Chapekar Brothers

About Chapekar Brothers

• The Chapekar brothers: Damodar Hari Chapekar (28), Balkrishna Hari Chapekar (24), and Vasudeo Hari Chapekar (18) – were Indian revolutionaries who took up armed resistance against British colonial rule.
  • They hold a unique place in India’s freedom struggle as three brothers who were executed for their role in the fight against British rule.
• Early Life: The brothers belonged to the Chapekar community from the Konkan region.
  • Their father, Haripant Chapekar, was a well-known kirtankar who later moved the family to Sadashiv Peth in Pune.
• Inspired By: Chapekar brothers were inspired by the stories of Ram and Krishna.
• Patriotic Influence: The brothers were strongly influenced by the armed struggle of Vasudev Balwant Phadke against British interests.
• Followers of: The brothers were ardent followers of Lokmanya Tilak and regularly read his newspaper ‘Kesari’.
• Provocation:
  • Plague Crisis in Pune: On October 2, 1896, Pune recorded its first plague cases.
    • Within four months, 271 people died and 308 people were infected, leading the British administration to adopt stringent plague-control measures. 
  • Insensitive British Measures: Under Walter Charles Rand, British soldiers entered private homes during plague inspections, violating the sanctity of kitchens and home temples.
    • They also made men and women stand in public and bare parts of their bodies for plague examinations, which many people found humiliating and horrifying.
• The Assassination:
  • Planning and Warning: The brothers planned to assassinate Rand during Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations on June 22, 1897, and sent him a warning letter before the attack.
  • Attack on June 22, 1897: Due to confusion in the dark, Balkrishna first attacked a carriage carrying Lieutenant Charles Ayerst, who died immediately. Damodar then attacked Rand, who later died on July 3, 1897.
  • Betrayal: The police were led to the brothers by Ganesh Shankar Dravid and Ramchandra Shankar Dravid.
  • Trial: After their arrest, the Chapekar brothers were tried and sentenced to death.
  • Executions: Damodar was hanged on April 18, 1898, Vasudeo on May 8, 1898, and Balkrishna on May 12, 1898.
• Contribution to the Freedom Movement: Their sacrifice inspired later revolutionaries, and a young Vinayak Damodar Savarkar took an oath to continue their unfinished revolutionary work.