Today is Veer Savarkar’s 41st death anniversary.
*I was fortunate to witness funeral procession of Veer Savarakar from the balcony of one of our relatives in Lamington Road. By evening, when Savarkar’s cortege arrived , the entire road from Apsara Talkies that led to chowpaty was swarmed with people. I had not known about him then but that image of funeral procession has remained in my memory.
In recent years, Savarkar came into limelight - thanks to Mr. Mani Shankar Ayer’s act of removing plaque from Cellular Jail and boycott of congress in installing Savarkar’s portrait in Parliament. However many would argue against his political views , but they cant ignore that people like Savarkar alongwith Bhagat Singh, Madanalal Dhingra inspired incandescence of freedom - It may not be in same measure as Gandhi did with his non violence but sure it did rattle British Empire.
The life of Savarkar is an exemplary illustration of one individual who can have abundance of intellect, talent, intensity and firebrand freedom fighting abilities. If one takes a glimpse at his writings, poetry and prayers. One cannot but be in awe with such a personality.
There has been a lot of hue and cry about is a letter written by Savarkar to offer his full-fledged support for early release but you can’t condemn him on that count. Gandhiji also gave support to British Empire to fight alongwith them during Second World War. But what’s not brought to the attention is that there is also a letter by British home secretary that says "’it will be dangerous for the British Empire to release Savarkar. His pleas are a ruse to get out the jail. Once out he will organize an underground movement against the British. I therefore reject the petition on the ground that it will be a danger to public safety.’ So was it ruse or surrender? People on either side of political ideology take it their stand. But the fact remains that Savarkar did undergo solitary confinement, standing handcuffed on cross bar fetters and suffered tortures - for elevan years - for the murder of the English district magistrate of Nasik and plotting of efforts overthrowing British government. Can his daring escape from porthole of ship across the atlantic be ignored?
It is another cotroversy that Savarkar was a part of the Gandhi murder conspiracy and he was acquitted by mere technicality. Gandhi murder case had approver’Digamber Badge’ who had testified that Savarkar had blessed the assassins in their mission. But Nathurm Godse in reply to chargesheet denied that he was guided by Savarkar and he did with his own intelligence and judgement.’ Court exonerated Savarkar for want of evidence. Is it fair to brand anyone murderer when he is acquitted?
Those who have read about Savarkar would know Vinayak Damodar Savarkar more than what is projected by congress based on’letter of confession/remorse in cellular jail and his complicity in Mahatma Gandhi Murder case’. As much as Gandhi is understood by reading’ My experiments with Truth’, In order to understand Savarkar, one must read his books "Mazi Janmathep"(My Life Sentence), and "1857 - The First war of Independence". This was the only book in the world that was banned before even it was printed. Read his experiences of "Kala Pani"(in Andamans), that reflected the treatment given to Indian freedom fighters by the British. Please read poems "Sagara pran talmalala", and "Jayostute" and understand his intensity of patriotism.His poems written by thorns and pebbles( he was denied pen and paper) on cellular walls his prison cell are testimony of his endurance and creativity.
p.s.
I realized that his name figured on the mouthshut in a movie catgoary but I took advantage to write a review on him . Something I could also with Mahatma Gandhi and Babasaheb Amedkar.*