Azadi ka 75 Amrit Mahotsav on the streets of Pune City

It's not only about us celebrating this day, but about remembering the forsaken life breath of valorous souls. Not just remembering, but passing down the treasure of legacy of our motherland to the gen ex.

History comes alive when you visit places of legacy. Mysterious places are revealed if we genuinely seek. Those most sacred places, the pulsating heart of Pune are alive today due to a handful of committed people. 

Walking through the city on Aug 15th was a different feel altogether. Watching the spirit of unity held together by the tiranga was mesmerizing.

A Peep into Khuniya Murlidhar Temple

Naturally these temples have always been a place of 'ashray' (shelter). The British cunningly wanted to eradicate these nodes of power in an attempt to kill the culture, heritage of this motherland. 

They were well aware that a new Murlidhar temple was planning to be established. The East India Company rushed to the place and caused tremendous bloodshed on the site of this sanctified courtyard. While the bloodshed was going on, Sr Murlidhar, the most powerful deity pran pratishtha was going on undeterred by the inimical attempt, and stays here to all it's glory until today. The Lord thus received His name as Khuniya (blood) Murlidhar. 

We can pray there for that undeterred spirit to become powerful contributors for our self growth and help others around us to grow. 

The 250 year old temple retains it's most mysterious architecture with the Peshwe Kalin chandeliers, wooden columns telling us stories from the past. The youngest Chaphekar Bandhu killed the Dravid brothers (traitors) near this temple.

The Powerful Laxmi Narsimha Temple

Holding that monument in our hearts with pride and pain, we walked just a few feet towards one of the most vibrant ancient temples - Laxmi Narsimha Temple. The Pujari of that place is over 8th generation serving the deity.

How did He manifest in this temple? Many centuries ago, the Lord came into the dream of a person, saying. 'Come to Kashi and I will be there waiting for you. Pick me up from here'. That couple travelled by foot from Pune to Kashi and found exactly the spot described in the dream. They found this marble deity of Lord Narsimhadev to their delight. They tried to install the deity in the nearby areas of Kashi, but it just didnt work out. They started their return to Pune holding Lord Narsimhadev on their back. After a lot of endeavour and challenges they finally reached Pune and He was ready to be installed at the spot where He still stands today.

This temple was the shelter of Vasudev Balwant Phadke, a very powerful freedom fighter, who would learn the Marshal art around that area which was then a forest. He had all his weapons' such as dand patta and talwars hidden here to fight the British forces. It was extremely heartening to hear of Indians preparing an army to fight the British invaders. He was one of the first ones. But polar to that, it was heart wrenching to hear that later the British caught him captive and deported him to Yemen. When asked for his last wish, he said, 'I want just a handful of the soil of my Motherland', and took it with him. Nobody heard of what happened to him thereafter.

The legacy of the virtuous continues.. Manjari Kaku held one of the most practical and beautiful discussions of duty towards Motherland in this space. While all the children were soaking in this experience. 

What's behind the Tehesildar Office?

Yes, one more of the thousands of freedom fighters, who you never hear of was hanged here. Unheard, not because of chance, but because such powerful warriors have been intentionally obscured from the written pages of history books. We have wronged so much on the Indian Soil. If the world knows what will they think of us - Britishers! That's how they were!

If there was another Shivaji Maharaj in the making it was Raje Umaji Naik. A ray of hope for Swaraj. He had armies, he had power, he would not let the tax go to the Britishers. He was full of wisdom, strategy, power and grit. 

With utter disgust the first thing you see as you enter the campus is the ancient Peepal Tree where Raje Umaji Naik was suspended on the tree after he was hanged - to scare the Indians, that if you try to rebel this is what you become.

This place was also a jail for his fellow supporters. Medical field says if anybody stays away from sunlight for a few days, he will become insane. Those men stayed in andhar kothris, and retained their sanity to fight for Swaraj.

A prison cell would house 6 men, with a common toilet inside which didnt have walls.

Dark damp prison used for high degree torcher for the men who fought for the right to freedom

Writings of the jailed warriors to ration their meals so all of them there get equal amounts. 

Bathing areas for the great fighters

For many days Mackintosh, one of the Britishers talked a lot to Umaji about his life. He wrote a diary which is now available online about the fantastic virtues of this one amazing person.

The picture above used to be a well. Because Umaji was such a powerful personality who could make a difference to India, he was a big threat to the British. They decided to hang him alive on the well in that spot. But his spirit has attained India her freedom for which you and me are here today. A must visit place!

This visit left a deep impression on our minds and made us aware of the lesser known freedom fighters but whose contribution has been unparalleled.

These memories stir in a deep sense of gratitude and responsibility to carry on the legacy of Swaraj in all realms of life - social, economical and cultural.