Anant Laxman Kanhere

Anant Laxman Kanhere (7 January 1892 – 19 April 1910) was an Indian freedom fighter. On 21 December 1909, he shot Arthur Mason Tippetts Jackson, who was the district collector of Nashik in British India. The murder was an important event in the history of Nashik and the Indian revolutionary movement in Maharashtra.

Background Kanhere was born on 7 January 1892 in Aayani (Anjani), a small village in Khed Taluka, Ratnagiri district in a Chitpavan Brahmin family. He completed his primary education in Nizamabad (which was then also called as Indur), and his English education took place in Chatrapati Sambhaji Nagar(Then Aurangabad). In 1908, Kanhere returned to Chatrapati Sambhaji Nagar where he met with members of secret revolutionary groups. Gangaram had a friend at Yewale named Tonpe. He was member of the secret society of Nashik. One Ganu Vaidya used to visit Yewala to meet his relative. Vaidya and Gangaram once went to purchase a weapon for the Nashik Secret Society. Anant acquainted with this Vaidya at Chatrapati Sambhaji Nagar(Maharashtra). thumb

Jackson assassination Jackson, a British officer, was aware of these activities. He started mixing with people, unlike other British officers, and made an image of himself as a people-friendly officer. He told people that he was a Vedic-literate Brahmin in his previous life and that was why he felt affection towards the Indian people. He used to talk to people in Marathi and had knowledge of Sanskrit.

Jackson was alleged to be instrumental in the arrest and prosecution of Babarao Savarkar for printing a sixteen-page book of the songs of Kavi Govind, although this is not confirmed.

The two men in black coats, revolutionary Krishna Karve (sitting) and Vinayak Deshpande (standing).

A revolutionary group headed by Krishnaji Karve decided to eliminate Jackson in the first month of 1910 in response. A 2014, Marathi film 1909 is based on Anant Kanhere, assassination of Collector Jackson. The initial premier of this film was released on 21 December 2013 on the very same day Jackson was killed at Vijyanand Theatre, Nasik. This is India's oldest theatre and also the exact location where Jackson was killed. The role of Jackson is played by Charles Thomson, an Australian now living in India and working in Bollywood films. A major cricket ground in Nashik city is named in Anant Kanhere's honour, it host domestic matches of tournaments such as Ranji trophy.