personality
Kesari Singh Barahath's stature was short. His personality was grand, simple and effective. His main outfit was white khadi dhoti, kurta and safa. He held a small stick in his hand. Fearlessness, dignity, discretion, decency and patriotism were dripping from his words. Referring to the personality of Kesari Singh Barhath, Ramnarayan Choudhary has written- 'Kesarisinhji had more sweetness and balance in his tongue and pen. His demeanor was in harmony with his humility, endurance and seriousness. None of his efforts were against his pride. As ardent lover of the country and as much a staunch enemy of British rule, he was not as much an advocate of reformism of today and opposed to the medieval polity, but his sacrifice was unique. His entire family was in a way sacrificed like kites on the goddess of freedom. , He used to stay away from the works of fame. Didn't give speeches. He was welcomed like a king in Wardha.
Laxminarayan Nandwana has written about Kesari Singh's personality - 'He was trying to spread the feelings of national consciousness and patriotism through religious propaganda, social reform, education and caste organization. He strongly opposed Anglo imperialism throughout his life and dedicated his life to the nation. Barathji was a versatile genius. He was an intellectual, thinker, writer and poet of excellent quality. He was also a wonderful speaker, preacher and organiser. He was a polyglot, a scholar of many subjects and a great scholar. He was a scholar of languages like Sanskrit, Prakrit, Apabhramsa, Dingal, Pingal, Braj, Bangla, Marathi, Gujarati, Hindi etc. and was a knower of geography, astrology, music, religion, philosophy, history. Barathji's style was poignant, effective, simple and pranjal. The maturity of emotional thoughts is found in his writings. In every word of Thakur sahib there is a cry of revolution against foreign power. Most of the poetic compositions of Veeras, simple, comprehensible and strong, are indicative of self-righteousness and national spirit.'
influenced by Japan
Thakur Kesari Singh was greatly influenced by the progress made in knowledge science by a small Asian country like Japan, due to which Japan had defeated a big country like Russia. The victory of Japan raised the spirits of the Indian revolutionaries. In AD 1907-08, he planned to send the talented youth of Rajputana to Japan to get cheap technical education. In that century, Japan was the only Asian country that could compete with European countries in technology and national spirit. In the draft of his plan, he wrote in very touching words – Japan is the only respectable for us among the improved advanced countries of the present world. With us, by mixing country in country (by becoming Asiatic), by mixing color in color, by heart in heart, impregnable, generously, with the reciprocal intellect of the charity of our Buddha God, by wishing for the benefit of mankind - all through selfless love. Prakar's call respectfully to provide higher important education at the cheapest possible cost.
Satire on Lord Curzon
Kesari Singh presented a verse book titled Kusumanjali to Lord Curzon through Kota Maharao. This booklet appeared to be a praise of the British Government, but it was a blasphemy in the deep. When Lord Curzon showed this book to a Sanskrit scholar, he revealed the reality.
Influence and fame in Rajputana princely states
In the princely states of Rajputana, Kesari Singh got fame everywhere as a scholar of Sanskrit and the knower of scriptures. His articles were published in newspapers and magazines in relation to subjects like politics, Kshatra religion, social reform, education, etc. His poetic talent had also blossomed. He started composing beautiful poetry in Rajasthani and Brajbhasha. Most of the topics in his poems were also related to caste, society and the salvation of the nation. Due to his scholarship and writing power, he had great respect in the Rajput and Baran class of the then Rajputana. Thus Kesari Singh had emerged as an influential figure in the Rajputana in the first decade of the twentieth century. Most of the Raja-Maharajas of Rajputana, from vassals and Kshatriyas to the general public, looked upon him with respect.
Kesari Singh was the first poet of the new age in Rajasthan. Every word of his had a tinge of patriotism, every stage had the shruti of a bygone era and every poem was fiery. Apart from the poet, he was a prose writer, journalist and critic of a high order. He had an unprecedented mix of poet and karma yogi. For this reason, Dr. Kanhaiyalal Rajpurohit has written- 'Due to his versatility and influential writing, he had emerged as an influential personality in Rajasthan in the first decade of the twentieth century.' Prof. Chintamani Shukla and Dr. Awadhesh Kumar Shukla have written- 'Shri Kesari Singh's work area was especially among the nobles and jagirdars of Rajasthan. The kings of Kota, Udaipur, Jodhpur and Bikaner were greatly influenced by him. The kings of many states had given him jagirs in the award.
Well-known freedom fighter and Congress leader Ramnarayan Choudhary has written – 'Twelve Kesarisinhji's field of work was among the nobles and vassals of Rajputana. He had a lot of influence in Kota, Jaipur, Jodhpur and Bikaner, so he had prepared many revolutionaries in the four. Some kings and Umrao were also sympathetic. The fantasies of establishing the Rathore kingdom also started swirling in the minds of a couple of men. …….. He was a fine poet of Dingle language. Through this poetic power, he saved the glory of Mewar by dissuading Maharana Fatehsinhji from attending the Delhi court of 1911. He was one of the promoters of serious writing style in Hindi.'
Respect after Independence
After independence, when the interim government was formed under the leadership of Gokullal Asawa in Shahpura, then Prime Minister Gokullal Asawa first offered flowers to the martyrs of the Barahath family. The brave Kesari Singh's immovable property which was confiscated by the state government was returned after welcoming his descendants to the public meeting. On the occasion of Silver Jubilee of Independence, Mr. Birth centenary celebrations were celebrated by Kesari Singh Barahath Memorial Committee. On this occasion, the Chief Minister of Rajasthan laid the foundation stone of the memorial of Barhat family. The Chief Minister announced that the state government would provide Rs 5000 for the Trimurti memorial and acquire the mansion that was sold and build a memorial.
Maxwini of Rajputana
In those days when Kesari was living in Wardha, special material was published in the Deepawali issue of Rajasthan Kesari regarding the revolutionary life of Thakur Kesari Singh. He was called the Mexican of Rajputana.
revolution vs peace
Kesari Singh's path was the path of revolution. Shakti was worshiped in the feudal environment in which he was born, brought up and grew up. Because of this, he found the path of revolution to be simple and easy, but the general public could not support this path of revolution. Seth- The moneylenders did not provide money and resources to the revolutionaries. Even the kings did not cooperate with this revolution path. Even the revolution could not get the support of armed soldiers. Therefore the revolution was easily crushed by the strong British power.
After the failure of the revolution, the work of the Congress progressed. After the death of Mahatma Tilak in 1920, Gandhi completely dominated the Congress. Many of Kesari Singh's friends went with Gandhi. Kesari Singh also followed the same path and went to Wardha at the behest of his companions, but very soon Kesari Singh got disillusioned with Wardha and again went to Kota. He spent the rest of his life here. In AD 1927, he was left alone with the death of his wife. After this he did the service of literature. While doing the same work, the body was released in 1941.
contact with national leaders
Kesari Singh was born, brought up and educated in the princely environment, but he was not bound to live in the small border of the princely state. Neither did they consider the princely rule good. This was the reason that he also wanted to see India emerge as a continuous nation like the national leaders. That is why he had contact with all the big leaders of the country. This contact remained for life. During his visit to Calcutta in AD 1902, Kesari Singh Barahath met patriots like Babu Shyamsundar Das, Mrs. Annie Besant and Maharishi Aurobindo. After being released from prison in AD 1919, he went to Dinabandhu Chittaranjan Das. Stayed there for a few days. The information of Lokmanya Tilak's death was sent to him by telegram by Khaparde. He also had a close friendship with Purushottam Das Tandon. Dr. Bhagwandas who was given India's first Bharat Ratna, Makhanlal Chaturvedi who was declared the national poet, Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi etc. were also among the friends of Kesari Singh.
Kaviratna title
Seeing Kesari Singh's poetic talent, Maharaja Darbhanga, who was the President of the Bharat Dharma Mahamandal, conferred the title of Kaviratna on Kesari Singh.