talking About East India: Smriti Irani Tears Into Rahul Gandhi appeared first on The Commune.

“Those that fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it.”
– Winston Churchill.

Preface

We read in our history books that our first war of independence was in 1857. But, the fight for freedom and the roaring war cry for routing the enemies started long before that in many parts of our motherland which were covertly concealed by pseudo historians, lest such inspiring accounts will ignite the flame of patriotism in the future generations and spur them into . Now having been provided enough information with the advent of internet, is it not our bounden duty to bring to limelight biographies of all those intrepid heroes?

Azhagumuthu Kone: A Background

We all remember the famous dialogue in the film, ‘Veerapandiya Kattabomman’, where the hero asks the british collector Jackson, ‘On what basis you are demanding tax from us? Why should we pay tax for you? Rain downpours and the crops grow; what did you do for us, for our farmers or for the womenfolk toiling in the field?’ This clarion call was actually much earlier in 1795 raised by one Azhagamuthu Kone as early as 1750. Therefore, Maveeran Azhagamuthu Kone (11 July 1728 – 19 July 1759), an Indian polygar from Kattalankulam in Thoothukudi District, was the India’s first freedom fighter. He was in fact, the forerunner of freedom fight even before the famous Panchalankurichi Veerapandiya Kattabomman and Nerkattaan Seval Poolithevan entered the scene. Even though our notorious historians have ignored him completely, still we can gather details of his fame from folklores and street-plays prevailing in plenty among the people at large.

The History

Azhagamuthu Kone was born in the royal family of Kattalankulam (Tirunelvelu district) in the year 1710 CE. Even from his childhood, he developed exceptional skills in martial arts and won many contests and was noted for his gallantry and tenacity. After his father’s death in the Anumanthakudi war in 1750, he assumed the throne.

During that period, British East India Company was looking for ways and means to take over power from the hindu kings and muslim sultans. After the battle of Plassey in 1757, British slowly started taking over control of territories and appointed nawabs, nizams etc. to collect taxes on their behalf.

Azhaghamuthu Kone opposed this. Taking it as a challenge to the self-respect and sovereignty, he not only refused to pay taxes but also influenced other fellow Palayakarars not to pay. This infuriated the british and they sent Colonel Heron and one Marudanayagam alias Yusuf Khan, to collect taxes on their behalf. This Marudanayagam, a hindu converted to Islam was a knave, an opportunist and an obnoxious stooge of the british.

In the battle that ensued in Pethanayakanur Fort in 1759 CE, Azhaghamuthu Kone gave a tough fight to the British forces led by that Marudanayagam. The enormous size and the superior weaponry of the opposing army did not deter Azhagamuthu Kone and his brave soldiers thanks to his inspiring leadership qualities. That wicked Marudanayagam, having realised that Azhaghamuthu Kone cannot be defeated in a straight fight, resorted to treacherous tactics and on the betrayal of one traitor Siva Sankaran Pillai, attacked him and his troops when they were asleep in the night. Six of his war commanders alongwith 248 loyal subjects were captured. In the course of his encounters Marudanayagam destroyed a few temples also.

His Gruesome End

To prevent Azhaghamuthu Kone from escaping, Marudanayakam as soon as he was caught shot him in his legs and tied him with iron chains. Marudanayagam asked him to plead for clemency and pay taxes, so that he can be let off. Resolute and relentless that he was, Azhaghamuthu Kone naturally scoffed at that offer with disdain and daringly declared that the british have no right to collect taxes in our nation. He refused to yield as a true warrior and preferred martyrdom to servility. Being an uncivilised primitive barbaric cannibal, Marudanayagam cut the right hands of all the 248 loyal subjects. Historical evidence point to the fact that after 248 hands were chopped off, the place looked terrible with a large pool of blood. Believe it or not that even after that torture, those 248 subjects, imbued with a spirit of patriotism, refused to yield and raised slogans against the british and hailed Azhaghamuthu Kone for his determination!

This further infuriated Marudanayagam and the british. They killed all the 248 loyal subjects, in spite of Azhaghamuthu Kone’s repeated plea to let them off. After killing 248 people, Azhaghamuthu Kone and his 6 commanders were all tied to the cannon mouth by that monster marauder and cannon balls were fired. Azhaghamuthu Kone and his six commanders were blasted to pieces and thus they laid down their lives in the service of motherland. This brutal barbaric killing happened in the intervening night of Friday and early dawn of Saturday on 18th November, 1757. What a devilish, barbaric, inhuman sadism!

Thus Azhagamuthu Kone died along with his six generals. The body was dismembered and the inscription on the cannon mound in the middle of the forest tells about this event.

The detailed life and history of Azhaghamuthu Kone (1710 to 1759 CE) was chronicled in the book “Vamsamani Deepikai” written by one Swami Deekshidhar in 1878, which enables us now to know about this brave son of Bharat Mata.

Azhagumuthu Kone, while dying, roared as under at the cannon gate:

“Lord Krishna! My Bharata mother! I made a revolution for the Tamil people. I fought for the rights of the Tamil land. I will die for the Tamil land. Servaimagan Azhagumuthu, who was descended from the Tamil king Azhagappa kone, who invaded Kalangadu and went to Ilangapuri by sea and defeated the Arya emperor, is standing at the cannon gate today. On that day the war of India started with the sacrifice of Aravan and today the liberation begins with the sacrifice of Aagumuthu and his soldiers. Let the slogan of liberation started by the Tamils in Athangaraikottai in Tenkodi today resound throughout Akanda Bharat. Let the flag raised by the Tamils today fly as a flag of liberation tomorrow. Today it is Azhagumuthu, tomorrow hundreds of Azhagumuthu kones will come…….”.

After the end of the war, the Kattalangulam palace and the fort built by Azhagumuthu Kone were destroyed by the British. Now the house where he lived is seen in ruins.

A Tragic Legacy

Now we see the strange spectacle of the true patriot Azhagamuthu Kone being left in the limbo by our current ‘historians’, while everyone rushes ridiculously to rave over the other fellow!

Moreover, this is not the only brutality of Marudanayagam [alias Yusuf Khan]. At the directive of his boss, the British, he had also several encounters with another polygar chieftain Poolithevan. He perfidiously killed Vennikkaladi, a brave general of Poolithevan. He has the cruellest record of hanging 500 pallars on a single day!

While such a ruthless savagery is not heard of anywhere in the annals of history nor even in mythological accounts of yore, readers will be shocked to know that this same Marudanayagam [alias Yusuf Khan], a traitor, a brutal beast, a sadistic Satan, a ferine biped, a treacherous turncoat is being attempted to be portrayed as a patriotic freedom fighter by some dubious charlatans in Tamil Nadu! What a disdainful derisive mockery of history!! As if adding salt to the wound that even today there are many places in Madurai and other places in Tamil Nadu continuing to commemorate this rascal by naming places like Khansa puram, Khansa medu, Khan Sahib Street, Khansa palayam, Khan Sahib canal etc. and perpetuating fake history!!

For a detailed biography of this Marudanayagam alias Yusuf Khan, readers may please refer to the following article in The Commune titled “Marudanayagam Aka Yusuf Khan: A Fake, Fraud, Friend Of The Fiendish Foreign Foes Falsely And Flagrantly Lionised”

References:

1. https://bharatvoice.in/history/veeran-azhagumuthu-kone-the-first-freedom-fighter-from-tamil-nadu.html

2. https://tamil.oneindia.com/news/chennai/flash-back-indias-first-freedom-fighter-maveeran-alagumuthu-kone-520633.html

3. https://www.pgurus.com/azhagu-muthu-kone-the-first-freedom-fighter-from-tamil-nadu/

4. https://vsktamilnadu.org/freedom75/freedom-75-unsung-hero-6-maaveeran-azhaghu-muthu-kone/

5. https://satyaagrah.com/sanatan/veer-gaatha/1940-veeran-azhagumuthu-kone

6. Yusuf Khan : the rebel commandant : Hill, Samuel Charles : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archivehttps://archive.org/details/cu31924024059259

Parasuram Sharma is a retired bank officer and an octogenarian whose interests include Sanathana Dharmam, Samskritam, history and politics.

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The post Azhagumuthu Kone: A Symbol Of Boundless Bravery Pitted Against A Hoodlum Yusuf Khan appeared first on The Commune.

Neelakanta Brahmachari was a multi-layered personality who personified the famous George Bernard Shaw’s quote with a slight twist:

“If at age 20 you are not a Communist, then you have no heart. If at age 30 you are not a Capitalist, then you have no brains.”

Just when he hit his 20s, he translated and published the Communist Manifesto in Tamil in 1911. This was well before the Russians decided on a revolution against the Tsar¹. In his 30s, he practiced a capitalism of a different type. His capital was Sanatana Dharma – he practiced a Vedanta capitalism.

Neelakantan was born in Erukkur near Sirkali in the Mayiladuthurai district of Tamilnadu to Smt. Subbuthai on December 4, 1889. His father, Sri. Sivaramakrishna Ganapatigal was a Samaveda scholar. The eldest in a family of eight children. Although the family wasn’t well off, Neelakantan grew up according to the Vedic maxim – Speak the truth, Abide by the Dharma, Never be complacent/ idle in your studies².

While the basics he learnt in Erukkur were helpful throughout his life, an interesting episode illustrates his integrity. There was a time when his family was going through severe financial stress. So much so that they had to sell their ancestral property in Erukkur and move to Mayavaram. His father was to take employment in a Veda Patashala there. His father sent Neelakantan a message to pitch in and help them monetarily. This was also when Neelakantan handled a lot of public money collected for the cause he was fighting for, Swarajya of Bharata. Neelakantan did the unexpected, he completely cut off his ties and all communication channels with his family and let things pass.

Neelakantan had finished his ninth standard in Sirkali Sabhanayakar Hindu Higher Secondary School when the monetary situation in the family became apparent. He had to quit school and take employment as a lower-level clerk at Triplicane Urban Co-operative Society (TUCS) in the Madras of those days. He was settling down in his job at TUCS, Triplicane when Bipin Chandra Pal of the Lal–Bal–Pal triumvirate visited Madras for a series of lectures. He was there on the invitation of a group including Mahakavi Bharatiyar. Luckily for Neelakantan, the venue of the lectures was the Marina Beach which was only a stone’s throw from Triplicane. Mesmerised by Bipin Chandra Pal’s oratory, the fire of Swarajya started burning bright in his heart. The idea of revolution took over his mind. He resigned from his job at TUCS and took employment in India, the weekly Mahakavi Bharathiyar was running then.

It was not long before India was closed down by the British authorities for publishing seditious content. There was a rumour that Bharatiyar, the publisher, might get arrested soon. His well-wishers pressured him to move away to the French-administered town of Pondicherry to avoid arrest. Neelakantan followed Bharatiyar to Pondicherry, which was the safe haven for many revolutionaries wanted by the authorities from the British-administered Bharata. Neelakantan became the editor of a magazine published from there called Sooryodayam (Sunrise).

This was also when Neelakanta Brahmachari became the wandering Pracharak of Swarajya thought. His magnetic personality, amazing clarity of thought and speech that hit its target every time, like Arjuna’s arrows, made him create an army of followers for the cause of Bharata Mata. The Bharatha Mata Sangam he created in Tenkasi, Tuticorin etc. gave birth to some of the most famous sons of Bharata Mata like Veera Vanchinathan, Krishnapuram Sankarakrishnan, Madathukkadai Chidambaram Pillai and Ottapidaram Madasami Pillai. He operated under many aliases like Bharadwajan, Govinda Narayan Dube, Govind Narayan, Swami Brahmachari and Neelakanta Dutta. Interestingly, he also had a French alias, Le Fraile, when he wrote for the Vedanta Kesari magazine in Mylapore, Chennai.

An episode from this time illustrates the kind of revolutionary Neelakanta Brahmachari was. In Cuddalore, New Town, there was a very affluent lawyer, Sri. Chakravarthi Ayyangar. He was also a sympathizer and a subtle patron of Swadeshi activities. Neelakantan once had a very heated argument with him about armed revolution. In a state of near trance, Neelakantan loudly declared that the day when we will question the British openly for their oppression of Bharata Mata is not too far. And he added that on that day, they would answer our questions with their blood. Slightly shaken, Ayyangar proceeded to ask Neelakantan when that day would dawn. Neelakantan with a violent thump of the table in front of him declared loudly that it would happen within ten years by the blessing of Bharata Mata.

On March 12, 1908, Swadeshi leaders V O Chidambaram Pillai and Subramanya Sivam were arrested by the Collector of Tirunelveli, Winch and sent to the Palayamkottai prison. This act of Collector Winch shook the conscience of the right-minded people in Bharata. The Bharata Mata Sangham under Neelakanta Brahmachari swore to take revenge for this act by the British, especially Winch. But then, Winch moved and Robert Ashe took his place as the collector of Tirunelveli. It turned out that Ashe was a worse tyrant than Winch.

Neelakanta Brahmachari’s protégé, Vanchinathan shot Robert Ashe in Maniyachi Railway Station near Tirunelveli when he was enroute Kodaikanal for a vacation and also committed suicide to prevent capture. The case that followed was famously called the Tirunelveli Conspiracy Case and Neelatantan was added as the prime accused (A1). Neelakanta Brahmachari was captured from a hotel in Calcutta and brought back to Tamilnadu to face the law. He was charged under Section 121A for conspiring to commit certain offences against the government and the British Crown. 280 prosecution witnesses took stand while the accused produced 200 witnesses from their side. Neelakantan was sentenced to seven years of rigorous imprisonment and lodged in the Bellary jail.

He escaped in a daring jailbreak only to be arrested at the nearby Dharmavaram railway station. The trial this time resulted in the cancellation of all good conduct credit he had earned during the two previous years of incarceration plus an addition of six months to the overall sentence, making it seven and a half months. The seven and a half years were spent in seven different jails – Bellary, Madras, Palayamkottai, Kannur, Coimbatore, Rajamahendrapuram and Vishakapatnam. He was finally released after serving seven and a half years in August 1919.

Back in Madras, Neelakantan resumed his Swadeshi activities. But it turned out to be the darkest days of his life, days he spent in abject poverty and days and nights of hunger. He has recorded in his memoirs that there were times when he continuously went without food for four or more days. There were also nights when he begged for food, unable to withstand hunger. One of those streaks without food led him to his Guru, Mahakavi Bharatiyar, who was then living in Triplicane. Embarrassed yet overcome by severe hunger, Neelakantan is supposed to have asked for four Annas to have his first meal in four days. The Mahakavi became so angry that he immediately uttered one of his most famous poems, “Let us destroy this world if even one person goes without food.”³ and of course fed his disciple well.  Neelakanta Brahmachari’s was one of the shoulders that bore the weight of the Mahakavi as one of the four pallbearers when he passed away.

Later, Neelakantan became disillusioned with the worldly Loukika life and decided to become a wandering mendicant. He traversed across Bharata to finally take the Sanyasa Patta of Sadguru Omkar and settled in an Ashram at the foot of Nandi Hills near Bangalore. He had many disciples – famous people and commoners from across Bharat who flocked to his Ashram in Nandi Hills. The Yagna he performed during Shivaratri and Durgashtami were so famous across Bharata that people came in droves to receive the Vibooti and Kumkuma Prasada which were said to have medicinal effect. Sadguru Omkar wrote a series on Sanatana Dharma for the Organiser magazine in 1954, which was widely popular among the magazine’s audience.

The great Yati, Sadguru Omkar who served Bharata Mata and Sanatana Dharma attained Mukti and went into Samadhi on March 4, 1978.

Today, on the day of his Mukti, let us remember his great service to Bharata and Dharma.

Notes and References

1. Neelakanta Brahmachari translated the Communist Manifesto into Tamil and published the Tamil translation and the English original in India in 1911 and that was a full six years before the Russian revolution
2. सत्यं वद, धर्मं चर, स्वाध्यायान्मा प्रमदः (Satyam Vada, Dharmam Chara, Swadhyayanma Pramadah), Taittriya Upanishad, Shikshavalli 11.1
3. தனியருவனுக்கு உணவில்லையெனில் இந்த ஜகத்தினை அழித்திடுவோம் is one of the most famous lines of Mahakavi Bharatiyar. He wrote this when he saw a starving Neelakanta Brahmachari asking for four Annas to have a meal.
4. Sadguru Omkar, Confessions, Updadesh and Talks, Akshaya Prakashan (2008)
5. Va. Ra, Mahakavi Bharatiyar (Tamil), Palaniyappa Brothers, 14^th ed. (2010)
6. Ragami, Veera Vanchi (Tamil), 75^th Anniversary of Indian Independence Release, Bharathi Noolagam, Thepperumal Nallur
7. S Jeeva Christy, Tirunelveli Conspiracy Case – Neelakanta Brahmachari. Online Source (2018)
8. Bharati Ilakkiya Payilagam, Tirunelveli Conspiracy Case (Tamil), Online Source (2011)

Raja Baradwaj is a marketing communications professional who is currently working with a leading technology multi-national company. He is an avid reader, a history buff, cricket player, writer, Sanskrit & Dharma Sastra student.

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The post Neelakanta Brahmachari: The Revolutionary Rishi Who Lit The Spark Of Swarajya In The Tamil Land appeared first on The Commune.

At the Republic Day ceremony held at Armed Forces ground in Madurai, the kith and kin of freedom fighters were annoyed that they were not given due respect at the function. The video of the incident was making the rounds on social media platform X.

The freedom fighters and their descendants are miffed at the administration that they were not accorded their due respects during the Republic Day function! Shame pic.twitter.com/sBpHO5lfO7

— karthik gopinath (@karthikgnath) January 26, 2024

The video begins with the police trying to pacify some angry relatives of the freedom fighters who were attending the Republic Day function. The angry relatives were also seen having some heated arguments with others who were present in the place, who were also trying to pacify them.

One of the participants, the wife of a freedom fighter, said, ‘They honoured four freedom fighters next of kin with shawls and left. For the rest of us, no shawls were offered. We are the wives of the freedom fighters. We sent them to fight for the country, and we were suffering back at home. Shouldn’t they pay the same level of respect to us as well? They didn’t do that, that’s why he is angry (referring to the elderly person at the beginning of the video). Only two rows of us are remaining, hundreds have left. Only 50 of us are remaining, if they can’t pay respect to us, then what does this mean?’

Another participant added, ‘I am from Paravai municipality. I am the son of a freedom fighter. I am the son of Sonaimuthu. My name is Subbiah. I am maintaining the Gandhi statue, I am offering my service from 2014 until now. We came to this armed forces ground to pay our respects to the district collector and the flag. But we didn’t get respect, so I am asking the district collector and CM Stalin to give us due respect. Jai Hind.’

He then continued to say, ‘Sahayam used to honour each and everyone of us without fail. He honoured us with shawls and paid respect. What we are asking the District Collector – they called the next of kin of freedom fighters for a meeting and about 24 of us participated. All we are asking now is to honour all of us next of kin with shawls and pay respect to us. Honouring ten people with shawls is not paying respect. How much time is it going to take? (The community) should know who the freedom fighters are and who their relatives are. This culture should not be destroyed. Future generations should know about the freedom fighters and what their relatives are doing now.’

While controversial people like Mohammed Zubair and Vairamuthu are being honoured by the Tamil Nadu government, it is sad to see that deserving people are being left out.

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The post Freedom Fighters’ Kith & Kin Ignored On Republic Day In TN; Kin Allege They Were Not Honoured Properly appeared first on The Commune.

Every time, a person from the Indian subcontinent hears the utterance of the word, ‘Veer’ (meaning brave in Hindi/Sanskrit and in many other Bharatiya languages), one is inspired to do selfless service to one’s Motherland/Fatherland. This is the significance of the word ‘Veer’. There are only few people, who earn the sobriquet, ‘Veer’. They are the most deserving ones. Vinayak Damodar Savarkar became known as ‘Veer’ Vinayak Damodar Savarkar after an incidence of bravery in his childhood. Veer Vinayak Damodar Savarkar was indeed, one of the bravest men in world history and the greatest patriot that the world has ever seen. The proof of this has been given by none other than former Poet-Prime Minister,  Atal Bihari Vajpayee. In his own words of poetry in Hindi, Vajpayee said –

‘सावरकर माने तेज, सावरकर माने त्याग, सावरकर माने तप।‘

which means, Savarkar means Speed (it denotes the speed of thoughts, feelings, words and actions of Veer Savarkar), Savarkar means Sacrifice and Savarkar means Meditation!

One can understand the paramount significance of Veer Savarkar from the above lines.

Savarkar’s Early Life

Savarkar was born on the 28 May 1883 in Bhagur village near Nasik in erstwhile Bombay presidency in British-ruled India, which is in the current state of Maharashtra in India. Mother India was not free at that time. She was in cruel chains under British olonial rule. The British had plundered Indian in many ways, especially – morally, mentally, spiritually, culturally and materially.

‘Veer’ Vinayak Damodar Savarkar was born to Damodar Savarkar and Radhabai Savarkar in a Marathi Chitpavan Brahmin Hindu Family. He lost his mother at the young age of eight or nine to an epidemic, which was raging at the time in his native place. He lost his father, too in the next couple of years. He was born with three siblings – Ganesh, Narayan and Maina. His elder brother, Ganesh Savarkar was also known as Babarao Savarkar. In fact, all the three brother later became famous freedom fighters and were often lodged in different jails during the same as well as different periods of time. His entire family was tremendously patriotic. Savarkar was an extrovert and extremely patriotic from a young age. He organized a group of friends and called it ‘Mitra Mela’. In fact, he took an oath at the young age of fifteen (in 1898) that he would free his mother land from British rule. The two major influences on the Life of Savarkar were his brothers and Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak. Savarkar’s mother used to tell him stories from the epic Ramayana and Maharaj Chhatrapati Sivaji, the great Hindu Maratha ruler when Savarkar was a child. In other words, Savarkar became aware of his religion and nation from early times.

He appeared for his matric exam in 1901. He joined Fergusson College in Pune in 1902 and became a regular writer for ‘Aryan’. One of his well-known articles was ‘Saptapadi’. ‘Saptapadi’ is about the seven stages of the evolution of a nation as envisaged by Savarkar. He had an intellectual bent of mind and read Indian as well as world history and also Indian and Western literature. He read the works of Bhavabuti, Kalidasa, Shakespeare and Milton. In 1904, the name of ‘Mitra Mela’ founded by Savarkar was changed to ‘Abhinav Bharat’. Abhinav Bharat was a group of Bharatiya revolutionaries to free India. This society of 100 select members was inspired by Young Italy of Mazinni. Mazzini was an Italian leader who was an inspiration to Savarkar. In 1905, British Governor-General, Lord Curzon partitioned Bengal. The partition of Bengal by Lord Curzon was opposed by the people of Bharat. In the same year, Savarkar protested against the partition by making a bonfire of foreign goods in Pune under the influence of Bal Gangadhar Tilak. This practice of burning foreign goods on a bon-fire was later adopted by even Gandhiji, who had initially criticized the practice of burning foreign goods on a bonfire as being ‘violent’ while being in South Africa. Unfortunately, he was rusticated from Fergusson College on account of all these ‘anti-national’ activities. The truth was that Savarkar was one of those, who were suffering, sacrificing and sincerely working for the emancipation of India. He was a stupendous patriot and hard-core nationalist. Soon, Savarkar came to side with the Extremists’ Freedom fighters more and more. He was often on the side of Shri. Lala Lajpat Rai, Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Bipin Chandra Pal. He was not on the side of Liberals like Shri. Gopal Krishna Gokhale. Savarkar was allowed to take his B.A. degree much later with the help of Shyamji Krishna Verma.

The London Days

Savarkar decided to go to London to study Law under the influence of Bal Gangadhar Tilak. He received a scholarship from Shyamji Krishna Verma of India House. He attended Gray’s Inn Law College at London and became a Barrister. Veer Savarkar founded Free India Society at London. The Free India Society was yet another group of revolutionaries fighting for Bharat’s freedom from outside Bharat. Savarkar began reading Bharatiya and World History extensively while in London. In 1909, his book ‘Indian War of Independence 1857’ was published. Till then, the British had dismissed ‘the First Bharatiya Freedom Struggle for Independence’ as a mere ‘mutiny’. Bhikhaji Cama helped to publish the landmark book in the Netherlands, France and Germany after ‘Not -At- All- Great’ Britain banned the book for inspiring the Indian freedom struggle. The book was considered a kind of ‘essential reading material’ by Bharatiya freedom fighters. It inspired late freedom fighters like Bhagat Singh and others. Veer Savarkar was one of the earliest freedom fighters to set the revolutionary trend in the freedom struggle.

On the 1 July 1909, Madan Lal Dhingra shot at the British official, Wyllie Curzon at a public meeting. Madan Lal Dhingra was considered to be a keen follower and friend of Savarkar. Madan Lal Dhingra was hanged by the British. Veer Savarkar was heartbroken by the death of his friend and comrade, Madan Lal Dhingra. He was melancholic and composed some poems as a tribute to Dhingra. Savarkar was arrested on the thirteen of May of 1910. Meanwhile in India, Ganesh Savarkar had organized protests against Morley Minto reforms in 1919. He was taken to Yerwada Central Jail in Pune.

Transportation For Life

On the 18th of July of 1910, he tried to escape from the British by jumping off a ship and swimming to French shores. He was illegally captured by the British on French soil and sentenced to two life imprisonments in the dreaded Andaman and Nicobar Cellular Jail (Kaala Paani). The British imperialists were very cunning and cruel rulers. They were those who didn’t like any Indian freedom fighter to survive to return to struggle for India’s independence. Thus, they handed over two life imprisonment sentences (2 x 25 years) amounting to fifty years to Veer Savarkar at the dreaded Cellular Jail at Andaman and Nicobar Islands. During that time at the dreaded Kaala Paani, Savarkar along with other political prisoners were tortured in multiple horrendous ways of morbid physical and mental kinds over a period of many years. Many political prisoners committed suicide unable to bear the physical and mental torture by the jail authorities, who displayed special debased animalistic pleasure in torturing their hapless and weakened Indian freedom fighters in their horrendous prisons. This explains as to why those freedom fighters, who were subject to extreme sufferings took to writing the so-called mercy petitions.

The Mercy Petitions

The British imperialists were tricksters, mass murderers and devils by nature. Naturally, they used different measures (both ethical and unethical) to maintain supremacy over their Indian subjects and Indian political prisoners. Mercy petitions were one such weapon wielded by the British imperialists. Very often, there were Mercy petitions prepared and kept ready by the British officials presiding over Indian Jails, who would be waiting for their opportunity to prey upon vulnerable Indian freedom fighters by making the latter undergo extreme mental and physical torture at different levels and in different ways in their prisons. Then, they would get the signature of the political prisoners in the latter’s deepest moments of desperation and despondency. Veer Savarkar was thus, just a victim of bloody British imperialists’ treachery, deceit, criminality, cruelty, inhumanity and gross human rights violations of the highest level.

These petitions were sent by Indian political prisoners, who were being shattered into smithereens at all levels and made incapacitated leaving them no option but to put their signatures on the miserable mercy petitions. Some political prisoners chose to serve India by dying for her – Sukhdev, Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Azad were amongst those who chose this option. Savarkar chose to serve Mother India by deciding to keep himself alive as he possessed staggering abilities- especially intellectual ones.

The Ratnagiri Days

On the 2th of May 1921, the Savarkar was moved to a jail in Ratnagiri, where he continued to be tortured under horrendous conditions pushing Savarkar to the extreme limits of mental and physical pain and later to Yerwada Central Jail. He was released on the 6th of January 1924 under stringent restrictions by the British ruling dispensation in India amidst mounting pressure from the general Indian public and Indian National Congress after 13 years of absolute and horrendous misery. He was ordered not to leave Ratnagiri district and was to refrain from political activities for next 5 years by the evil British masters.

However, V.D. Savarkar did not waste the years after his return to Ratnagiri. He organized many religious functions. He convened many Mahar conferences. He was against the caste system and especially against the practice of untouchability, which he found very evil.

Savarkar’s Views On Hindu Society

Savarkar was not a very religious person but a highly spiritual one. He was more of an atheist. Nevertheless, he was most closely connected with the coining and propagation of the ‘Hindutva’ ideology. Savarkar smoked and drank more so after his return from the Andaman Islands dreaded ‘Kaala Paani’. It is most likely his extreme physical and mental torture as well as denial of home bliss during his incarceration might have led him to choose means to feel free and happy. He was also a non-vegetarian from his youth. He ate fish, prawn and meat dishes too. In this, he differed from Gandhi, who was a pure vegetarian. Savarkar found it ridiculous that anyone who did not consume ‘animal protein’ would be able to stand up against the might of the mighty British imperialists.

Savarkar said that there were seven shackles that were keeping the Hindu society in chains. They include Vedoktabandi. Vedoktabandi means keeping the Sacred Vedas in chains. Savarkar believed that the knowledge regarding the Vedas was universal. According to Savarkar, this knowledge about the Vedas cannot be restricted to any one caste. He strongly believed that whosoever has the aptitude, discipline and desire should be allowed to study the Vedas. He also believed that there should be no Vyavasaaybandi or no one should be forced to join any profession.

In 1922, Gandhi had written – ‘hereditary occupation for maintaining societal order cannot be shaken.’ Savarkar believed that a human should be free to choose their profession based on their talent, merit and nature. Savarkar was also against the evil practice of untouchability. He also believed that Sparshbandi or the practice of untouchability was not right and that it was a sin. Let us understand this ‘deviance’ from the ‘kind and compassionate’ Gandhi who advised Shudras to move away to maintain peace and ‘brotherhood’, when there was a fight between the Shudra and Savarna community. The ancient practice of not letting Hindus travel overseas was not appreciated by Savarkar. Savarkar also considered Samudrabandi or the practice of not travelling overseas as a backward practice. He believed that Europe’s naval traditions were what made them strong We must not forget that the Cholas of ancient Tamil Nadu were great naval powers in Ancient Bharat. He also did not like the practice of Shuddibandi. Shuddibandi means the practice of not letting an individual to reconvert back into the mother religion (Gharwapsi). Savarkar believed that everyone should be allowed to return to their root religion or mother religion. He also opposed Rotibandi. In other words, Savarkar favoured inter-caste dining. He was also against Betibandi and believed that there should be inter-caste marriages within Hindu religion.

Savarkar’s Contribution To Literature

Thus, Savarkar contributed in multiple ways. First and foremost, he was a freedom fighter and patriot incomparable. His travails as a freedom fighter can be forgotten. His bravery in the face of excessive physical and mental torture should never be under-estimated.

Second, he was a grand litterateur. Savarkar was a poet, novelist, short story writer and playwright. He worked to purify the Marathi language. One of his more famous songs is ‘Sagaraprantalamala’, which was written after his close associate, Madan Lal Dhingra (whom many claim that he had influenced greatly) was sent to the gallows in London after Dhingra murdered Wylie. Dhingra’s death along with other circumstances weakened Savarkar’s overall health.

It was during the aftermath of all this that he sang ‘Sagara’. In fact, he being a literary genius sang as he composed the song. The song was immortalized by the emotional music of Hridaynath’s music and sung by the famous Mangeshkar siblings (Usha, Lata, Asha and Hriday). The song is as follows (translated into English from Marathi) –

‘O Ocean, take me back to my motherland; My soul is tormented.
I had always seen you,
Washing the feet of my motherland.
You led me to a different country,
To experience the diversity of nature there.
Knowing that my mother’s heart was full of anguish,
You promised her that you would take me back;
I was reassured.
I believed that my experience of the world,
Would help me to serve her better.
Saying that I would return soon,
I took leave of her.
Oh, Ocean, I am now pining for my motherland

Like a doe caught in a snare,
The promise you made was deceptive!
I cannot suffer the separation anymore,
Darkness envelops me everywhere.
I had accumulated flowers of virtues,
In the hope that my mother will be rendered fragrant with their smell.
What use, this burden of knowledge and virtues
If my mother cannot prosper from it?
I miss the love of the mango tree, the flowers in my garden back home the blossoming creepers and the blooming rose… I feel desolate…
Oh Ocean, I am pining for her… Take me back to my motherland
Oh Ocean, I am pining for her…

In Cellular Jail, Savarkar wrote another poem “Jayostute” (Victory to you) in Marathi.

‘Jayostute’ deserves to be our National Anthem as this was written by our freedom fighter, Veer Vinayak Damodar Savarkar in the most tumultuous of sufferings undergone by a genuine patriot. There are no doubts or suspicions regarding the circumstances in which This Patriotic song has been composed. This is quite unlike another song, which many claim was written to please British masters.

In ‘Jayostute’, Savarkar sang paeans to the Goddess of Freedom.

Jayostute
(original in Marathi)

ज्योस्तु तेश्रीमहन्मंगले। शिवास्पदे शुभदे
स्वतंत्रते भगवति। त्वामहं यशोयुतां वंदे
राष्ट्राचेचैतन्य मूर्त तूं नीतिसंपदांची
स्वतंत्रते भगवति। श्रीमतीराज्ञीतूत्यांची
परवशतेच्यानभांत तूंचीआकाशीहोशी
स्वतंत्रते भगवती। चांदणी चमचम लखलखशी।।
गालावरच्याकुसुमीकिंवाकुसुमांच्यागाली
स्वतंत्रते भगवती। तूचजीविलसतसे लाली
तूं सूर्याचेतेजउदधिचेगांभीर्यहि तूंची
स्वतंत्रते भगवती। अन्यथा ग्रहण नष्ट तेंची।।

मोक्ष मुक्तिहीतुझीच रूपें तुलाच वेदांती
स्वतंत्रते भगवतीIयोगिजनपरब्रह्म वदती
जेजेउत्तमउदात्तउन्नतमहन्मधुर तेंतें
स्वतंत्रते भगवती। सर्व तवसहचारी होते।।

हे अधम रक्त रंजिते। सुजन-पुजिते! श्रीस्वतंत्रते
तुजसाठिं मरण तें जनन
तुजविणजननतेमरण
तुजसकलचराचरशरण
स्वतंत्रते भगवतीIत्वामहं यशोयुतांवंदे।।

The following is the translation of ‘Jayostute’ into English –

Victory to you, O Auspicious One, the Munificent and Holy!
O Goddess of Freedom, I seek your blessings for success
You are the embodiment of our national spirit, our morality and our accomplishments
O glorious Goddess of Freedom, you are the Queen of righteousness
In the dark skies of enslavement
O Goddess of Freedom, you are the shining star of hope.
Whether on flowers as soft as cheeks, or on cheeks as soft as flowers!
O Goddess of Freedom, You are that blush of confidence!
You are the radiance of the Sun, the majesty of the Ocean
O Goddess of Freedom, but for you the Sun of Freedom is eclipsed.

O Goddess of Freedom, you are the face of eternal happiness and liberation,
That is why the scriptures hail you as the supreme soul.
All that is ideal, magnificent and sweet,
O Goddess of Freedom, is associated with you

You are the destroyer of evil (stained with their blood), O Goddess of Freedom
Life is to die for you,
Death is to live without you.
All creation surrenders unto you!

Victory to you, O Auspicious One, the Munificent and Holy!
O Goddess of Freedom, I seek your blessings for success

Savarkar composed his first poem when he was eleven. He wrote ‘Swadeshichaphatka’ at that tender age of 11 when he was still in school. He wrote poems throughout his entire adult life. He wrote hundreds of poems on the walls of his Cell in A&N Islands. It is estimated that he wrote up to 6000 poems on the walls. His famous plays were ‘Usshap’, ‘Sanyastakhadga’ and ‘Uttarkriya’.

His contribution to Marathi literature is immense. He composed pawadas (ballads). One of his famous poems is Raarakaaspahun. His other famous poems include ‘Sagara’ and ‘Jayostute’. He also wrote poems opposing the cruel practice of ‘untouchability’.

Third, he was also a very good Historian, who had read countless Books of History and who had keenly observed the Independence Movement in India. He wrote – Joseph Mazzini, the biography of the Italian revolutionary, 1857 Che Swatantra Samar (First Independence Struggle 1857), Shikhancha Itihas – The History of the Sikhs, Mazi Janmathep ( narrating his ordeals at Kaala Paani), Kale Pani and many others. His other well-known books were Hindu-Pad-Padshaahi on Maratha History and ‘Six Glorious Epochs.’
Fourth, He was also a proponent of Hindutva Philosophy. His book of 1922, ‘The Essence of Hindutva’ revolutionized the nation. ‘Hindutva’ as defined by Veer Savarkar is –‘Everyone, who considers this land, from the river Sindhu till the sea as his or her fatherland/motherland and holy land is a Hindu.’ His book, ‘Hindutva: Who is a Hindu?’ is yet another remarkable book.

Eight works of Savarkar were banned by the British government. They included ‘Mazzini’, the biography of the Italian Patriot who fought for Italy’s unification and Independence. Mazzini was a great inspiration to Savarkar. Savarkar was influenced by both Indian freedom fighters and by freedom fighters outside India, too. He respected heroes from other nations but was devoted to Bharat. He greatly admired Chhatrapati Sivaji. His drama Usshaap was banned. His brother ran a magazine called ‘Shraddhanand’. The magazine used to carry his articles regularly. The magazine was banned by the British.

He called for a single unifying language to unite India. He wished that should one common link language in India.

An Inspiration To Many

Savarkar inspired countless freedom fighters like Madan Lal Dhingra, Chandrasekhar Azad, Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and S.C. Bose. British Officer, J.P.Saunders was assassinated by Bhagat Singh, Shivaram Rajguru and Sukhdev and all three freedom fighters were hanged.

Everyone appreciated the valour and greatness of Veer Vinayak Damodar Savarkar including the likes of Rash Behari Bose – the founder of the Indian National Army, Subhas Chandra Bose – the successor of R.C.Bose and the Legal Luminary and champion of the Socially Depressed classes, Shri. B.R.Ambedkar.
Ninth, Savarkar helped to design the first Indian National Flag, which Madam Cama unfurled at the World Socialist Conference at Stuttgart, Germany.

There are people right inside India, who spew venom about him. They don’t understand the personality who was convicted indirectly for the murder of A.T.M. Jackson, Collector of Nasik. Jackson was supposedly sympathetic towards Indian aspirations. They fail to realise that Savarkar was a very intelligent man. He knew that the British who ruled India were cruel, cunning and pretentious. He knew that the British officials only pretended to be sympathetic to Indian aspirations and even if they were really sympathetic, it was insufficient to get rid of our British imperialist masters from Indian soil. He knew that we Indians would need to pick up the cudgels against each and every British official in British ruled India.

Books On Savarkar

Many valuable books have been written including two valuable volumes on Savarkar by author and historian, Vikram Sampath. BJP leader S.G. Suryah has translated My Transportation For Life in Tamil. Another author Ashutosh Deshmukh wrote ‘Braveheart Savarkar’.

There was a slogan coined by Savarkar – ‘One Country, One God, One Caste, One Mind, brothers… all of us without difference.’ The important point to note is that what Savarkar wanted was that all Bharatiya people should realise that we are brothers and sisters without difference of land, religion, or caste. Nevertheless, it is important to respect different identities.

Savarkar passed away on the 26 February 1966 at the age of 82 after a long-drawn fast.

Savarkar had to endure much sufferings, cruelty, injustice, loss of domestic bliss, development of health issues and coping mechanisms due to his long years under tortuous conditions in the dreaded Cellular Jail (Kaala Paani) at the Andaman Islands. So, if anyone has any problems with calling Savarkar a patriot and calls him a coward – one is quite tempted to bless such an individual with some years in incarceration like Savarkar and see as to how they cope with life!

Even Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi recognized and honored the legacy of the great patriot Veer Savarkar by issuing a commemorative stamp on Veer Savarkar in 1970. She also donated a sum of Rs.11,000 from her personal account to Savarkar Trust. She also ordered the Films Division of India to produce a documentary film on the life of the ‘Great Revolutionary’ on the life of Veer Savarkar that she personally cleared in 1983.

Thus, the contributions of Savarkar in his one life-time cannot be replicated easily. There are only few great achievers in this mortal sphere like Veer Vinayak Damodar Savarkar.

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Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan was born on the 5th of September of 1888 at Tiruttani, which was part of erstwhile Madras Presidency and current Tamilnadu State in a Telugu speaking Family. His father was Sarvepalli Veeraswami and mother was Sitamma. He belonged to the Hindu religion and was a Brahmin by birth but espoused a tolerant approach to all religions while being all along a staunch torch bearer of Hinduism. He placed higher faith in Humanity and in Humanitarianism, which earned him the immense respect and admiring love from everyone from all corners of the world.

He came from a humble and simple background. His father was a subordinate revenue official in the service of a local zamindar or landlord at Tiruttani. This was before the times when the Zamindari system was scrapped after India attained Independence. His early years were spent in Tiruttani and Tirupati. He rose in life by dint of his hard work and by the merit of his own capabilities.

He studied at different schools, wherein he learnt various subjects and perceived the Indian philosophies in practice during his times. He acquired education at various educational institutions. He studied at various places and in various ambiences and thus, his life was filled with multicultural and multireligious experiences. He grew up in Tiruttani, where he did his initial education at K.V. High School. Tiruttani is a temple town where there is a famous temple devoted to Lord Muruga. In 1896, he went to Hermansburg Evangelical Lutheran Mission School at Tirupati. He obtained a part of his education between 1896 and 1900 at Tirupati. He later studied at Vellore’s Voorhees college but switched to the Madras Christian College at the age of 17. He got his B.A. and M.A. degree in Philosophy from the University of Madras’s affiliated college, Madras Christian College. He graduated in 1906 at M.C.C.

His family was poor but he did not allow his economic background from disturbing his education and future success. He used every right opportunity to rise in life. He was both resourceful and frugal and would not hesitate to take decisions on time. One can attribute his extraordinary rise in life to his supreme intellect.

A Philosopher 

Dr. Sarvepalli joined government educational service at Tamilnadu. In April 1909, Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan was appointed to the Department of Philosophy at the Madras Presidency College. In 1918, he left Madras Presidency College to teach as Professor of Philosophy at the Mysore Maharaja’s College, which was part of Mysore University. He became Professor of Philosophy there. When Professor Radhakrishnan left Mysore to go to Calcutta to work at Calcutta University, he was taken in a carriage from Mysore Maharaja’s college to the Mysore Railway station in a carriage pulled by his students, who wanted to show their bhakti or devotion, love and gratitude to their Guru, Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan. He later associated himself with various prestigious educational institutions in India and abroad. He taught philosophy in 5 different universities.

Dr. Sarvepalli was a self–made man. His family was poor but he never allowed his economic poverty to make him lag behind in life. In fact, his decision to pursue his graduation degree in philosophy was because a relative handed over to him, her old philosophy books. Radhakrishnan ji studied philosophy by chance rather than by his choice.

Dr. Sarvepalli knew the value of things and not just its price and that is why his growth was unstoppable. He taught philosophy at 5 different universities. He became a famous Teacher, Philosopher and later President of India.

He was also the author of many books including ‘The Philosophy of Rabindranath Tagore’, which was his first published book. He believed Tagore’s philosophy to be ‘the genuine manifestation of the Indian Spirit’. His second book was the ‘The Reign of Religion in Contemporary Philosophy’ was published in 1920. He joined Calcutta University in 1921 as ‘The King George, the Fifth Chair for Mental and Moral Science’. He represented India at several Philosophy and Scholarly association meets. His other books include two volumes of ‘Indian Philosophy’, ‘Laski on the Future of Civilisation and Indian Philosophy’, ‘Idealistic View of Life’, ‘Eastern Religion in Contemporary Thoughts’. He was devoted to Advaita philosophy and made the western world realise that the Advaita philosophy, a branch of Vedanta based on the Upanishads was both ethical and relevant. He brought all this wisely through his book, ‘The Ethics of Vedanta and Its Metaphysical Presuppositions.’

According to Dr. Sarvepalli, a philosopher and a Scientist are quite similar. According to Dr. Sarvepalli, a scientist creates things whereas a philosopher creates ideas.

In 1926, he was invited to Great Britain to deliver the talk, ‘The Hindu View of Life’, which he delivered exceptionally well and which was well received by the whole world. Prof. Radhakrishnan was invited to take the post vacated by Principal J. Estlin Carpenter at Harris Manchester College. He also delivered the Master Mind Lecture on the Buddha at the British academy and was awarded Fellowship of the Academy.
He became the Vice-Chancellor of Andhra University in 1931 and that of Benaras Hindu University in 1939. He was also a Spalding Professor at Oxford. He received over 105 honourary distinctions from all over the world. He was the Chairman of University Education Commission in 1948. This Commission submitted its report in 1949. The Commission gave its views on – 1. The Medium of Instruction 2. Course of Study 3. Examination System 4. Standards of Teaching 5. Indiscipline and 6. Discipline and other aspects of Education.

The Commission gave the following holistic suggestions –
1. To teach that life has meaning
2. To awaken the innate ability to live the life of the soul by developing wisdom.
3. To acquaint with the social philosophy which should govern all institutions – educational, economic and political
4. To train for democracy
5. To train for self-development including character development, cultural development etc.
6. Education is a life-long process.
7. The Commission also gave importance to the cultural heritage of India and vocational training.

His Birth Anniversary is celebrated as Teacher’s Day through India, every year. Legend has it that his students once paid him a visit on his birthday to show their respect for him as their Teacher when he was President of India. He told his students to mark his birthday as Teacher’s Day – a day to celebrate the contribution of Teachers in a Nation’s Development. He believed that the minds of teachers should be the best in the country because Teachers build the people of a nation.

A Writer Par Excellence

We are already aware of the prowess of Dr. Sarvepalli’s pen. He wrote many books as mentioned earlier on many aspects of life including how a human being should conduct himself, how the ideal student-teacher relationship should be. He wrote the path breaking paper known as ‘The Ethics of the Bhagavad Gita’ in 1911. ‘An Idealist View of Life’ is a path breaking book by Dr. S. Radhakrishnan, which relates spirituality and modern life. He was the author of multiple books on Religion and Philosophy.

His Role In Indian Polity

He was the leader of the Indian delegation to UNESCO from 1946-50. He became the Chairman in 1948 of UNESCO’s University Education Commission and its President in 1952. In 1949, India became a sovereign nation. After being a great academician, philosopher-king, celebrated author, he went to hold several important political posts with the support of Shri. Jawaharlal Nehru, India’s first Prime Minister. According to Dr. Sarvepalli, ‘The Cry for Swaraj is the outer expression of the anxiety to preserve the provinces of the soul.’ In his book, ‘Indian Philosophy’, he said, ‘Political subjection, which interferes with this inner freedom is felt as a gross humiliation.’

Jawaharlal Nehru and Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan got along superbly well.

He was President of the General Conference of UNESCO. He was also the Chairman of the Indian University Commission.

He was elected to the Constituent Assembly of India. The leader of the USSR, Joseph Stalin found a kind and friendly soul in Dr. S. Radhakrishnan. According to him, Dr.S. Radhakrishnan was the first person to treat him like a human. He was the Ambassador Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to the erstwhile USSR between 1949 to 1952. He was the first chairman of the Rajya Sabha. He was elected Vice-President of India (between 1952 and 1956 and between 1957-1962). He was the First Vice-President of India. He was the President of India between 1962 and 1967. He was the second President of India.

His years of Presidentship saw India witness the green revolution. He also handled crucial war situations during his years of presidency. He was friendly with one and all. He commanded respect wherever he went – be it to Africa, to USSR, to America or to Europe. The World recognized him as a giant intellectual. He was a member of the Intellectual Cooperation of The League of Nations. He was given a rousing reception at England when he visited Britain. He received a Hero’s welcome wherever he went.

Dr. Radhakrishnan & Hinduism

Dr. Radhakrishnan was a beacon light to one and all. He was a great advocate of the religion of Hinduism. He was a proponent of Advaita philosophy, a branch of Vedanta Philosophy, which is based on the Upanishads. He was the Bridge between the Eastern and western Philosophy. He helped the outside world to understand Indian Philosophy well through his scholarly writings and scholarly talks. He knew Sanskrit, Pali, Prakrit among others. His early years in Tiruttani, a temple town of ancient origin ensured his strong grounding in Hinduism. He wrote the book, ‘The Philosophy of the Upanishads’ with a foreword by Rabindranath Tagore. He also wrote the book, ‘The Philosophy of Hinduism’. He was greatly influenced by Swami Vivekananda. He was an authority on the Bhagavad Gita. His exceptional speech on the topic, ‘The Hindu View of Life’ was received well by one and all.

His paper on ‘The Ethics of Bhagavad Gita’ in 1911 and his book, ‘The ethics of Vedanta and its Metaphysical Presuppositions’ were intended to be replies to the charge that the Vedanta System had no room for ethics. He won over western critics. He was thus, greatly inspired by Swami Vivekananda. In his own words, ‘The Challenge of Christian critics compelled me to study Hinduism and find out what is living and what is dead in it. My pride as a Hindu roused by the enterprise and eloquence of Swami Vivekananda, who was deeply hurt by the treatment accorded to Hinduism in missionary institutions.’

He was a staunch defender of Hinduism against the ‘uninformed western criticism’.

Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan and Shri. Srinivasa Ramanujan

In 1948, the great mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan visited Dr. S. Radhakrishnan to seek his blessings before leaving for Cambridge. Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan encouraged the genius of Srinivasa Ramanujan.

Awards & Recognitions

Dr.Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan received many awards including India’s Highest Civilian Award, The Bharat Ratna in 1968, The Sahitya Akademi Fellowship in 1968 and The prestigious Templeton Award from America in 1975. Earlier in 1931, he was knighted by King George V for his services to Education.

He donated the proceeds of The Templeton award to the Oxford University. He was nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature 16 times! He was also nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize 11 times.

Dr. Radhakrishnan & J.R.D. Tata

JRD rendered service to the building of Modern India’ Airline Industry and Air Force. JRD’s report included requirements of radar, signalling and other equipment including spare parts’ manufacture. JRD Tata was appointed as Honourary Air Commodore in the Indian Air Force by Dr.Radhakrishnan.

Personal Life

On the personal front, he was married to Sivakamu, a distant cousin who was his distant relative. He married at the age of sixteen. He has five daughters and one son. His son, Sarvepalli Gopalan became a noted Historian.

Multifaceted

Thus, Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan was many people rolled into one – a distinguishing mark of genius. He was a philosopher, Writer, Teacher, Vice-President, spiritual leader, Humanitarian, Vice-President/President all rolled into one.

He believed that we should first find peace within ourselves and that the peace would reflect in the world. At his core, he was a peace-lover and Humanitarian. He was non-aggressive in nature, very devout, peaceful, religious and spiritual by nature. He was a Role Model World Citizen, an exemplary Human Being, a magnificent Scholar, a Philosopher King, Genius Writer, a Wise and Learned Teacher and a Towering Statesman. He possessed an extraordinary personality – inimitable and remarkable. However, it is to be understood quite clearly and simply that he was no revolutionary or freedom fighter and was not a member of any political party for a long time. He remains a great inspiration for teachers and students, alike.

He passed away on the 17th of April 1975 leaving behind the wealth of his life’s philosophy, kindness, humanitarianism and teaching.

Dr. S. Padmapriya is an author and thinker based out of Chennai.

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We all celeberate the freedom fighters who have toiled under harsh conditions, under the repressive British rule, almost lost their prime youth and suffered mentally and physically. But have we ever cared to know what the freedom fighter’s family are doing after the demise of the freedom figthters. We hardly take any interest. The Government also don’t care about them. Most of their legal heirs live in abject poverty or come up in life after their 3rd or 4th generation fight hard to have a decent life. Not only the freedom fighters have to be remembered but also their legal heirs who never expected neither special allowances nor any reservations.

We are going to see one such Freedom Fighter. The ‘Chekkizhutha Chemmal’, ‘Kappalotia Tamilan’ the great freedom fighter Vallinayagam Ollaganathan Chidambram Pillai, popularly known as V.O.C in English.

Early Life

V.O.C. was born in a small town Ottapidaram in Thirunelveli District on 5th September 1872 to Olaganatham Pillai and Paramayi Ammal. He was named after his grandfather as ‘Chidambaram’ which was the customs those days. He was born into a family of lawyers, then it was called “Pleader”.

During his school and college days he was very aggressive and a turbulent young man. He trained in horse riding, boxing, silambam, tree climbing, archery,shooting and swimming. Fearing his aggressive and daring nature, his father Ollaganathan Pillai constantly kept him under check. After a brief exploration of world in Madurai, Chidambaram Pillai returned to Ottapidaram, briefly worked in the Taluk office as a clerk. He did not like the routine mundane government job and expressed his desire to study law and to become a Pleader like his father and grandfather. Olaganatham Pillai was elated and sent him to study law in Trichy. V.O.C appeared in the Pleadership Examination of the High Court of Judicature of Madras and passed out in Second Grade.

He set up his practice as Ottapidaram and specialised both civil and criminal pleadings. He became very popular among the people of Ottapidaram and its surroundings towns of Koilpatti, Tuticorin and Maniachi. He appeared free for poor people and peasants and earned a title of ‘Poor Man’s Lawyer’ . The administration feared Advocate Chidambaram PilliaI. Police was always having an eye on Chidambram Pillai who was able break most of the falsely implicated Police cases. He also earned much more than his father and grand father and became one of the well-known families in Thirunelveli District.

Two cases can be quoted for his brilliant approach of law and his attitude to stand by the truth.
In the first case a police head constable was attacked and a case was filed against the accused. To prevent Chidambaram from appearing for the accused, the Police named Chidambaram Pillai also in the case. They also secretly negotiated with Chidambaram Pillai that his name would be removed from the accused list if he promised not to appear for the accused in the case. Sensing the trick Chidambaram Pillai agreed not to appear for the case. The Police removed Chidambaram’s name from the list of accused and presented the case for hearing. But on the day of case hearing, Chidambaram promptly appeared in the case and won it. Since the understanding with the Police was unofficial and private Police count not do anything.

The second was a civil case very interesting one which made the son and father stand against each other in the case. A poor farmer had taken borrowed money from a local English man. The farmer’s relative who eyed a ancestral property owned by the farmer. He connived with the English man and filed a case in the court. The Englishman engaged Ollaganatham Pillai, Chidambram Pillai’s father as his lawyer. The poor farmer not knowing what to do went to Chidambram Pilliai for help.

On the day of hearing the Magistrate asked the farmer if he had no ‘Vakil’ to plead his case. When the farmer could not reply, the court hall heard a booming voice of Chidambaram Pilliai ‘Here I am’ I would be appearing for the farmer’. Thus, this case pitted Chidambaram Pillai against his father for the sake of helping poor people and also stand by truth. He won the case for the farmer Madasamy who remained loyal to him for ever and participated in the freedom struggle. Infact some of the English Magistrates and Judges were all praise for V.O.C.’s knowledge in law.

V.O.C met Subramania Bharathi and Subramania Siva during the Surat Congress meet and developed liking to them. He supported the militant way of Bala Gangadar Tilak.

A Pioneer Of Swadeshi 

To encourage swadeshi business and boycott British made things he established “Swadeshi Stores” to sell locally made produces. He also understood that British make money by doing business.

In those days exports and imports generated huge profits. Chidambaram Pillai realised that to sustain Freedom fight and to organise meetings and dharnas needs money. Donations are not the solutions he reasoned. Hence, he devised an idea, to hit British where it hurts.

Accordingly, he had decided to float a Shipping Company against Monopoly business of British Steam Navigation Company. Inspired by the Swadeshi movement, V.O.C. mobilised the support of local merchants, and launched the first indigenous Indian shipping enterprise, the “Swadeshi Steam Navigation Company”, thus earning for himself the name – “Kappalottiya Tamilan கப்பலோ ட்டிட் ய தமிழன்”. The Swadeshi Steam Navigation Company was registered on the 12th of November 1906. The company had a capital of Rs.10 lakh with 40,000 shares. He purchased two steamships, S.S. Gallia and S.S. Lawoe for the company and commenced regular services between Tuticorin and Colombo against the opposition of the British traders and the Imperial Government. His efforts to widen the base of the Swadeshi movement, by mobilising the workers of the Coral Mills (also managed by A. & F. Harvey) brought him into increasing conflict with the British Raj.

On March, 9th 1908 he along with Subramania Siva, and Subramaniya Bharathi, staged a dharna against the attorcities committed by Collector Wynch.

On 12 March1908, he was arrested on charges of sedition and for two days, Tirunelveli and Tuticorin witnessed unprecedented strike which triggered violence, quelled only by the stationing of a punitive police force. But newspapers had taken note of VOC. This was the first General strike witnessed by the British regime.

Yoked Till He Died

The Court imposed a sentence of two life imprisonments (in effect 40 years). The sentence was perhaps a reflection of the fear that the British had for VOC and the need to contain the rebellion and secure that others would not follow in Chidambarampillai’s footsteps. Appeal after appeal filed and finaly the sentenced were reduced. V.O.C. was confined in the Central Prison, Coimabtore from 9 July 1908 to 1 December 1910.

While he was in prison the British Steam Navigation Company conspired with the directors of the “Swadeshi Steam Navigation Company” and bought over the 2 ships and the company. Thus, in the year 1910 the “Historic First Swadeshi Steam Navigation Company” came to an end.

Apart from the Madras press, even the Amrita Bazaar Patrika from Kolkata (Calcutta) carried reports of V.O.C prosecution every day. Funds were raised for his defence not only in India but also by the Tamils in South Africa. Bharathy gave evidence in the case which had been instituted against him.
The British response was brutal and harsh. And the Swadeshi movement was quelled by treating the activists languishing in jail with hard labour and un hygienic conditions. VOC in prison, was left to fend for himself. Surprisingly no body was there to help him.His wife, Meenakshi Ammal, followed him from the Tirunelveli sub jail to the Coimbatore and Kannur central jails, where he spent his term and almost single-handedly organised.

He was not treated as a ‘political prisoner’ he was treated like a criminal and had to undergo brutal physical work. One such work was to run the oil mill. Instead of the bull locked to the yoke, Chidambaram Pilliai was locked to the yoke and made to extract oil. He was asked to wear rough jute cloth.The British was trying to brake V.O.C’s mind and body. He endured all this though his health conditions deteriorated badly. He was released with a condition that he should not participate in any freedom struggle nor write anything against Britshers. His Pleader’s license was cancelled to make it worse to Chidambaram Pillai. Finally, he was released from prison on 12th December 1912.

He moved the court to get his Pleader’s license restored. A British Magistrate George Wallace after hearing V.O.C s knowledge ordered the restoration of his Pleader’s license. Pillai moved to Chennai with his family and started his practice and also started publishing books. Since it was not bringing enough revenue to meet the family needs, he also started a grocery shop and kerosene depot to earn some additional money. When things were going from bad to worse, he moved to his native and started practising in Kovilpatti court.

Finally, he fell ill and died in the year 1936, 18th November by hearing the poem of his great friend Subramania Bharathi. Ironically, he died in the Indian National Congress office, indicating that he died for the cause of nation and Indian National Congress.

He wrote several books. Some of them Meiyaram, Meiyarivu, Autobioagraphy and commentary on Thirukural. He also wrote commentary on Tamil Grammer book ‘Tholkapiyam’

Legacy

Several statues have been erected to commemorate his life, some of them are
• At the entrance of the Congress committee office, Royapettah, Chennai (1939).
• At the arch of Palayamkottai, Tirunelveli.
• At Marina beach, Chennai. (unveiled at the World Tamil Conference).
• At the port, Thoothukudi.
• At the Entrance of Kattu Paramakudi (V.O.C. Mahal) unveiled at 18 November 2012.

He was also honoured by Govt. of India by releasing a Postal Stamp. Tuticorin Port was named after him. Theni and Bodi busstands were named after him. It is also noteworthy to mention here the Actor Sivaji Ganesan had brought the great patriot alive in his potryal as Chidambaram Pillia in the movie ‘KAPPALOTIA TAMILAN’ produced and directed by B.R.Panthulu.

A stauch believer of Dharma he never forgot the people who helped him. He named one of his daughter as Vedavalli not to forget the help he received from one of the rich family.

He also named one of his sons as Walleswaran in praise of Judge Wallace of Madras High Court who ordered to restore his Pleader’s license.

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From a terrorist revolutionary sentenced to a long prison term to a spiritual ascetic and teacher would seem to many to be a far cry indeed. Yet this is exactly what happened in the case of Sri Sadguru Omkar who is today a revered octogenarian Saint who has his Ashram opposite the Nandi Hills in Kolar district

– Sri Dharma Vira, Governor of Karnataka in 1970

We are enjoying freedom now, perhaps too much of it. We did not get it free. It was the result of the indefatigable exertion and supreme sacrifices by hundreds and thousands of patriotic citizens, among whom the names of only a fortunate few find a popular place in our nation’s history. While we should not, even for a moment, grudge the recognition and respect lavishly showered on those few, which they definitely deserve, is it not our bounden duty to delve deeply into details from the past, discover those that remain anonymous and pay our homage to as many of them as we can?

All of us know of the valiant Vanchinathan who shot and killed the British collector Ashe in a train compartment at Maniyachi junction and shot himself dead so that the other prime characters in the episode are not exposed. Consequently, the substratal architects of the venture behind the scene, consisting of a group of sincere and selfless, faceless and fearless individuals who planned, recruited, inspired, equipped and directed Vanchi to execute that plan do not find a proud, prominent place in the pages of our history.  Still, a few names faintly emerge and let us see one of them. – Neelakanta Brahmachari aka Sri Sadguru Omkarananda Swamy.

Early Life

Neelakantan was born in Erukkanchery, a small nondescript village near Sirkazhi in a poor orthodox brahmin family as the eldest son of Sivaramakrishna Iyer and Subbulakshmi on the 4^th of December, 1889. He studied upto ninth standard in Sabanayaka Mudaliar Hindu High School, Sirkazhi. Right from his boyhood days, he was drawn towards freedom movement.

Not much detail is known about his early life except that, after working in various places in the south, he landed at the age of 16 in Madras in 1905.

Getting Involved In Freedom Fight

In 1905, Lord Curzon divided Bengal state into two, with the manifest malefic motive of injecting poison of separation between Hindus and Muslims which sadly sowed the seeds of partition later. There was a great agitation throughout the country against the move of Curzon.

The thunderous trio, popularly christened as Lal, Bal, Pal, [Lala Lajpat Rai, Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Bipin Chandra Pal], belonging to the extremist faction of the Congress party, were igniting the flames of freedom among the masses, especially the youth. Their inspiring speeches at the famous Tilak Ghat at Marina beach in Madras motivated the young minds into action. Neelakantan, propelled by their talks, instantly took a vow that he would not marry and get into domestic chores, till our nation was liberated from the foreign shackle, in the same manner as the colossus figure Bhishma did in Maha Bharatam. He started working incessantly towards that single goal. He remained a strict celibate throughout his life. Contrast this supreme sacrifice at such a young age with that of a popular “freedom fighter”, who reportedly went to the extent of having illicit affairs with the British Viceroy’s wife!

A small incident speaks volumes of the probity of Neelakantan. Once he had collected sizeable amount of money from the public for his movement. His father was a poor Vedic Brahmin with meagre means of income. Since he needed money for the family expenses, he wrote to his son to send just ten rupees; but, Neelakantan did not reply and did not send any money at all since what he had at that time in hand was public money. How spotless his rectitude and righteousness had been! Again, contrast this with many of the current day politicians, whose prime purpose is to plunder public property.

He moved to Pondicherry, a French territory and a safe haven for those engaged in revolutionary activities against the British. Aurobindo Ghosh, VVS Aiyar, Bharatiyar were among the famous fighters who had sought asylum there. At Pondicherry, Neelakantan started a journal, ‘Suryodhayam’ for spreading the news about the freedom movement far and wide. Meanwhile, he gained the association of great personages such as Bharatiyar, VVS Aiyar, VO Chidambaram Pillai, Bipin Chandra Pal etc.

Veer Savarkar founded an organisation named ‘Abhinava Bharatham’. In fact, it could be christened as the first secret Indian army, even before Netaji started Indian National Army, since training in warfare was also a part of their activity. Neelakantan was a co-founder of the organisation and he secretly toured to spread the message of freedom fight among the youth in the south, especially in Tirunelveli and Thoothukudi. He had mobilised around 20,000 members in Tamil Nadu alone and had trained around 6000 of them in pistol shooting. He had planned to expand it further on a pan-India scale and drive out the foreigner through force.  Vanchinathan was one of his trainees. Later, when VOC started Swadeshi Steam Navigation Company in 1906 as a rival for the British Steam Navigation Company, Neelakantan assisted him in selling the company’s shares and mobilizing funds for the venture.

Ashe Murder Case

Robert William Ashe was the collector and district magistrate of Tirunelvelli district in the year 1911. He was vigorously engaged in activities inimical to the locals and irritated them at every opportunity with a sadistic, satanic glee. He was also encouraging missionary activities of forcible conversion. He did everything in his power to kill Swadeshi Steam Navigation Company that was started by VO Chidambaram Pillai. He issued a shoot at sight order during the agitations that followed VOC’s arrest. This sparked an impulse for revenge among the revolutionaries. And his assassination was plotted.

The mastermind behind the assassination was Neelakanta Bramhachari who had been recruiting cadres and hatching plots against the British. In this venture, he involved Vanchinathan and Shankar Krishna Aiyar, Vanchinathan’s brother-in-law. The conspiracy was initiated by Neelakantan as early as April 1910 when he toured places like Tenkasi and conducted meetings in secret, exhorting people to drive the English out.

The meetings in secret had all the characteristics of an esoteric secret society with its own rituals and rites. There was a picture of Goddess Kali. There were red vermillion [Kunkumam], holy ash (Vibhuthi), and flowers. On the floor sat four or five people in a line. Neelakantan sat a little away and wrote on sheets of paper. They put the red powder into water and made a solution of it and each applied it on the paper. Now it was the white man’s blood. On the top of the paper ‘Vande Matharam’ was written, followed by the narration: ‘We should kill all white men. We must sacrifice our lives, person and property for this society. But whoever reveals the affairs of this society, he shall go to hell and he will be killed. They drank the red powder solution as the white man’s blood. Lots were drawn and Vanchinathan was the choice.

The preparation for the assassination began in early January 1911 when Vanchinathan took a three month break from his job and visited VVS Aiyar in Pondicherry. A couple of months later, Ashe was promoted as the acting Collector of Tirunelveli. The stage was set. The date was decided – June 11, 1911. It was to coincide with the coronation of George V. For some reason, no attempt was made that day. The second one was planned for June 17, 1911. On that day, Ashe with his wife Mary left Tirunelveli for Kodaikanal in a train to visit their children. Vanchinathan and three others boarded the same train at Tirunelveli. At 9.30 a.m., the train reached Maniyachi. As soon as the train came to a halt, Vanchinathan boarded the first class compartment in which Ashe and his wife were travelling. He shot Ashe at his head, jumped out of the train and ran into the platform lavatory. In order to save other accomplices of the operation, Vanchinathan shot himself to death.

By the time police arrived, both Ashe and Vanchinathan were dead. The police discovered a letter in Vanchinathan’s pocket signed “R. Vanchi Aiyar, Sengottai”. It read,

The mlechas of England having captured our country, tread over the sanathana dharma of the Hindus and destroy them. Every Indian is trying to drive out the English and get swarajyam and restore sanathana dharma. Our Raman, Sivaji, Krishnan, Guru Govindan, Arjuna ruled our land protecting all dharmas and in this land they are making arrangements to crown George V, a mlecha, and one who eats the flesh of cows. Three thousand Madrasees have taken a vow to kill George V as soon as he lands in our country. In order to make others know our intention, I who am the least in the company, have done this deed this day. This is what everyone in Hindustan should consider it as his duty.

Before long, the police rounded up 14 men and charged them with various offences under the Indian Penal Code like murder, waging war against the King-Emperor of India, and criminal conspiracy. The police description of the accused was as follows:

1) Neelakanta, alias Brahmachari, a Brahmin youth of 21 (a journalist, a fiery patriot and person of considerable persuasive skills and charm, and the leader of a conspiracy to murder Ashe);

2) Sankarakrishna Iyer, a young farmer;

3) Madathukadai Chidambaram Pillai (not related to VOC), a green-grocer;

4) Muthukumarasami Pillai, a pot vendor in his forties;

5) Subbaiah Pillai, a lawyer’s clerk;

6) Jagannatha Ayyangar, a young cook;

7) Harihara Iyer, a young merchant;

8) Bapu Pillai, a farmer;

9) V. Desikachari, a merchant;

10) Vembu Iyer, a cook;

11) Savadi Arunachalam Pillai, a farmer;

12) Alagappa Pillai, a teenaged farmer;

13) ‘Vande Matharam’ Subramania Iyer, a schoolmaster; and

14) Pichumani Iyer, a cook

Most of them were in their twenties. [Incidentally, how much do we know about each of them today? Do they not deserve better recognition, respect and reverence?]

The case was a prolonged one. The hearing in Madras went on for 93 days, from September 1911 to January 1912. Over a hundred witnesses gave evidence on both sides and a mass of the documentary evidence like letters, diaries, publications, records and reports was filed in the case. It was quite a task for the three judges who sat and heard the case without the benefit of a jury. Finally, Neelakantan got seven years’ rigorous imprisonment.

He was jailed first in Coimbatore, then shifted to Palayankottai, then to Bellary jail. During World War 1 in 1914, he made an escape attempt from prison, but was caught and the sentence was enhanced.  He was released in 1919. But after getting into an altercation with police he was rearrested in 1922 and was sentenced to 10 years. His prison terms were spent at different places like Rangoon, Multan [now, in Pakistan]. He was released in 1930. During his prison tenure he wrote lot of books on spiritual subjects.

His predicament after several long stays in prisons was piteous and pathetic. He was literally penniless. He wandered around the streets of Madras and Marina beach. He went begging and was without food for many days. He slept in the Egmore railway platform. One night, while begging in Tiruvallikkeni area, he was standing in front of a small house seeking alms and on hearing his voice, out came from the house, his old friend, Bharatiyar! The poet was heartbroken on seeing the miserable condition of his friend.  As ill luck would have it, Bharatiyar was also in poverty and there was no food inside the house! At that poignant moment, Bharatiyar penned the poem, ’தனி மனிதனுக்கு உணவு இல்லையெனில் இந்த ஜகத்தினை அழித்திடுவோம்.’ [If a single person remains hungry due to penury, let the entire world be destroyed!]

Epilogue

Neelakantan was a completely changed man on his release. He quit politics altogether as also material life and became an ascetic. After wandering for some time during his spiritual sojourn, he served as a priest of the princely family of Hoshangabad.  Finally he arrived at lower Nandi Hills in Karnataka and settled there for the rest of his life. He renovated a dilapidated Shiva temple and established an ashram at that place. From there he carried on his spiritual activities, helping the poor and providing spiritual guidance to seekers. He assumed the name of Sadguru Omkarananda. It is said that he never used to keep money. The moment he got some from his disciples he would distribute it among the poor.

During this period, prominent persons like Mahatma Gandhi, Sardar Patel, Mahadev Desai, Justice Nittoor Srinivas Rao, Sitaram Goel etc., met him and discussed various matters. Dr J C Kumarappa, Gandhi’s associate was responsible for initiating the visits of Patel, Gandhi and Mahadev Desai. Dr Kumarappa met the Swamiji and was deeply impressed with his radiance and wisdom. He wrote in his brief report to Sardar Patel and Mahadev Desai “You shall be missing something great, if you do not meet Sadguru Omkar”.

He shed his mortal coil on March 4, 1978 at his 88^th year. His ashram is now a small secluded place and even the locals do not know much about him. Just like the fate of many other freedom fighters, he has also evaporated into thin air, leaving hardly any trace about him.

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The post Neelakanta Brahmachari: A Rank Radical Rebel Reborn As A Revered Rishi appeared first on The Commune.

We are quite familiar with nondescript unscrupulous charlatans with no means, with no significant intellectual endowment even, save a clever, cunning, crafty calculative Machiavellian selfish guile to swindle and enrich themselves at every opportunity, entering politics penniless and, in no time, as if by magic, transform not only themselves but every member of their family also into multi-millionaires or even billionaires.  This repulsive phenomenon has become so regular today that we take it for granted and if, by a rare chance, we come across any immaculate individual with impeccable credentials entering politics, renouncing all their wealth with the sole aim of serving the nation, we look at him/her with amazement and disbelief. 

But, there have been many individuals, from fabulously rich families, born with not just silver spoons but diamond ones in their mouths, abdicating all their wealth, choosing an austere and ascetic life and dedicating themselves heart and soul for the welfare of the society. The sad fact is that many of them fade into oblivion without being noticed by posterity. A study of their lives will infuse their sterling qualities in us as well and guide us to live a purposeful life benefitting the society.

Ambujammal: If anyone mentions this name in Tamil Nadu, the person will conclude that it is some old, lower middle class, Brahmin woman living in some narrow lane in Mylapore and engaged in traditional papad making for her livelihood.  But, this is the story of an Ambujammal who scripted history through her service to the nation.

How Her Impressionable Years Were Shaped By Her Illustrious Family

Ambujammal was born on January 8, 1899 to S Srinivasa Iyengar and Ranganayaki Ammal. It was a fabulously rich, blue blood family with illustrious personages adorning every walk of life. Her father, S Srinivasa Iyengar was a famous lawyer. He was quite successful in his profession and won copious laurels and recognition. He had an extensive knowledge of Hindu Dharmasastras. His book on “Mayne’s Hindu laws” is a much-acclaimed authority in the academy of law studies even now. In fact, his services and sacrifices deserve a separate article.

Iyengar was the political mentor for the firebrand S Satyamurti and also, hold your breath, for a very popular heavyweight, whom, today every political party craves to claim ownership, the indomitable Pasumpon Muthuramalinga Thevar! 

Her maternal grandfather was the famous Sir V Bhashyam Iyengar, founder of Lady Sivaswamy Girls School, and co-founder of Kasturbai Gandhi Hospital, Tiruvallikkeni, Chennai. He was the first Indian Advocate General of Madras. 

Such a detailed description of her illustrious family background is warranted when we juxtapose it with the further dramatic developments in her history.

In spite of a luxuriously affluent family backdrop, Ambujammal’s childhood days were not an unalloyed joyous experience, which goes to confirm the eternal verity of life that material wealth alone does not, ipso facto, guarantee happiness and harmony. It was a mixed bag of joy and sorrow, mirth mixed with melancholy; but she took them sportively with a positive and practical attitude, as could be inferred by her own humorous narration of her early days in her autobiography titled, .’நான் கண்ட பாரதம்’ [India in my perception]

When she was 11, her father moved into a palatial mansion in Luz Church Road, a silk-stocking area in Mylapore. Everything about the residence was on gargantuan proportions, the extent of area, the grove of trees and gardens, the ponds, the colonnaded verandah, the size of the rooms etc.

The arrangement for her education was something strange in the present day’s perspective. While her younger brother was sent to school, as per the custom in those days in many households, she was not sent. Instead, her father arranged for it in the house itself. The teacher, thus appointed, instead of teaching some lesson, spent the first half an hour in reading the Bible and narrating the sacrifices undergone by Jesus! Her description was so melodramatic that it generated profuse tears in the innocent child’s eyes! The teacher would even ask a rhetoric question, ‘Look, how much Jesus has suffered for us? Has anyone of your Gods have done similarly?’ Indeed, the poisonous, pernicious pestilence of religious conversion had penetrated even into such exclusive, privileged households! 

In addition to such invidious indoctrination, children of elite society were punctiliously trained in western custom and style like pants, shoes, socks, hat, suits, coat, practices like horse riding, training in western music, playing piano etc. 

Still, as per the orthodox custom in vogue those days, she got married quite early at the age of 11. Her married life was not exactly a pleasant one, to say the least. There was a deep chasm in the value systems between the two families, apart from the difference in status resulting in ego problem between her father and father-in-law, as a result of which persons in her in-laws’ house were not cordial towards her. 

The Moment That Changed Her Life

Her father being an eminent legal luminary, lot of VIPs, both Englishmen as well as Indians used to throng her house. There were frequent gala functions in her house and during such festivities, she used to meet lot of dignitaries in colourful costumes. Later, Srinivasa Iyengar, attracted by Mahatma Gandhi’s fight for freedom, joined the Indian National Congress and participated in the non-cooperation movement. In that connection, when she was around 15 years of age, Gandhiji visited her house with his wife Kasturi Bai. This was the first occasion she saw Gandhiji. His striking spartan simplicity coupled with the self-effacing modesty of Kasturi Bai, as revealed in their attire and attitude immensely impressed the young girl. She looked at the jewel-less, austere get up of Kasturi Bai and the opulent jewels adorning herself. At that moment the seed was sown instantly that grew further and blossomed into an exemplary social worker later.

The Making Of A Legend

When Gandhiji visited Madras again, he stayed in her house for three days. During that time, she had enough guidance from him as to the various ways in which women can take part in serving the masses. She, along with like-minded women in her circle, started arranging for and supplying medicines and clothes for the army. She got the friendship of Rukmani Lakshmipathy, Durgabai Deshmukh during her activities. She boycotted foreign clothes and started selling Khadi clothes in the streets. 

She donated all her jewels and all other rich assets for the welfare of the harijans at Gandhiji’s Wardha Ashram. Her involvement in freedom struggle and Salt Satyagraha got her imprisonment several times. She converted the prison into a knowledge centre and taught the inmates Tamil, Hindi and English. She also trained them in handicrafts. She was a beacon light for other women to involve themselves in public service. Along with Sarojini Varadappan, daughter of M Bhakthavatchalam, she conducted free Hindi classes for the people of Madras. She took active role in the functions of Hindi Prachar Sabha. Since she was qualified in teaching, she taught in Sarada Vidyalaya as a part time teacher.

She toured Tamil Nadu with Vinoba Bhave and supported him in Bhumi Dhan movement. She worked incessantly for women’s’ development, their education, opposed child marriage, polygamy and for abolishing Devadasi system. She was a staunch supporter of prohibition. She was an eloquent speaker both in Tamil and Hindi. Through her inspiring speeches, she motivated other womenfolk in public life.

She founded Srinivasa Gandhi Nilayam in Alwarpet, where she arranged for free coaching, dispensary, training and employment in its printing press for poor women. Being an erudite scholar, and gifted with writing skills, she authored several books and articles, apart from her autobiography. Tulsi Ramayana, Gandhi Ninaivu Maalai, M K Gandhi, Reminiscences of my father, etc. are some of her books. She has translated K M Munshi’s book on Veda Vyasa and Premchand’s popular Hindi novel, ‘Seva Sadan’. She passed away when she was 82.

Both Gandhiji and Kasthuri Bai treated her fondly as their foster daughter.  Here is one of the letters Gandhiji had written to her:

Sri Ambujam,

“I was delighted to read your letter. After a length of time, the sight of your letter gave me the joy experienced by a father on seeing his daughter….why is your mind troubled. Write to me.”

Where Is Ambujammal Today?

There is one Ambujammal Street in Alwarpet, Chennai in which Srinivasa Gandhi Nilayam functions. Gandhiji’s ashes are kept at that place. Just at a stones’ throw away are Poes Garden and Gopalapuram. Now, if you ask about the celebrities at the latter two places, even a child in the womb anywhere in Tamil Nadu will answer nonchalantly. But, if you ask about the first one, it is quite doubtful whether even a person residing in the very street will know anything about her!

A Swadeshi, a reformer, a freedom fighter and an exemplary social worker today has been lost to the pages of history which none of us care to turn back to.

If we fail to recognise and honour altruistic contributors to our society, are we not to be blamed for our ingratitude?

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