History Under Your Feet

Veer Chattrasal, the lion of Bundelkhand, who carved out an independent kingdom during the Mughal rule, against all odds. A truly great warrior after whom Chattarpur in MP is named.

To understand Rana Pratap, and his refusal to surrender to Akbar, while all other Rajput rulers did, one needs to understand the history of Mewar, it's long history of resistance to Islamic rule be it the Delhi Sultanate or the Mughals, and their never say die spirit.

Kodendara Subbayya Thimayya, nicknamed as Timmy,only Indian to command an infantry brigade during World War II, and dealt with the repatriation of POWs as head of an UN after the Korean War. Chief of Army Staff from 1957-61.

Shyamji Krishna Varma, mentor to many leading lights of India's revolutionary movement, ranging from Veer Savarkar to Lala Hardayal to Madame Bhikaji Cama. Founded India House in London.

March 23, 1931- The date on which Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and Rajguru were hanged. The podcast takes a look at the trial and the events leading up to the hanging.

Nana Fadnavis, the Maratha Chanakya, who as Prime Minister of the Maratha confederacy, bought it back to the days of glory after the humiliating rout at Panipat. A man who defeated the British twice with his intelligence and diplomacy.

Lal Qile se aaee awaaz,Sehgal Dhillon ShahnawazTeenon ki ho Umar Daraaz.Gurbaksh Singh Dhillon, close associate of Netaji Subash Chandra Bose, one of the 3 INA officers in the Red Fort trial.

While we know about Rana Pratap, how many know about his son Rana Amar Singh, an equally great warrior like his father who fought 17 battles with the Mughals, winning many of them.

Malhar Rao Holkar, founder of the Holkar dynasty, developed Indore into a major city. One of the powerful Maratha leaders who asserted themselves post Panipat, when the Marathas became a confederacy of various other kingdoms.

If only I have eleven more followers like Sriramulu I will win freedom  in a year.Freedom fighter whose fast unto death led to the creation of a separate Andhra State.

Mrutyuche aavhaan peluni, toch varasa aamhaala dila lShivrayaancha Shambhu chaava, Hindu mhanuni amar jahala ll(Coming from the same legacy that confronted death,Shivaji's son Shambhu, became immortal as a Hindu)Quite often, growing up in the shadow of a banyan tree can be quite inhibiting, however much you grow, and you shall always look small against the banyan. In a sense that was what happened to Sambhaji, the son of Sivaji. Growing up in the shadow of a powerful  father, who was a giant of a personality, meant Sambhaji, for all his achievements would never really match up to Sivaji. 

What does one make of a man who flew a daring sortie into Dutch occupied Indonesia and sneaked away their Prime Minister?  Or made equally daring sorties into Kashmir during the first India Pakistan war in 1947?  Or a man who set up industries all over Odisha?  Biju Patnaik was not just a political leader, he was also an aeronautical engineer, a fighter pilot, an industrialist and fought for freedom too. He was a true nationalist, and yet the interests of his beloved Odisha, always were close to his heart. A man of unimpeachable integrity,  and a visionary, that was Biju Patnaik.

Lala Hardayal, the man who co founded the Ghadar Party in US, along with Sohan Singh Bhakna. A legend among revolutionaries, one of the key members of India House in London along with Shyamji Krishna Varma, Veer Savarkar and Madame Bhikaji Cama. A brilliant polymath who turned down a lucrative career in the Civil Services, as he plunged into the revolutionary movement. A leader who inspired many expat Indians in UK, US and Canada to rise against British imperialism. A man known for his rather simple living and brilliant intellectual capability.

Born on the same date as Netaji Subash Chandra Bose, led a long tribal revolt against the British rule in Sambalpur, harassing them to no end, a hero not known much outside of Odisha.

One of the greatest revolutionaries ever of the freedom movement, who shot himself rather than surrender to the British on February 27, 1931 at Alfred Park, Prayaga Raj, which since has been renamed after him.

“Behind every successful man is a woman” so goes the common saying. While we are familiar with Veer Savarkar, not many know about the woman in his life, Yamunabai Savarkar or more affectionately known as Mai. Her real name was Yashoda, and she came from a background, totally different to that of Veer Savarkar's. 

Veer Savarkar has been one of my heroes. One of the most fascinating, multi talented personalities ever. Freedom fighter, nationalist, activist, thinker, writer and sadly a very misunderstood personality too. Here was some one who braved the worst form of imprisonment at Cellular Jail for not one year, two years, but a whole decade. Imagine spending ten years in a hellhole, that would have broken the spirit of a lesser man. There is so much about Savarkar to be told, his fight for independence, his Hindutva philosophy, his stay in Cellular Jail.

Rani Rashmoni, the founder of the Dakshineshwar Temple in Kolkata, a close associate ot Shri Ramakrishna Paramahansa. One of the most remarkable women ever in Indian history, who financed the construction of Ghats across the Hooghly, took the British head on and played a major role in the Bengali Renaissance.

One of the great scientific achievements of modern India has been Pokhran I on May 18, 1974, when it carried out it's first ever peaceful nuclear test. And the man behind this feat, Dr Raja Ramanna was one of the most multifaceted personalities ever, an eminent nuclear physicist, technologist, administrator, a gifted musician, Sanskrit scholar. Handpicked by Homi J Bhabha himself, he would go on to lead the team for Pokhran I.

Bipin Chandra Pal, one of the members of the Lal-Bal-Pal trio in Congress, others being  Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Lala Lajpat Rai. A nationalist,  writer and thinker, and above all, a man who was uncomprosingly independent in his views.

Sam Manekshaw, aka Sam Bahadur, first Indian army officer to become Field Marshal, who led the Army to it's greatest moment of triumph in 1971 as Chief of Army Staff.

Kanhaiyalal Maneklal Munshi, aka K.M.Munshi, freedom fighter, founder of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, as well as the Vishwa Hindu Parishad. A lawyer by profession, he was also one of the foremost writers in Gujarati. And presided over the surrender of the Nizam post Operation Polo.

Birsa Munda in Jharkhand, the only tribal leader whose portrait hangs in Parliament Central Hall and whose Jayanti is celebrated as Jharkhand Day too.

Lachit Borphukan, who would rise to become one of the greatest heroes of Assam, and one of the symbols of resistance to the the Mughal rule. When one writes of the history of resistance to the Mughals, Lachit Borphukan's name would be there right up with Shivaji and Rana Pratap.

One of the biggest advances in the field of molecular biophysics, has been the discovery of the triple hellical structure of collagen, that enabled a better understanding of the peptide structure.The Ramachandran plot has become a standard description of protein structures in the text books. And the man behind this discovery, G.N. Ramachandran or GNR as he was known, one of the great Indian scientists of modern era, who was an equally good Vedic scholar, studied the Upanishads in depth and interpreted their teachings.

Komaram Bheem led an intense uprising against both the British and the Nizam rule, in the forests of North Telangana, and gave the slogan of Jal, Jangal, Zameen.

Typically when we speak of Mewar, it usually ends with Rana Pratap and the Battle of Haldighati. Not much is really known about his succesors, nor his son Amar Singh. While Pratap's rivalry with Akbar is well known and chronicled, not known is the fact that his son Amar Singh fought an equally long war with Jahangir, before he was forced to surrender.

Tatya Tope one of the greats of the 1857 Revolt, who waged a long guerilla war against the British even after the Revolt was crushed. A man who had no formal military training, but was considered one of the finest rebel generals.

One of the great Maratha rulers, who established the Scindias as a powerful ruling kingdom in Central India, made Gwalior the capital.

Satish Dhawan, the 3rd chairman of ISRO, who shaped it's organizational structure and put in a fine process in place. The father of experimental fluid dynamics research in India, one of the eminent researchers in the field of turbulence.

Shyamji Krishna Varma, one of the most brilliant minds of the modern era, a selfless patriot, who gave his everything for the nation's freedom. He was deeply influenced by the views of Swami Dayanand Saraswati's teachings, as well as that of Herbert Spencer.

“I am just an ordinary man and not a very bright man.” While we celebrate October 2 as Gandhi Jayanti not many are aware that is the Jayanti of another great soul Lal Bahadur Shastri born on the same date, who never really got his due.

Jatindranath Mukherjee, also known as Bagha Jatin, after he killed a tiger with his bare hands, one of the greatest revolutionaries ever.

Valiappan Olaganathan Chidambaram Pillai, or more popularly known as V.O.C. He was also called as Kapalottiya Tamizhan( The Tamil Helsman), one of the foremost freedom fighters of Tamil Nadu.

Andhra Kesari,Tanguturi Prakasam Pantulu, one of the great freedom fighters from Andhra Pradesh, and also the first Chief Minister of the newly created Andhra State.

Madan Lal Dhingra, close associate of Veer Savarkar, assasinated Curzon Wylie in London.

Madame Bhikaji Cama, revolutionary leader, close associate of Veer Savarkar, designed of the early versions of the Indian flag.

August 10, 1741- Battle of Kolachel, when the Dutch were defeated by Marthanda Varma, ruler of Travancore,

Khudiram Bose, one of the youngest martyrs in the struggle for freedom, who sacrified his life for the country at the age of 18 years.

August 9, 1925, the Kakori Conspiracy or the Kakori Train Robbery an important chapter in the revolutionary struggle.

If one were to compile a history of medicine, in the world, the name of Dr.Subbarow, would be standing right up there along with other greats like Alexander Fleming, Ronald Ross.

Kamaraj also called as Kalvi Thanthi( Father of Education), 3 time CM of Tamil Nadu, played a crucial role in the establishment of two Prime Ministers- Lal Bahadur Shastri and Indira Gandhi earning him the ephithet of “King Maker”.

Veer Hammir founded the Sisodia dynasty of Mewar and began the reign of the Ranas.

Havaldar Abdul Hamid and the epic battle of Asal Uttar during the 1965 War. One of the largest tank battles fought post World War II, after the Battle of Kursk, it was a turning point in the 1965 War, gave a huge blow to Pakistani ambitions.

. A man who was a terror to Mughals, a hero they called Banda Singh Bahadur.

Khub lade mardani, woh hai Jhansi wali Rani A woman whose name has come to symbolize courage, independence and honor. A legend in her lifetime, Manikarnika, better known as the Rani of Jhansi, Lakshmibai.

One of the most famous schools of mathematics and astronomy in India was the Kerala school of maths and astronomy, founded by Madhava of Sangamagrama during the 14th century. One of the foremost mathematicians and astronomers of this school was Nilakantha Somajayi, known for his astronomical treatise Tantrasamgraha and a commentary on Aryabhatta.

Andhra Ratna Duggirala Gopalakrishnayya, the first ever Telugu person to become the secretary of All India Congress Committee, who did his post graduation in economics from the University of Edinburgh. A polyglot fluent in English, Telugu, Hindi, Sanskrit, a brilliant writer known for his extempore verse composition,who set up the Andhra Vidya Peetha Gosthi, a literary society.

Veer Kunwar Singh. A man who at 80 years of age, was the oldest warrior of the 1857 revolt, in a league that included such greats like Rani of Jhansi, Rao Tula Ram, Nana Saheb and Tantiya Tope.

Dhondo Keshav Karve, also known affectionately as Annasaheb. For the 100 odd years of his life on earth, he lit the lamps in the lives of many a child widow, and women, fought for their emancipation.

Kandukuri Veeresalingam, often regarded as the father of Modern Andhra Pradesh, social reformer, activist, writer, the quintessential Renaissance man.