Below pictures show a splendid sculpture of the Chapekar Brothers from Pune who gave up their life fighting the British:
If you are not from Pune/Maharashtra you might not have heard about these legendary brothers.
The Chapekar brothers, Damodar Hari Chapekar (1870–1898), Balkrishna Hari Chapekar (1873–1899) and Vasudeo Hari Chapekar (1879–1899), were Indian revolutionaries involved in the assassination of W. C. Rand, the British plague commissioner of Pune.
Chapekar family came from a traditional Maharashtrian Brahmin family and were rich and influential once in the past. Later the family had turned into poverty.
Chapekar brothers were ardent followers of Bal Gangadhar Tilak and influenced by his hardliner and nationalist thoughts. Bal Gangadhar Tilak is an icon amongst Indian freedom fighters and is also considered "Father of Indian Unrest" against the British rule over India. Many also consider Tilak as one of the original 'Hindu Nationalists'. Influenced by Tilak's ideals and in attempt to make true his visons, Chapekar brothers founded a secret organization called "Binashi Samity" in Pune.
When there was a Plague outbreak in Pune, in the late 1896; part of the "global Third plague pandemic". A Special Plague Committee was formed by the British under the chairmanship of Walter Charles Rand, a Civil Services officer. Mr. Rand, the "Plague Commissioner" and Lieutenat Ayerst treated Indian patients ruthlessly in the pretext of preventing the plague epidemic and were detested by local population. Stories of their atrocities on Indian population were commonly known. Chapekar brothers were enraged and thought to eliminate the two British officers as a lesson to the British.
Chapekar brothers shot Mr. Rand and Mr. Ayerst dead. this was perhaps one of the first such assassinations.
The British police got hold of Chapekar brothers and hanged them till death. The selfless and defiant sacrifice of Chapekar brothers helped spread the revolutionary spirit all across Maharashtra. Reference
Where else can we find examples of such brave revolutionary brothers who gave up their lives for their motherland?
Chapekar family came from a traditional Maharashtrian Brahmin family and were rich and influential once in the past. Later the family had turned into poverty.
Chapekar brothers were ardent followers of Bal Gangadhar Tilak and influenced by his hardliner and nationalist thoughts. Bal Gangadhar Tilak is an icon amongst Indian freedom fighters and is also considered "Father of Indian Unrest" against the British rule over India. Many also consider Tilak as one of the original 'Hindu Nationalists'. Influenced by Tilak's ideals and in attempt to make true his visons, Chapekar brothers founded a secret organization called "Binashi Samity" in Pune.
When there was a Plague outbreak in Pune, in the late 1896; part of the "global Third plague pandemic". A Special Plague Committee was formed by the British under the chairmanship of Walter Charles Rand, a Civil Services officer. Mr. Rand, the "Plague Commissioner" and Lieutenat Ayerst treated Indian patients ruthlessly in the pretext of preventing the plague epidemic and were detested by local population. Stories of their atrocities on Indian population were commonly known. Chapekar brothers were enraged and thought to eliminate the two British officers as a lesson to the British.
Chapekar brothers shot Mr. Rand and Mr. Ayerst dead. this was perhaps one of the first such assassinations.
The British police got hold of Chapekar brothers and hanged them till death. The selfless and defiant sacrifice of Chapekar brothers helped spread the revolutionary spirit all across Maharashtra. Reference
Where else can we find examples of such brave revolutionary brothers who gave up their lives for their motherland?
Chapekar Wada or Chapekar House:
The house of Chapekar brothers still exist today; called Chapekar Wada; in the same Chinchwad locality. I visited this wonderful house which is now converted into a museum:
Entry to this museum is free
I could simply walk into the main door
The view the house is amazing
It was indeed a wonderful visit to pay tributes to the great Indian revolutionary brothers...
- Rahul Tiwary | Chinchwad, Pune | Feb 2019
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