Context: On June 22, 1897, the three Chapekar brothers executed the assassination of British official Walter Charles Rand in Pune to avenge colonial atrocities committed during the bubonic plague.
About The Chapekar Brothers:
Who They Are?
- The Chapekar brothers—Damodar Hari Chapekar (28), Balkrishna Hari Chapekar (24), and Vasudeo Hari Chapekar (18)—were late 19th-century Indian revolutionaries who pioneered armed resistance against British colonial rule. Hailing from the Konkan region, they achieved historic prominence as the only instance where three biological brothers were hanged in the service of India’s independence.
Early Days and Ideological Roots:
- Religious Upbringing: The brothers were born to Haripant Chapekar, a well-known kirtankar (scriptural singer-storyteller). The family later relocated to Sadashiv Peth in Pune to be closer to their devotees.
- Mythological Inspiration: Growing up on scriptural recitations, Damodar Chapekar questioned why his generation could not rise up against the contemporary Ravan and Kansa embodied by British oppressors.
- Patriotic Influences: The brothers were profoundly shaped by the armed struggle of revolutionary Vasudev Balwant Phadke and were ardent followers of nationalist leader Lokmanya Tilak, regularly reading his fiery sociopolitical critiques in the newspaper Kesari.
The 1897 Pune Plague and the Assassination:
- The Plague Crisis: In October 1896, the bubonic plague spread to Pune. To control the outbreak, Bombay Governor Sandhurst appointed Walter Charles Rand as the Poona Plague Committee Chairman.
- Colonial Oppression: Rand deployed British soldiers who enforced highly insensitive measures. Troops entered private residences with leather boots, violating the sanctity of domestic kitchens and home temples.
- The Assassination Plan: Incensed by these acts, the brothers plotted to assassinate Rand during Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee celebration on June 22, 1897. They even sent a preemptive letter to Rand warning him of the attack.
- The Execution & Gondya ala re: Waiting near the Mutha river bridge, the brothers used their secret code Gondya ala re (originally a phrase used to safely change the topic whenever their government-employed uncle entered the room).
- The Fatal Mistake: Due to confusion in the dark, the youngest brother Vasudeo signaled an attack on the wrong coach, causing Balkrishna to shoot and instantly kill Lieutenant Charles Ayerst. Realizing the error, Damodar jumped onto the second carriage and shot Rand, who succumbed to his injuries on July 3.
Contribution to the Freedom Movement and Significance:
- Igniting Armed Revolutionary Zeal: The Chapekar brothers operated in an era before organized revolutionary groups became mainstream. Their fearless assault on British officials shook the colonial administration and broke the myth of British invulnerability.
- Martyrdom for the Nation: Betrayed to the police by informants Ganesh and Ramchandra Dravid, the three brothers were arrested and sentenced to death. Damodar was hanged on April 18, 1898, followed by Vasudeo on May 8, and Balkrishna on May 12, 1898. Their unwavering patriotism was documented in Damodar’s memoir, Musings from the Gallows.
- Inspirers of Later Revolutionaries: The supreme sacrifice of the Chapekars created a ripple effect across India. A young Vinayak Damodar Savarkar in Nashik was so moved by their execution that he took a solemn oath before his family deity, the eight-armed Durga, to carry forward their unfinished revolutionary work for India’s liberation.
