Multifaceted Veer Savarkar

Foreword written for the book “Savarkar advocate of Hindutva”, which was published by Kitabwale Publications in the New Delhi World Book Fare on 15th Feb 2024.

Swatantryaveer Vinayak Damodar Savarkar is one of the most polarising figures in the freedom struggle of Bharat. Even after independence, he was targeted with random cases not just by the British government, but also the independent Bharat’s government. His methods and way of freedom struggle have inspired many. Madan Lal Dhingra, Chaphekar brothers, Anant Kanhere and numerous other revolutionaries got inspired. Even Subhash Chandra Bose was abetted by him in fleeing Bharat and forming an independent army. At the same time, he had major ideological differences with the Indian National Congress and their methodologies. Not just non-violence, but the compromising nature of Congress’s politics and working with the British interest in mind were his main objections.

With Hindutva becoming the central focus of Indian polity once again, the opposition has tried to create controversies over Savarkar. They have manufactured with malefide intent many fake narratives like his strategic use of regret letter to the britishers naming it cowardice. They have created controversy about ‘Two Nation theory’ which was not Savarkar’s idea but of the Muslim League. He was completely against the partition of the country but the controversial theory is now projected as one of his contributions. Such controversies are deliberate. When in the early 90s, it was clear that Hindutva was becoming a force to reckon with as Hindus were uniting once again with the Ram Janmabhoomi movement as a focal point. Although the Bharatiya Janata Party at that time had only 2 Members of Parliament (MPs) in Lok Sabha, some left thinkers thought that this is going to be a tough fight. Keeping this imminent growth in view, some JNU professors and others started writing about the Hindutva ideologues. They professed that only targeting Lal Krishna Advani, Narendra Modi and present leadership would not suffice. For really defiling the ideology of Hindutva, its original exponents from the 19^th-20^th century would have to be drawn out. As a result, they started targeting and creating controversies about thoughts of Swami Vivekananda, Aurobindo etc. One of their main targets was Veer Savarkar. Hence, the new generation needs to know what real Savarkar was.

Savarkar’s contribution to the freedom struggle is unfathomable. He has contributed in every field. His thinking in terms of political science, economics, future of the country, scientific temper was par excellence. Though everybody only talks about his thoughts on Hindutva, his thinking about militarisation, comprehensive national strength, fighting prowess, how independent Bharat can be totally secure is also noteworthy and can provide guidance to todays’ nation builders. When he was being taken to Cellular Jail, Port Blair, Andaman with a sentence of 50 years rigorous imprisonment in a dark cell, as his ship neared the shore, his first thought on seeing the place from the porthole was that this should one day become a great naval base for independent Bharat. Even at that time he was thinking about the security of the country! This kind of a completely dedicated patriot he was. In his case we can use the word ‘patriot’ because he called Bharatbhoomi ‘Pitrubhu’ and not ‘Matrubhu’. So in that sense, those who call Bharat ‘Mata’ are ‘Matriots’. Savarkar was thinking, breathing, even dreaming of empowerment of Bharat.

His sacrifice, the whole family’s sacrifice for the country was natural. He never exaggerated or boasted about it. Both Savarkar brothers were in Cellular jail in Port Blair, Andaman. The family was completely broken, his wife and sister-in-law had to take shelter in a crematorium for some time, his only son died and even then, when he writes to his sister-in-law, he never complained or expressed any sorrow. He says that we are two brothers, hence both have sacrificed at the altar of Bharat Mata; If we were seven, we would have offered all seven. He even sacrificed his personal freedom as the britishers were suspicious of his activities after his release from Cellular Jail. They kept strict vigil on him and restricted his activities. At times, he had to be under house arrest, his house being surprise raided for proofs related to anti-government activities. His reform work brought him a lot of flak from all walks of life. It was after a decade that people could experience the actual impact of his work in the society which then made them see him in a different light. He bore all these brunts with immense grace, patience and dignity.

When in England, he sacrificed his Barrister’s degree. He was a great scholar, orator, poet, exemplary writer, but everything that he composed, wrote and spoke was for the good of the country, nothing for himself, not an ounce of selfishness – That is Savarkar. In his great poem ‘Sagara Prana Talamalala’ he writes, roaming in the whole world, we collect so many flowers of good virtues and qualities ‘Guna Sumane’, but if we do not offer them at the feet of Bharat Mata, they are mere waste. All artistic excellence, qualities, specialities are of no use if they are not offered at the feet of Mother Bharat. These were not mere words because he himself lived them. He offered everything that he had to Bharat.

His understanding of philosophy was par excellence. He was a far sighted visionary. What he said at that time was 50 years forward, so nobody understood him. What he spoke about the scientific nature of our rituals, few agreed then. But now with the Prana Pratishtha of Ramlalla on 22^nd January 2024, everyone saw what kind of a change happens after prana pratishtha. Savarkar knew the science behind every ritual and what he spoke then is now more relevant. The economic policies of becoming self-reliant, the kind of polity that has to be developed, perils of democracy and how it can be cured, are all significant and evident today. Whatever he spoke and wrote was ridiculed at that time because the time was not right. He was way ahead of his times.

Randeep Huda as Savarkar in Upcoming Video

He was a great Sadhaka and Yogi himself. He practised yoga daily, not just the physical part of the asanas, suryanamaskaras etc. but a learned exponent of pranic energy. He controlled his own prana (vital life-force). When he knew that his end is near, he sacrificed himself at the altar of the ultimate truth by doing the yogic kriya of ‘Prayopaveshana’. The English authors and others do not understand this practice, so they only call it fasting unto death. It is not just fasting. It is collecting all the pranas scattered in your body and releasing them through your navel or the bhroo-madhya (between the eyebrows). He selected navel region because that was the chakra (energy node) he thought was his center. He has written before his death about how the prayopaveshana will take place. He did that prayopaveshana collecting all his pranas in body and releasing through his navel region. That is one of the greatest deaths yogis embrace themselves. Other mortals surrender to death against their will. He got Ichchha Mrityu – He chose his own path and time of death. Savarkar was a yogi of the highest order.

Savarkar and his legacy will always be debated. If you want to understand Savarkar, read Savarkar, the original Savarkar, what he himself has written which is available in five volumes in Marathi, Hindi, English and many other languages. We hope many books and articles are written on Savarkar, the most misunderstood freedom fighter and patriot of this country, is revealed more comprehensively, diligently and intellectually because on it, depends the future of Bharat.

Jai Hind! Vande Mataram!! Bharat Mata ki Jai!!!