‘Veer’ Wamanrao Joshi: Forgotten tiger of freedom struggle

By Kartik Lokhande

India’s freedom struggle has been a source of inspiration for many. For, it was a period that transformed ordinary people into great fighters, intellectuals into leaders, and leaders into multi-faceted influencers. While names of many freedom fighters are very well known, the names of many many more are lost into history. Among the names that may be found prominently in the records of the time, but almost forgotten now, is that of ‘Veer’ Wamanrao Joshi... from Amravati. His has been an extraordinary tale that needs to be retold.

Born on March 21, 1881, Wamanrao Joshi had a keen interest in music, drama, literature, wrestling, and reading stories of valour. He was blessed with a good voice. He trained as a wrestler at Tukaram Pahelwan’s ‘Talim Khana’. He exhibited the traits of a reformer when he congratulated Bhaskarrao Thatte, grandson of legendary figure Shripad Krishna Kolhatkar, for marrying a widow in 1898. Wamanrao Joshi and Loknayak Bapuji Aney worked as teachers in the private school started in 1905 in Amravati by eminent personality Dadasaheb Khaparde to inculcate nationalist values in children.

Joshi was deeply influenced by Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak. Tilak appreciated Joshi’s beautiful handwriting and flawless writing. Hence, while giving the copy of his seminal work ‘Geeta Rahasya’ for printing, the Lokmanya told Joshi and others to prepare a handwritten copy. The preface to ‘Geeta Rahasya’ mentions this. The work had a profound impact on Wamanrao Dada’s life and he imbibed the values of ‘Bhagwad Geeta’ in his life.

As per the records when Lokmanya Tilak visited Amravati on December 20, 1906, Wamanrao Joshi, popularly known as ‘Wamanrao Dada’, and his friends went to meet the stalwart of India’s freedom struggle and had discussion with Tilak over significance of ‘swadeshi’ and boycott. Joshi was inspired to participate in the thick of freedom struggle. During this period, the then Deputy Commissioner had decided to demolish the ramparts of Amravati city. On June 28, 1907, Amravati Municipal Council’s meeting was called to discuss this issue. Wamanrao Dada submitted a memorandum signed by 2,000 citizens opposing the demolition, and also made an impressive speech. The British Government had to revoke the decision to demolish the ramparts, due to intense opposition led by Joshi. Thenceforth, the British started keeping an eye on him. Gradually, through such agitations, Wamanrao Joshi started assuming leadership of public life of Amravati.

In 1907, he was at the forefront when there was ‘Deepotsav’ in Amravati to celebrate the release of veteran freedom fighter Lala Lajpat Rai. In 1908, a case was filed against Wamanrao Dada at Nagpur, following which he had to go underground for some time. During this period, he went to Mumbai, worked in Kaka Kalelkar’s newspaper ‘Rashtramat’. There, he came in contact with Swami Anand and other leaders from Gujarat.

In those days, Vidarbha region had ‘Bigaar Baluta’ system under which Government officers or moneylenders used to exploit labourers by not paying for the labour. The officers used bullock carts of labourers for free. Under the leadership of Dadasaheb Khaparde, Wamanrao Joshi and his friends started a drive against this exploitative system. The agitation grew intense. Finally, on February 2, 1920, the then Madhya Pradesh Government appointed an enquiry board and this system came to an end.

On March 28, 1920, a meeting was held in Gandhi Chowk in Amravati under the chairmanship of Bhausaheb Asnare. Addressing the gathering, Wamanrao Dada said that Indians were being imparted education that would make them slave. He apppealed to the people not to send their children to Government schools, and also urged the children to drop out of such schools. On January 21, 1921, he addressed a meeting of students at Brahma Vidya Mandir. Following his effective speech, 200 children took oath to drop out of Government schools. On February 14, Rashtriya Shala was opened in Balaji Mandir.

The British rulers were alarmed by his growing clout as a mass leader whose thinking had an influence on labourers, students, intellectuals, and common citizens. On March 18, 1922, while proceeding to Bejwada by train to attend the meeting of All India Congress Committee, he was arrested near Yawalkhed and was taken to Akola. As the news spread, people of Amravati observed a spontaneous ‘bandh’. A meeting was held at Walgaon, where the public gave the title ‘Veer’ to Joshi.

When Joshi’s ailing mother came to know about his arrest, she said that instead of defending himself he should go to jail. She felt that he should never act in a manner that would demean immense respect he commanded among public, states the book ‘Amravati Shaharacha Itihaas (Vol-III)’ published by Amravati Municipal Corporation and edited by W B Khaparde. Mahatma Gandhi also wrote a letter in ‘Young India’ issue of April 15 praising Joshi. The British Government awarded rigorous imprisonment of a few months to Joshi on charges of sedition due to his highly effective speeches. He was shifted to Chhindwara prison, where Raipur’s renowned lawyer Pt Ravishankar Shukla, who later became Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, also was lodged. Both had cordial relations.

After his release, Joshi started weekly ‘Swatantra Hindustan’ on August 1, 1923, to motivate people to participate in non-cooperation movement against the British. It became very popular for its straight-forward articles. In 1930, the British Government banned its publication.

During this period, Joshi suffered major blows as his sons Narayan and Hari died in 1924 and 1926. His elder son Narayan, who used to help him in bringing out the weekly, died of Plague in 1924. As is mentioned in the book ‘Amravati Shaharacha Itihaas (Vol-III)’, “Narayan was having very high fever. Wamanrao Dada was writing an editorial for ‘Swatantra Hindustan’, with Narayan’s head on his lap. Narayan asked his father, ‘What is death?’ Dada replied with seriousness, ‘Just as we discard old clothes and wear new ones, soul discards old body and enters new one. You are courageous, face death like a man.’” On December 26, 1924, Narayan died. Within two years, on February 9, 1926, Wamanrao Dada’s second son Hari also died at Pune due to Apendicitis. However, Joshi did not let these devastating blows erode his commitment to the cause of the motherland.

When the Moderates in Indian politics decided to contest Council elections by sidelining Congress, Joshi delivered a highly critical speech in a public meeting held at Ganesh Theatre on January 31, 1930. His clout grew to the extent that Mahatma Gandhi entrusted ‘Veer’ Wamanrao Dada with responsibility to strengthen the organisation in four districts of Berar (Vidarbha). Joshi started his whirlwind tour of the region. His oratorial skills were impressive, and soon youngsters from the region started joining the freedom struggle.

Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose visited Amravati and appealed to the youth to join the freedom struggle under the leadership of ‘Veer’ Joshi. Varhad Swatantrya Sangh was formed towards this end. On May 12, 1930, Barrister Abhyankar and Joshi delivered speeches at Jog Square, following which both were arrested and were awarded imprisonment for two years. Though other political prisoners were released after Gandhi-Irwin Pact, Joshi was kept lodged in Seoni prison. Due to massive public outrage over this, the British had to release Joshi on March 17, 1931. He got a rousing welcome on release from prison, and later rose to become overall in-charge of Congress party in Vidarbha region.

Despite being an immensely popular leader busy all the time with tours, planning various agitations, and delivering speeches, Wamanrao Joshi found out time in writing some brilliant dramas. People today may not remember the names of the dramas he wrote but the lyrical compositions from these dramas are popular even today. Through widely popular dramas ‘Rakshasi Mahatvakanksha’ and ‘Randundubhi’, having women as protagonists, he drove home the message that patriotism was above all relations. The lyrical compositions from these dramas -- ‘Shoora Mi Vandile’, ‘Parwashata Paash Daive’, ‘Jagi Ha Khaas Vedyancha Pasaraa’, ‘Jagi Te Paatki’ -- inspired people to join the freedom struggle. Interestingly, years later, these compositions have become immortal songs with voice rendered by none other than legendary Pt Deenanath Mangeshkar and his daughter Asha Bhonsle.

A towering figure, Joshi was elected as an MP and MLA in Independent India. However, as per the records, he did not participate much in the legislative business as he loved to be among the people. In 1955, he delivered his only speech in Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly, in favour of united Maharashtra from Goa to Gondia. Some of the Congress leaders of the time were not happy with Joshi’s deep commitment to the public good, moral standards, and fiery nationalism. So, they got together to remove Joshi from the party.

However, Sardar Patel reprimanded them. Pt Jawaharlal Nehru sent Rs 5,000/- to Joshi to honour his contribution, but he returned the amount and said that many patriots who were poorer than him also had contributed richly to the freedom struggle and the money should be distributed among them. On March 21, 1956, when Indira Gandhi visited Amravati, Joshi told her that she would rise to national stature and his words proved correct as years later she became Prime Minister of India. This multi-faceted personality, a freedom fighter fierce like a tiger, fiery orator, brilliant playwright, mass leader, wrestler passed away in 1956. Years have passed by since his death. Though he is fading from the public memory, his work lives on. ‘Veer’ Wamanrao Joshi’s work will continue to inspire coming generations.