Explanation:

: Vasudev Balwant Phadke known as the father of Indian revolution. A well-structured revolutionary organization was Phadke’s priority. He created four groups- school boys, roving bands, an evening choir, members plotting revolutionary activities. Phadke evolved a new method of public communication. He concentrated on emotional and spiritual connect to rouse the innate patriotism of the people. Until this point Phadke proved himself a pioneer. He developed a public culture of patriotism long before Tilak, Lala Lajpat Rai and Bipin Chandra Pal. Then the great famine struck Maharashtra in 1876-77. He travelled across the affected districts in disguise to see the devastation for himself.

To mobilize money and weapons, Phadke’s party undertook some daring looting operations in the vicinity of Mumbai and later in Konkanregion. It sent chill down the spine of the British. Phadke’s name inspired awe in the entire region. In May, 1879 Phadke issued his famous proclamation denouncing the exploitative economic policies of the government and warning them. Copies of the proclamation were posted to the Governor, the Collectors and other Government officers. It created sensation throughout India. His rebellion arguably had indirectly affected the plot of Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay’s novel Anandamath (1882).

The Times, London on June 3, 1879 carried a long editorial on the Phadke phenomenon. It advised government to revise its land assessment policy to contain agrarian unrest. The British, however, were tightening the grip. Phadke’s short lived career was almost over. He fled Maharashtra to go to the temple of Shree Shaila Mallikarjuna, a Jyotirlinga in Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh. In the second part of his autobiography finished on April 25, 1879 he sought forgiveness from all Indians for his failure. He wanted to sacrifice his life at the holy site, once visited by his icon viz  Chhattrapati Shivaji but was prevented by the priest. He tried to reorganize a fresh revolution with Rohilla, Sikhs and Arabs in Nizam’s forces. He sent his emissaries to different parts of India. But his plans were not destined to succeed. It ended  with his arrest in a village of Devar Navadgi, on July 20, 1879. The trial in Pune court awarded him transportation for life sentence. The people who gathered on the occasion raised deafening cheers for him with agony and pride. In prison he was detected with tuberculosis, which in those days had no cure. Phadke preferred death to a lifelong sentence.