Vasudev Balwant Phadke, known as the ‘Father of the Indian Armed Rebellion,’ was born on November 4, 1845, in Shirdhon, Maharashtra.
About the Vasudev Balwant Phadke:
- Vasudev Balwant Phadke was born on November 4, 1845, in Shirdhon, Maharashtra.
- Also known as the ‘Father of the Indian Armed Rebellion’, he educated his wife Gopikabai in literacy, weaponry, and horse riding, defying societal norms
- He was influenced by critiques of the colonial regime in media and speeches by leaders like Dadabhai Nauroji and M G Ranade.
- He preached swaraj across villages, urged youth to adopt entrepreneurship, and promoted Swadeshi products, establishing the ‘Poona Native Institution’ in 1874 (now Maharashtra Education Society) and Aikyavardhini Sabha in 1870 for national education and youth awareness.
- Phadke’s revolutionary zeal was sparked by denial of leave during his mother’s deathbed in 1865, and increased by the Deccan famine of the late 1870s
- He rallied support among nomadic tribes, the Ramoshis, Kolis, Bhils and Dhangars and form a revolutionary army in 1879 to fight British tyranny.
- His army, numbering 300, attacked Dhamari village in 1879, looting houses of wealthy Marwaris.
- Phadke was captured in Chhattisgarh in July 1879 and died in prison in Aden, Yemen, on February 17, 1883.
- Bankimchandra’s Anandamath was inspired by Phadke’s life, commemorating his role and legacy in India’s struggle for independence.
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