17 hours Ago By Alim Shaikh
Pune: Once a neglected structure used for illicit activities like gambling and drinking before 1972, the historic wada of the Chapekar brothers in Chinchwad has now been transformed into a memorial that brings alive the legacy of three unsung heroes of India's freedom movement. It will be opened to visitors from May 1. This wada (traditional residence) holds the memories of Damodar, Balkrishna and Vinayak Chapekar — popularly known as the Chapekar brothers — who were hanged by the British on June 22, 1897, for the assassination of Walter Charles Rand, a British officer and chairman of the Pune Plague Committee, along with his military escort, Lieutenant Ayres.
Rand drew widespread criticism for his harsh and culturally insensitive methods while managing the disease in Pune. His team forcibly entered homes, burned belongings of affected families, and subjected people to humiliating treatment. Angered by this, the Chapekar brothers meticulously planned and killed Rand on the present Ganeshkhind Road, near Central Mall in Pune, while he was returning from a royal function at Raj Bhavan after attending Queen Victoria's diamond jubilee.
Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday inaugurated the Chapekar Memorial jointly developed by the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) and the Krantiveer Chapekar Memorial Committee. "The memorial presents 14 important episodes from the lives of the Chapekar brothers using modern technology. Their revolutionary act of assassinating British officer Rand was a bold statement against colonial injustice.
It was considered a watershed moment in India's freedom struggle," Fadnavis said. It also includes advanced audio-visual exhibits, offering visitors a deeper understanding of the events of their lives. A private firm that worked on the Prime Minister Memorial in Delhi was tasked with this job.
Municipal commissioner Shekhar Singh said the memorial will be thrown open to the public on May 1, and the civic body is also working on a dedicated website for it. The Krantiveer Chapekar Memorial Committee, led by Padmashree awardee Girish Prabhune, purchased the wada from the Chapekar family in 1993 when it was in a dilapidated condition and was used by some miscreants. The committee in 1997 initiated development of the old wada with its monetary contribution as well as funds from the corporation.
Additional works began in the second phase after 2002. Fadnavis, in his first tenure as CM in 2017, laid the foundation stone for the third phase of works. Even people around Chinchwad had forgotten the birth and death anniversaries of the brothers, Prabhune said.
"Soon after we formed the committee, there were events to mark these two occasions," he said. Fadnavis urged the Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad municipal corporations to arrange student visits to this memorial to ensure that the new generation knows the history of India's freedom struggle. "This is a proud moment not only for Pimpri Chinchwad but for the entire nation.
The Chapekar brothers' sacrifice, like that of Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, and Sukhdev, laid the foundation of our freedom. It is now our responsibility to uphold constitutional values and carry forward their legacy," deputy CM Ajit Pawar said. PCMC had proposed a Rs68-crore expansion plan for the memorial project, which would include a dedicated museum, life-size paintings and audio-visual presentations to honour forgotten revolutionaries.
State govt will fund 60%, while the civic body will contribute the remaining 40%. Earlier this year, govt sanctioned Rs41 crore of which Rs13 crore had already been disbursed. The work is expected to be completed within three years.
Pune: Once a neglected structure used for illicit activities like gambling and drinking before 1972, the historic wada of the Chapekar brothers in Chinchwad has now been transformed into a memorial that brings alive the legacy of three unsung heroes of India's freedom movement. It will be opened to visitors from May 1. This wada (traditional residence) holds the memories of Damodar, Balkrishna and Vinayak Chapekar — popularly known as the Chapekar brothers — who were hanged by the British on June 22, 1897, for the assassination of Walter Charles Rand, a British officer and chairman of the Pune Plague Committee, along with his military escort, Lieutenant Ayres.
Rand drew widespread criticism for his harsh and culturally insensitive methods while managing the disease in Pune. His team forcibly entered homes, burned belongings of affected families, and subjected people to humiliating treatment. Angered by this, the Chapekar brothers meticulously planned and killed Rand on the present Ganeshkhind Road, near Central Mall in Pune, while he was returning from a royal function at Raj Bhavan after attending Queen Victoria's diamond jubilee.
Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday inaugurated the Chapekar Memorial jointly developed by the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) and the Krantiveer Chapekar Memorial Committee. "The memorial presents 14 important episodes from the lives of the Chapekar brothers using modern technology. Their revolutionary act of assassinating British officer Rand was a bold statement against colonial injustice.
It was considered a watershed moment in India's freedom struggle," Fadnavis said. It also includes advanced audio-visual exhibits, offering visitors a deeper understanding of the events of their lives. A private firm that worked on the Prime Minister Memorial in Delhi was tasked with this job.
Municipal commissioner Shekhar Singh said the memorial will be thrown open to the public on May 1, and the civic body is also working on a dedicated website for it. The Krantiveer Chapekar Memorial Committee, led by Padmashree awardee Girish Prabhune, purchased the wada from the Chapekar family in 1993 when it was in a dilapidated condition and was used by some miscreants. The committee in 1997 initiated development of the old wada with its monetary contribution as well as funds from the corporation.
Additional works began in the second phase after 2002. Fadnavis, in his first tenure as CM in 2017, laid the foundation stone for the third phase of works. Even people around Chinchwad had forgotten the birth and death anniversaries of the brothers, Prabhune said.
"Soon after we formed the committee, there were events to mark these two occasions," he said. Fadnavis urged the Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad municipal corporations to arrange student visits to this memorial to ensure that the new generation knows the history of India's freedom struggle. "This is a proud moment not only for Pimpri Chinchwad but for the entire nation.
The Chapekar brothers' sacrifice, like that of Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, and Sukhdev, laid the foundation of our freedom. It is now our responsibility to uphold constitutional values and carry forward their legacy," deputy CM Ajit Pawar said. PCMC had proposed a Rs68-crore expansion plan for the memorial project, which would include a dedicated museum, life-size paintings and audio-visual presentations to honour forgotten revolutionaries.
State govt will fund 60%, while the civic body will contribute the remaining 40%. Earlier this year, govt sanctioned Rs41 crore of which Rs13 crore had already been disbursed. The work is expected to be completed within three years.
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