S. R. Rana

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Sardarsinhji Rana
British India
Died(1957-05-25)25 May 1957
EducationBarrister
Alma mater
Occupation(s)Indian Revolutionary, lawyer, journalist, writer, jeweller
Organization(s)
The Indian Home Rule Society, India House, Paris Indian Society
Known forIndian Independence Movement
Spouse(s)Sonba
Recy
(m. 1904; died 1931)
Children
Rajendrasinh Rana(Grandchild)
Parent(s)Ravaji II, Fulajiba
Websitesardarsinhrana.com

Sardarsinhji Ravaji Rana (1870–1957), often abbreviated S. R. Rana, was an Indian political activist, founding member of the Paris Indian Society and the vice-president of the Indian Home Rule Society.[1][2]

Biography

Sardarsinhji Rana was born on 10 April 1870 (

Bhikhaji Cama. He was instrumental in establishment of India House in London. He married Sonba from Bhingada village during his early life and had two sons, Ranjitsinh and Natwarsinh.[5][3]

In 1899, Rana left for Paris after taking his examination of

Chhatrapati Shivaji and Akbar in December, 1905 issue of The Indian Sociologist.[5] He had announced several other scholarships and travel fellowships.[3]

He helped

Subhash Chandra Bose to address audience on German radio. He had also helped in establishment of Banaras Hindu University.[5]

Together with Cama he came to develop close links with the French and Russian Socialist movements[10] and with her attended the second Socialist Congress at Stuttgart on 18 August 1907 where the "Flag of Indian Independence" was presented by Cama. From then on, he was a regular contributor to Bande Mataram (published by Cama from Paris) and The Talvar (from Berlin), which were then smuggled into India.[11]

The years immediately prior to World War I were however the turning point for Rana's personal and political life. In Paris, he is known to have lived with a German woman known as Recy who – although she was not married to him – came to be known as Mrs. Rana.[2] They married in 1904 when his first wife told to do so.[5] His both sons moved to Paris to stay with him. Along with his dying son Ranjitsinh and his German wife, he was expelled by the French Government to Martinique in 1911. The activities of the Paris Indian Society were curtailed under pressure from the French Sûreté, and finally suspended in 1914. His son Ranjitsinh died in 1914.[3] His wife was also refused permission to enter France for a cancer operation.[12] He returned to France in 1920. His German wife died of cancer in 1931. He had visited India in 1947 to perform bone immersion rites of his son Ranjitsinh at Haridwar. He returned on 23 April 1948.[3] He wrapped up his business and moved back to India in 1955 when he had failing health. Later he had a stroke also. He died on 25 May 1957 at the Circuit House of Veraval (now in Gujarat).[5]

Legacy and recognition

He was awarded the Chevalier by the French Government in 1951. His portraits are placed in the Gujarat Legislative Assembly and his place of death in Veraval.[5]

His great grandson

Bhavnagar.[5][3]

References

  1. ^ Sareen 1979, p. 38
  2. ^ a b c Phatak 1958, p. 518.
  3. ^ .
  4. ^ a b Chopra & Chopra 1988, p. 145.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g Trivedi, Ketan (October 2016). "સ્વાતંત્ર્ય સંગ્રામના આ સરદારને ઓળખો છો?" [Do You Know This Sardar of Independence Movement?]. Chitralekha (in Gujarati).
  6. ^ Bakshi 1990, p. 288.
  7. ^ Radhan2002, p. 714.
  8. .
  9. ^ Brown 1975, p. 67.
  10. ^ Gupta 1972, p. 54.
  11. ^ Sen 1997, p. 128.
  12. ^ Popplewell 1995, p. 221.

Bibliography