'Veer' Savarkar
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Vinayak Damodar Savarkar was one of the most dynamic, outspoken and
revolutionary leaders of the freedom struggle. Born on May 28, 1883 into
a family of 'jagirdars '(landlords) in the village of Bhagpur near Nasik.
Vinayak was one of four children. His elder brother Ganesh (Babarao) was
to have a strong influence in his life. |
| Vinayak
lost his parents at a very young age. The burden of the family fell on
elder brother Babarao's shoulders. Vinayak spent his youth in fighting
against the British Raj. As an extremely brilliant, outspoken and
confident school boy, he was famous amongst his teachers and friends. In
1898 when Chaphekar brothers were hanged for assassinating the British
Officer - Mr. Rand, Savarkar was just 15 years old. But Chaphekar's
martyrdom impressed him and he decided to devote all his efforts for
India's freedom. His patriotic spirit found an outlet when he formed an
organization called the 'Mitra Mela'. He encouraged the young, patriotic
members of the Mela to strive for "absolute political independence for
India" by whatever means necessary. The Mitra Mela also played an
important role in Nasik during the plague by serving the victims. |
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matriculation in 1901, Savarkar took admission in Fergusson College of
Poona and very soon dominated campus life. He, along with a group of
students began dressing alike and using swadeshi goods only. He renamed
the "Mitra Mela" as "Abhinav Bharat" and declared "India must be
independent". In 1905, Savarkar and his friends expressed their
resentment on the partition of Bengal by lighting a huge bonfire of
foreign goods. |
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instigating patriotic speeches and activities incensed the British
Government. As a result the British Government withdrew his B.A. degree.
In June 1906 he left for London to become Barrister. However, once in
London, he united and inflamed the Indian students in England against
British. He believed and advocated the use of arms to free India from
the British and created a network of Indians in England, equipped with
weapons. |
| The
British government arrested Savarkar in London on 13 March 1910 on some
fabricated charges and he was sent to India for trial. However as the
ship in which he was being taken neared Marseilles in France, Savarkar
escaped and swam to the port. According to the plan his friends were to
be there beforehand, but they reached late and he was caught by the
French Police. |
| Savarkar
was declared guilty and was sentenced to 50 years of 'Kala Paani' in
Andaman on 24 December 1910. Life for the prisoners was very harsh and
the conditions inhuman. Since 4 July 1911, he was in Andaman Jail in
solitude. Savarkar withdrew within himself, quietly and mechanically
doing the tasks presented to him. He was successful in getting
permission to start a jail library. With great effort and patience he
taught the illiterate convicts to read and write. In 1920, Vithalbhai
Patel demanded the release of the Savarkar brothers in the Central
Legislative Assembly. Tilak and Gandhi also appealed for the release of
Savarkar. On May 2, 1921, Savarkar was brought back to India.
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| Savarkar
remained imprisoned in Ratnagiri Jail and then in Yeravada Jail until
January 6, 1924 when he was freed under the condition that he would not
leave Ratnagiri district and abstain from political activity for the
next five years. On his release, Savarkar founded the Ratnagiri Hindu
Sabha on January 23, 1924 that aimed to preserve India's ancient culture
and work for social welfare. |
| Later
Savarkar joined Tilak's Swaraj Party and founded the Hindu Mahasabha as
a separate political party. He was elected President of the Mahasabha
and toiled for building Hindu Nationalism and later joined the Quit
India movement. |
| Savarkar
was not only a fervent freedom fighter but he was also a good orator,
prolific writer, a poet, a historian, a philosopher, and a social
worker. His contribution to Marathi literature is immense. |
| Savarkar
breathed his last at the age of 83. He passed away on February 26, 1966. |
