Thread by @RajeAiyer

Remembering the courageous freedom fighter Vanchinathan on his punyatithi 🙏
He was mentored by #veersavarkar close friend VVS Iyer
On 17 June 1911, Vanchinathan, who was 25, assassinated Robert Ashe, the district collector of Tirunelveli. He shot Ashe at point-blank range

when Ashe's train had stopped at the Maniyachi Station, en route to Madras. He committed suicide later. Today, he is known hardly outside a few circles. He could've treaded another path, a significantly better one. But history has a way of making bad jokes, I suppose

Vanchinathan was a close collaborator of Varahaneri Venkatesa Subrahmanya Iyer, another activist who sought arms to defeat the British. He trained Vanchinathan to execute the plan in all perfection. They belonged to Bharatha Matha(mother) Association. After the shooting,

Vanchinathan ran along the platform & took cover in toilet. Subsequently,he died,having shot himself in the mouth.The pistol recovered from him was empty without any bullets because he planned to kill himself after killing Ashe & had no intention to hurt anyone other than Ashe.

He left behind a letter which reads:

I dedicate my life as a small contribution to my motherland. I am alone responsible for this.

The mlechas of England having captured our country, tread over the sanathana dharma of the Hindus and destroy them.

Every Indian is trying to drive out the English & get swarajyam & restore sanathana dharma. Our Raman, Sivaji, Krishnan, Guru Govindan, Arjuna ruled our land protecting all dharmas, but in this land, they are making arrangements to crown George V, a mlecha, and one who eats

the flesh of cows.
3K Madrasees have taken a vow to k!ll George V as soon as he lands in our country. In order to make others know our intention, I who am the least in the company, have done this deed this day. This is what everyone in Hindustan should consider it as his duty.

I will k!ll Ashe, whose arrival here is to celebrate the crowning of cow-eater King George V in this glorious land which was once ruled by great samrats.This I do to make them understand the fate of those who cherish the thought of enslaving this sacred land.

I, as the least of them, wish to warn George by killing Ashe.

Vande Mataram. Vande Mataram. Vande Mataram"

Vanchinathan was from a Brahmin family.When he died by suicide immediately after killing the collector,his father,an orthodox Brahmin, refused to collect his body.

No post-death Hindu rituals were performed by his family,possibly because suicide was considered a shameful act & perhaps because he was considered a murderer.
Today,he is known hardly outside a few circles & portrayed as a casteist bigot who k!lled Ashe only because

Ashe interfered with Hinduism. Understandable, for the altars of social justice require a regular sacrifice of truth.
He was 25 yrs old when he achieved martyrdom

Some points taken from quora too

Irony in TN is:
We don't Salute this freedom fighter
But instead
They revere the Britisher Ashe Durai as Martyr !!
Dummeel porikies also says - K!lling him shows Brahmin oppression !!
What are these people made up off

And

https://twitter.com/neelabala/status/1537831228690161684?t=BBTQVpo2UUSNPMFo9d1bDw&s=19

The Vanchi Junction
Here is BBC's as usual casty derogatory remarks about the Freedom fighter...
If there is no Hinduism there is no India!!