Updated May 30, 2023
About Vinayak Damodar Savarkar
Vinayak Damodar Savarkar was born on the 28th of May, 1883, in the Nashik district of Bhagphur. He was a patriot, politician, attorney, social activist, a fighter for the Free India movement, and the founder of Hindutva philosophy. His father was Damodarpant Savarkar, and Radhabai was his mother’s name. Both his parents died at a very young age. His older brother Ganesh, commonly called Babarao, significantly affected him. He passed away on the 26th of February, 1966, in Mumbai.
Veer Savarkar as a Freedom Fighter
Veer Savarkar earned the epithet ‘Veer’ for his fearlessness, which recognized him as courageous. He grew up to be a revolutionary. He started the ‘Mitra Mela youth group while he was young. Revolutionary figures like Lala Lajpat Rai, Bipin Chandra Pal, and Bal Gangadhar Tilak influenced him. He attended ‘Fergusson College’ in Pune and graduated with honors. He received a scholarship and a chance to study law in England. Shyamji Krishna Varma helped him get to England to pursue his study. He enrolled in ‘Gray’s Inn Law College’ and found sanctuary in ‘India House.’ This was student accommodation in North London.
Veer Savarkar convinced his other known Indian students in England to participate in the ‘Free India Society,’ which opposed the British for independence.
Sentence and Imprisonment
In the meantime, Veer Savarkar’s older brother, to show his disapproval, protested against the ‘Indian Council Act 1909,’ also called Minto-Morley Reform. Furthermore, in response to the demonstration, the British Police claimed Veer Savarkar’s involvement in criminal activities and subsequently decided to file a warrant against him. To avoid imprisonment, Veer Savarkar went to Paris, where he sought refuge in the home of Bhikaji Cama. On the 13th of March, 1910, the British police apprehended him in Paris. They followed no necessary legal practice for apprehension.
In 1911, the Permanent Court of International Arbitration heard the disagreement between both the British and French governments. Veer Savarkar was convicted and faced a sentence of 50 years in prison before being released and returning to Bombay. The authorities deported him to the islands of Andaman and Nicobar on the 4th of July, 1911. He was held in the Kala Pani jail. The authorities severely tortured him in prison. But his patriotic patriotism prevailed, and he began to teach his companion convicts to write and read. He also acquired formal permission to open a small prison library.
Prison Work
During his incarceration, he authored a book titled ‘Hindutva: Who is a Hindu?’ Savarkar’s supporters extensively spread this. In that particular booklet, Savarkar influenced many Hindus by depicting Hindus as nationalists and patriotic inhabitants of ‘Bharatvarsha’ (India).
He was a self-professed atheist who consistently appreciated his Hindu heritage, which he saw as social and political. Savarkar was discharged from imprisonment on the 6th of January 1924 and served a vital part in creating the ‘Ratnagiri Hindu Sabha.’ This group seeks to conserve Hindu’s social and cultural heritage.
Significant Achievements of Vinayak Damodar Savarkar
‘The Indian War of Independence,’ he titled his work. In the book ‘Kale Pani,’ he discussed his Indian Independence struggle. He authored a book called ‘Gandhi Gondhal’ in which he spoke out against the politics of Mahatma Gandhi. He wrote various poems, including ‘Jayostute’ and ‘Sagara Pran Talmalala.’ He also coined various neologisms, including ‘Doordhwani,’ ‘Hutatma,’ ‘Tanklekhan,’ ‘Digdarshak,’ ‘Mahapur,’ ‘Sansad,’ and others.
Final Thoughts
Finally, the philosophy of Veer Savarkar was, without a doubt, unique, combining ethical, religious, and philosophical views. Humanism, positivism, rationalism, universalism, and realism are all incorporated into his political philosophy. He also attempted to abolish societal evils such as discrimination based on caste and untouchability. His literature inspired his youth, and his bold actions earned him the title ‘Veer,’ and he was later known as Veer Savarkar.
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