Shyamji Krishna Varma (1857-1930)

A revolutionary, lawyer and journalist, and best known for establishing the India House and the Indian Home Rule Society in London, Varma mentored a number of radicals including Savarkar and Lala Hardyal. He displayed excellent intellect right from the early age. His mastery over Sanskrit at the young age earned him the title of Pandit. He came in touch with Swami Dayanand, a fountainhead of revolutionary thought and founder of Arya Samaj, and was even appointed the President of the Bombay Arya Samaj. Dayanand was impressed by his profound knowledge of Sanskrit and ancient scriptures, so he was asked to tour India to conduct lectures focussing on the Vedic philosophy. This earned him popularity among people across India.

Varma moved to England upon invitation by Sir Monier Williams, a professor in Oxford University, and received a postgraduate degree in arts (the first Indian to do so) and a Bachelor in Civil Law. He helped Williams in the study of oriental Sanskrit texts. He was later called to the Inner Temple as a pioneering Indian barrister. Numerous professors and scholars, including Max Muller thought high of his potential.

Back in India in 1885, he served as the Diwan (chief minister) or part of the cabinet in several princely states like Ratlam, Udaipur and Junagadh. Peeved at the attitude of the British agent at Junagadh and his humiliation by the British racial discrimination, he returned to England in 1897 to run India’s freedom movement from there. When Gandhiji supported the British government in the Boer War, Varma criticised him strongly because the people of Boer were a small nation fighting for their freedom against the British imperialism and greed.

In addition to establishing the India House and the Indian Home Rule Society in 1905, he also started a monthly journal, The Indian Sociologist, a tool to propagate his views on freedom and self-rule. The purpose of setting up the Society was to specifically secure home rule in India, carry out propaganda in England by all possible means, and to spread the virtues of freedom and national unity among Indians. He also published pamphlets, wrote books and delivered lectures condemning the British domination over India. In addition to the Herbert Spencer Fellowship, he also started other fellowships, including the ones in the name of Swami Dayanand, to support the cause of Indian students and social justice.

At the inauguration ceremony of the India House, a hostel providing lodging and boarding to 25 Indian students, were present numerous Indian and foreign luminaries, including Dadabhai Naoroji, Lala Lajpat Rai and Madam Cama. Speaking on this occasion, Mr. H.M. Hyndman, the founder of the Social Democratic Federation, said: “As things stand, 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.”

Owing to his fiery writings and speeches, he was disbarred from the Inner Temple; interestingly, he was reinstated to it posthumously more than a century later saying that he was not given a proper, fair hearing. To avoid arrest, Varma moved to Paris, and then to Geneva in Switzerland when the First World War broke out. Even there, he continued with his campaign until his death.

About this time, when Gandhiji was raising voice for the rights of the coloured people in South Africa which never focussed on India’s freedom, Shyamji Krishna Varma started his freedom movement abroad. He too favoured non-violence as the tool to achieve freedom, but did not rule out violence if need be. He was the first to adopt the term Swaraj or self-rule which was later adopted by the Congress leader Dadabhai Naoroji and others.

In Paris, Varma continued with his agenda of India’s freedom and worked to procure support among the Europeans. There he also agitated to secure the release of Savarkar when he was arrested when fleeing from the ship by the French police and handed back to the British authorities. For this, he received great support all over Europe and Russia. In Geneva, he had to somewhat moderate his tone for freedom struggle as he had given a word of political inaction to the Swiss government during the war period.

Varma did not live to witness India’s independence, but he had strong conviction that one day India would rise to freedom. Just before his death, he made prepaid arrangements with the local government at Geneva, Ville de Geneve, and St. George Cemetery to preserve his and his wife’s ashes at the cemetery for one hundred years and to send their urns to India whenever India gains freedom. It took a nationalist leader, Narendra Modi, when he was Chief Minister of Gujarat, to bring back the urns and erect a memorial in the name of this great patriot at his birthplace Mandvi in 2003.

Written by: A.K. Gandhi

Key to SST-6 Chapter 3 - Landforms and Life

Question 2 : Chhota Nagpur is located in the plateau, Prayagraj in the northern plains while Almora is located in the northern mountains.

Question 3: Rameshwaram is located in coastal plains, Mahakal is located in Ujjain which is a plateau, Mehdipur Balaji is located in western desert, Varanasi is located in northern plains and Vaishno Devi and Badrinath are located in the northern mountains.

Question 4: False, True, True, False, False, True, True, True, False.

Question 5: Mount Everest - climbing, rafting - river, camels - desert, plateau - roof of the world,  Gangetic plains - rice fields, waterway - Ganga, Mount Kilimanjaro - Africa, Yamuna - tributary.

Please support my books. This is published by Prabhat Publication, and is available on Amazon.

Key to NCERT SST-6 Chapter 2 - Oceans and Continents

Explain the following terms: 

(a) Continent : A continent is a very large land area on Earth. There are seven continents, though some people can count differently: Asia, Africa, Australia, North America, South America, Antarctica, and Europe.

(b) Ocean : An ocean is a huge body of salty water that covers most of the Earth’s surface. The Pacific Ocean is the largest ocean. The others are Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean, Southern Ocean and Arctic Ocean.

(c) Island : An island is a piece of land that is surrounded by water on all sides. Sri Lanka, Andaman and Greenland are examples of an island.

Support my books: 

Key to NCERT SST-6 Chapter 1 - Locating Places on the Earth

1. Why is it 5.30 pm in India when it is 12 pm or noon in London?

It is 5:30 pm in India when it is 12 noon in London because:

• The Earth rotates from west to east, so places in the east see the Sun earlier.

• India lies east of London, so time in India is ahead.

• India follows Indian Standard Time (IST), which is 5 hours 30 minutes ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) used in London.

Therefore, when it is 12 noon in London, it is 5:30 pm in India.

2. Why do we need symbols and colours in the map?

We need symbols and colours in maps because:

• They make maps easy to understand.

• Symbols show things like rivers, roads, schools, and mountains.

• Colours help to differentiate land, water, forests, and heights.

• They help us read a lot of information quickly without long descriptions.

Thus, symbols and colours make maps clear, simple, and useful.

3. What is the difference between local time and standard time?

Local Time and Standard Time are different in the following ways:

• Local Time is the time of a place based on the position of the Sun at that place.

• Standard Time is the same time followed by the whole country.

Local time changes from place to place, but standard time is fixed and helps in maintaining uniform time across the country.

Delhi's and Bengaluru's latitudes are 29oN and 12oN; their longitudes are almost the same, 77oE. How much will be the difference in local time between the two cities?

There will be no difference in local time between Delhi and Bengaluru because:

• Local time depends on longitude, not latitude.

• Both cities lie almost on the same longitude (77°E).

So, the difference in local time is zero.

4. False, True, True, True, False, True, True.

Myth Mosaic : Legends from India's Past

Written by a noted historian, this book will carry you through the amazing journey of India's history, and takes particular references to those shocking and pleasing episodes, many of which have turned into myths. At the same time, several untrue episodes have intruded into history which people believe to be true. This book busts several of these myths and also refers to the authentic sources of information, so that a reader can know the true worth of any historical event, like that of Rani Padmini, Prithviraj Chauhan, who should get credit for India's independence, and more. The link to the book is here :

https://amzn.in/d/dKDu5ah

And for paperback, the link is :

https://store.pothi.com/book/k-gandhi-myth-mosaic/

Understanding History

History is not just about memorizing dates or events. It helps us understand the present and shapes our future. When we know about the struggles and achievements of those who came before us, we learn to appreciate the freedom and comfort we enjoy today. It also helps us build a better world by learning from past mistakes and celebrating achievements.

History is like a big storybook that tells us what happened a long time ago! It is the study of the past, where we learn about people, places, events, and ideas that shaped the world into what it is today. By looking at history, we understand how things have changed over time and how they have stayed the same. It helps us to know about our roots and gives us lessons that guide us in the present and future.

History is not just about dates and names; it helps us understand the world better. Here are some reasons why history is important:

1. Learning from the Past: By studying what happened in the past, we can learn from mistakes and successes. For example, if a country faced a problem long ago and found a good solution, we can use that idea to solve similar problems today. 

2. Understanding People and Cultures: History helps us learn about different cultures and traditions from around the world. It teaches us how people in different times lived, what they believed in, and how they celebrated their festivals. This helps us appreciate different cultures and respect others.

3. Knowing Our Heroes and Heroines: History introduces us to brave people like freedom fighters, scientists, leaders, and artists who made a big difference. Knowing about people like Mahatma Gandhi, Rani Lakshmibai, Albert Einstein, or Anne Frank can inspire us to be courageous, wise, and kind.

4. Understanding Changes Over Time: History shows us how things like technology, education, transportation, and society have changed over time. For example, there was a time when people traveled on horseback or in carriages; now we have cars, airplanes, and spaceships!

The Work a Historian Does

A historian is like a detective who tries to solve the mysteries of the past. They gather evidence from different sources like old books, letters, artifacts, paintings, or even cave drawings! Then, they put the pieces together to tell the story of what happened.

Historians also try to understand why events happened the way they did. For example, why did ancient civilizations like the Egyptians build pyramids, or why did kings fight in battles? This helps us understand how people thought and lived in different times.

History : Types

There are different types of history, each focusing on different aspects of the past:

1. Political History: This talks about kings, queens, presidents, governments, and wars. It tells us how countries were formed and how leaders ruled.

2. Social History: This focuses on the everyday lives of people. It talks about how people dressed, what they ate, how they played, and what kind of jobs they did.

3. Cultural History: This type looks at art, music, dance, literature, and other creative works from the past. It helps us understand the culture and traditions of different times.

4. Economic History: This type studies how people earned money, traded goods, and used resources in the past.

5. Scientific History: This talks about inventions and discoveries in science, medicine, and technology that changed the world.

How We Learn About History

We can learn about history in many ways:

1. Books and Textbooks: We read stories and facts about the past in history books.

2. Museums: Museums display objects from the past like old tools, clothes, toys, and art. This helps us see how life was in different times.

3. Monuments and Historical Places: Visiting historical places like forts, temples, palaces, or ancient cities gives us a glimpse into the past.

4. Documentaries and Films: Some movies and TV shows tell stories about history in a fun and interesting way.

5. Talking to Elders: Our grandparents and elders often have stories from their time, which can help us learn about the recent past.

Tawaifs or Nautch Girls

Tawaifs, termed by the British as 'Nautch Girls' were the dancing girls who have been known for their etiquette and dancing-singing skills. They have also played a role in our freedom struggle before, during and after 1857 Uprising, and even came in confrontation with Gandhiji. I am excited to launch the book cover of my upcoming book, which will be in your hands soon.