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[THREAD]
1/17
Vinayak and Lakshmi were incredibly blighted on the baby-making front. First was a boy but he died before they could even carouse. Two more followed and met the same fate. The fourth, a girl, finally lived.
But that's no good.
1/17
Vinayak and Lakshmi were incredibly blighted on the baby-making front. First was a boy but he died before they could even carouse. Two more followed and met the same fate. The fourth, a girl, finally lived.
But that's no good.
2/17
Sons are a social imperative in our neck of the woods even today, and we're talking early 1900s. The couple desperately needed a boy.
And a boy happened. After four dead babies and one daughter, a boy who'd live finally happened. On this very day, 110 years ago.
Sons are a social imperative in our neck of the woods even today, and we're talking early 1900s. The couple desperately needed a boy.
And a boy happened. After four dead babies and one daughter, a boy who'd live finally happened. On this very day, 110 years ago.
3/17
They named him Ramchandra hoping for divine benediction. Given their history with male babies, they were understandably convinced of a jinx little Ramchandra warranted immunity against. So they started dolling him up as his sister, complete with a nosepin.
They named him Ramchandra hoping for divine benediction. Given their history with male babies, they were understandably convinced of a jinx little Ramchandra warranted immunity against. So they started dolling him up as his sister, complete with a nosepin.
4/17
This sure seems to have caused some amount of gender dysphoria in his head.
No, not the baby's.
The Reaper's.
For the boy lived well into his 30s, not a bad upgrade from dead infants if you ask.
This sure seems to have caused some amount of gender dysphoria in his head.
No, not the baby's.
The Reaper's.
For the boy lived well into his 30s, not a bad upgrade from dead infants if you ask.
5/17
When it comes to caste animosities, few societies have been as sclerotic as the early twentieth century India. One man wanted to change that. His experiences with race relations in South Africa made him India's best bet in the game.
When it comes to caste animosities, few societies have been as sclerotic as the early twentieth century India. One man wanted to change that. His experiences with race relations in South Africa made him India's best bet in the game.
6/17
As the Western world battled unprecedented economic decimation, Indian cities like Ahmednagar and Pune played nurseries to relentless Hindutva rightwing activities. On June 25, 1934 Gandhi had a close shave, his first in a life-spanning series.
As the Western world battled unprecedented economic decimation, Indian cities like Ahmednagar and Pune played nurseries to relentless Hindutva rightwing activities. On June 25, 1934 Gandhi had a close shave, his first in a life-spanning series.
7/17
A grenade aimed at his motorcade in Pune missed its target. Subsequent investigations led to a certain Vishnu Karkare in Ahmednagar. Karkare, a key Hindu Mahasabha lieutenant and a sworn Savarkar-ite, had a history of anti-Muslim, anti-Dalit terror campaigns in the region.
A grenade aimed at his motorcade in Pune missed its target. Subsequent investigations led to a certain Vishnu Karkare in Ahmednagar. Karkare, a key Hindu Mahasabha lieutenant and a sworn Savarkar-ite, had a history of anti-Muslim, anti-Dalit terror campaigns in the region.
8/17
HM had an impressive membership with names like Tilak and Rai on its roster.
Gandhi escaped a 2nd time 10 years later when he dodged a knife attack in Panchgani. The attacker was apprehended but let go on Gandhi's entreaty. More attempts followed over the next 4 years.
HM had an impressive membership with names like Tilak and Rai on its roster.
Gandhi escaped a 2nd time 10 years later when he dodged a knife attack in Panchgani. The attacker was apprehended but let go on Gandhi's entreaty. More attempts followed over the next 4 years.
9/17
Armi Beretta SpA has been in the business of firearms since before we had Galileo, Shakespeare, or Akbar, and long before there were pistols. Their first pistols came out in 1915 and fired more shots during WW1 than most others of the time.
Armi Beretta SpA has been in the business of firearms since before we had Galileo, Shakespeare, or Akbar, and long before there were pistols. Their first pistols came out in 1915 and fired more shots during WW1 than most others of the time.
10/17
But the real windfall came with M1934 which went on to become an Italian staple at Mussolini's WW2 campaigns. One of these bad boys with serial no. 606824 participated in the invasion of Abyssinia, from where it embarked on an exciting postwar trip to India.
But the real windfall came with M1934 which went on to become an Italian staple at Mussolini's WW2 campaigns. One of these bad boys with serial no. 606824 participated in the invasion of Abyssinia, from where it embarked on an exciting postwar trip to India.
11/17
At the time, Commander General V V Joshi of Gwalior Regiment was in Ethiopia fighting the Italians. Once the battle concluded, in 1941, Joshi scored the pistol and carried it home as a prized war trophy.
At the time, Commander General V V Joshi of Gwalior Regiment was in Ethiopia fighting the Italians. Once the battle concluded, in 1941, Joshi scored the pistol and carried it home as a prized war trophy.
12/17
Upon return, Joshi retired from the army and started serving the Maharaja as his Aide-de-Camps (personal assistant).
Over time, the gun landed in the hands of Jagdish Prasad Goyal, a local arms trader in Gwalior.
How?
Decades on, that bit remains a mystery.
Upon return, Joshi retired from the army and started serving the Maharaja as his Aide-de-Camps (personal assistant).
Over time, the gun landed in the hands of Jagdish Prasad Goyal, a local arms trader in Gwalior.
How?
Decades on, that bit remains a mystery.
13/17
Also remains a mystery the exact number of hands the war trophy switched before ending up in Goyal's store.
Goyal later sold the single most sophisticated piece of close-range weaponry of its time to a customer for ₹500, a princely ₹125k today.
Also remains a mystery the exact number of hands the war trophy switched before ending up in Goyal's store.
Goyal later sold the single most sophisticated piece of close-range weaponry of its time to a customer for ₹500, a princely ₹125k today.
14/17
The customer in question hadn't handled a gun of any kind until that point. This would be his first.
And last.
Days later, three bullets would leave this gun to write the first chapter in independent India's history.
The customer in question hadn't handled a gun of any kind until that point. This would be his first.
And last.
Days later, three bullets would leave this gun to write the first chapter in independent India's history.
15/17
The assassin made no efforts to escape. He was just too busy celebrating in his mind a success that came after at least three humiliating failures. A journey that started ten long years ago in Panchgani had finally concluded in the national capital today.
The assassin made no efforts to escape. He was just too busy celebrating in his mind a success that came after at least three humiliating failures. A journey that started ten long years ago in Panchgani had finally concluded in the national capital today.
16/17
Trials began in earnest and concluded swiftly. Sardar Patel, the Home Minister today's saffronista can't stop eulogizing, ensured both mercy petitions from Gandhi's sons were promptly binned.
Trials began in earnest and concluded swiftly. Sardar Patel, the Home Minister today's saffronista can't stop eulogizing, ensured both mercy petitions from Gandhi's sons were promptly binned.
17/17
At the gallows, the assassin still bore mark from the nosepin he wore as a child. Mark that had earned him the more familiar nickname, #Nathuram.
At the gallows, the assassin still bore mark from the nosepin he wore as a child. Mark that had earned him the more familiar nickname, #Nathuram.
