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TATTVA

DARSANA Quarterly

IN THIS ISSUE

Editorial:

Message and Mission of

Swami Vivekananda —Sadhu Prof. V. Rangarajan 2

Swami Vivekananda

—Prophet of Patriotism —Reviews in Journals 7

Book

INDIAN REVOLUTIONARIES

ABROAD —Sadhu Prof. V. Rangarajan 9

Glimpses Of A Great Yogi—Part II —Sadhu Prof. V. Rangarajan 57

Spiritual Basis of Patriotism —Sadhu Prof. V. Rangarajan 67

Saint Poet Ramprasad—His Songs

On Divine Mother –XX --Deba Prasad Basu 71

News and Notes 73

Front Cover:

Indian Revolutionaries Abroad

January-June 2014 Vol. 31, No. I & 2

Editor: Sadhu Prof. V. Rangarajan

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2 TATTVA DARSANA

Editorial

MESSAGE AND MISSION OF

SWAMI VIVEKANANDA

The Celebration of the 150th Birth Anniversary Year of Swami Vivekananda

all over the country and abroad has created a global wave of the message and

mission of the great patriot-monk who put India on the pedestal of the

preceptor of the world in the modern period. Leaving aside the lectures,

seminars, symposiums, public celebrations, cultural events and the spate of

articles in various journals all over the world in this connection, the year has

been marked with the publication of some valuable works which glorify the

life and achievements of the swami and the admiration that he has aroused in

the hearts of stalwarts in the fields of spirituality, education, literature, science,

history and politics.

“VIVEKANANDA—His Gospel of Man-making”, compiled and edited by

Swami Jyotirmayananda, Copies available at: Vivekananda Kendra

Prakashan Trust, 5, Singarachari Street, Triplicane, Chennai 600 005; Pages:

lxi+1000, Price: Rs.300/-

One of the outstanding publications brought out in the 150th Birth Anniversary

Year of Swami Vivekananda is “VIVEKANANDA—His Gospel of Man-

making”, compiled and edited by Swami Jyotirmayananda, sixth enlarged

edition released in January 2013 and the seventh edition in July 2013. A

veritable encyclopaedic volume of1000 pages consisting of five parts, the

book is the product of a laborious work of three decades with single pointed

attention and dedication on the part of the compiler and editor. The nucleus of

the work in the form of small booklet of 88+xvi pages, titled “The Man-

making Gospel of Swami Vivekananda” was published by Swami

Jyotirmayananda as early as 1980, and distributed by Sister Nivedita

Academy, Madras. However, the idea of bringing out a comprehensive

volume sprang up in the mind of the compiler in the year 1985 when Swami

Vivekananda Jayanti was announced as the National Youth Day by the

Government of India and the first edition of the volume appeared in 1986. The

subsequent four editions came out in 1988, 1992, 1993 and 2000. A synoptic

view of the book by K.P. Shivkumar, former Asst. Editor of Vivekananda

Kendra Prakashan Trust, Chennai, and the elaborate introduction by the

| January-June 2014 3 P a g e

compiler preceding the five parts of the book, give a bird’s eye-view of the

entire contents of the book. Part one of the book consists of three sections. The

first section is ‘Vivekananda-His Gospel of Man-making’, the second,

‘Vivekananda on Education and Religion—Interpretations and Allied

Thoughts’, and the third section, ‘Vivekananda The Man and His Mission—

Tributes’. Part two is ‘A Chronicle of Important Events in the Life and Times

of Vivekananda (1863-1902). Part three, ‘Vivekananda—A Voice Across the

Century’ carries the views of eminent writers, authors, statesmen and

sannyasis on Swami Vivekananda. Part four, ‘Winds of Change’ presents a

comprehensive picture of ‘Vivekananda and his impact on the western mind’

by Philip Goldenberg and tributes and homage to Swami Vivekananda from

Swami Ranganathananda, Sri Narendra Modi, Sri Rajiv Malhotra, and Sri

Tarun Vijay. Part five presents a selection of about eighty photographs

projecting a visual review of the evolution of Narendra into Swami

Vivekananda. Benedictions and appreciations of Swami Ranganathananda,

Swami Dayananda, Swami Tatvavidananda, Swami Muktananda, Sri Ananda

Shankar Pandya, Dr. M. Lakshmikumari, Sri M.V. Kamath and Dr. K.R.

Srinivasa Iyengar highlight the fact that this work is a rare and unique volume

to be preserved and presented to the posterity.

“Swami Vivekananda’s Vision and Indian Womanhood—The Road

Ahead” by Nivedita Raghunath Bhide, Published by Vivekananda Kendra

Prakashan Trust, 5, Singarachari Street, Triplicane, Chennai 600 005;Pages:

120; Price: 60/-

“The ideal woman in India is the mother, the mother first and the mother last.

The word woman calls to the mind of the Hindu, motherhood; and God is

called Mother”—these most inspiring words of Swami Vivekananda sum up

the Hindu ideal of motherhood. The book under review is an excellent study of

Swami Vivekananda’s vision of the Indian womanhood. In the first chapter,

‘The Path Travelled for Ages’, the author discusses the position of Indian

women during the period of the Vedas, Ramayana and Mahabharata and in the

later age of invasions. In the second chapter, ‘Deviations and Roadblocks’, she

discusses the deviations like child marriage, the purdah system that came into

existence due to Muslim influence, and Sati, etc., and the Western solutions

like women’s liberation and women’s empowerment which are alien to Indian

ethos. In the third chapter, ‘Road Ahead’, light is thrown on the ancient ideals

of family and social life based on the Ashrama dharma and the education of

4 TATTVA DARSANA

woman. This is a book which must go into the hands of every educated

woman in India.

“Swami Vivekananda: Praxis of Education” by Priya M. Vaidya,

Published by Vivekananda Kendra Prakashan Trust, 5, Singarachari Street,

Triplicane, Chennai 600 005;Pages: 104; Price: 60/-

Value oriented education is the bedrock on which the edifice of Hindu culture

and civilization has been built up through ages and the Macaulay’s system of

education introduced in the country during the British period has shaken the

very foundation of Indian education system. Our Rishis proclaimed, ”Yaa

vidyaa, saa vimuktaye”—“That which liberates is education” and stressed the

need for imparting the basic values of life based on the four-fold goals of life,

Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha, to elevate man from a mundane material

existence to spiritual realization. In the first chapter, ‘Basic Human Values—

Indian Perspective’, the author discusses the role of the Purusharthas and the

need for value based education. In the second chapter, ‘Spiritualism in

Education and Swami Vivekananda’s Approach’, she throws light on the

Indian standpoint of spiritual growth of man with special reference to Swami

Vivekananda’s ideals of spiritual education enabling man to manifest the

perfection within. In the third chapter, ‘Swami Vivekananda’s Thoughts on

Education’ the author emphasizes the man-making and nation-building ideals

propounded by the great monk. The last chapter, ‘Integration of Swami

Vivekananda’s Thoughts on Education—Its Relevance in the Modern Age’,

she discusses about a well-planned training programme for teacher educators

based on the thoughts of Swami Vivekananda. The work is a good guide to

those who aspire to reform the Indian education system.

“Reviewing Hindutva—A Historic Perspective in the Light of Swami

Vivekananda” by Manoj Shankar Naik, Published by Vivekananda Kendra

Prakashan Trust, 5, Singarachari Street, Triplicane, Chennai 600 005;Pages:

192; Price: 100/-

Justice J.S. Varma of the Supreme Court of India gave a historic judgment in

1995 in which he declared: “It is a fallacy and an error of law to proceed on

the presumption that any reference to Hindutva or Hinduism in a speech

makes it automatically a speech based on Hindu religion as opposed to other

religions or that the use of the word Hindutva or Hinduism per se depicts an

attitude hostile to all persons practicing any religion other than the Hindu

religion…and it may well be that these words are used in a speech to

emphasize the way of life of the Indian people and the Indian cultural ethos.”

The book under review is a very learned and authoritative attempt to present

| January-June 2014 5 P a g e

the ideal of Hindutva in the right perspective, especially in the light of the

thoughts of great patriots and savants of Indian nationalism, like Swami

Dayananda Saraswati, Swami Vivekananda, Sri Aurobindo and Swatantrya

Veer Savarkar . The book is divided into two sections, the Pre-Hindutva

Period and the Post-Hindutva Period. In the first section, the author discusses

the Indian legacy of spiritual oneness and the unique Indian concept of seeing

the beauty in other faiths, and rightly points out that enlightened Muslims like

Dara Shikoh, Poets Rahim and Rasakhan were inspired by the spiritual legacy

of the Hindus. However, in the post-1857 period, the seeds of the two nation

theory were sown in the minds of Muslims. Even as early as March 14, 1888,

Sir Sayed Ahmed Khan gave a speech at Meerut, referring to Hindus and

Muslims as two warring antagonistic nations. Even the earliest leaders of the

Congress took note of the Muslim separatism. Even before Savarkar wrote

Hindutva and the advent of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh reviving and

revitalizing the Hindu Rashtra ideology came into existence, Mahayogi Sri

Aurobindo wrote: “Our ideal is… an Indian Nationalism, largely Hindu in its

spirit and traditions, because the Hindus made the land and the people” and

declared “Sanatana Dharma is Indian Nationalism”. The Moplah Rebellion

and the Khilafat Movement were the turning points in Indian history which

spread the fire of communal fanaticism among the Muslims and even an

enlightened Muslim like M.C. Chagla pointed out that Gandhiji was wrong in

supporting the Khilafat Movement. The rabid fanaticism of the Muslim is

ingrained in the very Islamic scripture and Swami Vivekananda has pointed

out: “…there has not been a religion which has shed so much blood and has

been so cruel to other men. In the Koran there is a doctrine that a man who

does not believe these teachings should be killed; it is a mercy to kill him!

And the surest way to get to heaven where there are beautiful houries and

enjoy all sorts of sense enjoyments, is by killing these unbelievers.” In the

second section on Post-Hindutva Period, the author gives an elaborate and

profound exposition of the Hindutva ideal as propounded by Savarkar and

points out the absurdity in dubbing it as narrow and communal. He quotes

Savarkar's call to Muslim and Christian minorities: “Ye, who by race, by

blood, by culture, by nationality possess almost all the essentials of Hindutva

and had been forcibly snatched out of our ancestral home by the hand of

violence—ye have only to render wholehearted love to our common Mother

and recognize her not only as Fatherland (Pitrubhu) but even as Holy land

(Punyabhu); and ye would be most welcome to the Hindu Fold.” The author

points out that Vivekananda had no hesitancy in acknowledging the Mughal

rule in India as a rule of invaders and as such, the national leaders he had in

6 TATTVA DARSANA

mind were Guru Gobind Singh and Shivaji. Once Dr. M.C. Nanjundar went to

see Swamiji and the latter was singing a song on Shivaji. When the doctor

wondered how Swamiji was eulogizing Shivaji who was described by

European historians as a freebooter, upstart robber, marauder and murderer,

the Swamiji gave a rude shock to the doctor by telling him: “Shame on you,

Doctor. You are a Mahratta and still that is all you know of the greatest king

that India had produced within the last three hundred years; one who was he

very incarnation of Siva, about whom prophecies were given out long before

he was born; and his advent was eagerly expected by all the great souls and

saints of Maharashtra as the deliverer of the Hindus…” As confessed by Dr.

M.C. Nanjundar, he felt small, foolish and ignorant in the company of the

erudite swami who gave him a brief account of Shivaji. Upholding the view of

the Swami that Indians should rewrite the history of India, the author

emphatically declares: “Bearing all this in mind, the first corrective thing to be

done is that HISTORY SHOULD BE VIEWED FROM THE INDIAN

PERSPECTIVE BY BEING VERY CLEAR IN OUR DISTINCTION

BETWEEN INDIAN KINGS AND THOSE WHO INVADED INDIA. That

said, Indian Muslims should extend their whole hearted support in disowning

the brutal legacy of invaders if they sincerely feel that terrorism has no place

in Islam.” On the whole, the work is a masterly exposition of the fundamentals

of Hindutva.

“Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow” by K.P. Shivkumar, Published by

Ramalingar Panimandram, 72, Mount Road, Guindy, Chennai-600 032; Page

39. For Free Distribution.

This tiny booklet comprises of four thought provoking articles of K.P.

Shivkumar, published in Kisan World, a monthly publication of Sakthi Group

of Companies. The first article, ‘An Epic Enacted’ presents Swami

Vivekananda as Hanuman in the service of Lord Rama who incarnated as Sri

Ramakrishna in the modern age and just as Hanuman played his role in

rescuing Mother Sita from the clutches of Ravana, the swami played his role

in redeeming Mother India from the thraldom of British rule. The second,

‘Strength is Life’ highlights incidents from the life of Swami Vivekananda

wherein he had exhibited his invincible spirit of fearlessness and also presents

some recent incidents from the life of common men who have manifested such

will power in their actions. The third article, ‘Revive the Civilizing Values’,

stresses the need for value reorientation and restoration of our ancient wisdom

embedded in Vedas and Upanishads. The last article, “The Uniqueness of

India”, highlights the role of Mother India as the preceptor of the whole world.

| January-June 2014 7 P a g e

In the message of introduction to this booklet, Dr. N. Mahalingam, Chairman

of Sakthi Group, exhorts the youth to go through the ‘Chicago Address’ and

‘Lectures from Colombo to Almora’ by Swami Vivekananda.

SWAMI VIVEKANANDA

--PROPHET OF PATRIOTISM

Reviews in Journals

THE VEDANTA KESARI, JANUARY 2014:

SWAMI VIVEKANANDA --PROPHET OF PATRIOTISM, Edited by

Sadhu Prof. V. Rangarajan, Published by Sister Nivedita Academy,

Srinivasanagar, Krishnarajapuram, Bangalore 560 036. 2013, Paper cover,

Page 80+8, Price Rs. 25/-

‘Swami Vivekananda was indeed a phenomenon…’observes the Foreword to

this booklet, and Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose pays this tribute: ‘Reckless in

his sacrifice, unceasing in his activity, boundless in his love, profound and

versatile in his wisdom, exuberant in his emotions, merciless in his attacks, but

yet simple as a child’. Thirteen articles and extracts from Swamiji’s ‘Complete

Works’ make up this Commemoration Number on his 150th centenary. Many

of the articles are apparently reproduced from an allied publication Tattva

Darsana.

The author looks at Swamiji as the ‘Prophet of Patriotism’, not of religion.

Rationalists should have no problem in accepting Swamiji’s realistic view on

God, that humans and animals are God and ‘the first Gods we have to worship

are our countrymen. These we have to worship, instead of being jealous of

each other and fighting each other…’ He continues: ‘…God in the idol

changing dress several times, while the living Thakurs outside be shivering in

cold is mockery of worship’.

8 TATTVA DARSANA

Inspired by the ideal of Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyaya, Swamiji wanted to

mobilize ‘a corps of youth known for integrity and character and ready to

sacrifice everything for the sake of the Motherland’, says the author. This

should not be misconstrued as encouragement to violence or terrorism but as a

response to injustice and oppression. Freedom meant ‘physical freedom,

mental freedom and spiritual freedom…’ Swamiji was responsible for the

movement itself and his illustrious disciple Nivedita undertook the task

of working out the strategy to put this policy into practice. Some insight into

the freedom movement can also be found in the booklet.

‘Swami Vivekananda--Prophet of Patriotism’ will be useful in prompting the

youth to study the Freedom Movement in depth.

P.S. SUNDARAM, MUNBAI

PATHWAY TO GOD, July-September 2013:

Book Review: Swami Vivekananda--Prophet of Patriotism

This small and handy book, a collection of articles, mostly on Swami

Vivekananda and a few on Ramakrishna and Sister Nivedita, is a very proper

work to be published in the 150th commemoration year of Swami’s Jayanti.

The articles highlight the patriotism overflowing from the heart of Swami

almost all through his life time. Without any desire for power or fame, with

service to all the poor of the nation as his motto, not only did he do his best

but also inspired many young men to take up this work as their life’s motto.

Any young man, who reads this book will definitely remodel his life to spare

at least sometime for the service of the poor of this nation.

I hope the book reaches all the young men of this country and a band of

volunteers will arise to serve the nation by shaking off the thick slush of

material greed.

R.R. Vadavi

"Let people say whatever they like. Stick to your own convictions

and be assured, the world will be at your feet"

-- Swami Vivekananda

| January-June 2014 9 P a g e

INDIAN REVOLUTIONARIES ABROAD

SADHU PROF. V. RANGARAJAN

1. PIONEERS OF INDIAN REVOLUTIONARIES ABROAD

“Our Motherland is in search of freedom; She is in need of rebels who will

drown the enemy in the pools of their blood. Give me your blood – I will give

you your Independence!”

This bold and heroic call came from Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose in his

address to the soldiers of the Indian National Army on the occasion of the

“Martyr’s Day” celebrations on 22nd

September, 1944. As soon as the speech

was over a number of people rushed forward to sign in their own blood the

pledge of complete surrender of their own self. It was this final push given by

the Azad Hind Fauz of Netaji Subhas which made the British Empire fall and

crumble. Almost for 90 years since 1857, Bharat was giving a fight with the

British might when at a delicate moment, the British power came into

difficulties. But, in this long drawn armed struggle for freedom, it was the last

battle fought by the talented leader Netaji Subhas which ushered in the

freedom of Bharat.

The final blow given to the British Empire was the culmination of the efforts

of two centuries by a countless number of patriots and freedom fighters. After

their first defeat at the hands of the British in 1757 in Bengal, the Indian

people fought an un-interrupted series of hard and bitter battles over a stretch

of one hundred years. The history of this period teams with examples of

unparalleled heroism and self-sacrifice. Unfortunately for us, our forefathers

did not first realize that the British constituted a grave threat for the whole of

India and they did not therefore put up a united front against the enemy.

Ultimately when the Indian people were roused to the reality of the situation,

they made a concerted move and under the flag of Bahadur Shah in 1857, they

fought their last war as free men. In spite of a series of brilliant victories in the

early stages of this war, ill-luck and faulty leadership gradually brought about

their final collapse and subjugation. Nevertheless such heroes as the Rani of

Jhansi, Tatia Tope, Kunwar Singh and Nana Saheb made their appearance on

the arena of the War of Indian Independence.

10 TATTVA DARSANA

Forcibly disarmed by the British and subjected to terror and brutality, the

Indians lay prostrate for a while. But the fire of revolution was not

extinguished and in many parts of the country, net-works of revolutionary

movements started being spread. Some of the revolutionaries realized that the

situation inside the country was not congenial to their work and they went

abroad also with the hope of getting support from outside forces.

Rango Bapuji and Azimullah Khan in England

The Indian patriots’ move to countries abroad was seen even during the period

of the 1857 War of Independence. When Dalhousie had come to reduce all

India to a dead level, the grave of the Hindu Empire at Satara was trying to

raise its head. Obviously, therefore, the English annexed the Raj under the

pretext of failure of legitimate heirs, though the Maharaja had adopted in

accordance with the Hindu Shastras. Rango Bapuji, an excellent and loyal

man, was sent to lay the grievances of Satara before the ‘Home Authorities’. It

was at the same time that Azimullah Khan, the faithful and trusted ambassador

of Nana Sahib, the adopted son of Peshwa Baji Rao II of Brahmavarta,

reached London. Baji Rao died in 1851. Before his death he made a will by

which he bequeathed all the right of succession and powers of the Peshwa to

his adopted son, Nana Sahib. But the English Government announced that

Nana Sahib had no right whatsoever to the pension of eight lakhs of rupees.

With an argumentative and spirited dispatch, Nana sent Azimullah to England.

Shrimant Nana Saheb Azimullah

Both the emissaries, Rangoji and Azimullah, failed to achieve the object of

their missions—claiming the right of succession of the heirs of the respective

rulers. They started brooding over the means to achieve that which they were

| January-June 2014 11 P a g e

unable to obtain by petition or prayer. Their hearts filled with vengeance born

of despair, they were planning dozens of schemes for the attainment of their

objects. Rango Bapuji and Azimullah Khan held secret interviews with each

other in some London rooms. Though history cannot record the exact

conversation they held, it is as certain as anything that the map of the 1857

rising was being prepared by these two in London. After leaving London,

Rango Bapuji went straight to Satara, but it was not possible for Azimullah

Khan to go direct to Hindusthan. With the object of ascertaining the extent of

help and moral support that they could expect in the coming War of

Independence, Azimullah made a tour of Europe before returning to India. He

went to the capital of the Sultan of Turkey. Being informed that in the Russo-

Turkish war then going on, the English had been defeated in the important

battle at Sebastopol, he stayed for sometime in Russia. Many English

historians have a suspicion that Azimullah had gone there to ascertain whether

Russia would pursue the war against England in Asia, and if possible, to enter

into an offensive and defensive treaty. When the trumpet of National War had

been blown, all people openly declared that the Czar of Russia and all the

Russian army were ready to fight against the Feringhis, and this fact

strengthens the above suspicion. It is difficult to say where Azimullah had

gone after leaving Russia, yet from the mention in the proclamation of

Cawnpore, it would appear certain that he was trying to put through some

diplomatic scheme in Egypt also. So, Azimullah then completed his European

tour, and as soon as he reached Brahmavart, the whole political atmosphere of

the palace was changed. The eyes of Shrimant Nana Sahib, “excited like those

of a tiger, brilliant and fierce”, flashed fiercer, since the arrival of Azimullah,

from injured pride had shone more brilliant as he drank inspiration from the

words of Sri Krishna, “Therefore get ready for battle!”

Vasudeo Balwant Phadke who died in Aden

The defeat of Hindusthan in the First War of Indian Independence in 1857

sealed for the time being the fate of Bharat with a stamp of slavery, but

another grand attempt for Independence in which the dream of Indian

Republic was first conceived, was started within two decades after the War of

Independence. Vasudeo Balwant Phadke was the gifted genius who now

initiated the second revolution which in due course developed into the struggle

for the Republic of Free India. After his futile attempts to enkindle again the

spirit of patriotism and courage among the so-called educated classes,

Vasudeo Balwant approached and mixed with the illiterate and backward class

of Ramoshis. He raised a powerful organization of the Ramoshis. With a

12 TATTVA DARSANA

handful of his loyal associates, he raised the banner of revolt first in 1879, but

this uprising was suppressed by the British. The great revolutionary, caught

and condemned to life imprisonment, was transferred to Aden to rot in a

torture-house called prison.

However, he, who had taken the inspiration of his life from his ideal

Superman, Chhatrapati Shivaji, mustered all the courage to break through the

British prison and blow once more the trumpet of war against them. On 31st

October, 1880, he made his last attempt to escape from the prison in Aden.

There was some open gap in the roof over the cell.

Jumping out through that gap, he reached the main

gate before mid-night. In the early morning, with the

first streaks of dawn, he climbed over the high walls

of the prison and ran towards the city. With torn,

dirty clothes, without the knowledge of the local

language, without a farthing on his person, he

covered a distance of 17 miles. But he was soon

chased by the prison police and was dragged back to

undergo greater tortures. In 1883, in the month of

February, he expired as a result of monstrous

torturing by the British authorities. Vasudeo Balwant

2. KUKAS IN INDIA’S FREEDOM STRUGGLE

Kukas – Forerunners of Rash Behari and Subhas Bose

The flag of Indian Revolution fallen from the hands of Vasudeo Balwant was

lifted by a man from Punjab. This general was Sadguru Ram Singh Kuka. He

laid the foundation of a novel sect which came to be known as ‘Namdhari

Sampradaya’ or the ‘Kuka Sampradaya’. In the beginning the Sampradaya

looked like a purely religious sect, but in a short while, it took to the form of a

revolutionary organization. Sadguru Ram Singh was recognized as the

supreme leader of this sect.

The Kukas created powerful contacts with the Rajas of Kashmir and Nepal to

enlist their support to overthrow the British. They sent their emissaries to

Russia during the Second Afghan War, and thus became the forerunners of

many other patriots, namely, Rash Behari Bose and Netaji Subhas Chandra

Bose, who likewise sought foreign support for the emancipation of the

Motherland. The most prominent among the emissaries were Gurucharan

Singh, Ram Charan Tora, Narain Das, Maya and Shankar Rai. By the year

| January-June 2014 13 P a g e

1883, the Kukas and the Russians had established secret communication

network.

Kuka Ramsingh

Rani Jindan

It is clear from all available sources that many important parts of Punjab,

including Lahore, Multan and Rawalpindi were honey-combed with secret

conspiracies among the people and some of the leaders of the province to raise

the flag of rebellion against the British authority. Rani Jindan was the Queen

Bee of the revolt. She was the mother of Dalip Singh and was considered to be

a woman of determined courage. On 4th April 1849, the English came to know

of her communications, and hence she was sent to Chunar Fort with two

companies of infantry and cavalry. After a fortnight, i.e. on 18th April, 1849,

the news flashed out that the Maharani was missing although all her 18 lady

attendants were there. The Maharani reached Kathmandu, Nepal, on Sunday,

29th April, 1849. But the pressure of the Imperialists on Nepal made the

activities of the Rani quite difficult. The British again pressed the Nepal

authorities to put a stop to her activities. She was accordingly warned. Her

efforts did not stop till she was allowed to return to Calcutta where she met her

son, Dalip Singh, in April 1861. They proceeded to England where the

Maharani died in 1863, “prematurely old, well-nigh blind, broken and subdued

in spirit”.

Kukas who went to Kashmir and Nepal

In 1868, Hira Singh, one of Guru Ram Singh’s Subas was sent by the same

Guru to meet the Kashmir ruler. The Kashmir ruler ordered him to enlist a

regiment of Kukas and also appointed him to command it as a subordinate of

Col. Hukum Singh. Hira Singh returned to Guru Ram Singh and obtained his

permission to take 175 Kukas to Jammu. These men formed two companies.

They were suddenly dismissed as soon as the Maharaja heard an Englishman

saying that the British Government regarded the Kukas as enemies. From time

14 TATTVA DARSANA

to time, the rulers of Nepal flirted politically with the fugitives from British

India. Rani Jindan was given shelter, and even the British authorities realized

that Nepal would not surrender that prisoner except through war.

Many of the soldiers and leaders of the upheaval of 1857 including Nana

Sahib, Tatia Tope and Kunwar Sing had taken shelter in Nepal. The Kuka

contacts with Nepal are said to have developed since 1850 when Jang Bahadur

declared war on Tibet. Tibet was defeated. According to a treaty which

followed, the Tibetan authorities were made to surrender all the Sikh prisoners

of Lahore Darbar in their captivity. They were surrendered to the Nepal

authorities. When they reached Kathmandu, they began to train the forces of

Rana Jang Bahadur. It was under them that some of the Nepal regiments learnt

parade as well as fighting. The contacts of other Kuka Sikhs with the Nepal

authorities increased when Maharani Jindan stayed in their country.

In 1868, the same Hira Singh who recruited Kuka Soldiers for the regiment of

Kashmir also reached Nepal. He was encouraged by Jang Bahadur as the Rana

had done in the case of many other anti-British elements. Hira Singh and

Kishan Singh, both Namdharis, conveyed to Jang Bahadur various facets of

the Namdhari Movement. This was followed by the exchange of gifts.

The Britishers came to know of all these movements in the year 1871, and

they began to press the Nepal Government to stop the activities of the

Namdharis. There were about 16 Sikhs in the service of the Rana, all of whom

he dismissed. Jang Bahadur also disclosed to the British Resident that these 16

Sikhs were employed in “drilling the soldiers”.

The Premature Namdhari Revolt

On the 13th of January, 1872, some Namdhari followers were proceeding to

Bhaini, a sacred place of pilgrimage for them. There was a fair in the month of

Magh in this birth place of Sadguru Ram Singh. The road to Bhaini was

through Malerkotla State. One of the pilgrims somehow missed the way and

lagged behind. The solitary Namdhari was attacked by a number of Muslims

and beaten to the very bones. They fetched a cow sacred to the Namdharis and

before his very sight they killed the animal and sprinkled the blood on the

belaboured Namdhari. He however survived. Mad with rage, he ran down to

Bhaini and narrated his exciting experience in the presence of thousands of his

sect brothers, in the very hearing of Sadguru Ram Singh. The news of the

killing of ‘Mother Cow’ almost set the hearts of the Namdharis on fire. The

atmosphere became hot with impatience and excitement and the skies seemed

to be rent with slogans of revolution for religion. Sadguru Ram Singh was

| January-June 2014 15 P a g e

fully aware of the disastrous consequences which a revolt before the time was

ripe would produce and he advised his followers to regain their calmness and

balance. But those impatient hearts, layers and corners of which were

smouldering with the spirit of revenge could not be assuaged by the words

patience and wisdom. The Namdharis fired with the passion of revenge left

Bhaini to march on the fort of Malodh. After capturing everything in the fort

and driving away the officers in charge of it, the rebels now took the road to

Malerkotla. The news of the storming of Malodh had reached Malerkotla

much before these rebels. The State authorities got sufficient warning and time

to get ready to meet the rebels. Though there was an initial success for the

rebels, the State forces soon recovered their strength. The British Government

sent a fresh regiment under the leadership of Deputy Commissioner, Mr.

Caven, for the assistance of the State. The increased strength of the fighting

forces of the State cut off all hopes of the rebels and in the end 63 Namdharis

were captured at the place called Radh, on the border of Patiala State. Forty

nine of the rebels were huddled and tied together in batches of ten and fifteen,

fastened on to the cannon and blown off from the cannon mouths. A young lad

of thirteen years, whom Mr. Caven tried to bribe with the bait of life, pounced

on the Firanghi who insulted his Guru. The boy was cut to pieces the next

moment. The remaining Kukas were hanged on the gallows. Thus was the first

revolt of the Namdharis very cruelly suppressed by the British, but it could not

completely liquidate the sect of their love for the ideology. The authorities

realized that the fountain head of all this spirit of the Namdhari sect was

indeed the unique personality of Sadguru Ram Singh Kuka. Invoking the black

regulation No.3 of 1818, the British Government arrested him and deported

him to Brahmadesh.

Namdharis and Russians in Central Asia

On the 9th of May, 1879, the citizens of Kutta Kurghan, a border city of the

Russian Turkistan, found in their midst an old man of 75 years with light

complexion, aquiline features, large eyes, white beard and moustache, five feet

eleven inches tall—a fine and handsome specimen of a Sikh. He was the

Namdhari emissary named Gurucharan Singh of Chak Ramdas (Gujranwala),

who was carrying a letter written in Gurumukhi. This Namdhari messenger

met the Russian Officer, Major General Ibanov, at Samarkhand. An Indian

merchant trading in Central Asia helped the Russians to translate the

Gurumukhi letter into Persian. From Persian it was rendered into Russian.

This is how the first contact was made by the Namdharis with the Russians in

Central Asia. Gurucharan was received with great honour and, according to a

16 TATTVA DARSANA

secret agent of the British, he received from the Russians Rs.700/- in Russian

notes and silk choghas. A merchant called Jawala was ordered to entertain

him. The letter which he carried contained greetings from Guru Ram Singh,

referred to as “the Guru of chaste people writing fondly to the Russian Lord”.

It referred to the predictions of Guru Gobind and Guru Nanak which

anticipated the role of Russia in the emancipation of Punjab. It informed that

there were 3,15,000 Namdhari Sikh fighters who were ready to launch a

struggle against the British. It called upon the Russians to come forward to

protect the Indians. It said: “Ram Singh was the spiritual leader of 3,15,000

kukas, all brave soldiers. The tyrannical British Government had imprisoned

him. The British were afraid of losing Punjab to the Kukas. Their sacred

prophecies say: ‘Russians assisted by Khalsas would expel them’....”This

letter also informed the Russians that the English had made an offer to release

Guru Ram Singh by sending three Englishmen from England. But he had

refused saying that he wanted to be busy in his prayers, and that another

enemy of the English had already appeared. Major General Ibanov was greatly

impressed with the personality and bearing of Gurucharan Singh as a patriot

who wanted to see his country free.

It is quite clear from the secret files of the Government of India that

Gurucharan Singh was the most active Namdhari moving between Punjab and

Central Asia to persuade the Russians for giving help to the cause of the Sikhs.

On the 1st October 1879, he was again honoured by the Russians. It is difficult

to estimate how many times Gurucharan Singh visited the Russians. He must

have made a good number of visits between April 1879 and April 1881.

Besides Gurucharan Singh, the Russians and the Namdharis used a number of

other go-betweens to carry on their correspondence. In 1883, the British were

able to arrest a Hindu secret agent, Shankar Rai, who had been in the service

of the Russians for seven years. A number of letters were recovered from the

person of Shankar Rai. There were a number of Namdhari and Russian secret

agents involved in this game.

Bishen Singh Arora of Kabul, the Kuka Suba in Russia

Bishen Singh in Russian service was said to have command of several

regiments and some of the Kukas with him held high appointments. The career

and role of this Namdhari is shrouded in mystery. It seems the Government of

India could not obtain any direct evidence of his activities. They collected

whatever they could from various Kuka sources and their own secret agents

regarding the personality and character of this Namdhari. It was reported by a

police officer that Bishen Singh, along with several Kukas, had met the

Russian General at Bokhara. He was also contacting the Afghan leaders.

| January-June 2014 17 P a g e

Kukas were showing signs of activity. They were leaving for Russian territory

to enquire from Bishen Singh as to when the Russian invasion of India would

take place for restoring the Khalsa Raj. Dalip Singh was also reported to be in

Russia. The Kukas heard of these tidings with great excitement and performed

Chandi Path. They eagerly anticipated the invasion of India by Dalip Singh

along with Bishen Singh and the Russians.

The efforts of the Kukas to bring in the help of the Russians to free the

Motherland from the hands of the British never fructified. And, in the distant

Brahmadesh, away from his beloved land and devotees, the great General of

the Freedom Movement, defeated and despaired leader of the third battle in

the War of Independence—Sadguru Ram Singh—expired with a broken heart.

The Government crushed the activities of the Kukas with steam-roller of

oppression.

After the fall of the Kuka rebellion, the torch of the freedom movement passed

on to the hands of great revolutionaries like Maharshi Anna Saheb

Patwardhan, Shri Vishnu Shastri Chiplunkar, Lokamanya Bal Gangadhar

Tilak, Chapekar brothers, Shivaram Pant Paranjpe, Swatantrya Veer Savarkar,

Anant Laxman Kanhere, Shivarampant Raj Guru, and many others in

Maharashtra; Lala Har Dayal, Sardar Ajit Singh, Lala Lajpat Rai, Bhai

Parmanand, Bhagavati Charan Bohra, Bhagat Singh and Yashpal in Punjab;

Aurobindo and Barindra Kumar Ghosh, Pulin Bihari Das, Jatindranath

Mukhopadhyaya and Surya Sen in Bengal; Rash Behari Bose, Sachindra Nath

Sanyal, Yogesh Chatterjee, Vishnu Ganesh Pingale and Chandrasekhar Azad

in Uttar Bharat, and V.V.S. Iyer, Chidambaram Pillay and others in the South,

all of whom carried the flame to their respective places.

Savarkar , Shyamji Krishna Varma, Madam Cama, Lala Har Dayal,

Virendranath Chattopadhyaya, Dr. Khankoje, Manavendra Nath Roy, and

Raja Mahendra Pratap took the message overseas and rallied the Indian youths

in the far West and East from San Francisco to Shanghai, projecting the war

against the British on all international fronts and fields. The activities of the

Indian revolutionaries abroad were closely connected with the movements and

events at home. The organized revolutionary activities of Indians abroad, with

the avowed objective of Independence for the Motherland, started at the dawn

of the 20th century.

18 TATTVA DARSANA

3. REVOLUTIONARIES IN THE LION’S DEN

The India House

Shyamji Krishna Varma founded the Indian Home Rule Society in London, on

February 18, 1905, with the aim of securing Home Rule for India. Spending

more than a lakh of rupees, he purchased a house, 65, Cromwell Avenue, High

Gate, which came to be known as “India House”. Shyamji Krishna Varma was

born in 1857. He was a prodigy of Sanskrit learning and a scholar of Swami

Dayanand. He was also a lecturer at the Balliol College, Oxford. On his return

to India, he worked as Dewan of Udaipur, but he found it impossible to have

the freedom of action under the suspicious watch of British paramount. He

therefore left India and settled in London. It was there that, fired with the

ambition of acquiring complete freedom for India, he became an extremist

freedom fighter.

Shyamji started a journal, “Indian Sociologist”, to propagate the ideals of

freedom and revolution. It was to this “India House”

that Vinayak Damodar Savarkar went and once in it,

he became part and parcel of Shyamji’s heart and

home. Another fiery youth Lala Hardayal, who came

to Oxford with a Government scholarship, soon

joined , abandoning his English education as well as

his English dress. The twin souls of Shyamji Krishna

Varma moving in two external forms became the

magnetic centre of attraction and activity in the years

to come.

Shyamji Krishna Varma

Abhinav Bharat Extended to London

As soon as came to stay in India House and settled down in the climate of

London, there was a marked change in the air and atmosphere of the Indian

students in London. These students, who otherwise indulged in pleasure and

pastimes, were drawn towards the thoughts of Mother India. It was Savarkar

who first voiced the slogan of Swarajya. He directed everything that happened

in India House where Indian students could find a secured shelter on their

landing on the shores of England. He injected in their minds the thoughts of

revolution and these students got attracted to the secret revolutionary

organization of “Abhinav Bharat”.

Lala Hardayal, a Punjabi Kayasth, had gone to England for higher studies. A

boy of uncommon intellect, Hardayal, with his brilliant record from his early

| January-June 2014 19 P a g e

school days right up to his M.A. Degree, had secured a Government

scholarship and proceeded to Oxford. He had soon become the most loved of

the Indian students in Oxford. The very first meeting of Lala Arrayal and

Savarkar in London turned out to be a revolutionary one for Hardayal. He took

a pledge of extreme penance for the liberation of the Motherland and became a

member of Abhinav Bharat. He walked out of the Oxford University

abandoning the English education as well as the English dress. In a simple

Kafian (gown) and dhoti, this young man began to move in London.

Savarkar Lala Har Dayal Senapati Bapat

Savarkar and Hardayal, the twin angels of the revolution, created a spirited

atmosphere in the Indian circles in England. India House became a haven of

Indian revolutionaries in London. The tunes of the inspiring song “Vande

Mataram” started resounding in the heart of England annoying the British

Government. The Abhinav Bharat members in the India House had established

close contacts with the revolutionaries of Russia and Ireland. By the end of

1906, Savarkar had completed his book, “Joseph Mazzini”. In June 1907, his

elder brother, Ganesh alias Baba Rao Savarkar published it in India. This was

the book which enkindled innumerable hearts with passion for freedom.

Pandurang Mahadeo Bapat came to England with Mangaldas Nathubai

Scholarship of Bombay University for higher studies in England. When it

became difficult to retain the scholarship on account of his extremist political

views and activities, Bapat secured the support of Pandit Shyamji Krishna

Varma on the recommendation of Lokamanya Tilak. This naturally introduced

Bapat into the India House of which Savarkar was the moving spirit. Bapat

20 TATTVA DARSANA

became attracted towards Savarkar in the very first meeting and at once turned

into a member of Abhinav Bharat. Savarkar entrusted to him the work of

securing the secret knowledge of bomb infrastructure from Russian Nihilists.

Bapat went to Paris to fetch the bomb manual and after his return, he was

advised by Savarkar to disseminate the same among revolutionaries in

different centres in India. On reaching India, Bapat began to impart lessons on

this new art to revolutionaries in India. Hem Chandra Das and Motilal Varma

had also brought separately copies of this bomb manual to India.

Fiftieth Anniversary of the ‘1857’-- Indian War of Independence

On 8th May, 1908, the “India House” wore a festive look. The 50th

anniversary of the First War of Indian Independence was being celebrated on a

grand scale. A mammoth gathering of Indians – men, women and children

and people belonging to different walks of life – was there participating in the

programmes of their national festival at the India House, which was

illuminated with lights and decorated profusely with flowers. Doctors,

Barristers, Editors, University Professors, Merchants, Jewellers, men, women

and children, spontaneously vowed to observe a month of ‘sacrifice’ for the

cause of freedom. Never had the Londoners witnessed so great enthusiasm and

such a grand gathering of Indians in the distant city so far away from the

Motherland. It was in the same year that Savarkar engaged himself in research

and in writing his famous work, “The First War of Indian Independence”. The

book alarmed the British Government and, for the first time in the world

literary history, had the unique privilege of being proscribed by the

Government even before it was published. Savarkar himself has revealed in

his organ, ‘Talwar’, coming out from Paris, the motive of his writing the

history. He wanted to rouse the passion in the Indian people for a second War

of Indian Independence and he found the heroes and martyrs who had

sacrificed their blood and bodies on the altar of freedom to

be the best mouths to preach the gospel of revolution.

This inspiring work, which fanned the fire of revolution in

the hearts of many a patriot in India and abroad, was

originally written in Marathi. The well-known

revolutionary of Tamil Nadu, Sri V. V. S. Iyer, who was at

the time in India House with Savarkar, translated the work

into English, and the first edition was printed in Holland.

V.V.S. Iyer

Later editions were brought out with profound regard by revolutionists like

Hardayal, Sardar Bhagat Singh and Subhas Chandra Bose.

| January-June 2014 21 P a g e

London now became the hot centre of revolutionary activities. The prime

movers in the national movement became victims of British intelligence

hounds. Shyamji Krishna Varma therefore shifted his headquarters to Paris.

Paris then became the beehive of revolutionary life.

Madan Lal Dhingra’s Martyrdom

The Government arrested Baba Rao Savarkar in India, on 28th February 1909

on a hollow excuse of possessing some seditious poems and on the charge of

an attempt to revolt against the King. Baba Rao Savarkar was tried and was

convicted even without a semblance of convincing evidence. He was

sentenced on June 6, 1909, to life imprisonment and transportation under

section 121, together with the confiscation of all his property.

It was ten days after the conviction of Baba Rao Savarkar in India that an

incident took place in London which opened wide the eyes of the British

administration. On the 1st of July 1909, there was a meeting in Jehangir Hall in

London. Sir Curzon Wyllie, Adviser to the Secretary of State in India, was

present in the hall. A young patriot, Madanlal Dhingra, came forward to beard

the lion in his own den and took revenge of the conviction and sentence of

Baba Rao Savarkar in the very heart of the British Empire.

Madan Lal, son of Dr. Sahib Dida Mal, had his early education at Amritsar

and Lahore. He was sent to England in 1906 where he joined the University

College, London, as a student of Engineering. He resided in the India House

founded by Shyamji Krishna Varma for six months in 1908 and regularly

attended the meetings of the Indian revolutionary patriots at the India House.

He was considered to be a “softy” and a “butterfly” by his friends but he was

enrolled as a member of “Abhinav Bharat” and initiated into the revolutionary

cult by Savarkar. On the fateful day, Madanlal presented himself at the

function in Jehangir Hall. He had a six barrelled pistol in his pocket. The

function was over. Curzon Wyllie was just having his round of courtesy talks

with several people. He approached Madanlal, his friend’s son, and opened his

mouth to talk. Within a trice of a second Madanlal switched his pocket pistol

and shot at Curzon Wyllie at point blank range. Wyllie collapsed on the

ground and breathed his last. The news created a sensation all over Europe,

U.S. and India and stirred the feelings of revolutionaries in London.

Dhingra was arrested and tried in court. He engaged no advocate to defend

him. The judge asked him for his self-defence. Dingra demanded the

22 TATTVA DARSANA

production of his statement which was in his pocket at the time of his shooting

and which was taken away by the police. He wanted the statement to be read

in the court, but the court dared not do that. Dingra boldly declared that he did

not recognize the authority of the court over him. The judge then sentenced

him to death. To the judge he addressed thus: “I am proud that I have been

honoured in having this chance of sacrificing my life for the good of my

sacred land”.

Though Dhingra was removed from the stage of revolutionary politics, he had

left a legacy behind. His statement was a gift to the nation. Shyamji Krishna

Varma wrote a long letter to the TIMES praising

Dhingra as a martyr and approving of his deeds. As a

result of Shyamji’s propaganda, Dhingra and Wardani

were linked up in a spirited poem by El Gayab,

national poet of Egypt. He was however punished by

the Government for sedition. Lala Hardayal brought

out from Paris the journal “Bande Mataram”, in which

he paid a glowing tribute to Dhingra. Savarkar

immortalized Dhingra by starting his journal ‘Madan

Talwar’ from Berlin in memory of the patriot.

Madanlal Dhingra

Curzon Wyllie’s end was the outcome of the reaction in London of the action

taken against Baba in India. But at home, in India itself, a young

revolutionary, Anant Laxman Kanhere belonging to the Abhinav Bharat circle

of Aurangabad claimed vengeance by assassinating Jackson, one who was

actually responsible for the arrest of Baba and the cruelty inflicted on him.

Krishnaji Keshav Karve and Vinayak Deshpande offered to assist Kanhere in

his plan.

21st December 1909 was fixed for the act. A drama was arranged in honour of

Mr.Jackson, Collector of Nasik, who was on a transfer, at the Vijayananda

Theatre, Nasik. The Kirloskar Dramatic Company was to enact their most

popular play, ‘Sharda’. When Mr. Jackson reached the theatre and was

proceeding to take his chair, Anant jumped in his front and fixed his revolver

punching the body of Jackson. After performing his task, he tried to end his

own life too, but failed. He was arrested at the very next moment. Due to the

betrayal of one Ganu Vaidya, an infiltrator into the Abhinav Bharat branch,

the conspiracy was exposed and 37 youths were arrested. All were sentenced

to different terms of imprisonments in the Nasik Conspiracy Case. Kanhere

was hanged along with Karve and Deshpande, on 19th April, 1910.

| January-June 2014 23 P a g e

Savarkar’s Leap into the Sea

Savarkar apprehending serious repercussions of this event was in Paris. But

the news of arrest and torture of his near and dear ones made him restless, and

in spite of the restraints of Madam Cama and Lala Hardayal, Savarkar decided

to go where his friends and relatives were suffering. As soon as he reached

London, he was arrested. Sri V. V. S. Iyer and some Irish revolutionaries made

an unsuccessful attempt to get Savarkar out of prison. What otherwise should

have succeeded, was defeated by the irresistible decree of destiny. The

Government saw his hand in the Nasik conspiracy. To see that was carried to

India without any incident, the authorities ordered and arranged to take him to

India in a heavily guarded vessel with specific instructions that it should not

touch any port of the voyage, except for fuelling.

The ship was nearing the Port of Marseilles. Feigning a call of nature,

Savarkar entered the latrine. Next moment he threw his garment on the glass

so as to screen the reflection of what he was going to do. He then hurled his

body through the port-hole and leapt out into the lashing waves of the ocean.

With his scratched front and back, burning the more on account of the salt

water, he rode triumphantly over the waves for more than half a mile. The

guards soon realized that their bird had flown from the cage. A volley of

bullets chased the swimming lion, but he had by then gone beyond their range.

He reached the shore and started running towards the harbour town. He was

indeed free on the French land. Forty English officers and members of the

Scotland Yard were after him. Savarkar presented himself before a French

policeman and asked him to take him to a magistrate. The English officers

who reached there silenced the French policeman with some gold coins.

According to a pre-arranged plan, Madam Cama and Sri V. V. S. Iyer were to

meet him there and they reached the spot. Without knowing all the drama

going on there, they were waiting two furlongs away with a car and

unfortunately they were a little too late. British police dragged Savarkar back

to their ship.

He was brought to India, tried in court and on 22nd

March 1911, he was

sentenced to 50 years imprisonment and sent to the black water islands of

Andaman. Patriot, poet, philosopher and prophet too of freedom, Savarkar was

least perturbed. Bold and prophetic words came from Savarkar: “Why worry?

Fifty years! Is the British rule going to survive these fifty years?”

24 TATTVA DARSANA

4. MADAM CAMA AND SISTER NIVEDITA

Madam Cama

"Queen Bee" of the Indian revolutionary movement—Bhikaiji Rustum

Cama— extolled by some as the 'Indian Princess' and some others as the

'Mother of Revolution' was popularly known as Madam Cama. A few Indian

patriots and Madame Cama prepared a tricolour flag in Paris in the year 1905.

This flag was first hoisted in Berlin in 1905 and was later used in Bengal in

1907. Its colours were green, saffron and red arranged horizontally. The green

strip had eight lotuses, 'Bande Mataram' in Devanagari script was inscribed on

the saffron strip in the middle, and on the red strip there was the sun on the

extreme left, and a little away from the centre on the right was the crescent.

Hoisting the flag, Madam Cama gave a clarion call: "This flag is of Indian

Independence! Behold, it is born! It is already sanctified by the blood of

martyred Indian youths. I call upon you gentlemen, to rise and salute the flag

of Indian Independence." As soon as she finished her speech, all the delegates

attending the International Socialist Congress at Stuttgart in Germany in the

year 1907, stood up in utmost reverence and saluted the flag.

Madame Cama was born in a middle class Parsi family in Bombay in the year

1861. As a young girl she evinced keen interest in the country's independence

movement. Her anti-Government activities caused much concern to her father,

Premji Sorabji Patel, who, in order to keep his daughter away from her

moorings, got her married to a rich man's son, Rustom K.R. Cama, on August

3, 1885. Mr. Cama was a solicitor at Bombay. Destiny had its way. The

compulsions and coercions of her husband failed to bear any fruit and like the

great poet-saint Mira who renounced the palatial life and a royal husband for

the sake of her beloved Lord, Giridhari, our heroine Madame Cama also

parted company with her rich husband to dedicate herself at the altar of

Mother India.

When once plague broke out in an epidemic form in Bombay, Madame Cama

threw herself day and night in the service of the people affected. As a result,

she herself contacted the cruel disease and though she escaped from the

clutches of death, her health had very much deteriorated and on the advice of

her dear and near ones she left for Europe in the year 1902 to take rest and

recoup her health. Spending a year in countries like Germany, Scotland and

France, Madame Cama reached London in 1905. She underwent an operation

which improved her health. Resuming her political activities, Madame Cama

served for about a year as a Private Secretary to Dadabhai Naoroji who was

| January-June 2014 25 P a g e

then in England. This also helped her to get acquainted with a number of great

scholars and nationalists. Madame Cama soon made her mark as a powerful

orator championing the cause of Indian Independence and the people in

London were surprised to see her brave and courageous fight with the lion in

its own den. Though she did not pay any heed to the notice of the British

Government to quit England, when she came to know of an attempt of the

authorities to shoot her, she cunningly escaped into France by secretly

crossing the English Channel. Madame Cama received a warm welcome from

the Socialist leaders of France. The small house which she was occupying in

Champs Elysees soon turned into a fortress of revolutionaries from different

countries. Besides Indian revolutionaries like Senapati Bapat and Hem

Chandra Das, the Russian revolutionaries like Lenin also visited her house.

Savarkar was a constant source of solace and inspiration to her. Lala Har

Dayal, who migrated from England to France took over the responsibility of a

new journal, The Bande Mataram, which was inaugurated in September, 1909.

Madame Cama devoted her time to the publication and distribution of The

Bande Mataram. She also arranged for the training of Indian revolutionaries

by their Russian counterparts, in the art of bomb manufacture. Through the

columns of the Indian Sociologist published by Shyamji Krishna Varma, her

appeals reached India and there occurred a number of incidents of bomb

throwing in different parts of the country. After the Stuttgart Conference,

when Madame Cama went to U.S.A., she spent about a whole year in hectic

propaganda for the cause of Indian Independence. In 1908, when Sri V.D.

Savarkar organized a festival in India House to commemorate the fiftieth

anniversary of the First War of Indian Independence, she donated a handsome

amount to the fund for the heroes and martyrs of 1857. She also personally

undertook the work of publication and sale of the famous work of Savarkar,

"The First War of Indian Independence (National Rising of 1857)", which

was printed in Holland and which became the Bible of Indian revolutionaries.

One of the outstanding adventures of Madame Cama was her attempt to save

Savarkar from the hands of British imperialists. Savarkar was arrested in 1910

in London in order to be implicated in the famous Nasik Conspiracy Case.

Madame Cama's close associates like Sri V.V.S. Iyer and the Irish

revolutionaries made an unsuccessful bid to get him out of the Brixton Gaol.

Champion of the Cause of Entire East

Madme Cama championed the cause of the entire East, the Egyptians, the

Turks, the Persians and the Chinese. Their revolutionaries used to meet her for

26 TATTVA DARSANA

help and sympathy. The History Sheet of M. Cama tells us: "On the afternoon

of August 17, 1910, V.V.S. Iyer with Rana and Chattopadhyaya, was at M.

Cama's house, in Champ Elysees all the afternoon till 9 p.m. Apparently they

were arranging for Iyer’s departure from Paris. He left very quietly on the 24th,

his luggage being brought to the station by Har Dayal from Cama's house, to

which it had been previously removed from his hotel." Now Iyer left for Egypt

where he disguised himself as a Muslim Fakir. From there he went to Ceylon,

thence to Pondicherry to meet Shri Aurobindo. Here the police found him out

so that when he stirred out of Pondicherry they took him away. Ferid Bey, the

Egyptian nationalist, and M. Cama were then arranging for cooperation

between the Indian and the Egyptian nationalists for a conference. Another

item of the History Sheet says: "On August 22nd

Miss Perrin Naoroji who was

found travelling with when the latter was arrested at the Victoria Station,

returned to Paris. Har Dayal called on her the same day and they went over

together to M. Cama's where several Egyptians joined them and remained for

some time. She left for India in December, 1910. Perrin was constantly in M.

Cama's company. She imbibed M. Cama's revolutionary ideas." She admired

and respected Har Dayal. The two exchanged letters when the latter was

staying at Algiers.

Madam Cama Sister Nivedita

Madame Cama wanted to return to India to spend her last days. Sir Cowasji

Jehangir took up the case of Madame Cama with the Home Department. The

British government agreed to allow her to return to India on condition that she

should furnish a bond of good behaviour. At first, Madame Cama refused to

abide by the condition, but on the persuasion of her friends and admirers, she

reluctantly agreed to it. She fell seriously ill before she reached the shores of

her Motherland. She was taken in a bed-ridden condition from Bombay port to

| January-June 2014 27 P a g e

Petit Hospital where she languished for eight months till she died on August

13, 1916.

Sister Nivedita and Indian Revolutionaries Abroad

Miss Margaret Noble, born in a family of Irish Revolutionaries, came under

the influence of the patriot-monk, Swami Vivekananda, and turned into

Nivedita, the illustrious disciple of the Swami and his shaft in India’s freedom

struggle. Sister Nivedita, the embodiment of the ideal of spiritual nationalism

propounded by Swami Vivekananda, had taken up, at the behest of the Swami,

the task of liberating the country from the thraldom of alien rule.

Bhupendra Nath Dutta, younger brother of Swami Vivekananda, has recorded

that Swami Vivekananda, after his return from the West the second time, told

a gentleman who visited him at Belur: “What India needs today is a Bomb”.

He had also confessed: “I had the idea of forming a combination of Indian

Princes for the overthrow of the foreign yoke. For that reason, from the

Himalayas to Cape Comorin, I have tramped all over the country. For that

reason, I made friends with the gun-maker, Sir Hiram Maxim.” He uttered this

before his demise in 1902 and in 1908 the bomb made its appearance in

Bengal. The fact that Swami Vivekananda directly influenced the Indian

revolutionary movement in the cause of achieving freedom is borne out of the

statement that Mother Sarada Devi made sometime after the passing away of

the Swami: “Had Naren been living now, he would have been in Company’s

jail”. The renowned biographer of Swami Vivekananda, Romain Rolland,

says: “If the generation that followed saw, three years after Vivekananda’s

death, revolt of Bengal, the prelude to the great movement of Tilak and

Gandhi, if India today has definitely taken part in the collective action of

organized masses, it is due to the initial shock, to the mighty ‘Lazarus, come

forth’, of the message from Madras.”

In the middle of June 1899, Nivedita left for England with Swamiji. Later she

proceeded to America on a lecture tour with a view to raise funds for her

school. During her visit to Boston, she met the great Indian patriot, Bepin

Chandra Pal. In America, she gave up her western dress and took to simple

and graceful gown of white flannel with a girdle fastened to the waist. From

America she went to Paris. When Nivedita returned to England, she had to

face the vile propaganda of British imperialists and Christian missionaries

28 TATTVA DARSANA

against her, but this only kindled the revolutionary spirit in her. In 1902, when

she returned to India, she experienced the joy of returning to her own

Motherland and at a reception accorded to her at Madras, she proclaimed to

the Indians at the top of her voice: "Just as it has been realized already that in

religion you have a great deal to give and nothing to learn from the West, so

also in social matters it will be well to understand that what changes are

necessary, you are fully competent to make yourselves and no outsider has the

right to advise or interfere." Her speech won her the admiration and blessings

of her Master, but aroused the anger of the British Government who black-

listed her name, deputed C.I.D. officials to shadow her and censored her

letters.

With Indian Revolutionaries Abroad

In 1907, Nivedita left for England to set a favourable atmosphere for Indian

Independence through meetings and interviews with British Parliamentarians

and writings in British journals. One important work of Sister Nivedita was to

organize the publication of revolutionary journals from outside India,

arranging for their secret distribution in India and organizing the Indian

revolutionaries who were scattered abroad.

On September 26, 1908, Nivedita left England for America where she met

Bhupendra Nath Dutta, Tarak Nath Dutta and other revolutionaries in exile.

According to the famous writer, Girija Shankar Roy Choudhary, Nivedita was,

during this tour, collecting funds for the rehabilitation of revolutionaries in

exile and she had a plan to purchase a building at Chandranagar in the French

territory in India, to enable these revolutionaries to settle down there and carry

on the activities.

If Madame Cama had hoisted the Indian National Flag in International

Socialist Congress at Stuttgurt in Germany in 1907, Sister Nivedita presented

a National Flag in 1905 at the time of Benaras Session of the Congress and at

the time of Calcutta Session in 1906, she organized a Swadeshi Exhibition in

which the Nivedita Girls' School exhibited the 'National Flag'. The flag chosen

by Nivedita for the country was nothing but the saffron 'Bhagava Dhwaj',

which stood as the symbol of the hoary culture, heritage and nationalism of the

country. And on the flag was portrayed in yellow colour the Vajraayudha,

reminding the people that the great Rishi Dadheechi donated his back-bone to

the Devas for making a weapon to fight the Asuras and it was now for the

| January-June 2014 29 P a g e

people to sacrifice their all at the altar of the Mother in this fight against

British imperialism.

Madam Cama’s Flag Nivedita’s Flag

4. THE GADAR PARTY

The “Gadar” Movement

Though the fire of patriotism kindled by the revolutionaries in India seemed to

have cooled down, it was not completely extinguished. It was now spreading

outside the country from Shanghai to San Francisco. Lala Hardayal had

returned to England after the Alipore Bomb case. Lala Hanwant Sahay, a

wealthy trader and social reformer who got inspiration from Sri Aurobindo

Ghosh, financed the activities of Hardayal in England. Hardayal was from

time to time guiding the destinies of a national school, which Sahay had

organized in Old Delhi for recruiting young revolutionaries. Soon this school

and other centres of revolutionary activities got an efficient leader. He was

Rash Behari Bose. After an extensive tour in the north, he brought the various

revolutionary organizations functioning in different places from Punjab to

Bengal under one Central Working Committee, which worked as a step-in-aid

of the “Gadar” movement founded in America.

Lala Hardayal, Dr. Pandurang Sadashiv Khankhoje and Pandit Kanshiram

were the brains, which worked out the emergence of the Gadar movement.

The Gadar movement was founded by Dr. Pandurang Sadashiv Khankhoje and

Pandit Kanshiram according to Balashastri Hardas in his “Armed Struggle for

Freedom”.

However, Prof. Dharmavir, in his “Lala Hardayal” has expressed the view

that Dr. Khankhoje and Pandit Kanshiram founded India Independence

30 TATTVA DARSANA

League. Four years later, Lala Hardayal started his journal “The Gadar”. Dr.

Khankhoje belonged to Nagpur province. Under the inspiration of Lokmanya

Tilak, he set out for Japan to get military training in arms. Though an alliance

between the English and the Japanese prevented him from getting knowledge

in modern warfare, he learnt whatever he could in the manufacture of

explosives. He also succeeded in establishing Indian revolutionary centres in

China and Japan. He reached America in the year 1908. Joining the Military

Academy there, he obtained a Diploma of the Military Academy. After

passing out of the Academy, he set up the India Independence League in

California. From there he went to Portland, where the existence of a

considerably large colony of Indians provided a nucleus for initiating

revolutionary activities in that distant land. It was here that Dr. Khankhoje met

Pandit Kanshiram, with whose help he founded the India Independence

League. Four years later, Lala Hardayal started his journal The Gadar and the

League merged into the Gadar movement forming the Gadar Party.

Kanshiram Dr. Khankhoje

Asian Immigration Act

The Indian Independence League was indirectly helped by the Asian

Immigration Act promulgated by the Canadian Government on May 9, 1910.

The Act was mainly intended to check the in-flow of Indian Immigrants into

Canada. The Act said that only a person, who held a valid passport and a

direct permit for Canada and one who actually performed an unbroken voyage

to a Canadian port, was allowed to land on the Canadian shores. Besides, any

Asiatic who wanted to come to Canada must have a minimum of 204 dollars

in cash with him. These conditions were very hard for the Indian Immigrants

to fulfill. There was seldom any ship which carried passengers straight from

Calcutta to Canada. This made it inevitable for Indians to go to Hong Kong or

Japan first and then to change the ship to reach America or Canada. Canada

| January-June 2014 31 P a g e

alone had over 10,000 Indians at that time. This number contained a majority

of over 90 percent of Sikhs, most of whom were soldiers on leave. When the

relatives of these Indians in Canada came to the shores, they were not allowed

to land by the bar of this new Act. A great agitation was started to get this act

repealed. The constitutional efforts taken by the branches of the Khalsa Diwan

Society in Malaya and Singapore, which sent several memoranda and

representations from London to Ottawa, failed to achieve any result, and the

minds of Indian settlers in Canada, who were prevented from their kith and

kin, turned to revolutionary methods. Pandit Kanshiram and Dr. Khankhoje

exploited the situation fully and sowed the seeds of revolution in the lacerated

hearts of the Indian settlers. By this time another spirited youth, Vishnu

Ganesh Pingale, who came to America for his engineering course, joined

them. There was one Harnam Singh also with him. In the year 1912, when

Hardayal arrived in America, the need for a gifted leader for the movement

was fulfilled.

Hardayal in America

After the arrest and transportation of Savarkar, Lala Hardayal had, in great

despondency, left for Paris, from where he went to America and then retired to

Honolulu islands for penance and spiritual development. However, Bhai

Paramanand met him there and prevailed upon him to take up the work of

propagating religion and philosophy. Soon his talks on philosophy started

attracting a large number of American audiences, and thereafter he was

appointed Professor of Sanskrit and Philosophy in Berkeley University. The

Stafford University requested the authorities at Berkeley to lend the services

of the learned Professor. But Lala Hardayal, a born rebel who had renounced

everything in his life for the service of his motherland, was not carried away

by all these superficial honours. He threw to winds these great prospects for a

prosperous life and preferred to accept the leadership of thousands of Indians

in order to serve the Motherland. He founded the India Association of the

Pacific Coast, started an independent press under the name “Yugantar” and

brought out the paper Gadar which meant in Punjabi, “mutiny”. Lala Hardayal

was given by the Gadar Party all the powers and rights to frame the policy of

the paper. The Gadar was published in English as well as in various Indian

languages like Hindi, Urdu, Gurumukhi, Bengali and Marathi. The Journal and

the Gadar Party set up by the sponsors of the journal spread the message and

meaning of revolution and instilled in the hearts of Indians the spirit of true

patriotism and Independence. A meeting convened under the auspices of the

Yugantar Ashram of Lala Hardayal at Sacramento on December 30, 1913,

32 TATTVA DARSANA

was, attended by representatives of different branches from California,

Oregon, Washington and other places. Delegates from Brazil, Manila and

faraway places also attended. It is said that such a huge meeting of Indians

from different countries abroad had never been seen or heard of in America.

The German Consul was a special guest on the occasion. Hardayal impressed

upon the audience the need to exploit the situation of England’s relations with

Germany and rise in revolt against the British after returning to the

Motherland. After the above meeting, the Gadar began to get financial support

of the German people. Till 1913, no foreign Government came to help this

revolutionary movement. All the works of the party were carried on with the

monetary support of the Indian labour in America.

Annoyed by the growing activities of the Gadar movement, the British

Government brought pressure on the American Government to hand over

Hardayal to them. On 26th March, 1914, Hardayal was arrested, but he was

bailed out. On the advice of his American friends, Hardayal went to

Switzerland, and the leadership of the Gadar movement shifted to the hands of

Shri Ramachandra who became the editor of The Gadar. The circulation of the

journal started growing day by day. At this time an unexpected development

added fuel to the fire of discontentment which had already touched explosive

limits in the Indian Overseas Colonies. It was the renowned “Komagata Maru

incident”.

Komagata Maru

Early in 1914, Bhai Gurudit Singh, who had worked in U.S. as a contractor,

floated the Guru Nanak Navigation Company to start voyage of a vessel

directly from Calcutta to Canada in order to facilitate the entry of Indian

immigrants into Canada, overcoming the hurdle placed by the Canadian

Immigration laws. A Japanese vessel, “Komagata Maru”, was chartered, taken

to Calcutta and thence to China. Five hundred people boarded the ship at Hong

Kong. But the British and Canadian Governments conspired and put Gurudit

Singh under arrest. When they found him unyielding, he was released, but by

this time the number of passengers came down to one hundred and sixty five.

The vessel stayed in Shanghai and Kobe for six and five days respectively on

the lookout for new passengers, and all this involved a loss of 24,000 dollars.

The vessel, however, reached the Canadian port, Victoria, on May 21, with

372 Indians – 21 Muslims and all the rest Sikhs. Though the law was on the

side of the Punjabis, the Canadian Government refused permission for the

vessel to touch the shore, and for sixty days she stood still on the sea

exhausting all her stock of food, drinking water and medicines. To aggravate

the matter further a Canadian police posse approached the ship in a motor

| January-June 2014 33 P a g e

launch and attacked the passengers on board by throwing boiling water

through hosepipes. The passengers hurled steam-coal on the offenders. Two

war-ships were ordered to attack “Komagata Maru”. The Indians, who girded

up their loins for the fight, threw burning missiles of coal on the attacking

ships. Soon the Canadian Government came to terms with the Indians. The

hire charges of the vessel and several lakhs of rupees for the damages were

paid by the Government, but the Indians were forced to take back the ship to

Calcutta.

Now the fury of the Indians turned against the British, who sided with the

Canadians in their struggle to join their kith and kin in Canada. On the way

back, when the vessel touched Yokahama on August 16, many of the

passengers bought pistols and firearms. They had already received impetus for

revolutionary activities against the British from Gadar workers. Unfortunately,

the British agents who were in the group informed their master of all the

developments taking place. When the ship touched Budge-Budge harbour,

seventeen miles away from Calcutta, the British military accorded a peculiar

welcome to the passengers. The Government wanted to take them to a

particular place in a special railway train and imprison them, but the Indians

resisted the move. A clash ensued and the military opened fire. Eighteen Sikhs

were killed, many escaped to the jungles and only a few were arrested.

This incident roused the feelings of the revolutionaries, and the Gadar Party

men in Canada resorted to strong action. The Chief Officer of Immigration

Section of Canada, Mr. Hopkins managed with the assistance of one Bela

Singh to shoot down treacherously Bhai Babu Singh and Bhai Vatan Singh of

Gadar Party. One Mewa Singh shot Hopkins in the open court by way of

vengeance. Mewa Singh was, of course, sentenced to death. But his funeral

procession drew thousands of Indians in Canada, and it was long remembered

both by the Indians and Canadians in the country.

Revolutionaries from America to India

With the rising flames of world war, the activities of the Gadar Party also

increased. It started recruiting thousands of Indians in America for being sent

to India for an uprising against the British, and the German submarines were

to supply arms and ammunition to the revolutionary forces. Bhai Parmanand

had returned to India in 1912 after performing his successful task of

persuading Lala Hardayal to come back to the revolutionary movement. He

also helped in establishing a link between the Indians in America at one end

and with Shri Rash Behari Bose and the Indian wing at the other.

34 TATTVA DARSANA

Ramachandra and Barkat Ulla were recruiting hundreds of Indians in America.

The colonies and settlements, established since a long time by Indians in

Shanghai, Hong Kong, Siam, Bataria and Straits Settlements, were very

important links in the chain which connected India with America. They

facilitated the movement of revolutionaries from America to India. The

Japanese ships “Tosha Maru” and “Nippon Maru” brought in a large band of

Sikhs from America, and they soon spread all over the Punjab. It is on record

that in February 1915, 3,125 Punjabis returned to India. Bengal and U.P. also

became the venue of the movement of revolution.

Rash Behari Bose, who was underground and had made Benares his

headquarters, was guiding the Gadar revolutionists who reached India. Vishnu

Ganesh Pingale and Satyendranath Sen also came back to India and joined

Rash Behari. Pingale conveyed to Rash Behari the information that four

thousand have already arrived and twenty thousand more will come as soon as

the banner of revolt is raised. Fifteen thousand were actually waiting for the

signal on which they will go to North India.

The day for the uprising was fixed as 21st February, 1916. But an agent of the

British, Kripal Singh, had got into the organization. Rash Behari, with his keen

sense, had recognized him and wanted the revolutionists to get rid of him. The

failure of the revolutionists to carry out the orders of their leader, out of

human considerations, resulted in the escape of Kripal Singh, and when the

plan came to the notice of the British, the unfortunate movement got

suppressed. Bhagi Kartar Singh, Jagat Singh, Harnam Singh, Vishnu Ganesh

Pingale and some others were sentenced to death. Bhai Paramanand was

awarded transportation for life, and several other leaders of the movement

were sentenced to different periods of imprisonment.

Thus was the first act in the great play on the stage of Punjab abruptly cut

short, but the actors in the Eastern stage had no idea of the tragedy which had

overtaken the movement. They were eagerly waiting for the morning of 21st to

dawn. But instead of getting the signal from Punjab, a front page news of the

Pioneer told them the disastrous chop of the drama in Punjab.

Benaras Conspiracy Case

The statement of an approver, Manilal, in the Lahore conspiracy convinced the

Government that Rash Behari was at the back of the whole movement. Rash

Behari escaped from the hands of the British and reached Japan. Soon after the

departure of Rash Behari, Seth Damodar Swarupa betrayed the party and

supplied information to the Government. The trial of the Benares Conspiracy

case began. Dr. Mathura Singh, who had escaped to Afghanistan, was arrested

| January-June 2014 35 P a g e

in Kabul. Afghanistan was then within the jurisdiction of Raja Mahendra

Pratap as the leader of the revolution, and he had declared the establishment of

the Provisional Government of India in Afghanistan. Dr. Singh was sent as an

Ambassador of the Provisional Government to negotiate with the Czar of

Russia for Russian aid in Indian revolution. But on the way he was arrested by

the spies of the British Government at Tashkent, and in violation of

international customs he was forcibly brought to India.

It was about this time that Sufi Amba Prasad died in Iran. This fiery

revolutionary had accompanied Ajit Singh in the year 1909 to Iran. Being

from birth deprived of his right hand, he used to manipulate his revolver with

his left hand. After an encounter with the British soldiers, he was arrested in

the year 1915, and sentenced to be shot. Before the army officers could carry

out the sentence, he himself had passed away in a state of Samadhi. A

memorial has been erected in his honour in Iran and it has since become a

pilgrim centre.

The Singapore Rebellion

Though the Gadar uprising in India was ruthlessly put down by the English,

the leaders like Hardayal, Pandit Ramachandra, Dr. Khankhoje, Barkat Ulla,

Virendra Chattopadhyay and Rash Behari Bose, who were all outside India,

exerted every nerve of theirs to stir up a revolution. A regiment in Singapore

which was to be sent to the Front by the British was won over, but the

rebellion was finally suppressed by the English with the help of Japanese

troops

5. REVOLUTIONARIES IN FIRST WORLD WAR

Champakaraman Pillai

Fierce fighting was taking place between the German forces on the one side

and the Allies on the other, during the First World War. The German

submarine, "Emden", operating in the Indian Ocean, sent many a British war-

ships to a watery grave and was heavily bombarding the military installations

of the British in the southern sea-coast. On September 22, 1914, the submarine

entered the waters near Madras and after a bombing spree, touched the shore.

A young officer, who was leading the operations of the submarine came out

and introduced himself as one belonging to Travancore. He picked the dust of

the feet of Bharata Mata and applied it to his forehead. This brave young man

36 TATTVA DARSANA

was Champakaraman Pillai, the Indian revolutionary, who went abroad to

organize an army to declare war against the British for India's freedom.

Champakaraman Pillai was born on the 15th September, 1891, at Cochin in

Kerala. Champakaraman had his early education and spent his boyhood at

Trivandrum. The personality of Lokamanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak and his

writings in his journal, Kesari, turned Champakaraman into a patriot and

revolutionary. When Tilak was arrested and sentenced to transportation,

Champakaraman was deeply moved, and took a pledge to dedicate his life at

the altar of the Motherland. Champakaraman came into contact with an

Englishman who was working as a spy for the Germans and with the latter's

help, he left the shores of India when he was just a lad of 17 years.

Champakaraman first went to Colombo and from there to Switzerland. At

Zurich he completed his education and took a Doctorate in Engineering. Soon

the First World War broke out and Champakarama Pillai found a fine

opportunity to carry out his long-cherished plans. With the help of the German

Embassy, he formed in September 1914, the International Pro-India

Committee, with Zurich as its headquarters, and himself as the President. Pillai

moved to Berlin in October 1914 and started the Indian Independence

Committee. Many prominent Indian revolutionaries abroad, including

Taraknath Das, Barkatulla, Dr. Chandrakant Chakravarty, Dr. Bhupendra Nath

Dutt, Dr. Prabhakar, Virendra Chattopadhyaya, Birendra Sarkar and

Herambalal Gupta, joined him to work out the programme. Lala Har Dayal

was also persuaded to join them in the movement.

Commander of “Emden”

Champakaraman won the confidence of the Germans to such an extent that he

was allowed to lead the operations of German Navy in the Indian Ocean and it

was on this occasion that he demonstrated his capacity as a warrior, directing

the German submarine, "Emden", striking deep into the British naval

installations and destroying English war-vessels. The British Government was

forced to announce a reward of one lakh pounds to anyone who would capture

Champakaraman Pillai and hand over him to them. Champakaraman Pillai was

the forerunner of Rash Behari Bose and Subhas Chandra Bose in organizing

an Indian Army abroad to strike against the enemies at home. He founded the

Indian National Volunteer Corps during the First World War and prescribed

military uniform and discipline to the volunteers, who were under the direct

control of army leaders engaged in the War. In July 1914, Pillai gave a

| January-June 2014 37 P a g e

message from Berlin to the Indian soldiers that it was time for them to rise in

revolt and fight the British for the emancipation of the Motherland. Later in

1919, when Champakaraman Pillai met Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose at

Vienna, he explained his plan of action to Netaji Subhas. Subsequent events in

history have stood witness to the fact that Subhas chose the path shown by

Champakaraman Pillai and fulfilled his dream by organizing the Indian

National Army during the Second World War.

Prime Minister of the Provisional Government of India

Champakaraman had the privilege of being the Prime Minister of the

Provisional Government of India set up in Afghanistan in December 1915,

with Raja Mahendra Pratap Singh of Kabul as President. The Germans were

all along helping the Indian revolutionaries with a selfish motive.

Raja Mahendra Pratap Champakaraman Pillai

When they started losing the battle, the Germans lost their interest in the

revolutionaries and even started looking upon many with suspicion.

Champakaraman raised the voice against the view of Hitler that Indians were

still incapable of ruling themselves and he even forced Hitler to apologize in

writing. But he fell a victim to the wrath of the Nazis. It was only in 1931 that

Champakaraman Pillai had married Lakshmibai of Manipur, whom he met at

Berlin. The Nazis destroyed their happy family life by poisoning

Champakaraman to death, on May 26, 1934.

Champakaraman's last wish was that his ashes should be carried to his

homeland, and his devoted wife fulfilled it 32 years after his death. Free India,

however, forgot to honour the great hero and martyr and his widow died a

38 TATTVA DARSANA

death of starvation and suffering, in a Bombay apartment, unattended and

uncared for by anybody, in Independent India, in 1973.

The Oriental Bureau

Soon after the World War started, Hardayal went to Switzerland from

America, and met Champakaraman Pillai there. Hardayal also established

contacts with Anwar Pasha of Turkey and then came to Germany.

Champakaraman Pillai also had reached there and accepted a job in the

German Foreign Office. Both of them joined and founded the Indian National

Party. Some other revolutionaries also joined them later. Hardayal prepared a

scheme for winning over the Indian soldiers, who fell as prisoners of war into

German hands, and making use of them to throw sparks of revolution in the

Indian Army itself. An institution called the Oriental Bureau was set up to

prepare the propaganda materials, and this got the approval and assistance of

German War Office as well.

The Silk Letter

Hardayal had met Raja Mahendra Pratap at Geneva. He introduced the Raja to

the German Kaiser, who was extremely pleased to meet him. He was sent to

Kabul with the idea of organizing the tribes in Turkey, Arabia, Afghanistan

and on the Frontier and to make simultaneous attacks on India. Under different

pretexts, Gadar workers were also sent to Middle Asia, Japan and Iran. The

plan of uprising was written down on a silk coat which was to carry the

message to different centres, but the coat fell into the wrong hands of the

British in the month of August 1916, and the attempts was foiled. However, it

became famous as “Silk Letter”.

Forty-four Months in Germany

Due to the unguarded talks of the Sikhs who came from America the plans of

the Gadar Party often reached the hands of the British. The arms and

ammunitions, which Hardayal was collecting with the help and assistance of

the Germans, instead of reaching the hands of revolutionists in India fell into

British hands. This enabled them to catch by the neck many of the

revolutionaries in India who were connected with the Gadar movement. While

Rash Behari was waiting in hope in India for the arrival of arms and

ammunition from abroad, at the other end Lala Hardayal was in despair

knowing not as to what happened to the stocks he had sent and why there were

no signs of uprising in India.

The Germans who were supporting the Indians, apparently with some selfish

motives, got annoyed when they learnt that no useful purpose was served by

| January-June 2014 39 P a g e

their help to Hardayal and the Indian revolutionists. They even started

suspecting him. The feeling of estrangement which crept into the relationship

between Hardayal and Kaiser made the former desperate, and he attempted to

leave Germany quietly.

The German Government, that had became sensitive on account of the

impending defeat, arrested Hardayal, but it did not take much time for the

Germans to get over the mistrust. Though Hardayal was set free, a close watch

was kept on him. Hardayal was, of course, very much exasperated by the

treatment of the Germans, and with the first chance which presented itself to

him he left Germany. His pamphlet “Forty four months in Germany”, which

he published soon after he got out of Germany, attacked the autocratic

monarchical rule in Germany.

Exile in Sweden

Har Dayal came to Sweden. He was penniless. Reaching there, he acquired the

necessary knowledge of the Swedish language. After sometime, he engaged

himself in lecturing on history and geography in schools. Har Dayal stayed in

Sweden till the 1st of October, 1927. During the last years of his stay in

Sweden, he taught Indian Philosophy in the University of Uppsala. During this

period of nine years, he lived in various places in Stockholm and Gottenburg.

Har Dayal had thirteen languages at his command—German, French, Turkish,

Italian, Latin, Greek, Sanskrit, Pali, Hindi, Arabic, Persian, English and

Esperanto. While in Sweden, Har Dayal duped the British by posing himself

as a thoroughly changed person. In 1927, the British Government granted

amnesty to all the political refugees and with that Har Dayal was able to return

to Great Britain.

Har Dayal contacted various religious and philosophical societies. Universities

and societies in other countries like France, Denmark and Greece too invited

him to deliver lectures occasionally. In 1928, he thought of securing a

Doctorate. He chose the subject of his thesis—“The Bodhisattva Doctrine in

Buddhist Sanskrit Literature”. In October 1931, he submitted his thesis to the

University of London and obtained the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy. Har

Dayal’s classical works such as “The Bodhisattva Doctrine”, “Hints for Self-

culture” and “Twelve Religions and Modern Life” impressed very much the

European thinkers and scholars. The eminent Labour Party leader, Colonel

Wedgewood, M.P., the Moderate leader, Tej Bahadur Sapru and C.F.

40 TATTVA DARSANA

Andrews, who were all admirers of Har Dayal, recommended to the

Government of India that Har Dayal should be allowed to go back to India. It

took the Government more than one year to think over the matter. The

Government had permitted him to come to India on the condition that he

would not take to any unlawful activities. At that time, Har Dayal had left

England for the U.S. to attend a world conference at Philadelphia.

Mysterious Death

Har Dayal’s admirers were waiting in India. They arranged money for his

passage and a draft on a bank was sent to Philadelphia. To the utter shock of

his admirers, all of a sudden the following news was published in a daily at

Delhi: “Lala Har Dayal had left the world a month earlier on March 4, 1939.”

It is said that he had been quiet hale and hearty in the evening of March 3

before he retired. But early in the morning of March 4, he was found lifeless in

his bed. Mr. Hanwant Sahai gives a different version of Lala Har Dayal’s

death. He says: “Before the beginning of World War II, he again managed to

reach America and intended to come back home to liberate his country from

within. He sent his messenger to enquire the opinions of his old Delhi

colleagues. But before the replies and the passage money sent immediately

could reach him, he is believed to have been assassinated at Philadelphia

where he was staying.”

“We must all realize that patriotism is the root of all national progress and

freedom”—thus wrote Lala Har Dayal a few days before his death in 1939.

The fiery friar had lived as a true patriot till the last breath of his life. As

Dharmavira says, “It is a theme worthy of an Ibsen raised to a higher power.

Har Dayal just could not have died on sick bed; Martyrdom was the only way

in which the significance of his life could have been completed.”

Manavendra Nath Roy

Manavendra Nath Roy, who was known by numerous names in different

phases of his life, was another hero of the Gadar movement. Narendra

Bhattacharya, as he was called in his boyhood, was deeply inspired by

Savarkar, and he soon joined the Anushilan Samity, a revolutionary

organization, and became a follower of Barindra Ghosh. In 1914, he was

busily engaged in the Gadar work in Java Island.

Like Hardayal he was also collecting arms and supplying them to

revolutionaries in India. Once he forwarded through two Chinese friends a

huge stock of 129 automatic pistols and 20,830 cartridges, but the goods failed

| January-June 2014 41 P a g e

to reach the intended hands and were seized by the Dutch under maritime laws

and no one knew what happened to the third. After such disastrous failures in

his attempts, Roy left for America. He came into contact with the Communists

there, got attracted to Marxism, and soon came to be counted in the higher

ranks of the Communist International.

During wartime, the American Government kept him as a detenu. After his

release, he went to Mexico and founded the Communist Party there. The

Bolshevik leader, Borodin, became his close friend, and on the latter’s

suggestion Lenin invited Roy to Moscow, and made him a

General of a wing of the Red Army. Roy was also

conferred the membership of Moscow Soviet Working

Committee. Soon he became the member of the Third

International Presidium and the political wing of it, along

with comrades Lenin and Trotsky. He rose to such a high

position in the International Communist movement that he

was at one time considered a capable candidate to fight the

elections against Ramsay Mcdonald.

M.N. Roy

In 1924, Roy was arrested under the instructions of Mcdonald, and when he

was being brought from Paris to India, he evaded both the British and the

French and disappeared. In 1927, he reached China. After that a serious

difference of opinion arose between him and the Russian leaders of the Third

International Presidium on the issue of Indian Policy. In 1931, he returned to

India and lived in disguise for a long time. Unfortunately, a chance meeting of

his past friend betrayed the secret of the romantic revolutionary, who was

caught and sentenced to 4 ½ years’ imprisonment.

The Gadar revolutionists made an attempt to preach mutiny in the Indian

Army in Burma. But as soon as the British got scent of this, 200 soldiers were

arrested and put behind bars. In August 1915, an attempt to sow seeds of

discontent among the Army Officers at Maymao was also foiled. On America

joining the war, her Government became suspicious of the activities of

revolutionary movements of India. Pandit Ramachandra and a large number of

associates were arrested by the American Government and tried. A Sikh shot

Ramachandra in the court for personal reasons. Next moment, an Army

Officer present in the court fired at the assailant.

42 TATTVA DARSANA

Kartar Singh Saraba

Kartar Singh Saraba, one of the founders of the Gadar Movement and the

preceptor of Sardar Bhagat Singh, belonged to Saraba of Ludhiana District.

His father’s name was Mangal Singh. He studied at the Khalsa School. At the

age of 15, he went to U.S. In U.S. he came in contact with Bhai Parmanand,

Lala Har Dayal, Gobind Behari Lal and other revolutionaries, and they started

the Gadar Party. Kartar Singh helped Har Dayal in bringing out the Punjabi

section of “The Gadar”.

Kartar Singh wanted to engineer a revolution within our country. He wanted to

make himself ready for the revolution. So he joined an industrial school and

learned to make and ride an aero plane. Har Dayal also asked the Gadarites to

go to India and launch a revolution. Kartar Singh came back to India through

Ceylon by the ship Nippon Maru.

The Gadarites came through the southern ports of India where the British

authorities were not vigilant. Three thousand one hundred and twenty five

Punjabis returned in February 1915 alone, according to an official estimate.

British estimates put the number of revolutionaries returning between 1914

and 1916 at eight thousand, although the Indian estimates were lower.

According to the plan of the revolutionaries, from San Fransisco they would

first go to one of the China ports. There they would get onward passages to

Thailand from the local helpers. It was easier to gain entry and avoid security

checks if they traveled on local steamers from Thailand to India and Burma. A

number of revolutionaries came through the southern ports of India, mainly

Madras. Kartar Singh was in charge of the whole work in the Punjab, whereas

Jatindranath Mukherjee (Bhaga Jatin) had taken up the task of the uprising in

the east.

The first target of attack was to be the British officers, whether military or

civil. Mian Mir and Ferozepur cantonments were the main centres of activity

in Punjab. There was a plan for a raid on the Mian Mir Magazine, but it did

not materialize. The revolutionaries decided to attack the Ferozepur arsenal on

30th November, 1914, for procuring arms. In order to divert the attention of the

British, it was decided to loot the treasury of Moga, and this task was entrusted

to Nidhan Singh and his party. Kartar Singh was to execute the Ferozepur raid

on November 30.

| January-June 2014 43 P a g e

Kartar Singh Saraba Bhaga Jatin

Once Kartar Singh was engaged in a raid on a rich man’s house. At that time,

he saw one of his friends, overwhelmed by the beauty of a girl in that house,

misbehaving with her. Kartar Singh immediately pulled him up and made him

apologize to the girl for his misconduct. He also returned the money looted

from the house and asked the family to keep it for the girl’s marriage. This

shows the spirit of discipline maintained by the revolutionary leaders like

Kartar Singh, even in their violent revolution against the British. February 21,

1915, was fixed as the date of an armed rebellion throughout the country. Rash

Behari Bose, the leader of the Gadar Party in India, played a main role in

planning the rebellion. It was decided to start the uprising at night, when

British soldiers were to be captured.

Kartar Singh was successful in establishing contact with Indian soldiers at

Jullundar. He persuaded them to join the mutiny. The revolutionaries got the

news that the Indian soldiers at Jhelum, Rawalpindi, Hoti Mardan, Peshawar,

Kapurtala, Meerut, Agra, Allahabad, Benaras, Ferozabad, Ambala, Kanpur,

Fizabad, Multan, Kohat and Lucknow were ready to take part in the rebellion.

Troops were ready to rise throughout the country on the receipt of the news of

the outbreak of rebellion at Mian Mir. On the information given by a spy, who

took part in the Chabba dacoity, Mula Singh was arrested on 13th February.

The police began to torture him. So he revealed the fact that the rebellion

would start on the 21st February. The police also received information about

this from a spy, Kirpal Singh. The revolutionaries came to know that the

British knew about the date of the uprising. So they advanced it to 19th

February. This information was also passed on to the British authorities by

44 TATTVA DARSANA

Kirpal Singh. The government came to know about the details of the uprising.

Instructions were given to the military camps and cantonments. The British

soldiers replaced the Indians. The Indian soldiers were disarmed. The police

were searching for the revolutionaries all over the country.

So Kartar Singh escaped from Lahore. He went to

Peshawar in Afghanistan. He came to know about the arrest

of many revolutionaries who were tortured and executed.

However he did not lose heart. He came back to India to

organize an uprising again. Kartar Singh was arrested at

Shahpur were he asked the soldiers of the 22nd

cavalry to

rise in revolt.

Bhai Parmannd

A Special Tribunal (1915) was set up under the Defence of India Act. Sixty

one leaders including Bhai Parmanand, Kartar Singh and Pingale were brought

before it under the charge of conspiracy to overthrow the British Government.

Twenty four of them, including Kartar Singh, Pingale and Bhai Parmanand

were awarded death sentence.

The Viceroy, Hardinge, commuted the death sentence of 17, including Bhai

Parmanand, to transportation for life. Kartar Singh pleaded guilty of all the

charges and boldly said, “I know the consequences—either transportation for

life or death sentence. I shall prefer to be executed, for, that would give me an

opportunity to be reborn to serve my country. Should I be born as a woman in

my next birth, I would wish to give birth to rebel children.” Kartar Singh was

overjoyed when he was given the death sentence and he thanked the presiding

Judge of the court.

6. BIRTH OF INDIAN NATIONAL ARMY

Rash Behari in Japan

Rash Behari Bose had by this time reached Shanghai. But China herself was

pre-occupied in her own war of liberation and hence Rash Behari could do

very little there. He tried in all the ways possible to create obstacles in the

success of the British war effort and this involved him in a number of almost

fatal dangers, but Dr. Sun-yet-sen, the father of new China, was there to

protect him. In June 1915, Rash Behari reached Tokyo.

| January-June 2014 45 P a g e

He convened there a meeting of the sponsors of the Indian Freedom

Movement, in the renowned “Sayoken” Hotel on 25th November 1915.

Besides reputed revolutionaries and the Japanese sympathizers, the meeting

was also attended by the Punjab Lion, Lala Lajpat Rai. The meeting aroused

the sympathy of the Japanese people for the efforts of the revolutionaries. In

pursuance of the conditions of the Anglo Japanese alliance, the Japanese

Government was forced to direct Rash Behari and his associate, Herambalal

Gupta, to leave the shores of Japan before the 2nd

of December. But the

Japanese people and press came out openly supporting Rash Behari. The

elderly political leader, Mitsuru Toyama, assured help and protection to Rash

Behari. Mr. Aizo Zoma, a man of fortune and owner of the most reputed

Japanese hotel, “Naka Muraya”, negotiated with Mr. Toyama through Mr.

Naka Murra, Editor of Niroku, and provided secret hiding for Rash Behari in

the cellar of that influential hotel. Three months later, a British man-of-war

attacked a Japanese ship, and this provoked the Japanese Government to hit at

the British pride and prestige by reversing its policy in regard to Rash Behari.

Rash Behari came in the open in April 1916. During his stay in “Naka

Muraya”, Mr. and Mrs. Zoma, who bestowed on him loving care, developed a

filial affection for Rash Behari. They offered their eldest daughter Tosiko in

marriage to Rash Behari. Though he became a son-in-law in the Land of the

Sun, Rash Behari never forgot his Mother Land. Right

through the last war of Indian Independence, Rash

Behari was given a safe harbor by the Land of the

Sun. Rash Behari and Tosiko had a brave son and a

charming daughter. The son died in Japanese war. The

daughter once visited India. Rash Behari died during

the war as a victim of tuberculosis. However, before

his death, he realized his ambition of raising the

Indian National Army, and establishing the first free

Republican Government after inviting Netaji Subhas

Chandra Bose from Germany in 1942.

Rash Behari Bose

Emergence of Subhas

Subhas Chandra Bose was considered by the English, from the very day he

entered the political arena, as the brain behind the revolutionaries in India.

Even when he was in the Congress movement under the leadership of

Mahatma Gandhi, he was cherishing in his heart the heroic ideals of Shivaji.

46 TATTVA DARSANA

On several fundamental principles and policies, Subhas had difference of

opinion with Mahatma Gandhi. On 24th October 1924, he was arrested under

the Special Ordinance and was transported to Mandaley Prison on 25th January

1926. While he was in the prison, thick rumours of his serious illness spread

throughout the country and a storm of protest and agitation for his immediate

release was raised by the people. Subhas was set free on 16th May 1927. From

the presidential chair of the Maharashtra Provincial Conference of the

Congress, Subhas raised the slogan of “Complete Independence”. That was the

first occasion when the real difference of opinion between him and Gandhiji

became public. He openly propagated his ideal in the Karachi session of the

same year. For two years afterwards, he was ceaselessly attacking Gandhian

ideology. After his return from Prison in1930, he attacked Gandhi-Irwin Pact

and the Non-cooperation Movement in the Congress session. He was against

the withdrawal of Passive Resistance Movement of 1931, and being aware of

his intentions to intensify the movement in Bengal, the Government put him

inside the prison. He was released for reasons of health in the year 1933 on an

express condition that he would leave for Europe directly from prison house.

This, however, gave an opportunity to Subhas to establish contacts with

European nations, which were friendly and sympathetic to the cause of India’s

Independence. He met Herr Hitler, Seigneur Mussolini and D’Valera. The

Government was alarmed at his growing intimacy with these powerful

personalities. As soon as he returned to India in 1936, he was arrested again

and sent to prison in March 1936. Once again he had to be sent abroad for

reasons of health, and this time when the returned in 1938, he came with the

conviction that a dreadful war would soon engulf the whole world. He wanted

to exploit the Congress to prepare India to take the fullest advantage of the

British difficulties. Though he rose to the position of the President of the

Congress, his sharp differences on fundamental issues with Mahatma Gandhi

forced him to leave the Congress and found the Forward Block. He toured the

country rallying the masses wherever he went, thereby swelling his party with

followers.

Sardar Udham Singh

It was at this time in March 1940, Sardar Udham Singh, a staunch

revolutionary shot down Sir Michael O’Dwyer in London. The regime of

Dwyer was responsible for the Jalianwala Bhag massacre of 1919, in which

hundreds of innocent people, including father and brother of Udham Singh,

were killed mercilessly. April 13, 1919, was the auspicious day of Baishakhi

festival and for the Sikhs, the day on which the Khalsa came into being. But it

| January-June 2014 47 P a g e

turned out to be a fateful one to those who had assembled in the Jallianwala

Bagh at Amritsar, to protest against the injustice and atrocities perpetrated by

the regime of Lt. Governor, Sir Michael O’Dwyer, in Punjab. Some twenty

thousand people who were present in the garden, unarmed and helpless, were

mercilessly subjected to indiscriminate firing by military men under the

command of General Dyer. Hundreds were killed and thousands were injured.

For Udham Singh, who was leading a batch of youngsters from the orphanage

where he was brought up, and rendering whatever help he could to the dying

and the wounded, the heart rending scene of scattered dead bodies, and the

wounded and groaning people lying unattended and uncared for at the dusk of

the day in the garden soaked in human blood over which crows and vultures

were hovering, it was a turning point in life. He changed into a revolutionary

and at that moment he took a pledge to avenge the brutish act perpetrated by

heartless tyrants. The next few years he spent in East Africa and the United

States of America in the company of Indian revolutionaries. He came back to

India in 1928, but he was soon arrested and sentenced to three years

imprisonment on charge of possessing illegal arms. After his release, he got

out of the country on a forged passport and reached London closely shadowing

Sir Michael O’Dwyer, the man whose regime was responsible for the

massacre. At last, the day also did come for Udham Singh after a long period

of patient waiting to fulfil the mission he had undertaken in life. On March 13,

1940, there was a meeting under the auspices of the East Indian Association

and Royal Asian Society at Caxton Hall where Sir Michael O’Dwyer was

present to speak. Sardar Udham Singh, with a firm determination to hunt down

his prey, reached the hall well prepared. As soon as the

meeting was over, the lion of Punjab sprang upon the

white jackal and shot him dead at point blank range. At

the time of his trial, Udham Singh told the Court of Law:

“He (Sir Michael) deserved it. I do not care; I do not

mind dying. I am dying for my country.” Udham Singh

was sentenced to death on June 10, 1940, and was

executed two days later.

Udham Singh

Sardar Udham Singh, who avenged the unprecedented massacre of Jallianwala

Bagh by shooting down the arch villain of the brutish act, Sir Michael

O’Dwyer, twenty one years after the incident, at London, courageously

48 TATTVA DARSANA

ascended the gallows with a smile on his lips and sense of fulfilment of his

mission in his heart. Home they brought the mortal remains of the beloved son

of Mother India, from the Pentonville Prison in London where he was buried

on July 31, 1940. People gathered in large numbers at Palam Airport on July

19, 1974, when the casket containing his ashes, flown to Delhi, was received

with national honour and taken to his native village Sunam in Sangrur District

of Punjab, where he was born on December 26, 1899, for being interred there.

A portion of his ashes were consigned to Ganga at Hardwar while another

portion kept in Jallianwala Bagh, Amritsar, where he, at the age of 20

witnessed the inhuman slaughter of unarmed and innocent men, women and

children, who included his own father and brother.

Subhas Dreams the Giant Plan

The Second World War had now entered a stage, in which it appeared that it

was going to be a long drawn war. Subhas Bose was of the view that India

should make the best use of the difficulties of England as an opportunity to

rouse the masses for the country’s freedom. With an idea of ascertaining the

opinions of leaders of various national movements, Subhas Bose toured all

over the country. He went everywhere with the searching question in his mind

– how could India muster all her courage and rise in revolt against the British

Government? Among the leaders whom Subhas Bose met were Dr. Keshav

Baliram Hedgewar, the founder of the Rashtreeya Swayamsevak Sangh, and

Veer Savarkar. Subhas knew well Dr. Hedgewar as a staunch revolutionary

who was engaged in building up a well-disciplined, patriotic and determined

organization of selfless and dedicated workers of Mother India, which was the

crying need of the hour. During the short period of fifteen years since he

founded the Sangh, Dr. Hedgewar succeeded in bringing into the fold of the

Sangh thousands of Hindu youth, from all over the country. But unfortunately,

when Subhas came to meet Dr. Hedgewar at Nagpur, the latter was on his

deathbed and Subhas could just see him. Subhas then went to Bombay, and in

June 1940 most unexpectedly called on Savarkar at Savarkar Sadan. It was the

timely advice that Savarkar gave that sowed in the minds of Netaji Subhas the

seeds for the last phase of the glorious battle for India’s Independence. Shivaji

and Tilak were the political Gurus for both. It is therefore no surprise that they

agreed completely in their analysis of the country’s present debacle and the

future prospects. Savarkar told Subhas that there was no sense, when Britain

was involved in the catastrophe of the World War, that a leader of his genius

and abilities should remain in India and confine himself to petty agitations and

in consequence rot in the British prison. He gave Subhas in no uncertain terms

the following advice: “Like Rash Behari and other armed revolutionaries you

| January-June 2014 49 P a g e

should also escape from the British and get out successfully. Mobilize the

Indian war prisoners fallen into the hands of Germany and Italy and give a

correct lead to them. Make a proclamation of Indian Independence. As soon as

Japan joins the war, manage to invade India either through the Bay of Bengal

or from Indo-Burmese borders. There is no hope of liberating India without

some such armed enterprise. Out of the two or three personalities, who have

the genius to undertake such an adventure, in my view, you are one. I look to

you for this bold undertaking.”

Subhas Spirited Away to Germany

Subhas returned to Calcutta with this thought-provoking advice of Savarkar.

He became a convert to Savarkar’s line of thinking. He decided and chalked

out the grand design of his dream. The British Government, which expected

some fresh trouble under the leadership of Subhas, put him under detention.

By this time, Subhas had chalked out mentally the grand design of this dream.

He only wished to fly out of the cage at the earliest opportunity. As it was a

usual strategy with some revolutionaries to go on fast to get out of

imprisonment, Subhas also adopted the same technique. The British set him

free. Coming out of confinement on 5th December 1940, he feigned illness and

avoided all interviews. Soon news began to appear in the press that Subhas

had turned recluse, that he was not allowing even his family members to meet

him and he was all the time engaged in meditation and spiritual pursuits. The

British also believed these stories. On the 16th of January 1941, at 8 O’clock in

the night, the scarlet pimpernel of Indian freedom movement, Subhas Bose,

got spirited away in the disguise of a Pathan

When the country awoke to the news on the 26th of January, Subhas was far

away from the land of his birth. It was a shock, both to the people and the

Government, a pleasant one to friends and frightful to the enemy. From

Calcutta, Subhas, in the assumed name of Pathan Zia Uddin, reached

Peshawar, and he was taken to Kabul by his associate Bhagat Ram. Crossing

the River Kabul, he reached the capital on 21st January and stayed in the house

of an Indian trader, Lala Uttam Chand. He negotiated with the Russian

Embassy to help him to reach Europe.

Seeing that the Russian authorities were marking time, he sought the help of

Italians. With the consent of Mussolini, the Italian Embassy arranged for his

journey to Moscow. Subhas left Kabul in a motor car with a fake German

name and visa in the company of two Germans and an Italian. Reaching

Moscow on 20th March, Subhas stayed there for eight days studying the

50 TATTVA DARSANA

possibilities of Russian support and left for Berlin. He received a warm and

rousing welcome from the Germans. Soon the German and the Italian

Broadcasting centres started broadcasting his tirades against the British. Herr

Hitler himself invited Subhas to meet him in Berlin and Hamburg. He

honoured Subhas by calling him “Fuhrer

of Bharat”, and addressing him as “His

Excellency”. In fact, “Netaji”, the

popular title by which Subhas is known

in India, was only the translation of the

German title. Rallying the Indians that

were in Germany at that time and

winning over the Indian soldiers, who

fell into the hands of the Germans as war

prisoners, Subhas formed the “Free India

Army” with its headquarters at Dresden.

It was a spectacular sight to see that he

had organized in the short time an army

of eight battalions of 12,000 soldiers

each.

Netaji Subhas

Azad Hind Fauz

On 15th February 1942, Singapore fell into the hands of Japan. On that day

15,000 British, 13,000 Australian and 32,000 Indian soldiers were taken

prisoners of war by Japan. Japan also took over Malaya and established her

authority over the country of fifty lakhs of people, among whom three lakhs

were Indians. Subhas Bose, who was then in Germany and was finding it

difficult to move his forces from the European theatre to the Indian borders,

looked to Japan to help him in opening an Eastern Front. Destiny was also

working for the fruition of Subhas’s wish. A brilliant idea crossed across the

mind of Rash Behari Bose, who had settled in Japan, and he had started

working on the idea of inspiring the captured Indians to form a Liberation

Army and invade India from outside. On 17th February 1942, just after the

conquest of Singapore, Major Fujiwara Commander of the victorious Japanese

army summoned the prominent Indian citizens in Singapore, and told them

that if they were prepared to renounce their British citizenship and organize

themselves for the fight for the freedom of India, Japan would give them all

help. The Indians were undecided in their attitude. Just then, Rash Behari

appeared on the scene. He convened a conference of the representatives of

Indians in Japan, China, Malaya, and Thailand in Tokyo on 28th March, and

| January-June 2014 51 P a g e

formed the Indian Independence League. A plan to build up “Azad Hind

Fauz” on the pattern of the Free India Army of Berlin was also announced.

From June 14 to 23 a second conference of Indians was held in the East in

Bangkok. Representatives of about three lakhs of Indians scattered all over

Java, Sumatra, Indo-China, Borneo, Manchuko, Hong Kong, Burma, Malaya,

and Japan had gathered in large numbers. The conference presented a

memorandum to Japan requesting that its demand for equal rights and status

for Azad Hind Fauz of Free India be conceded. The meeting also constituted

the War Council of the League with Rash Behari Bose as the first President

and Mr. M. Raghavan, K. R. K. Menon, Captain Mohan Singh and Colonel G.

K. Gillani as other members. The Conference also decided to invite Subhas

Bose to lead the Indian Independence League and the Azad Hind Fauz in the

east, and an invitation was sent accordingly. Soon after the conference, the

membership of the League swelled to 1,20,000 and 50,000 Indian soldiers

were enlisted into the Indian National Army. An Independent broadcasting

centre was also set up at Bangkok.

Subhas Bose was much pleased to see the turn of events. He readily accepted

the invitation of Rash Behari and overcoming many a hurdle, he reached

Tokyo in a submarine in June 20. In his broadcast on the Tokyo Radio on 21st

June, Subhas declared: “The opportunity which this great war has offered may

not recur in a hundred years to come. It is our resolve to fully avail of this

opportune moment for the Liberation of Bharat. It is our duty to offer blood as

the price of freedom. Those who have raised arms against us deserve to be

replied with arms—that is our duty.” On July 2nd

, he reached Singapore where

the Indians, Chinese and the Japanese accorded him an un-precedented

welcome. Addressing a mammoth gathering he gave the call to Indians –

“Chalo Delhi” (march on to Delhi). On July 5th 1943, Rash Behari conferred

on Subhas Bose the President ship of Indian Independence League and

constituted himself as his adviser. Soon under the captaincy of Laxmi, the

Rani Laxmi Regiment was formed. On 25th August 1943, Subhas assumed the

supreme command of the Free Indian National Army.

The Provisional Government of Free India

On October 21, 1943, Subhas Bose proclaimed the formation of the

Provisional Government of Free India. This very important function was held

at Cathey Cinema Theatre in Singapore. In this momentous proclamation,

which was a magnificent synopsis of India’s subjection spreading over two

centuries, Subhas said: “For the first time in recent history, Indians abroad

52 TATTVA DARSANA

have also been politically roused and united in one organization. They are not

only thinking and feeling in tune with their countrymen at home, but are also

marching in step with them, along the path to freedom. In east Asia, in

particular, over two million Indians are now organized as one solid phalanx

inspired by the slogan of ‘Total Mobilization’, and in front of them stand the

serried ranks of India’s Army of Liberation with the slogan, ‘Onward to Delhi’

on their lips.” The Proclamation was signed by all the officers of the

Provisional Government, including Subhas Bose.

In his public address on the occasion of the inauguration of the first

Provisional Government of Free India, Subhas pointed out: “It is the Indian

National Army that has lent a concrete shape and weight, truth and prestige, to

all the movement for Indian Freedom that is going on in East Asia. Had the

National Army not been created then the Independence League in East Asia

would have been considered merely a medium of propaganda. But the

formation of the National Army made it necessary and possible to establish the

Provisional Government of Free India. This Provisional Government is the

creation of the Independence League and its function is to declare the last War

of Independence and to lead it on to a successful consummation.”

On October 23, 1943, the Government of Japan gave its official recognition to

the Provisional Government of Free India. A few days later, the German

Government accorded its recognition. Soon after, the free Governments of

Burma, Phillipines, Korea, Italy, China, Manchuko and the Irish Republic

followed suit. On 8th November 1943, in a conference of the free states of the

East Asia held in Tokyo, General Tojo handed over the Andaman and Nicobar

islands to the Provisional Government. When Netaji landed on these islands,

he was extremely thrilled and delighted. In a statement, he exclaimed, “Very

much like the Bastille of French Revolution, it is these islands where our

freedom fighters had to undergo great sufferings, which are now being

liberated first. In memoriam of all these patriots who suffered and died here,

this island of Andaman is renamed as “Sahid Island” and the Nicobar as the

“Swarajya Island!” On 30th December 1943, the flag of Free India

Government was hoisted on the islands. On 26th January 1944, the Indians

celebrated their Independence Day in Rangoon. On this jubilant occasion,

Subhas Bose took off his necklace to auction it for collecting funds for the

Free India Army and one gentleman bid seven lakhs of rupees for this coveted

possession. Another one offered all his wealth. The Government did want

money for the struggle. A capital of fifty lakhs of dollars was subscribed and

the Free India Bank was floated. From Burma alone this bank received

deposits of eight and a half crores of rupees. Some well established traders of

| January-June 2014 53 P a g e

Rangoon donated a sum of twenty lakhs of dollars for the provisional expenses

of the administration and the army.

The March of I.N.A

In the month of January 1944, the I.N.A. marched from Rangoon towards

India. They reached Indo-Burma borders on 4th February and launched their

attack on British forces. The INA had about 20,000 soldiers fighting for Indian

Freedom. On 18th March, under the leadership of Captain Shah Nawaz, they

entered Manipur, and hoisted the National Flag of Free India. They also

besieged Imphal, the capital of Manipur State. The military skill and bravery

that this Army showed in its encounters startled the British generals. The

women’s platoons in the National Army also exhibited unique bravery. It is

said that some of the soldiers tied explosive bombs on their backs and hurled

their bodies under the heavy British war tanks to explode them. For sixteen

hours on end the women platoons could fight against the British forces. The

National Army was forced to raise their siege of Imphal only on account of the

untimely heavy rains of Assam, which compelled them to close their

offensive.

In July 1944, at a special function in Rangoon, Netaji celebrated the victory of

the I.N.A., and presented awards to the soldiers, commending their bravery in

the Arkan Invasion. When in August 1944, Field Marshal Subhas Chandra

Bose passed the orders of suspension of action on account of the monsoon, the

whole tract between Kohima to Palel was in possession of the Free India

Government. On 22nd

September, Martyrs’ Day was celebrated and on that

occasion Subhas gave the heroic clarion call addressed to the soldiers of the

I.N.A.: “Our Motherland is in search of freedom; ….Give me your blood – I

will give you your Independence. This is the demand of the Goddess of

Independence.” As soon as the speech was over, a number of people rushed

forward to sign in their own blood the pledge of surrender and service.

The Catastrophe

Though the Azad Hind Fauz was progressing well and it held out great hopes

in spite of the initial reverses, the sudden turn of events in the European

theatre of war gave a rude shock to Subhas. Herr Hitler attacked Russia, and

the Germans started facing reverses, which culminated in their capitulation on

7th May 1945, leaving Japan alone to bear the brunt of the war. On the 13

th of

54 TATTVA DARSANA

August, Hiroshima and Nagasaki were bombed, and the Japanese also

surrendered.

The news of the sudden capitulation of Japan reached the ears of Subhas on

the 18th of August 1945. He left Bangkok hurriedly for Tokyo. He arrived in

Saigon, and was held up there for want of transport. A Japanese plane was

flying to Tokyo in which seats were procured for Subhas and his companion

Colonel Habibur Rahman. It is stated that both of them got into the plane,

which crashed on the Formosa Island, reportedly killing Netaji Subhas

Chandra Bose. However, several questions raised in responsible quarters, like

whether he died in the plane crash or whether he was taken as a war prisoner

or whether he settled down later in Free India in the guise of an unknown

recluse hiding his identity for ever from his beloved countrymen remain

unanswered. Netaji did not die in plane crash as was propagated, but he was

imprisoned in Siberia. Gandhi and Nehru knew this but made no efforts to get

him released. Shri K.S. Sudharshanji, Sarsanghchalak of Rashtreeya

Swayamsevak Sangh, has in his speech on the occasion of the 150th

anniversary of 1857 Indian War of Independence, rightly demanded the

Government of India to table the report of Mukherji Commission which has

gone into the disappearance of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, in Parliament,

and has alleged that the reluctance to do so raises questions about its content.

He has claimed that two Indian ambassadors, including Vijaya Lakshmi

Pandit, had met Bose in a Russian jail. After his release, Netaji settled down

near Ayodhya as Gumnami Baba and died in 1985. He has pointed out that the

forensic test of Baba's handwriting matched with that of Netaji. The Netaji

Enquiry Commission had all the detailed information about this but the

commission report is still concealed by the Government. Truth will however

come out one day or other.

7. I.N.A.’s FATAL BLOW TO BRITISH EMPIRE

Though the Allies re-conquered all their lost possessions, the British in India

found that a sense of hostility and a desire for conflict took roots in the minds

of the three wings of the Defence forces. The brave INA soldiers who were

termed rebels and captured and brought to India were tried for treason. Not

only the civil population, but also the soldiers in the three wings of the

Military-- Army, Navy and Air Force—began to hate the contemptuous

treatment meted out to the freedom fighters. Consequently the British found

| January-June 2014 55 P a g e

their grip loosening, and they had to submit to the pressure of the army-men to

unconditionally release the soldiers of the I.N.A., who had participated in the

War of Independence. The silent surrender of the British to the pressure of

public opinion and their loss of prestige in the international politics had very

adverse effects on the defence forces of India. The British realized that the

Indian armed forces could not be kept under their hold for a long time. The

strike of the Air Force men in Karachi on 20th January 1946, at Bombay and

Lahore on 9th and 11

th January, and at Delhi on 15

th January shook the might

of British. 5200 Airmen participated in the general strike. On 19th February,

5000 personnel of the Navy attacked the English officers and soldiers in the

city of Bomby. They displayed the badges of Azad Hind Fauz on their

breasts. On 21st February the mutiny in the Navy assumed a form of

threatening revolution. In sympathy with the Navy-men in arms, 1000 fighting

men in the Air Force observed strike. Calcutta, Delhi, Karachi and Madras

were already burning with rage. Ambala and Rangoon were also affected In

short, the Indian soldiers who got inspiration from Netaji Subhas Chandra

Bose and the heroic saga of his INA, demonstrated in unmistakable protest

against the British authority almost telling them in action that they refused to

fight under their flag or recognize their authority.

The British came to realize fully well that they could not check the revolution

in the Army, Navy and Air Force or hold the Indian Empire and carry on the

administration on the meager strength of the British Forces in India. Realizing

that if they stretched their rule a little longer on the strength of their sword-

arm, there was sure catastrophe of being hounded out of India, the British

decided to quit with honour and grace. It was the last blow which Subhas had

given to the mighty British power, which the British had no strength to bear,

that had compelled the shrewd rulers to wind up their empire, to withdraw

their soldiers and leave the country to its destiny. In the debate in the House

of Commons prior to the passing of the Independence of India Act, in reply to

the questions of Mr. Winston Churchill, Earl Atlee, the British Prime Minister,

confessed that Britain had to give up empire in India because (1) the British

army was shattered in the World War and Britain could not afford to send

troops to India to maintain the empire, (2) the Indian mercenaries in the Indian

Army, Navy and Air Force could not any more be relied upon and had

revolted under the influence of INA creating mutiny in the three wings of

military, and (3) the non-violent movement of Gandhiji, which the British

expected to keep the Indian people passive, had totally failed and the quit

56 TATTVA DARSANA

India movement turned violent forcing Gandhiji to withdraw his movement,

and in these conditions, the British could not hold on to their empire in India.

Mother Bharat became free on August 15, 1947, breaking the shackles that

had bound her for centuries. Today, when Free India remembers the glorious

saga of her freedom movement, she gratefully pays her homage to the

countless number of freedom fighters who offered their lives at her feet,

particularly those heroes who laid down their lives in distant lands, far away

from their Mother, in the hope that one day their Motherland would become

free and emerge as a powerful independent nation in the World. Free India

also bows its head to the patriotic soldiers of Indian Army, Navy and Air-force

who rose in revolt giving the final blow to the British might and made the

Empire crumble into dust.

(Original article written and a condensed version first published in “Mother

India’s Children Abroad”, Vivekananda Kendra Patrika, Vol. 2, No. 1, in

February 1973.)

Lives of Revolutionaries

The lives of revolutionaries were full of thrills. They had done many

heroic deeds and shown much presence of mind. But none knows

their names nor anybody will care to know them. It is not possible to

write the history of either the revolutionary parties or the

revolutionaries in a dependent country. Had it been an independent

country, novels and dramas would have been written on the lives of

these revolutionaries. Those who pave the way towards

independence by labouring hard day and night being un-fed or half-

fed during the dark age, generally remain unrecognized in the

society. Nobody knows them, remembers in the people's society.

People of today think they were ignorant, uneducated, inactive and

coward people. Our future generation also will think alike about us.

But the people do not know that the present is the outcome of past!

—Trailokya Nath Chakraborthy

| January-June 2014 57 P a g e

GLIMPSES OF A GREAT YOGI Part II— The Deekshaa Guru

as Seen by the Shishya

Sadhu Prof. V. Rangarajan

Chapter 13

MASTER’S BLESSINGS ON DISCIPLE’S BIRTHDAY

Bhagavan Yogi Ramsuratkumar’s blessings made the members of Yogi

Ramsuratkumar Youth Association to march ahead with their service

activities, especially visiting hospitals to meet patients and inspiring them to

take to Ramnam Japa. Devotes from abroad, like Lee Lozowick, were in

contact and, in order to make the reports of Sister Nivedita Academy and Yogi

Ramsuratkumar Youth Association, and news about various other

developments in the Hindu world reach them and devotees inside the country

58 TATTVA DARSANA

as frequently as possible, it was decided to launch a News and Feature

Service, HINDU VOICE INTERNATIONAL, with the blessings of

Bhagavan. On September 2, 1989, a special satsang was held in the house of a

devotee, Revati Raghunathan and, apart from members of the YRYA, Swami

Rakhal Chandra Paramahamsa also attended. The next day, another

programme was held in Periyar Nagar, Chennai.

Sri Shankar Shastri, a Senior Pracharak of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh,

who had also served as the All India Secretary of Vishwa Hindu Parishad and

General Secretary of Swami Vivekananda Medical Mission, wanted to have

darshan of Bhagavan and Smt. Bharati Rangarajan and Vivekanandan took

him to Tiruvannamalai on Monday, September 4, 1989. Will Zulkosky, a

devotee from America, wanted books and publications on Bhagavan and we

arranged to send him a set. Mother Christina of Sacred Heart Leprosy Centre,

who had darshan of Yogiji with Rosoura and Christie, came to Triplicane to

meet this sadhu. Master sent through a devotee couple who visited Him at

Tiruvannamalai, leaflets in Marathi to be distributed to Ramnam devotees.

This sadhu’s lectures in the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan’s Rajaji College in

Chennai on Cultural Heritage of India attracted more youths to the Youth

Association and they got interested in Bhagavan. On September 28, 1989, this

sadhu wrote a letter to Bhagavan reporting about the progress of our work:

“Poojyapada Gurudev,

Vande Mataram! Aum Namo Bhagavate Yogi Ramsuratkumaraya! Aum Sri

Ram Jai Ram Jai Jai Ram! My humble salutations and prostrations at your

holy feet!

By your benign grace and blessings, my vrata is progressing and it will

conclude on Vijayadashami Day. My health is not at all affected and my work

continues unhindered. All others are also keeping well.

We are celebrating the Jayanti of Pujya Mataji Krishnabai with an Akhand

Ramnam Japa and Satsang from dawn to dusk tomorrow at the Vinayaga

Temple in Rohini Gardens, Madras. The Ramnam Yagna is also fast

progressing. Enclosed please find a circular in this regard.

We will be bringing out a Ramnam Special Issue of TATTVA DARSANA on

Vijayadashami. We are also starting our unique News and Feature Service,

HINDU VOICE INTERNATIONAL, to give wide coverage to all spiritual,

| January-June 2014 59 P a g e

cultural and religious news in the Hindu world, including the International

Ramnam Yagna.

We have sent by separate book post, a souvenir released by this humble

servant in connection with the public worship of a16-feet Vinayaga idol,

installed in Triplicane on the occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi and taken out for

immersion in a grand procession to the sea on the last 10th.

The All India Radio, Madras-A, will broadcast my talk on SPIRITUAL

BASIS OF PATRIOTISM on Monday, 30th October 1989, at 8-20 AM, in

connection with a week-long programme to mark the martyrdom of Smt.

Indira Gandhi which occurred on October 31.

Please listen to the Radio Talk and bless this humble disciple to do his best

services to our great Motherland.

My mother, Vivek, Nivedita, Smt. Bharati, Dr. Radhakrishnan, and all our

brethren in the Yogi Ramsuratkumar Youth Association, want me to convey

their humble pranams to you. Our daily satsang and bhajans are well attended.

Mr. Will Zulkosky from New York and Sow Seeta from HOHM. Arizona,

have written to me asking me to convey their prostrations to you.

With saashthaanga pranaams,

Your humble disciple

(Sd./-) Sadhu Rangarajan

Encl: a/a”

Mataji Krishnabai’s Jayanti was celebrated on a grand scale and a number of

devotees participated in it. Vivek and Narayanan went to Tiruvannamalai on

Gandhi Jayanti Day, October 2, 1989. Yogi Ramsuratkumar was eagerly

waiting in front of Gandhi statue to participate in the garlanding of the statue

in the morning. In the afternoon, when the devotees met the Master, He was

joking, “Alms were distributed to poor people on the occasion of Gandhi

Jayanti, but this Beggar was left out”.

This sadhu ended his fifty five day’s fast from Gayatri to Vijayadashami, on

October 10, 1989, with Prasad from Sri Parthasarathi Temple. Fri K.

Kuhlmann, a foreign devotee who met Master at Tiruvannamalai was sent to

60 TATTVA DARSANA

this sadhu’s abode to get books on Him. With the blessings of the Master, this

sadhu’s talk on “Spiritual Basis of Patriotism” was recorded by the All India

Radio, Chennai, on October 13, 1989. A special satsang was held at Rohini

Gardens, Chennai, on October 16, and Swami Madurananda of Anandashram,

Kanhangad, participated and rendered Bhajans. On October 18, we received a

letter from Prof. Devaki reporting about 46 lakh Ramnam Japa done by her

group at Salem. The Trust Deed of Sister Nivedita Academy was prepared by

Bhagavan’s devotee, Sri Ponraj, Chartered Accountant, and was finalized to

be presented before Bhagavan for His approval and blessings. On October 20,

we wrote a letter to Bhagavan:

“Poojyapada Gurudev,

Vande Mataram! Aum Namo Bhagavate Yogi Ramsuratkumaraya! Aum Sri

Ram Jai Ram Jai Jai Ram! My humble salutations and prostrations at your

holy feet!

By your benign grace and blessings, my 55-day fast successfully ended on

Vijayadashami Day, October 10, 1989.

TATTVA DARSANA Ramnam Special Issue and the first specimen bulletin

of our unique News and Feature Service, HINDU VOICE

INTERNATIONAL, are ready. I will be coming there on Saturday, 21st

October 1989, by evening, to place the first copies of these at your holy feet

and seek your blessings. Sri Ponraj, Chartered Accountant, who has been

helping us in our work and in whose house we had two satsangs of our Yogi

Ramsuratkumar Youth Association, and the President of our Youth

Association, Dr. C.V. Radhakrishnan, will come with me for your darshan.

We also want to discuss with you about our proposal to register Sister

Nivedita Academy as a Charitable Trust.

My talk on SPIRITUAL BASIS OF PATRIOTISM to be broadcast by All

India Radio, Madras-A, at 8-20 AM on 30th October, has already been

recorded in the studios of AIR, Madras, last week. In the talk, I have made a

special mention about your holiness, quoting from the book of Dr. Sujata

Vijayaraghavan, about your love for the country and the people. I have also

quoted Smt. Indira Gandhi’s words stressing the need for spiritual values in

building the New India. I do hope, your holiness will hear this speech and

bless me.

| January-June 2014 61 P a g e

HINDUISM TODAY, a very popular international monthly coming from

Mauritius and published by the Saiva Siddhanta Church of H.H. Swami

Sivaya Subramaniam, Hawaii, USA, has sent a letter requesting me to prepare

a feature article about your holiness and send it to them along with your

photographs. They have also sent a questionnaire for eliciting information for

the feature. I am enclosing herewith a copy of their letter. I pray to your

holiness to give me your orders as to what I should do in this regard. I shall

discuss this when we come there.

Swami Madurananda of Anandashram was here on Monday and we had a very

lively Bhajan and Satsang under the auspices of YOGI RAMSURATKUMAR

YOUTH ASSOCIATION. There was a big gathering.

Kumari Nivedita and her friends have joined Vivek and his friends in the Yogi

Ramsuratkumar Youth Association, under the guidance of Dr. C.V.

Radhakrishnan, in visiting the patients in the hospital on Sundays to give them

your Prasad and to motivate them to do Ramnam chanting. The Ramnam

Yagna is fast progressing and the Ramnam accounts are pouring in from

various parts of the country and abroad. Poojya Swami Satchidanandaji has

written expressing his happiness over our work. It is all because of your

blessings and grace that we have been able to play our humble part in this

great work. While I am typing out this letter, a devotee, Tyagaraja, has

telephoned from South Africa, to request me to convey his namaskars to you

and to inform you that he will be coming next year to India to have your

darshan.

Sri Lee Lozowick has written to me that he and his friends will be flying into

Madras by Malaysian Airlines flight on November 26 afternoon. We are

starting our Ramnam Saptah on November 25, to culminate in your Jayanti on

December 1. Sri M.P. Narayan, Chairman of Coal India, has also informed us

that he will try to attend the Saptah at Madras.

Rest in person.

With Saashthaanga pranaams,

Your humble disciple,

(Sd/-) V. Rangarajan

Encl: a/a”

62 TATTVA DARSANA

After posting the letter to Yogi Ramsuratkumar, the very next day this sadhu

had to send a rejoinder in which he had to inform Bhagavan that there was a

small change in the programme of this sadhu’s visit. As this sadhu was

reminded by a student of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan that he was expected to take

a class on Ramayana for the students and about 150 students were expected to

attend the class on October 21, this sadhu begged to Bhagavan to permit him

to visit Him on Sunday, 22nd

October 1989. He also mentioned in the letter:

“On October 22, I am completing 49 years and entering into the 50th year,

according to English calendar. However, according to Hindu Panchang, today,

Ardra Nakshatra, is my janma nakshatra. I pray for your benign blessings and

grace.”

On October 22, 1989, the fiftieth birth-day of this sadhu, we left for

Tiruvannamalai in the early morning. Vivekanandan, Auditor Ponraj, Dr.

Radhakrishnan and the latter’s son, Bhaskar, joined this sadhu. On reaching

Tiruvannamalai, sadhu’s elder brother, Lakshmikanthan, joined us and all of

us proceeded to the abode of the Master. Already a big crowd was there and

yet, Master received all of us. As soon as we were seated, He asked Vivek

whether we had written to Him about our visit. This sadhu replied to Him that

we had sent two letters and told Him about the contents of those letters. He

said, He had not yet received the letters and otherwise, He would have

prepared Himself to receive us. He said, Pon Kamaraj had called on Him. This

sadhu said that Pon Kamaraj had visited the sadhu at our abode in Chennai and

we had also told him about our visit to Tiruvannamalai. Yogi said, since six

o’clock in the morning, He had not taken anything. Pon Kamraj came and later

a stream of visitors came in. He asked Gajaraj who was there to give Him

some chapattis and He took the breakfast in the noon. This sadhu introduced

those who had come with him, including his brother, Kanthan. Later some

officials of the Income Tax Department came there and informed Bhagavan

that Miss Vijayalakshmi, IRS, Member, Appellate Authority, (Who is now Ma

Vijayalakshmi of Yogi Ramsuratkumar Ashram, Tiruvannamalai) was coming

to have His darshan. When she came, Bhagavan received her. By then, this

sadhu had placed the Ramnam Special Issue of TATTVA DARSANA and the

first bulletin of HINDU VOICE INTERNATIONAL at His feet. Yogi glanced

through them. He showed us a book which had come to Him. It was “SAINTS

ALIVE” by Hilda Charlton, published by Golden Quest, Woodstock, New

York. This sadhu showed it to all friends who had come with him.

Vijayalakshmi presented a gift pack to Bhagavan and also another packet

containing three saris which she wanted Bhagavan to distribute to anybody He

liked. Bhagavan accepted the gift pack presented to Him and after blessing the

| January-June 2014 63 P a g e

second packet, returned it to her with his remark, “It is not this beggar’s work

to distribute these. My Father has given to this beggar some other work.” He

jovially said, He was very selfish and accepted anything gifted to Him, but

never for giving to others. He also said that clothes worth a few hundred

rupees were given to Him by Harshad Pandit for distribution, but He had

returned it. He pointed out that even the books placed at His feet by Rangaraja

were returned to him with His blessings and He never distributed anything. He

recalled that someone had placed before Him some calendars with His

photograph and there was a big rush to receive them and He could not cope up

with that.

Vijayalakshmi told the Master that she was not getting concentration while

meditating and the mind was running here and there. Bhagavan replied: “Let

the mind run anywhere. Ultimately it has to return to the heart where Rama is,

like a bird perched on the top of the flag mast of a ship on sail in the mid-sea

flies here and there and ultimately returns to the same place. Further, wherever

the mind runs, everywhere the Lord is and we should not bother about that.”

Bhagavan quoted Surdas telling that even if the mind runs anywhere, the lips

must go on mechanically uttering the name of the Lord. She said it was

impossible to keep up faith. Bhagavan quoted Gita, “Samshayaatmaa

vinashyati”. She said, she did not follow. This sadhu intervened and explained

it in English, “A doubting person perishes.” She clarified that she never

doubts, but when problems crop up the mind becomes weak. This sadhu

remarked that it was a case of “Arjuna Vishada Yoga”—the despondency of

Arjuna. Master said, one must have absolute faith all the time.

Vijayalakshmi told the Master that she had heard about this sadhu from

Devaki. This sadhu gave her copies of some of our publications and she said,

she had already received GLIMPSES OF A GREAT YOGI through Devaki.

She wanted to make some offerings to us which this sadhu asked her to send

later. The Master asked her to do Ramnam chanting. This sadhu introduced to

her Ponraj, Radhakrishnan, Kanthan and Vivek. When this sadhu referred to

Kanthan as his elder brother, Yogiji enquired in detail about him. This sadhu

told Bhagavan that Kanthan was posted to Tiruvannamalai as Treasury Officer

and was staying alone in a room. When we told Bhagavan that he had

undergone two open heart surgeries, Bhagavan asked whether he was alright

now. When Kanthan gave Bhagavan a negative reply and said he had even

now problems, Bhagavan asked him to come near and sit by His side. Holding

his hand, Bhagavan started working on him. Kanthan said, he had pain and

64 TATTVA DARSANA

palpitation while walking. Bhagavan asked him to get up and walk some

distance and asked us to watch the duration of palpitation. He then asked

Kanthan to keep in touch with Him and Kanthan promised to meet Him again.

Bhagavan was pleased to hear about the progress of Ramnam Japa Yagna.

This sadhu read out the editorial from the special issue of TATTVA

DARSANA on Ramnam and the message of Poojya Swami Satchidananda

which the Master listened to with interest. A chartered accountant who had

come with Vijayalakshmi said that by Master’s grace, a projection in his head

vanished. Radhakrishnan told Bhagavan that Prof. Balasuramaniam of Erode

had reported about his cure by Bhagavan’s grace. Bhagavan said, in the case

of Kanthan also He wanted to invoke Father’s grace, but it will take some time

to get complete cure. Bhagavan showed us the Swami Matches with Fan

symbol.

This sadhu told Bhagavan about our Ramnam Saptah and Lee Lozowick's

programme. We also told him about the contribution of Ramnam counts by

Devaki and Sandhya. We told him about the Radio talk of this sadhu and

informed Vijayalakshmi also about our talks on the country and the people.

Yogi asked Vijayalakshmi what the people will do if Government takes away

everything by way of tax. She and Ponraj pointed out that the impact was very

low in India when compared to taxation in other countries.

Before Vijayalakshmi took leave, the auditor asked for a copy of TATTVA

DARSANA and Bhagavan gave it to him. After she left, Bhagavan spent some

more time with us. He went and sat before Kanthan. Bhagavan asked Vivek to

take the yagna danda of this sadhu. He asked this sadhu not to touch it and

Vivek took it in his hand and gave it to Bhagavan. Bhagavan said, “This is

sannyasa danda. This Beggar is not a sannyasi, but Rangaraja is and therefore

he holds it. This Beggar is simply holding it in hand and by holding it He will

not become a sannyasi.” He smiled and told this sadhu that Kamandala has not

yet come. This sadhu showed Him the Kottankucchi (coconut shell) given by

Him. He laughed and said, it cannot become Kamandala.

Bhagavan spoke about this sadhu’s work, GLIMPSES OF A GREAT YOGI,

and how it has attracted people. He called Bhaskar to sit by his side and then

asked him whether he learnt philosophy from his father. Bhaskar replied that

he was interested in Commerce and in sports. This sadhu told Bhagavan that

by His blessings and grace Bhaskar had been to Malaysia for a sports event.

| January-June 2014 65 P a g e

Bhagavan then started discussing about sports. When Dr. Radhakrishnan told

him that Rugby was a game different from football and was very aggressive,

Yogiji remarked jovially that Swami Vivekananda wanted us to be

“aggressive”.

Yogiji turned to Vivek and asked him about his health. He also enquired about

Sadhu’s mother, Bharati and Nivedita. He questioned him about the progress

in his and Nivedita’s studies. Recalling the blood donation campaign that they

had organized, Bhagavan said, no more such campaigns need be organized by

the Youth Association. This sadhu assured Him that we have advised the

youth to concentrate in the Ramnam Campaign. He expressed His happiness

and remarked that all their energy must be diverted to higher spiritual

activities. He asked Kanthan to sit again by His side and offered a peeled

banana to him. He held his hand and prayed for him.

This sadhu told Bhagavan about the letter from HINDUISM TODAY and read

it out to Him. After listening to the questionnaire from the journal, Bhagavan

asked this sadhu to prepare the reply to those questions on His behalf and

show it to Him before sending it. He gave to this sadhu, copies of Truman

Caylor Wadlington’s book, “YOGI RAMSURATKUMAR—God Child –

Tiruvannamalai”, some photographs and a copy of His message printed

sometime back and asked this sadhu to send them to the magazine. This sadhu

told Bhagavan about the corrected version of the message printed in TATTVA

DARSANA and showed it to Him. He asked this sadhu to send them all. He

also asked this sadhu to get Hilda Charlton’s work and send it along with Lee

Lozowick’s poems published in TATTVA DARSANA.

Bhagavan then heard with patience, the draft Trust Deed of Sister Nivedita

Academy and asked us to refer it to an advocate also before registering it.

When this sadhu told Him that he was getting the signature of Vivek also as a

trustee, Bhagavan asked Vivek whether he agreed to this sadhu making the

Trust. Vivek said, he fully agreed, he was happy and will not make any claim

on the possessions of this sadhu. Bhagavan felt very happy and blessed him.

This sadhu told Bhagavan that some of the students of Bharatiya Vidya

Bhavan’s Rajaji College wanted to have His darshan, He asked this sadhu to

bring them after informing Him after Deepavali. He blessed this sadhu for the

success of the humble work that he was doing.

66 TATTVA DARSANA

Before sending away Gajaraj and his grandson, Yogi Ram, Bhagavan jovially

asked Gajaraj where was ‘Gajarani’. He blessed the family. He took the boy’s

spectacle and blessed it. By then, Anbazhakan, son-in-law of former Governor

of Kerala Sri P. Ramachandran, came there. Bhagavan asked this sadhu

whether he remembered him and recalled out meeting in Bhagavan’s presence

some time ago.

Before seeing off this sadhu, Bhagavan took a big garland and put it around

this sadhu’s neck, blessing this sadhu on his birthday. He collected all the

fruits in His presence and dumped them into the bag carried by Vivek for

distribution as Prasad to all devotees. We all prostrated to Him, took His

blessings again and took leave of Him. After darshan in the Arunachaleswara

temple, we left Tiruvannamalai and reached Chennai before midnight.

The fiftieth birthday of this sadhu was full of blissful divine experience of

Bhagavan and we retired to the bed in the night, chanting “Yogi

Ramsuratkumar, Yogi Ramsuratkumar, Jaya Guru Raya!”

A Tribute to Sadhu Rangarajan

Finally, I salute Sri Rangarajan, the hero of this article and stress that a

patriotic sadhu dedicated to serve Bharat Mata is not an ascetic but a saint,

who seeks Mukti through national glory. He represents Lord Shiva, who is

both a warrior and lover. It is high time that the Hindus were taught the

Vedic virtues of fighting evil to uphold the cause of righteousness. To a

virtuous Hindu, nothing is more righteous than serving Bharat Mata. She is

the fountain of life for all those who live on her soil. Therefore, her dignity

and honour must be the priority of all her sons and daughters. It is essential

that consciousness of the dignity of Bharat Mata is preached with utmost

zeal and sincerity. This goal is best achieved if every sadhu learns to girdle

himself with a sword to lead the way for Dharma Yudh. Let every Hindu

temple be adorned with a statue of Bharat Mata and have facilities for

training the devotees in martial arts and patriotism. This is a job for the

great Sadhu Rangarajan, the creator of Vande Mataram. Singing patriotic

hymns is great but making people true patriots, eager to serve the cause of

Bharat Mata, is immensely greater. In England, they say: "An ounce of

practice is better than a ton of theory."

—Anwar Shaikh (Article on Bharat Mata in LIBERTY Quarterly, July 1995)

| January-June 2014 67 P a g e

SPIRITUAL BASIS OF PATRIOTISM

Sadhu Prof. V. Rangarajan

Aum veda rishaya samaarabhya, vedaantaachaaryaa madyamaah,

Yogi Ramsuratkumara paryantam, vande guruparamparaam!

--Salutations and adorations to all the great preceptors of the holy land of

Bharatavarsha, right from the Vedic Rishis, through Vedanta Acharyas, to my

Deekshaaguru, Yogi Ramsuratkumar Maharaj of Tiruvannamalai!

Writing on the Indian National Ideals, the renowned scholar, Irene Ray, says:

“Spiritual power. Not social, not political power is the strength of India. The

emotional integration of the country will be achieved when all the hearts beat

to the same tune of spiritual oneness.”

Since times immemorial, spiritualism has been the bedrock on which the

edifice of our glorious nationhood has been built up. The Vedic Rishi prays in

a sookta in the Atharvana Veda: “Oh Mother, those who hate us, those who

march with armies to overpower us, those who think evil of us in their minds,

and those who desire our death and destruction, may you crush them to pieces;

it is this my Motherland on whose lap my forefathers, the great Rishis,

performed sacrifices, penances and sang songs in the seven seasons.”

The Mahaabhaarata proclaims: “Bharat is the greatest land on earth, and it

alone is the Land of Action, while the rest are Lands of Pleasure. It is only

after great acquisition of merit that a person gets the privilege of being born a

human being in this country.”

It is our glorious tradition to invoke the Bharata Bhavani—Mother India—in

all the 52 Shakti Peethas of our land and offer our worship to the Desha

Maatrikaa—the Mother in the form of Motherland. As soon as a person wakes

up in the morning, he prays:

“Samudra vasane devi parvata sthana mandale

Vishnupatnee namastubhyam, paadasparsham kshamaswa me!”

68 TATTVA DARSANA

“Oh Mother, Bhoodevi, consort of Vishnu, whose robe is the sea and the

breasts are the mountains, forgive my sacrilege in having to place my foot on

thy body.”

Not only in the ancient period, but also in the medieval period, Indian

nationalism and patriotic sentiments were nourished and nurtured by spiritual

giants. The great patriot and nationalist, Mahadev Govind Ranade, throwing

light on the role played by spiritual stalwarts in enabling Chhatrapati Shivaji to

found the Hindu Padpadshahi says: “It will be sufficient here to state that by

the influence of Ramdas and Tukaram, the national sentiment was kept at a

higher level of spirituality and devotion to public affairs than it would

otherwise have attained.”

Our former President, Dr. S. Radhakrishnan, referring to the role of Guru

Nanak, the founder of Sikhism, says, “Nanak strove to bring Hindus and

Muslims together. His life and teachings are a symbol of harmony between the

two communities.

In the modern period, the nationalistic and patriotic sentiments of the people

received a tremendous inspiration and force from the preaching of great

spiritual savants like Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, Raja Ram Mohan Roy,

Swami Dayananda, Swami Vivekananda, Mahayogi Sri Aurobindo, Sister

Nivedita and Smt. Annie Besant. According the renowned historian, V.P.

Varma, “the Hindu nationalism which received impetus from the life and

teachings of Dayanand has been the dominant element in Indian Nationalism.”

It is a well-known fact that Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa sent young

Narendra to Bankim Chandra Chatterjee, the great author of Ananda Math,

whose vision of the Immortal Mother Bharat opened the eyes of the youth and

turned Narendra into a patriot monk, Swami Vivekananda, who exclaimed:

“What a land! Whosoever stands on this sacred land, whether alien or a child

of the soil, feels himself surrounded—unless his soul is degraded to the level

of animals—by the living thoughts of the earth’s best and purest sons, who

have been working to raise the animal to the Divine through centuries, whose

beginning history fails to trace. The very air is full of the pulsations of

spirituality.”

Echoing her master’s sentiments, Sister Nivedita gave a clarion call: “Let love

for country and countrymen, for people and soil, be the mould into which our

lives flow hot.”

| January-June 2014 69 P a g e

Referring to the role of Bankim Chandra Chatterjee, another fiery patriot-saint,

Mahayogi Sri Aurobindo, says: “Among the Rishis of the later age we have at

last realized that we must include the name of the man who gave us the

reviving Mantra which is creating a New India, the Mantra of Bande

Mataram!”

Swami Rama Tirtha propounded patriotism as practical Vedanta. He roared:

“The land of India is my own body. The Comorin is my feet, the Himalayas

my head. From my hair flows the Ganges, from my head come the

Brahmaputra and the Indus. The Vindhyachalas are girt round my loins. The

Coromondal is my left and the Malabar my right leg. I am the whole of India

and its east and west are my arms.”

Sri Aurobindo declared emphatically: “Nationalism is not a mere political

programme. Nationalism is a religion that has come from God.”

The illustrious disciple of Mahayogi Sri Aurobindo, Maharshi Ramana and

Swami Ramdas—my Master, Yogi Ramsuratkumar—rightly points out: “The

Land of Bharatavarsha is a land of sacrifice and self-realization. The great

kings and emperors of this land, like Lord Ramachandra and Raghu Maharaja,

performed Vishwajit Yagas and offered their all in sacrifice. At the same time,

the greatest patriots of this land have been the great saints and sages who have

attained to the heights of spiritual realization.” Referring to the Yogi’s high

spirit of patriotism, Dr. Sujata Vijayaraghavan, author of “The Spiritual

Renaissance in India—1830-1980”, says: “Yogi Ramsuratkumar’s love of

men often expresses itself as love for India. He would visualize India as a vast

nectarine hive in which each member would play the part without motive of

personal gain.”

Smt. Indira Gandhi, our former Prime Minister, speaking from the ramparts of

the Red Fort in Delhi on the Independence Day in 1975, said: “India has also

its tradition of honouring sacrifice and service. Its special characteristic has

been to develop spiritual strength. While we may learn many things from other

countries, and not lose our minds to new ideas, we cannot ignore the roots we

have in our culture. Our culture stands for a synthesis of spiritual and scientific

values to evolve a new man. This is the demand of times and the need of the

society.”

70 TATTVA DARSANA

Mother Bharat has a proud heritage of nationalism which is not based on

religious creeds, dogmas and superstitions, but on the highest spiritual

sentiments which seek to find harmony and oneness in all beings. Let us stand

firm on these strong spiritual foundations and build a New India which will be

a beacon to the entire humanity to progress towards a realm of peace and

universal brotherhood. Vande Mataram!

(Talk broadcast by All India Radio, Madras-A, on Monday, 30th October

1989)

PATRIOTISM

The basis of our nationalism is not simply Bharat but ‘Bharat Mata’. Remove

the word ‘Mata’ and Bharat would remain just a piece of land. The affinity

between us and this land is established only with the relationship of the

mother. No piece of land can be called a country so long as the relationship

between it and the people living in it is not that of mother and son. This is

patriotism.

—Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya

Statement about ownership and other particulars regarding

TATTVA DARSANA according to Form IV, Rule 8, Circular of

the Registrar of Newspapers for India:

FORM 1V

1. Place of Publication: Bangalore. 2. Periodicity: Quarterly. 3.

Name of Printer, Publisher & Editor: Sadhu Prof. V. Rangarajan;

Nationality: Indian; Address: Founder Trustee, Sister Nivedita

Academy, 'Sri Bharati Mandir', Srinivasanagar, Krishnarajapuram,

Bangalore 560 036. 4. Names and addresses of individuals who own

the newspaper and partners and shareholders holding more than 1%

of the total capital: As above.

I, Sadhu Rangarajan, hereby declare that the particulars given above

are true to the best of my knowledge and belief.

1-3-2014 (Sd/-) Sadhu Rangarajan

Signature of Publisher

| January-June 2014 71 P a g e

SAINT POET RAMPRASAD

His Songs On Divine Mother—XX

Deba Prasad Basu Song 48

Marlum bhuter begar khete amar kechui sambal nei ko gete,

Nije hoi sarkari mute,miche mari begar khete,

Ami din majuri nitya kari,panchabhute khaigo bete.

Panchabhute ,chaita ripu .dasendriya maha lethe

Tara karo katha keno sone na,

Jeman andhajane hara danda,puna pele dhare ete

Ami temni mato dharte jai ma karmadoshe jai go chute.

Prasad bale bramhamayi karma dari de ma kete,

Pran jabar bela ei karo ma,jeno bramha randhra jai go phete.

Translation:

I am doing all useless jobs. I could not save anything. I am only a Government

(Mother’s) servant and I have to do useless jobs. I work on daily wages but the

fruits are taken away by the five elements constituting the body. Five

elements, six ripus and ten senses are big fighters. They do not listen to

anyone’s advice. And my days are passing. As the blind person holding the

stick will hold it more tightly, so I try to hold on to you, Mother, but because

of my faults I loose. Prasad says, Mother, you free me from bondage of work.

At the time of leaving this world, let the life force pass through the crown.

Notes: Ramprasad was a successful yogi and when he submitted himself to the

Ganges, it is said that a brilliant light went up through his crown to the sky.

Danda—supporting stick. duri—bondage. Brahma randhra—crown of the

head.

Song 49

Dosh karo nai go ma shyama

Ami swakhata salile dube mari shyama.

Shada ripu kodanda swarup,

Punya kshetra majhe katilam kup,

Se kupe padile kalo roop jal kala manorama.

Trigundharini bigun karo he swagune,

72 TATTVA DARSANA

Achi tor apikshe

De ma mukti bhikshe,

Katakshete karo par.

Translation:

Mother Shyama, it is nobody else’s fault, I am sinking in the well dug up by

myself. Six ripus are like a bow by which I dug up the well in a holy place. I

have fallen in that well, in the enchanting water looking black. What will

happen to me? Mother of three [gunas], by your kindness you make me rise

above gunas.

Notes: swakhata--dug up by myself. kodanda—bow. gunas--

sattva,rajas,tamas. katakshe—instantly. salile--water

Song 50

Man re tomar charan dhari

Kali bole dakre ore man

Tini bhava parer tari.

Kali namti bara mitha

Balre diba sarbari.

Ore jadi kali karen kripa

Tabe ki samane dari.

Dwija ramprasad bale

Kali bole jabo tari

Jadi tanai bole daya karen

Taraben a bhava tari.

Translation:

My mind, I beg to you to take to the name of Goddess Kali. She is the boat for

crossing the ocean of life. The name Kali is very sweet and you chant it day

and night. One need not be afraid of death if Kali bestows her kindness upon

him. Dwija Ramprasad says, I shall get salvation by taking to the name of

Kali. If Kali is kind to me for being Her son, She will ferry me across the

ocean of this world.

Notes: Charan--feet . Tori –boat. Bhava--world. sarbari –night. Tanai—son.

(Concluded)

| January-June 2014 73 P a g e

NEWS AND NOTES

Swami Vivekananda 150th

Year Celebration

Samanvaya members in Dasarahalli celebrated

the 150th Year of Swami Vivekananda on

Sunday, December 1, 2013. Sadhu Rangarajan

addressed the gathering on the occasion and

spoke about the role of Swami Vivekananda’s

role in India’s freedom struggle. Later, he

addressed yet another gathering in Sanjaynagar

also and spoke about Swami Vivekananda’s

clarion call to the people of India to come out of narrow sects and

Sampradayas and adore and worship Bharatamata to elevate Her to the

pedestal of Loka Guru.

Yogi Ramsuratkumar Jayanti and Sri Bharatamata Mandir Anniversary

The Jayanti of H.H. Yogi Ramsuratkumar, Godchild, Tiruvannamalai, -- the

Deeksha Guru of Sadhu Prof. V. Rangarajan — and the 9th Anniversary of Sri

Bharatamata Mandir were celebrated in a grand function held at Sri Guruji

Golwalkar Hall at Bharatamata Gurukula

Ashram, Krishnarajapuram, Bangalore, on

Sunday, December 8, 2013. Special

Abhisheka, Alamkara and Pooja to Sri

Bharata Bhavani, and Homa and Ramnam

Japa took place in the Mandir. The public

function was presided over by Sadhu

Rangarajan. Dr. Rajah Vijayakumar,

Chairman & M.D., Scalene Cybernatics

Ltd., Bangalore, was the Chief Guest on the

occasion. Sri Chakravarti Sulibele, Rajya Prabhari, Bharat Swabhiman, was

the Guest of Honour and gave an inspiring talk on the need to rouse the ideals

of spiritual nationalism in the heart of Bharatiyas. Delivering his Benedictory

Speech on the occasion, Sadhu Prof. V. Rangarajan recalled the message of

Mahayogi Sri Aurobindo to set up Bhavani Mandir to adore and worship Sri

Bharatamata as the supreme goddess and the efforts of patriot-sannyasi,

74 TATTVA DARSANA

Subramania Siva, to set up the Bharatamata Temple. Sadhuji said, it was the

dream of these great patriot saints that has found fulfilment in the setting up of

Sri Bharatamata Mandir at Bangalore, where regular poojas, abhisheka and

celebrations are held according to Tantrik rites. He said, the Navaratri

Celebrations and the celebration of Akshaya Triteeya with Pongala offering of

mothers are important festivals in the Mandir. He appealed to sisters and

mothers to participate in the Akshaya Triteeya celebrations on May 2, 2014, in

large numbers.

Geeta Jayanti

Geeta Jayanti was celebrated on a grand

scale with Srimad Bhagavad-Gita

Parayana Yagna for the 21st year under

the auspices of Vishwa Hindu Parishad

with mass chanting of all the eighteen

chapters of Bhagavad Gita by nearly ten

thousand people, majority of them

mothers and sisters, at Shankara Mutt,

Bangalore on Sunday, December 15, 2013. Spiritual heads of various mutts

and missions participated and lead the chanting. Children dressed like Krishna,

Radha, and Mira also participated in the celebration.

Swami Vivekananda 150th

Jayanti Celebration Samarop

Sadhu Prof. V. Rangarajan addressed the

Samarop function of Swami Vivekananda

150th birth anniversary celebrations in

Jaigopal Garodia Rashtrotthana Vidya

Kendra, Bangalore, on Sunday, January 12,

2014. Quoting Bhupendranath Dutta,

younger brother of Swami Vivekananda

and renowned revolutionary in India’s

freedom struggle, Sadhuji said that the

national ideal of Swami Vivekananda was the ideal of Bankim Chandra as

depicted in the latter’s novel, Ananda Math. Swamiji moulded his illustrious

disciple Nivedita into a powerful shaft in the struggle for India’s freedom

struggle and inspired thousands of youth to offer their lives at the altar of

Mother Bharat.

| January-June 2014 75 P a g e

The children of the school presented a skit on Swami Vivekananda and dance

and music programmes.

Samudra Poojan and Kuthumba Sangamam

Bharateeya Matsyapravartaka Sangham (Fishermen’s Association), Kerala

unit, organized a grand Samudra Poojan (Worship of Goddess of Ocean) and

Kuthumba Sangamam (Get-together of families) in the precincts of the sacred

temple of Kurumbha Bhagavati on the Parakkal sea shore at Mahi, near

Kannur, on the occasion of Makara Sankranti on Tuesday, January 14, 2014.

About a thousand people including women and children from fishermen

families participated in the congregational prayer. Addressing the gathering on

the occasion, Sadhu Prof. V. Rangarajan said, adoration and worship of Sea

God is an ancient Hindu tradition which was carried to distant lands by the

Hindus who went on voyages. He recalled, Nelson Mandela, former President

of South Africa, who was incarcerated for more than two decades in a small

island, Robben Island, near Capetown,

used to look at the vast sea around his

prison and pray to the Sea God, and read

Bhagavad Gita every day sitting in his cell

to receive inspiration and courage to face

the ordeals in the freedom struggle.

Sri A. Gopalakrishnan, National

Coordinator of Seema Jagaran Manch,

delivering his keynote address, pointed out that the people living on the sea

shores around the country were the real guards protecting the borders of the

country, serving without any expectation of remuneration. He also said that

Christian Evangelists were trying to convert on large scale the patriotic

fishermen community and destroy their Hindu ethos, and the Hindus living on

the sea shores should rise up to face this challenge.

Swami Vivekananda Jayanti & National Youth Day Oratorical Contests

Swami Vivekananda Jayanti and National Youth Day oratorical contests for

the school students were held for the twenty sixth consecutive year, under the

auspices of Yogi Ramsuratkumar Youth Association, a wing of Sister Nivedita

Academy, in the premises of New Indus Valley School, Bangalore, on

Saturday, January 25, 2014. Fifty students from various schools in the city

76 TATTVA DARSANA

participated and three prizes each in Senior, Junior and Sub-junior categories

were given. Yogi Ramsuratkumar Rolling shields were presented to New

Indus Valley School and Jaigopal Garodia

Rashtrotthana Vidya Kendra producing the

best students in each category. Sadhu

Rangarajan, addressing students, teachers and

parents who had gathered on the occasion said

that it was on the orders of his Deeksha Guru,

Yogi Ramsuratkumar Maharaj, that the

contests are held every year to inspire the

younger generation to imbibe the ideals of Swami Vivekananda and dedicate

their lives in the service of Motherland. Sri Rangaraja Iyengar, Member of

Advisory Committee of Jaigopal Garodia Rashtrotthana Vidya Kendra,

distributed the prizes and shields.

“Swami Vivekananda—Prophet of Patriotism”—

Book Release at Chennai

A new edition of “Swami Vivekananda—

Prophet of Patriotism” edited by Sadhu

Prof. V. Rangarajan was released in a

special function held under the auspices of

Swami Vivekananda 150th Birth

Anniversary Celebration Committee,

Chennai, at Shakti (RSS Karyalaya), on

Sunday, February 16, 2014. The function

was presided over by Sri K. Suryanarayan

Rao, Senior Pracharak of RSS, and Sadhu Prof. V. Rangarajan was Chief

Guest on the occasion. The book brought out by Sri Padmasundaram

Foundation was released by Dr. S. Kalyanaraman, Director, Saraswati River

Research Foundation and President of Ramaeswaram Rama Sethu Protection

Movement and the first copy was received by Sri V. Sundaram, IAS (Retd.),

Chairman of Sri Padmasundaram Foundation. Sri Sundaram, introducing the

book, said that it was a unique compilation of articles published in different

periods in TATTVA DARSANA quarterly and presented Swami Vivekananda

as a patriot and his role in India’s freedom movement. Sri Kalyana Raman,

releasing the book, said that renowned author and French biographer, Romain

Rolland, hailed Swami Vivekananda as one whose clarion call spread the spirit

of patriotism in the hearts of youth and sowed the seeds for the revolutionary

uprising for the freedom of Bharat.

| January-June 2014 77 P a g e

Sadhu Prof. V. Rangarajan, in his address, pointed out that it was Sri

Ramakrishna Paramahamsa who sent young Narendranath Dutta to the abode

of the great Rishi Bankim Chandra to get inspired by his mantra, Vande

Mataram, and his immortal work, Ananda Math, which turned Naren into a

patriotic sannyasi.. Bhupendra Nath Dutta, younger brother of Swami

Vivekananda, has said in his biography of his brother, “Swami Vivekananda—

Patriot-Propphet”, that Vivekananda’s national ideal was that of Bankim

Chandra as depicted in the novel, Ananda Math, and he commanded his

illustrious disciple Nivedita to “mould a mighty weapon out of the bones of

Bengali youth” to fight against the British and throw them out of our

Motherland.

Sri K. Suryanarayana Rao spoke about the role of Swami Vivekananda in

inspiring revolutionaries in India’s freedom struggle, like Hema Chandra

Ghosh, to take to the path of force and open fight and said, the Swami even

tried to get the help of the gun-maker, Hiram Maxim, to the Indian

revolutionaries.

Dr. N. Gopalakrishnan, Member of the State Committee for Swami

Vivekananda 150th Birth Anniversary Celebration, proposed vote of thanks.

Balalaya Pratishtha of Swami Ayyappa Temple

The Balalaya Pratishtha of Swami Ayyappa Temple at Yeshwantpur,

Bangalore, was held in the presence of Swami Vishwesha Teertha of Udupi

Pejawar Mutt on Wednesday, February 26, 2014.

Sadhu Prof. V. Rangarajan, who presided over a

public function in this connection, spoke about

the spread of Ayyappa cult all over the country

and in countries abroad like South Africa. He

spoke about the allegorical significance of

Ayyappa worship which combined two streams

of Hindu sampradayas—Vaishnavism and

Shaivism. Vishnu as Savitra Surya Narayana

represents the day and Shiva as Soma represents the night of the time element.

In South Africa, on the top of the Table Mountain in Capetown, there is a

Surya linga behind which the Sun appears at the beginning of Uttarayana, the

78 TATTVA DARSANA

summer solstice when days will be longer and a Soma Linga behind which the

Sun appears at the beginning of Dakshinayana, the winter solstice, when the

nights will be longer. The space-time continuum represented by the

Parabrahma Tatwam is symbolized in Hari Hara Suta, who is to be reached by

transcending eighteen steps—the five sense experiences, eight Ragas, three

Gunas, and Avidya and Vidya.

Shivaratri Celebration in Kasi Viswantaha Temple, Bangalore

Mahashivaratri was celebrated on a grand scale at Kashi Viswanatha Temple

at Vannarpet, Bangalore, on February 27, 2014,

with Homam, Kalashapooja, Rudrabhishekam and

Mangalarati in the morning and a public function

in the evening. Addressing the gathering on the

occasion, Sadhu Prof. V. Rangarajan recalled his

experiences in his participation in a massive

Shivaratri Celebration at Ganga Talab in

Mauritius. He said, Shivaratri symbolized the

worship of the Supreme Consciousness which is Formless (Aruvam) as well as

with Form (Uruvam) represented by Siva-Linga. Modern nuclear physics

asserts that it is Consciousness-Force represented by Shiva-Shakti which

produces out of energy (proton, neutron and electron) the elements, ether, air,

fire, water and earth out of which all existence emerges. Saint Tyagaraja in his

song, Naatda tanumanisham, points out that the form of Siva is Sabda

Brahman and His five mouths representing the five directions produce sound

vibrations out of which the whole creation emerges. Sadhuji said, Hinduism

does not stand on superstitious beliefs and Hindu way of life was scientific

and rational.

Sri Muttappan Tiruvappana Festival

Sri Parassini Mutthappan Tiruvappana Festival

was celebrated on a grand scale by the Sri

Parassini Mutthappan Sevasamity Trust,

Bangalore, at Krishnarajapuram, Bangalore, on

Saturday, March 8 and Sunday, March 9, 2014.

The celebrations started with Ganapati Homam

on Saturday morning. There was a Free Medical

Camp and Blood Donation Camp organized by

the Sevasamity in association with the Lions Club, Vijinapura. The flag

| January-June 2014 79 P a g e

hoisting for the celebration was performed by Sadhu Prof. V. Rangarajan of

Sri Bharatamata Mandir in the afternoon. It was followed by Mutthappan

Vellattam and Kalasha Ghoshayatra. Dance and Music programmes were held

in the night. On Sunday, in the morning, Thiruvappana Thira and Annadanam

took place. Pallivetta took place in the afternoon. There was a lucky draw for

the donors in the evening in which a car and scooter were given away as gifts.

Sneha Milan of RSS Kerala Swayamsevaks

The Akhil Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha Baithakh (All India Executive

Committee Meeting) of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh was held in Bangalore

on three days from Friday, March 7 to Sunday, March 9, 2014. As a part of the

meet, leaders of the movement from various provinces met the Swayamsevaks

of their respective States settled in Bangalore, in fourteen different venues on

Sunday. The meeting of the Swayamsevaks from Kerala took place at Jaigopal

Garodia Rashtrotthana Vidya Kendra’s auditorium in the evening. Leaders of

the Sangh from Kerala attended the Sneha Milan.

Sri P.E. B. Menon, Pranth Sanghchalak of

RSS, Kerala Province, presided over the

Milan baithak. Sri P.R. Sashidharan, Prant

Pracharak of RSS, Kerala, gave a talk

narrating the service activities of the Sangh

in the State. Saha Prant Karyavah of RSS,

Krnataka, Sri Sreedharaswami, also

addressed the gathering.

Earlier, senior Swayasevaks of the Sangh, Sadhu Prof. V. Rangarajan of Sri

Bharatamata Mandir, Sri Gopinath of Samanvaya and

Sri Vajrabahu of Vishwa Hindu Parishad narrated their experiences. Sadhu

spoke of his close association with the Sangh right from the age of 10 when he

met Paramapoojaneeya Sri Guruji Golwalkar for the first time and the

inspiration and guidance that he received from the great mentor after the sadhu

dedicated his life for the Sangh cause in 1964 and worked in various fields like

VHP, Bharatiya Jan Sangh, Vivekananda Kendra and Hindusthan Samachar

for decades. He spoke about the prodigious memory of Sri Guruji and his

extreme affection and concern which resembled the relationship of a father to

the son.

80 TATTVA DARSANA

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Edited, printed and published by Sadhu Prof. V. Rangarajan, Founder Trustee, Sister

Nivedita Academy, Sri Bharati Mandir, Srinivasanagar Krishnarajapuram, Bangalore

560 036. Printed at ….