Shyamji Krishnavarma Biography 
Shyamji Krishnavarma was an Indian revolutionary freedom fighter, Sanskrit scholar, lawyer and journalist. He is the founder of Indian Home Rule Society, India House and The Indian Sociologist in London. He has practised for a short period as a lawyer and has also worked as divan of many Indian princely states. Due to a few controversies he returned to London. In 1881 he represented India at the Berlin Congress of Orientalists.
Shyamaji Krishna Varma was born on 4 October 1857 in Mandvi of Kutch province, Gujarat. His father Karsan Bhanushali was a labourer for cotton Press Company. He lost his mother at a younger age. His secondary education was completed at Bhuj and later he went to Mumbai for higher studies. He learnt Sanskrit while at Mumbai. In 1875 Shyamaji got married to Bhanumati. Then he got acquainted with Swami Dayananda Saraswati, founder of Arya Samaj. Very soon he became the disciple of Dayananda Saraswati and conducted lectures on Vedic philosophy and religion. In 1877, his public speech on religion won him National recognition and became the first non-Brahmin to receive the prestigious title of Pandit by the Pandits of Kashi the same year. He became the assistant of Monier Williams, an Oxford professor of Sanskrit.
He joined Balliol College, Oxford on 25 April 1879 with the recommendation of Monier Williams. He completed Bachelor of Arts in the year 1883. He presented a lecture on "the origin of writing in India" to the Royal Asiatic Society and he was elected a non-resident member of the society. He returned to India in 1885 and started practice as a lawyer. He served as a council member of Udayapur state from 1893 to 1895. A conspiracy of local British officials at Junagadh resulted in the resignation of the post.
He founded India House and The Indian Sociologist in the year 1905 at Britain to organize Indian students which very soon became one of the most prominent centres for revolutionary Indian nationalism outside India. Varma moved to Paris in 1907, avoiding prosecution and died in the year 1930.
Published: N/A
Updated: February 25, 2014
