Located in the Narayan Peth area of Pune, the Kesari Wada was the residence commissioned Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III of Baroda. It was known as the Gaekwad Wada earlier, before becoming the center of activities for Lokmanya Tilak, the freedom fighter.
The Britishers had always suspected the Maharaja of supporting the freedom movement secretly. The Maharaja did actually help the movement but in such a way that the Britishers were never able to accuse him of anything. After hearing about the activities of Tilak the Maharaja offered and sold the Wada to Tilak in 1905. He worked and stayed here for the last fifteen years of his life before passing away in 1920.
The Wada of the Indian Freedom struggle:
Once under his control, Lokmanya Tilak housed the offices of his newspapers Kesari and Maratha on the premises of the Wada. He renamed the place as the Kesari Wada and used it as the center of his activities to fuel the spark of the freedom struggle.
The place is famous for it used to be the place for nightlong discussions of the eminent national leaders concerned about overthrowing the tyrannical British Rule over India. It was in the courtyard of this Wada itself that Lokmanya Tilak strategically started the annual Ganesh festival as a means to unite people and prepare them for the freedom struggle.
The Present:
The Wada still has the huge main wooden entrance despite having undergone many renovations. As one enters, some beautiful carvings on both sides of the wall catches the eye. These carvings show Lokmanya Tilak initiating the celebrations of the Ganesh festival and the Shivjayanti Festival. Beyond this is a spacious courtyard that used to be the place for social gatherings, lectures, and meetings during the Ganesh festival in the pre-independence era. Even today, many cultural programs like music concerts, lectures and competitions are organized here during the Ganesh festival.
Even today the building houses the Kesari-Maratha Trust Office and a library founded by Tilak himself for his newspapers. The library contains many books written by Professor Jinsiwale, Lokhitwadi, and other contemporary intellectuals. The library houses more than 50,000 books and a collection of newspaper cuttings in its folds.
Lokmanya Tilak Museum:
The main attraction of the Kesari Wada is the Tilak Museum. The museum displays the legendary career of Lokmanya Tilak from his genealogical table and horoscope to holy remains. There is also a beautiful replica of Lokmanya Tilak’s study room and his cell in Mandalay Jail. Lokmanya Tilak’s personal items like his clothes, books, watch, etc have been kept here in the museum.
*
The Wada stands as the symbol of the participation of Maharaja Sayajirao III in the freedom struggle and helping to set up the workshop of freedom to one of the most eminent leaders of the Indian Freedom struggle!!!!
For Visitors
• No Entry Fees
• The library and the Museum in Kesari Wada are open 7 days of the week from 10 AM to 01 PM and 03 PM to 06 PM
[button color=”green” size=”normal” alignment=”none” rel=”nofollow” openin=”newwindow” url=”https://goo.gl/maps/A9xV3rpbmPD2″]Location[/button]
Image & Info Credits: Maharashtra Government Site
No Comments