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Dear Shri Rajpalji

 

 

 

I thank you for the emails you have sent on the 1857 War of Independence,

and the info especially the continued unrectified injustices associated with

it. Also the efforts of Pujya Swamiji Dayananda in his clarion call for

Swaraj is very

 

inspiring.

 

 

 

A page of few events in history of India-Britain that was circulated by me

in several Indian discussion websites for the benefit of younger Indians who

have been raised in the US, Canada & the U.K.

 

 

 

Pl pardon the lenghty compilation, and thanks for your patience.

 

 

 

Pranaam

 

 

 

Srini V Narasimhan

 

 

 

>****

 

 

 

Mazzini was a source of great inspiration to Savarkar. Other Indians too

have written Mazzini's biography but only the one by Savarkar was proscribed

by the British Authorities.

 

Giuseppe Mazzini was commonly known as Joseph Mazzini. He was forced to flee

to France in 1831. Austrians sentenced him to death in absentia. They put

pressure on France to arrest Mazzini, but he went into hiding and was not

found. While in France, Mazzini founded Giovine Italia ( Young Italy )

movement in Marseilles. In his open letter to Carlo Alberto

Mazzini appealed to the ruler of Pidmont state to lead a great

nationalist movement against Austria. This monarch (Victor Emanuelle) had,

in 1831, forced Mazzini, Cavour and Garibaldi to flee from Pidmont. But he

fought the wars against Austrians in 1848-49 in support of rebels in

Lombardy, and Pidmont was to be the state which ultimately led Italy to

independence and unity.

 

By 1859 half of Italy was freed, Venice was captured in 1866, Rome in 1870.

 

Mazzini died in 1872. His biographies were available in India 20 years

later. Bipin Chandra Pal and Lala Lajpat Rai had read those biographies.

Savarkar read a biography in Marathi by one Mr Ghanekar in 1900. He also

read an English biography by Bolton King in 1902. While travelling to London

by ship, he used to ask other Indian students to read that biography.

 

Savarkar was attracted to Mazzini because he wanted to emphasise that

freedom will not come cheap. Indians will have to face severe hardships, go

to jail, face floggings, torture, deportation. transportation and death.

Thousands of families will be ruined before independence is achieved. He

also wanted to emphasise that freedom fighters must be prepared to face

several years of disappointments and frustrations. At times even Mazzini

thought that he would go mad. But he said to his contrymen, " Every failure

is one more step to success. Let us try once more."

 

The commemorative plaque was fixed by the Greater London Council in 1950.

Unfortunately, no one told Savarkar. He would have been thrilled by the news

and would certainly written an article on that occasion.

 

(2) University College, London N.W 1

 

Madanlal Dhingra studied for Diploma in Civil Engineering at this college (

1906-09 ). On 1 July 1909 he shot and killed Sir Curzon Wyllie, Political

A.D.C ( aide-de-camp ) to Secretary of State for India. We will see the

importance of Wyllie later.

 

Madanlal Dhingra came from Amritsar. His father was an eye specialist and

Civil Surgeon of Amritsar. Some say he was the first Indian doctor to reach

that position. Madanlal was married and had a son. He had completed his

studies. If he wanted to, he could have lived a life of luxury. But, he

decided to be a martyr for India's freedom struggle.

 

Dr Dhingra had seven sons

 

Kundanlal ( a businessman ) , Dr Mohanlal , Dr Biharilal,, Chamanlal,

Chunilal, MADANLAL , Bhajanlal

 

Bhajanlal was in London when Madanlal shot dead Sir Wyllie. On 5th July he

attended the public meeting to condemn Madanlal. On that account Madanlal

refused to see Bhajanlal when he visited him in the Brixton prison.

 

Madanlal Dhingra went to the gallows in Pentonville prison on 17 August

1909. His brothers, except Dr Biharilal, dropped the surname Dhingra. As

their first names ended in Lal they adopted that as the surname. e.g

Chamanlal Dhingra became Chaman Lal.

 

[ In a similar manner, many Indian freedom fighters changed their names so

that their relations would not be harassed by the British Authorities.]

 

Until 1988 we did not know the date of birth of Madanlal. Mr Mukund

Sonpatki wrote a letter to the Principal of University College and he

obliged by sending us a copy of Madanlal's application for admission to

college. His date of birth was 18 September 1883. He was just four months

younger than Savarkar.

 

Note :- University College was founded in 1826 by promoters of religious

toleration. It was intended to provide higher education for non-Anglicans

excluded from Oxford and Cambridge. Later, it became the University of

London.

 

Some background information

 

English administrators in India always had their councils of advisors. Thus

we have the terms like 'Governor General in Council'

 

THE POLITICAL DEPARTMENT

 

This had nothing to do with politics. After the 1857 Indian War of

Independence, the British Crown took over the administration of India from

the hands of the East India Company. Its representative was given the title

Viceroy and Governor General. He had a dual function. Governor

General was in charge of all the Governors. Viceroy represented the British

Monarch (Crown) and was responsible for the relations between the Crown and

the Rajas and Maharajas ( i.e he used to keep an eye on the

Princely states ). He had the Political Department to help him. It used to

be a common practice for Army officers to be transferred to the Civil

Service, on reaching the rank of a Colonel. Many of them worked for the

Political Department. These changes also reflected in London.

 

INDIA OFFICE

 

Secretary of State for India was a minister in the British cabinet. He used

to get 10 times the salary of the British Prime Minister, because it was

charged to India. He had his 'council' of advisers. These used to former

members of Indian Civil Service (ICS) or retired Army Officers. Secretary

of State for India had his office behind Downing Street. The office was

called the INDIA OFFICE. This is now the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

 

INDIA HOUSE

 

This was an inexpensive hostel for Indian students started by Shyamji

Krishnavarma, in Highgate area of north London It was inaugurated as 'India

House' on 1 July 1905. It lasted till 1910. Savarkar lived here for three

years

 

This should not be confused with the present office of the Indian High

Commission also called India House which was built in the late 1920s and

inaugurated by King George V and Queen Mary on 8 July 1930.

 

(3) 60 Muswell Hill Road, London N10 ( formerly No. 9 Queenswood Avenue )

 

This house was purchased in 1897 by Shyamji Krishnavarma Bhansali, commonly

known as S K Varma, for his own use. In 1906 he offered a scholarship to

enable Savarkar to come to London.

 

Shyamji - brief career

Born 4 October 1857 at Mandavi ( Kathiavad- in Gujrat ) Learned Samskrit

through traditional Pathshala In 1875 married Bhanumati, daughter of Seth

Chabildas Lallubhai (famous for Chhabildas High Schools in Mumbai) in 1875

 

In 1876 one Prof Monier Williams of Oxford visited India. He was looking

for an assistant who was good at Sanskrit as well as English. Shyamji was

such a man. Shyamji organised a series of lectures in Sanskrit on behalf of

Aryasamaj. Notable persons of the times like Kunte, Krishnashastri

Chiplunkar, Justice Ranade and Gopalrao Deshmukh were impressed by

Shyamji's scholarship. But things did not work out fast enough. Prof

Williams went back.

 

Shyamji borrowed money from his father-in-law and came to England in March

1879. Prof Williams said that he had not promised any help. Shyamji then

registered with Balliol College, Oxford and obtained B.A degree in 1883.

Prof Williams realised the potential of Shyamji, wrote a letter

of recommendation to Sir Richard Temple, Governor of Bombay province, who

in turn persuaded Maharaja of Kutch to offer a scholarship of 100 pounds/

year to Shyamji.

 

1881 - Shyamji read a paper at the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain

and Ireland. He emphasised that the art of writing was known in Vedic

times. For this paper he was elected a Member of the society. He was

honoured to be sent as India's representative at the Oriental Congress in

Berlin, by the then Secretary of State for India. He emphasised that

Sanskrit was a living language

 

1883 - He was similarly honoured at the Oriental Congress, in London.

Shyamji joined the Empire Club, who had among its members, former

governors, governor-generals and Army Generals. He became well known to Prof

Max Muller, Dadabhai Naoroji and former Governor General Lord

Northbrook.

 

1884 Shyamji became a Barrister from the Inner Temple and returned to

India in January 1885.

 

1885-88 He served as a Divan of Ratlam state.

 

1888-92 He practised as a Barrister at Ajmer.

 

1892-95 He was Divan of Udaipur.

 

1895-96 He served as a Divan of Junagadh state, when things started to go

wrong.

 

Shyamji had done a favour to an Englishman named Meconoki whom he knew in

London. Shyamji used his influence and offered a suitable post to Meconoki.

But, he conspired against Shyamji. And as a result Shyamji was

dismissed as Divan of Junagad. Shyamji fought for justice. But as soon as

it was known that he had a fight with an Englishman, all the other

Englishmen refused to listen. He appealed right up to Secretary of State

for India, but no avail.

 

After Shyamji's dismissal from Junagad, Maharana of Udaipur wanted him to

come back as his Divan. But, Sir Curzon Wyllie who was Governor-General's

Agent in Rajputana refused permission. He said that Shyamji has been

declared unfit to hold the office of Divan by the British Resident

at Junagad. He cannot be appointed as Divan of Udaipur, until that Resident

clears the name of Shyamji. As that British Resident himself was involved in

the conspiracy to remove Shyamji, there was no chance of him changing his

mind. Shyamji had burnt his fingers. He realised what British Justice meant

in practice.

 

Shyamji sought help of Tilak. However, in 1897 Rand and Ayerst, two British

officers were shot dead by Chaphekar brothers, for insults and humiliations

suffered by people of Pune during recent outbreak of plague. Shyamji

thought that if Tilak's house is searched by the police they will find his

letters and harass him too. He, therefore, quietly left India and came to

London and purchased above house in 1897.

 

1905

18 February - Shyamji founded Indian Home Rule Society. Indian members of

the British Committee of the Congress Party were becoming disaffected with

the British members of the committee. They were attracted to Shyamji's

society. Among its members we find - Barrister Rana, Barrister

Parekh, Dr C M Muththu, Mukundrao Jaykar, Surhavardi and Godrej. Shyamji

also started his monthly magazine The Indian Sociologist

 

July

 

· Viceroy Lord Curzon finally announced partition of Bengal and it came

into force on 16 October 1905 There was widespread anger and resentment

against this act. ( on 7 October 1905 Savarkar organised a bonfire of

foreign clothes in Pune ) * Tilak's paper 'Kesari' carried an editorial

about Shyamji's activities in London including his starting of the

students' hostel 'India House'

 

1906

14 April - A protest meeting against partition of Bengal was held at

Barisal ( now in Bangladesh ). Police used brute force to disperse the

gathering. Surendranath Banerji was heavily fined. A meeting to condemn

this police action was held at this house by the Indian Home Rule Society.

At this meeting Vitthalbhai Patel ( elder brother of Sardar Patel ) and

Bhai Paramanand werer present.

 

Similar meeting was held in Paris by Mr Banker, Mr godrej, Barrister Rana

and others.

 

At this time Vande Mataram became our national song because it was banned

in Dacca by Sir Banfield Fuller, Lt Governor of Bengal.

 

1907

May - Shyamji left London for Paris and carried out his propaganda from

there.

 

1909

1 May - Shyamji was struck off the register of Barristers by benchers of the

Inner Temple

 

In 1903 Shyamji had endowed a sum of 1,000 pounds to Oxford University in

the memory of philosopher Herbert Spencer who died in that year. This was

returned to him in July 1909.

 

1930

Shyamji died in exile in Switzerland. His wife died in 1933. They were

cremated at St George Cemetary, Geneva. They had no childeren.

 

(4) 65 Cromwell Avenue, London N 6

 

1905

Shyamji purchased this house to be used as a students' hostel, This was

inaugurated as INDIA HOUSE by My Hyndman, a Scottish Socialist on 1 July

1905. Dadabhai Naoroji, Lala Lajpat Rai, Madame Cama, Mr Squelsh of the

Justice paper and Mr Sweeny of the Positivist Society were present

at the ceremony Savarkar read about Shyamji's activities in Pune in Tilak's

paper Kesari. He also came across an issue of Shyamji's monthly Indian

Sociologist which contained information about scholarships being offered by

Shyamji. However, the amount was not adequate. Savarkar's father-in-law

assured him that he will make up the difference.

 

1906

March - on the 9th Savarkar applied for Shivaji scholarship. Tilak gave him

a reference

 

June - Savarkar arrived at INDIA HOUSE on 15th. A letter from the Special

Department, Pune, dated 14 June 1906 to India Office followed.

 

Why did Savarkar come to London ?

 

· To meet students from all parts of India- such meetings were much more

easier in London than in India. People back home, looked to these men with

admiration and expected them to provide leadership and give direction. * To

kindle the spirit of fighting for Indian independence among these youth.

 

 

 

· To meet professionals, Rajahs, merchants and rich people, who came to

London and possibly also visited Europe.

 

Savarkar was seeking their assistance in the freedom struggle.

 

 

 

· To establish contacts with revolutionaries of other countries like

Russia, China, Ireland, Turkey, Egypt, Iran. He wanted to learn the art of

making bombs from them and try concerted attempts to overthrow the British

rule.

 

The speed of Savarkar's activities in London was breathtaking

 

(i) He started regular Sunday meetings to discuss various topics related to

India's future. It soon became popular among Indian students.

Revolutionaries from other countries such as Egypt, Ireland, Russia, China

and Turkey used to attend, including Lenin. One of the topics of discussion

was " Future constitution of India " These meetings were the precursor of

'baudhiks' - or regular discourses to increase one's

knowledge, of the RSS which was founded 20 years later. Savarkar was able to

maintain this tradition even in the jail on the Andaman Islands.

 

(ii) Savarkar organised remembrance days for our forefathers ( like

Shivajayanti - Shivaji's birthday ) and celebrations of our festivals like

Divali and Dasara. He wanted to imbibe a spirit of self respect. He wanted

revival of our culture, our values, our concepts, our traditions

 

(iii) Abhinav Bharat

 

Savarkar had started his secret revolutionary society Abhinav Bharat

(similar to Young Italy of Mazzini) in India in 1905. Its oath is preserved

by the British Secret Police. The words " Absolute Political Independence "

are important. At the time of Indian independence, many leaders of the

Congress Party were members of this secret society. They included,

Balasaheb Kher, Chief Minister of Bombay Province, Ravishankar Shukla,

Chief Minister of Central Provinces, Sikandar Hiyat Khan, the Muslim Chief

Minister of Punjab just to name a few. President of the Congress Party

Acharya J B Kripalani himself was a member of Abhinav Bharat.

 

C. Rajagopalachari, the first Indian Governor General of India after

partition had publicly admitted that he took inspiration from the life of

Veer Savarkar

 

· Copies of bomb manual were printed here. One copy did reach Tilak in

Pune.

 

(iii) Literary works

 

· Savarkar completed his biography of Mazzini in Marathi in September 1906.

It was published by his elder brother Babarao in India in June 1907. The

book was proscribed by the British, a year later.

 

 

 

· He wrote his famous book Indian War of Independence 1857 in Marathi. It

was translated by his friends into English in this house.It was published

secretly in Holland in 1909 and immediately banned in India. [ It is

interesting to note that the British never called this war – The sepoy

mutiny. That phrase was unfortunately used by Indian authors. British called

it The Indian Mutiny - accepting the fact that the whole of India wanted to

get rid of the British rule. or they say 'The Great Sepoy War.' Savarkar's

book served as a source of inspiration to Indian revolutionaries for next

40 years ]

 

· Sikhs are an important part of the Hindu society, In the Indian Army

their percentage was quite high. Savarkar therefore learned Gurumukhi and

studied their holy books - Adigranth, Panthprakash and Vichitra Natak. He

prepared notes for his book 'History of the Sikhs' which he completed in

Paris

 

· Savarkar sent 43 newsletters from this house from 17 August 1906 to 26

November 1909.

 

 

 

· Three leaflets were printed here

 

1. Gurumukhi leaflet - This appealed to the Sikhs to revolt against the

British.

 

2. Oh Martyrs!. This was addressed to the fighters of the 1857 war.

Savarkar assured them ' your blood shall be avenged. We will continue your

fight and drive the British out of India.'

 

3. Choose, oh Indian Princes!

 

This was sent out after Dhingra'a martyrdom in August 1909 – Savarkar

appealed to Indian Rajas and Maharajas to join in the freedom struggle. His

salient points being :-

 

If you co-operate, there can be room for various types of

administrations in future India. Look at Germany. In 1871 various princes

accepted Kaisar William of Prussia as their Emperor. Various princely

states remained, but Germany was unified as one nation.

 

India is you motherland too

 

Side with us and one of you will be Maharaja of whole of India. If you do

not, even your names will disappear.

 

1907

June - It was decided that Senapati Bapat and Hemchandra Das ( and Hotilal

Varma ) should go to Paris, contact Russian revolutionaries and learn how to

make bombs. Hotilal Varma went to Pune and gave Tilak a copy of the bomb

manual.

 

August - It was decided to send Madame Cama as India's representative to the

International Socialist Conference in Stuttgart. The question was - what

should be the Indian National Flag ? It was decided that 8 lotus flowers

should represent India's 8 major provinces, the Sun and Moon

should show perpetuity of India ( India will remain as long as there are

Sun and the Moon in the sky ) and the famous words Vande Mataram were

printed. There were three colour bands. Green shows vitality of youth,

Saffron shows success, Red shows the blood sacrifices required to gain and

maintain freedom. Savarkar gave this information in a speech on 26

October 1937.

 

· This flag is preserved in Savarkar Memorial in Dadar, Mumbai

 

1908

50th anniversary of the Indian War of Independence,1857 against the British

rule was celebrated in this house on Sunday 10 May 1908.

 

Barrister Rana came for Paris and was in chair. Students came Cambridge,

Oxford, Cirencester and Reading. People came in such large numbers that some

had to stand outside the house. Savarkar made the first speech, followed by

Mr Khan, Mr Das, Mr Master (a Parsee) and Mr Yerulakar (a Jew). But merely

remembering the freedom fighters was not enough.

 

Savarkar suggested that Indians must do something constructive. He asked

them to take vows of sacrifices. Some said that they will not drink for a

month, some gave up smoking for a period, some decided not to go to a

theatre. The money thus saved was to be donated to the National

Fund. Thus the previliged Indians identified themselves with Indian masses.

 

After singing Vande Mataram, the meeting ended. Chapatis were distributed

as "prasad" because Chapatis were distributed in 1857 passing the message

of intended uprising against the rule of the East India Company, from

village to village.

 

1909

Freedom of Expression - a Fundamental right

 

Throughout his life Savarkar preached and practised, freedom of expression.

In an interview given to Mr Campbell Gren of the Sunday Chronicle, in March

1909, he said, " India House is an inexpensive hostel. But for admission as

a lodger, one does not need to have any specific poliical opinion. All that

he has to do is to pay one pound (per week) for board and lodge. Political

discussions do take place. Persons like yourselves

and those who believe that the British Raj is a divine dispension, also come

here. Discussions take place. Those who can convince others because of

truth and logic, win the day"

 

Even Dube and Harishchandra Koregavkar who betrayed Savarkar had confirmed

this freedom of expression in their testimonies.

 

Gandhi came to London on 20 October 1906. He headed a delegation of Indians

from South Africa and in that capacity met Mr Morley, Secretary of State

for India. Gandhi went to India House and met Savarkar. They had their

discussions on how to win freedom from the British rule. Savarkar narrated

the details on 14 May 1939 in a public speech at Pune. He

said, " After dinner, we revolutionaries used to sit on one side of the

table, Gandhi and his followers on the other side. A funny thing happened

each day. At the end of our discussions one of Gandhi's followers would

desert him and join our side. A day came when Gandhi sat on one side and

all his followers had joined our side."

 

VISITORS TO INDIA HOUSE

 

Many important leaders have visited this house at least once.

 

Revolutionaries

 

Bhai Paramanand - he was a direct descendent of Bhai Matidas who was sawn

from head to toe on the orders of Aurangzeb for refusing to embrace Islam,

in 1676. Like Savarkar he too was sent to Kalapani on the Andaman Islands.

 

Lala Hardyal - he was first class first in M.A in English from Punjab

University. He came to England on government scholarshipto study in Oxford.

He went to America and founded the Gadr movement there.

 

Virendranath Chattopadhyaya, brother of Sarojini Naidu. He was debarred by

the Middle Temple for his political activities. He is believed to have been

shot dead in Russia on the orders of Stalin.

 

Pandurang Mahadev alias Senapati Bapat, a civil engineer. He wrote a small

booklet entitled 'India wants Home Rule' As a result University of Bombay

withdrew his Seth Mangaladas Nathubhai scholarship. Tilak pleaded with

Shyamji, " something ought to be done there to enable him to complete his

course. He is a promising young man " Shyamji, no doubt

provided the funds. Bapat and Hemchandra Das were sent to Paris. They

contacted Russian revolutionaries and learnt how to make bombs.

 

Hemchandra Das was sent to Kalapani on the Andaman Islands.

 

Madanlal Dhingra. He went to the gallows in August 1909

 

MPT Acharya Venkatsubramaniam Iyer ( V V S Iyer )

 

Gyanchand Varma : secretary of Abhinav Bharat

 

Sukhasagar Dutta - his brother Ullhasagar was sent to Andaman to serve

transportation for life, after the Alipore Conspiracy Trial. He was meted

out with the most barbaric treatment, including administration of electric

shocks. Savarkar heard his terrifying screams. In the end a jail

superintendent took pity and said, " you would be far better off in a

lunatic asylum" He was released after spending 12 years in a lunatic asylum

in Madras.

 

Others

 

Dadabhai Naoroji, the Grand Old Man of Indian Politics Lala Lajpat Rai (

Punjab Kesari - Lion of Punjab ) Bipin Chandra Pal, a prominent leader of

Bengal, and his son Niranjan Pal

Madame Cama

Barrister (later Mahatma) Gandhi. He could not resist the temptation of

attending various functions in this house.

 

Sardarsingh Rana of Kathiavad. He became a precious stone merchant in Paris

and carried out his propaganda from there. He was a Barrister from the Inner

Temple

 

Dadasaheb Karandikar and Dadasaheb Khaparde - both lawyers of Tilak

Ravishankar Shukla. He became Chief Minister of the Central Provinces in

1947.

 

Dr Rajan. He was elected a member of Madras Legislative Assembly in 1937.

 

Dr K P Jayaswal. He became famous for his books on the Vijayanagar Empire

 

W V Phadake, Koregavkar and Kunte. They translated Savarkar's book 'Indian

War of Independence'from Marathi into English

 

Harnam Singh. He shared a cabin with Savarkar while travelling from Mumbai

to London. He was born in Amritsar, lost his father at a young age,

obtained a B.A degree. He was offered a scholarship by Maharaja of Nabha.

He was debarred from Agricultural college at Cirencester, for bearing a

badge commemorating the 1857 war. He refused to remove the badge and did

not apologise. His Principal John McClellan wrote to India Ofice 'Harnam

Singh should come back without putting up the medal. Not to do so would be

a folly, as he is likely to get a gold medal for his studies' Maharaja of

Nabha was forced to withdraw Harnam's scholarship. He

later studied Law at Grays Inn with Savarkar. The benchers had decided not

to call him to the Bar. But later they did call him.

 

KVR Swami

Mr Master - correspondent of the paper 'Parsee'

 

Shapurjee Sakalatwala, nephew of Jamshetji Tata. He founded the Communist

party of Britain.

 

INDIA HOUSE was constantly in the news during 1906-1910. Savarkar made

history. We were at least able to erect a small memorial to him. It was

proposed that a commemorative plaque should be placed on this house. With

the efforts of Late Mukund Sonapatki and Late Padmanabh Pendse, this goal

was achieved. The plaque was placed on this house with the consent of its

present owners by the Greater London Council. It reads VINAYAK DAMODAR

SAVARKAR 1883-1966 Indian Patriot and Philosopher lived here.

 

The plaque was unveiled by Lord Fenner Brockway on 8 June 1985. He was then

97. It was suggested that he should not take the trouble of standing up.

But he refused, stood up and spoke for three minutes. He said, " I am proud

to unveil this plaque but this should have been by your Prime Minister

Rajiv Gandhi." Famous cricketeer Sunil Gavaskar attended the function.

 

After the ceremony visitors were able to see the ground floor flat by the

kind permission of the owner. YES, it was here that history was made. It is

impossible to describe their feelings.

 

Every Indian visiting London should now pay homage to Savarkar and other

freedom fighters in front of this house. It must become a place of

pilgrimage.

 

******

 

(5) Grays Inn, Grays Inn Road, London W.C 1

 

There are four institutions in London where one could study to become a

Barrister Grays Inn, Lincoln's Inn, Inner Temple and Middle Temple. They

are all within walking distance from each other.

 

Veer Savarkar joined Grays Inn on 26 June 1906. After completing his

studies he should have been called to the Bar on 5th May 1909. Sir Curzon

Wyllie of India Office was trying behind the scene to ensure that Savarkar

and Harnam Singh were not called to the Bar. This was a wicked act.

Savarkar did obtain references from two Barristers. From the secret files

in India Office, we know that Mr Douthwaite of Grays Inn called on Sir

Wyllie on 28 April.

 

On 13 May 1909 Mr Douthwaite wrote to Wyllie --

 

Harnam Singh is to be informed that no further proceedings will be taken

against him but he will be admonished by the Treasurer in the presence of

the Bench.

 

Savarkar is to be called on to answer three charges :-

 

(1) That by assisting in the circulation of pamplets and by taking part in

seditious meetings he incited the Nation of India to revolt.

 

(2) That he advocated assassination.

 

(3) That he expressed approval of assassination.

 

LIBERTY IS LEFT TO ADD TO THIS INDICTMENT OF COURSE WITH NOTICE TO HIM.

 

"Our enquiry will, I think, be held on 9th June."

 

"I will let you know when the date is fixed and it may be that I shall (if

you will permit me ) trouble you with another visit shortly with reference

to Mr Lint Smith's appearance and other matters "

 

"I expect that Harnam singh will be called next term. I shall be writing to

both students tomorrow."

 

Xxxxxxxxxxxxx

 

Savarkar was allowed till 22 May in which to frame his reply. The reply was

considered on the 26th May by the Benchers

 

The trial was HELD IN CAMERA. Therefore, evidence which would not have been

admitted in an open court was permitted. New charges were being added even

when the trial was half way through. Two official detectives who had

shadowed Savarkar for two years, testified. Their reports were submitted.

Letters by Savarkar in the possession of Government of India and those used

in the Nasik Conspiracy trial of Babarao Savarkar were translated and given

to Grays Inn. It is astonishing that every officer has remarked that these

papers from India DO NOT ADD MUCH TO THE CASE.

But still the Benchers went ahead with the farce.

 

Savarkar was examined by the Benchers on 9th June.

 

In the meanwhile, Sir Wyllie himself was shot dead by Dhingra on 1 July

1909. On 5 July ( Monday ) Indians held a meeting at Caxton Hall,

condemning Dhingra. Savarkar protested at that meeting. This naturally

affected his case. But, his letter was published the next day in the Times.

He emphasised that as the matter was subjudice, to use the words

'criminal' and 'criminal act' amounted to contempt of the court. Nobody

could argue against that.

 

After all this the benchers ruled on 14 July1909, " None of the charges was

proven. Savarkar is a permanent member of this society and would continue

to enjoy the privileges of membership. There was still suspicion about him

and as such he would not be called to the Bar as yet ( What happened to the

principle - innocent unless proven guilty ? ) He may be

called later if his behaviour is satisfactory."

 

On 23 July 1909 Savarkar wrote in his newsletter, " When it became evident

that the evidence was collected by the Government of India, it is clear who

was behind this episode."

 

Savarkar withdrew from Grays Inn in 1910.

 

******

 

(6) Bow Street Magistrate's Court, Bow Street, London W.C 2

 

This was built in 1879, i.e four years before the birth of Savarkar. From

Viceroy's telegram of 3 July 1909 it is clear that Bombay Government was

most anxious to proceed against Savarkar for conspiracy. Their request for

sending a Sikh deputy superintendent, Dyal Singh Gyani to London was

sanctioned by India Office.

 

Warrant of arrest of Savarkar under the Fugitive Offender's Act 1881 was

isued from this office at the request of Government of India, on 8 February

1910. Though Savarkar travelled on a passport issued by the Government of

India, he suddenly became a fugitive!! That is the British Rule of Law.

 

After Wyllie's assassination in July 1909 Savarkar could not find suitable

lodgings. He went to Brighton for a while, came to London for Vijayadashami

celebrations and went to Paris to recover his health. He had known about

this warrant through a sympathiser. Despite opposition from his friends he

decided to come to London, even though his health had

not recovered. He was arrested at London ( Victoria ) railway station on 13

March 1910 by Chief Inspector MacCarthy and Inspector Parker of the Special

Branch of the New Scotland Yard. As his health was poor it was decided by

his friends that one Miss Periben should accompany him on his journey. She

was a grand-daughter of Dadabhai Naoroji. On his arrest,

Savarkar pleaded with the police inspectors that he did not know the lady,

but as she was a lonely Indian woman he simply accompanied her and that she

should not be harassed. They agreed.

 

Savarkar was brought in front of Magistrate Sir A D Rutzen on 14 March

 

1910.

In the lower courts Mr Rowlatt ( infamous for the Rowlatt Act of 1919

pleaded for the Government of India, while in the upper courts it was Sir

Isaac Rufus who did the arguing. In february 1909 Rufus had declined to

accept Tilak's briefing for appealing to the Privy Council against his

sentence of transportation to Burma for 7 years.

 

Savarkar was eventually sent to India to stand for a trial.

 

10 years later Rufus was sent to India as Viceroy with the title Lord

Reading. During his reign Savarkar and his elder brother Babarao were

transferred from Andaman Islands ( Kalapani ) to mainland India.

 

In August 1909, Guy Aldred, an English sympathiser of Savarkar was brought

in front of this magistrate. He tried to publish the monthly Indian

Sociologist of Shyamji. It was proscribed in Britain. As Guy could not

produce a surety of 1,000 pounds ( 37,850 pounds in 1998 prices ) he was

committed for trial at the Central Criminal Court.

 

Many women suffragettes were sentenced in this court.

 

*****

 

Several (in)/famous court cases start here.

 

(7) Bow Street Police Station, Bow street, London W.C 2

 

This is next to the Bow Street Magistrate's Court. After his arrest

Savarkar was kept in one of the cells in the basement, overnight. He was

brought in front of the Magistrate the next day.

 

Deputy Superintendent John Power arrived at London from Bombay on 10th

April 1910 with necessary papers which he deposited with Bow Street Police

station. He escorted Savarkar on board ship ss Moria.

 

This police station is no longer in use.

 

******

 

(8) Present India House ( Indian High Commission ) Aldwych, London W C2

 

In the wake of Government of India Act 1935, this building was built as the

office of India's Agent in London. It was inaugurated by King George V and

Queen Mary on 8 July 1930.

 

Above the main door we find INDIA, on the right we see the letters Bharat

in Devanagri and on the left the letters Hindosta in Urdu. Urdu is of

course very important to us, the secularised Hindus. If we look up some

forty foot above these letters we see two Royal British insignia, intact.

 

Compare this with what happened in Hongkong on 1 July 1997. As soon as the

British rule there ended the Chinese removed the Royal British Insignia

from the British Governor's residence, within seconds of handover ceremony

and installed the Chinese emblem in its place. And we still preserve the

British Crown!!

 

On the front and the side of the building we see several circles which

contain symbols of our civilisation e.g. Peacock, Rising Sun, Swastika,

Snake, Indian Rhino.

 

****

 

(9) Pentonville Prison, Caledonian Road, London N 7

 

Two Indian revolutinaries went to the gallows here. Madanlal Dhingra on 17

August 1909, and Udham singh on 31 July 1940. Dhingra, a contemporary of

Savarkar assassinated Sir Curzon Wyllie, Head of the Secret Service of India

Office, London. Udham Singh assassinated Sir Michael O'Dwyer, Governor of

Punjab at the time of Jalianwala Bagh massacre at Amritsar in April 1919.

 

Dhingra wished that last rites according to Hindu Dharma should be performed

on his dead body and it should be cremated. Many Hindus petitioned to the

Home Secretary Mr Herbert Gladstone, that Dhingra's body should be handed

over to them, as Brahmins were prepared to perform the last

rites. This request was denied! THE LAST WISH OF A MAN SENT TO THE GALLOWS

WAS DENIED. His body was put in a coffin which was buried within the

prison premises. Many Indians condemned Dhingra but no one protested at this

barbaric act of the British Authorities.

 

Mr J S Master, representing The Parsee newspaper of Bombay, was the only

Indian admitted to the inquest. Afterwards, a reporter of the Daily Mirror

interviewed Mr Master. He asked, " Will Dhingra be considered a Martyr by

the Indians ?" Master replied, " Certainly. He has laid down

his life for his country's good. Whether his idea of this 'good' was right

or wrong is a matter of opinion."

 

How important was the assassination by Dhingra ? On 3 August 1909 Viceroy

sent a telegram from Simla to India Office, " It is understood that Madanlal

Dhingra is to be executed on the 17th August. If body cremated, undesirable

that ashes should be sent to India."

 

****

 

31 years later, the British Authorities behaved just as barbarously as in

1909. They refused cremation according to Hindu rites to Udham Singh also.

His body too was put in a coffin which was buried within the prison

premises.

 

Both men came from Amritsar.

 

Udham Singh's coffin was exhumed on 11 July 1974 and flown to India.

Madanlal Dhingra's coffin was exhumed on 12 December 1976 and flown to

India.

 

..****

 

(10) 191-195 Piccadilly, London W1

 

If we stand on the other side of the road and look up towards the top of

the building we can see the letters ROYAL INSTITUTE OF PAINTERS IN

WATERCOLOUR founded 1831. Swami Vivekanand delivered his lectures here in

May 1895 and May 1896. He was also given a warm send off in the same

institute on 13 December 1896. The institute moved to 17 Carlton House

Terrace, London S.W 1 in 1971.

 

Why did Vivekanand cause such a sensation in America in 1893 when he used

the words ' My brothers and sisters' ?

 

Public meetings/ assemblies used to be addressed with the phrase 'My Lords,

Ladies and Gentlemen' Those who had achieved the rank of Duke, Marquess,

Earl, Viscount or Baron are Lords. Their wives are Ladies. An Army or Navy

officer was called Officer and a Gentleman. During their

training they were called Gentleman cadets. Even their wives did not count.

And what about the rest of the 99% population ? They did not matter. In the

words of King Edward the VII they were 'the lower order'

 

It was in those days that Swami started his address with the words ' my

brothers and sisters' This was in Chicago in 1893 at the time of All

Religious Conference.

 

In this hall, Vivekanand met Miss Margaret Noble - who became his disciple

and took the name Bhagini Nivedita. Margaret Noble's grandparents were

involved in the Irish Home Rule movement.

 

Dr Jagdish Chandra Bose invented wireless at the same time as Marconi in

1895, but being an Indian was denied credit. He was, however, well known for

his discovery that plants have sensations and feelings just the same as

human beings. He used to come to Berlin and Paris to read his papers.

Afterwards Dr Bose and Mrs Abala Bose used to stay with

Margaret's mother in London.

 

When Margaret Noble went to work in Calcutta, she became an intimate friend

of the Boses.

 

Bose was knighted in 1916.

 

*******

 

(11) No.10 Warwick Street, London W1

 

Gyanchand Varma, the secretary of Abhinav Bharat used to live here. After

the death of Dhingra, Gyanchandji shaved and performed 'shraddha' ceremony

for Dhingra.

 

****

 

(12) Houses of Parliament, Westminster, London S W 1

 

A common site for tourists. Important events -

 

In 1875 Lord Salisbury, the British Prime Minister once declared in the

House of Commons, "We must bleed India. The lancets should be applied to

those parts where blood is thickest."

 

On 20 July 1906 Savarkar came to House of Commons to listen to the debate

on Indian budget.

 

On 6 August 1919 Tilak appeared before Joint Parliamentary Committee as a

witness on behalf of the Home Rule League of India. Lord Sydenham, former

Governor of Bombay province and other right wing leaders were so

discourterous as to leave the Committee Room as soon as Tilak was announced.

This was in the wake of forthcoming Montford political reforms

 

On 6 June 1984, we paid homage to Veer Savarkar in Committee Room number

10, on the occasion of his birth centenary.

 

(13) Foreign and Commonwealth Office [ Former India Office ] King

CharlesStreet, London S.W1

 

This is situated behind 10 Downing street, the residence of the British

Prime Minister

 

After the Indian War of Independence 1857, British Crown took over the

administration of India from the hands of the East India Company. This

building was the office of Secretary of State for India from 1858 to 1947.

 

Winston Churchill's father Randolph Churchill was Secretary of State for

India in 1885. Curzon was Under Secretary of State for India 1891-92.

Morley was Secretary of State for India when Savarkar was in London.

 

Savarkar came here on 18 June 1906 to see Sir Curzon Wyllie. He sought a

pass to attend the debate on the Indian budget, to be held in House of

Commons on 20th July.

 

India Office Library and Records

 

These were situated in the same buildings. They contained all the records

of the East India Company. By various Press Acts all authors were obliged

to send one copy of their publications to India Office Library and Records.

That was how the collection grew.

 

Savarkar did his research for his book 'Indian War of Independence 1857' in

this library. Indians were not easily admitted to the library in those

days. One Mr Mukherjee was married to an English woman. With his influence

Savarkar obtained a reader's card. He soon secured the confidence of the

librarian by condemning the Indian heroes of that war. The

librarian gave Savarkar much more information than otherwise was possible.

He showed Savarkar many secret and confidential documents which were not

normally available even to English gentlemen. Savarkar outwitted the

British. On 11 August 1909 the librarian was surprised to read in the

Times that Savarkar's book on 'Indian Mutiny' was proscribed by Government

of India. By that time it was too late.

 

Savarkar also learnt about Ramsing Kooka movement in Punjab in the 1870s

when going through some papers in this library.

 

Tilak used this library when in London during 1918-19. One Mr Thomas was

then the librarian.

 

The library & records moved to 197 Blackfriars Road, London S.E 1 in

1967-68. It has now became a part of the British Library and has moved to

its new location at 96 Euston Road, near St Pancras railway station.

 

If people walk towards St James's Park they can visit War Cabinet Rooms on

the left side. Churchill and his advisers had their offices underground

during the second world war.

 

****

 

(14) Caxton Hall, Caxton Street, London S.W 1

 

Caxton street was named after William Caxton who started the first printing

press in England in Westminster in 1476. Many stormy meetings took place

here.

 

1908

On 23 July Lokamanya Tilak was sentenced to transportation for 6 years to

Mandalay in Burma. The distance

Bombay-Cochin-Trivendram-Madras-Rangoon- Mandalay is 3000 miles ( 4,800 K.M

) whereas the distance between Paris to Moscow is only 1540 miles (2460 K.M

) Average life expectancy for male in BRITAIN in 1908 was only 48 1/2

years, much less in India.In 1908 Tilak was just 52 years of age. He reached

Mandalay on 23 September These facts give us some idea of barbarity of

the punishment. A meeting to condemn this action was held here under the

chairmanship of Barrister Parekh. Indians of all persuasions attended.

 

October 16

Three meetings were held

 

1st to express sympathies for the plight of Indians in South Africa. Sir

Mancharji Bhavanagari was in chair. Speakers were - Lala Lajpat Rai,

Savarkar, Saklatwala, Bipin Chandra Pal and Khaparde.

 

2nd to protest against partition of Bengal ( this was 2nd anniversary of

partition ) Lala Lajpat Rai was in chair. He explained how the New Party (

faction of Congress Party seeking direct action ) was born when partiton of

Bengal came into effect on 16 October 1905. Speakers were -

Dr Kumarswami, Karandikar and Khaparde.( both lawyers of Tilak )

 

3rd to celebrate Raksha Bandhan Bipin Chandra Pal spoke on this occasion.

 

December 20

 

Indian National Congress party was to hold its session in Nagpur. This could

not happen due to Government stubborness. It was therefore decided to hold

that session in London. Dadasaheb Khaparde, lawyer of Tilak was in chair.

Barrister Rana came from Paris. Seven resolutions were

passed.

 

1st 'we want swaraj' put forward by Dr Kumaraswami, seconded by Savarkar.

He said, ' before passing this resolution everyone should remember that it

means blood, sweat, toil and tears. Think carefully before you raise your

hand to support the motion'

 

2nd was on boycott of British goods

 

3rd one congratulated Turkey on its progress towards a democratic government

 

4th one related to independence movements in Egypt/ Ireland and Iran.

Egyptian secretary and Bipin babu embraced each other on stage.

 

5th one condemned Morley Minto reforms as insignificent / cheating and that

they will encourage the spread of internal disputes and quarrels. Bipin

babu spoke eloquently on this topic.

 

6th one was on Swadeshi and national education.

 

7th one stated that self appointed Madras Congress is NOT a National

Congress Party. Dominion Status will be totally unsatisfactory.

 

December 29th - Birthday of Guru Govind Singh was organised by Savarkar,

Despite the December cold, wind and snow many Indians attended. Bipin babu

was in chair. The speakers were Prof Gokulchand, Lala Lajpat Rai, Bipin

babu and Savarkar. Savarkar explained the meaning of the words '

Deg /Teg / Fateh.' Deg stands for principles, Teg for the sword and Fateh

for success. Principles however noble need the strength of force behind them

to succeed. That is why Guru Govind Singh took to sword to protect our

Dharma. Karaprasad was distributed at the end

 

1909 July

On 1st, Dhingra assassinated Sir Wyllie. A meeting to condemn Dhingra was

held in this hall on the 5th. Agakhan was in chair. The motion was proposed

by Bhavanagari and seconded by Amir Ali. Agakhan put the motion to vote.

After seeing many raised hands, he said that the motion was passed

unanimously. Savarkar protested and said, " No. not unanimously. There are

opponents of the motion as well. Take down my name - Savarkar. I oppose the

motion."

 

There was a great uproar. Bhavnagari became furious and wanted to get hold

of Savarkar and kick him out. Aga Khan reprimanded him. An Eurasian named

Mr Palmer hit Savarkar near an eye which started to bleed. But even then

Savarkar said, " I still oppose the motion" M. P. T. Acharya then hit

Palmer with a stick. Surendranath Banerjee expressed his anger. He said

'Savarkar had a right to have his say. It was outrageous to attack him'

Banerjee left the hall.

 

Women panicked and left the hall. Police rushed in and the meeting ended in

a disarray. Afterwards Savarkar wrote a letter to the Times and other

newspapers. He maintained that as the matter was subjudice, to discuss the

case in public and to use the words 'crime' and 'criminal' amounted to

contempt of the court.

 

Mr Khaparde, one of the lawyers of Tilak was present at this meeting. At

the same time he provided money for publication of Savarkar's book 'Indian

War of Independence'. It is time we learned such duplicity.

 

1919

Tilak addressed a meeting of Indians to protest against the Jalianwala Bagh

Massacre of 15 April 1919 and condemn the Rowlatt Act.

 

1940

On 13 March Udham Singh shot Sir Michael O'Dwyer, Governor of Punjab at the

time of Jalianwala Bagh Masacre of 1919 and avenged the Martial Law

atrocities of Brigadier General Dyer. At that time he also shot and wounded

Lord Zetland, then Secretary of State for India, Lord Lamington,

former Governor of Bombay province and Sir Louis Dane, Governor of Punjab

befor O'Dwyer

 

Lord Zetland was back to work within a few days. Sir Louis Dane and Lord

Lamington were ordered by doctors to take a long periods of convalescence.

Lamington died six months later. Dane survived for another five years.

 

******

 

(15) Imperial College - the site of former Imperial Institute, Imperial

Institute Road, London S.W 7

 

A clock tower is all that remains of the former Imperial Institute. The

rest of buildings were demolished and the present college built on the site

in 1960.

 

On 1 July 1909 Madanlal Dhingra shot and killed Sir Curzon Wyllie in

Jahangir Hall. The function was organised by National Indian Association.

Wylie had written a letter to Dhingra a few days earlier. He pretended that

he wanted to discuss contents of that letter. Thus he came very close to

Wyllie and shot him.

 

Before this day Dhingra had tried earlier to kill Lord Curzon, who was the

most arrogant of all Viceroys. But, fate saved Curzon twice. Dhingra then

decided to kill Sir Curzon Wyllie. It must be emphasised that it was not

killing another Englishman just because he had a similar name.

 

Importance of Wyllie

 

Lt Col Wyllie was Political A.D.C to Secretary of State for India since

1901. He was also head of the Sewcret Police, a fact not mentioned in

contemporary British newspapers. He was trying to get information about

Savarkar and the revolutionaries. They, in turn, tried the same. In his

newsletter Savarkar wrote, " There was hardly an Indian in England that

Wyllie did not know. He kept dossier on all .... British papers are

demanding that Indian detectives should be employed to keep an eye on Indian

students. What good will that do ? English detectives could not save their

own boss."

 

On 2 July 1909 Lt Col Sir Aurther Davidson, one of King's equeries went to

Lady Curzon Wyllie's residence in No.10 Onslow Square by command of the

King and Queen to convey an expression of their Majesties deep sympathy with

her in her bereavement ( Daily News 3 July 1909 )

 

At the funeral, the King was represented by Sir Dighton Probyn

 

A fund was launched for memorial of Wyllie. 2,300 pounds were collected

(about 92,000 pounds at 1998 prices) On 18 November 1909 Times reported

that the following have joined the General Committee :-

 

Viceroy of India, Lord Minto Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army Some

Governors

 

Sir Wyllie was a very high officer indeed.

 

· Kiling of Lalkaka

 

During the fight after the shooting, Lalkaka, a Parsee doctor was shot

dead by Dhingra. He deeply regreted that death. At the Coroner's inquest

Dhingra stated that had Lalkaka not come in way he would not have killed

him. He had no reason to kill him.

 

Indian revolutionaries never knowingly shot innocent Englishmen let alone

English women and children. Bengali revolutionaries, for example, never

threatened any English businessmen of Calcutta. Only the arrogant and

oppressive officers were their targets. They stood high above the

revolutionaries of other countries in this respect.

 

· Dhingra was wearing a blue turban.

 

· Winston Churchill and Lloyd George were surprised and admired courage of

Dhingra, in private ( How Savarkar knew this is a mystery. But he does

mention this fact in an article in

 

1927.)

 

 

****

 

(16) 108 Ledbury Road, London W11

 

Madanlal Dhingra once lived here.

 

Having decided his mission Dhingra left India House to show that he

disagreed with Savarkar. He took lodgings with Mrs Harris at above address.

He joined the National Indian Association which was trying to discourage

Indian students from the militant path. Important British dignitaries

attended their functions. Dhingra denounced Savarkar and other

revolutionaries in the company of appropriate persons. He was soon trusted

by Miss Emma Josephine Beck, the secretary of the National India

Association, and came to know timings of visits of important English guests

attending various functions. Eventually the opportunity came and Dhingra

took full advantage of it.

 

In his last days Dhingra had wished that his clothes, books and

belongings should be sold and the money thus raised be given to the National

Fund.

 

Government of India issued one rupee postage stamp in the memory of

Madanlal Dhingra in 1992.

 

 

***

 

(17) No.60 Talbot Road, London W11

 

Tilak lived here from August to November 1919. He went to British

Parliament to testify on behalf of Home Rule League of India. He also met Mr

C.D Deshmukh who stood first in the Indian Civil Service (ICS)

examination. Tilak told Deshmukh, " Eveyone is not cut for politics. After

independence we will require capable and experienced administrators. So, do

join the ICS." Deshmukh became Finance Minister in Nehru's cabinet in

1952.

 

A plaque was fixed om this house by the Greater London Council (GLC) in

1961. Sadly, the Westminster City Council purchased this and a number of

adjoining houses in 1975. Numbers 42 to 106 were all pulled down to make

way for flats. The plaque was returned to the GLC. At present house

numbers 57 to 97 are intact. There is a public park in front of houses 57

to 67. Please note that houses are given odd numbers on one side and even

numbers on the other.

 

*****

 

(18) No. 23 Aldridge Road Villas, London W11

 

Sardar Vallabhbhaai Patel lived here from October 1910 to February 1913,

when studying to become a Barrister at the Middle Temple.

 

****

 

(19) No.10 Howley Place, Maidavelle, London W 2

 

Lokamanya Tilak stayed in England from 30 October 1918 to 6 November 1919.

For the first ten months he lived at this address as a paying guest of the

Irish family Macnulty. Tilak came to London for his libel case against Sir

Valentine Chirol.

 

Chirol was the editor of the Foreign Department of The Times. He was sent

to India to find out whether the lull in the storm of Indian unrest

indicated a gradual and steady return to more normal and peaceful condition

or whether as in other cyclonic disturbances in tropical climes it merely

presaged fiercer outbursts yet to come. He wrote his book The Indian Unrest

in 1910. Chirol dedicated the book to Lord Morley, former Secretary of State

for India. Sir Alfred Lyall wrote an introduction to the book.

 

Tilak claimed that Chirol had made defamatory attack on his

personality. The case was to be heard in London.

 

Hearing began on 29 January 1919 and finished on 21 February 1919. In

reality the case became a battle between Tilak and Government of India. Sir

Chirol being its symbol.

 

On 21 February after a deliberation of only 27 minutes the Jury declared a

verdict for Sir Chirol. Tilak realised that it was futile to appeal. His

lawyer was Sir John Simon, who headed the Simon Commission in 1929.

 

In his book 'The Indian Unrest' Chirol, quite appropriately says on page

41, " If any one claim to be truly the father of Indian Unrest, it is Bal

Gangadhar Tilak."

 

*****

 

First World War had ended on 11 November 1918. In April 1919 Tilak had

prepared a representation to be submitted to the Peace Conference on behalf

of India. But the India Office returned it to him. He, therefore, applied

for permission to go to Paris. On being refused a passport to go to the

Peace Conference, Tilak sent a memorial, drafted by Baptista,

his lawyer, to M. Clemenceau, Premier of France and President of the Peace

Conference. He also sent a letter to American President Wilson. Tilak

claimed that like countries of Europe, India too, should have a right of

self determination. He got an acknowledgement from Wilson's

secretary.

 

Afterwards, Tilak spent his time in establishing contacts with British

politicians and waited till the Home Rule and Congress deputations arrived

in London. Frequently he went to Parliament Square to meet individual M.Ps

and other notables. Among them the members of the Labour Party.

He met George Lansbury, the Labour leader, who also ran 'The Daily

Herald'and published Tilak's articles in that paper. He also met the

Socialist leader Mr Hyndman ( he inaugurated the INDIA HOUSE in 1905 ), Mr

Rutherford and Col Wedgwood Benn [ father of famous Labour M.P Tony Benn .

Col Benn became Secretary of State for India in 1931.

 

Tilak donated 2,000 pounds ( 33,000 pounds at 1998 prices) to the Labour

Party. However, there was a landslide for the Tories in the General

Elections.

 

Rowlatt Act was passed in India in March 1919. Congress delegation arrived

in London in May 1919. With the help of Vitthalbhai Patel, Tilak changed

the functioning of the British Committee of Congress Party, in London and

the administration of the paper 'India'

 

Tilak visited the Royal Asiatic Society Library on many occasions.

 

Tilak visited Cambridge, Oxford, Birmingham, Bristol and some places in

Scotland and addressed Indian students. Subhash Chandra Bose being one of

them.

 

He left 10 Howley Place towards the end of July 1919.

 

A commemorative plaque was fixed on this house by the English Heritage

Society in 1988. Tilak's grandson Jayantrao Tilak unveiled the plaque on 29

October 1988.

 

_______________

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