After passing matriculation examination Vinayak Damodar took admission in famed ‘Fergusson College’ of Poona. By now he was well established as a writer of patriotic type and an eloquent speaker. So, he had a kind of young hero aura about him.
In the meantime, he got married to the daughter of the famous educationist Chiploonkar who had associated with Bal Gangadhar Tilak to spread modern education wave in Maharashtra. The reader must realise how worthy reputation Vinayak had earned to win the respect of such an educationist. Poona was then a happening place which was turning into a breeding ground of great sons of India and a pivotal point of freedom politics.
In the college Vinayak Damodar’s talents grew faster and became sharper. Vinayak had started writing ‘Savarkar’ as his surname for some reason. His articles and poems appeared in print under the same name.
Vinayak had a penchant for organising societies, clubs or bodies to extend himself to reach others. Here he started ‘Savarkar Group’ to put his natural organisational skills to good use. The group very soon began to function in a productive way by bringing out a weekly called ‘Aryan’. The weekly was mostly made of articles and verses written by Vinayak Savarkar which were soaked in his own brand of aggressive patriotism. Many local Marathi publications also carried his writings.
Everyone admired the style and writing skills of Vinayak Savarkar. But many of the teachers of the college disapproved of his line of thinking because he was too Hindu centric and saw everything through saffron tinted glasses. And he was roundly condemnatory to other communities unwilling to see their positive aspects. The prominent among the other communities was Islamic section that had managed to emerge as the second largest group of the Indian population as a result of medieval invasions and centuries of conversions through various methods. The teachers felt that Vinayak needed balanced thinking especially when Hindu society had become hot bed of social evils and the social reformers were trying hard to bring some reason and sanity into it.
There was also a big section of people among educated Indians who thought that presence of the British in India was necessary for the spread of education, social reforms and to build up progressive attitudes besides for the industrial progress of the country. Such people scoffed at those who talked of political freedom.
But Vinayak Savarkar was determined to push his agenda regardless. There used to be a news paper named ‘Kaal’ published from Poona. Vinayak met its editor, Pranjpe. ‘Kaal’ started printing articles written by him. It helped Vinayak get set in socio-political life of Poona. One of his articles read—‘The reason of poverty and disintegration of Hindustan is Hindus themselves. If Hindus want to prosper they must remain Hindus’.
Vinayak Savarkar propagated the boycott of foreign goods and urged people to use Swadeshi only. Decades later same agenda was adopted by Congress and put into action with telling effect. Infact, ‘The boycott of British goods’ idea was first conceived by Bal Gangadhar Tilak. In 1905, the British announced the division of Bengal on communal lines with a view to weakening the anti-British forces. Bengal was then the centre of freedom politics and the home of militancy against the British. Revolutionary groups of Bengali youth were proving thorns in the whitemen’s flesh. Besides the country, Bengal exploded in anger at the division. The people called for total war against the British move. Anti-division movement spread through Bengal. The leaders called upon the people to boycott British goods to teach a lesson to the alien rulers.
The boycott could hit the British where it hurt most. They had come to India as traders. Their basic purpose was making money by hook or crook and plunder India. The British traders had managed to seize power in India for turning it into a colonial market for the goods produced by England, the home of the British. So, the boycott could cripple colonial rule.
The boycott call spread to the rest of the country from Bengal.
Tilak propagated the message of ‘Boycott Videshi—Buy Swadeshi’ fiercely. Vinayak Savarkar picked up from there. In October, 1905 a massive meeting was held in Poona in protest against the division of Bengal. Vinayak Savarkar gave a call, “On Dussehra day all the students of the colleges of Poona will collect foreign made clothes and make bonfire of them.” ‘Kaal’ editor Pranjpe and a prominent leader Kaka Kalelkar supported the idea.
On Dussehra day student did collect heaps of imported clothes and set them on fire to the great cheer from the crowed and anti-British sloganeers.
A local periodical ‘Indu Prakash’ condemned the act of Vinayak Savarkar. The periodical printed a lot of other things and scurrilous material defaming him. His writings were used to paint Vinayak Savarkar as a communal mind.
The college took the periodicals’ charges seriously and the Principal of the Furgusson College, RP Pranjpe expelled Savarkar from the college and fined him ten rupees.
It should be noted that the college was pro-western. Perhaps, Savarkar’s fierce anti-British attitude was not liked by the authorities.
Expulsion of Savarkar evoked strong reaction. Bal Gangadhar Tilak castigated the college authorities for their high handedness and harsh treatment. It evoked sympathy for Savarkar among the people and many of them sent remittances of money to enable him to pay the fine. Savarkar didn’t need any monetary help. He had already paid the fine. He donated the money so received to the social charity organisations.
Vinayak Savarkar shifted to Bombay to continue his education. His fame had preceded him and he found no problem in getting acceptance in the new environment. He took admission in Bombay University. Besides studies he continued to propagate his own political agenda.
Tilak had appreciated some of Savarkar’s poems. He suggested to Savarkar that he must write folk songs because in content Vinayak Savarkar’s poem’s had folk simplicity. His poems were inspired by patriotic feelings and emotional surges. So, they were voluble but lacked the depth that natural poets with unbiased minds were capable of achieving. In Bombay he wrote a lot of folksy songs which became popular at grassroot level and worried the rulers. So much so that his songs were officially banned. Savarkar passed B.A. exams without any problem.
After B.A. Savarkar took up law course. Here too he formed a club of students and continued to propagate his views. He had a great capacity to influence others. His impassioned pleas were infectious. Many students got converted to his views. One of the student who come under his influence later became a chief minister of the state for some period.
He wrote several articles and verses for the weekly ‘Bihari’ which used to be published from Bombay. Bengal’s ‘Yugantar’ was also bringing out Bombay edition which also used Savarkar’s writings. As time went by Savarkar was getting better and better in oratory. He was becoming popular figure in Maharashtra because of his fierce views, writings and public speeches. Ideologically he was the rightist revolutionary, the opposite extreme of leftist revolutionaries. The only common cause between them was intense hatred for British they wanted banished from India at all costs.
Then, an Indian living in Britain named Shyam Krishan Verma made an announcement that he would offer scholarships to students who wanted to study in London. Savarkar learnt about the scholarship and made up his mind to avail of the opportunity.
He met his father-in-law Chiploonkar and expressed his wish for the scholarship. The father-in-law supported the idea and asked him to apply for the scholarship.
In the application letter he wrote—‘Since my childhood the slavery of the motherland to alien British has always anguished me. I want to liberate the motherland. That is my dream. Higher education in London will be a great help towards realising that dream…’
Bal Gangadhar Tilak wrote a recommendation note with Savarkar’s application. It read—
‘I find Vinayak Savarkar very enthused about the freedom of the country. He is a student who got expelled from Furgusson College for his freedom activities. I certify that this young man has good character and impeccable integrity. He richly deserves the scholarship to study abroad.’
Tilak’s recommendation decided the scholarship issue in Savarkar’s favour. Along with the letter granting the scholarship Savarkar received a sum of Rs. 400 as the starter. Such advance sums were then usual practice to enable the scholarship winner arrange his travel to the foreign country because most of the students so selected were, more often than not, unable to bear the travel expenses as they came from very poor backgrounds. It should be born in mind that 400 rupees of those days were around twenty five thousand rupees of today. Savarkar went to his father-in-law Chiploonkar with the grant and the scholarship letter. Chiploonkar was so excited that he added two thousand rupees to the sum from his own resources to help his son-in-law make it big and achieve the goals of his life.
Vinayak Savarkar started his preparations to depart for London. His wife helped him in the task with great spirit.
At the time of the departure Chiploonkar said, “Son, study diligently and become good enough to realise the dream of your life.”
After taking leave of in-laws and wife Savarkar went to seek blessing of Bal Gangadhar Tilak. Tilak made young Savarkar stay for meals and fed him. During that period Tilak gave Savarkar his valuable advice on all the subjects relevant to the youngman.
On 9th June, 1906 Savarkar was seen off by family members, friends and admirers to board a London bound ship.
On the ship, he came across a sad youngman who was also going to London. At first Savarkar thought that the youngman was suffering from sea-sickness like many other passengers. Seeing retching and vomitting persons on any ship was a common scene. But closer observation revealed that the youngman was infact going through some emotional upheaval which made him cry all the time looking miserable. Vinayak Savarkar talked to him and learnt that the youngman, Harman Singh came from a well to do family. He too was going to London to study to gain higher educational goals. He had no money problem. But the youngman was too tender and soft natured. He was failing to adjust the life sans the presence of loving members of his family. It was making him feel sick and weepy. The young man wanted to disembark from the ship at the very next port and return to the warmth of his family.
Vinayak Savarkar realised the true state of his mind. Many a time pampered sons of the rich families when asked to deal with the outside world on their own failed to cope with the situation.
“Dear friend, do not go back. Do not abort your London mission,” Vinayak Savarkar advised and added, ‘‘We must learn from these Europeans if we are to tackle them. Look at their history, their youngman went to other countries including our country to build the edifice of their empires. When Englishmen came to India, most of them were of the same age as we are. The didn’t weep for the love of their families. They bravely faced the challenge of adverse conditions of an alien country. They did not develop cold feet and hastily decide to flee back to their home country. Instead they boldly accepted the challenges and dug in. We need to show same courage, determination and commitment. We are woefully short of such brave young people. That is why our country is suffering all kinds of miseries and humiliations.
I know you are weeping to the memory of the security of your mother’s love. But have you ever given a thought to your greater mother whom we call ‘Bharat Mata’? Your mother is sad for her one son going away from her to London but Bharat Mata is herself a picture of sadness who is losing millions of her sons for various causes. After all, you are going to London, not for engaging in a bloody battle but to get educated. You are a youngman, Harnam Singh. It is no good for you to grieve for nothing, only a little emotional weakness. It would be shame for you if you decided to go back to your family deserting your mission, Act brave, youngman.”
Vinayak Savarkar’s talk had a salutary effect. The youngman stopped crying and pulled himself together. Sometimes people from happy joint families when find themselves suddenly put in a lonely situation begin cracking up. Then, they badly needs someone to talk to him to banish the loneliness. That also works as a fit medicine. Harnam Singh was extremely lucky to meet a thinking journey mate like Vinayak Savarkar. Then on he acted normal and concentrated his mind on his educational mission in London.
In London, Vinayak Savarkar met his benefactor Shyam Krishan Verma. Mr. Verma was a well known linguist and was publishing a monthly magazine called ‘Indian Sociologist’. Savarkar frequented ‘India House’ which was a hub of all prominent Indians living in Britain or visiting Britain. It was a centre of freedom politics and activities. Savarkar met several nationalists and patriots here namely Bhai Parmanand, Senapti Bapat, Sardar Singh Rana, Acharya Ghyanchandra etc. He established a close relationship with many of them.
In London, Savarkar heard the electrifying stories of Irish patriots and freedom fighters. The newspapers and periodicals were full of their stories besides the tales of the revolutions of other countries. Vinayak Savarkar read and heard the stories with great attention and drew inspiration from them. Most of the stories were the products of similar situations as were prevailing in India.
Savarkar founded organisation named ‘Free India Society’ in London. It held meetings and seminars almost daily. The Indians living in London began to be drawn towards the society.
Savarkar had special purpose in organising these meetings. He wanted to see the Indian youth living in Britain to gauge their mindset to see if he could find suitable candidates for carrying forward his agenda. He found several such candidates who were recruited into the ranks of ‘Abhinav Bharat Society’. He merely needed youngmen of open mind who were yet not committed to any other ideology or were uncorrupted. Such youth he could easily convert to his own brand of patriotic ideology of rightist hue with his natural gift of influencing others.
In London, motivating the youth to any kind of revolutionary campaign was not easy. The secret police kept close watch on the Indian youth and their activities. Things were more difficult for characters like Vinayak Savarkar who had known record of anti-British sentiments and rebellious activities.
Most of the Indian youngmen there were from rich families and royal backgrounds. It should be noted that then India had thousands of Rajas, Maharajas, Nawabs, Begums, Ranas, Ranis, Fiefs, Zamindars and traditional seths. The young ones of such families were in London for fun. The families prided over the fact that their youngmen are ‘England Returned’ which was like a great title. The youngmen went to clubs and flaunted their wealth. The princes attended balls and tried to impress English ladies. That was all their life was about. India’s freedom was the last of their concern. They were British stooges. There were many agencies prospering with the co-operation of British government that misguided Indian youth into corruption and degenerative luxuries. The British Secret Police kept a close watch on every youth.
In such environment finding suitable candidates for freedom activity and setting up an organisation was in itself an achievement which speaks volumes of the operative skills of Vinayak Savarkar. He converted many a youth to his ideology and made them into a kind of freedom fighters who followed the rightist agenda.
India House used to organise a meeting every Sunday. After every meeting entire gathering would lunch together. In these meetings Savarkar would speak on inspiring deeds of various heroes of revolutionary battles and historic events related to freedoms. At that time there were around seven hundred students of Indian origin studying in London. But only a hundred of them used to come to those meetings. Those meetings were organised by Shyamkrishan Verma under the aegis of ‘Home Rule League’. Then he had to go to Paris. While departing he handed over the charge of those Home Rule League meetings to Vinayak Savarkar.
Savarkar affiliated Home Rule League to his organisation ‘Free India Society’.
Once Bhai Parmanand visited India House. He was connected to the reformist organisation of India ‘Arya Samaj’ founded by Swami Dayananda Saraswati. He saw and studied the activities of Vinayak Savarkar and became an ardent admirer of the latter. Similarly Lala Hardayal too had come to London. He too came into contact with Savarkar and greatly appreciated Savarkar. He was influenced by the thoughts of Savarkar and later he wrote an article on the freedom of India in a magazine. The article had aggressive tone towards the British rule in India. The authorities didn’t like it and made trouble of Hardayal.
It angered Hardayal and he returned to India forefeiting the scholarship. But he would not mind. After some time he changed his mind and again came back to London. This time he was more determined than before to participate in the freedom politics whatever the cost.
Like Lala Hardayal Senapati Bapat had also gone to London on scholarship to do a course in engineering. He too happened to come into the contact with Savarkar who fired up desire to fight for the freedom in his heart. In its wake he delivered a lecture which illustrated the British misrule in India. India House objected to it but Bapat didn’t give up propagation of freedom. In this way Savarkar kept charging up patriotism in the hearts of the students who came into his contact. Savarkar had a great talent in reaching to the hearts of others with his message.
Another such student was Gyan Chand Verma who was studying law and worked as a fireman in a steamer to take care of his expenses. He was financing his own studies and living in London. Savarkar had given him the responsibility of the post of Secretary of Free India Society. He had become great admirer of Savarkar. He had written an article on him praising Savarkar’s determination and commitment. A part of that article said—‘Whatever task Savarkar makes up his mind to execute should be considered done. Then no power on earth can stop it from getting accomplished’.
Such was Savarkar’s influence to command the faith and the loyalty of others. On 20th October, 1906 Mohandas Karam Chand Gandhi arrived in London. For a couple of days he was put up at India House. Those were the days when Gandhiji was active in South Africa experimenting with his non-violent satyagraha.
He met Savarkar. Gandhiji shifted to a hotel after two days. He continued to visit India House to meet Indian leaders and Savarkar too.
Savarkar’s militant ideology and Hindu centric views made negative impression on Gandhiji who firmly believed in non-violence and fighting colonial rulers with the cooperation of all communities of the society. Gandhiji was yet to arrive in Indian politics. His used to visit India, go around, see the happenings as an observer and then go back to South Africa where he was waging Satyagraha type of battle for the rights of the Asians settled there. Thus, Gandhiji took with him negative impressions about Vinayak Savarkar.
The meetings organised by Free India Society were mostly attended by Indian students. They used to celebrate Indian festivals with great fan fair and gusto. Birth anniversaries of the great ones of India like Shivaji, Rana Pratap, Guru Govind Singh, Guru Nanak Dev etc. Such festive occasions were largely attended. Only a few stayed away.
Vinayak Savarkar was deeply influenced by the Italian revolutionary Mezzini. So, he translated his biography in Marathi and sent manuscript to his brother Ganesh at Nasik. Ganesh got it printed from Poona. The book proved a great success. The people liked it.
Within three months the second edition had to be brought out. The books’ popularity surprised the British authorities. They saw warning bells of trouble in the popularity of the book as it could be a sign that it was spreading the message of freedom. A few days later the book was banned. But all the authorities were not unanimous on it. Infact, Sir Valentine Chirole declared the book as national readable book.
Vinayak Savarkar studied Sikh history to extend his influence over them. He even learnt Gurmukhi script. Savarkar started writing letters to Sikh soldiers in Gurmukhi. The letters were delivered to them secretly. He was closing in on Sikh hearts. Savarkar studied the Sikh religious literature.
But the British authorities some how came to learn of it and it became alert. The Sikh soldier were warned not to pay heed to the Savarkar letters and stay away from them.
The British celebrated May, 1907 as golden Jubilee of the crushing of 1857 Mutiny (1857 Independence war). The colonial rulers were celebrating the defeat of the first Indian effort to win freedom through armed struggle. The Englishmen on that occasion staged a drama in which 1857 heroes like Tipu Sultan, Nana Fudenwees, Bahadur Shah Zafar and Rani Laxmibai were shown as murderers, bandits and degenerates. Some pro-British Indians supported this effort even in India.
The pro-British press made fun of the Indian freedom fighters and wrote articles condemning their deeds as joker acts.
The Indian youth in Britain organised meetings to counter the misleading British propaganda. They fearlessly paid tributes to the martyrs of 1857 uprising. In the meeting two hundred students took part. The meeting began with the song ‘Vandematram’. Savarkar paid tributes to soldiers and heroes who laid down their lives for the independence of the country.
When the meeting broke up and the students started to go home some whitemen who were witnessing the proceedings confronted the Indian students. Angry and hot words were exchanged. Some fisticuffs took place.
Next day, English teachers who knew about the meeting abused the Indian freedom martyrs in very derogatory terms. Some Indians students protested verbally and boycotted the classes. The groups of Indian students and Englishmen clashed in the streets. The whole thing blew up into an agitation.
Savarkar had translated the story of Italian freedom struggle. He wanted to pen down the true story of the Indian freedom struggles when the time came. He thought that the history written up to that time was the work of English stooges or the traitors. He wanted the 1857 Freedom War written from the Indian patriotic angle. He thought that Indian effort was very brave and courageous besides being graceful whereas the British writers made fun of it as a bad joke of foolish natives.
Vinayak Savarkar was not an idle dreamer. He was a youngman of action. He began collecting the material on 1857 uprising. Mrs. Mukherjee was incharge of the library of the India House. She helped Savarkar and gave him access to records and secret documents related to 1857 uprising. Then he went to the British library and read all the relevant books and the material written in detail about the events of 1857 developments.
With the help of all that authentic material he wrote the story of 1857 uprising from the view point of an Indian patriot. It was in Marathi. Savarkar sent the manuscript to his brother Ganesh at Nasik for publication.
Somehow the British got wind of it and the authorities searched the Nasik press. But they could not lay their hands on the manuscript. Ganesh tried his best to get it published but failed as no publisher or printer was ready to handle it for fear of the British.
So, at Savarkar’s suggestion the manuscript was sent to a friend in Paris. The friend wanted to print it in German because he had no composers in Marathi. The British authorities came to know of it blocked its publication in German. Savarkar got it translated in English but because of the vigil of the police the book couldn’t be printed from London either. The colonial rulers knew that the book could create trouble for them. So, they declared a ban on the publication of that books.
Savarkar wrote to London Times—‘The British government has admitted that it does not know of the original manuscript has been sent somewhere. Then, why is government accusing me that the book propagates treason? Why is the government so assuming even before the book is printed? Has the government got the manuscript to prove it? If it has not then the charge is baseless. If the government is in possession of the manuscript it should try me in the court for treason or tell me on what basis it is accusing me?’
While publishing Savarkar’s letter the editor wrote his remark—‘The government has decided to ban that manuscript. So, it is clear that the government has some proof of it.’
In 1908, Free India Society celebrated the 50th anniversary of 1857 uprising with fan fair. Savarkar wrote an article on this occasion which was distributed among the people. He paid his tributes to the martyrs thus—
‘O Brave Martyrs of India! We shall complete the unfinished task. The fire of revolution you spread in the country will remain aflame as long as the country does not become free. The revolution will bury the slavery in the ground and Mother India will sit on the throne of independence. We won’t make any compromise with the British. Freedom we will win at all costs. We are not afraid of death. All we care for is freedom. O great sons of India, you must bless us. Your blessings will give us power that will break the shackles of slavery.’
The meeting was attended by a hundred Indian students. All the students took a pledge to lay down their lives for the freedom of the country. The youngmen were given training in the use of arms and taught bomb making techniques at some secret places. The literature inspiring the sentiments of freedom was provided to them to boost their morale.
Since the departure of Shyam Krishan Verma to Paris, Savarkar had become virtually the incharge of India House. He called a meeting of his supporters in India House to demonstrate the truth of that belief. The members thought that London environment was not suitable for openly working for the freedom of India. They decided to look for safe houses to operate from away from London.
Acharya M.P.T. wrote about Savarkar—‘Savarkar has such magnetism that whoever comes into his contact gets swayed and becomes ready to do anything he asked for. Even the big shots sacrifice everything for the cause of Savarkar.’
Senapati Bapat revealed—‘I had thought that I would write revolutionary articles in the newspaper and arouse the patriotic feelings in their hearts. But I changed my mind after meeting Savarkar. I wanted to go to Paris to learn bomb making and explosives. The main reason was that Savarkar was excellent speaker and writer. So I left the job of writing and speaking to him.’
Savarkar wanted to garner support for India’s freedom in other countries. So, he wrote articles for publications of various countries. His letters and writings were well appreciated in Ireland. He gained several Irish supporters who were ready to help him in whatever way they were required to Irish newspapers regularly printed his articles. Some articles were printed in USA as well.
It was a cause of worry for the British because the articles were carried by a very popular newspaper that had millions of readers. The British put a ban on the entry of that paper into India.
On 22nd August, 1907 International Congress of Nations held a meeting at the German city of Stutgart. To plead the case of India’s freedom on world stage, Savarkar sent two delegates to the Congress namely Sardar Singh Rana and Madam Bhikaji Kama.
Madam Kama presented a resolution demanding independence for India. The British representative MacDonald opposed it. But the delegates from France and Germany supported it and the resolution was passed.
Madam Kama had brought a flag given to her by Savarkar. She unfurled that flag and requested the delegates to salute it. They did.
Madan Lal Dhingra was a very volatile type of impulsive youth. He became a member of Abhinav Bharat as soon as he came into contact with Savarkar. He could do anything Savarkar asked.
One day some one said, “The youth of Japan are the most brave and daring.”
Madan Lal shot back, “Wrong. Indian youth are the bravest. No one can match us.”
In the very next meeting he said to Savarkar, “Let me do something, some job.”
“Jobs are aplenty. First make up your mind.”
“My mind is made up. Just tell me the task. I will do it,” Madan Lal said firmly.
Savarkar spoke, “The British are terrorising our people in India. You must take revenge here in London to put fear in the hearts of the Englishmen.”
Madan Lal accepted the challenge. He at once set out to procure some weapon and ammo. He decided to eliminate Curzon Wily. This Curzon character was some kind of an agent who used to mislead Indian youth away from freedom politics by demoralising them, sowing seeds of doubts in their minds and by filling them with inferiority complex. That was why Madan Lal had ticked his name.
One day, Curzon was attending some meeting. Madan Lal arrived there with his friends. He shot Curzon on the spot. Curzon’s friend Dr. Cowas lunged forward to save Curzon. Madan Lal shot him too. Both the Englishmen died then and there.
The incident shocked London. It was known that the Englishmen were shot by an Indian. It spread some panic. The police acted fast and Madan Lal was arrested.
That was what Savarkar wanted. The more the killings by Madan Lal got publicized the more mileage Savarkar agenda will derive.
During trial Madan Lal stated, “If I am hanged I will thank you in advance. My hanging will inspire the youth of my country to avenge my death and to rise against the British. Infact, the youth of our country is now avowed to destroy the English who rule our motherland. We Indians think you are frauds but the reality is that you are big frauds. Your talk of justice is a farce. You are treacherous and dishonest.”
The Englishmen wanted to demorlise Indian youth. A meeting was held in London’s Caxton Hall to mourn the killing of Curzon and Cowas. The speakers condemned the killings in harshest terms. Some Indians also joined the Englishmen in painting Madan Lal as an evil character. An Englishmen name Morrison produced the brother of Madan Lal on the stage. He spoke ill of his brother and criticized his act of killing and apologized.
At the end of the meeting, the chairman, Agha Khan spoke, “We all present here unanimously condemn the dastardly act of Madan Lal.”
“Mr. Agha Khan!” Savarkar screamed. “I won’t let my follower unanimously condemned. I oppose your proposal.”
“Who are you?’’ Agha Khan shouted.
“Vinayak Savarkar.”
His name created a stir. Some tried to flee. An English young man walked to Savarkar and punched him. The punch landed near Savarkar’s eyes. He bled from his mouth. But his face was undistorted and calm. There was no panic. He climbed on to the stage and expressed his protest, “I am alive, Agha Khan. I will go on opposing your proposal as long as my body breathes life. The matter is still in the court. You will see what happens after the verdict is announced.”
When Savarkar was punched an Indian student stood by the side of Savarkar. He slapped the English youth so hard that the latter fell down.
There was pandemonium in the hall. Agha Khan had to end the meeting without the resolution being passed.
The next days’ London Times printed Savarkar’s letter—‘Madan Lal case is pending in the court. Some high placed authorities admit that the Curzon Wily killing could be a result of personal animosity or temporary madness. Ignoring these facts Agha Khan organised that meeting where I was assaulted for no reason. The attack has hurt all the human feelings. I would have been happy had the meeting been called to express sympathy to Mrs. Wily. I regret to say that it did not happen.’
Madan Lal’s brother went to jail to meet him. Madan Lal refused to see him saying, “I am a murderer. I don’t want to meet my brothers.”
When Madan Lal was arrested the police had recovered a statement from his pocket that police did not account for, for a long time. Later, ‘Daily News’ got hold of it and printed it on its front page.
The English youth who had punched Savarkar sent a note which read—‘My name is Palmer, the one who punched the face of Savarkar.’
In reply an Indian boy also sent a note to the newspaper which read—‘My name is M.P. Tirumalachari, the one who slapped Palmer and sent him down to the ground’.
Both the notes were printed in major news- papers of London.
After a few days, Madan Lal’s trial began in the court. After the hearing Judge Horas Smith sentenced Madan Lal Dhingra to be hanged to death.
Madan Lal had said in his last statement—
‘My last wish is to take birth again from my mother’s womb and dedicate entire life to the cause of the freedom of my motherland. I would like to see before the death, in my next life, Mother India descend on the throne of independence. If that does not happen then I would wish to be born again and again and die every time for the country. So I pray to God. Nothing else.’
His brave statement became talk of the town and people admired his spirit. The death penalty could not be waived.
At due time, brave Madan Lal Dhingra was hanged.
66 years later, independent India brought home the urn containing the last remains of Madan Lal. The urn was taken out in procession in the city of his birth, Amritsar on 13th December 1976. His ashes were immersed in the prominent rivers of the country. A memorial was erected at Amritsar to remind the countrymen of one of country’s martyrs of the freedom.
