Dear Sir / Madam, I was born and brought up in Village called Shirdhon, still most of my Social activities are concentrated at Shirdhon base. This great place is also Birth place of Adya Krantiveer Vasudev Balwant Phadake (04-11-1845 to 17-02-1883), initiator of India's armed struggle after 1857 mutiny. This article is his life story in brief, hope it inspires you to rededicate yourself in service of Nation-India. Regards. Santosh Takale.

1. Vasudev Balwant Phadake - 'Father of the Indian Armed Struggle after 1857'
vaasaudova baLvaMt fDko - saSas~ k`aMtIcao p`Naoto
saMtaoYa Tklao / Santosh Takale
Senior Scientist, BARC-Mumbai.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
Around 1870 AD one man in his mid twenties could be seen
running through the streets of Pune with a thali (plate) and
ladle in his hands. Striking the thali with the ladle, he would
announce his forthcoming speech engagement at
Shaniwarwada grounds in evening. He would repeatedly
mention that “Our country must be free, The Englishmen must
be driven out. The ways and means of doing it, he shall
explain in his speech”.
The person was Vasudev Balwant Phadake, an employee of
the Military Finance Office in Pune. Born on November 4,
1845 in Village Shirdhon (Presently, Taluka-Panvel, Dist-
Raigad of Maharashtra), moved by the plight of the farmer
community & masses during the British Raj. Phadake had
strong belief that ‘Swaraj’ was the only remedy for their ills.
He utilized his office holidays to travel all around Pune,
including his native place Shirdhon, Panvel, Palaspe etc to
address the masses. He was apparently the first Indian to tour
for political propaganda intended for independence of India
from British rule. His speeches were well received by people
however, did not produce desired result. Unlike what he
expected, the people did not rise in rebellion. Hence he abandoned giving public speeches and started
working on other routes to achieve the desired goal, which include educational institute to influence students
from a tender age (established Pune Native Institute - now known as MES, Bhave School with social
reformers and revolutionaries, Laxman Narhar Indapurkar and Waman Prabhakar Bhave) & offcourse secret
organization to initiate armed struggle to obtain Swaraj.
Phadake started a physical training camp at ‘ Gultekdi ’ (Hill) near Pune. A well-structured revolutionary
organization was Phadake’s priority. He created four groups. These groups organized meetings of school
boys without the knowledge of their teachers at secret locations outside the school. A spokesman of
Phadake’s organization preached the message of independence amongst the students. The other group
consisted of roving bands that went round the city in the morning singing patriotic songs. The third group, an
evening choir, went round singing songs satirizing the British rule and bemoaning the plight of India. The
core group consisted of members plotting revolutionary activities. Phadake invented a new method of public
communication.
Vasudev Balwant Phadake was the grandson of Anant Ramchandra Phadake (Birth-1762), garrison
commander (Killedar) of the Karnala Fort near Shirdhon, who had given tough times to colonel Prother of the
British East India Company during battle of 1818. At early age due to condusive background, he learned and
developed interest in skills like wrestling, swimming etc. Absence of educational facilities at Shirdhon, forced
him to have schooling at Kalyan, he secretly learned English language inspite of strong opposition by his
father, understanding its importance in British Raj. He had a very good command over English. He left high
school without appearing for the final examination. Around this time, the mutiny of 1857 began. A number of
incidents of this period had influenced Phadake deeply. After serving in the Audit Office of the Great Indian
Peninsula Railway for some time, he joined the Military Finance Office at Pune in 1865. He married Sai Bai in
1859 (who died in 1873, leaving behind a daughter [Mathutai]). Phadake's second marriage was with
Godubai (named as Gopikabai after marriage) of Padgholi. While working as clerk in 1870, he was not able
to see his dying mother due to the delay in approval of his leave. This incident enraged Phadake and
happened to be the turning point in his life.

2. Speeches by Justice Ranade on Swadeshi had kindled the flames of patriotism in Vasudevrao, mainly
focused on how the British Raj policies hurt the Indian economy. Phadake was deeply hurt by how this was
leading to widespread suffering in the society. In 1870, he joined a public agitation in Pune that was aimed at
addressing people's grievances. Phadake founded an institution, the Aikya Vardhini Sabha, to educate the
youth. Phadake developed a public culture of patriotism long before Tilak, Lala Lajpat Rai and Bipin Chandra
Pal.
In 1875, after the then Gaikwad ruler of Baroda was deposed by the British, Phadake launched protest
speeches against the government. During his journey to promote the Swadeshi movement, he came across
famine struck condition of state. All water sources had dried up; villages emptied out; carcasses were simply
left behind for the dogs and the vultures for there was no money for the final rites of the dead. To add to this
natural calamity was an epidemic of small pox and an endless harassment by the British. All this made
Vasudevrao resolve to fight against the existing British government. He began to contemplate secret
organization. Krantiguru Lahuji Vastad Salve, who supported the Mahatma Phule and Savitribai Phule to
establish the first girl school in Pune was Phadake’s mentor to start up his resolution. He picked up skills like
Dandpatta, use of arms, wrestling and horse riding at Lahujibuwa’s TALIM (training center for wrestling).
Salve preached the importance of independence from British Raj and taught Phadake the importance of
getting backward communities into mainstream freedom movement; as such phadake himself had his own
experience of not getting support from the educated & upper/elite class communities. Phadake brought
together the Ramoshi community, who were mostly in charge of guarding the forts. But since the British had
destroyed the forts, this community had become nomadic. In 1875, he formed a revolutionary group, with the
help of Bhill, Ramoshi, Koli and Dhangar communities in Maharashtra to overthrow the British. The group
launched armed raids on rich English businessmen and the moneylenders who became rich by fleecing the
poor. Aim was to obtain funds for their liberation struggle and provide help for famine-stricken farmers.
Initially they requested them for the money, promising to return it; but on being refused, they just loot them.
On February 20, 1879 Phadake and his colleagues like Vishnu Gadre, Gopal Sathe, Ganesh Deodhar and
Gopal Hari Karve declared the compaign with their 200 die hard rebelion outside Loni, eight miles north of
Pune. This was possibly the first revolutionary army of India. Phadake acknowledged that banditry would be
a necessary evil to sustain his rebellion. He said their time for leaving homes to join the struggle had come.
The first crusade initiated on 23 February 1879, in the village of Dhamari, this continued systematically for
the next few months, mostly in the districts of Pune and Satara. His team got strengthen when, the leader of
Ramoshi, Daulatrav Naik joined him. During this crusade he also published an anti-British manifesto. This
crusade made Phadake notorious in London too. Phadake came into limelight when he got control of the city
of Pune for a few days when he caught the British soldiers off guard during one of his surprise attacks.
Phadake had a great love for arms and always kept two guns, sword and Dandpatta with him.
The British government was extremely troubled by the spread of Phadake’s terror. The British rule staggered
under the impact of Phadake’s devastation. Traps were laid to capture him. The governor of Bombay, Sir
Richard Temple, announced a reward for anybody who capture or kills Phadake. Phadake could not keep
quiet either, he too made an announcement of reward to anybody, who brings him the head of the governor
of Bombay Richard Temple or killing of each European and issued other threats to the government. The
Times, London on June 3, 1879 carried a long editorial on the Phadake phenomenon. It advised government
to revise its land assessment policy to contain agrarian unrest.
The British Government appointed Major Daniel to handle the cricis, he traversed almost half of Maharashtra
in his attempt to capture Phadake. Phadake went underground for sometime in the village Ganagapur and
worked under the alias KashikarBuva, his experience of spiritual practice helped him lot there. The British,
however, were tightening the grip. Meanwhile, the leader of Ramoshi, Daulatrav Naik, who was the main
supporter of Phadake, was shot dead by Major Daniel. His death was a setback to Phadake's revolt: the loss
of support forced him to move south to the Shri Shaila Mallikarjun shrine, a Jyotirlinga in Kurnool district of
Andhra Pradesh. In the second part of his autobiography finished on April 25, 1879 he sought forgiveness
from all Indians for his failure. He wanted to sacrifice his life at the holy site, once visited by his inspiration -
Chhattrapati Shivaji but was prevented by the priest.
Later, He tried to reorganize a fresh revolution with Rohilla, Sikhs and Arabs in Nizam’s forces. He sent his
emissaries to different parts of India. Phadake recruited about 500 Rohilas (leased army) to begin a fresh
fight. The British made many attempts to capture Phadake using every means at hand, taking the help of
betrayers or the local police at times. In the course of chase, Phadake reached the Kingdom of the Nizam.
The government accelerated its efforts to catch Phadake were supported by Abdul Haque, Police
Commissioner to the Nizam of Hyderabad and the time came when both the armies of Nizam and British
were pursuing Phadake day and night to capture him. On his way to Pandharpur Phadake had been running

3. for full day and was very tired. He was suffering from fever as well. He came to a remote village in
Hyderabad to seek shelter and lay down for rest. He had become almost unconscious from fever and fatigue.
Right then, the pursuing British army reached there and arrested him on July 20, 1879. From there he was
taken to Pune for trial. Ganesh Vasudeo Joshi, also known as Sarvajanik Kaka, defended his case. The trial
started on 3rd November 1879. Phadake and his comrades were housed in the district session court jail
building, near Sangam bridge, which now happens to be the state C.I.D. building. He was charged for waging
war against the British government which was proved by his own diary and his statements in court. Phadake
was convicted on 7th November 1879. There was great public enthusiasm during his trial and vast crowds
gathered daily to hear him speak to the point where the British were taken aback by his appeal to the
common man. He was sentenced for life - 'Kala Pani'. His 14 companions were sentenced to penal
deportation for ten to twenty-five years each. A newspaper ‘Deccan Star’ in 1880 wrote ‘In the eyes of his
countrymen, Vasudev Balwant Phadake did not commit any wrong … he showed spirit in trying to relieve the
miseries of his countrymen … [and] by sacrificing himself he has averted the danger which sooner or later
must follow intolerable oppression. We must consider him a harbinger of good fortune for India’. Realising
that he was far too dangerous an individual to remain in India he was transported for life to prison in Aden.
Aden is a port city in Yemen, located by the eastern approach to the Red Sea (the Gulf of Aden). Phadake
reached Aden on 9th January 1880 and his companions were deported to the Andamans.
Phadake tolerated all the trials and tribulations of the miserable confinement. As punishment, he was given
the hard work of pushing the oil mill to filter out 25 pounds of oil. In such adverse condition he managed to
break free and escape from the prison by taking the door off from its hinges. But his escape was too short
lived: he was recaptured and put back in prison. He was now sent into solitary confinement. Realising that
life was now intolerable and unable to live under the bondage of the hated British he went on hunger strike,
got infected by tuberculosis which finally took his life. On 17 February 1883 Phadake breathed his last, at the
age of 37. It was later that year Veer Savarkar was born in Maharashtra.
Phadake’s revolutionary career might have been short. But he paved the way for organized armed
movement for freedom of India. What, the Bharatiya Sepoys tried to do in 1857, Marathas tried it in three
bitter wars before that and then the Sikhs in 1840, but failed. Vasudev Balwant Phadake attempted to take
on the mighty British Empire single handed. Phadake had started revolutionary activities long before the
foundation of Anusilan Samity- a secret society in Calcutta. Phadake became known as the father of the
Indian armed rebellion in that he provided the inspiration for fellow freedom fighters. Soon the guns were
booming for freedom all over from the Chaperkar brothers in Maharasthra, the Ghadar movement in Punjab
to the revolutionaries in Bengal. Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay's patriotic novel AnandaMath (1982)
incorporated various contemporary acts of patriotism performed by Phadake during his freedom struggle. As
the British government did not like this, Bankim had to print up to five editions of the book to tone down these
stories. Phadake’s feats in the freedom struggle after 1857, seemed almost akin to those of Chhatrapati
Shivaji maharaj in 17th century India. Phadake’s liberation army too had people from all segments or classes
of society like Shivaji Maharaj.
Indian Posts & Telegraphs Department had issued a commemorative stamp in honour of this great
revolutionary. A chowk in South Mumbai near Metro Cinema is named in his honour. As an Indian we all
owe lot to Vasudev Balwant Phadake and all freedom fighters.
Special Thanks to :
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
About the Author : Santosh Takale is senior Scientific Officer (Scientist – G) at Bhabha Atomic Research Center,
Mumbai. To inculcate Scientific Temper among masses, with his personal initiative, he has
delivered more than 1590 lectures addressing 5, 90,000+ students, teachers & general people. He
has done B. Tech in Mechanical Engineering & advance studies in Nuclear Engineering at BARC,
Mumbai. He has also obtained many certification in the field of Welding, Non Destructive Testing,
which includes IWE (International Welding Engineer), ISNT Level III in Ultrasonic Testing & ASNT-II
in Eddy Current Testing, Dye Penetrant testing, Visual Inspection & Magnetic Particle Testing. He is
Founder & Advisor of TAKALE CHARITABLE TRUST, TAKALE’s SKILL DEVELOPMENT CENTER, ICIT & Sky Watcher’s
Association of Raigad (SWAR). He is also honorary member of many oraganisations in technical & social field. He has
been honoured with many prestigious awards for his outstanding contribution in the field of science & technology as
well as social field. [ Ph – 9967584554 / santoshatbarc@gmail.com]
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Krantijyot Mandal & Smarak Samiti-Shirdhon Shri. Madhav Jog Shri. Dipak Patil Internet Sources