Today is the birth anniversary of Swatantraveer Savarkar. Whole nation remembers him on this day for his heroic acts and selfless contribution to our nation. He is remembered as a lawyer, a poet, an author, a social reformist, a freedom fighter among other things. He was a versatile person with a command in every subject matter he dealt with. Hence, it becomes speak about his life in a few hundred words.
In one of his speeches, former Indian Prime Minister, late Atal Bihari Vajpayee delivered on the occasion of Veer Savarkar Jayanti in Pune in 2006. He described Savarkar as तेज (brilliant), त्याग (sacrifice), तप (penance), तत्व (elements), तर्क (arguments), तारुण्य (youth), तीर (arrow), तलवार (sword), तीलमिलाहट (extreme concern), तीतिक्षा (butterfly) and तिखापन (sharpness). And, I feel this was one of the best descriptions of Veer Savarkar.
When he was confined to a cellular jail in Andaman in 1911, which required him to perform rigorous physical work, he never veered away from his ultimate goal and thus utilised that period in producing powerful literary works including various everlasting poems like Sagara pran talamalala, ne majasi ne-parat matrubhumila etc.
Savarkar had unique qualities with very straightforward thoughts based on rational and scientific thinking. He never hesitated to pinpoint age-old wrong practices in our society. He had unapologetic, uncompromising nationalism. Savarkar’s patriotism was also demonstrated by his unique characteristic as a social reformer. He was bold enough to face, question and fight the negativities of society that were stopping Indians from attaining true freedom.
Savarkar was one of the very few nationalists who dared to admit the shortcomings of the Hindu society. He was aware of the shortcomings and the weaknesses that had made Hindus submit to foreign invaders and rulers. He felt that more than outsiders, it were Hindus who were responsible for the civilisational slavery and loss they had been suffering for centuries. It was us who have misinterpreted the ancient practice of Varna and erected walls within our society. It was this narrow thought and vulnerability that foreign invaders have benefitted from. He used to say that India did not lose to foreign invaders, our own people have fought and won this land and gifted it to invaders.
Savarkar was an advocate of establishing India as a Hindu Rashtra. But his vision of a Hindu Rashtra was one where people are not discriminated based on how they chose to worship their god. The Hindu Rashtra of Savarkar’s dreams was to acknowledge and honour its Hindu heritage while allowing its citizens to practice whatever faith they choose. Savarkar’s Hindutva was vast, widespread; his ideology is not one to be bound by narrow definitions of communalism. India of Savarkar’s dream is a nation of unity, harmony, knowledge and bravery. It is not a coincidence that our current Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, also speaks what Savarkar had narrated, as the origin of school of thought remains the same.
Despite this, it was unfortunate to blame Veer Savarkar as a conspirator for the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi. This issue remains concluded once for all when, despite poor attempt through Kapur Commission, which was set up with a different motive, courts have exonerated Veer Savarkar. It is also very poor on the parts of those people who questioned and continue to question the integrity of Veer Savarkar. Be that as it may, the nation shall always remain indebted for ever to Swatantraveer Vinayak Damodar Savarkar.
Vishwas Pathak is BJP Maharashtra’s media cell chief.
