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{{use Indian English|date=October 2013}}
{{use dmy dates|date=December 2018}}
{{Short description|Indian revolutionary, lawyer and journalist}}
{{more citations needed|date=November 2016}}
{{Infobox person
| honorific_prefix = [[Pandit]]
| name = Shyamji Krishna Varma
| honorific_suffix =
| image = Shyamji krishna varma.jpg
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption =
| native_name =
| native_name_lang =
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1857|10|04}}
| birth_place = [[Mandvi]], [[Cutch State]], [[British Raj|British India]] (now [[Kutch, Gujarat]])
| death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|1930|03|30|1857|10|04}}
| death_place = [[Geneva]], Switzerland
| resting_place =
| resting_place_coordinates = 
| monuments = Kranti Teerth, Mandvi, Kutch
| education =
| alma_mater = [[Balliol College, Oxford]]
| occupation = Revolutionary, lawyer, journalist
| employer =
| organization = {{ubl|[[Indian Home Rule Society]]|[[India House]]|[[The Indian Sociologist]]}}
| known_for =
| notable_works =
| style =
| movement = [[Indian independence movement|Indian Independence Movement]]
| spouse = {{married|Bhanumati|1875|}}
| partner =
| children =
| parents = Karsan Bhanushali (Nakhua), Gomatibai
| awards =
| website =
| footnotes =
}}
'''Shyamji Krishna Varma''' (4 October 1857 – 30 March 1930) was an Indian [[Revolutionary movement for Indian independence|revolutionary]] fighter,<ref>{{cite book|last=Chandra|first=Bipan|title=India's Struggle for Independence|publisher=Penguin Books India|location=[[New Delhi]]|year=1989|page=145|isbn=978-0-14-010781-4}}</ref> an Indian patriot, lawyer and journalist who founded the [[Indian Home Rule Society]], [[India House]] and ''[[The Indian Sociologist]]'' in [[London]]. A graduate of [[Balliol College]], Krishna Varma was a noted scholar in Sanskrit and other Indian languages. He pursued a brief legal career in India and served as the ''[[Divan]]'' of a number of Indian princely states in India.<ref name="Qur123"/> He had, however, differences with Crown authority, was dismissed following a supposed conspiracy of British colonial officials at Junagadh<ref name="Johnson119"/> and chose to return to England. An admirer of [[Dayanand Saraswati]]'s approach of [[cultural nationalism]], and of [[Herbert Spencer]], Krishna Varma believed in Spencer's dictum: "Resistance to aggression is not simply justified, but imperative".<ref name="Qur123"/>

In 1905, he founded the [[India House]] and ''[[The Indian Sociologist]]'', which rapidly developed as an organised meeting point for radical nationalists among Indian students in [[United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland|Britain]] at the time and one of the most prominent centres for [[Revolutionary movement for Indian independence|revolutionary Indian nationalism]] outside India. Krishna Varma moved to Paris in 1907, avoiding prosecution.

== Early life ==
Shyamji Krishna Varma was born on 4 October 1857 in [[Mandvi]], [[Cutch State]] (now [[Kutch]], [[Gujarat]]) as Shamji, the son of Krushnadas Bhanushali (Karsan Nakhua; Nakhua is the surname while [[Bhanushali]] is the community name), a labourer for cotton press company, and Gomatibai, who died when Shyamji was only 11 years old. He was raised by his grandmother. His ancestors belonged to Bhachunda (23°12'3"N 69°0'4"E), a village now in Abdasa taluka of Kutch district. They had migrated to Mandvi in search of employment and due to familial disputes. After completing secondary education in [[Bhuj]] he went to [[Mumbai]] for further education at Wilson High School. Whilst in Mumbai, he learned [[Sanskrit]].<ref name=bo>Sundaram, V. (8 October 2006) [https://web.archive.org/web/20170812143938/http://www.boloji.com/index.cfm?md=Content&sd=Articles&ArticleID=938 Pandit Shyamji Krishna Verma]. boloji.com</ref>

In 1875, Shyamji married Bhanumati, a daughter of a wealthy businessman of the Bhatia community and sister of his school friend Ramdas. Then he got in touch with the nationalist [[Swami Dayananda Saraswati]], a radical reformer and an exponent of the [[Vedas]], who had founded the [[Arya Samaj]]. He became his disciple and was soon conducting lectures on Vedic philosophy and religion. In 1877, a public speaking tour secured him a great public recognition. He became the first non-[[Brahmin]] to receive the prestigious title of [[Pandit]] by the Pandits of [[Varanasi|Kashi]] in 1877.{{Citation needed|date=November 2016}} He came to the attention of [[Monier Monier-Williams|Monier Williams]], an Oxford professor of Sanskrit who offered Shyamji a job as his assistant.<ref name=bo/>

== Oxford ==
Shyamji arrived in England and joined [[Balliol College]], [[Oxford University|Oxford]] on 25 April 1879 with the recommendation of Professor [[Monier Monier-Williams|Monier Williams]]. Passing his [[Bachelor of Arts|B.A.]] in 1883, he presented a lecture on "the origin of writing in India" to the [[Royal Asiatic Society]]. The speech was very well received and he was elected a non-resident member of the society. In 1881 he represented India at the [[Berlin]] Congress of [[Orientalism|Orientalists]].

== Legal career ==
He returned to India in 1885 and started practice as a lawyer. Then he was appointed as Diwan (chief minister) by the King of [[Ratlam]] State; but ill health forced him to retire from this post with a lump sum gratuity of RS 32052 for his service. After a short stay in Mumbai, he settled in [[Ajmer]], headquarters of his Guru Swami [[Dayananda Saraswati]], and continued his practice at the British Court in Ajmer. He invested his income in three cotton presses and secured sufficient permanent income to be independent for the rest of his life. He served for the Maharaja of [[Udaipur]] as a council member from 1893 to 1895, followed by the position of Diwan of [[Junagadh]] State. He resigned in 1897 after a bitter experience with a British agent that shook his faith in British rule in India.

== Nationalism ==
Having read ''Satyarth Prakash'' and other books of Swami Dayanand Saraswati, Shyamji Krishna Varma was very much impressed with his philosophy, writings and spirit of Nationalism and had become one of his ardent admirers. It was upon Dayanand's inspiration, he set up a base in England at India House. Shyamji Krishan supported [[Lokmanya Tilak]] during the [[Age of Consent]] bill controversy of 1890. However, he rejected the petitioning, praying, protesting, cooperating and collaborating policy of the Congress Party, which he considered undignified and shameful.{{Citation needed|date=March 2022}} In 1897, following the harsh measures adopted by the British colonial government during the plague crisis in [[Poona]], he supported the assassination of the Commissioner of Plague by the Chapekar brothers but he soon decided to fight for Indian independence in Britain.{{Citation needed|date=March 2022}}

== England ==
Ordained by Swami Dayanand Saraswati the founder of Arya samaj, Shyamji Krishan Verma upon his arrival in London stayed at the [[Inner Temple]] and studied [[Herbert Spencer]]'s writings in his spare time. In 1900 he bought an expensive house in [[Highgate]].

He was inspired by Herbert Spencer's writings. At Spencer's funeral in 1903, he announced the donation of £1,000 to establish a lectureship at [[University of Oxford]] in tribute to him and his work. A year later he announced that Herbert Spencer Indian fellowships of RS 2000 each were to be awarded to enable Indian graduates to finish their education in England. He had also announced additional fellowship in memory of the late [[Dayananda Saraswati]], the founder of [[Arya Samaj]], along with another four fellowships in the future.

== Political activism ==
In 1905, Shyamji focused his activity as a political propagandist and organiser for the complete independence of India. Shyamji made his debut in Indian politics by publishing the first issue of his English monthly, ''[[The Indian Sociologist]],'' an organ and of political, social and religious [[reform movements|reform]]. This was an assertive, ideological monthly aimed at inspiring mass opposition to British rule, which stimulated many intellectuals to fight for the independence of India.

=== Indian Home Rule Society ===
On 18 February 1905, Shyamji inaugurated a new organisation called [[The Indian Home Rule Society]]. The first meeting, held at his Highgate home, unanimously decided to found The Indian Home Rule Society with the object of:
#Securing Home Rule for India
#Carrying on Propaganda in England by all practical means with a view to attain the same.
#Spreading among the people of India the objectives of freedom and national unity.

=== India House ===
{{main|India House}}
[[File:Indian sociologist.jpg|thumb|''[[The Indian Sociologist]]'', September 1908, London]]
As many Indian students faced [[racist]] attitudes when seeking accommodations, he founded [[India House]] as a hostel for Indian students, based at 65, Cromwell Avenue, Highgate. This living accommodation for 25 students was formally inaugurated on 1 July by [[Henry Hyndman]], of the [[Social Democratic Federation]], in the presence of [[Dadabhai Naoroji]], [[Lala Lajpat Rai]], [[Madam Cama]], Mr. Swinney (of the [[London Positivist Society]]), Mr. [[Harry Quelch]] (the editor of the Social Democratic Federation's ''Justice'') and [[Charlotte Despard]], the [[Irish Republican]] and [[suffragette]]. Declaring India House open, Hyndman remarked, "As things stands, loyalty to Great Britain means treachery to India. The institution of this India House means a great step in that direction of Indian growth and Indian emancipation, and some of those who are here this afternoon may live to witness the fruits of its triumphant success." Shyamji hoped India House would incubate Indian revolutionaries and [[Bhikaiji Cama]], [[S. R. Rana]], [[Vinayak Damodar Savarkar]], [[Virendranath Chattopadhyaya]], and [[Lala Hardayal]] were all associated with it.<ref>[http://www.beawarhistory.com ब्यावरहिस्ट्री डोट काम पर आपका स्वागत है]. Beawarhistory.com. Retrieved on 7 December 2018.</ref>

Later in 1905, Shyamji attended the United Congress of Democrats held at [[Holborn Town Hall]] as a delegate of the India Home Rule Society. His resolution on India received an enthusiastic ovation from the entire conference. Shyamji's activities in England aroused the concern of the British government: He was disbarred from Inner Temple and removed from the membership list on 30 April 1909 for writing anti-British articles in ''[[The Indian Sociologist]]''. Most of the British press were anti–Shyamji and printed several allegations against him and his newspaper. He defended them boldly. ''[[The Times]]'' referred to him as the "Notorious Krishnavarma". Many newspapers criticised the British progressives who supported Shyamji and his view. His movements were closely watched by the British secret service, so he decided to shift his headquarters to [[Paris]], leaving India House in charge of [[Vir Savarkar]]. Shyamji left Britain secretly before the government tried to arrest him.

=== Paris and Geneva ===
He arrived in Paris in early 1907 to continue his work. The British government tried to have him extradited from France without success as he gained the support of many top French politicians.{{Citation needed|date=June 2008}} Shyamji's name was dragged into the sensational trial of Mr Merlin, an Englishman, at Bow Street Magistrates' Court, for writing an article in ''liberators'' published by Shyamji's friend, Mr. James.

Shyamji's work in Paris helped gain support for Indian Independence from European countries. He agitated for the release of Savarker and acquired great support all over Europe and Russia.{{Citation needed|date=June 2008}} [[Guy Aldred]] wrote an article in the ''[[Daily Herald (UK newspaper)|Daily Herald]]'' under the heading of "Savarker the Hindu Patriot whose sentences expire on 24 December 1960", helping create support in England, too. In 1914 his presence became an embarrassment as French politicians had invited [[George V of the United Kingdom|King George V]] to Paris to set a final seal on the [[Entente Cordiale]]. Shyamji foresaw this and shifted his headquarters to [[Geneva]]. Here the Swiss government imposed political restrictions during the entire period of [[World War I]]. He kept in touch with his contacts, but he could not support them directly. He spent time with Dr. Briess, president of the Pro India Committee in Geneva, whom he later discovered was a paid secret agent of the British government.

== Post-World War I ==
He offered a sum of 10,000 francs to the [[League of Nations]] to endow a lectureship to be called the President [[Woodrow Wilson]] Lectureship for the discourse on the best means of acquiring and safe guarding national independence consistently with freedom, justice, and the right of asylum accorded to political refugees. It is said that the league rejected his offer due to political pressure from British government. A similar offer was made to the Swiss government which was also turned down. He offered another lectureship at the banquet given by Press Association of Geneva where 250 journalists and celebrities, including the presidents of Swiss Federation and the League of Nations. Shyamji's offer was applauded on the spot but nothing came of it. Shyamji was disappointed with the response and he published all his abortive correspondence on this matter in the next issue of the ''Sociologist'' appearing in December 1920, after a lapse of almost six years.

== Death and commemoration ==
[[File:Shyamji Krishna Varma 1989 stamp of India.jpg|thumb|Shyamji Krishna Varma 1989 stamp of India]]
[[File:Varma Memorial.JPG|thumb|''Kranti Teerth'', Shyamji Krishna Varma Memorial, [[Mandvi]], Kutch (replica of India House is visible in background)]]
He published two more issues of ''Indian Sociologist'' in August and September 1922, before ill health prevented him continuing. He died in hospital at 11:30 pm on 30 March 1930 leaving his wife, Bhanumati Krishnavarma.

News of his death was suppressed by the British colonial government in India. Nevertheless, tributes were paid to him by [[Bhagat Singh]] and other inmates in [[Lahore]] Jail where they were undergoing a long-term drawn-out trial.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.143521/page/n85|title=Sardar Bhagat Singh|last=Sanyal|first=Jitendra Nath|date=May 1931}}</ref> ''Maratha'', an English daily newspaper started by [[Bal Gangadhar Tilak]] paid tribute to him.

He had made prepaid arrangements with the local government of Geneva and St Georges cemetery to preserve his and his wife's ashes at the cemetery for 100 years and to send their urns to India whenever it became independent during that period. Requested by Paris-based scholar Dr Prithwindra Mukherjee, the then Prime Minister [[Indira Gandhi]] agreed to repatriate the ashes. Finally on 22 August 2003, the urns of ashes of Shyamji and his wife Bhanumati were handed over to then Chief Minister of Gujarat State [[Narendra Modi]] by the Ville de Genève and the Swiss government 55 years after [[Partition of India|Indian Independence]]. They were brought to Mumbai and after a long procession throughout Gujarat, they reached Mandvi, his birthplace.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1030825/asp/nation/story_2296566.asp|title=Road show with patriot ash|last=Soondas|first=Anand|work=The Telegraph, Calcutta, India|date=24 August 2003|access-date =3 February 2014}}</ref> A memorial called ''Kranti Teerth'' dedicated to him was built and inaugurated in 2010 near [[Mandvi]]. Spread over 52 acres, the memorial complex houses a replica of India House building at Highgate along with statues of Shyamji Krishna Varma and his wife. Urns containing Krishna Verma's ashes, those of his wife, and a gallery dedicated to earlier activists of Indian independence movement is housed within the memorial. Krishna Verma was disbarred from the [[Inner Temple]] in 1909. This decision was revisited in 2015, and a unanimous decision taken to posthumously reinstated him.<ref name=TOI>{{cite web| date=13 December 2010| work=[[The Times of India]]| url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/rajkot/Modi-dedicates-Kranti-Teerth-memorial-to-Shyamji-Krishna-Verma/articleshow/7095227.cms|title= Modi dedicates 'Kranti Teerth' memorial to Shyamji Krishna Verma| access-date=12 November 2015}}</ref><ref name=Guardian>{{cite web| author =Bowcott, Owen| work=The Guardian| url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/nov/11/indian-lawyer-disbarred-from-inner-temple-one-century-ago-reinstated|title= Indian lawyer disbarred from Inner Temple a century ago is reinstated|date= 11 November 2015 | access-date=12 November 2015}}</ref>

In the 1970s, a new town developed in his native state of [[Kutch]], was named after him as [[S. K. Varmanagar|Shyamji Krishna Varmanagar]] in his memory and honor. India Post released postal stamps and first day cover commemorating him. [[Krantiguru Shyamji Krishna Verma Kachchh University|Kuchchh University]] was renamed after him.

The [[India Post]] has issued a postal stamp on shyamji Krishna Varma on 4 October 1989.

== References ==
{{reflist|refs=<ref name="Qur123">{{cite book|page=123|surname1=Qur|given1=Moniruddin|year=2005|title=History of Journalism|publisher=Anmol Publications|isbn=81-261-2355-9}}</ref><ref name="Johnson119">{{cite book|page=[https://archive.org/details/mastersrevealedm0000john/page/119 119]|surname1=Johnson|given1=K. Paul|year=1994|title=The Masters Revealed: Madame Blavatsky and the Myth of the Great White Lodge|url=https://archive.org/details/mastersrevealedm0000john/page/119|publisher=SUNY Press|isbn=0-7914-2063-9}}</ref>}}

== Further reading ==
{{Commons category|Shyamji Krishna Varma}}
* {{cite book|surname1=Mr. Vishnu Pandya|given1=Mr. Hitesh Bhanushali|year=1890|title=Krantiveer's Biography As A Story-Gujarati|url=https://archive.org/details/KRANTIVEERSHYAMJIKRISHNAVARMA}}

{{authority control}}

{{Indian Independence Movement}}
{{Indian Revolutionary Movement}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Varma, Shyamji Krishna}}
[[Category:1857 births]]
[[Category:1930 deaths]]
[[Category:People from Mandvi]]
[[Category:Revolutionary movement for Indian independence]]
[[Category:Indian revolutionaries]]
[[Category:Gujarati people]]
[[Category:India House]]
[[Category:Indian emigrants to France]]
[[Category:Indian emigrants to Switzerland]]
[[Category:Members of the Inner Temple]]
[[Category:19th-century Indian lawyers]]
[[Category:Journalists from Gujarat]]
[[Category:Alumni of Balliol College, Oxford]]
[[Category:19th-century Indian journalists]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian journalists]]
[[Category:Indian male journalists]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian lawyers]]

Shyamji Krishna Varma - Revision history

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