https://indianpedia.org/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=Free_India_SocietyFree India Society - Revision history2026-07-31T12:39:04ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.45.4https://indianpedia.org/index.php?title=Free_India_Society&diff=473927&oldid=prevBXIBerniece at 19:36, 10 June 20252025-06-10T19:36:38Z<p></p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{Short description|Indian student organization in England}}<br />
{{EngvarB|date=July 2016}}<br />
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2025}}<br />
The '''Free India Society''' was an organization of Indian students in London, founded by [[Vinayak Damodar Savarkar]] in 1906, who drew inspiration from the thoughts of Italian nationalist [[Giuseppe Mazzini]]. The Society was committed to promoting the cause of Indian independence from the [[British Raj]].<ref name="Open"/><ref name="Bidyut"/> It functioned effectively as the London branch of the [[Abhinav Bharat Society]].<ref name="Laursen"/><br />
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==History and activities==<br />
The Free India Society was founded by [[Vinayak Damodar Savarkar]], drawing inspiration from the thoughts of Italian nationalist [[Giuseppe Mazzini]].<ref name="Open">{{cite web |title=Free India Society {{!}} Making Britain |url=https://www5.open.ac.uk/research-projects/making-britain/taxonomy/term/565 |publisher=[[The Open University]] |access-date=30 May 2025}}</ref> It was established in 1906 in London by Savarkar and his associates as a counterpart to the [[Abhinav Bharat Society]] established earlier in [[Pune]]. Envisioned as a nationalist organisation, it soon became a centre for political activism among Indian nationalist students residing in London. The Society invited prominent nationalist leaders from India and organised lectures and interactive sessions. In addition to nationalist meetings, the Society also celebrated Indian cultural festivals and commemorated prominent figures of the Indian freedom struggle.<ref name="Bidyut">{{cite book |last1=Chakrabarty |first1=Bidyut |title=Many Ideas of Nationalism in India: Priorities and Challenges |date=27 June 2025 |publisher=[[Taylor & Francis]] |isbn=978-1-040-38708-5 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=H5tfEQAAQBAJ&pg=PT184 |access-date=30 May 2025}}</ref> Among its notable members and revolutionaries were [[Bhai Parmanand]], [[Pandurang Mahadev Bapat]], [[Madan Lal Dhingra]], [[Har Dayal]], and Harnam Singh.<ref name="Garg">{{cite book |last1=Garg |first1=Kavita |title=Veer Savarkar: Bestseller Book by Kavita Garg: Veer Savarkar |date=1 January 2020 |publisher=Prabhat Prakashan |isbn=978-93-5186-390-8 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GqdwBgAAQBAJ&dq=%22Free+India+Society%22&pg=PP8 |access-date=30 May 2025}}</ref> The Free India Society also functioned as a recruiting ground for the Abhinav Bharat Society in London, where Savarkar organised Indian students. Among those who were attracted to his ideological visions also included [[Madam Cama]].<ref name="Grover"/><br />
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In 1907, [[Shyamji Krishna Varma]], the founder of [[India House]] and [[Indian Home Rule Society]], entrusted the management of India House to Savarkar, having developed a paternal affection for him.<ref name="Grover">{{cite book |last1=Grover |first1=Verinder |title=V.D. Savarkar |date=1993 |publisher=Deep & Deep Publications |isbn=978-81-7100-425-6 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AwmT2XjEXw0C&dq=%22Free+India+Society%22&pg=PA428}}</ref> After Savarkar took charge of India House, the Society became increasingly active, hosting frequent debates and discourses.<ref name="Trehan"/> [[V. V. S. Aiyar]] was Savarkar's chief aide during this period. The Society gradually replaced the Indian Home Rule Society and functioned effectively as the London branch of the Abhinav Bharat Society.<ref name="Laursen">{{cite book |last1=Laursen |first1=Ole Birk |title=Anarchy or Chaos: M. P. T. Acharya and the Indian Struggle for Freedom |date=1 July 2023 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-776677-4 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ferIEAAAQBAJ&pg=PA31 |access-date=30 May 2025}}</ref> Savarkar often read passages from his book ''[[The Indian War of Independence (book)|The Indian War of Independence]]'' during its meetings, using it as a tool for political education and motivation.<ref name="Garg"/> By late 1908, the Society's activities increased significantly. Prominent Indian nationalists such as [[Lala Lajpat Rai]], Gokul Chand Narang, B. P. Pal, [[Gopal Krishna Gokhale]], [[Romesh Chunder Dutt]], G. B. Khaparde, and R. V. Karandikar visited London and participated in events organised by the Society, where they presented their views before the British public. In July 1909, one of its member, Madan Lal Dhingra, assassinated [[Curzon Wyllie]], a senior British official associated with the [[India Office]]. The act, reportedly inspired by Savarkar's revolutionary philosophy, led to Dhingra's arrest, trial, and death sentence.<ref name="Trehan">{{cite book |last1=Trehan |first1=Jyoti |title=Veer Savarkar: Thought and Action of Vinayak Damodar Savarkar |date=1991 |publisher=Deep & Deep Publications |isbn=978-81-7100-322-8 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JD1ZMJZZNr4C&pg=PA21 |access-date=30 May 2025}}</ref><br />
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==References==<br />
{{reflist}}<br />
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{{India House}}<br />
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[[Category:Revolutionary movement for Indian independence]]<br />
[[Category:India House]]<br />
[[Category:Vinayak Damodar Savarkar]]<br />
[[Category:1906 establishments in British India]]<br />
[[Category:Defunct English-language newspapers published in India]]<br />
[[Category:Student societies in India]]<br />
[[Category:Student societies in the United Kingdom]]<br />
[[Category:Assassinations in India]]<br />
[[Category:Nonviolent resistance movements]]<br />
[[Category:Nonviolence organisations based in the United Kingdom]]<br />
[[Category:Defunct newspapers published in the United Kingdom]]<br />
[[Category:Student newspapers published in India]]<br />
[[Category:Student newspapers published in the United Kingdom]]</div>BXIBerniece