Lone Wolf Adda

One of the most tragic chapters in Indian history on par with the destruction of Hampi is that of Orugallu, the capital of the Kakatiyas, which was raided thrice in 1310, 1318 and 1323, it’s immense riches looted, including the fabled Kohinoor diamond. It’s proximity to the diamond mines of Golkonda, nearby made it one of the richest cities of it’s time, as also it’s grand monuments, the massive f...

During the later half of the 17th century, there were a series of revolts against the Mughals by the Jats living in Mathura, Agra and Delhi. And the man who began it all was Gokula Singh, a zamindar of Tilpat, now in Faridabad district, belonging to the Agre gotra. The second of 4 sons of Madhu, his birth name was Ola Haga, and his brothers were Sindhuraj, Jhaman and Saman.

Acharya Jagdish Chandra Bose, one of the great Indian scientists of modern era, who came up with the first version of the radio, discovered that plants have feelings too. A genius in his own right.

Veer Chattrasal, the lion of Bundelkhand, who carved out an independent kingdom during the Mughal rule, against all odds. A truly great warrior after whom Chattarpur in MP is named.

To understand Rana Pratap, and his refusal to surrender to Akbar, while all other Rajput rulers did, one needs to understand the history of Mewar, it's long history of resistance to Islamic rule be it the Delhi Sultanate or the Mughals, and their never say die spirit.

Shyamji Krishna Varma, mentor to many leading lights of India’s revolutionary movement, ranging from Veer Savarkar to Lala Hardayal to Madame Bhikaji Cama. Founded India House in London.

March 23, 1931- The date on which Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and Rajguru were hanged. The podcast takes a look at the trial and the events leading up to the hanging.

Nana Fadnavis, the Maratha Chanakya, who as Prime Minister of the Maratha confederacy, bought it back to the days of glory after the humiliating rout at Panipat. A man who defeated the British twice with his intelligence and diplomacy.

Lal Qile se aaee awaaz,Sehgal Dhillon ShahnawazTeenon ki ho Umar Daraaz. Gurbaksh Singh Dhillon, close associate of Netaji Subash Chandra Bose, one of the 3 INA officers in the Red Fort trial.

While we know about Rana Pratap, how many know about his son Rana Amar Singh, an equally great warrior like his father who fought 17 battles with the Mughals, winning many of them.

Malhar Rao Holkar, founder of the Holkar dynasty, developed Indore into a major city. One of the powerful Maratha leaders who asserted themselves post Panipat, when the Marathas became a confederacy of various other kingdoms.

If only I have eleven more followers like Sriramulu I will win freedom  in a year. Freedom fighter whose fast unto death led to the creation of a separate Andhra State.

Mrutyuche aavhaan peluni, toch varasa aamhaala dila l Shivrayaancha Shambhu chaava, Hindu mhanuni amar jahala ll (Coming from the same legacy that confronted death, Shivaji’s son Shambhu, became immortal as a Hindu) Quite often, growing up in the shadow of a banyan tree can be quite inhibiting, however much you grow, and you shall always look small against the banyan. In a sense that was what happ...

What does one make of a man who flew a daring sortie into Dutch occupied Indonesia and sneaked away their Prime Minister?  Or made equally daring sorties into Kashmir during the first India Pakistan war in 1947?  Or a man who set up industries all over Odisha?  Biju Patnaik was not just a political leader, he was also an aeronautical engineer, a fighter pilot, an industrialist and fought for freed...

Lala Hardayal, the man who co founded the Ghadar Party in US, along with Sohan Singh Bhakna. A legend among revolutionaries, one of the key members of India House in London along with Shyamji Krishna Varma, Veer Savarkar and Madame Bhikaji Cama. A brilliant polymath who turned down a lucrative career in the Civil Services, as he plunged into the revolutionary movement. A leader who inspired many e...

Born on the same date as Netaji Subash Chandra Bose, led a long tribal revolt against the British rule in Sambalpur, harassing them to no end, a hero not known much outside of Odisha.

One of the greatest revolutionaries ever of the freedom movement, who shot himself rather than surrender to the British on February 27, 1931 at Alfred Park, Prayaga Raj, which since has been renamed after him.

“Behind every successful man is a woman” so goes the common saying. While we are familiar with Veer Savarkar, not many know about the woman in his life, Yamunabai Savarkar or more affectionately known as Mai. Her real name was Yashoda, and she came from a background, totally different to that of Veer Savarkar’s. 

Veer Savarkar has been one of my heroes. One of the most fascinating, multi talented personalities ever. Freedom fighter, nationalist, activist, thinker, writer and sadly a very misunderstood personality too. Here was some one who braved the worst form of imprisonment at Cellular Jail for not one year, two years, but a whole decade. Imagine spending ten years in a hellhole, that would have broken...

Rani Rashmoni, the founder of the Dakshineshwar Temple in Kolkata, a close associate ot Shri Ramakrishna Paramahansa. One of the most remarkable women ever in Indian history, who financed the construction of Ghats across the Hooghly, took the British head on and played a major role in the Bengali Renaissance.

One of the great scientific achievements of modern India has been Pokhran I on May 18, 1974, when it carried out it’s first ever peaceful nuclear test. And the man behind this feat, Dr Raja Ramanna was one of the most multifaceted personalities ever, an eminent nuclear physicist, technologist, administrator, a gifted musician, Sanskrit scholar. Handpicked by Homi J Bhabha himself, he would go on t...

Bipin Chandra Pal, one of the members of the Lal-Bal-Pal trio in Congress, others being  Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Lala Lajpat Rai. A nationalist,  writer and thinker, and above all, a man who was uncomprosingly independent in his views.

Sam Manekshaw, aka Sam Bahadur, first Indian army officer to become Field Marshal, who led the Army to it’s greatest moment of triumph in 1971 as Chief of Army Staff.

Kanhaiyalal Maneklal Munshi , aka  K.M.Munshi, freedom fighter, founder of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, as well as the Vishwa Hindu Parishad. A lawyer by profession, he was also one of the foremost writers in Gujarati. And presided over the surrender of the Nizam post Operation Polo.

Birsa Munda in Jharkhand, the only tribal leader whose portrait hangs in Parliament Central Hall and whose Jayanti is celebrated as Jharkhand Day too.