On March 30, 2003, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, like a devoted son of Mother India, remembered the indomitable spirit of Shyamji Krishna Varma, a gallant freedom fighter and unsung hero of India's struggle for independence. His heart swelled with reverence for this exceptional nationalist, his voice echoing the respect and admiration of a grateful nation.

"He was a fierce nationalist, a dauntless warrior against colonial rule and oppression," Modi echoed across the digital platform, his words a testament to Shyamji's relentless struggle for the motherland. "Guided by his ideals, we will tirelessly strive to serve our majestic nation and its people."

Shyamji Krishna Varma, born in the humble town of Mandvi in Gujarat, etched his name in history as a force of resistance against the British rule. His life and achievements, from setting up the first Arya Samaj center in Mumbai to his intellectual prowess in Sanskrit and religious literature, were truly remarkable.

His exceptional wisdom caught the attention of Professor Monier Williams, an Oxford scholar, who invited Shyamji to England, acknowledging his intellectual promise. Shyamji's speeches, laden with profound knowledge, earned him the respect and recognition of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain.

Despite suffering from failing health, Shyamji's spirit remained unbroken. He was a leading figure in the fight against colonial rule, criticizing the Congress Party's submissive attitude towards the British. His valor and steadfastness in the face of adversity led him to establish the India House in London, a meeting point for revolutionaries and thinkers.

Fearing backlash from the British authorities, he strategically shifted his operations to Paris and continued his relentless pursuit of India's freedom. Even when his health faltered in the 1920s, his spirit did not wane.

His death in 1930 left a void, but his foresight was undiminished. Before his death, he made arrangements for his and his wife's ashes to be returned to an independent India, a poignant testament to his unwavering faith in the freedom of his beloved motherland.

Fifty-five years after India's independence, in 2003, it was Narendra Modi, then Chief Minister of Gujarat, who received these sacred ashes from the Swiss government. A heartfelt tribute was paid to this forgotten hero with the establishment of Kranti Teerth, a memorial near Mandvi, to honor his indomitable spirit.

As Modi paid homage to this unsung hero, it was evident that the legacy of Shyamji Krishna Varma was more than the story of an individual. It was the tale of India's relentless struggle for freedom, a reminder of the sacrifices made by countless sons and daughters of the nation. It was the reaffirmation of the spirit of nationalism, of a promise made by the son of Mother India to fulfill his duty to his homeland, just as Shyamji had done before him.

Shyamji Krishna Varma: A Torchbearer of Indian Nationalism

Shyamji Krishna Varma, a name that resonates with the spirit of Indian nationalism, was a revolutionary freedom fighter, a lawyer, and a journalist. His life was a testament to his unwavering commitment to India's struggle for independence against British rule. This article delves into the life of this remarkable man, tracing his journey from his humble beginnings to his significant contributions to India's freedom struggle.

Shyamji Krishna Varma was born on 4th October 1857 in Mandvi, a town in the Kutch district of Gujarat. His early years were marked by hardship as his family grappled with economic difficulties. His mother passed away when he was just 11 years old, and he was raised by his grandmother. The family moved from Bhachunda village in Abdasa Taluka to Mandvi in search of better economic opportunities.

Shyamji Krishna Varma's intellectual prowess was evident from an early age. In 1875, he came into contact with Swami Dayananda Saraswati, the founder of Arya Samaj, who was a renowned reformer and a great Vedic philosopher. Inspired by Saraswati's ideologies and beliefs, Shyamji began delivering public discourses on Vedic Indian culture and religion. His eloquent speeches earned him public recognition, and he was bestowed with the honorific 'Pandit' by the priests of Kashi in 1877.

In 1879, Shyamji moved to England to study at Oxford University as a Sanskrit scholar. He was offered an assistant professor job by Monier Williams, a Sanskrit professor at Oxford. In 1881, he represented Indian culture at the Berlin Congress of Orientalists, where he delivered a speech on "Sanskrit as a Living Language of India." This experience further solidified his resolve to free India from British rule.

Career and Revolutionary Activities

After completing his B.A. in 1883, Shyamji returned to India and began practicing law. He also served as the chief minister of Ratlam State but retired early due to health issues. He then moved to Ajmer from Bombay to continue his law practice. He served as a council member of Junagadh State from 1893 to 1895. However, he resigned from this position when he felt betrayed by a British agent, leading to his disillusionment with the British empire in India.

Shyamji Krishna Varma was deeply influenced by the ideologies of Swami Dayanand Saraswati and Herbert Spencer. These ideologies motivated him to participate in activities against British rule in India. In 1890, he protested alongside Lokmanya Tilak against the 'Consent of Age Bill' controversy and condemned the cooperation, protests, petitions, and collaboration policies adopted by the Indian National Congress.

In 1897, Shyamji stood in support of the Chapekar brothers who assassinated W. C. Rand, the British Plague Commissioner of Pune, who had implemented ruthless policies during the plague crisis in the city. This incident motivated Shyamji Krishna Varma to fight against the Britishers while living in England.

Exile and Continued Struggle

In the year 1897, the determined Shyamji Krishna Varma moved to England, choosing to reside in the distinguished quarters of Inner Temple. While his days were filled with his commitments, his leisure hours found him immersing himself in the enlightened ideologies of social philosophers such as Herbert Spencer and spiritual reformers like Dayanand Saraswati. The fusion of these diverse thoughts began to shape Shyamji's own vision of India's future.

As the turn of the century approached, Shyamji Krishna Varma, with a vision of fostering a hub for Indian revolutionaries in England, purchased an opulent house in Highgate in 1900. He dreamt of transforming this stately residence into a nucleus of intellectual discourse and revolutionary fervor that would serve as a catalyst for India's independence movement.

The year 1903 marked a significant milestone in Shyamji Krishna Varma's journey when he publicly announced a generous donation of £1,000 at the funeral of his ideological mentor, Herbert Spencer, in Brighton, United Kingdom. This significant endowment was intended to establish a lectureship in Spencer's name at the prestigious Oxford University. It was not only a tribute to Spencer's enduring influence on Shyamji Krishna Varma but also a reaffirmation of his unwavering commitment to the cause of education and enlightenment.

A major contribution to the annals of Indian revolutionary history came in 1905 when Shyamji Krishna Varma founded 'The Indian Sociologist.' Subtitled "An Organ of Freedom and Political, Social, and Religious Reform," this scholarly journal sought to invigorate the minds of Indian freedom fighters, sowing the seeds of revolt against the oppressive British rule in India.

On February 18, Shyamji Krishna Varma further solidified his role in the freedom struggle by founding The Indian Home Rule Society. This seminal organization served as a nurturing ground for the key strategists and thinkers in India’s struggle for independence. Its meetings were held in the conducive intellectual environment of Shyamji Krishna Varma’s Highgate residence. The organization aimed at securing Home Rule for India, propagating the cause of freedom in England through all practical means, and fostering a spirit of national unity among the people of India.

In an attempt to counter the pervasive racial discrimination faced by Indian students in England, Shyamji Krishna Varma took a pivotal step on July 1, 1905. He established a hostel named 'India House.' This institution was envisaged not just as a residential facility but as a sanctuary for Indian revolutionaries. The luminaries of the Indian independence movement, such as Bhikaiji Cama, S.R. Rana, Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, Virendranath Chattopadhyaya, and Lala Hardayal, all found their ideological home at the India House. It was in this setting that they honed their revolutionary strategies, sowed the seeds of freedom, and nurtured the dream of an independent India.

India House and the Indian Home Rule Society

The Indian independence movement was a long and arduous struggle, and two of its most significant pillars were the Indian Home Rule Society (IHRS) and India House. Both were established by the visionary Shyamji Krishna Varma, who was a staunch advocate for India's self-rule.

The Indian Home Rule Society | The Indian Home Rule Society was founded in London on 18 February 1905. It was an organization that sought to promote the cause of self-rule in British India. The society was established by Shyamji Krishna Varma, with the support of several prominent Indian nationalists residing in Britain at the time, including Bhikaji Cama, Dadabhai Naoroji, and S.R. Rana. The IHRS was intended to be a rival organization to the British Committee of the Indian National Congress, which was the main avenue of loyalist opinion at the time.

The IHRS was a metropolitan organization modeled after Victorian public institutions of the time. It had a written constitution, and its stated aims were to "secure Home Rule for India, and to carry on a genuine Indian propaganda in this country by all practicable means". The IHRS was open for membership "to Indians only", and it found significant support amongst Indian students and other Indian populations in Britain. It recruited from amongst young Indian activists, collected money, and may have been collecting arms and maintaining close contact with revolutionary movements in India.

The society was the foundation of the India House and, along with Krishna Varma's journal The Indian Sociologist, was the cornerstone of the militant Indian nationalist movement in Britain. After Krishna Varma's shift to Paris in 1907, the society gave way to the secret nationalist society of Abhinav Bharat Mandal, founded by V.D. Savarkar. The society was founded amongst efforts and movements that arose to reverse the flow of authority and power from Britain to India.

India House | India House was a student residence that was established in London in 1905 by Shyamji Krishna Varma. The house was located at 65 Cromwell Avenue in Highgate, a northern suburb of London. The mansion was purchased from funds that Varma had collected in memory of Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee. The house was intended to serve as a home away from home for Indian students, to protect them from the influences of British society, and to train them as nationalist leaders.

India House quickly became a hub for Indian nationalists in Britain. It was a meeting point for revolutionaries, and it served as a base for the Indian Sociologist, a nationalist publication edited by Varma. The house was a hotbed for revolutionary activities, and it was here that plans were made for actions against the British rule in India.

Several prominent Indian revolutionaries were associated with India House, including V.D. Savarkar, Madan Lal Dhingra, and Har Dayal. These individuals played a crucial role in the Indian independence movement, and their activities at India House significantly contributed to the cause.

V.D. Savarkar, for instance, was a scholar and revolutionary who lived at India House. He is known for his book "The First War of Indian Independence", which was published in 1909. Savarkar was also involved in the assassination of Sir William Hutt Curzon Wyllie, a British official, which was one of the first acts of revolutionary violence against the British rule.

Madan Lal Dhingra, another resident of India House, was a revolutionary who assassinated Sir Curzon Wyllie in 1909. Dhingra's act was seen as a significant event in the Indian independence movement, and it brought international attention to the cause.

Har Dayal, yet another resident of India House, was a scholar and revolutionary who later founded the Ghadar Party in the United States. The Ghadar Party played a crucial role in the Indian independence movement, particularly in the Punjab region.

In conclusion, the Indian Home Rule Society and India House were instrumental in the Indian independence movement. They served as platforms for Indian nationalists in Britain, and they played a crucial role in promoting the cause of Indian self-rule. The individuals associated with these institutions made significant contributions to the movement, and their activities laid the groundwork for the eventual independence of India.

The Great Escape to France and Geneva

Shyamji Krishna Varma, a stalwart of the Indian independence movement, was not just a revolutionary but also a master strategist. His escape from Britain to France and later to Geneva is a testament to his bravery, intelligence, and unwavering commitment to the cause of Indian independence.

In the early 1900s, Varma's activities in England, particularly his establishment of the Indian Home Rule Society and India House, had begun to draw the attention of the British government. His publication, The Indian Sociologist, was a bold critique of British rule in India and a call to arms for Indian nationalists. The British government, alarmed by his growing influence and radical ideas, sought to suppress his activities. However, Varma was always one step ahead.

In 1907, sensing the imminent threat of arrest, Varma decided to shift his base to Paris. His departure from Britain was a carefully planned and executed operation, carried out in such secrecy that the British government could not prevent it. Once in Paris, Varma continued his work for the Indian independence movement, undeterred by the British government's attempts to extradite him.

Varma's stay in Paris was marked by his relentless efforts to garner international support for India's struggle for independence. He used his influence to rally support among top French politicians, who helped him evade extradition attempts by the British government. His work in Paris not only helped to gain support for Indian Independence from European countries but also agitated for the release of fellow revolutionary, V.D. Savarkar, gaining significant support all over Europe and Russia.

However, in 1914, Varma had to move again. The French government had invited King George V for a political event in Paris, and Varma's presence had become an embarrassment. Predicting the political climate, he shifted his base to Geneva, Switzerland. Even in Switzerland, the British government's attempts to curb his activities continued, but Varma remained undeterred.

In Geneva, Varma faced political restrictions imposed by the Swiss government during World War I. Despite these restrictions, he managed to keep in touch with his contacts and continued his work, albeit indirectly. He spent time with Dr. Briess, president of the Pro India Committee in Geneva, whom he later discovered was a paid secret agent of the British government.

Varma's escape to France and later to Geneva is a testament to his strategic acumen and indomitable spirit. Despite the British government's best efforts, they could not suppress his voice or his work for the Indian independence movement. His courage and intelligence in the face of such adversity are a testament to his unwavering commitment to the cause of Indian independence. His life and work continue to inspire generations of Indians and serve as a shining example of bravery, intelligence, and unwavering commitment to one's cause.

Last Wish and Legacy

Shyamji Krishna Varma passed away on 30 March 1930 in Geneva. Before his death, he had made arrangements with the local government and St Georges cemetery to preserve his and his wife's ashes for 100 years and to send their urns to India whenever it became independent during that period.

His last wish was fulfilled on 22 August 2003, when the urns containing the ashes of Shyamji and his wife Bhanumati were handed over to the then Chief Minister of Gujarat, Narendra Modi, by the Ville de Genève and the Swiss government, 55 years after Indian Independence. The urns were brought to Mumbai and after a long procession throughout Gujarat, they reached Mandvi, Shyamji's birthplace.

A memorial dedicated to Shyamji Krishna Varma, called Kranti Teerth, was inaugurated in 2010 near Mandvi. Spread over 52 acres, the memorial complex houses a replica of the India House building at Highgate, along with statues of Shyamji Krishna Varma and his wife. The memorial also houses a gallery dedicated to the activists of the Indian independence movement.

Shyamji Krishna Varma's life and work serve as a testament to his unwavering commitment to India's struggle for independence. His contributions to the freedom struggle, his efforts to inspire and support other revolutionaries, and his enduring legacy continue to inspire generations of Indians. His life story is a stirring saga of bravery, nationalism, and an unyielding love for his motherland.