Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis inaugurated the Krantiveer Chapekar Memorial in Pimpri-Chinchwad on April 18, 2025, honoring the revolutionary Chapekar brothers: Damodar, Balkrishna, and Vasudeo who assassinated British Plague Commissioner Walter Rand in 1897. During the ceremony, Fadnavis emphasized that the brothers’ courage was rooted in the legacy of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, whose ideals of resistance against oppression inspired their defiance.
The memorial, located at the Chapekar Wada in Chinchwadgaon, blends cutting-edge technology with historical storytelling to depict 14 pivotal moments from the brothers’ lives. Constructed by the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) and the Krantiveer Chapekar Memorial Committee, the site includes a National Museum (foundation stone laid concurrently) to preserve their legacy
Interactive Displays: Touchscreens and AR/VR installations narrate the brothers’ journey.
Ancestral Wada Restoration: The original structure, 200 meters from Veer Chapekar Chowk, now houses artifacts and archival documents.
Public Access: Opens to visitors on May 1, 2025, with free entry for students and historians.
In 1897, the Chapekar brothers targeted Walter Rand and Lieutenant Charles Ayerst during Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee, retaliating against the British administration’s brutal plague measures, which included forced home inspections, public humiliation of women, and temple desecration. Their act marked one of India’s first organized armed revolts against British rule, predating the more widely known revolutionary movements
Fadnavis described the memorial as a “bridge between generations”, urging youth to draw inspiration from the brothers’ “fearless pursuit of justice”. He highlighted how their principles aligned with Shivaji Maharaj’s ethos, particularly in resisting exploitation[^5][^9]. Deputy CM Ajit Pawar, present at the event, echoed this sentiment, stressing the need to “preserve Maharashtra’s revolutionary history”.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi sent a virtual message, praising the brothers’ sacrifice and Maharashtra’s role in India’s freedom struggle.
