New Delhi, 4 October (HS): Prime Minister Narendra Modi today paid glowing tribute to freedom fighter Shyamji Krishna Varma on the occasion of his 168th birth anniversary, hailing him as a “hardworking son of Mother India” whose valor remains a guiding inspiration for building a developed India.
In a post on X, the Prime Minister wrote:“On behalf of all our countrymen, we pay our respectful tribute to Shyamji Krishna Verma, a hardworking son of Mother India, on his birth anniversary. His courage, dedication, and service in the freedom movement will always be remembered with reverence. The saga of his valor and fearlessness is also a great inspiration for building a developed India.”
Born on October 4, 1857, in Mandvi, Kutch district of Gujarat, Shyamji Krishna Varma was a revolutionary, scholar, lawyer, and journalist who played a pivotal role in India’s freedom struggle from abroad. A brilliant student, Varma’s mastery of Sanskrit and other languages earned him recognition from British scholars, including Monier Williams at Oxford University, where he later became a barrister.
Inspired by leaders like Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Swami Dayanand Saraswati, and English philosopher Herbert Spencer, Varma emerged as a radical nationalist who advocated Swaraj (self-rule) long before the term gained mainstream currency in India’s political discourse.
In 1905, he founded the Indian Home Rule Society, India House in London (a hub for Indian students and revolutionaries), and the monthly journal The Indian Sociologist—all of which became focal points for anti-colonial activism and intellectual debate. Notably, he was also the first president of Bombay Arya Samaj and a mentor to revolutionaries such as Veer Savarkar.
Facing persecution from British authorities, including being barred from practicing law in London on charges of sedition, Varma moved to Paris and later Geneva, continuing his advocacy for Indian independence until his death on March 30, 1930. His life and work remain a testament to fearless resistance, intellectual rigor, and unwavering commitment to India’s freedom.
Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
