Vasudeo Balvant Phadke is regarded as the first revolutionary of modern India to take up arms to drive away the British. He has been called the father of the armed struggle for India's freedom and it is said that it was he who inspired Bankim Chandra  Chattetjee to write the patriotic novel 'Anand Math'. This pioneer  revolutionary who died at Aden, about 100 years ago, was a valiant fighter, true to the tradition of the Peshwas and the Marathas. He derived his inspiration from Shivaji the Second.

Vasudeo was born on 4th November, 1845 at village Shirdhon in Raigad district. He learnt wrestling, fencing and riding and became an expert in the use of arms. He did not have much of a taste  for  book learning and after studying upto high school gave up his studies and  took up various  jobs.

He joined the public agitation for redressing people's grievances at Pune in 1870. He also took a vow to use only khadi clothes and swadeshi articles. He founded an institution named Aikya Vardhini Sabha for ventilating people's grievances and, in 1874, established the first school of national education in Pune. Vasudeo was unable to see his dying mother on account of delay in getting leave from his office. His anger and grief knew no bounds and this incident was a turning point in his life.

In 1875, the Gaikawad of Baroda was deposed by the British and this hurt the sentiments of the people in Maharashtra. This was also the period of a severe famine in the state. Vasudeo was greatly affected by scenes of death and devastation and the callousness of the British rulers to the woes of the people.   He started giving public speeches on the miserable state of the country. He toured the Deccan districts  criticising the administration  in vehement  terms. Echoing  the  words  of Thoreau,  he  thundered   that  it   was  the right of all men to refuse allegiance to and to resist the government  when its tyranny or inefficiency was great and unendurable. He told  his  countrymen  that  Swaraj was the  only  remedy  for their  ills  and  asked them to Strive for their independence.

His efforts did not have any impact on the educated class and he, therefore, turned to the Ramosis and Kalis, Bhils and Dhangars to organise a revolt. He gathered round him a band of about three hundred desperate men and set to work on his objective of overthrowing the British power in India. He founded a secret organisation and organised raids on the rich businessmen to obtain funds for the liberation of the country. He wanted to organise simultaneous attacks in all parts of the country with disruption of communication links. His efforts, however, met with only very limited success and he was greatly disappointed. The Government had, meanwhile, awakened to the danger and offered a reward for his capture. Undaunted, he issued a proclamation threatening the government with dire consequences and offered a reward for the capture of the Governor of Bombay. He moved over to Nizam's territories to recruit Rohillas and Arabs to his cause.

He was captured in Nizam's dominion in July 1879. His own diary and autobiography were the two major documents produced  as  evidence  against him. He was sentenced to transportation for life and was considered too dangerous to be kept even at the Andamans. He died in prison at Aden on 17th February,  1883.

Indian Posts and Telegraphs Department is privileged to issue a commemorative stamp in honour of this great revolutionary.

Source : Information Folder issued by Indian Posts & Telegraph Department, Government of India