Collector Ash was shot dead by a patriotic youth named Vanchinathan at Maniachi railway station. Neelakandan’s name became famous all over the country when he was made the first accused in the murder case.
Neelakanda Brahmachari was born on December 4, 1889 as the eldest son of Sivaramakrishnan Subputhai couple in Erukkancheri village next to Sirkazhi.
Lord Curzon divided Bengal into two religiously. There was an uproar across the country. Vipin Chandra Pal addressed several gatherings in Chennai Beach. Many youths who heard them became revolutionaries.
Our Neelkandan is one of them. At a young age, Neelakandan formed the revolutionary movement ‘Abhinava Bharat’ and organized more than 20,000 soldiers to fight for India’s freedom. He spent most of his life in jails in various parts of India.
In the latter part of his life, he became disillusioned with life and took sannyasa and set up an ashram at the foothills of Nandi, Mysore, where he lived as Sri Omkarananda Swami and died at the age of 88.
To realize what patriotism is and how much sacrifices one can make for it, it is enough to take a look at the history of Neelakanda Brahmachari. People should not forget the history of this heroic man who lived and died in our time.