Born on 4 november , 1845 in Shirdhon a small village located near Panvel in Raigad district of  Maharashtra Vasudev Balwant Phadke was an Indian Independence activist and a revolutionary who  fought for India's independence from the British colonial rule.


Balwant vasudev Phadke
Balwant Vasudev Phadke (1845-1883)

Phadke was greatly moved by the plight and misery of the farming and peasant community during the British rule. He believed that swaraj was the only way out from the ills of the exploitative regime.


He also organised a peasant force with the help of Ramosis,Kolis Bhils,Dhangars communities in Maharashtra. One of the most prominent was the Ramosi peasant Force,mostly containg of the people from the backward communities.The group started armed struggle in order to overthrow the English rule.


They raided government treasuries and rich English businessmen in order to sustain their struggle and help the famine stricken farmers and peasants.


The first raid they ever did was at house of a local businessman at Dhamari in Shirur Taluka near Pune where money raided was collected as income tax on Indians.


Phadke came into limelight when he got control of the city of Pune for a few days when he caught the British soldiers off guard during one of his surprise attacks.


His inspiring speeches and exceptional oratory skills instilled in people greator will to fight for the freedom of the motherland. He was able to garner huge support and spread the message of Swaraj to the downtrodden and the repressed sections of the society to fight for their rights.


They organised meetings , community events ,sang patriotic songs, folk tales and also planned underground revolutionary activities.


As the monetary situation of the movement improved ,Vasudev had a realization that the people around him were more interested in his loot, or wealth, than in the ideals that he wanted to fight for. Vasudev decided it was time for him to find a new place. 


He decided to move to south, and headed for Shri Shaila Mallikarjun shrine. After overcoming the moral defeat, Vasudev again recruited about 500 Rohillas to form strong army to start a fresh fight against the British Raj.


With the rising antagonism among the british towards Phadke and his activities a bounty was offered for his capture.


On 20th July 1879, Phadke was arrested in the village of Devar Navadgi. He was given a life sentence but preferred death. He went on hunger strike in the jail and on 17th February 1883 he breathed his last in the jail